West Virginia University students and their faculty advisors awed companies like StarKist, PPG and Protea Biosciences with presentations on their work at the most recent event sponsored by WVU’s Linking Innovation Industry and Commercialization (LIINC) project.

Students and faculty from from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design met with key representatives and industry experts from top private companies around the world.

The companies were on the lookout for new ideas, technologies and innovations from the minds of WVU’s talent pool of student researchers. LIINC has sponsored a series of receptions and dinners aimed at giving companies a crack at rubbing elbows with faculty researchers and the next generation of innovators.

Students gave short presentations about their work at the most recent event held at the Waterfront Place Hotel. They represented research from the Department of Biology, Division of Animal & Nutritional Sciences, and the Division of Forestry and Natural Resources.

“These are opportunities for students to present their research to industries,” WVU Vice President for Research Fred L. King explained. “It is not the typical academic conference presentation. Not only do the students get a head start on learning how to present their research, they get an up close look at the industry view of market applicability and commercial potential. And, of course, there are always possibilities for jobs, internships, and future project funding.”

He added that for industry, the LIINC approach presents an opportunity to see cutting edge research, and emerging techniques and technologies from WVU students and faculty.

LIINC is made possible by a grant from the Benedum Foundation.

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CONTACT: Lindsay Emery, WVU Research Corp.
304.293.0391, Lindsay.Emery@mail.wvu.edu

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