Jackson State University Tech Transfer Office with Almesha L. Campbell

On this episode of Tech Transfer IP, Lisa has the pleasure of speaking with Almesha L. Campbell. Almesha is the Assistant Vice President for Research and Economic Development/Director for Technology Transfer and Commercialization at Jackson State University (JSU). Almesha provides support for the overall direction of the Division of Research and Economic Development and manages the intellectual property process from the triage of invention disclosures to commercialization.

Almesha provides strategic direction and vision for defining partnerships in research, commercialization, entrepreneurship, and innovation initiatives between JSU and other institutions, funding agencies, and industry stakeholders. Almesha is the principal investigator for the National Science Foundation funded by JSU Innovations Corps (I-Corps) Site designed to train teams of faculty and students on how to commercialize their ideas using the Lean Startup Methodology.

Listen as Almesha speaks about her journey to Tech Transfer, the Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development at JSU, and NIGMS XLerator Network at the University of Kentucky. Almesha shares how her office is structured, how many invention disclosures they had in 2019, and what she has done to build trust with the faculty at JSU.

Almesha discusses her office’s relationship with their corporate partners and philanthropic organizations like the Gates Foundation. Almesha shares some of her office’s biggest success stories and a few of their biggest challenges. She speaks about the value she believes that AUTM and other organizations like them bring, her thoughts on credentialing, and what three things she would wish for her office at Jackson State University. 

In This Episode:

• [02:34] Welcome to the show, Almesha!
• [02:56] Almesha shares her background and her journey to Tech Transfer at JSU.
• [05:05] Almesha speaks about being offered the job to head the Tech Transfer at JSU.
• [07:07] Listen as Almesha talks about the Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development at JSU.
• [10:01] Almesha shares presenting her proposal to the President of the University.
• [13:03] Almesha speaks about the things they have available to non-STEM students.
• [15:48] Can you tell us a little about NIGMS XLerator Network with the University of Kentucky and XLerateHealth?
• [19:31] Almesha discusses how her office is structured.
• [22:14] Almesha talks numbers and shares how many invention disclosures they had in 2019.
• [25:13] Almesha speaks about some things that have been done to help build trust with the faculty.
• [27:07] What do you think is most important in managing innovations to have the greatest opportunity for success?
• [29:03] Almesha shares the relationship they have with their corporate partners.
• [30:07] Having corporate partners has allowed them to have differently structured deals.
• [30:58] Almesha speaks about the role of philanthropic organizations like the Gates Foundation.
• [32:58] Almesha discusses some of her office’s biggest success stories regarding successful technologies and startups.
• [34:10] People, resources, and awareness are some of the biggest challenges that Almesha’s office faces.
• [37:09] Does JSU have any programs to help encourage and assist women inventors and entrepreneurs?
• [38:27] Almesha shares what value AUTM has given her.
• [41:17] What other organizations have you been involved with?
• [43:46] Almesha shares her thoughts on credentialing.
• [45:23] Almesha discusses three wishes she has for Jackson State University.
• [47:45] Thank you for being on the show!

Find Almesha L. Campbell

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