FEATURED NEWS

UK’S BHATTACHARYYA NAMED 2024 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF INVENTORS FELLOW 

One University of Kentucky scientist, renowned for his research on membranes for filtering and producing clean water, has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).


Dibakar Bhattacharyya, Ph.D., known as “DB,” is professor of Chemical and Materials Engineering in the UK Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering and director of the UK Center of Membrane Sciences.


NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors and this year’s class is comprised of 170 exceptional individuals.



“We are proud to recognize Dr. Dibakar Bhattacharyya as an NAI Fellow. Our office has had the honor of working with Dr. Bhattacharyya for over two decades, an inventor that embodies the talent and abilities of UK researchers. Dr. Bhattacharyya is extremely deserving of this award,” said Matthew Upton, director of Technology Commercialization at UK Innovate.

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REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE

2025 KENTUCKY INNOVATOR CHALLENGE

Join us Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at the Gatton Student Center for a one-day summit bringing together leaders from business, service organizations and higher education to address Kentucky’s most pressing challenges. The event will feature keynote speakers, industry and federal funding program presenters, networking and more.

REGISTER

EMPOWERING INNOVATION: UK PHYSICIANS MENTOR UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERS 

The University of Kentucky is fostering innovation through a collaboration between the Pigman College of Engineering and the College of Medicine. Senior biomedical engineering students are partnering with UK physicians to address unmet clinical needs by designing practical, real-world solutions. With guidance from Davis Ferriell and support from UK Innovate’s Chelsea Ex-Lubeskie, students are developing modular surgical tools tailored to diverse ergonomics and solutions for tissue extraction in gynecologic surgeries.

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STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEW STAFF MEMBER:

LAURA CALMES


Laura Calmes joins UK Innovate as the data management analyst, where she will manage intellectual property and agreement data. She brings extensive experience as a paralegal in intellectual property, corporate law and estate administration, having worked in the greater D.C. metro area and Lexington, Kentucky.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

UK INNOVATE STAFF AWARDS

2024 EXEMPLARY STAFF AWARD

HOLLY CLARK,

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, COMMERCIALIZATION, TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION 


The staff person who, in 2024, best represented UK Innovate's mission statement and actively exhibited the UK Innovate Operating Model in all work activities.


The winners are chosen by the UK Innovate Leadership Team.

2024 RELATIONSHIPS AWARD

SERENITY WRIGHT,

SENIOR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, SOCIAL INNOVATION 


The staff person who, in 2024, best exhibited the UK Innovate Operating Model principle to put relationships on a pedestal and built and maintained relationships with others outside the office that created value to UK Innovate.


The winner is chosen by the UK Innovate Staff.

2024 SERVICE AWARD

KIM SAYRE,

MANAGER,

INNOVATION CONNECT


The staff person who, in 2024, best exhibited the UK Innovate Operating Model principle to provide exemplary customer service to others outside the office in their work responsibilities.


The winners are chosen by the UK Innovate Staff.

2024 SUPPORT AWARD

DAVID LEE KENNEDY II, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION


The staff person who, in 2024, best practiced the UK Innovate Operating Model principle to support others within the office to complete work activities, projects or goals.


The winner is chosen by the UK Innovate Staff.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Curious about what we’ve been up to? This month, the UK Innovate team has been busy delivering presentations on and off campus, engaging with partners nationwide and supporting students in their entrepreneurial journeys. These efforts allow us to share how we help turn ideas into real-world solutions while building meaningful collaborations for the University of Kentucky. Watch the video to see how we’re fostering innovation both here in Lexington and beyond!

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

BY THE NUMBERS

FY 2025

(THROUGH 11/30/2024)

PATENTS ISSUED

NOVEMBER 2024

12,138,485 Quality assurance device for a medical accelerator

Quan Chen, Dennis A. Cheek, Janelle A. Molloy


12,139,718 Methods of decreasing total alkaloid content in tobacco

Matthew Edward Humphry, Qiulin Qin, Shengming Yang 

LICENSES/OPTIONS EXECUTED

NOVEMBER 2024

Advanced Coating Technologies, LLC 

Tristana Duvallet, Robert Jewell, Anne Oberlink, Robert Rathbone, Thomas Robl 


Gangneung-Wonju National University 

Nora Warshawsky 


University of Alabama at Birmingham 

Nora Warshawsky 


University of Minnesota 

Jennifer Hunter 


University of Vermont 

Todd Burus, Pamela Hull, Lee Park 

UPCOMING EVENTS

COFFEE SCIENCE UNFILTERED:

A UK EDUCATIONAL SERIES - SESSION FOUR

Join us for the fourth session of "Coffee Science Unfiltered: A UK Educational Series" at the University of Kentucky on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, from 8 to 9 a.m. ET at Hardymon Theater.

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JOB POSTINGS

UK INNOVATE STUDENT

MARKETING ASSOCIATE


Are you passionate about marketing and eager to gain hands-on experience in a dynamic, innovative environment? We're looking for a University of Kentucky undergraduate student to join our team as a student marketing associate. In this role, you'll work with the marketing and communications team to create content for various platforms, conduct market research and assist with event planning, working approximately 10 hours per week.


Deadline to Apply: 12/13/2024

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OPPORTUNITIES

Are you a sophomore or junior looking to jump-start your career in innovation and entrepreneurship? The Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program is now accepting applications for the Launch Blue marketing and communications ambassador position!



Deadline to Apply: 01/03/2025

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LAUNCH BLUE UACCEL

QUICK START + I-CORPS

APPLICATIONS OPEN


The UAccel Quick Start + I-Corps program provides professional development and experiential learning opportunities for university innovators interested in finding the best commercialization path for their technology.



Deadline to Apply: 12/13/2024

REQUEST RECORDED INFO SESSION
LEARN MORE & APPLY

RESOURCES

SBIR Unplugged

Third Thursday, 4:00 pm ET

Virtual

Invest Blue Virtual Office Hours

Every Friday, 12:30 - 1:30 pm ET

Virtual


Launch Blue Virtual Office Hours

Every Friday, 12:30 - 1:30 pm ET

Virtual


LINKS

UK INNOVATE

TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION

SEARCH TECHNOLOGIES

VIDEO LIBRARY

Linkedin  X  Youtube