Our Analysts

Ben Bahavar, Ph.D.

Ben Bahavar, Ph.D., is an experimentalist researcher with multidisciplinary training and 17 years of experience in applied chemistry, semiconductor materials, and chemical engineering. His analyses help companies assess new applications of products and processes, seek solutions to technical problems, and perform feasibility studies. Read more.

Eden Joy Pacsial-Ong, Ph.D.

Eden Joy Pacsial-Ong, Ph.D. is a Registered Patent Agent licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. She specializes in the biotechnology industry, primarily in the areas of chemical and biochemical defense systems, electrochemical devices, nanotechnology, materials chemistry and physical-organic chemistry. She advises clients on intellectual property matters, including patentability, patent landscape and due diligence. Read more.

Erica Kramer, Ph.D.

Dr. Erica Kramer works primarily with the Medical Device team at Nerac conducting research of clinical literature, preparing clinical literature evaluations, and conducting focused research to address clients’ questions relating to the medical device industry. Read more.

Helga Weires

Analyst Helga Weires works with medical device manufacturers, academics, and individual physicians from around the world developing diagnostic and therapeutic devices. She guides clients through technical and intellectual property issues regarding medical devices for all branches of medicine, including orthopedics, cardiology and internal medicine. Read more.

Holly A. Magna, M.A.

Holly joins Nerac with over 24 years at Pfizer, Inc. Her career as a scientist included research in molecular sciences and 12 years as a manager of patent, biomedical and clinical information supporting a diverse client group (discovery – phase 4). Read more.

Kevin Closson, M.S., MBA

Analyst Kevin Closson helps companies look beyond their business today to see how internal and external forces will shape their futures. He helps clients identify and execute corporate development transactions, including M&A, JV and equity investments. Read more.

Phillip B. Espinasse, M.S., MBA

Analyst Phillip Espinasse partners with high tech electrical and optical engineering companies to develop innovative business and technical solutions to guide strategies ranging from investment tactics to long-term business plans. Drawing on his experience conducting market assessments, competitive reviews, patent portfolio analyses, peer reviews, and patentability and patent invalidation reviews, Mr. Espinasse delivers intelligence critical to executive decision-making in the areas of marketing, product design, and research and development. Read more.

Richard Conforti, M.S.

Richard Conforti has been with Nerac for 4 years during which time he completed his Master’s Degree in Neuroscience at the University of Hartford and wrote a thesis entitled, “Effect of the Ketogenic Diet on the Testosterone to Androstanediol Pathway in an Alzheimer Mouse Model”. Read more.

Richard Hendriks, Ph.D.

Analyst Richard Hendriks, Ph.D., partners with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to discover the most effective ways of meeting their business goals. This encompasses a range of solutions from innovations in biotechnology to analytical assessments of recent treatment advances. Read more.

Richard Maldanis, Ph.D.

For over a decade, Richard Maldanis, Ph.D. has been assisting Nerac clients in the specialty chemistry and material science fields. His diverse expertise in organic, inorganic, organometallic and polymer chemistry provides clients with solutions to a broad range of chemistry-related challenges. Read more.

Rosemarie Szostak, Ph.D.

Analyst Rosemarie Szostak, Ph.D., advises companies on technology, patents, innovation and disruptive technology. She has 20 plus years as a thought leader and analyst with broad technical knowledge in chemistry, materials and chemical engineering. Read more.

Skye McClain, Ph.D.

Analyst Skye McClain, Ph.D., specializes in helping clients assess the business and production impacts of implementing a new material or processing method. Companies from a wide range of industries work with Dr. McClain to analyze the feasibility of new materials, evaluate processing methods, and assess acquisition opportunities. Dr. McClain also coordinates technical, business and patent experts for high profile advisory and research teams. Read more.

Stephenie Smulligan-Maldanis, M.S.

Analyst Stephenie Smulligan-Maldanis collaborates with Nerac clients in various sectors within the chemical, materials and personal care fields. Ms. Smulligan-Maldanis applies her searching and advising capabilities in areas including cosmetic formulations, lubricants, as well as pharmaceutical chemistry. Ms. Smulligan-Maldanis also is well versed at locating information related to synthetic methodologies, such as reported reaction conditions, alternative pathways for synthetic procedures and purification procedures. Ms. Smulligan-Maldanis also serves Nerac clients in identifying vendors of hard to find chemicals. Read more.

Thomas A. Perkins

With more than 20 years of industry experience in electronics and computer engineering, Analyst Thomas A. Perkins provides expertise in large patent portfolio analytics and citation analysis. He has a broad understanding of electrical engineering, electronics, microprocessor/embedded systems, programming languages, software engineering, nuclear spectroscopy/instrumentation, and project management. Read more.

Tyler Stahl, M.S.

Tyler Stahl works with a variety of clients to perform clinical literature evaluations through focused searching and literature analysis. Tyler also uses his expertise to assist clients with answering specific research questions through concentrated literature and patent searches. Read more.