Our Team

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 MMI has gained recognition in developing innovative molecular-based technologies to improve the health of our aquatic resources. MMI brings a staff with a proven track record in biotechnology and marine research that has led to numerous publications.  We are an interdisciplinary team of marine scientists, bioinformaticians, biostatisticians, and health scientists that collectively have over 40 years' experience in research and industry.

 John founded Marine Microverse Institute (MMI), LLC in 2016, based in Kittery Point, Maine.   John is a biological oceanographer with a specialization in microbial and molecular ecology. John and his colleagues recognize the critical gap that exists between our understanding of how marine ecosystems are influenced by rapid changes affecting oceanic resources. He has published original research articles in marine ecology, molecular source technology, biogeochemistry and microbial biodiversity with applications to the blue economy. 

 Semra focuses on biostatistical analysis, epidemiology, and bioinformatics. She holds a faculty appointment at the University of New Hampshire. She works with the MMI team to engage stakeholders and industry partners. Her expertise in translational research supports implications for commercialization, practice, and policy. She enjoys working with diverse transdisciplinary teams to examine ways to improve ocean health and human health in the blue economy.  

  As the co-founder and chief executive officer of two biotechnology companies, Bob is involved in many aspects of MMI's capital formation and product development. He is a proven leader in commercializing molecular technology.  He focuses on the marketing and promotion of MMI products, including developing intellectual property. Dr. Valentini has extensive experience developing biopharmaceuticals (Shire, Genzyme, and Fibrogen) as well as a strong background in-licensing and commercializing intellectual property and early-stage technologies. 

 ​Bryan received his Ph.D. at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Laboratory and served as a post-doctoral associate at the University of California, Davis. He serves as an MMI consultant in bioinformatics and gene marker discovery. He has expertise in whole genome sequencing and has published in top peer-reviewed journals (Barney et al. 2017).