Maryl Ponds is an Innovation Fellow at the Tulane University Innovation Institute. Maryl was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. At the age of 14, Maryl knew she wanted to pursue a career in science. She received her Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences at the University of New Orleans (’10). Maryl was then accepted into the Bioscience Education and Training program, funded by the Southeastern Louisiana Institute for Infectious Disease Research (SLIIDR) at the LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans, where she contributed to research investigating the effects of Candida yeast on a diabetic murine model in the Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology department. After completing the program, she worked as a lab technician and production supervisor for a local forensic toxicology lab and concurrently pursued graduate studies. She received her M.S. in Microbiology and Immunology at Tulane University (’15), where she participated in a research project on sublingual influenza vaccinations.

While attending Tulane, she learned about the Bioinnovation Ph.D. program. Maryl was accepted into the Bionnovation Program in the fall of 2016 and began working in the Burow/Collins-Burow lab shortly thereafter. Her dissertation project focused on developing and characterizing decellularized patient-derived xenografts to model triple-negative breast cancer. The Bioinnovation program provided Maryl with formal knowledge of business models, intellectual property, and technology transfer. Maryl gained experience in medical device regulatory processes through an FDA internship in the 510(k) program at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). Maryl also gained experience in marketing university research through an internship at Tulane’s Business Development Office, which facilitates collaborations between researchers and external partners. In Maryl’s current position at TUII, she supports the commercialization of Tulane’s technologies by identifying promising research projects and assessing inventions that are disclosed to the Office of Intellectual Property Management. Maryl is currently assisting a Tulane startup in advancing its technology by creating a business model, conducting market research, and engaging in customer discovery.

Q&A with Maryl Wright Ponds:

What type of research are you currently pursuing? I assist in evaluating Tulane inventions across diverse scientific fields for potential commercialization, specifically for licensing opportunities and the formation of startup ventures.

Which field(s) of innovation currently excite you the most? Having completed my dissertation research on the development of a triple-negative breast cancer model, I am most enthusiastic about advancements in cancer therapeutics and diagnostics.

Why did you want to work at the Tulane Innovation Institute? After completing my Ph.D. at Tulane, I encountered the disappointing shortage of biotech companies in the area. I joined the Innovation Institute to help expand biotech employment opportunities in New Orleans, thereby giving back to the city that has greatly enriched my life.

What are you currently reading? I'm currently reading "Bad Blood," an investigative journalism narrative detailing the rise and fall of Theranos, a formerly thriving Silicon Valley startup.

Favorite thing about New Orleans? As someone born and raised in New Orleans, what I cherish most about this city is its people. The warmth and familial treatment from everyone make it truly feel like home, and there's nowhere else quite like it.