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Viraj Mane to mentor student entrepreneurs at NJ college
Alumnus and biotech co-founder will advise students and faculty on building ventures across engineering and science
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Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 03, Apr 2026
- 16:18 EDT
- 15
Viraj Mane / The College of New Jersey
The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) appointed Indian American entrepreneur Viraj Mane as a part-time entrepreneur-in-residence in its School of Engineering and School of Science.
Mane, a 2000 graduate of TCNJ, will work with students and faculty to provide strategic guidance on developing entrepreneurial ventures, the college announced.
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As co-founder and chief scientific officer of Lactiga, a biotechnology company focused on biologics for immunological diseases, Mane brings industry experience in building and scaling startups.
His work includes developing therapies, securing venture capital and research funding, and managing multi-team collaborations across North America and the United Kingdom.
In his new role, Mane will advise students on translating early-stage ideas into viable ventures, drawing on his experience navigating product development and investor engagement. “It can feel like building the airplane while you’re already flying it,” Mane said, describing the uncertainties of early-stage entrepreneurship.
The appointment builds on Mane’s prior engagement with the college, including a presentation at a School of Science interdisciplinary colloquium in 2023. Faculty said his involvement is expected to strengthen links between academic training and industry application.
“Dr. Mane’s passion for TCNJ is evident in his desire to work with our community,” Andrea Welker, dean of the School of Engineering, said, adding that he is accessible to students at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey.
According to a news release issued by the college, students are already working with Mane on early-stage ideas. Isha Patel, a biology major with a chemistry minor, is developing a voice-enabled platform aimed at reducing documentation burdens for paramedics and improving communication during emergency response.
“It’s rare to have direct mentorship from someone with real startup and industry experience who can help translate an idea into something that could actually exist outside the classroom,” Patel said.
Mane is also expected to host workshops on entrepreneurship fundamentals and facilitate networking opportunities with alumni and business leaders. Abby O’Connor, interim dean of the School of Science, said his presence demonstrates that a liberal arts-based science and engineering education can lead to global entrepreneurship.
Mane currently serves as a scholar-in-residence at the 1517 Fund and has held roles including director of venture studio at the New Jersey Innovation Institute. He was also an adjunct faculty preceptor at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
He holds a PhD in molecular and human genetics from Baylor College of Medicine and a bachelor’s degree in biology, with a minor in fine arts, from The College of New Jersey in 2000.
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