Poornima is passionate about applying science, technology, and data to build a healthier planet. She is a tenacious entrepreneur, skilled at leading dynamic teams through transformative change.

​

​As Co-founder of Trace Genomics, Poornima held multiple leadership roles—including CEO, President, and Board Director—from the company’s inception to its wind-down. She steered Trace through groundbreaking innovations and pivotal transitions. Under her leadership, Trace developed a sophisticated analytics engine that connected soil health with data-driven agriculture, food production, and climate change mitigation. Trace garnered recognition as Forbes Top 25 Most Innovative AgTech, World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, AgFunder’s Most Innovative US Startup pre-Series A, and more.

​

Poornima holds a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the University of California, Berkeley, a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Stanford University, and a B.S. in Molecular Biology from the University of Texas at Austin. She has pioneered breakthroughs in genomics, making the technology more affordable and accessible, and taught Stanford’s first-ever course on genomics applications. Poornima has led successful partnerships across academia, government, and industry, authored a dozen highly cited publications, and is an inventor on several microbiome patents.

​

As a multiple myeloma patient, Poornima brings a unique perspective to her role on the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) Board. Her personal journey equips her to advocate for patient-centric approaches and help guide the organization’s strategic direction, advancing therapies and cures for multiple myeloma.