Cigdem Benam

Cigdem Benam, PhD, currently serves as a Portfolio Executive for Life Sciences at Innovation Works, where responsibilities include identifying promising life science startups and guiding them through the investment process. Previous roles include Manager of Faculty Innovation and Commercialization Outreach at the University of Pittsburgh, and Program Director at CU Innovations, where notable achievements include developing an immersive accelerator program and securing a $4M NIH REACH grant. Additional experience encompasses positions as Social Researcher and Innovations Program Manager at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, part-time faculty at Boston College, researcher at Boston University and Harvard University, and Manager of International Affairs at TOBB. Educational qualifications include a PhD in International Relations from Middle East Technical University and a Post-doctoral Fellowship from Harvard University. Currently, Cigdem Benam is pursuing an MBA at the University of Pittsburgh.