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About Our Team

Erik Tjaden, Ph.D., CEO and President

Dr. Tjaden is a co-founder of Tjaden Biosciences. Dr. Tjaden received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Iowa in 1987 and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Indiana University in 1993. Following a one-year post-doctoral assignment at the University of Iowa, Dr. Tjaden joined the Union Carbide Catalyst Skill Center in S. Charleston, West Virginia. At Union Carbide, Dr. Tjaden was involved in the research and development of new catalysts and catalytic processes.

After 6 years at Union Carbide, Dr. Tjaden joined Analytical-Biochemistry Laboratories in Columbia, Missouri. At ABC Labs, Dr. Tjaden started and directed the synthesis group overseeing projects including carbon-14 and tritium custom synthesis, GMP production, analytical method development and validation, radiopharmaceutical drug product investigation and production, and impurity identification and isolation.

Hari Pennaka, Ph.D., Director of Business Development / Senior Scientist

Dr. Pennaka has over 10 years of radiochemical experience including extensive hands-on laboratory work in the successful synthesis of a wide variety of custom and catalogue 14C and 3H compounds, as well as 15N, 13C, and 2H stable label compounds. Dr. Pennaka is also an expert in the GMP/GLP regulations governing the synthesis of radiolabeled compounds. In addition to a proven track record in the laboratory, Dr. Pennaka has also excelled in relationship building with radiochemical customers and is now a recognized leader in the development of radiochemical business development, a position that Dr. Pennaka has assumed at Tjaden Biosciences.

Dr. Pennaka received a B.S. in Chemistry and Biology in 1995 from Sri Venkateswara University, an M.S. in Industrial Chemistry in 1997 from Barkatullah University, and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 2002 from Sri Venkateswara University. Dr. Pennaka worked in various positions abroad and in the U.S. including Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals and Bexel Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Pennaka embarked upon his radiochemical career starting in 2005 at Vitrax Radiochemicals as a Scientist-Radiochemistry, in 2007 Dr. Pennaka joined Aptuit, Inc. (formerly ChemSyn) as a Senior Scientist-Radiochemicstry, and in 2011 Dr. Pennaka joined Moravek Biochemicals as Director of Business Development-Senior Scientist in Radiochemistry.

Philip Korb, Retired

Mr. Korb has over 40 years of radiochemical experience and is recognized as an expert in the production of carbon-14 intermediates from barium carbonate. Mr. Korb received his B.S. in Chemistry from Stetson University in 1961. Mr. Korb's vast industrial experience includes tenures at many radiochemical facilities including Mallinckrodt/Nuclear from 1964-1973, New England Nuclear (now Perkin Elmer) from 1973-1979, KOR Isotopes in 1979, Pathfinder Laboratories (now Sigma) from 1980-1981, and American Radiolabeled Chemicals from 1983-2006. Many of Mr. Korb's contributions to the radiochemical field including laboratory design, vacuum line design and usage, and radiochemical production procedures are now viewed as industry standards.