Researchers celebrated for innovating science for society
From the award to the discovery and then into the hands of consumers, this conversion is cultivated at Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech faculty were recognized for their scholarship and ingenuity at Innovation and Partnerships’ fourth annual Celebrating Innovation event on April 28.
Featured speaker Executive Vice President and Provost Cyril Clarke applauded researchers for inspiring others to be enterprising — to collaborate and build partnerships across disciplines and industries, the ability to make an impact, and ways to ensure discoveries made in the labs are transitioned into products and services that benefit society.
From the award to the discovery and then into the hands of consumers, this conversion is cultivated at Virginia Tech.
Last year alone, LICENSE: Center for Tech Commercialization, led by Executive Director Grant Brewer, helped Virginia Tech faculty disclose 145 new innovations, execute 26 new license agreements, issue 54 U.S. patents, and position researcher-developed technologies into eight new start-up companies.
“From life-saving therapies and cost-efficient batteries for electric vehicles to groundbreaking advancements in secure communications and manufacturing technologies — Virginia Tech researchers’ work adds value to everyday life,” said Brewer, also president of Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties.
Recognized at the beginning of the event were researchers who had patents issued, the Presidential Postdoctoral Innovation Fellow Harsimran Kau, and Proof of Concept awardees, all of which play a tremendous role in strengthening the university’s research enterprise.
Additionally, the following researchers were acknowledged and celebrated in the awards portion of the program for their accomplishments in respective areas of distinction:
Commercialization Champions
This category recognizes Virginia Tech faculty members who embody the spirit of innovation and have played an outstanding role in supporting technology translation through technology licensing.
Alan Abrahams, associate professor of business information technology, has developed two software innovations that have attracted significant commercial interest. The Virginia Tech’s Risk Assessment Process Tool for Online Reviews (VT RAPTOR) program is designed to identify potential safety concerns from customer reviews and has garnered attention from over 10 companies within just five months of its disclosure.
Michael Bartlett, associate professor of mechanical engineering, developed adhesion technologies, which has garnered strong interest from industry leaders and has sponsored research and licensing agreements in progress.
Dong Dong, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, is pioneering numerous innovations patented through the industry partners program with the Center for Power Electronics Systems. He is named as the inventor on 36 invention disclosures.
Jeff Reed, the Willis G. Worcester Professor, brings extensive experience in commercializing innovation and is collaborating with corporate partners to advance wireless technologies integral to modern electronics. In December, he was named fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.
Startup Builders
The category celebrates inspiring Virginia Tech researchers who are visionaries, pursuing startups that have potential for societal and economic impact.
Robert Canfield, professor of aerospace and ocean engineering: Through his company, Golden Section LLC, he successfully licensed the QUADRA Risk Assessment software that enables drone operators to evaluate mission risk by analyzing flight paths, aircraft specifications, and environmental factors.
Richard Hanowski, senior research scientist, and Carl Cospel, hardware engineering lab director, both of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, are co-founders of Motorcycle Safety Solutions and developing the Motorcycle Collision-Alert and Management System to enhance motorcycle safety globally.
Alan Michaels, professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of the Virginia Tech National Security’s Spectrum Dominance Division, founded Portcullis Research, a start-up focused on enhancing supply chain and lifecycle security for physical documents, trusted sources, and routine business operations.
Ryan Senger, associate professor of biological systems engineering, co-founded Rametrix Technologies Inc., a Raman spectroscopy-based diagnostic start-up launched in 2019. The company has licensed five patent families from Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties and continues to innovate with ongoing advancements to the Rametrix platform.
National Academy of Inventors
The National Academy of Inventors recognizes and encourages inventors with patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, enhances the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourages the disclosure of intellectual property, educates and mentors innovative students, and translates the inventions of its fellows and senior members to benefit society.
Jeff Reed, the Willis G. Worcester Professor, fellow
Alaa Algargoosh, assistant professor of advanced building design, senior member
Jonas Hauptman, associate professor of industrial design, senior member
Brook Kennedy, associate professor of industrial design, senior member
Greg Liu, associate professor of chemistry, senior member
Roop Mahajan, the Lewis A. Hester Chair in Engineering, senior member
Anna Duraj-Thatte, associate professor of biological systems engineering, senior member
Danfeng “Daphne” Yao, professor of computer science, senior member
By Example Award
The award recognizes inventors who are advancing game-changing technologies that are or hold the potential to make a significant human impact.
Azahar Ali, assistant professor of animal sciences, is developing low-cost sensors for agricultural applications, such as animal health monitoring, plant nutrient tracking, and disease detection. He has submitted eight invention disclosures, holds multiple pending patents, and is actively working toward licensing his innovations for a future start-up.
Kevin Edgar, professor of sustainable biomaterials, has a proven track record of commercializing innovation, with over 20 technology disclosures to Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties. He has helped numerous students to transition innovations into internships and successful careers in the field.
Bryan Hsu, assistant professor of biological sciences, has developed multiple technologies in his lab that have attracted strong commercial interest and is actively working toward launching a start-up.
Anne Staples, associate professor of mechanical engineering, is developing a wearable drug delivery device poised to revolutionize mobile treatments such as diabetes management and chemotherapy. Recipient of a National Institutes of Health Trailblazer award, she has also attracted significant industry interest for the drug device and dialysis filter design.
Anbo Wang, the Clayton Ayre Professor of Electrical Computer Engineering, has over 30 technology disclosures during his career at Virginia Tech. His current startup supports university research and is negotiating a license for generated intellectual property.
