Shyama Majumdar serves as the interim executive director of Deep Tech Ventures at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role, she oversees numerous entrepreneurial functions, including domain-specific accelerators in cleantech, data science & AI, and quantum, as well as gap funding mechanisms like the George Shultz Innovation Fund and entrepreneurial programs for students and faculty at the University. Shyama has a proven track record in facilitating the commercialization of early-stage technologies and launching ventures with external investor funding. She excels in building entrepreneurial programs, venture strategy, and fostering relationships with a variety of different stakeholders including faculty members, VCs, industry executives, and students.

Previously at the Polsky Center, Shyama built and launched the Transform data science and AI accelerator in 2023. Collectively, Shyama has helped raise over $24 million in investor funding for the startups via the different programs she created. She is an advisory board member for 1871 AI Innovation Labs and Markison Patent Portal, and has been actively involved in various speaking and judging engagements within the science and technology community.

Before joining the Polsky Center, Shyama was a research assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where she conducted prostate cancer research. At UIC, she also worked as a program coordinator at IllinoisVENTURES, overseeing the proof-of-concept fund for early-stage technologies developed at the university. Earlier, she served as a consulting program manager at EnterpriseWorks, helping to develop and manage their accelerator program.

In addition to her business acumen, Shyama brings over 10 years of experience as a cancer research scientist. Shyama earned a PhD in Biology and an MBA from the University of Delaware and conducted her postdoctoral research in cancer biology at Harvard Medical School and UIC.