Anna Lisa Somera is a Senior Analyst at IllinoisVENTURES focusing on the Life Sciences. She brings a combination of molecular biology, clinical research, intellectual property, biotech industry, and start up experience to the firm. As a Senior Analyst, she focuses on new investment opportunities as well as supporting Directors in managing existing portfolio companies. She previously held positions at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Technology Transfer Office as an Associate Analyst, in laboratories at Northwestern University and University of Chicago as a Research Technician, and at Synthetic Genetics, Inc. (now Epoch Biosciences) in southern California as an Associate Scientist II. Anna Lisa holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Anthropology from Loyola University, an MS in Cellular Biology and Anatomy from Rush University, and dual master’s degrees in public health and business administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago. During her MBA, she co-founded OrthoAccel Technologies, Inc., a medical device start up company that was later acquired in February 2007 by a Houston based firm. She has also published papers in peer reviewed journals including the Journal of Bacteriology and Science.