Seminar Series

Session 1 − Guarding the Spark: IP Considerations at the Proposal Stage

Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 12:00-1:30 pm
Location: Room 3104, Student Center
Speakers: Nichole Cavin, Executive Director, Office for Sponsored Programs; Hallie Leavell, Associate Director, Office for Research and Technology Agreements (ORTA); Bill Dean, Industry Engagement Program Manager

Scientific proposals shape not only funding outcomes but also the potential ownership and protection of resulting discoveries. This panel will offer guidance on relevant considerations on future intellectual property issues while working within the realities of multi-disciplinary teams. Discussion will address establishing and defining roles and contributions when faculty from different departments, other institutions, or external companies collaborate; safeguarding proprietary information while maintaining openness and transparency; and recognizing the impact of collaborations on ownership. Panelists will also outline UA’s disclosure review process and steps toward achieving IP protection.

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Session 2 − Making Sense of IP: Perspectives from the Patent Frontline

Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 12:00-1:30 pm
Location: Room 3104, Student Center
Moderator: Dr. Christopher L. Curfman, Principal, Meunier Carlin & Curfman IP Law (MCC)
Panelists: Dr. Larry Aaronson, Principal, MCC; Dr. Aisha Marinho, Patent Agent, MCC; Dr. Galit Levitin, Sr. Patent Agent, MCC; Dr. Rachel Near, Sr. Patent Agent, MCC

Intellectual property influences the course of academic research, though its terminology and processes are not always intuitive for researchers. This panel will provide an overview of the forms of IP most relevant in academic settings, with particular emphasis on patents. Panelists will consider how inventorship differs from authorship, outline the criteria that indicate when a project outcome may warrant disclosure, and discuss how copyright and related protections complement patents in disciplines beyond science and engineering. The conversation will also trace the path from filing to prosecution highlighting the role of external counsel in helping inventors navigate a system that must balance scholarly communication with the preservation of rights for broader application.

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Session 3: Partnerships in Practice: Collaboration, Compliance, and Sponsored Research

Date: TBD (January 2026)
Location: Room 3104, Student Center
Speakers: Nichole Cavin, Executive Director, Office for Sponsored Programs; Hallie Leavell, Associate Director, Office for Research and Technology Agreements (ORTA); Emilee Belk, Research Integrity and COI Program Lead, ORTA; Tech Transfer professional (TBD)

As research transitions from protection to commercialization, new questions arise around licensing, partnerships, and academic responsibilities. This session will explore how to engage with inter-institutional collaborators and industry while adhering to university expectations. Emphasis will be placed on managing conflict of interest and conflict of commitment, especially when faculty assume roles beyond the university such as consulting, startup participation, or dual appointments. The discussion will also consider how sponsored agreements intersect with intellectual property and shape the pathways for collaboration with external partners. Panelists will clarify how funding agreements, inter-institutional (IIA), nondisclosure (NDA), and material transfer agreements (MTA) identify ownership, safeguard institutional interests, and formalize collaboration.

Session 4 − Borders Without Barriers: Navigating Global Collaboration

Date: TBD (February 2026)
Location: Room 3104, Student Center
Speaker: Michael Boyle, Executive Director, Office for Research Security & Export Control

As research becomes increasingly global, researchers must be mindful of federal regulations that govern the transfer of technologies, biological materials, software, and technical data. This session offers a comprehensive overview of export control laws including when these regulations apply and what constitutes an export, even within U.S. borders. Participants will also explore the broader domain of research security: how to responsibly manage international collaborations, safeguard sensitive data, and recognize emerging risk factors in open science. Case examples will be used to illustrate how these frameworks apply across disciplines.

Session 5 − Startup Pathways: Navigating the Leap from Lab to Market

Date: TBD (March 2026)
Location: Room 3104, Student Center
Moderator: Brian K. Davis, Director, AITC Panelists: Kristinn Gretarsson, Director of Intn’l Business Development, AITC; Emily Moore, Director of Research, SBDC; Tye Warren, Business Consultant, SBDC

For some inventors, the path forward involves the creation of a new venture. This session focuses on the resources and decision points that shape the founding of a startup based on university-owned intellectual property. Presenters will introduce the campus and state programs that support academic entrepreneurs, discuss the stages of business planning, and reflect on the challenges of transitioning from a researcher to a company founder. Case studies will be shared to illustrate the range of approaches and outcomes. The session will also highlight the UA’s Tide Express License, a standardized path for licensing available exclusively to UA-originating startups. By reducing barriers and clarifying terms, the program enables faculty- and student-led ventures to access UA-owned intellectual property more efficiently.

Session 6 − Dollars and Sense: The Funding Roadmap for Researchers

Date: TBD (April 2026)
Location: Room 3104, Student Center
Speakers: Gina Simpson (Moderator)

No commercialization journey is complete without a strategy for funding. This session will examine financial pathways available to research-based startups, from non-dilutive grants to seed funding and venture capital. Discussion will focus on what funders expect at different stages of company growth and how researchers can position their work effectively for external stakeholders. The discussion will be framed by the realities of academic innovation and the long arc from proof-of-concept to investment.