Christine Karslake, an accomplished innovation leader, has been appointed associate vice chancellor for innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialisation at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T).
She will be tasked with providing innovation leadership, including entrepreneurship development, commercialisation, industry partnerships, economic development, and policy and administration related to tech transfer and innovation.
Karslake most recently served as senior director of Bunge Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of agribusiness Bunge. There. she led early-stage deals in sustainable agriculture, food technology and biotech.
Before joining Bunge, she was managing director of science ventures at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
The Polsky Center, the innovation arm of the University of Chicago, itself made headlines yesterday with the launch of the $25 million Harper Court Ventures Fund I.
“With deep experience and networks across academia, industry and economic development, Dr Karslake brings a well-rounded and strategic perspective to her work.”
– Kamal Khayat, vice chancellor for research and innovation
Karslake’s earlier career stops include serving as vice president for innovation and entrepreneurship at the St Louis Economic Development Partnership. In that role, she was responsible for managing incubators, an accelerator and a fund.
She has also run her own consultancy, Quest Strategies, supporting high-growth businesses in industries such as life sciences and cleantech in their commercialisation strategies, venture development and investment readiness.