2 CCNY Biomedical Engineers Receive Entrepreneurial Training

Postdoc Zeynep Dereli-Korkut and senior Tanjin Panna selected for ELabNYC bio and health technology mentoring program

Two standouts in The City College Grove School of Engineering's biomedical engineering department have been accepted into the Bio & Health Tech Entrepreneurship Lab NYC (ELabNYC), a competitive six-month training and mentoring program run by the New York City Economic Development Corp. Zeynep Dereli-Korkut, a postdoctoral researcher, and Tanjin Panna, a graduating senior, are among 21 participants in the current ELabNYC cohort. 

Participants receive two months of weekly coaching on strategic plans and gain access to a community of mentors, serial entrepreneurs, and investors. The efforts culminate in a pitch day session April 10. The program continues after that with round table and networking events, plus complete access to mentors through June 30.

Dr. Dereli-Korkut, a native of Turkey now residing in West New York, N.J., specializes in cancer research at CCNY. She believes her ELabNYC experience will add new dimensions to her research. "I expect to learn how to start a successful life science-based business and be connected with business leaders in a nationwide biotech eco-system," she said. "I believe that ELabNYC will help me to accelerate the development of our technology into a successful business." 

Her previous honors include a science fellowship from the City University of New York (2007), two Wallace H. Coulter awards (2008, 2011) and a $50,000 National Science Foundation I-Corps Program Award (2013). 

Mr. Panna is confident that ELabNYC will be immensely helpful in preparing him for life after graduation. "What I am looking to do is make a living by finding solutions in the biomedical domain in problems that are pressing in our current world, andGesTherapy is an example of that," said the Brooklyn resident.

GesTherapy, a venture he co-founded as a junior, won the $25,000 Dean's Prize in the 2013 Kaylie Entrepreneurship competition. A virtual reality software, it uses motion sensing technologies, such as 3D cameras or the Microsoft Kinect, to facilitate physical therapy in what Mr. Panna said is a more natural and engaging way. 

About The City College of New York 
Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided low-cost, high-quality education for New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. More than 15,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in: the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture; the School of Education; the Grove School of Engineering; the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, and the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership. U.S. News, Princeton Review and Forbes all rank City College among the best colleges and universities in the United States.

About The Grove School of Engineering at CCNY
The Grove School of Engineering at The City College of New York is the only public engineering school within New York City. It offers Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. degrees in seven fields: biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering and computer science. The School is recognized nationally for the excellence of its instructional and research programs and ranks among the most diverse engineering schools in the country.

MEDIA CONTACT

Jay Mwamba
p: 212.650.7580
e: jmwamba@ccny.cuny.edu