Meet the Team

Marina Katayeva
Co-founder & CEO

In 2002 M. Katayeva and Dr. Igor Levitsky became founders of Emitech, Inc., a small high-technology company for the development of innovative concepts in the field of nanotechnology and advanced optoelectronic materials. M. Katayeva successfully led the team of Emitech since then. 

​Mrs. Katayeva manages all government and private contracts. Under her leadership, Emitech was awarded eight Phase I and three Phase II by the SBIR/STTR contracts: MDA (Missiles Defense Agency), MDA Airforce, MDA/NAVY, US Army, and NSF (National Science Foundation). 

​Mrs. Katayeva works on establishing successful relationships with government agencies, private sectors, universities, and other technology companies to expand Emitech Inc.’s presence and opportunities in the market. 

​Mrs. Katayeva participates in several conferences and workshops related to Life science technologies, conferences/workshops/training to establish connections with potential customers and stay updated on current market trends. 

Igor A. Levitsky
Chief Scientific Officer & Founder

Dr. I. Levitsky has over 20 years of experience in technology development, device design, prototyping, and testing for various applications in chemical/biosensing, material science, and nanotechnology. Dr. Levitsky had a Postdoctoral appointment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, Cambridge, MA. 

​Dr. Levitsky was actively involved in R&D work, including the SBIR program and private funding when he worked as a Senior Scientist at the Altair Center (Shrewsbury, MA, 1999- 2001), Brown University (2001-2002) and as a Principal Scientist at Emitech, Inc. (Fall River, MA, 2002 – present). During this time, Dr. Levitsky as Principal Investigator had multiple Phase I/Phase II awards (more than fifteen) from different government agencies such as NSF, DoE, DoD, DHS, and DoS. 

Most of these topics were related to the study of organic/composite nanomaterials and applications of new scientific concepts to the development of novel  bio/chemical sensors and related optoelectronic devices: optical/chemo resistive/capacitive/multi-parametric sensors to explosives, volatile organic compounds, metal ions, chemical warfare agents and carbon nanotube-based photodetectors and solar cells. 

​Dr. Levitsky has over eighty publications in peer-reviewed journals (two reviews), one book, and ten patents. 

Jose Mauricio Galli Geleilate, Ph.D.
Strategic advisor and business development

Dr. M. Geleilate is an associate professor of strategic management at the Manning School of Business, University of Massachusetts Lowell. Dr. Geleilate is an experienced consultant in the areas of strategy and international business, having worked with small, medium, and large companies since 2008. His expertise revolves around strategic planning, customer relationships, sales, and innovation management. Dr. Geleilate has published his scientific research in the most prestigious journals in the management field, being recognized for his work on innovation, internationalization, and systems integration.  

Kha Tram, Ph. D.
Manufacturer Partner

Dr. K. Tram is a trained chemist and biochemist working in the field of nanomaterial development for in vivo imaging and point-of-care diagnostics. During his doctoral studies, he developed a field-ready test for monitoring pathogens in fresh body water to determine water quality. This technology was spun out of the University as a startup company and was immediately field-tested in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, and local health municipalities in Canada and South Africa. Since then, the company has been acquired and the technology has expanded to testing other bacterial pathogens and biomarkers for diseases such as colorectal cancer, Clostridium difficile, Legionella, and recently COVID-19. Over this period, his work has led to more than 30 publications and 3 patents.    

Dr. Hari Chauhan, Ph.D.
Scientific Advisor

Dr. Hari Chauhan, Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, is an expert in sensor and system design with a focus on biosensors and medical devices. With over 15 years of experience, he specializes in developing novel biosensor technologies from R&D to commercial manufacturing. He has led the development of multiple diagnostic platforms, including optoelectronic devices and in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) products, two of which successfully completed clinical trials. Hari has authored over 20 patents and has deep expertise in navigating regulatory processes. His extensive collaboration with CROs, CDMOs, manufacturing partners, and external stakeholders has been critical in bringing innovative biosensor technologies to market.  

Cindy Benod, Ph.D, M.B.A
Business/Operations Advisor

Cindy has a proven track record in driving revenue growth and expanding market presence through strategic partnerships and innovative business models. She is recognized for managing all aspects related to business and operations strategy, resource allocation, budget control, and timeline management to attain organizational objectives. She is a passionate leader with remarkable acumen in leading high-performing teams, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, and optimizing operational efficiencies to achieve organizational goals. Cindy has a solid history of success in raising capital from venture investors. She contributed to the launch of 4 biotech companies including her own.

Rose Parker
Business Development Coordinator, Salesforce Administrator

Rose has over 20 years of administrative experience and 2 years as a certified Salesforce Administrator.  Her expertise includes streamlining operations and managing procurement processes.  Her exceptional ability to analyze, design, and optimize business processes drives operational efficiency and contributes to our company’s success.