March 24, 2023 | Issue 10

Weyhenmeyer to leave role as

VP for research and economic development, will transition to tenured professorship in College of Veterinary Medicine

Earlier this month, James Weyhenmeyer indicated that he will step down from his position as vice president for research and economic development in May to take his tenured professorship in the College of Veterinary Medicine to focus on advancing biomedical sciences research.

Weyhenmeyer joined Auburn in 2019 and, since that time, Auburn experienced notable growth in its research and development spending. For the past two years, Auburn ranked in the top 11% of U.S. research institutions, coming in at 100 among 915 universities, according to the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development, or HERD Survey. During the period from 2017-22, Auburn’s annual research expenditures increased from $190.3 million to $304.4 million, resulting in a rankings jump of 14 places. Among public universities, Auburn is ranked 68 out of 412 institutions.

“Research is a critical component of Auburn’s land-grant mission,” President Christopher B. Roberts said. “Dr. Weyhenmeyer’s commitment to impactful research and innovative economic development has helped to further cement Auburn’s place as a leading research institution. I am incredibly grateful for Jim’s contributions, which have had a positive impact on the university's reputation and success as a research institution.”

“I have enjoyed working to advance Auburn’s research portfolio through collaboration with the remarkable researchers across the university,” Weyhenmeyer said. “I now look forward to focusing future efforts on elevating biomedical sciences research across campus with colleagues in the College of Veterinary Medicine whose research focuses on the health sciences. There is tremendous opportunity for advancement in this critical area.”

NVA Start-up Leverages Intellectual Property Developed at Auburn to Drive Space Exploration, Battlefield Logistics and the Internet of Things

NanoPrintek is one of Auburn University’s most exciting entrepreneurial teams and a resident of Auburn’s New Venture Accelerator. The company is applying proprietary additive nanomanufacturing technology created in Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering to transform the way a wide range of electronics components are designed and produced.

The company’s journey exemplifies the tremendous potential of the intellectual property being developed at Auburn and is a testament to the instrumental role Auburn’s Intellectual Property Exchange plays in close collaboration with Auburn faculty, students, and the New Venture Accelerator to drive entrepreneurial success.

NanoPrintek founder Masoud Mahjouri-Samani, assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering in Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

USDA breaks ground on new soil research buildings in The Park

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Auburn University's College of Agriculture, and the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation hosted a groundbreaking ceremony today for its new research facility housing the National Soil Dynamics Laboratory. This new research facility will include two new buildings at Auburn University's Research Park and two additional buildings at a second site near the university's campus.

"With these new buildings and the continuing cooperation with our research partners at Auburn University, we believe that the National Soil Dynamics Laboratory will continue to have a substantial positive impact on agriculture all over the world," said Dr. Simon Liu, ARS acting administrator.

College of Veterinary Medicine partnering with Elanco Animal Health to establish Elanco Animal Health Annual Fellowships in the Biomedical Sciences

The Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine (AUCVM) in partnership with Elanco Animal Health,

has established the Elanco Animal Health Annual Fellowships in the Biomedical Sciences. Supporting

the AUCVM strategic plan and funded by a gift from Elanco — a global leader in animal health — the new program will support two Elanco Fellows annually beginning later this year.

ARTF Staff Spotlight:

Madelaine Duggan

A graduate of Auburn’s dual MBA and MSIS programs, Auburn native Madelaine Duggan joined ARTF as an executive assistant in October of 2022. Driven and energetic, she has quickly become an indispensable member of the ARTF Team.

Tell us about your role as executive assistant to Bill Dean and Cary Chandler. What does a typical day look like for you?

I don’t think there is a “typical” day for me. A majority of my time is spent helping Cary and Bill prep for meetings, arranging guest visits, and managing the calendar, but I also spend time helping out the other members of our team. Since my job is to make it so they can do their jobs better, that can range from helping prepare leased space for new tenants to assisting our event coordinator with guest requests.

New technology developed by Auburn alum, Mark Forchette, not only better detects breast cancer, but does so without exposing patients to radiation or uncomfortable compression. Forchette’s Michigan-based biomedical device company (Delphinus Medical Technologies) uses a water-based scanning technique and proprietary ultrasound technology to create a 3D image of the whole breast to catch cancer at its earliest stages. The FDA approved imaging tool (SoftVue) is particularly useful for detecting cancer in dense breast tissue.  SoftVue is now in use at the Auburn Breast Health Center in the Auburn Medical Pavilion operated by East Alabama Health in Auburn Research Park.  

Lisa Petersen, manager at Auburn’s Breast Health Center, anticipates that about 200 local patients each month will benefit from the SoftVue imaging system.



Harbert College of Business Alumnus, Mark Forchette,

president and CEO of Delphinus Medical Technologies. 

Photo credit: Auburn Media Production Group

March Madness is Here:

The Tiger Cage Finals.



The Tiger Cage Business Idea Competition is held annually to identify and support innovative early-stage products or services ideas created by Auburn University students.

Ten outstanding student-led teams, representing the Harbert College of Business, the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, the College of Agriculture, the College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Veterinary Medicine, pitched their business ideas before industry professional judges on Friday February 24, at the Harbert College of Business. The Final Four teams selected to advance to the March 31st Tiger Cage finals round, listed in alphabetical order, are Archangel Defense, Dropllel, OMNIS, Rodopto.

Auburn ranked in top 100 of U.S. research universities for second straight year.

For the second straight year, Auburn University is ranked in the top 11% of U.S. research institutions, coming in at No. 100 among 915 universities, according to the National Science Foundation’s most recent Higher Education Research and Development, or HERD, Survey.

Among public universities, Auburn is ranked No. 68 out of 412 institutions. The university also increased its research and development spending overall by $11.1 million in 2021.

“Auburn’s second year of ranking among the nation’s top 100 research institutions continues to be a significant accomplishment,” said James Weyhenmeyer, Auburn’s vice president for research and economic development. “Our researchers continue to be committed to engaging in impactful research—much of which is critical to supporting major Alabama industries—and that commitment is reflected in Auburn’s being highly ranked once again.”

The Park Café Reopens as

Corner Office

This Spring, The Park café will reopen as Corner Office.  The team that brought you local favorites The Hound and The Depot has joined forces with The Park to offer exceptional meals and more to our innovation community and beyond. 

Currently, the café (located in the Research and Innovation Center) is undergoing a redesign with a goal of creating an atmosphere that is warm, inviting, and conducive for making the professional and personal connections that are key to our entrepreneurial ecosystem. Simultaneously, the Corner Office team is finalizing an array of menu choices for “breakfast, coffee, lunch & libations” and they are looking for input from their future patrons. 

For the next several weeks there will be signs in the lobby of the Research and Innovation Center with QR codes that will take you to a series of surveys about your interests and needs. Alternatively, you are welcome to provide input using the QR code below or directly to director of operations, Kasha Walters. 

In addition to developing a one-of-a-kind new eatery for The Park, the Corner Office team is also providing catering services for our event center, 540 at The Park. So, whether you’re interest in grabbing breakfast on your way to your office, getting lunch with a friend, or hosting a business lunch for 20, Corner Office is ready to help. 

2023 Auburn Student Research Symposium

On Tuesday, March 28, 2023, Undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines will present their research and scholarly discoveries through both seminar and poster presentations. The event takes place in the Melton Student Center. Don’t miss it! Learn more

FROM THE EDITOR

CONVERGE: News and Notes from around The Park is a publication of Auburn Research Park. CONVERGE aims to connect with members of The Park community and in turn, help them connect with one other and with university expertise.

Our goal is to highlight innovative activity in The Park and on campus, and link you to resources that may be useful to your organization, for example, if you 're interested in technology that is available for licensing through the Auburn, visit the IPX Available Technologies page. If you have a startup and you'd like to learn more about resources available to help you start and grow your business, visit the New Venture Accelerator site and be sure to check out their Opportunities and Events pages.

Spring has arrived in The Park with mild temperatures and sunny days that are perfect for getting outdoors. Besides traditional walking, running and biking activities, members of The Park community now have access to campus e-bikes and e-scooters thanks to a partnership between Auburn University and microbility company, Spin. At both the CASIC building and the Research and Innovation Center there are designated areas to pick up and drop off rental e-bikes and scooters. To get rolling, download Spin’s free app to find and unlock your ride.

In the weeks to come, we look forward to sharing the opening date for our new café and eatery, Corner Office, as well as providing the latest updates on The Park’s new masterplan and our next phase of growth. In the meantime, you can stay up to date between issues by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and by keeping an eye out for us in your inbox.

Thank you, again, for your role in making The Park the place where innovation begins,

Leslie Chapman

leslie@auburn.edu

334.844.6047