
PATENTS2PRODUCTS PROGRAM
Empowering the Next Generation of Academic Innovators
A unique fellowship opportunity to develop entrepreneurship skills and gain business fluency while advancing the development and commercialization of impact-driven technologies at the University of Hawai’i.
This UH systemwide program provides one year of funding support and a $10,000 research stipend for promising PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers who have the potential to become productive innovators to advance UH-developed, impact-driven technologies within the scope of blue economy and interrelated areas of research.
BENEFITS

EXPERIENTIAL
EDUCATION
- Intellectual Property training
- National Science Foundation I-Corps
- Professional development workshops on organizational leadership, science communication, cross-functional collaboration, etc.

GUIDANCE
& NETWORKING
- Technology Transfer for IP protection, marketing, licensing, and strategize pathways to commercialization
- Industry mentorship to assess market potential and commercial viability

FUNDING
& RESOURCES
- 1-year of funding support
- Research and supplies stipend
- Laboratory facilities and equipment
- Opportunities for funding & continued technology development
PATENTS2PRODUCTS FELLOWS & PROJECTS
Dani’s research interests focus on the inclusion of local ecological and indigenous knowledge systems in fisheries science, and how these systems can uncover historical changes in fish population dynamics. Her current work employs a novel combination of local knowledge, catch data, and environmental DNA to understand changes in juvenile shark populations in an ecologically important nursery habitat.
FELLOW Danielle Bartz
PhD Candidate, Marine Biology Graduate Program, UH Mānoa
Member, Hawai’i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. Timothy Grabowski
Adjunct Associate Professor, Marine Science Department, UH Hilo; Marine Biology Graduate Program, UH Mānoa; and Unit Leader, Hawai‘i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit
PROJECT eDNA Filtration System allows for the simultaneous filtration of seawater in preparation for environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses to better address ecological questions in aquatic communities.
Jon’s research focuses on body composition and its association to disease risk. Utilizing knowledge of the available clinical and field body composition assessment techniques, Jon aims to refine technologies by improving their assessment accuracy, while identifying aspects more closely related to risk (or targets for intervention). He hopes to use his experience with diet and exercise to promote disease prevention and reduce the burden of disease across multiple conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer.
FELLOW Jonathan Bennett, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher, UH Cancer Center, UH Mānoa
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. John Shepherd
Chief Scientific Officer and Professor, Epidemiology & Population Sciences, UH Cancer Center, UH Mānoa
PROJECT Body Composition Assessment Technology leverages highly effective obesity models to increase awareness and early detection and intervention of body composition risk factors for obesity
FELLOW Suman Chhetri, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UH Mānoa
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. Woochul Lee
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, UH Mānoa
PROJECT Innovative Desalination Technology through solar thermal conversion helps solve freshwater shortage issues and replace existing energy-intensive processes with sustainable, green technologies for water purification
FELLOW Kaylee Clark, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UH Mānoa
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. Tyler Ray
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, UH Mānoa, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH Mānoa
PROJECT A Wearable Sensor for Detecting Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault Drugs is a stylish and functional ring equipped with integrated sensors for personal detection of Rohypnol in beverages to mitigate drug-facilitated assaults
FELLOW Min Ki (Carl) Jeon
PhD Candidate, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UH Mānoa
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. Tao Yan
Professor, Water Resources Research Center, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, UH Mānoa
PROJECT Novel Metagenomic Sequencing Technology rapidly characterizes influenza diversity and dynamics in wastewater to better inform flu vaccine development
FELLOW Ludwig Mayerlen
PhD Candidate, Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH Mānoa
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. Axel Lehrer
Associate Professor, Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH Mānoa
PROJECT Expression Vector System offers a fully customizable product that can be used for the expression of almost any protein and provide high-yield production of vaccine antigens
FELLOW Christopher Tran
PhD Candidate, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH Mānoa
FACULTY SPONSOR Dr. Jesse Owens
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH Mānoa
PROJECT Programmable Genome Insertion Tool actively and accurately incorporates DNA into the genome of somatic cells at specific locations to develop clinical therapies that use insertional vectors to treat genetic disease
This program is funded by a $2.4 million grant from the Office of Naval Research to develop and advance technologies and opportunities in Hawaiʻi by providing experiential education and cross-disciplinary innovation and entrepreneurship training in order to build a diversified and resilient economy, and a stronger, more sustainable workforce for the state.
FAQs
The Patents2Products program is open to PhD candidates and postdocs with outstanding potential as future STEM leaders. Applications will be evaluated on the basis of two review criteria: intellectual merit and broader impact.
Selected participants will use their research skills and experience to advance intellectual property developed at the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) from early-stage, proof-of-concept prototypes in the lab into minimum viable products toward commercialization.
If you are a PhD student that has not completed a candidacy exam please elaborate about your current status in the program (i.e., course load, % effort dedication to research per week, etc.) and other relevant details the review panel should be aware of.
Individuals that are supported through other funding mechanisms during the duration of this fellowship. If you currently have funding support, you are encouraged to apply, however if selected for the program you will need to ensure you only have one funding source of support at the time of award.
Yes, you are encouraged to apply! Hiring will be conducted in collaboration with the faculty sponsor and their unit (i.e., College of Engineering, John. A. Burns School of Medicine, Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute, etc.) to facilitate the onboarding process.
Before submitting a fellowship application, the applicant must identify a faculty who will serve as a sponsor (known as the faculty sponsor) and supervise the training and research experience throughout the duration of the program. The applicant’s faculty sponsor should be an active investigator in the area of the proposed research. The applicant should work with the faculty sponsor in preparing the application.
Following receipt of the faculty sponsor letter of intent (LOI), potential fellows will be provided with instructions to submit an application.
Please contact patents2products@hawaii.edu if you are interested in more information on how to become a mentor or advisor to Patents2Products fellows.
Patents2Products Fellows will have access to:
- Funding & Resources
- 1-year paid position
- Research supplies stipend
- Access to lab facilities and specialized equipment
- Future funding and venture opportunities
- Education & Training
- Lean Startup education,
- Intellectual Property training
- Technology transfer guidance
- Professional development workshops
- Mentorship & Network
- Industry mentorship from subject matter experts
- Ongoing coaching sessions
- Corporate partners, mentors, advisors
- R&D collaboration opportunities
Patents2Products Fellows will gain:
- Business fluency to broaden their academic training
- Professional experience developing business models to advance technologies
- Expanded network of local and global partners, mentors and advisors
Faculty sponsors will gain:
- Technically trained personnel to support their research impact
- Additional funding and resources to advance their technology development
- Collaboration and partnership opportunities
Patents2Products fellows will be in a paid position at the University of Hawaii. Compensation will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
STEP 1: Candidates that are interested must first identify a UH faculty sponsor to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) before gaining access to the application process. A collaborating faculty sponsor LOI submission is required to apply. Please include:
- Faculty sponsor’s name, title, unit/department and research area information
- Proposed title
- Synopsis describing the proposed work in sufficient detail to permit an appropriate selection of reviewers
- Describe your research environment
- Identify currently existing laboratory facilities, state of the art equipment, and resources directly applicable to the proposed work
- Indicate current trainees and capacity to support your Patents2Products fellow
STEP 2: Upon receipt and acceptance of your LOI, Patents2Products candidates will be invited to apply for the program. Full application requirements include:
- CV
- Personal Statement (up to 2 pages)
- Reference letters (3 including one from a faculty sponsor)
- Unofficial transcript
- Research proposal (up to 3 pages)
For more details about the application process, click here.
A Letter of Intent, which is required to apply, is due by Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. The full application, which must be completed by both the program applicant and a faculty sponsor, is due by May 15, 2023.
For more information, email patents2products@hawaii.edu or call the Office of Innovation and Commercialization at (808) 956-9024.
KEY DATES & DEADLINES
Selection committee review
Award announcement
Patents2Products program begins
*Dates are subject to change
CONNECT
patents2products@hawaii.edu
(808) 956-9024
Office of Innovation and Commercialization
2425 Campus Road Sinclair 10
Honolulu, HI 96822