AUTM on the Air

Have you ever tried to picture the natural world without relying on sight? It’s a wild thought, but for Dr. Geerat J. Vermeij, it’s just how he experiences life. Blind since the age of three, Dr. Vermeij built an extraordinary career as an evolutionary biologist. He’s a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, a celebrated author, and Professor Emeritus of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UC Davis. In our conver...

What if one of the most important medical breakthroughs of the 20th century began with a dead cow and a desperate young farmer? That’s exactly what happened in 1933, when 21-year-old Ed Carlson arrived in Madison, Wisconsin, carrying a bucket of blood and a mystery that would eventually lead to the discovery of warfarin. This unlikely starting point sparked years of relentless research by biochemi...

What happens when climate innovation isn’t just a buzzword but a blueprint for real change? In this episode, we explore how climate-focused technologies are being developed, commercialized, and scaled in ways that go far beyond traditional models.  My guest, Josh Dorfman, brings a rare mix of experience in both business and policy, with a track record of building ventures that reduce emissions whi...

What if universities had a smarter way to surface the innovation already happening across their campuses? In this episode, I’m joined by Steven Lehmann, Managing Director of Stargaze at Portal Innovations, and Ashish Uppala, Head of Engineering and Product for Stargaze.  Steven brings over a decade of experience in venture building and university innovation ecosystems, including leading the Univer...

The world of software innovation is evolving faster than ever, and Tech Transfer professionals are being asked to make critical decisions around open source, copyright, patents, and AI. In this episode, we take a deep dive into this complex landscape with Dan Dardani, Director of Physical Sciences and Digital Innovations Licensing and Corporate Alliances at Duke University. Dan brings over two dec...

AI is no longer just a concept in IP. It’s part of how teams work, make decisions and create value. In this episode I talk to Dr. Marcia Chang, VP of IP Operations and Client Success at Tradespace. Dr. Chang has over 20 years of experience in IP strategy, operations and commercialization and has a unique blend of engineering and legal expertise.  She has a Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering from Cor...

When you start a biotech company, equity isn't just a line on a spreadsheet. It can literally determine who gets to keep pursuing their dream and who has to step aside. In this episode, we're digging into equity distribution, an aspect of launching a startup that's easy to overlook but critically important. It shapes whose ideas ultimately make it from the lab bench to the real world....

When cutting‑edge science collides with the realities of commercialization, tech transfer stops being paperwork and starts shaping the future of innovation. That intersection is exactly where European patent attorney and IPKat writer Rose Hughes has built her career, and today she’s here to break down what the latest headline decisions mean for anyone navigating patents on this side of the Atlanti...

This episode will illustrate how scientific research and tech commercialization can create a powerful impact. I'm excited to have Dr. Valwynne Faulkner on the show today. She is a postdoctoral researcher at the Francis Crick Institute and a LifeArc Knowledge Transfer Innovations Fellow. Her fascinating work spans cutting-edge molecular biology research and technology transfer. Val walked me th...

Innovation isn’t just evolving—it’s accelerating, fragmenting, and reshaping everything in its path. In this episode, we dive into what that means for the world of technology transfer, where traditional systems are being pushed to adapt or risk falling behind. If you’ve ever wondered how Tech Transfer Offices can keep up with the chaos of rapid innovation, this conversation will give you both clar...

Could worms be the missing piece to treating allergies and autoimmune diseases? That’s the exciting idea that’s driving today’s guest, Dr. Andrea Choe, a scientist, doctor and biotech founder on a mission to change the way we think about human health. Dr. Andrea Choe is the CEO and co-founder of Holoclara, a biotech company that’s changing how we treat allergies and autoimmune disorders. While wor...

What if STEM education wasn’t just about formulas and lab reports—but about solving real problems, transforming lives, and reshaping entire communities? In this episode, we’re talking about how hands-on, project-based STEM education is making that vision a reality through Project Lead The Way, a nonprofit that’s helping millions of students across the U.S. become tomorrow’s changemakers. From buil...

I'm thrilled to welcome Kathi Vidal to the show today. Kathi has been at the forefront of IP policy, working to expand patent accessibility, and tackle some of innovation’s most pressing issues. As the former Undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Kathi has spearheaded significant changes that reshaped how America approaches i...

There aren’t many people in the world who can say they’ve changed the way we understand time itself, but today’s guest is one of them. In this episode, I'm honored to welcome Dr. Anne L’Huillier, professor of atomic physics at Lund University and recipient of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics. She’s one of only five women in history to receive the Nobel in this category, and her groundbreaking w...

This episode of AUTM on the Air is currently unavailable. In the meantime, be sure to check out one of our other interviews with patent and licensing professionals, innovators, entrepreneurs, and tech transfer leaders that focus on the issues and trends that matter most.

The future of research and innovation is on the line. Right now, universities across the country are facing significant funding cuts that could reshape the way groundbreaking discoveries move from the lab to the real world. These cuts threaten not just the researchers and students who rely on them, but the very foundation of our innovation economy. If you have ever wondered how new medicines, cutt...

This episode of AUTM on the Air is currently unavailable. In the meantime, be sure to check out one of our other interviews with patent and licensing professionals, innovators, entrepreneurs, and tech transfer leaders that focus on the issues and trends that matter most.

Research doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It needs a foundation of stable funding, institutional support and policies that empower researchers to innovate. But today that foundation is under threat. In this episode we dive into one of the biggest problems facing American research: the NIH funding crisis. On February 7th the National Institutes of Health (NIH) slashed indirect cost reimbursements from 5...

Engineering is more than just numbers and equations—it’s about people, innovation, and solving real-world problems. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tahira Reid Smith, an engineer, educator, and entrepreneur who is shaping the future of engineering through human-centered design. From childhood inspiration to groundbreaking research, she has dedicated her career to making technology more inclus...

Science isn’t just about discovery; it’s about transformation. In this episode, I talk to Dr. Ainissa Ramirez, an award-winning scientist, author, and science advocate who wants science to be for everyone. From her childhood of taking things apart to her work in materials science, Dr. Ramirez shares how curiosity and representation shaped her journey. Her book The Alchemy of Us explores how materi...

In the fast-paced world of Tech Transfer, we work to close the gap between great research and real-world impact. But behind the scenes, many of us face high pressure, high expectations, and a profession that’s often misunderstood. Today we’re breaking the silence on a critical but often overlooked issue—mental health in tech transfer. In this episode, we’ll talk about the unique challenges we face...

What does it take to turn a great idea into a market ready product? This week on AUTM on the Air we have Carmine Denisco, president of the United Inventors Association (UIA) to talk about the journey of independent inventors. With over 100,000 members worldwide the UIA is a non-profit dedicated to providing resources, education and advocacy to inventors and ethical partnerships. In this episode, C...

The process of transforming cutting-edge academic research into life-changing therapies is often described as moving from bench to market. Joining us today is Elizabeth Douville, President and CEO of Iricor, a cancerology and immunology research valorization center based at the University of Montreal. Elizabeth is a leader who connects academic, industry and government ecosystems. She has a passio...

At the beginning of this new year and a new administration, we wanted to examine what trends, challenges, and opportunities lie ahead for technology transfer professionals and IP practitioners. My guest is Eli Mazour, an intellectual property attorney with Foley & Lardner LLP and host of the Clause 8 podcast. Eli is known for his intricate understanding of the patent system and his unique abil...

CSUS Sacramento or Sacramento State is part of the California State University system, the largest public university system in the US with over 450,000 students across 23 campuses in California. We all know that the journey of invention and innovation starts with education and Sacramento State is leading the way with their Invention Education Program. This class is based on the Lemelson-MIT progra...