AURP Webinars

These webinars are available to the general public through the Research Parks Subcommunity AURP facilitates as part of SSTI's TBED Community of Practice, which is supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. 

Upcoming

AURP Community Pulse Webinar (Members Only) 
UCLA Samueli School of Engineering
March 13th, 2025 - 2:30-3:00pm ET

Speaker:
Hal Monbouquette, PhD, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, UCLA
Harold Monbouquette is Associate Dean for Research and Physical Resources. He earned a bachelor’s of science degree the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a bachelor of arts degree in biochemical sciences from Harvard College; an M.S. from the University of California at Davis; and in 1987 received a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University. He joined UCLA Engineering in 1987, and served as chair of the school’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from 2007 to 2012. He also has served as chair of the HSSEAS UCLA Engineering Faculty Executive Committee, and as director of the UCLA-National Institutes of Health Biotechnology Training Program. He is a member of the California NanoSystems Institute. Monbouquette’s research is focused on microsensors for neurochemical signaling compounds to aid study of neurological disorders including addiction and Parkinson’s disease; and on technology for detection of nucleic acids of specific sequence that enables identification of pathogens in body fluids, food and water. He has developed and taught new courses on biochemical reaction engineering and bioseparations, has advised 30 Ph.D. candidates and 15 master’s students, and has authored more than 250 papers published in journals or delivered at seminars, symposia and conferences. Among other honors and awards, Monbouquette received the Department of Energy Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Young Faculty Award, and was presented a TRW Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2007, he was elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

AURP Community Pulse Webinar (Members Only)
Montana State University Innovation Campus
April 17th, 2025 - 2:30-3:00pm ET

Speaker:
Mark Sharpe, Executive Director, Montana State University Innovation Campus
Mark Sharpe is the Executive Director of the Montana State University Innovation Campus. Prior to leading the MSUIC, Mark served for ten years as a Hillsborough County (FL) Commissioner.  In 2015 Mark was named the Director of the Tampa Innovation Alliance, a 501 c6 formed to build an innovation district in Tampa, Florida. Mark is passionate about applying innovation to overcome challenges.  He founded and named his company Hogback Ventures after a geologic formation of narrow-crested, steep-sloped, hard-to-climb hills, a fitting representation of the way he helps others clear obstacles to meet success. Mark is a 20-year Navy veteran with a BS in Multinational Business from Florida State University and an MA in Strategic Studies from the University of South Florida.  Mark is married to Stephanie and they have three grown children.  When he is not working-which is rare- Mark is reading, running or researching.  His mission is to change the world.