Monthly news, events & updates | |
Building a Rainforest in the Desert | May 2026 | | Remarkable UNM Inventors Celebrated at 2026 Innovation Awards | | |
On the evening of April 28, UNM Rainforest Innovations (UNMRI) hosted its annual Innovation Awards at the Lobo Rainforest. Celebrating the achievements of University of New Mexico (UNM) faculty, staff, and students who have received issued U.S. patents, trademarks, or copyrights over the past year, this year’s ceremony awarded 48 inventor honorees for their discoveries.
This past year there were 44 U.S. patents issued between March 1, 2025, and February 28, 2026. Of those patents, 32 were from UNM Central Campus, nine patents were from UNM Health Sciences, and three patents were a collaboration between the two.
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| The following UNM faculty, staff, and students represent departments and research/clinical inventors from across main campus and health sciences campuses that reflect a strong level of collaboration. They run the gamut from first-time inventors to serial-inventors with multiple issued patents over the years. | | |
Sarah Adams, MD
Alexander Albrecht, PhD
Justin T. Baca, MD, PhD
Ganesh Balakrishnan, PhD
Cristian G. Bologa, PhD
Virginie Bondu
Steven B. Bradfute, PhD
Jeffrey Brinker, PhD
Steven R.J. Brueck, PhD
Tione Buranda, PhD
Tito Busani, PhD
Nick Carroll, PhD
Tybur Q. Casuse-Driovínto, PhD
Francesca Cavallo, PhD
José M. Cerrato, PhD
Minghui Chen, PhD
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Christos Christodoulou, PhD
Vojo P. Deretic, PhD
Jean-Claude Diels, PhD
Jeremy S. Edwards, PhD
Daniel Feezell, PhD
Fernando Garzon, PhD
Ricardo González-Pinzón, PhD
Sang M. Han, PhD
Sang Eon Han, PhD
Laurie G. Hudson, PhD
Nathan Jackson, PhD
Gabriel P. López, PhD
Matthew Lakin, PhD
Shuang (Sean) Luan, PhD
Jason T. McConville, PhD
Aaron Neumann, PhD
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Alexander Neumann, PhD
Tudor Oprea, MD, PhD
Marek A. Osiński, PhD
Jim Plusquellic, PhD
Divya Prakash, PhD
Eric R. Prossnitz, PhD
Emma J. Renteria, PhD
Rita Serda, PhD
Andrew P. Shreve, PhD
Larry A. Sklar, PhD
Darko Stefanovic, PhD
Robert M. Taylor, PhD
Angela Wandinger-Ness, PhD
Shuya Wei, PhD
Karin Westlund High, PhD
Payman Zarkesh-Ha, PhD
| | Congratulations to all our honorees! | |
The Sklar Catalyst and Acceleration Fund Gives Back to the Rainforest Ecosystem | |
UNM Rainforest Innovations is proud to announce the establishment of The Sklar Catalyst and Acceleration Fund, a new initiative designed to support the next generation of innovators.
Inspired by the Wellborn Gap Fund, the new fund is the vision of Dr. Larry Sklar, a prolific UNM inventor, National Academy of Inventors Fellow, and co-founder of the successful UNM startup IntelliCyt. The fund aims to provide “catalytic” support by addressing the hurdles that can often stall a project’s momentum.
For Dr. Sklar, the motivation comes from his own experiences navigating the commercialization process and a desire to foster local economic development.
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| Rainforest Accelerator Program Concludes 2026 Spring Cohort | |
The Rainforest Accelerator Program recently concluded its spring cohort, highlighting a new group of entrepreneurial researchers translating their ideas beyond the lab and into real-world applications.
Administered by UNM Rainforest Innovations, the program is designed to help participants explore and validate the commercial landscape surrounding their innovation. The accelerator provides each team with $3,000 to support market discovery efforts and proof-of-concept prototyping. Following the Lean LaunchPad curriculum and supplemental training from the Kauffman Founders School, teams engage in customer interviews, validate assumptions, and refine value propositions with guidance from experienced mentors.
The spring 2026 projects included:
- OxyZink by Raju Vadthya
- Elemental Sensing by Tybur Q. Casuse
- DAS Laser by Denis Seletskiy
- Healthcare Safety Hero by Falko Schoeneweiss
- Induction Clamp by Devyn Del Curto and Zarek Van Bloemen Waanders
- ScholarPath by Anurag Shrestha
- Sun Safe Technology by Kyle Troche
Read more
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In the Spotlight - Featured UNM Inventor | | | |
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Ali Bidram, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
The University of New Mexico
Research areas include:
- Grid modernization
- Power system protection and control
- AI-based protection and control techniques for AC and DC microgrids
- Power grid resilience
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| | SBIR/STTR Programs to Continue through September 30, 2031 and Announcement of America's Seed Fund Week | | |
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through September 30, 2031. This reauthorization ensures the continuation of America's Seed Fund, the nation's largest pool of non-dilutive, early-stage funding for small businesses developing advanced technologies.
America's Seed Fund Week will take place virtually May 12 - 14, 2026. This free online event connects America's Seed Fund with the entrepreneurs building advanced technologies and the organizations that support them.
Who Should Attend?
- Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Small Businesses based in the United States that are building technologies and bringing them to market
- Startup Accelerators, Business Incubators, University Entrepreneur Organizations, and other entrepreneur support organizations
- Representatives from Federal Agencies, State and Local Government, and other members across innovation networks that support small businesses
Learn more and Register
| | Students and Community Collaborate, Pitch, and Win Prizes at 2026 Lobo Hackathon | | |
For just twenty-four hours, participants from the University of New Mexico and the community gathered at the Lobo Rainforest where 18 teams formed to fast-track and collaborate on developing their ideas. Teams refined ideas aimed at solving real-world problems, utilizing a technology, or creating something entirely new. This year’s event also provided a 3D printing lab for prototype development and mentors supporting teams.
See list of Awardees
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Indigenous Entrepreneurs Podcast | | | The Indigenous Entrepreneurs podcast aims to tell the story of the Entrepreneur’s Journey, specifically that of the indigenous entrepreneur, through candid conversations featuring successful indigenous entrepreneurs. | Growing a Remote-Based Business on the Navajo Nation, Interview with Tyler Frazier, ArrowTek LLC | |
Listen to this insightful episode where we speak with Tyler Frazier, co-founder of ArrowTek LLC, a Native and veteran owned Engineering, IT, Project Management and Leadership Consulting company.
ArrowTek is a 100% Native American and Veteran owned company specializing in engineering, project management, information technology and leadership consulting. ArrowTek is based in Farmington, NM. Our mission is to provide our customers innovative solutions and provide cutting edge consulting services. ArrowTek will focus on building a customer base composed of Native/Non-Native companies, entities, and government organizations, on and off, the reservation.
| | Spring 2026 Rainforest Pitch Competition Celebrates its 10th Year of Student Entrepreneurship | | |
Celebrating its 10th year and 20 competitions to date, student entrepreneurs showcased their best ideas at the Spring 2026 Rainforest Pitch Competition. Innovation Academy, in partnership with UNM Rainforest Innovations, hosted the event, giving students the opportunity to compete for funding to help turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.
Held at Bow & Arrow Brewery, 10 finalists presented their 90-second pitches in front of a panel of judges, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and the community.
See list of Awardees
| | SCORE Mentors Available for One-on-One Meetings | | |
Meet with SCORE mentors at the Lobo Rainforest Building or on Zoom! Mentors are available for one-on-one, confidential discussions and mentoring to inventors, students, and start-up companies.
SCORE mentors are successful business people and entrepreneurs who want to give back to the community by helping other entrepreneurs become and stay successful. SCORE has been helping small businesses start and grow in the Albuquerque area for over 50 years through mentoring and workshops and seminars. SCORE is the largest National resource partner of the Small Business Administration (SBA) with about 11,000 SCORE volunteers sharing their time and talents to help America's small businesses.
Interested? Contact Cara Michaliszyn at cmichaliszyn@innovations.unm.edu to arrange.
| Advanced Economic Development Leadership Program Accepting Applications for the 2026 Cohort | |
November 2–5, 2026 in Fort Worth Texas
Participants receive an Economic Development Master Practitioner certificate from the partner universities.
AEDL immerses participants in a collaborative, team-centric approach that fosters learning through exploration, debate, exercises and team competition. The program attracts practitioners from across the U.S. bringing a wide range of thought, ideas and experiences to these sessions. Through this approach and the diversity of thought represented, participants often learn as much from interaction with fellow professionals as they do from faculty instruction.
Learn more and apply
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