I began my journey as an industrial PhD student at the Research Policy Institute in 2007. Since that time, I have developed my dissertation while continuing to work within the field of innovation policy analysis and development – focusing on the areas of innovation environments/clusters and international linkages. Prior to this, I have worked as an analyst and independent consultant – providing input to various projects in the fields of cluster development, internationalization of innovation (policy), transnational innovation networks, open/user-driven innovation, regional economic development/smart specialization strategies, innovation performance measurement and benchmarking, and policy evaluation; facilitating policy learning fora and advisory groups; presenting and moderating at conferences. I have also worked as a strategy consultant at Accenture and a project assistant at the World Bank. My education includes a BSFS in International Politics from Georgetown University (1991) and an MBA from the University of Virginia (1997).

My dissertation, Service stations along global knowledge pipelines, explores how innovation intermediaries foster firms’ and research organizations’ transnational innovation processes.

Within the field of innovation policy, one of the current issues is how policymakers can address actors’ barriers to the internationalization of innovation – helping to catalyze increased (and more efficient) international knowledge sourcing and collaboration. If innovation processes are increasingly transnational, how are public policies designed to facilitate cross-border interaction? Could innovation intermediaries be leveraged in this regard? If so, what types of intermediary functions best address innovation actors’ barriers and support needs? The dissertation helps take a first step to substantiating the role that innovation intermediaries could play in strengthening international linkages in research and innovation activities – contributing to ongoing policy development in this area.