Melissa Long is a Senior Contracting Officer with a focus on industry sponsored research contracts. In coordination with units across the university, Melissa negotiates and processes agreements from a variety of external sponsors, concentrating primarily on those from for-profit partners.
Originally from California, Melissa received a Bachelor of Science in Genetics from the University of California at Davis. Melissa attended graduate school at Penn State and holds a Master of Science in Cell and Developmental Biology. Prior to joining the Office of Sponsored Programs, Melissa focused on the protection and commercialization of inventions developed at Penn State. Melissa started her professional career in the Eberly College of Science Office for Innovation, where she connected inventors/entrepreneurs with needed resources and coordinated innovation-focused events. She then transitioned to the Office of Technology Management, where she facilitated technology transfer through the protection, marketing, and licensing of inventions developed at the university.