Elizabeth Hart-Wells

Elizabeth Hart-Wells, Assistant Vice-President and Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization. Hart-Wells is responsible for managing the commercialization of Purdue's intellectual property assets which includes responsibility of evaluating innovations, developing commercialization strategies, memorializing commercialization agreements; promoting discovery with delivery; forming startup companies; and overseeing compliance with federal technology regulations. She previously managed the University of Maryland, Baltimore's Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property Group where she oversaw the university's intellectual asset portfolio. She supervised all technology transfer activities, including asset evaluation, patent prosecution, business development, and negotiations with licensees. She also managed the intellectual property for the Middle Atlantic Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, a multi-party consortium of research institutes supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Hart-Wells served as a Congressional Fellow for the American Association for the Advancement of Science where she served on the professional legislative staff for the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. She served as a patent agent for Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. She was a research associate for the National Academy of Sciences where she executed policy analysis of postdoctoral programs in academia, government and industry to aid the National Academies' Committee on Science Engineering and Public Policy. Hart-Wells earned a doctorate in chemistry from Rice University where she was a Turner Outstanding Graduate Student in organic chemistry, a Harry B. Weiser Research Scholar and a Robert A. Welch Foundation Fellow. She earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Indiana University where she was a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, the Alpha Lambda Alpha Honor Society and the Alpha Chi Sigma Chemistry Fraternity. She is a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the U.S. Patent Bar.

•  What is one invention that you just couldn't live without? Chapstick.
•  Other than safety and fuel efficiency, what is one aspect that you will not compromise on when searching for a new car? Excellent pick-up speed.
•  What outdated fashion would you love to see brought back? The parasol.
•  Write out in three steps what your plan of action would be if a mouse just ran by your door. Have a chuckle, appreciate the power of small things to make an impact, if only fleeting and get back to work.