How an Applied Biotechnology Student Is Turning Learning into Real-World Innovation

Paul Luna is a graduate student in the 100 percent online University of Wisconsin Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology. Based in the greater Chicago area, he has an extensive background in marketing and business, with previous roles at General Mills, Land O’Lakes, and the Kellogg Company. He also served in the United States Army. 

Paul currently works at AbbVie, where he’s developed the commercialization strategy for a new medical device and led a brand architecture redesign to help engage the next generation of healthcare providers. In addition, he’s a student activator cohort member at Nucleate, a nonprofit organization designed to empower rising leaders in biotech.

Paul earned his BS in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University, his MS in Mechanical Engineering and his MBA from the University of Minnesota. He’s expected to complete his MS in the UW Applied Biotechnology program in 2026. 

Learn more about how Paul is using what he’s learned to drive real impact in the biotechnology field:

“As a student in the UW Applied Biotechnology program, I’ve begun to take my learning beyond the classroom and apply it to real-world challenges in biotech and medtech innovation. This journey has taught me invaluable lessons about product development, commercialization, and the power of collaboration. I’m excited to share these insights with fellow students who are also passionate about turning science into impact.

My Recent Biomedical Entrepreneurial Journey

Through the Nucleate Chicago Chapter Activator Program, I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with my partner Ali Husnain, MD, a postdoctoral researcher and medical resident at Northwestern University. Together, we developed a commercialization plan and pitched MagStent, a biliary stent medical device designed to improve outcomes for patients with biliary obstructions that Dr. Husnain and his team developed in their lab. At the program’s closing Nucleate Midwest Demo Day, we were honored to receive the Alnylam Scientific Excellence Award!

Key insights from this journey:

• Storytelling is everything. Explaining complex science at a 7th-grade level is essential for investor engagement.
• Rejections are valuable: they reveal where your pitch needs strengthening.
• The right partner matters to understand roles, expectations, and decision-making authority.
• Free student resources are gold–from UW Library tools to Nucleate’s mentorship and networking opportunities.

The Applied Biotechnology program has been instrumental in building my entrepreneurial skills:

• ABT 715: Techniques in Biotechnology introduced me to the regulatory and safety aspects of biomedical innovation that were critical to building our commercialization pathway.
• ABT 720: Experimental Design and Analysis in Biotechnology sharpened my ability to analyze scientific literature and use it to illustrate the therapeutic need and effectiveness of the predicate technology in our investor pitch.
• I’m excited for ABT 765: Assessing Innovation in Biotechnology and ABT 770: Product Development to further develop my innovation and product development skills.

RELATED: First-Generation College Graduate Finds Community and Fulfillment in Applied Biotechnology Program 

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Building Biotech Ventures with Nucleate and Universities of Wisconsin Resources

Nucleate is a student-driven nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the next generation of biotech leaders. With 41 chapters and partnerships through more than 280 institutions globally, Nucleate provides academic innovators with access to expert guidance, investor networks, and commercialization support. 

Within the Universities of Wisconsin, students can also explore resources like the Whitewater University Innovation Center and the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (IEI) at UW-Green Bay. I encourage fellow students interested in biomedical entrepreneurship to take advantage of these opportunities.

I hope this post inspires my fellow students to try their hand at applying what they are learning in the Applied Biotechnology program to their own biotech entrepreneurial endeavor.”

RELATED: Networking Tips for Applied Biotechnology Students

Want to learn more about the online University of Wisconsin Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology? Explore the curriculum or contact an enrollment adviser with any questions about the program. For more information, call 608-800-6762 or email learn@uwex.wisconsin.edu.