Don Rose

Don Rose is a Science Entrepreneur in Residence & Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He has a dual background in nutrition (BSPH) and chemistry (PhD), and his career spans academia, venture capital, and biotechnology entrepreneurship.

• Education: BSPH in Nutrition (UNC-Chapel Hill), PhD in Analytical Chemistry (UNC-Chapel Hill)
• Current Roles: Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Alexandria LaunchLabs, Adjunct Professor teaching entrepreneurship courses
• Past Roles: Venture Partner at Hatteras Venture Partners, Director of UNC’s KickStart program, co-founder and VP at Cartesian Technologies, research scientist at Glaxo Wellcome (GSK), and HP Laboratories

His research interests focus on bridging scientific innovation with commercialization, particularly in biotechnology, bioanalytical chemistry, and instrumentation development. He has contributed to technologies in DNA microarrays, nanoliter dispensing, and combinatorial chemistry, emphasizing their practical applications in life science startups.

In his academic and professional career, Dr. Rose has co-founded multiple companies, secured six U.S. patents, and authored publications and books on startup creation, including Research to Revenue (UNC Press, 2016). He also engages in teaching and mentoring through courses like ECON 327.002: Venture Creation Workshop – Scientific Ventures.

Outside of academia, he enjoys endurance sports, writing, gardening, and sourdough baking.