April 13, 2022
Richard Lunt to receive MSU Tech Transfer Achievement Award
Richard Lunt, who is a national leader in solar technologies, will receive the 2022 Michigan State University Tech Transfer Achievement Award during the MSU Innovation Celebration on Monday, April 18.
Lunt, the Johansen Crosby Endowed Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, will be honored during ceremonies at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, Big Ten Rooms B-C. Events begin at 4 p.m. Awards will be presented at 5 p.m.
Each year, the MSU Innovation Celebration honors MSU researchers who reported an invention, licensed a technology, or were awarded patents during the academic year. The awards recognize outstanding achievements in technology transfer and commercialization, corporate engagement, and sponsored research. To register for the 2022 event, visit here.
Tech Transfer Achievement Award: Richard Lunt
See a video and read more on Lunt’s accomplishments, here.
Lunt’s solar energy research is currently being implemented on the MSU campus. Lunt is also the co-founder of Ubiquitous Energy Inc., a company commercializing transparent solar cells for windows and other surfaces.
“What we do is demanding,” Lunt said. “At times, it can be all-consuming. It’s important to take a step back, take a break and do fun things together to build our team dynamics. When you have researchers who are supported, it helps everyone perform at a higher level.”
Innovation of the Year Award
Engineering faculty members are also part of the award-winning efforts led by Madonna Benjamin, DVM, MS, and winner of this year’s Innovation of the Year Award. The researchers developed SIM (Sows in Motion) a technology capable of creating 3D scans of animals, while they are moving within the barn, to provide individual assessments for lameness and body condition.
The research team of Daniel Morris, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michael Lavagnino, Ph.D., academic specialist in the College of Engineering, and Steven Yik (BS ’18, MS ’20) will be recognized. See a video and read more on this award, here.
2022 Faculty Exhibitors
Additionally, Engineering faculty will be among the 2022 Faculty Exhibitors at the Innovation Celebration. College representatives and their research includes:
Art Weber, Wen Li
Department of Physiology and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
College of Natural Science and College of Engineering
IOP Sensor
Weber and Li’s technology provides glaucoma specialists with the data needed to deliver treatment to patients with potential dysregulation of their intraocular pressure. Their unique sensor design incorporates a passive strain sensor and antenna in a single coil configuration embedded in a softy contact lens. Weber and Li’s technology can be pivotal in diagnosing and monitoring Glaucoma, a major cause of blindness.
Qi Hua Fan
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
College of Engineering
Non-Uniform Electric Field Devices
Fan and his team have been using non-uniform electric fields for a variety of useful purposes and have been able to create a device that generates a strong electric field. The device can be used to remove PFAS from water and also enhance condensation of water to improve performance of dehumidifiers.
Richard Lunt
Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Sciences
College of Engineering
Solar Energy Capture
Lunt created a photovoltaic material that allows for the transmission of visible light while converting non-visible light into electricity. The transparent solar cells have applications on any window while still serving its normal purpose and being able to generate power. Lunt is also the co-founder of Ubiquitous Energy Inc., a company working to commercialize the transparent solar cells.
Weiyi Lu
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
College of Engineering
Recoverable Liquid Nanofoam Energy Absorbers
Lu’s technology involves tiny nanosized porous material dispersed in a non-hazardous liquid that can absorb energy from impacts. The system can be tailored to absorb low or high impacts and allow repeated impacts without the loss of performance. Potential applications of the absorbers include protective gear, helmets, and military equipment.
Assaf Gilad
Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Department of Radiology and Department of Neuroscience
College of Engineering, College of Human Medicine, and College of Natural Science
GLAMOUR
Gilad’s technology is a recombinant protein that can bind to rare earth elements while giving off green light in the process. GLAMOUR can be used to detect as a rapid onsite detection method and can also be used to remove and then recover the rare earth elements for further use.
Younsuk Dong
Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
College of Engineering
LOCOMOS
Dong has created an agricultural monitoring system that uses soil and leaf moisture data to help farmers determine when to water and how much water to add to their crops. This technology helps reduce water consumption, increase farm productivity, and reduce plant disease.
Patrick Kwon, Haseung Chung, Ken Foster
College of Engineering
3DFoundri
Kwon, Chung and Foster have created 3DFoundri, Inc., and East Lansing start-up dedicated to developing advanced metal manufacturing technologies. Their technologies will enable cost reductions and increase part complexities. 3DFoundri is also working on an advanced 3D printing technology that will provide complex 3D metal parts over 10X faster than conventional printing technologies.
John McIntyre, Madonna Benjamin, Daniel Morris, Michael Lavagnino, Steven Yik
College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Engineering
Motion Grazer AI
McIntyre, Benjamin, Morris, Lavagnino and Yik have created an artificial intelligence that can help farmers analyze pig shape and gait in conjunction with tracking joint location. Motion Grazer AI analyses will be used to predict lameness and body condition of female breeding pigs (sows). This technology will help aid the breeding process of sows.
This story by Tracy Henion originally ran on the Innovation Center website and can be viewed on MSUToday.
