UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Eberly College of Science has chosen faculty members Joyce Jose and Sally Mackenzie to receive its 2022 Lab Bench to Commercialization (LB2C) grants. This competitive program provides funding for researchers in the college, enabling them to enhance the commercial potential of ongoing Penn State research and prepare them to translate their Penn State-owned intellectual property to the marketplace.

Joyce Jose

Jose, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, is an expert in positive-strand RNA viruses and microscopy. Her project will focus on developing a rapid, cost-effective, and adaptable assay for screening antiviral drug candidates. Learn more about Jose’s research.

Sally Mackenzie

Mackenzie, professor of biology and plant science and Huck Chair in Plant Genomics, is an expert in plant epigenetics. Her project will focus on establishing a technology proof of concept for increasing crop plants’ yield by altering their epigenetics. Learn more about Mackenzie’s research.

Application criteria and awards

To apply for the LB2C grant program, Eberly College of Science researchers must demonstrate that the funding will significantly impact development activities for existing intellectual property or research that may be commercialized and provide a return on investment back to the college through licensing income and/or downstream sponsored research.

Research and inventions include tangible products, therapeutics, processes/methods, software, or improvement of a current market product. After being reviewed for scientific merit and commercialization potential, awardees are granted funds to be used within one year.

In addition to funding, researchers also have the added benefit of working with Eberly’s Office for Innovation and Penn State’s Office of Technology Management, which assist grantees in critically evaluating their technology, find market applications, and provide development and commercialization plan feedback. These services, along with the funding, provide inventors with the opportunity to take their inventions from the lab bench to the public sector where they can see real societal benefits.

Eberly researchers who are interested in learning more about the opportunities available through the Office for Innovation should contact Technology Licensing Officer Suzanne Kijewski.