Meet Our People

SRI's innovative thinking depends directly on the people who work here. Meet members of our team in Computing and Engineering, Chemistry, Physics and Materials, Drug Discovery, Drug Development and Health, Economics and Education, Environment and Energy, Business Development, and Administration and Corporate Activities, and learn why they joined SRI—you may discover that you would like to join the team, too. Visit Careers @ SRI for descriptions of current openings.

Meet Annalisa D'Andrea, Senior Director, Immunology and Inflammation, Biosciences Division

Focus @ SRI:

My group conducts both basic and applied immunology studies for our government and commercial clients. We can perform all the immunogenicity and immunotoxicology studies necessary to evaluate safety of potential new therapeutics.  We also conduct basic research directed toward the discovery of new immunological targets for both inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

Day in the Life @ SRI:
My day usually starts with checking, and responding to, e-mail (this usually begins at home, actually!), communicating with clients and my staff, and then on to meetings, followed by more e-mails, data analysis, proposal writing, and trying to keep up with the latest literature. Days always seem to end too soon — and whatever I don't get done at work, I'll take home for some "light" nighttime reading!

Before SRI:
After my graduate studies, I did my postdoctoral work at the DNAX Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, where I studied mechanisms regulating NK cell activity. I then went to Chiron Vaccines (at their location in Italy), where I studied interactions between Hepatitis C virus and immune cells. Since Joining SRI In 2000, I have worked on many more different projects than I can describe — and that is why I love it here.

Academics:
B.S in Biology (with honors), University of Siena, Italy

Ph.D in Immunology, University of Florence, Italy (studies performed at Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA).

Why SRI?
I was at a stage in my career where I had to make a decision between academia and industry, and felt I would have to give up something by choosing one over the other. SRI provided me with the right setting to make me feel as there was no other choice to be made, and I found that extremely intriguing. What I have learned since joining the organization is that at SRI, one can really do anything he/she dreams of — there is always a way… and if one can't think of it, there are so many people with different backgrounds here that can help you find the way. What better reason to stay?

Inspiration and Motivation:
My drive comes from the desire to learn something everyday, to think of novel questions. And every so often, this activity happens to bring solutions to unresolved problems, and that just makes my day.

What has changed in your field since you began your career, and what new or exciting trends are you seeing?
The intense and productive research in immunology of the last decade has resulted in a greater understanding of the immune activation and regulation of the physiology of a whole organism, creating the perfect foundation for translational research. This is a really fascinating and exciting time to be a scientist.

Proudest Professional Accomplishment:
I am the most proud of having grown into a well-rounded scientist. My most exciting moment would have to be when, after months of disappointing and frustrating attempts, I was finally able to pinpoint the immune cells responsible for producing IL-12, a new cytokine at the time, discovered by Dr. Trinchieri in Philadelphia.

Languages:

Italian (first language) and French (a lot less fluent after many years of speaking English).

Away from the Office:
With three kids (all boys) in the house, there is no personal time for me! If I manage to find some, I enjoy reading and cooking. But what I really love is to travel. As a family, we have this rule to go on at least one cultural trip each year. To us it is the best hands-on experience to learn about different cultures, traditions and …food!

Words of Wisdom for New SRI Team Members:
Don't be afraid of the different scientific and technical backgrounds that you encounter at SRI. Embrace the diversity and learn to think "outside the box"; you won't regret it.

Meet Other Members of the SRI Team:

Computing and Engineering
Victor Aguero, Program Manager, Engineering & Systems Division

Derek Artz, Development Engineer, Instrumentation and Simulation Systems, Engineering and Systems Division
John Brecht, Learning Technology Engineer, Center for Technology in Learning
Gary Bridges Director, Client Services, Cyber Security Research & Development Center
Linda Briesemeister, Sr. Research Engineer, Engineering & Systems Division
Michelle Delplanche, Software Engineer, Engineering & Systems Division
Katherine Donaldson, Scientific Programmer/Analyst, Engineering & Systems Division
Lola Goheen, Senior Research Engineer, Applied Electromagnetics
Mike Hogsett, Senior Systems Administrator, Computer Science Laboratory
Jason Jenkins, Senior Systems Administrator, Artificial Intelligence Center
Theresa Keeler, Research Engineer, Engineering & Systems Division
Roy Kornbluh, Senior Research Engineer, Engineering & Systems Division
Larry Langebrake, Director, Marine Technology Program at SRI St. Petersburg
Tom Low, Program Director, Innovative Product Engineering and Technologies
Greg Myers, Program Director, Machine Vision, Engineering & Systems Division
Karen Myers, Program Director, Artificial Intelligence Center
Ron Pelrine, Program Director, Mobile Robotics and Transducers Program
Harsha Prahlad, Research Engineer, Mobile Robotics and Transducers Program
Scott Stanford, Senior Research Engineer, Advanced Transducers Program
Allen Takahashi, Senior Research Engineer, Communications and Signal Technology Laboratory
L. Lynn Voss, Software Engineering Program Manager at SRI in Helena, Montana

Chemistry, Physics and Materials
Iouri Balachov, Senior Research Engineer, Materials Research Laboratory
Yigal Blum, Program Manager, Chemistry of Materials, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory
Jim Colton, Director, Poulter Laboratory of Applied Mechanics
David Flamm, Principal Scientist/Program Manager, Applied Optics Laboratory
Indira Jayaweera, Senior Chemist/Hydrothermal Program Leader, Materials Research Laboratory
Jeff Simons, Senior Computational Engineer, Center for Fracture Physics, Materials Research Laboratory
David Stout, Chemical Engineer, Chemical Science and Technology, Physical Sciences Division
Diane Walter, Senior Research Engineer, Applied Optics Laboratory

Drug Discovery, Drug Development and Health
Rae Lyn Burke, Senior Director, Vaccine and Biotherapeutics Development
Nathan Collins, Executive Director, Drug Discovery, Biosciences Division

Annalisa D'Andrea, Senior Director, Immunology and Inflammation, Biosciences Division
Mary Ann Greco, Program Director, Behavioral Biochemistry, Biosciences Division
Carol Green, Senior Director, Toxicology and Metabolism, Biosciences Division
Ling Jong, Program Director, Medicinal Chemistry Department
Keith Laderoute, Director, Cancer Biology Program
Juan Orduna, Drug Efficacy Program Biologist, Medicinal Chemistry Department, Biosciences Division
Helen Parish, Director, Analytical Chemistry Department
Gita Shankar, Senior Scientist/ Project Leader, Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Biosciences Division
Jennie Wang, Program Director, Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Biosciences Division
Chun Yang, Chemist, Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Biosciences Division

Education, Science and Technology Policy, and Economic Development

David Cheney, Director, Science and Technology Policy Program, SRI in Washington, D.C.
Geneva Haertel, Director of Assessment Research and Design, Center for Technology in Learning
Daniel Humphrey, Associate Director, Center for Education Policy
Vera Michalchik, Research Social Scientist, Center for Technology in Learning
Mary Wagner, Director, Center for Education and Human Services

Environment and Energy
Patti Burns, Program Director, Environmental Program
Jeff Coron, Environmental Engineer, Envirotechnical Program
Barbara Heydorn, Director, Center of Excellence in Energy

Business Development
Maggie Baxter-Pearson, Contracts Manager, Engineering & Systems Division
Ed Davis, Senior IP Advisor and IP Office Manager
Kurt Fulkerson, Manager, Business Development, Transportation Markets
Phil Harman, Director, Congressional Relations, SRI in Washington, D.C.
Osamu Karatsu, Executive Director, SRI Japan
John McIntire Associate General Counsel, Legal and Business Affairs
Nancy Moy, Research Analyst, Federal Business Development, SRI in Washington, D.C.
Satomi Ouchi, Senior Manager, Business Development, SRI Japan
Mary Scott, Administrative Analyst, Business Development, SRI in Washington, D.C.
Laleh Shayesteh, Director of Intellectual Property, Biosciences
Christine Stensig, Specialist Technical Writer/Editor, Engineering & Systems Division
Philip von Guggenberg, Director of Business Development, Engineering & Systems Division

Administration and Corporate Activities
Richard Bullert, HR Records Specialist, Human Resources Department
Sandy Hinzmann, Manager Staff Programs & Transportation
Jeff Hodge, Manager, Subcontracts Department
Walt Kyle, Supervisor, Information Protection, Corporate Security Department
Marty Mallonee, Manager, Corporate and Marketing Communications
Roger Sherman, Information Specialist, Information Technology Services, Archiving and Research (SRI Library)
Jan Teichman, Director, Environmental Heath & Safety
Lori Truitt, Administrative Analyst, Computer Science Laboratory