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 conversation, Dr. Vermeij walks us through the hidden stories that mollusk shells can tell us about evolut...
Jul 02, 2025•36 min
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 biochemist Karl Paul Link and his team, fueled by scientific curiosity, institutional support, and an unshak...
Jun 25, 2025•37 min
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 while delivering everyday value. Josh is the co-founder and CEO of Plantd, a company creating carbon-neg...
Jun 18, 2025•36 min
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 University of Chicago’s $20 million pre-seed fund and authoring the Innovation Ecology Substack. Ashish, a ...
Jun 11, 2025•35 min
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 decades of experience to the conversation, including nearly 20 years at MIT and his long standing leade...
Jun 04, 2025•38 min
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 Cornell University and a J.D. from Santa Clara University she’s held leadership roles at companies like A...
May 28, 2025•38 min
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. My guest today is Dr. Jahanara Ali, founder of Longitude Ventures Consulting. Dr. Ali has spent years working wi...
May 21, 2025•29 min
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 Atlantic. Dr. Hughes traces her journey from a PhD in infection‑immunity at University College London to tr...
May 14, 2025•38 min
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 through the work her team is doing with CRISPR to expose new ways of tackling tuberculosis, even the stubb...
May 07, 2025•15 min
Building inclusive workplaces is not just good ethics, it is a major catalyst for innovation, creativity, and long term success. In this episode we take a closer look at how tech transfer offices can harness the untapped potential of neurodivergent talent and why doing so could transform not just individual careers but entire organizations. My guest is Andy Williamson, founder of Welcome Brain Consulting a UK-based consultancy pioneering neurodiversity inclusion in workplaces worldwide. Andy has...
Apr 30, 2025•43 min
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 clarity and direction. Our guest is Nick Webb, a bestselling author, futurist, and innovation strategist...
Apr 23, 2025•32 min
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 working on her PhD at Caltech, Andrea discovered a unique pheromone language shared by roundworms which...
Apr 16, 2025•24 min
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 building bionic arms to redesigning city infrastructure, PLTW students and educators are showing us what...
Apr 09, 2025•40 min
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 innovation. At the USPTO, she opened up patent accessibility by expanding the patent bar to include a bro...
Apr 02, 2025•38 min
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 work in attosecond physics is reshaping what’s possible in the study of electron dynamics. But what makes...
Mar 26, 2025•16 min
For Women’s History Month we welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Kate Zernike, national correspondent for The New York Times. Kate has been reporting since 2000 on education, national politics and more. She is also the author of Boiling Mad: Inside Tea Party America and The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science . Kate’s latest book tells the inspiring and infuriating story of how a group of women scientists at MIT used data to expose gender discrimination and d...
Mar 19, 2025•40 min
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, cutting-edge technologies, or even life-saving treatments come to exist, the answer often lies in Tech T...
Mar 12, 2025•22 min
What happens when workplace equity efforts get lost in performative gestures? Today we’re talking about the conventional approach to workplace equity and the DEI landscape. As organizations face growing political pressure and increasing scrutiny of DEI programs, a more effective and outcome-driven approach has never been more urgent. Lily Zheng is a strategist, consultant and author who helps build fair, accessible, inclusive and representative organizations. They are the creator of the FAIR fra...
Mar 05, 2025•30 min
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 50-60% to 15%. This has sent shockwaves through the academic and research communities. With this poli...
Feb 26, 2025•39 min
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 inclusive, effective, and meaningful. Dr. Reid Smith is the Arthur L. Glenn Professor of Engineering Educa...
Feb 19, 2025•43 min
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 materials like clocks, steel rails, and copper cables advanced technology and changed human behavior in un...
Feb 12, 2025•25 min
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, from imposter syndrome and burnout to the stigma around mental health in the workplace. Most impor...
Feb 05, 2025•56 min
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, Carmine shares valuable advice for tech transfer professionals and inventors. From overcoming intelle...
Jan 29, 2025•31 min
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 passion for scientific research and a track record of turning university innovations into biotech companie...
Jan 22, 2025•30 min
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 ability to help clients build valuable, litigation-ready patent portfolios that drive business goals. He...
Jan 15, 2025•43 min
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 program. It’s designed to have students tackle real-world challenges. This transdisciplinary program is al...
Jan 08, 2025•51 min
Getting groundbreaking technology from the lab to the market is no easy task, and it’s a challenge that every Tech Transfer professional understands well. While university Tech Transfer offices are often measured by the number of licenses executed, success isn't just about numbers; it's about ensuring the technologies developed truly meet market needs. Kate Havey, the Assistant Director of Licensing at Venture Partners at CU Boulder, Is here to help us explore this topic. She brings a wealth of ...
Dec 19, 2024•33 min
In 2024, the European patent system is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in decades. The introduction of the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court is reshaping how intellectual property is protected and enforced across Europe. For innovators and businesses alike, this marks a pivotal moment—one that promises streamlined processes but also introduces new complexities. Today, we’re exploring what these changes mean and how they might impact the future of innovation. Join...
Dec 11, 2024•44 min
The role of Chief Innovation Officer is transforming the way universities approach innovation and entrepreneurship. Once confined to the corporate world, this position is now becoming a cornerstone of academic leadership, enabling institutions to centralize their efforts around economic growth, interdisciplinary collaboration, and societal impact. Universities like MIT, Penn State, and Tulane are embracing this change, appointing CIOs to streamline activities across departments and amplify their...
Dec 04, 2024•51 min
Did you know that the restaurant and construction industries have among the highest suicide rates in the country? That's where Wichita State University's Suspenders4Hope initiative comes in, combining ingenuity and compassion to address mental health issues head-on. This breakthrough endeavor began as a campus-based campaign for suicide prevention and mental wellness training and has since spread to companies across the country. We’re joined by three incredible guests who helped make it happen. ...
Nov 20, 2024•46 min
