As part of the Business and Technology Development team, Parthasarathi's responsibilities include technology assessment of start-up companies, oversight of the research-focused funding programs, as well as activities related to growth of biotechnology companies across the state.
Prior to joining the Biotechnology Center, Parthasarathi was a senior researcher and manager at Millennium Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she conducted drug discovery research, evaluated technologies and developed in-house expertise for multiple therapeutic groups.
Parthasarathi has extensive experience working with multi-disciplinary groups in academia, industry and government and has held leadership roles in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. She served as the education liaison for the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Consortium, where she reviewed legislation, funding and issues of interest to the cancer education community, and also served on the board of directors of the Wissahickon Educational Opportunities Foundation in Pennsylvania.
She received her Ph.D. in molecular genetics and microbiology from Rutgers University/University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, a master's degree in medical microbiology and bachelor's degree in botany (zoology and chemistry) from the University of Madras, India. She holds a certificate in biotechnology project management from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.