Cultivating the next generation of translators and innovators
The Accelerating Research Translation Integrated Student Ambassador Network, or ARTISAN, is a student engagement initiative within Innovate UA’s NSF Accelerating Research Translation program. ARTISAN connects undergraduate and graduate students to the University of Alabama’s growing innovation and commercialization ecosystem by providing opportunities to engage with translational research, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship activities across campus.
Through ARTISAN, students serve as ambassadors for public-impact research and innovation while building leadership skills, collaborating with faculty and industry professionals, and contributing to the broader mission of translating university research into real-world impact.
Your Role as a Student Ambassador
As an ARTISAN Ambassador, you aren’t just a member; you’re a catalyst for the UA innovation ecosystem. You will:
- Advocate: Lead campus-wide awareness for NSF-funded research and commercialization by explaining what research translation is and demonstrating the pipeline of commercialization programs offered at the university through advertising materials and class presentations.
- Connect: Build bridges between faculty researchers, industry professionals, and the student body by overseeing the Bama IP Commercialization Academy, hosting events with industry guest speakers, and identifying opportunities for design challenges with the greater Tuscaloosa community.
- Consult: Meet one-on-one with students to help guide them through the commercialization pipeline by assessing their stage of venture development and available support programs for such stage.
What is Bama IP Commercialization Academy?
A semester-long program designed to help students license faculty IP and develop viable businesses. This is a three-phase program, led by ARTISAN students and supported by Innovate UA and Integrated Venture Development staff.
ARTISAN students will lead the planning, marketing, and coordination of this program. Innovate UA and IVD will provide the intellectual property, resources, connections, and funding.
Phase 1
Inventors introduce technologies; students form teams of 3-5 people and generate proposals.
Phase 2
Selected proposal teams undergo customer discovery training though I-Corps and IP commercialization training by IVD.
Phase 3
Teams present at a business plan competition and may ultimately sign IP licensing agreements with the University to launch a real company
Why Become an Ambassador?
- Hands-on technology transfer: Learn how a patent becomes a product.
- Resume Building: Lead initiatives for a major NSF-funded program.
- National Network: Collaborate with ARTISAN peers at other top universities.
- Leadership Experience: Oversee execution of an impactful event and mentor students in commercialization.
Ready to Build the Future?
Apply to join the ARTISAN student network. Help advance innovation and research translation at The University of Alabama and learn and network along the way!
Questions?
Contact Nicholas Brown in the Research ASSIST Office at nebrown7@ua.edu or (205) 348-0898.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No. 2331381. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.