Meet Our Team

Sisi is the Senior Data Architect Lead for the Data Archival Team at Porta Sophia. She received a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where her research focused on better understanding the epigenetic and molecular mechanisms underlying depression and anxiety disorders. In her free time, she enjoys doing standup comedy, reading fiction, and international travels.

Taylor is a full time Data Curator at Porta Sophia and focuses on data curation and 3rd party submission efforts, she received her master's degree in biotechnology from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She has a passion for neuroscience, which she explored in her master's thesis on pharmacologic treatments for mild traumatic brain injuries. In her free time, she enjoys practicing and performing trapeze, hiking her way through all 63 National Parks, and following football and Formula 1.

Amanda is a Data Archivist at Porta Sophia and focuses on the Archival Research Network (ARN) efforts. Amanda is a Ph.D. Candidate in English with a concentration in Composition and Rhetoric and a minor in Science and Technology Studies at UW Madison. She is originally from Buffalo, NY and did her MA at the University of Nevada, Reno where she loved to frequent natural hot springs.

Shahin is a Data Curator at Porta Sophia and focuses on the 3rd party submission efforts, she graduated with high honors distinction from UC Davis with a BS in Biomedical Engineering and continued at UC Davis for her PhD focusing on novel gene therapy and gene editor delivery. She has experience in prior art curation through interning at the UC Davis Office of Research Technology Transfer Office. In her free time, she enjoys hiking along the coast, painting, playing guitar, and listening to punk music.

Vincent is a Data Curator at Porta Sophia. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Pharmacy and is an independent community pharmacist. Vincent is a M.S. student in Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation at UW-Madison and in his spare time, Vincent enjoys naps, Nintendo Switch, concerts, reading, hammocking, hula hooping, and playing with his Sphynx cat, Judge Nudie.

David is an intellectual property attorney with over 20 years of experience focused on patent prosecution and litigation in the chemical, life sciences, and healthcare fields. David has a BS in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Michigan, an MS and PhD in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin, and a JD from Stanford University. In addition to his legal practice and his work with Porta Sophia, David is an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin law school and sits on the board of directors and advisory boards for a number of entrepreneurial and health care organizations.

Tom has worked as a patent attorney for 12 years and is a senior shareholder at Casimir Jones, a life science-focused intellectual property law firm in Madison, Wisconsin. Tom has a Ph.D. in biomolecular chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Tom also was a postdoctoral scientist in the Department of Plant Pathology and in the Department of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, and in the Department of Molecular Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital. His practice focuses on drafting and prosecuting U.S. and foreign patent applications and developing intellectual property portfolios. He regularly assists and advises clients in matters of post-issuance proceedings, due diligence review, licensing, patentability, freedom to operate, invalidity, and enforceability. He also counsels clients in technology commercialization and in other areas of intellectual property, including trademarks, trade dress, copyrights, and trade secrets.

Sean has a passion for creating user-centric experiences and building brands. He loves working with teams to create beautiful and intuitive designs that tell a story and engage users. He also has a background in front-end development, and is always interested in new technologies and how they can be used to create better experiences for users.

Alex is a software developer in the Madison area. He has been a professional developer since 2008 working on a variety of platforms and technologies. His current focus is on web and cloud application development.

Dennis – Curious by nature, explorer by default. Thinks that E=mc² is a beautifully simplified equation and upholds the philosophy of: learn, share, expand.

Karen oversees Porta Sophia’s media relations. A former reporter and producer, she appreciates the power of solid, skilled storytelling to educate and inspire, while also understanding the practicalities of newsroom workflows and changing news cycles. Karen holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in Classics and political science from Gustavus Adolphus College.

Tura builds upon her background in strategic planning and business development in leading the cultivation and management of strategic partnerships for Porta Sophia. Tura engages directly in fostering key relationships with research collaborators, donors, and external partners to support Porta Sophia’s strategic initiatives.

Tura has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in International Economic and Commercial Relations and Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is an LEED Accredited Professional. She also serves on advisory boards for Nikean Foundation, Synthesis Institute, and the Global Initiative for Psychedelic Science Economics at UCSF.