The Faculty Innovation Ambassador Program, hosted by the Indiana University Innovation and Commercialization Office, has opened applications for its second cohort.

The program fosters faculty engagement in innovation and commercialization and helps faculty scientists understand the commercial potential of their innovations.

“Over the past year, I’ve seen the incredible dedication this inaugural cohort of Faculty Innovation Ambassadors has shown in learning the technology commercialization process and discovering new ways to help colleagues bring their ideas to market,” said Nick Hammond, associate vice president for innovation and commercialization. “The program is not only a powerful pathway for researchers to translate their work into real-world impact, but also an invaluable opportunity to gain professional development, expand networks and position themselves at the forefront of innovation.”

Becoming an ambassador can help faculty advance their research. Here’s how:

Training opportunities

Faculty Innovation Ambassadors receive specialized training and mentorship on how basic science and technology are evaluated, developed and transformed into commercial products. This experience provides ambassadors with valuable insight into translating their own innovations.

Through a series of intensive workshops, ambassadors explore key topics such as intellectual property evaluation and management, technology development, commercialization strategies, and industry partnerships. Guest lecturers from across IU Research will lead sessions on specialized areas, including compliance and university-wide initiatives, further broadening ambassadors’ knowledge of the innovation ecosystem.

Forging relationships with industry

Attendees mingle at the IU Industry Symposium on Biomedical Innovation and Translational Sciences on Aug. 13, 2025. Photo by Alex Kumar, Indiana UniversityFaculty Innovation Ambassadors attend exclusive networking events, forging connections with industry leaders and representing colleagues in partnership conversations. Ambassadors serve as trusted connectors across the university, raising the visibility of new industry opportunities, guiding colleagues through the commercialization process, encouraging invention disclosures and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration.

In its inaugural year, the program welcomed 11 ambassadors across IU campuses and research disciplines.

Meet three of the 2025 Faculty Innovation Ambassadors:

Andrew Zelhof

Andrew Zelhof is the genome, cell and developmental biology section associate chair of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences at IU Bloomington and the director of the Drosophila Genomics Resource Center. His research advances the understanding of developmental biology and evolutionary genetics using invertebrates like Drosophila, fruit flies, and Tribolium, flour beetles, as model systems.

Zelhof said the ambassador program has been instrumental in helping him be more strategic with translating his basic research into real-world applications and fostering collaborations with industry. He’s also networked with faculty who have commercialization experience.

“To date it’s been a rewarding experience that’s enhanced both my leadership and my ability to advocate for the value of fundamental science,” Zelhof said.

Roman Natoli

Roman Natoli is an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the IU School of Medicine. His research focuses on fracture-related infections and developing blood biomarkers to improve diagnosis and response to treatment.

“This program has taught me to think about how research might be eventually commercialized, which makes my approach more balanced and practical,” Natoli said. “I look forward to the potential of working with industry partners and increasing the chances of my scientific work being used in a clinical setting to help patients.”

Natoli is working to create a non-invasive blood-based biomarker since diagnosing infections after orthopedic surgeries often requires invasive procedures such as bone biopsies. Natoli’s blood-based biomarkers would facilitate early and accurate detection of infections to reduce the risk of complications and patient discomfort.

Chen-Ting Liao

Chen-Ting Liao is an associate professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences at IU Bloomington. Liao’s research advances optical, quantum and laser technologies to deepen the fundamental understanding of light and light-matter interactions.

Liao’s work is solving problems regarding how to design, create and use quantum light and structured light for materials science, biomedical science and engineering applications. He said the Faculty Innovation Ambassador Program has familiarized him with the technology transfer process and given him opportunities and resources to facilitate activities that go beyond a traditional academic approach.

“This program has helped me understand how translational work has a much broader impact beyond basic sciences and can reach wider communities and industries,” Liao said.

Interested in becoming an ambassador? Submit your application by Nov. 15.