Kathleen McDonald and Marc Witkowski. Photo Courtesy LANL
LANL NEWS RELEASE
Kathleen McDonald and Marc Witkowski with the Feynman Center for Innovation at Los Alamos National Laboratory have acquired nationwide awards from the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC). McDonald acquired the Outstanding Technology Transfer Professional Award for her management in licensing and partnership growth throughout nuclear, fusion and nationwide safety applied sciences; Witkowski acquired the Excellence in Technology Transfer Award for advancing the Ion Pair Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) know-how.
“These recognitions show how strong partnerships and thoughtful licensing help turn scientific discovery into real-world capability,” mentioned Melissa Fox, senior director of the Lab’s Partnerships and Pipeline Office. “Technology transfer is a critical part of delivering mission impact for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).”
McDonald and Witkowski are senior commercialization managers on the Laboratory. The awards will probably be offered May 13 on the FLC National Meeting in Seattle.
The Feynman Center for Innovation serves because the Laboratory’s workplace for know-how switch and partnership growth. Its mission is to make sure that federally funded analysis transitions responsibly to trade and authorities companions in assist of the Laboratory’s nationwide safety tasks for the NNSA.
Advancing hydrogen gas cell capabilities
The Ion Pair MEA addresses long-standing technical obstacles which have restricted broader use of hydrogen gas cells. Hydrogen gas cells produce electrical energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen. Traditional techniques typically require complicated cooling gear and may face sturdiness and value challenges.
The Ion Pair MEA, initially developed at Los Alamos, makes use of a singular polymer electrolyte system that will increase vitality manufacturing by 60%. It can use lower-purity hydrogen gas and eliminates the necessity for complicated cooling and humidification techniques. The design reduces manufacturing prices, improves sturdiness and avoids expensive perfluorinated supplies. This know-how superior over practically a decade of analysis and commercialization planning.
“This award reflects years of close collaboration between researchers and technology transfer professionals,” Witkowski mentioned. “By aligning licensing strategy with partner capability and national priorities, we helped accelerate deployment.”
Leadership in federal know-how switch
McDonald’s award acknowledges professionals whose work considerably exceeds regular tasks.
Over the previous 5 years, she has led main licensing and partnership efforts in nuclear vitality, fusion, quantum science and safeguards applied sciences. She has negotiated and managed quite a few Cooperative Research and Development Agreements and executed licenses that assist superior know-how growth.
McDonald additionally has developed new approaches to managing mental property, together with methods for safeguarding and licensing federally developed datasets and utilizing copyright-based licensing for sure safeguards applied sciences. These approaches have helped pace deployment whereas defending U.S. pursuits.
“Effective technology transfer strengthens national capability,” McDonald mentioned. “Our focus at FCI is to ensure that federally funded research delivers measurable impact.”
Recognizing excellence throughout the federal laboratory system
The FLC is a nationwide community of greater than 300 federal laboratories and companies devoted to selling greatest practices in know-how switch. Its annual awards are thought-about among the many most revered honors within the federal laboratory neighborhood.
Together, these recognitions spotlight the Laboratory’s position in translating scientific discovery into operational functionality, reinforcing U.S. technological management and supporting nationwide safety goals.