Purdue Research Foundation recognizes university researchers, entrepreneurs
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue Research Foundation honored 51 Purdue University researchers at its annual Inventors Recognition Reception on Thursday (Nov. 4) in the Herman and Heddy Kurz Purdue Technology Center at the Purdue Research Park.
Honorees were recognized for breakthroughs that have resulted, or may soon result, in commercial applications to benefit society.
George Wodicka, head of the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and a professor of biomedical engineering and electrical and computer engineering, received the 2010-2011 Outstanding Commercialization Award for Purdue University Faculty. The award was established with an endowment gift from the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Foundation.
Wodicka conducts research in biomedical acoustics, the invention and application of sonic technologies to solve problems in clinical medicine. His current efforts include the design of acoustic guidance systems for clinical catheters and tubes and the development of acoustic biosensors to quantify airway obstructions and speech pathologies. He currently serves as a consultant to SonarMed Inc. of Indianapolis in its development of devices for respiratory care.
Previous recipients of the Outstanding Commercialization Award include Stephen R. Byrn, Alok Chaturvedi, R. Graham Cooks, Philip Low, Karthik Ramani, Fred Regnier and the late Leslie A. Geddes.
In the fiscal year July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010, Purdue Research Foundation officials reported 257 invention disclosures and 47 issued patents. The foundation also reported the creation of 11 startups formed from Purdue-licensed technologies. These are increases from the previous fiscal year's totals of 200 invention disclosures, 33 patents and seven startups.
"This annual event recognizes Purdue faculty researchers who have patented their discoveries and are in the process of moving or have moved their products through the commercialization process," said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and COO of the Purdue Research Foundation. "Often this process can take years to accomplish, and it is important to honor the faculty who are not only teaching future generations but also helping the public by researching and developing new discoveries."
The researchers recognized at the event were:
* Mahdi Abu-Omar, professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* Mikhail Atallah, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, Department of Computer Science, College of Science; professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
* Anil Bajaj, Alpha P. Jamison Professor of Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
* James BeMiller, professor emeritus, Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture
* Richard Borgens, director, Institute for Applied Neurology, Center for Paralysis Research; Mari Hulman George Professor of Applied Neuroscience, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine; professor, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
* Charles Bouman, Michael J. and Katherine R. Birck Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering; professor, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
* James Braun, professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
* Nicholas Carpita, professor, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture and Bindley Bioscience Center
* Srinivasan Chandrasekar, professor, School of Industrial Engineering; professor, School of Materials Engineering, College of Engineering
* Yan Chen, professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
* Jason Clark, assistant professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering; assistant professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
* W. Dale Compton, Lillian M. Gilbreth Distinguished Professor Emeritus, School of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering
* Supriyo Datta, Thomas Duncan Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
* David Ebert, Silicon Valley Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
* Kirk Foster, senior research engineer, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
* James L. Garrison, associate professor, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics; associate professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
* Stanton Gelvin, H. Edwin Umbarger Distinguished Professor of Biology, Department of Biology, College of Science
* Eckhard Groll, director, Office of Professional Practice; professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
* William Hutzel, associate professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, College of Technology
* Jules Janick, James Troop Distinguished Professor of Horticulture, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture
* Hilkka Kenttamaa, professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* Michael Kinch, adjunct associate professor, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine
* David Koltick, professor, Department of Physics, College of Science
* Gary Krutz, professor, School of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Agriculture, College of Engineering
* Michael Ladisch, director, Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering; Distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Agriculture, College of Engineering; Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
* Richard Linton, associate director, Agricultural Research Program; professor, Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture
* David Love, associate professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
* Philip Low, Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* John Lumkes Jr., associate professor, School of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Agriculture and College of Engineering
* James Mann, research engineer, School of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering
* Wilfredo Moscoso, postdoctoral research associate, School of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering
* Nathan Mosier, associate professor, School of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Agriculture and College of Engineering
* Philip Nelson, professor emeritus, Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture
* Shimon Y. Nof, director, PRISM Center; professor, School of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering
* David Nolte, professor, Department of Physics, College of Science
* Dimitrios Peroulis, associate professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
* Voicu Popescu, associate professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Science
* P. Veeraragha Ramachandran, professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* Karthik Ramani, Donald W. Feddersen Professor of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering; professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
* Fred Regnier, J. H. Law Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* Randall Replogle, professional machinist, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* John Rice, W. Brooks Fortune Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Computer Science; professor, Department of Mathematics, College of Science
* Kaushik Roy, Roscoe H. George Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
* Elisha Sacks, professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Science
* Robert Santini, senior instrumentation specialist, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* Riyi Shi, professor, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering; professor, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine
* Thomas Talavage, associate professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
* Weldon Vaughn, retired instrument maker/machinist, Department of Chemistry, College of Science.
* Alexander Wei, professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* Andrew Weiner, Scifres Family Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer
Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
* Peide Ye, professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
Business sponsors of the Inventors Recognition Reception include:
* Gold Level: Barnes & Thornburg LLP and Stuart & Branigin LLP
* Silver Level: Ice Miller LLP, Bahret & Associates Co. and Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
* Bronze Level: Baker & Daniels LLP, Cook Biotech Inc. and Hartman & Hartman P.C.
About Purdue Research Foundation
Purdue Research Foundation 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