The Office of Cooperative Research (OCR) has hired two new associate directors to help identify promising technologies and help take them to market -- John Puziss, who will be based at the School of Medicine; and John Demlein Jr., who will work with the physical sciences departments.

At Yale, Puziss will seek commercial partners, primarily pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, to further develop the medical school's intellectual property so that it can become a product.

"I've been interested in working on technology transfer and licensing for some time," Puziss says. "I'm working with investigators doing cutting-edge research in a wide variety of disciplines, while at the same time I will be helping to further Yale's mission of being a leading research institution."

Puziss holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a postdoctoral fellow in molecular biology and genetics at Johns Hopkins University. He obtained his B.S. in microbiology from the University of Rochester.

Most recently, Puziss worked in business development for a biotechnology firm in Beverly, Massachusetts, Proteome Inc. Prior to that, he was a senior research investigator at Bristol Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute in Wallingford for five years.

Puziss succeeds Ben Muskin, who joined Cellular Genomics, a company which was based on technology developed at Yale.

Demlein will be handling technology transfers in the physical sciences and engineering disciplines such as electronics, computer science, mathematics, physics and chemistry.

"For the immediate future, we have a number of emerging technologies coming to the forefront of commercialization that are quite exciting, and I hope to bring them to fruition," Demlein says. "Over the long term, I want to be able to work with the faculty to encourage more commercialization of the great intellectual capital we have here at Yale."

Demlein, who has a B.A. and an M.A. in systems engineering, most recently was executive director of the Submarine Force Library and Museum Association in Groton. He succeeds Tom Barnard, who retired.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Demlein formerly was chief of staff and deputy commander of the Navy Region Northeast, which is the Navy's shore facilities command responsible for the operations and infrastructure at the Navy's establishments in the six New England states, as well as New York and New Jersey. Concurrently, he was chief of staff of Commander Submarine Group Two, responsible for the training and administration of all attack submarines on the East Coast. During his Navy career, Demlein also commanded the USS Sculpin SSN-590 and the USS West Virginia.

Jon Soderstrom, managing director of OCR, said about the new appointments: "I am thrilled that we are able to attract such capable people to advance the mission of our office. Yale's increasingly successful efforts to identify new technologies and help bring them to the product stage is attracting the attention of potential employees as well as investors."

OCR was founded in 1982 and charged with extending and expanding Yale's interaction with the private sector. The duties of the OCR include oversight for patenting and licensing activities, University inventions, and contractual relationships between faculty and industry. OCR staff work with Yale researchers to identify inventions that may ultimately become commercial products and services useful to the public. OCR staff also engage in industrial partnerships to license Yale inventions. An important goal for OCR is to identify new ideas, cultivate venture funding for them and facilitate their development into companies that become part of the New Haven economy.

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Yale, city and neighborhood collaborate to create addition for Dwight School

Faculty hires boost F&ES strength in tropical ecology

Freshman receives EPA Youth Award

STERLING PROFESSORSHIPS

• Cott named to Sterling Chair in History, American Studies
  
  
• Patterson has been appointed Sterling Professor of English
  
  
• Scott is designated Sterling Professor of Political Science
  

  
  

Wilbur Cross Medalists to include ex-president of Mexico

Deer tick found to carry yet another infectious organism

Exhibit features works by 18th-century masters

Retiring nurse and mentor to be honored for her contributions

New OCR staff to help commercialize Yale inventions

Bush's Yale talk to be broadcast on television

Fellowship Place to hold anniversary gala at the Yale Art Gallery

Confidence a factor in how long women breastfeed their infants, study shows

Yale Rep symposium to explore the work of 'Big Night' playwright

Fourteen scientists win NARSAD grants for psychiatric research

Talks will focus on women's health in developing nations

Feted philosopher will reveal his comedic side at 'Cohenfest'

Yale to receive award from community congregations

Renowned sculptor is featured in DMCA talk about his design . . .

Campus Notes

---

Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News|Bulletin Board

Yale Scoreboard|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines

Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs Home|News Releases| E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page

---