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Rodney D Priestley is the first Vice Dean for Innovation at Princeton University. He is also the Pomeroy and Betty Perry Smith Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, the Associate Director of the Princeton Center for Complex Materials, and an entrepreneur.

He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University in 2008. His research involves describing and developing complex materials, especially nanoparticles, thin polymer films, and nanocomposites, focusing on material properties at small length scales. From designing next-generation biocompatible surfactants to creating ultra-stable polymer films resistant to properties changes upon heating, his work impacts industries ranging from personal care to aerospace.

Recent recognitions include the 2020 American Physical Society Dillon Medal and 2020 American Chemical Society Macro Letters-Biomacromolecules- Macromolecules Young Investigator Award. The Root named him to its list of 100 most influential African Americans, and he was also selected as a World Economic Forum Young Scientist.

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Michael is Founder & CEO of Gaia Advisors, an investment and business development company focused on innovations in sustainability and human health. Previously, he worked for four years as a consultant for Innova Capital Partners, where he worked on the commercial rollout of Turntide Technologies' smart motors.

Earlier in his career, he spent a decade as a Portfolio Manager for a family office and also worked for seven years as a Portfolio Manager/Partner at First New York Securities, an investment firm, where he co-managed one of the largest portfolios at the company.

Prior to that he worked in Equity Research at Morgan Stanley, covering the Internet and Software sector under lead analyst Mary Meeker, and as an Investment Banker at Bankers Trust in the Real Estate group.

Michael graduated with honors from Princeton University with a degree from the School of Public and International Affairs and a certificate in Latin American Studies.

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Ramesh is currently Operating Partner for EagleTree Capital, an independent private equity firm located in New York, where he helps lead investment activities in the water and industrial sectors. He joined EagleTree through its predecessor firm, Wasserstein & Co. in 2010.

Prior to Wasserstein & Co., Ramesh held several senior management roles at GE, including Chief Technology Officer of GE Water & Process Technologies and Technology Council Leader overseeing GE Sensing, GE Fanuc Automation and Control, and GE Security. For two decades prior to GE, Ramesh worked at A. Schulman, a global, multi-billion-dollar specialty chemicals manufacturer, where he held numerous management roles, including Chief Technology Officer.

Ramesh currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Fluence, Gaylord, WaterFleet and Andronaco. He also serves on the Board of Taghleef Industries and Zahn Innovation Center at the City College of New York. Ramesh previously served on the Board of Directors of High Pressure Equipment Company, LiqTech and Airtech, as well the Innovation Business Development Advisory Board for United Technologies Corporation, the Advisory Committee for Argonne National Laboratories, and SRI International. Throughout his career, Ramesh has advised multiple international governments on water sustainability strategies.

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Xiaohui Xu received her Ph.D. in 2019 in applied chemistry from Chang'an University, while undertaking thesis research at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) in Germany. After that, she worked first as a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow and then as a research scholar in Rodney Priestley’s lab at Princeton University. Her research focus is on developing stimuli-responsive soft materials for environmental remediation. Recent recognitions include the Third Prize in Princeton University’s 16th Annual Innovation Forum, Newsweek’s inaugural list America’s Greatest Disruptors: Mind Blowers, Fast Company’s inaugural Most Creative People in 2021, 2023 CAS Future Leaders, PMSE Future Faculty, Princeton’s featured innovators.

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Justine Lee is Chief Operating Officer at 25madison, an NYC-based venture studio that builds and invests in early stage companies. Prior to 25madison, Justine held leadership positions at Lyft (micromobility) and at Citibike, the country's largest bikeshare operator. She serves on the board of directors of Harbor (emergency preparedness and resiliency), Ruby (elder services) and Friends of Governors Island.

Justine received her B.A. from Yale University and her J.D. from Columbia Law School.