Our Teams

The MSU Innovation Center Leadership team supports the mission and vision of the MSU Innovation Center. Collectively, we integrate innovation, technology transfer, support for start-ups, and partnerships with businesses and communities to bring ideas to the marketplace to help Michigan and the United States compete in a global environment. MSU brings pathbreaking ideas to the …

Technology managers help evaluate commercialization potential based on factors such as intellectual property strength, market value, level of development, ease of implementation and timing. Learn who represents your space of MSU.

The Corporate Engagement Team works to create collaborations between university and corporate research teams. These collaborations work to advance research and bring MSU innovations closer to the world where they will have direct impact.

The Business Connect Contracts Team reviews, negotiates and drafts contracts with for-profit companies sponsoring research, clinical trials and fee for service activity at MSU. The team is involved in the contracting process from beginning to end to ensure both parties are satisfied with the outcome and to ensure consistency with MSU policies. The team works …

The MSUT Operations Team oversees the Intellectual Property portfolio of the Innovation Center. From managing the patents to executing license and option agreements to distributing royalties, this team has a hand in all things IP.

The MSU Technologies Translational Grant team works to manage grant awards given to researchers, from the application process to granting the award. Grants include the ADVANCE Grant, the MTRAC Starter and Full award, and TSGTD internal MSU grant. To grant these awards, the team works with the technology managers and university researchers. “We are particularly …

The CDA/MTA/DUA Team assists with material transfer agreements (MTA), confidential disclosure agreements (CDA), and data use agreements (DUA) for the university. They help faculty members protect their intellectual property, transfer data and materials to and from other institutions, and conduct research. The team works diligently to secure the CDA/MTA/DUA agreements for the university. They execute …

The Startup Support team helps MSU faculty turn their technology innovations into startup companies. The Entrepreneurs-In-Residence (EIRs) and Mentors-In-Residence (MIRs) are available to provide support, mentorship and resources to faculty looking to turn their research into a viable company. “We are here to help accelerate technologies from concept to market and create the companies of …

The Incubators & Real Estate Team spurs placemaking and economic development for startups and established companies through spaces such as incubators, corporate innovation and research space and multi-tenant flex space. The team works together to support these companies by providing resources and space in which the companies can grow. “Our team is small, efficient, and …

The investment team mentors entrepreneurs and provides early stage support and funding to startups emanating from Michigan State University as well as the wider Michigan ecosystem. Each member of the team brings a unique set of skills, which allows them to make decisions to best help entrepreneurs. “We accentuate the talents of each other and …

The Communications Team oversees all communication and marketing from the MSU Innovation Center. They share news of work within the university that hits on the Center’s three main pillars: Corporate Engagement, Tech Transfer & Commercialization, and Startups & Entrepreneurship.

The Administrative Support Team is the backbone of the Innovation Center. They perform a variety of jobs including scheduling, administrative support, reception, hiring, accounting, travel planning, internal communication and much more. “I’d like to think of myself as a point person in the office,” said Janet Foreman, the Executive Staff Assistant and Office Manager. “Whether …