By Xoel Cardenas, Sr. Communications Specialist, Office of the Vice President for Research
At the University of Utah, innovation is more than a value, it’s a mission. Across campus, researchers, students, staff and collaborators are transforming ideas into impact, driven by a shared commitment to discovery, collaboration and the public good.
Supported by the Office of the Vice President for Research, this spirit of innovation thrives in every lab, studio, and startup, where creativity meets purpose and bold thinking leads to real-world change.
During this year’s Innovation Awards, we asked honorees to share their perspective: What makes the U a place where innovation thrives? Their reflections reveal the heart of our research community and the spark that keeps the University of Utah at the forefront of discovery.
Hear from some of our university’s top researchers and innovators, including:
- Karsten Eastman, co-founder of the U startup Sethera Therapeutics and winner of the Founder of the Year Award
- Brynne Barrs, a biomedical engineering student at the U and winner of the Excellence in Innovation Undergraduate Student Award
- Bob Palais, research professor in the U’s Department of Mathematics and winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award
- Heather Holmes, Associate Professor in the U’s Chemical Engineering Department and co-founder of the startup Trace AQ, winner of the Startup of the Year Award
- Wes Sundquist, Samuels Professor and co-chair of the Department of Biochemistry at the U, and winner of the Global Impact Award
- Jakob D. Jensen, the U’s Associate Vice President for Research
Click play below to watch the video. For more information on this year’s Innovation Awards, as well as the full list of honorees, click here.
Ready to turn your own ideas into impact? Explore the University of Utah’s innovation resources—from intellectual property protection to startup support—through the Technology Licensing Office’s, commercialization resources.
