Nandini Mendu
About Nandini Mendu
Nandini Mendu is the Senior Director of Agriculture Sector Development at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, where she has worked since 2016. She has extensive experience in research and development, business development, and strategic partnerships in the agricultural biotechnology sector.
Work at North Carolina Biotechnology Center
Nandini Mendu has served as the Senior Director of Agriculture Sector Development at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center since 2016. In this role, she focuses on advancing agricultural biotechnology initiatives within the state. Her responsibilities include collaborating with various stakeholders, including universities, government agencies, and non-profit research organizations, to identify and assess new business opportunities in the agriculture sector.
Education and Expertise
Nandini Mendu holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She also earned a Master of Science (M.Sc.) and a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Botany/Plant Biology from the University of Delhi, India. Her educational background provides her with a strong foundation in biological sciences, which she applies to her work in agricultural biotechnology and innovation.
Background
Nandini Mendu has extensive experience in the biotechnology and agricultural sectors. Prior to her current role, she worked at EMBREX in various capacities, including Director of Technology Development and Senior Manager of New Initiatives. She also held the position of Director of R&D and Innovation at Pfizer Animal Health (now Zoetis) from 2007 to 2013. Her career began as a Research Scientist at North Carolina State University.
Achievements
Throughout her career, Nandini Mendu has successfully obtained funding for various projects through SBIR grants from NIH, NSF, USDA, and NIST ATP grants. She has developed and managed alliances and external research programs as part of an open innovation strategy. Additionally, she launched an initiative to train middle management on design thinking for business innovation, demonstrating her commitment to fostering innovation within organizations.