Management & Board

Mackenna Landis, B.A.: Co-Founder, Entrepreneurial Lead

Mackenna Landis is a multidisciplinary engineer and scientist who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering and Mathematics from Carroll College in Helena, Montana. In her current role at NanoMagnetic Solutions, Inc. (NMS), she focuses on the entrepreneurial aspects of spinning off technology. She is also a graduate student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Montana State University, utilizing the core technology of NMS to control protein distribution inside the cell body related to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.

Anja Kunze M.Sc., Ph.D.: Co-Founder, Scientific Lead

Anja Kunze is a leader in the field of Micro- and Nanosystems when it comes to applying them to the biology of brain cells. She has a Ph.D. in Microsystems and Microelectronics from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Technische Universität Dresden. Dr. Kunze joined Montana State University (MSU) as an Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2016 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2022. At MSU, she built and is heading the Kunze Neuroengineering Lab. In 2019, Anja Kunze obtained an NSF CAREER award for using nanomagnetic forces to modulate calcium signals in brain cells. Core tools of the nanomagnetic force technology at NanoMagnetic Solutions, Inc., were invented in her lab.

Connor Beck, B.Sc.: Co-Founder, Technology Development

Connor Beck is a versatile chemical engineer with expertise in 3D printing, signal processing, and tool development for miniaturized biological systems. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Montana State University (M.S.) and is a current graduate student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at MSU. In his dissertation work, he focuses on a better understanding of mechanical signal transduction and the electrophysiology of neuronal networks. At NanoMagnetic Solutions, Inc., Connor focuses on technology development making nanomagnetic force technology accessible to various users and applications.