News

Fifty-nine Purdue University faculty, staff and students whose discoveries received patents during the 2010-2011 fiscal year will be recognized Wednesday (Nov. 2) during the Purdue Research Foundation's annual Inventors Recognition Reception.

Lonnie D. Bentley, professor in the Department of Computer and Information Technology, will receive the 2011-2012 Outstanding Commercialization Award for Purdue University Faculty. The award was established with an endowment gift from the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Foundation.

Bentley is co-founder, board member and vice president of business development for Broadband Antenna Tracking Systems (BATS) Inc. The Indianapolis-based company provides enhanced electronic communications through automated antenna aiming and tracking technology for broadband directional antennas. Bentley co-developed the technology commercialized by BATS at Purdue with Anthony Smith and Michael Kane, also of the Department of Computer and Information Technology.

"What's important to the success of the technology is that there was a communication need that wasn't being met, and we met that need. What we have developed is adaptable to many situations," Bentley said. 

The communication technology currently is being used by first responders to natural disasters, homeland security officials, for oceanic vessel-to-vessel communication and other situations.

Previous recipients of the Outstanding Commercialization Award include Stephen R. Byrn, the Charles B. Jordan Professor of Medicinal Chemistry; Alok Chaturvedi, professor of management; R. Graham Cooks, the Henry B. Hass Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry; the late Leslie A. Geddes, the Showalter Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biomedical Engineering; Philip S. Low, the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry; Karthik Ramani, the Donald W. Feddersen Professor of Mechanical Engineering; Fred Regnier, the J.H. Law Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry; and George Wodicka, head of the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering.

"It is essential to recognize faculty, staff and student researchers at Purdue University because their discoveries may be developed into applications that strengthen the agriculture, communication, energy, health-care, manufacturing and security sectors," said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and COO of the Purdue Research Foundation. "Their tenacity also should be recognized because the process to deliver research from the laboratory to the public can take years."

In the fiscal year that ran from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011, Purdue Research Foundation officials reported 269 invention disclosures. This is an increase from the previous fiscal year's total of 257 invention disclosures. The foundation also reported 303 patent applications worldwide, 97 issued patents worldwide and the creation of seven startups formed from Purdue-licensed technologies.

The faculty, staff and students to be recognized during the reception are:

      * Rakesh Agrawal, Winthrop E. Stone Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Mikhail Atallah, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, Department of Computer Science, College of Science; professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Venkataramanan Balakrishnan, head and professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Donald E. Bergstrom, Walther Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy

      * Bharat Bhargava, professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Science; professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Ernest R. Blatchley III, professor, School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering; professor, Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering; Purdue Water Community

      * J. Stuart Bolton, professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Richard B. Borgens, Mari Hulman George Professor of Applied Neuroscience, School of Veterinary Medicine; professor, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering; director, Institute for Applied Neurology, Center for Paralysis Research

      * Charles A. Bouman, Michael J. and Katherine R. Birck Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering; professor, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Ray A. Bressan, distinguished professor, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture

      * Stephen Cauley, visiting assistant professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Srinivasan Chandrasekar, professor, School of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering; professor, School of Materials Engineering, College of Engineering

      * W. Dale Compton, Lillian M. Gilbreth Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Industrial Engineering, School of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering

      * R. Graham Cooks, Henry B. Hass Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Science

      * Mark S. Cushman, Distinguished Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy

      * Edward J. Delp, Charles William Harrison Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering; professor, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Okan K. Ersoy, professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Suresh V. Garimella, associate vice president, Office of Engagement; R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

      * James L. Garrison, associate professor, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, College of Engineering; associate professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * George Goble, senior systems engineer, Engineering Computer Network, College of Engineering

      * Eckhard Groll, director, Office of Professional Practice; professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Eri Haneda, postdoctoral research associate, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Mike Hasegawa, Bruno Moser Distinguished Professor, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture

      * Patrick Hein, proposal coordinator, Office of the Vice President for Research

      * Michael A. Holland, graduate research assistant, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Edward Hughes, graduate student, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

      * William J. Hutzel, professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, College of Technology

      * Halina D. Inerowicz, protein application scientist, Purdue Proteomics Facility, Bindley Bioscience Center

      * Monika Ivantysynova, director, Maha Fluid Power Research Center; Maha Named Professor in Fluid Power Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering; professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering

      * David B. Janes, professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Jules Janick, James Troop Distinguished Professor of Horticulture, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture

      * Cheng-Kok Koh, professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Gary Krutz, professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering

      * James S. Lehnert, professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * David J. Love, associate professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Dennis A. Lyn, professor, School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering

      * James Mann, research engineer, School of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering; CEO, M4 Sciences Corp., M4 Sciences LLC

      * Scott A. McLuckey, John A. Leighty Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Science

      * Scott Meyer, managing director, Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

      * David D. Nolte, professor, Department of Physics, College of Science

      * Zheng Ouyang, assistant professor, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering; assistant professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Steven D. Pekarek, professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Kathy E. Ragheb, laboratory technician, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine

      * Fred E. Regnier, J.H. Law Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Science

      * Ronald G. Reifenberger, professor, Department of Physics, College of Science; Birck Nanotechnology Center

      * J. Paul Robinson, professor, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine; professor, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering; SVM Professor of Cytomics, Bindley Bioscience Center

      * Kaushik Roy, Roscoe H. George Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Riyi Shi, professor, School of Veterinary Medicine; professor, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Pornsak Srisungsitthisunti, graduate research assistant, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

      * John M. Starkey, associate professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Sherry L. Voytik-Harbin, associate professor, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering; associate professor, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine

      * Alexander Wei, professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Science

      * Andrew M. Weiner, Scifres Family Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Jerry M. Woodall, Barry M. and Patricia L. Epstein Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Yu Xia, assistant professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Science

      * Xianfan Xu, James J. and Carol L. Shuttleworth Professor of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering; professor, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Peide Ye, professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

      * Joshua Zimmerman, graduate research assistant, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering
Business sponsors of the Inventors Recognition Reception include:

      * Gold Level: Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Bingham McHale LLP and Stuart & Branigin LLP

      * Silver Level: Bahret & Associates Co., Ice Miller LLP and Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

      * Bronze Level: Alfred Mann Institute for Biomedical Development at Purdue University, Baker & Daniels LLP, Cook Biotech Inc., Hartman & Hartman P.C., Maginot, Moore & Beck LLP and Valauskas Corder LLC

About Purdue Research Foundation

Purdue Research Foundation (http://www.prf.org) is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. The foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds research, scholarships and grants; acquires property; and negotiates research contracts on behalf of Purdue. In the 1990s, the foundation was charged with helping the university in the realm of economic development. The Purdue Research Foundation oversees the Purdue Research Park, which is the largest university-affiliated business incubator in the country. In addition to the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette, the foundation has established technology parks in other locations around Indiana including Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany.

Purdue Research Foundation contact:
Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org

Steve Martin
sgmartin@prf.org
765-588-3342