With nearly 100 inventions disclosed, over 400 peer-reviewed papers, 35 patents and 16 technologies licensed to industry, the 2018 MSU Technology Transfer Achievement Award goes to Dr. Lawrence T. Drzal, University Distinguished Professor in the Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.
In 2007 he was co-founder of the successful MSU startup, XG Sciences, is the Director of the Composite Materials and Structures Center at MSU, and was appointed Director of the Vehicle Technical Application Area in the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation. From 1991-1999 he was co-director of the NSF State/Industry/University Center for Low-Cost, High-Speed Polymer Composites Processing at MSU.
An educator, mentor and leader at MSU for more than 20 years, his composite materials research is primarily in adhesion and the fiber-matrix interphase in polymer matrix composite materials reinforced with carbon, glass, polymeric and bio-based fibers and in multifunctional composites in which graphene nanoplatelets, cellulose nanofibers, and other nanoparticles added to the fiber-matrix interphase. Applications for his expertise range from automotive and construction industries to fuel cells, batteries and electronics.