Dr. Tamara Bush, a Mechanical Engineering professor at Michigan State University, and biomechanics post-doctoral student Dr. Justin Scott have developed the world’s first Smart Wheelchair. Current wheelchair designs have a limited range of adjustment, often only allowing users to recline by tilting the seat back rearward. However, these designs are often inadequate to treat pressure …
MSU Business-CONNECT welcomes Nick Miller to the role of Executive Director. Miller brings almost 15 years of corporate relations experience to the Business-CONNECT team. “I am very excited to bring Nick into the Innovation Center leadership team. Nick’s time at the Business Engagement Center at the University of Michigan has provided him with all the …
Brian Wright recently joined the MSU Technologies (MSUT) team as the new Associate Director, reporting to Anne Di Sante, Executive Director. Wright brings more than 20 years of experience to MSUT and believes that with his technology management background, he can help make an immediate, positive impact at MSUT by increasing faculty engagement, building on …
Younsuk Dong, an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at the MSU Department of Biosystem and Agricultural Engineering (BAE), has created a system that will improve irrigation and plant disease management. Dong’s hardware, entitled the Low-Cost Monitoring System (LOCOMOS), is aimed at helping farmers determine optimal crop water patterns and can help farmers decide when crops …
Stephanie Taylor has recently joined the MSU Innovation Center’s Intellectual Property (IP) team. Taylor will work as a Patent Assistant, working with MSU faculty members and the Innovation Center’s patent attorneys to determine what intellectual property protections are available for the innovations being developed across MSU’s campus. Taylor graduated from Colorado Technical University with a …
Karen Lavery was recently appointed to the role of Financial Analyst of MSU Technologies at the MSU Innovation Center. Lavery attended the University of Phoenix, earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Lavery joined the Innovation Center team in June 2022 and assists the IP Finance Coordinator, Jen Folger. “Karen has a great attitude and is …
In April 2022, Audrey Grantz was appointed CDA/MTA/DUA Coordinator, officially joining the CDA/MTA/DUA team. While working at MSU, she has negotiated material transfer agreements (MTA), Confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDA), and many Data Usage Agreements (DUA). Audrey’s responsibilities in this position focus on ensuring faculty intellectual property are protected through these agreements. Grantz brings an outside …
Dr. Muhammad Rabnawaz, assistant professor in the School of Packaging and professor in the Chemistry Department, is developing new ways to create plastics. Rabnawaz is researching ways to produce biodegradable plastics and recycle polymers. He utilized resources at the MSU Innovation Center to assist on the technological side of his work and stated that the …
This October, Leon Ma was appointed to the role of Assistant Director of Corporate Relations. His new position holds responsibility for business intelligence research. With Ma’s background in industry analytics, he will be a crucial asset to the growth of the Innovation Center’s Corporate Relations team. Before joining the Corporate Relations team, Ma worked as …
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Spartan Innovations announces its inaugural cohort for the Lansing Regional SBIR + MedTech Accelerator in cooperation with Lansing Economic Area Partnership. Designed to support high-tech, high-growth medical technology companies in the Lansing region, the SBIR + MedTech Accelerator is a 12-week virtual program that will run this fall. The cohort will be …
