Ira "Ike" Levine

Ira "Ike" Levine serves as CEO of the Algae Foundation and Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern Maine, bringing over four decades of expertise in algal sciences and biotechnology. His academic journey includes a B.S. in Biology from Binghamton University, an M.S. in Marine Science from the University of South Florida, and a Ph.D. in Botanical Sciences from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His entrepreneurial ventures include founding PhycoGen, Inc., an algal biotechnology corporation, and serving as CEO of Algal Aquaculture Professionals. As Executive Director of Professors Beyond Borders, he has worked to expand global access to scientific education. On Coursera, he teaches a comprehensive series of courses including Algae Biotechnology, Algal Blooms and Proliferations, Introduction to Algae, and Introduction to Seaweeds, sharing his extensive knowledge of marine science and algal applications. His work bridges the gap between academic research and commercial applications in algae biotechnology, contributing significantly to the field's advancement through both education and industry innovation