Our Team
Our team of professionals has expertise in all aspects of technology commercialization and transfer, from technology marketing and development to license management. Whether you are a GW researcher, an entrepreneur or a company, we look forward to working with you to bring GW inventions to the world.
Brian Coblitz, Executive Director
Brian leads the TCO team in providing best-in-class service to internal and external partners working toward the commercialization of new technologies invented at the George Washington University. Brian's broad scientific background and angel investing experience contribute to developing relationships between GW faculty and industry licensees.
While at GW, he has negotiated multiple license agreements with startups and small businesses and continues to maintain productive partnerships with those developing GW technologies. Brian works to provide ongoing support for GW licensees as they seek funding and expertise on the commercialization pathway.
He is a registered patent agent who came to GW in 2012 from the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Technology Transfer. Brian received a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University, a doctoral degree from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Medicine and completed postdoctoral studies on the sense of touch with Dr. Martin Chalfie at Columbia University.
coblitz
gwu [dot] edu (coblitz[at]gwu[dot]edu)
202.994.4345
Michael Harpen, Sr. Licensing Manager (Physical Sciences)
Michael works with physical sciences researchers to identify their valuable early-stage technologies, develop intellectual property protections for those technologies and license the results with relevant industries.
He has prosecuted, protected and commercialized a wide array of technologies, including batteries, renewables, materials, medical devices, computer hardware and software, and industrial production equipment.
Prior to joining the George Washington University in 2021, Michael was employed at the University of California Irvine and Washington State University as a licensing officer and technology licensing associate, respectively. Before that, he worked at a Cargill corn processing factory in Nebraska and taught English in Japan.
He has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of South Alabama and a juris doctor degree from Louisiana State University.
mharpengwu [dot] edu (mharpen[at]gwu[dot]edu)
202.994.8975
Sarwat Naz, Licensing Manager (Life Sciences)
Naz oversees licensing activities related to life science research conducted at George Washington University (GWU). She supports researchers at GWU in managing their intellectual property and assists in marketing their technology to industry partners.
Before joining GWU, Naz worked as a Technology Transfer Manager at the National Cancer Institute's Technology Transfer Center. She holds a PhD in Cancer Biology from the Indian Institute of Science and completed postdoctoral studies with Dr. James B. Mitchell at the Radiation Biology Branch at the National Cancer Institute, where she focused on identifying molecularly targeted agents as potent radiosensitizers in solid tumors.
sarwat [dot] nazgwu [dot] edu (sarwat[dot]naz[at]gwu[dot]edu)
202.994.3095
Toya Rosser, Program Manager
Toya’s responsibilities include managing accounts, website and marketing updates, and invention reporting.
Prior to joining the TCO team, Toya was a Program Manager at George Washington University’s School of Business for 3.5 years and a Program Associate at the School of Nursing for 7 years. Toya was also previously an Executive Aide at the Law School Development office for nearly 2 years. She also spent some time at the Transportation Security Administration as a Program Analyst.
Toya received her Master of Arts degree in Higher Education Administration from The George Washington University in 2017, as well as a Master of Arts degree in Communications from Trinity University in Washington, DC. She graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2006 with a degree in English.
ltrosser13gwu [dot] edu (ltrosser13[at]gwu[dot]edu)
202.994.0718
Mary R. Luceri, Program Coordinator
Mary’s responsibilities include office and database administration, management reporting and marketing.
Prior to joining the George Washington University, Mary was the managing director of a small business investment company focused on funding clinical trial start-ups. Before that, she worked as a senior analyst at a public sector pension management company and an honors paralegal at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Mary earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University.
maryrosegwu [dot] edu (maryrose[at]gwu[dot]edu)
202.994.1917
Join Us!
Are you a GW student who’s interested in learning more about the technology commercialization process? The Technology Commercialization Office is always looking for part-time interns. We generally recruit two students each August and maintain two to four interns on staff throughout the year.
TCO interns that graduated moved into careers working for university technology transfer offices, business consulting firms, Wall Street analysts, intellectual property law firms, and pharmaceutical companies.
Candidates should have a desire to learn more about processes related to technology commercialization and intellectual property marketing. Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain confidentiality of all work-related information is required. Business, engineering or life sciences-related majors are preferred. Experience communicating technology to lay audiences is a plus.
Responsibilities may include:
- Performing patent and market research
- Preparing or updating reports for licensing associates as needed
- Conducting literature searches and obtaining references or other materials
- Organizing and creating content for the TCO website; preparing marketing summaries for technologies
- Assisting with the daily activities of TCO
- Contributing to the organization and management of GW’s intellectual property portfolio and database.
Work hours will be scheduled around students’ classes between 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Interested students should email TCO at tcogwu [dot] edu (tco[at]gwu[dot]edu).