Montclare Chosen as 2014-15 Fellow of Drexel University’s ELATE Program

Anyone who knows Jin Montclare knows that the NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering associate professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering is a whirlwind of energy. From running the Montclare Lab for Protein Engineering and Molecular Design to taking part in the NSF-funded New York City Regional Innovation Node (NYCRIN) and NSF Innovation Corps, which encourages academics to apply their research to entrepreneurial ventures, to mentoring students like Carlo Yuvienco, with whom she has developed Lewis Dots, an innovative app that makes learning chemistry fun, Montclare rarely sits still.

Now she is adding an exciting new venture to her schedule. Montclare has been chosen as a 2014-15 Fellow of Drexel University’s ELATE (Executive Leadership in Academic Technology and Engineering), a highly competitive professional-development program for academic women in the STEM fields.

Potential fellows are nominated by their own schools and selected from a nationwide pool. “It’s very gratifying to know that NYU put forth my name for this opportunity,” Montclare says. “I am very appreciative of the support of NYU Vice Provost of Academic, Faculty and Research Affairs Cybele Raver, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs Kurt Becker at the School of Engineering, NYU Senior Vice Provost for Research Paul Horn, and the entire university community."

The year-long program is aimed at increasing personal and professional leadership skills and creating a cadre of exceptional women who will enhance their respective institutions and society. “My areas of focus will be on building a strong mentoring network of NYU women and on increasing entrepreneurship across the university,” Montclare says. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with people like Frank Rimalovski of NYU’s Entrepreneurial Institute and the School of Engineering’s Associate Dean of Academic Administration Kristen Day, who is an inspiring female leader.”

Montclare’s 20 fellow ELATE participants hail from such schools as Carnegie-Mellon, Dartmouth, and Northwestern. They will visit Drexel’s Pennsylvania campus on a regular basis, participate in online classes and discussions, mount a research symposium, and apply their new skills and knowledge at their own universities throughout the year and beyond. Montclare is excited about the chance to contribute even more to life at NYU. “I realize that I’m very fortunate to take part in programs like NYCRIN, NSF I-Corps and ELATE,” she says. “And I feel a responsibility to bring those experiences to bear for the benefit of my colleagues and students, effecting a positive change.”