AUTM on the Air

The success of tech transfer efforts begins with advocacy. Tech transfer is not just an abstract idea. It creates real companies and real jobs. Getting policy makers to understand tech transfer will push the whole profession in a positive way. Mike Waring, AUTM Advocacy and Alliances Coordinator, is here to talk about advocacy at the local, state, and national level. In this two-part episode, we b...

Over the last two decades, utility patent applications involving AI have seen an increase of 150%. In the words of Kathi Vidal, “AI is going to be ubiquitous.” From healthcare to climate science, no industry will be left unaffected by it in some way or another, which is why the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), under Kathi’s leadership, has made it a top priority.  In this episode...

If you’re a technology transfer professional, prompt engineering is going to transform your life. In brief, prompt engineering is a set of plain language inputs that you can impart on a generative AI tool (like ChatGPT) to acquire a particular output.  As an example of how ChatGPT can enhance the efficiency of your processes when you get to grips with prompt engineering, John Keary is currently ab...

Generative AI is opening up a whole new world that all of us, at some point, are going to need to learn to navigate.  From drafting appeal letters to managing heart disease and finding natural disaster survivors, the limits to what generative AI is likely to be able to help humans do (or do on its own) in the near future are seemingly non-existent.  In this episode, Jonathan Gortat, Director of Li...

If you’re worrying about the impact that AI tools could have on your job as a technology transfer professional, stop! In this episode, we are joined by Vice President of Technology Opportunities and Ventures at New York University, Marc Sedam, who is here to share why AI is one of the best things to happen to the field of technology transfer.  Six months ago, Marc and his team began harnessing the...

“Together we can foster a future where indigenous voices are heard, cultures are preserved, and the artists of these communities are recognized and celebrated.” As a proud member of the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation, Amanda Bernard is on a mission to celebrate, support, and empower indigenous artists and entrepreneurs and in doing so, create a more just and culturally rich world. In this episode...

As an attorney in the Office of Policy and International Affairs at the USPTO and the USPTO’s Tribal Affairs Liaison, Susan Anthony has committed most of her career to protecting indigenous knowledge and empowering indigenous communities.  In this episode, Susan shares where her passion for helping indigenous communities originated, what she loves most about her work, and some of the most memorabl...

Indigenous Peoples' Month, celebrated throughout November in the U.S., is a time to celebrate and honor the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Indigenous communities. In the first episode of our Indigenous People Celebration series, we’re joined by Jael Whitney, an Officer for MIT Solve’s Indigenous Communities Program with a background in business development, marketing, and econo...

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.

Carlos Baez-Pagan and his team at the Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust are working towards the creation of a globally recognized innovation hub. In this episode, Carlos, the Trust’s Associate Director, shares what their journey over the past (almost) 20 years has entailed.   Carlos has a background in biochemistry and business administration, has been an AUTM member since 2017,...

Ovarian cancer is one of the biggest killers, one of the hardest to diagnose, and the second most expensive to treat. Today’s guest is the cofounder of AOA Dx, a company that is transforming ovarian cancer detection and diagnosis. Oriana Papin-Zoghbi is a Venezuelan-born entrepreneur who grew up in the Middle East and attended school in Europe before moving to the United States. In this episode, s...

Through his company, Easymetering, Byron Rojas is disrupting the energy sector by simultaneously optimizing consumption and reducing carbon emissions. In this episode, the second in our Hispanic Heritage Month series, he joins us to share the fascinating journey that has brought him to this point! Byron is an electronic engineering graduate from Ecuador who has pioneered cutting-edge innovations i...

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.

AUTM’s Better World Project (BWP) is a platform that showcases impactful inventions, from Honeycrisp apples to life-changing medical devices, with the aim of highlighting the transformative power of academic research when it is put into practice.  Ann Amidzich has a background in criminal justice and is currently a Co-Chair of the Better World Project Committee. In this episode, she shares example...

Since 1999, John Miner has been involved in the AUTM Salary Survey, an indispensable tool that provides a comprehensive review of compensation trends in the field of technology transfer.  The value of the salary survey lies in its ability to help technology transfer offices understand what they need to do to attract and retain talent and to make technology transfer professionals aware of the oppor...

In this episode, we’re delving into the 2022 Canadian Licensing Survey with the Chair of the AUTM Canadian Licensing Survey Committee and Associate Director of Technology Transfer at McGill University, Olivia Novac. Olivia’s involvement in the Licensing Survey originated from her desire to change the fact that many institutions were opting out of taking the survey. Understanding the Survey’s enorm...

“With policy, you have to think long-game. This is a marathon, not a sprint.” The policy landscape is continuously evolving; every day there is a new government action taking place that influences technology transfer on university campuses. As a technology transfer professional, staying on top of those changes will help you facilitate far-reaching impact.  Today’s guest, Kate Hudson, is the Associ...

Israel is a hotbed for innovation, particularly in the high-tech space. This is evidenced by the fact that the sector makes up 18.1% of the country’s GDP (making it the largest contributor to the economy). Part of the reason for the enormous success they have achieved is the remarkable collaboration between academia, industry, and technology transfer offices. Today’s guest is the CEO of Ramot, the...

Today’s guest, Derrick L. Maultsby Jr., serves as a business advisor and corporate transactional lawyer to startups, small to mid-sized businesses, and Fortune 50 companies in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, helping them grow intelligently and effectively.  The startup world is one of “nuances and details,” and numerous important legal elements need to be taken into consideration when foundi...

“Advanced cell and gene therapies are revolutionizing how to approach and treat a wide range of diseases.”  There are few things (if any) more impactful than transforming healthcare for millions of patients, including those with rare and life-threatening diseases. Today’s guest is Anji Miller, and as the Senior Business Manager in the technology transfer team at LifeArc and Skills Lead for the Inn...

How do you know when an innovation is ready to make its mark in the real world? Successfully spinning-out biotechs is an art; one that today’s guest, Irene Abrams, has a wealth of knowledge about.  Irene is the Vice President of Technology Development and New Ventures at Boston Children's Hospital. She leads the Technology & Innovation Development Office (TIDO), which is responsible for co...

Technology transfer has the power to bridge gaps not only between industry, academia, and government within a country but also on a global scale!  Today’s guest, Dr. Alfred Tan, has been the Head of the Knowledge Transfer Office at Hong Kong University for 13 years. He also serves as the Deputy Managing Director and a Board member of Versitech Limited.  In this episode, Alfred shares how his offic...

Although it is just one aspect of technology transfer, the start-up space is attracting an increasingly large proportion of the interest and support from professionals within (and outside of) the field.    Kirsten Leute (who is currently a partner at Osage University Partners) has spent nearly two decades immersed in the world of innovation. As a result she has witnessed the evolution that has tak...

The Nagoya Protocol is a supplement to the United Nation’s Biodiversity Treaty, and it is reshaping the landscape of scientific research. In this episode, Dr. Mukul Ranjan, a Senior Advisor for Innovation and Technology Transfer at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is here to explain how.  As a key player in fostering collaborations between the public, private, aca...

From the USPTO to the FBI to the NSA (where she has been for ten years), Karen Presley has spent the majority of her career working in public institutions and has always been in some way involved in the creation, protection, or transfer of a wide range of technologies.  After sharing an overview of her fascinating career path (including some of the main challenges of working for the government), K...