Academic researchers are naturally positioned as 21st century thought leaders. Traditionally, research discoveries are shared through publications, conferences and textbooks. In fact the textbook publication model is a long-accepted way in academia of blending scholarly and commercial activities. In the innovative spirit of Wright State University, and specifically in the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program (BMS), scientists are seeking new models to commercialize their scientific findings. Mill Miller, Ph.D., associate professor and program director, is seeking new entrepreneurial endeavors that will enhance the student experience and add value to the program.
As part of the program’s outreach and development efforts they host an annual research retreat which is open to all researchers in the Miami Valley area. The retreat includes keynote speakers, poster sessions and research presentations. The 2015 retreat also provided an opportunity for the program to reconnect with alumni Dr. Mary Beth Tung and Dr. Peter Tung.
Mary and Peter were among the first graduates of the BMS program. They met while earning their Ph.D. and together went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale’s School of Medicine. Later they worked at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) where they learned valuable information regarding Intellectual Property (IP). Dr. Mary Beth Tung went on to earn her J.D. and Dr. Peter Tung earned his MBA.
Over the last several years they got to know the former dean of CoSM, Dr. Yi Li, and became aware of BMS’s entrepreneurial goals. Through their meetings with Dr. Li they were introduced to Dr. Miller and shared wisdom gleaned over the course of their distinguished careers. Realizing the BMS program could benefit from the Tung’s expertise, Dr. Miller invited Mary & Peter to be keynote speakers at the 2015 BMS retreat.
Dr. Mary Beth Tung serves as the Deputy Secretary for Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) over agency operations. Deputy Secretary Tung’s areas of expertise include law, business management, biology, biochemistry and medicine. Dr. Peter Tung is a registered patent agent and currently is a Technology Development Specialist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Entrepreneurial outlets can be challenging for a researcher whose training has been spent primarily in the lab. Drs. Mary Beth and Peter Tung are very experienced in the complexities inherent to commercializing and protecting IP. As alumni and IP experts, their gift of time and knowledge are demystifying the entrepreneurship process for current and future researchers and helping to advance the BMS program's goals.
The BMS program was created over 30 years ago with the first cohort starting in 1979. The first graduating class was in 1984 with a total of 210 graduates to date. The program has three main goals: to provide outstanding training that prepares students for challenging and rewarding careers in biomedical sciences, to facilitate the scholarly development of faculty, and to enhance the research environment and enterprise at Wright State University.
