Our Team
Many Backgrounds. Different Perspectives. Persistently Curious.
MEET THE TEAM
ALLY BOERTZEL
Executive Assistant
ROBERT NICOL, PhD
Venture Partner
KATHERINE TERRANOVA
Associate
MEGAN LIPCSEY, MD
Associate
JOHN DiNAPOLI
Systems Administrator
KATE MOREAU, PhD
Associate Director
ALLY BOERTZEL
Executive Assistant
Ally Boertzel is an Executive Assistant at RA Ventures (RAVen). Her primary responsibilities are to coordinate calendars, events, travel and meetings for the Venture Partners and Entrepreneurs-In-Residence within RAVen. Ally brings to RAVen nearly a decade of administrative experience. Most recently, Ally spent over five years at Akebia Therapeutics (previously Keryx), where she held Commercial Team Administrator/Internal Meetings Specialist, Sales Team Administrator/Training Specialist and Senior Administrative Assistant roles. Prior to Akebia, she gained Administrative and Resource Management experience at Wellington Management and Signature Consultants, respectively. Ally coached Women's Lacrosse at Muhlenberg College in PA. Prior to her stint coaching, she received her BS in Psychology with a Minor in History from Union College in NY.
ROBERT NICOL, PhD
Venture Partner
Robert Nicol is a Venture Partner at RA Ventures (RAVen), focusing on company creation. Prior to RA, Rob spent 21 years at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, most recently as the Senior Director of Technology Development and a Principal Investigator. His laboratory at the Broad focused on advanced high throughput biotechnology tools including DNA synthesis, single cell analysis, synthetic biology derived biomolecule libraries, and microbiome profiling. Robert has led multiple DARPA, IARPA, and NIH advanced technology development programs. He is also the co-founder of multiple biotechnology companies including HiFiBiO and Design Pharmaceuticals. He served on the Scientific Advisory Boards of multiple companies including DNA Script, Danaher Life Sciences, and CircBio. Robert also led the Sequencing Operations and Technology Development groups at the Broad for over 12 years, implementing industrial process control methods, developing multiple generations of high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies, and establishing an agile learning culture in the organization. Prior to his career at the Broad Institute, Robert was an MIT Leaders for Manufacturing Fellow, and a project manager for Fluor Corporation, where he managed large-scale petrochemical design and construction projects. Robert received his BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Houston. He earned an MS in chemical engineering and his MBA and PhD in engineering systems from MIT.
KATHERINE TERRANOVA
Associate
Katherine Terranova is an Associate within the TechAtlas division of RA Capital Management. Katherine’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to create competitive landscapes of drugs and medical devices for disease indications and capabilities. Katherine has a as a BA in Mathematics and a Minor in Chemistry from Boston College and a Master of Science in Medical Science from Boston University School of Medicine.
MEGAN LIPCSEY, MD
Associate
Megan Lipcsey is an Associate with the TechAtlas division of RA Capital Management. Megan’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to create competitive landscapes of drugs and medical devices for disease indications and capabilities. Prior to RA, Megan worked as a Gastroenterology Fellow at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a Resident Physician, Internal Medicine, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Megan has a BS in Microbiology & Cell Science from University of Florida. She earned an MBA with focus in entrepreneurship & strategic management from AB Freeman School of Business at Tulane University and her MD from Tulane School of Medicine.
JOHN DiNAPOLI
Systems Administrator
John DiNapoli is the Systems Administrator at RA Capital Management. John’s primary responsibility at RA Capital is to provide technical assistance and support for issues related to computer systems, the network, and server environments. John holds a BA in Sociology and Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He previously worked as a Help Desk Manager at Toast.
KATE MOREAU, PhD
Associate Director
Kate Moreau is an Associate Director within the TechAtlas division of RA Capital Management. Kate’s primary responsibilities are to drive internal and external strategic and diligence initiatives and oversee the workflow and professional development of TechAtlas Associates. Prior to this role, Kate worked with the Venture team evaluating early stage investment opportunities and mapped a number of competitive landscapes, including ophthalmology, lower GI, and non-viral liver disease. Kate holds a BA in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Rutgers University, and a PhD in Biochemistry from MIT. Her doctoral research investigated the folding and aggregation of gamma-crystallins associated with cataract formation.