May 24, 2023 | Issue 12

Auburn University names Steve Taylor as senior vice president for research and economic development

Steve Taylor has been named as Auburn University’s senior vice president for research and economic development, President Christopher B. Roberts announced Thursday, May 4.

Taylor has served as the interim dean of Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering since April 2022. Taylor will begin his new position on June 1.

As Auburn’s chief research officer, Taylor will report directly to the president and be responsible for all aspects of research, scholarship and economic development across the university.

“One of my goals for Auburn is to further elevate our research and creative scholarship in order to secure and sustain a leadership position among the nation’s transformative universities,” Roberts said. “As I said at my installation ceremony, Auburn has earned the right to dream the biggest dreams. I know we have the ability and capability to do more. I look forward to working with Dr. Taylor as we thoughtfully expand our research enterprise.”

The senior vice president for research and economic development provides leadership to various research and economic development units, including sponsored programs, proposal services and faculty support, contracts and grants accounting, research compliance, the university veterinarian, research security compliance, electronic research administration, the IP exchange, external engagement and support, and university-based start-ups.

“In my 34 years at Auburn, I have been able to work with others to build collaborative programs across the university,” Taylor said. “I am honored to have this opportunity to lead Auburn’s research programs by continuing to build those collaborative relationships and help secure the resources that faculty, staff and students need to be successful. I believe that the time is right for Auburn University to make major advances in its research and innovation enterprise while also serving our region as an important engine of economic development.”

A Passion for Solutions

Tiger Cage winner Parvin Fathi-Hafshejani, founder of Dropllel, is an engineer turned entrepreneur with a passion for solutions. Fathi-Hafshejani developed a novel diagnostic tool that provides accurate, rapid, and cost-effective detection of viruses like those that cause COVID-19 and the flu. Early and accurate detection means patients and healthcare providers are able to act quickly to prevent the spread of these viruses and the related illnesses they cause. Droplell’s reconfigurable device uses electronic bio sensors to detect the presence of virus in a matter of seconds.

Tiger Cage winner and student in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Parvin Fathi-Hafshejani

Free Business Workshops

This summer, the entrepreneurs-in-residence at the New Venture Accelerator are offering free business workshops on topics ranging from accounting and marketing to pitching your unique business idea. Start turning your ideas into reality now.

Save the Date

Hosted by the City of Auburn and held in The Park, the 2023 Alabama Launchpad Pitch Competition (Cycle 2) will take place on August 17, 2023. Alabama Launchpad is the state’s most active early-stage seed fund investor, driving innovation and job growth through startup competitions and ongoing mentoring for Alabama entrepreneurs.

New Faces

ARTF Staff Spotlight on

Haley Franklin

Auburn native and graduate of Auburn’s Harbert College of Business, Haley Franklin joined 540 at The Park in the Spring of 2023 as Events Director. Her enthusiasm and professionalism bring welcome sense of vibrance and energy to The Park’s executive meeting center.

Tell us about your role as Events Director for 540 at The Park. What does a typical day

look like for you?

I can confidently say that there is no typical day in my role, that is one of the reasons why I find my job so intriguing. There is no daily routine, depending on the event type and the day is how my day plans out, it could be an 8am-5pm event with 70 guests or could be an intimate meeting of 15 around our boardroom table--either way, the number one goal I have every day is to make the client happy and the event as successful as possible.

Vini Nathan has been named as Auburn University’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, President Christopher B. Roberts announced Thursday, May 4th.

As the university’s chief academic officer, Nathan will provide leadership to Auburn’s 12 academic colleges and the graduate school in addition to numerous academic programs and units that play a crucial role in supporting the university’s instruction, research and outreach mission.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Nathan to the role of provost and senior vice president for academic affairs,” Roberts said. “I am confident in her leadership as she has demonstrated a strong commitment to Auburn. Dr. Nathan brings great talent and enthusiasm to the position, which will serve our students, faculty

and staff well.”

Vini Nathan has been named as Auburn University’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.

And the 2023 Tiger Cage winners are...

A competition among 16 Auburn University student-led business startups came to conclusion on March 31 when the four teams who advanced to the final round of the 2023 Tiger Cage Business Pitch Competition presented their business plans to industry professional judges.  

After literally hundreds of hours of prep work by all four startups, when the judge’s deliberations ended, it was Dropplel that came out on top, receiving $25,000 in startup capital.

Led by Parvin Fathi-Hafshejani, a doctoral candidate in electrical engineering in Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Dropllel is a diagnostic tool that provides accurate, rapid and cost-effective detection of viruses, thereby successfully lowering the possibility of large-scale spread.

“The Tiger Cage Pitch Competition has been an incredible experience for me,” said Fathi-Hafshejani. “As an engineer-turned-entrepreneur, with a strong technical background but relatively new to the business world, I gained critical business skills, such as developing a business model and market strategy, as well as improving my pitching skills.

“The competition helped me to think critically and connect with amazing entrepreneurs. Overall, it provided me with the skills, confidence and network I needed to succeed as an entrepreneur.”

Announcing the Alabama Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence

In a public-private partnership designed to bring technology to underserved areas of Alabama, the Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (located in Auburn Research Park), Auburn University, and local data center, AUBix, LLC, have, along with a group of key state schools established the Alabama Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence.

A central focus of the new center is workforce development, with programs to help meet the high demand for data science, medical informatics, cybersecurity, and AI professionals. The educational programs will help to drive technology parity by including minority students as well as students from economically disadvantaged areas of Alabama.

As we look ahead to Auburn's newest eatery, Corner Office, opening in The Park, we have one final survey for you about your preferences for putting together an outstanding happy hour. The Corner Office team would appreciate your feedback using this link:

Happy Hour Survey

If you missed previous surveys and would like to participate, the links are:

• Survey #1: Coffee Service

• Survey #2: Breakfast Service

• Survey #3: Lunch Service

Thank you again for your time and for your interest in Corner Office at The Park.

A Place to Work As Your

Dreams Grow

You’ve got the dreams and the ambition, but you need a comfortable, well-supported place to work that doesn’t cost a lot. You won’t need it forever, but you need it now. Solo Space at the Park is that place. Our individual executive spaces, office-size or cubicle, are available for rent by the day, the week or the month. It’s the ideal short-term setup for your startup.

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 another, 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 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.

We say that The Park is the place where creativity begins. Certainly, that was the case a few weeks ago when The Park welcomed Auburn-based Media Production Group (MPG) and host of zombies to film a public service announcement for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s annual Click it or Ticket: Seat Belt Safety Awareness Campaign. The announcement is airing on a variety of platforms, including digital billboards around town. If you’ve seen it, you know wearing your seatbelt can be a real life-saver. Projects like these are part of the innovative ecosystem that is The Park. How can we help you with your next endeavor?

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 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 and creativity begin,

Leslie Chapman

leslie@auburn.edu

334.844.6047



Behind the scenes with the Media Production Group (MPG),

their talented actors, and crew.

Photo credits: Julie Bennett, MPG