Alumnus Becomes Vice President at URI

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering alumnus David R. Sadowski (B.S. '75, M.S. '77) has been appointed the assistant vice president for intellectual property management and commercialization at the University of Rhode Island. Sadowski comes to the position from the National Institutes of Health, where he served as the deputy director of technology development and transfer.

In his new role, Sadowski will foster entrepreneurship among URI faculty and researchers, and oversee the management of the University's intellectual property and technology transfer operations. He will also serve as executive director of the URI Research Foundation, with duties including the valuation, market analysis and commercialization of protected intellectual property, and the development of business relationships with the corporate, private and government sectors.

"This is a critical position for the University, particularly at this time of dwindling state and federal support for research," said Peter Alfonso, URI vice president for research and economic development. "Mr. Sadowski will partner with our faculty to manage a broad range of responsibilities that lead to revenue generation through commercialization of intellectual properties. [This] revenue will support the URI research enterprise."

Sadowski is enthusiastic about the work ahead. "I became interested in the position because it is a great opportunity to serve the URI community with the full spectrum of technology transfer functions," he said. "I was also impressed by the fascinating variety of intellectual property created at URI.”

His first job will be to assess the URI's current portfolio of patents, licensing agreements and pending licenses. "But," he said, "technology transfer is not 'one size fits all,' so we need to ascertain what is wanted, needed and optimum for URI, and then plan accordingly. Longer term, I will work toward development of faculty entrepreneurship and commercialization of research results to provide economic development and ensure appropriate recognition and rewards for IP creators."

Published November 10, 2008