Meet some of the managers, scientists, and sales people on our team!
Commercial
Jeff Hurst · General Manager
B.S. in Chemistry, University of Washington
Jeff earned his B.S. in Chemistry from University of Washington in 2010 with a focus on electro-optics and analytical chemistry. With over 10 years of experience in product management, sales, and marketing functions, Jeff has served technologies ranging from life sciences consumables to RF components for defense and telecommunications. As General Manager for Nanomaterials Solutions, Jeff draws from his tenure at nanoComposix and his background in physical chemistry to serve the unique challenges of nanomaterials manufacturing and integration.
Dr. Diana Dehaini · Sales Scientist & Project Manager
ddehaini@fortislife.com · (+1) 858-565-4227 ext. 13116
Ph.D. in NanoEngineering, UC San Diego
Diana has over 10 years experience designing and fabricating nanomaterials. She earned her PhD in NanoEngineering at UC San Diego developing novel biomimetic nanomaterials for therapeutics, and worked in industry as a scientist prior to taking a commercial role at nanoComposix. Diana uses her combined technical and sales background to manage projects. She brings together our teams to navigate the detailed technical requirements of our clients’ projects, and ensuring smooth transition from R&D all the way to commercial manufacture.
Sepideh Forster · Controller
Sepideh has over 19 years of Accounting and Finance experience, working with all sorts of different industries. She has worked with several startup companies implementing their financial operations and internal controls. Sepideh has several years of experience working in the manufacturing world. From setting up BOM’s to inventory management. After a few years of the consulting world, Sepideh joined nanoComposix in 2022 as the Controller.
Rebecca Hart · Business Development & Sales Account Manager
rhart@fortislife.com · (+1) 858-565-4227 ext. 162
Rebecca graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a B.A. in Molecular Biology. Her previous sales experience includes bioconjugation reagents sales sold directly and distributed worldwide. As an Account manager she covers the western and mid-western region, supporting her customers in every stage of the sales process from product selection to final stages of product evaluation.
Amanda Lietti · Customer Service Manager
alietti@fortislife.com · (+1) 858-565-4227 ext. 13173
Amanda has 9 years of experience as a manager in customer service and joined nanoComposix in 2021. Her expertise in establishing customer relationships has helped her earn trust and confidence from our current customers. She leads our team of Customer Service Representatives guiding, supporting, collaborating and upholding them to the highest of standards that nanoComposix instills. Amanda has helped advocate to improve processes to ensure that our customers needs are met quickly, thoroughly and with excellent service along the way. She leads by example by emulating our companies’ promise of excellence, customer first, integrity, trust and entrepreneurship.
Rondii Lynberg · Director of Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs
Rondii Lynberg has amassed over thirty years of experience in Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs, working across highly regulated industries including medical, pharma, aerospace, automotive, and telecom. She holds an MS in Quality Assurance/Engineering from Kennedy Western University, with a master’s thesis focused on Process Improvements in Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Fabrication. Her educational background includes a BA from the University of Washington with a minor in Nuclear Engineering, complemented by foundational courses from the US Navy in Basic Electricity & Electronics, Radar, Shore Communications, and Surface Mount Technologies. Her career highlights include managing clinical trials for medical devices, expertise in 510(k) and PMA submissions for Class II and Class III devices, and a current focus on quality assurance and regulatory affairs, particularly in applications involving nanoparticles in devices and pharmaceuticals. Rondii's proficiency extends to regulatory standards like ISO 13485, cGMP’s, IVDR, and MDR, supported by certifications from ASQ and RAPS.
Stephanie Morris · Product Manager
smorris@fortislife.com · (+1) 858-565-4227 ext. 13147
MBA, Rady School of Management & M.S. NanoEngineering, UC San Diego
Stephanie earned her MBA from the Rady School of Management, and her Master’s from UCSD with a focus on biomedical nanotechnology. Prior to transitioning to product management, Stephanie held the position of Senior Scientist at nanoComposix and led nanomedicine-based projects. She now leads product management efforts for nanomaterials, focusing on nanomedicine, diagnostics, and optical technologies.
Technical 
Andre Alfaro · Senior Director of Assay Development
aalfaro@fortislife.com
B.S. in Human Biology & B.A. in Clinical Psychology, University of California, San Diego
Andre Alfaro earned his B.S. in Human Biology and B.A. in Clinical Psychology from University of California, San Diego, where he spent several years characterizing surface markers on cancer stem cells for potential use as targets for nanoparticle delivery systems of cancer vaccines. He then joined Astute Medical in 2008 where he began a career developing and commercializing dozens of in vitro diagnostic tests on both the lateral flow and ELISA platforms for multiple disease indications. His work on the identification of acute kidney biomarkers led to a successful de novo 510(K) submission and CE mark of the NephroCheck test. In 2018, he joined the nanoComposix team to bring his 10+ years of development, quality and regulatory training to the lateral flow group.
Josh Bart · Director of Manufacturing Science & Technology
jbart@fortislife.com
B.S. in Biology, University of Arizona
Josh has over 10 years of experience in biotech operations after earning his B.S. in Biology from The University of Arizona in 2007. After initially working for Beckman Coulter in reagent manufacturing he joined Alere as part of the team responsible for transferring the newly acquired Cholestech in vitro diagnostic product line from the Bay Area to San Diego. After completion of the transfer, validation and integration of the product he transitioned to leading the production chemistry team with a focus on GMP manufacturing, Quality Management System (QMS) compliance, process optimization and process scale up. He joined nanoComposix to lead the manufacturing team in 2018.
David Garcia Durazo · Characterization Services Manager
dgarcia@fortislife.com · (+1) 858-565-4227 ext. 155
B.S. in Chemistry, Humboldt State University
David earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Humboldt State University in 2010 with a focus on materials chemistry and electrochemistry. He began working at nanoComposix in the fall of 2011 and quickly found his niche as an analytical chemist, becoming an expert on DLS, Zeta Potential and ICP-MS measurement and data analysis. As manager of the Analytical Services department, David has led the effort to establish the methodology and documentation necessary to grow and develop this department. David remains heavily involved with internal product QC and research characterization efforts.
Martin Miranda · Director of Production and R&D
mgmiranda@fortislife.com · (+1) 858-565-4227 ext. 127
Martin has 10 years of prior industry experience including organic small molecule synthesis, R&D of dye and pigmented ink formulation, and protocol development. Before coming to nanoComposix, Martin worked as a Chemical Technician at Hewlett-Packard. He joined nanoComposix in 2010 and as Director of Production and R&D is responsible for the development, production, quality control, and safety of product manufacturing. While at nanoComposix, he has overseen the launch of numerous standard products and has been a leader in establishing SOP’s & documentation guidelines, building a strong nanomaterial data base and staff development. He is listed as inventor in 2 submitted patents and has contributed to the generation of many of the documents in our ever growing knowledge base and NCX University.
Dr. Philippe Saint-Cricq-Riviere · Staff Scientist
priviere@fortislife.com
Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (France)
Philippe did his Ph.D. on sol-gel chemistry applied to photooxidation of organic molecules. He then explored the synthesis of various inorganic nanoparticles (silica, silver, gold) as well as the antibacterial properties of core-shell materials at the University of Tokyo before specializing in the synthesis of mesoporous silica nanoparticles applied to drug delivery at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). After joining nanoComposix, Philippe’s main research focuses on synthesis and derivatization of silica nanoparticles for applications in nanomedicine.
Dr. Aaron Saunders · Director of R&D
asaunders@fortislife.com · (+1) 858-565-4227 ext. 126
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
Aaron is a chemical engineer with more than 15 years of experience in the design, fabrication and integration of colloidal nanoparticles into applications ranging from diagnostics to photovoltaics. During his graduate work at the University of Texas at Austin and postdoctoral research at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, he developed new methods for synthesizing multi-component particles with novel optical and catalytic properties. As a professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder his research group studied the synthesis and shape control of colloidal metal and semiconductor nanocrystals, focusing on energy harvesting and sensing applications. He moved to nanoComposix in 2011 and leads projects working with government and commercial clients to develop materials with tailored optical properties for diagnostic, sensing, security, and energy applications.
Kimberly Quart · Process Development Manager
kquart@fortislife.com · (+1) 858-565-4227 ext. 121
B.S. in Chemistry, San Diego State University
Kimberly earned her B.S. in Chemistry from San Diego State University, where she spent several years working in a bioanalytical separations lab developing a detection method for autologous blood doping in elite athletes. In 2011, she joined nanoComposix where she has focused primarily on internal research and development and custom nanoparticle formulation, with an emphasis on non-spherical and tunable plasmonic materials such as silver nanoplates and nanocubes. More recently, she has been leading the development of commercial scale GMP manufacturing of plasmonic nanomaterials.
Dr. Steven Oldenburg · Founder
Ph.D. in Applied Physics, Rice University
Steve has over 25 years of nanotechnology experience beginning with his graduate work at Rice University where he discovered a method of fabricating gold nanoshells, a nanoscale composite material that consists of a spherical silica core surrounded by an ultra-thin shell of gold. This discovery led to the formation of Nanospectra Biosciences where the gold nanoshells are in clinical trials as a cancer therapy. After receiving his PhD in Applied Physics, he joined Seashell Technology where he developed commercial applications of nanotechnology, raised capital, and managed the scientific research team. In 2004 he founded nanoComposix to accelerate the commercialization of products based on precisely engineered and highly characterized nanoparticles. He is a co-founder of Sienna Biopharmaceutics and La Jolla Nanomedical, and is on the scientific advisory boards of COLR Security and Optoglo. Steve has 10 issued patents and over 40 papers in the area of nanotechnology.