CU Innovators News

Bold ideas from the arts, humanities and social sciences backed by Creative Futures Fellowship

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 20:02:05 +0000

Bold ideas from the arts, humanities and social sciences backed by Creative Futures Fellowship Daniel Corbin … Thu, 07/16/2026 - 14:02

Daniel Leonard

Creative Futures Fellowship

Funding, support and community for CU �ֲ��ý teams in the arts, humanities and social sciences to transform their ideas and creative works into real-world impact.

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Venture Partners at CU �ֲ��ý has announced the inaugural cohort of Creative Futures Fellows, supporting arts, humanities and social science projects that address challenges facing communities in Colorado and beyond.

Selected through a competitive review process, the 2026 fellows represent disciplines from across CU �ֲ��ý, from design, music and media studies to education, history and wellness research. Their projects explore topics including neurodiversity, educator wellbeing, artificial intelligence, human rights, public health, cultural preservation and civic understanding.

The Creative Futures Fellowship supports scholarship and creative practice that have historically had fewer pathways to “translational” funding—support that moves promising ideas into real-world applications. The fellowship also provides mentorship, professional development and a community of support.

"CU �ֲ��ý has long been recognized for translating scientific discoveries into startups and products that improve lives," said Bryn Rees, senior associate vice chancellor for innovation and partnerships at CU �ֲ��ý. "The Creative Futures Fellowship reflects a broader understanding of innovation by recognizing the power of artists, scholars and social scientists to create new approaches to community wellbeing, cultural understanding and social progress."

Six of the projects participated in a customer discovery program offered by the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps^TM Hub West and Venture Partners. Through interviews and community engagement, participants tested assumptions, worked to better understand their audiences and strengthened their projects' real-world relevance.

Venture Partners' track record of translating university innovations into impact includes a record number of startups launched from CU discoveries, 11 unicorn companies and $8.7 billion in national economic impact.

The Creative Futures Fellowship is Venture Partners’s first program specifically designed to help arts, humanities and social science innovators move beyond the university and into communities. "These fellows are demonstrating how creative and human-centered work can generate meaningful impact far beyond campus," Rees said.

The fellowship builds on CU �ֲ��ý's broader approach to innovation, supporting big ideas beyond deep tech. Examples range from educational and wellness tools such as PhET Interactive Simulations and Mindful Mood Balance for Moms and Virridy's work to improve water security.

“These projects reflect the remarkable range of talent at CU �ֲ��ý and the impact the arts and humanities have in the community,” said Jonathan Marenus, director of the Creative Futures Fellowship. “Investing in these disciplines is vital. These fellows are turning knowledge and creativity into action. We are proud to support their work and help them build what’s needed to advance that work in the world.”

Fellows will receive a combined $150,000 in funding, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. Over the coming months, they will participate in the fellowship's Support Studio, connecting with mentors, refining implementation strategies and building partnerships to advance their work.

The program will culminate in the fall with a public showcase highlighting project outcomes and future opportunities for growth. Subscribe for updates about the showcase.

Subscribe for updates about future Creative Futures Fellowship applications.

2026 Creative Futures Fellows

The Day it Rained Forever: A New Opera �ֲ��ý the Power of Music

The Day It Rained Forever is an operatic parable on how finding our shared humanity can heal conflict and isolation. This project will use performances to bring improved wellness and connection to senior living communities, offering a new model for building shared wellbeing through the arts.

Team:

Jeffrey Nytch; Professor of Composition; PI, Composer and Librettist
Leah Peña Teeters, Director of Education Initiatives at the Renée Crown Wellness Institute; Co-PI and Program Coordinator

Designing with AI Ethically: A Public Humanities Initiative

This project develops a public humanities initiative that helps emerging designers critically engage with artificial intelligence through workshops, dialogue and an ethics guide. It promotes responsible, socially aware and environmentally conscious approaches to technology in creative practice.

Team:

Nesrine Mansour, Assistant Professor of Environmental Design, PI

Encuentros: Latin American Media Practices Towards Human Rights

Encuentros is a transnational network of Latin American human rights media activists that aims to amplify community-rooted human rights narratives through a podcast series, an online gathering and an open-source archive, enabling alternative human rights discourses.

Team:

Stephanie Graeml Abdalla, PhD Student in Media Studies, Project Lead and PI
Leila Gómez, Professor of Women and Gender Studies, Interdisciplinary Research Advisor
Júlia Martins Rodrigues, Associate Director of Media Economies Design Lab, Logistics and Operations Coordinator

Energy, AI and Us: Building Science Literacy Through Student Outreach

From electricity bills to data centers, forces shaping communities are complex. This project pairs CU �ֲ��ý students with middle schools to explore energy and artificial intelligence, building skills to reason through complexity and bring conversations home, as these issues do not pick sides, and neither does science.

Team:

Nirav S. Patel, Assistant Teaching Professor of Environmental Studies and a SPIKE Faculty Affiliate, PI

Extreme Temperatures in Prisons: Embodied Testimonials for Change

Through a series of workshops, formerly incarcerated participants will create three-dimensional architectural models of prison spaces where they experienced temperature extremes. Context and recommendations for policy changes will be developed by participants and will accompany models in written or audio formats.

Team:

Sophie Weston Chien, Assistant Professor of Environmental Design, Co-PI and Architecture Lead
Liz Corrado, PhD Student in Environmental Studies, Co-PI and Policy Lead
David Ciplet, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, Co-PI and Policy Advisor
Shawhin Roudbari, Associate Professor of Environmental Design, Co-PI and Architecture Advisor

Her Sound, Our Story: Women Composers Honor Colorado's Jazz Legends

"Her Sound, Our Story" celebrates Colorado's jazz heritage through newly commissioned works by four women composers inspired by local jazz legends. Through recording, storytelling and a free public presentation, the project honors cultural legacy, fosters community connection and expands representation in jazz.

Team:

Annie Booth, Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies; Creator, Artistic Director and PI

Mentor BWell: Educator Mentoring for Wellbeing

The aim of this project is to co-design, pilot and refine Mentor BWell, an evidence-based educator wellness mentoring model, for �ֲ��ý Valley School District’s induction program. The project seeks to strengthen mentors' wellbeing and leadership capacities and enhance the induction experience for all involved.

Team:

Mining the Sun: An Arts and Humanities Public History Initiative

Mountain communities confront issues of environmental stewardship, economic survival, industrial expansion and regional identity. Mining the Sun creates new platforms for civic engagement and community development through documentary art practice, creative storytelling and the curation of archival media.

Team:

Hanna Rose Shell, Professor of Cinema Studies, Moving Image Arts, Art and Art History

Modeling African Origins from Inland Conflict to Atlantic Networks

This project calculates the probabilities of African origins by tracing slave routes from inland conflict zones to Atlantic slave ships. Combining historical records and spatial statistical modeling, it transforms complex research into an interactive resource for educators, museums and descendant communities.

Team:

Henry Lovejoy, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Digital Slavery Research Lab, PI and Director
Eric Vance, Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics and Lab of Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis, Co-PI and Director
Kartikay Chadha, Web Development and Technical Partner (Walk With Web)

Rehearsing the Future: Neural Data, Consent and the Public

Noetic Commons produces participatory art installations and public documentation in which audiences encounter speculative futures defined by who controls their neural data. The work advances public understanding of neurorights and consent in an era of expanding consumer neurotechnology.

Team:

Christina Charlton, Graduate Student in Creative Technology & Design and at the ATLAS Institute, Artist-Researcher and PI
Tyler Grimes, PhD Candidate in Critical Media Practices and at the Institute of Cognitive Science, Artist-Researcher

Squishyd: A Next-Generation Fidget Toy for Neurodivergent Users

Squishyd translates CU �ֲ��ý metamaterial research into customizable sensory fidget tools that support focus, self-regulation and well-being. By combining engineering, design and neurodiversity research, the project creates adaptive tactile experiences through science-backed play.

Team:

Elena Sabinson, Assistant Professor of Environmental Design, Principal Investigator (PI)
Robert MacCurdy, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Co-PI
Joel Swanson, Associate Professor at the ATLAS Institute, Co-PI
Teri Ham, Embark Startup Founder with Venture Partners, Co-PI

Screening to Prevent Violence: Expanding Access to Threat Assessment

The investigations that follow mass shootings frequently reveal missed opportunities to interrupt the attacker’s violence. The Targeted Violence Lethality Assessment Protocol is a 12-question tool to help law enforcement agencies and corporations evaluate an individual’s risk for violence and identify interventions.

Team:

Sarah Goodrum, Research Professor with the Center on Crime and Justice and the Prevention Science Program at the Institute of Behavioral Science, PI

What can we do together?

Disclose and protect your innovation

Engage in entrepreneurial training programs

Find a mentor to advance your innovation

Get funding for your innovation

Find partners and opportunities for your innovation

Explore investing in and partnering with CU researchers

Explore our startups portfolio

Explore our technology portfolio

Venture Partners has announced the inaugural cohort of Creative Futures Fellows, supporting arts, humanities and social science projects that address challenges facing communities in Colorado and beyond.

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Neurological drugs dominate the headlines, and therapeutics from snakes

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:11:21 +0000

Neurological drugs dominate the headlines, and therapeutics from snakes Daniel Corbin … Tue, 07/14/2026 - 13:11

Jack Guglel, co-founder and CEO of Arkana Therapeutics and CU �ֲ��ý PhD alum of molecular, cellular and developmental biology, is developing appetite-suppressing molecules discovered through python biology that could offer an alternative to GLP-1 drugs with fewer gastrointestinal side effects.

What could you do with a CU technology?

Venture Partners manages a portfolio of over 1,000 technologies from university investigators and partners with entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes—from startups to the Fortune 500—to bring these inventions to market.

Explore Partnership Opportunities

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

Venture Partners helps researchers, inventors and creators take their groundbreaking discoveries every step of the way, from intellectual property (IP) management to market launch.

More for University Innovators

The Biotech Voyager—Jack Guglel, co-founder and CEO of Arkana Therapeutics and CU �ֲ��ý PhD alum of molecular, cellular and developmental biology, is developing appetite-suppressing molecules discovered through python biology that could offer an alternative to GLP-1 drugs with fewer gastrointestinal side effects.

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Ban takes next-generation battery research global with Fulbright award

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:58:17 +0000

Ban takes next-generation battery research global with Fulbright award Daniel Corbin … Tue, 07/14/2026 - 12:58

Chunmei Ban, a professor in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering at CU �ֲ��ý, has received a Fulbright Global Scholar award to explore the future of energy storage through next-generation battery technologies.

The prestigious program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, supports international academic and cultural exchange in the form of multi-regional projects involving research and teaching activities.

The award will support collaborations with researchers in Singapore, the United Kingdom and Germany, where Ban will study safer battery materials, investigate emerging non-lithium battery alternatives and strengthen global partnerships in battery research and education.

“I am extremely grateful for all my collaborators, mentors and students for helping me reach this incredible milestone,” said Ban, who is also affiliated with the Materials Science & Engineering Program. “Our lab group has spent a long time developing and even commercializing electrochemical materials for energy storage. This project is a wonderful opportunity for us to dive deeper into new battery materials and applications.”

What could you do with a CU technology?

Explore Partnership Opportunities

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

Venture Partners helps researchers, inventors and creators take their groundbreaking discoveries every step of the way, from intellectual property (IP) management to market launch.

More for University Innovators

CU �ֲ��ý College of Engineering and Applied Science—Chunmei Ban, a professor in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering at CU �ֲ��ý, has received a Fulbright Global Scholar award to explore the future of energy storage through next-generation battery technologies.

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WATCH: Google Maps for space—how a 20 Twenties winner built HoloAstro

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:01:48 +0000

WATCH: Google Maps for space—how a 20 Twenties winner built HoloAstro Daniel Corbin … Thu, 07/09/2026 - 13:01

David Dezell Turner, CU �ֲ��ý PhD candidate in astrodynamics and satellite navigation, shares how winning the 2024 20 Twenties award became the catalyst for founding HoloAstro—a revolutionary augmented reality tool that's transforming space mission design.

What could you do with a CU technology?

Explore Partnership Opportunities

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

Venture Partners helps researchers, inventors and creators take their groundbreaking discoveries every step of the way, from intellectual property (IP) management to market launch.

More for University Innovators

Aviation Week—David Dezell Turner, CU �ֲ��ý PhD candidate in astrodynamics and satellite navigation, shares how winning the 2024 20 Twenties award became the catalyst for founding HoloAstro—a revolutionary augmented reality tool that's transforming space mission design.

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CU �ֲ��ý space research honored by NASA

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:31:08 +0000

CU �ֲ��ý space research honored by NASA Daniel Corbin … Thu, 07/02/2026 - 13:31

BioServe Space Technologies has earned a rare NASA accolade.

The �ֲ��ý research center is being recognized for decades of contributions to the International Space Station with a NASA Space Flight Awareness Supplier Award.

The honor is only bestowed on rare occasions, with the most recent recipients in 2024 and 2018.

The award recognizes BioServe’s “outstanding contributions and unbridled success advancing space exploration and scientific discovery.”

The center, housed within the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, has been designing, building, and flying microgravity life science research experiments and hardware since 1987, with six payloads launching less than two months ago.

What could you do with a CU technology?

Explore Partnership Opportunities

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

Venture Partners helps researchers, inventors and creators take their groundbreaking discoveries every step of the way, from intellectual property (IP) management to market launch.

More for University Innovators

CU �ֲ��ý College of Engineering and Applied Science—CU �ֲ��ý's BioServe Space Technologies is being recognized for decades of contributions to the International Space Station with a NASA Space Flight Awareness Supplier Award. Housed within the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, the center has been designing, building and flying microgravity life science research experiments and hardware since 1987, with six payloads launching less than two months ago.

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Larisza Krista awarded $600,000 NSF grant to translate coronal mass ejections research

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:43:10 +0000

Larisza Krista awarded $600,000 NSF grant to translate coronal mass ejections research Daniel Corbin … Thu, 06/25/2026 - 13:43

Secure Non-Dilutive Funding with the Center for Translational Research

As a resource for startups partnering with or originating from the university seeking non-dilutive funding—including Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards—the center advises on best practices for securing non-dilutive capital, provides market research and industry analysis and offers proposal editing and critique.

Visit the CTR Website

Larisza Krista, research scientist at CIRES at CU �ֲ��ý, was awarded a $600,000 National Science Foundation Translation to Practice—Explore (NSF TTP-E) grant to translate fundamental research on coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from their low-corona signatures to their effects near Earth, establishing actionable parameters for operational space weather forecasting, contributing to the next-generation space weather warning systems, including her solar-flare forecasting technology Helio Today.

View the NSF Award Details

CIRES scientist Larisza Krista fuels new space weather forecasts with Helio Today

CIRES research advances space weather forecasting through the observation, modeling, and interpretation of solar eruptions and geomagnetic storms. These events can cause major disturbances to Earth’s magnetic field, impacting power grids, communications, satellites, and the health of airplane crew and astronauts in space. As our reliance on orbital infrastructure grows, the economic risk of a single unpredicted solar event now totals in the billions.

Building on decades of experience in this space, CIRES Senior Research Scientist Larisza Krista identified a gap between what public forecasting systems provide and what commercial industries need: while probabilistic forecasts alert that a disruption might happen or is already underway, operators require early alerts, consistency, and improved certainty. To meet this need, Krista created Helio Today to identify the early physical triggers and signs of solar phenomena and provide deterministic arrival windows and magnitudes that help operators respond effectively.

Full Story from CIRES

Larisza Krista, research scientist at CIRES at CU �ֲ��ý, was awarded a $600,000 National Science Foundation Translation to Practice—Explore (NSF TTP-E) grant to translate fundamental research on coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

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Eight CU �ֲ��ý researchers and four startups receive funding through Colorado’s Advanced Industries Accelerator

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:21:52 +0000

Eight CU �ֲ��ý researchers and four startups receive funding through Colorado’s Advanced Industries Accelerator Daniel Corbin … Tue, 06/02/2026 - 17:21

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) has announced that eight �ֲ��ý researchers and four university-connected startup companies received funding through the latest round of the Advanced Industries Accelerator Program. The awards, granted through the Proof of Concept and Early-Stage Capital and Retention programs, represent one of the university's strongest performances to date.

The grants support a range of CU �ֲ��ý innovations, including gene therapies, augmented reality, aerospace, advanced materials, robotics, AI and regenerative medicine. Statewide, OEDIT awarded nearly $7.5 million to Colorado researchers and companies developing technologies to accelerate and expand Colorado’s advanced-industries economy. CU �ֲ��ý startups and researchers will receive a total of $2.2 million.

"CU �ֲ��ý’s research enterprise continues to produce discoveries with the potential to address major global challenges, and these awards demonstrate the importance of strategic public investment in helping research breakthroughs achieve their full potential,” said Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation at CU �ֲ��ý. "Programs like the Advanced Industries Accelerator play a critical role in helping transformative technologies move from the laboratory into practical application, delivering tangible benefits to communities in Colorado and beyond."

The Proof of Concept Grant program helps Colorado research institutions accelerate applied research and commercialization activities, while the Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grant supports Colorado companies commercializing innovative technologies that will be manufactured or scaled in Colorado.

Historically, these grants have provided powerful returns to the state, in terms of follow-on investment and company growth, according to Bryn Rees, senior associate vice chancellor for innovation and partnerships at CU �ֲ��ý. “Colorado has built one of the strongest environments in the country for translating research into new businesses. OEDIT has been an essential partner in that effort. CU �ֲ��ý spinout companies like Forge Nano and OnKure Therapeutics have grown to become publicly traded companies, and for them, early support from the Advanced Industries program was critical. This new round of awards is a great signal of what is to come,” said Rees.

But what is "commercialization?"

The path to commercialization—also known as "research translation" or "tech transfer"—can be challenging, so Venture Partners unites industry partners, entrepreneurs and investors to help researchers, inventors and creators at the University of Colorado bring their groundbreaking discoveries into the marketplace.

Explore the Path to Commercialization

Today, Venture Partners at CU �ֲ��ý and the campus’ Center for Translational Research support researchers and startup teams pursuing translational funding—financial support that helps move discoveries and innovations from the research laboratory toward real-world application and commercialization—opportunities, including OEDIT grants, U.S. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards and other translational research programs.

“These funding programs are often catalytic moments for research teams and startup companies,” said Sarah Hughes, director of the Center for Translational Research at CU �ֲ��ý. “The Center for Translational Research helps innovators identify opportunities, strengthen commercialization strategies and compete for funding that can accelerate the path from discovery to impact.”

The latest Advanced Industries awards come as CU �ֲ��ý continues to demonstrate national leadership in research commercialization and startup formation.

Fourteen of the awardees—including teams from the Colorado School of Mines and CU Denver—participated in the National Science Foundation I-Corps™ customer discovery and commercialization programs offered through CU �ֲ��ý. The university is part of NSF I-Corps Hub West, a partnership of 11 research institutions that includes Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines, University of Southern California and others.

Most recently, Forge Nano announced plans to go public through a $1.6B SPAC deal, making it CU �ֲ��ý’s 11th “unicorn” company—a startup valued at $1 billion or more while still privately held. Forge Nano traces part of its early support to funding from OEDIT through a partnership with the CU �ֲ��ý that would later become the Lab Venture Challenge. The company commercializes atomic layer deposition nanocoating technology developed at CU �ֲ��ý and now produces advanced battery materials and semiconductor manufacturing technologies.

In fiscal year 2024, CU �ֲ��ý launched 35 new companies based on university intellectual property, more than any other U.S. campus that year. Commercialization activities through Venture Partners generated an economic impact of $8.7 billion nationally and $5.1 billion in Colorado over the last five years, according to a report from the Leeds School of Business.

The university also recently announced a strategic partnership with Techstars, the global startup accelerator and investor network founded in �ֲ��ý, to expand opportunities for founders and further strengthen Colorado’s innovation economy.

The Advanced Industries Accelerator Program received 144 applications during the latest funding cycle, which were reviewed by panels of business, technical and financial experts across Colorado’s advanced industries sectors. Final recommendations were approved by the Economic Development Commission on May 21, 2026. The next application cycle will open July 1, 2026.

CU Proof-of-Concept Grants

�ֲ��ý, PI Mirela Alistar - �ֲ��ý, CO $150,000: Developing a nanorobotic DNA synthesis platform that uses real-time error correction to produce the long genetic templates required for advanced gene therapies.

�ֲ��ý, PI Christopher Bowman - �ֲ��ý, CO $150,000: Developing a photopolymer-based optical materials platform to improve the performance and manufacturing of holographic elements for augmented reality displays.

�ֲ��ý, PI Xiaoyun Ding - �ֲ��ý, CO $150,000: Developing a microfluidic cell-modification platform to improve the manufacturing efficiency and payload capacity of cell and gene therapies.

�ֲ��ý, PI Timothy Hellickson - �ֲ��ý, CO $150,000: Developing a satellite-mounted, space-debris detection system to identify and characterize orbital debris that is too small for conventional radar tracking.

�ֲ��ý, PI Mija Hubler - �ֲ��ý, CO $150,000: Developing a regenerative, biobased tape for the durable repair of cracks in residential, commercial, and municipal concrete infrastructure.

�ֲ��ý, PI Laila Marzall - �ֲ��ý, CO $150,000: Developing an innovative in-band full-duplex analog hardware architecture to enable spectrum-agile wireless communication systems.

�ֲ��ý, PI Jay McMahon - �ֲ��ý, CO $150,000: Developing an artificial intelligence–powered strategic wargaming platform for evaluating complex conflict scenarios in the defense and aerospace sectors.

�ֲ��ý, PI Stephanie Bryant - �ֲ��ý, CO $150,000: Developing a customizable therapeutic platform to restore cartilage and bone in patients with osteoarthritis at any stage of disease progression.

University of Colorado Denver, PI Zhengxiong Li - Denver, CO $150,000: Developing a foundation model platform that enables robots equipped with high-degree-of-freedom anthropomorphic hands to master complex manufacturing and assembly tasks.

CU Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grants

Blue Cubed LLC - Lafayette, CO $250,000: Developing a laser communications terminal designed for seamless interoperability between satellite networks.

Codebreaker Tx Inc. - �ֲ��ý, CO $250,000: Developing a genomic data-as-a-service platform that generates high-resolution biological datasets for artificial intelligence-driven research and drug development.

Modendo Inc. - �ֲ��ý, CO $250,000: Developing an ultrathin, fiber-based optical probing platform designed for the failure analysis and security evaluation of advanced 3D semiconductor architectures.

Vesicle Therapeutics Inc. - �ֲ��ý, CO $250,000: Developing a targeted genetic therapy to treat head and neck cancer by distinguishing between different versions of the same protein.

What can we do together?

Disclose and protect your innovation

Engage in entrepreneurial training programs

Find a mentor to advance your innovation

Get funding for your innovation

Find partners and opportunities for your innovation

Explore investing in and partnering with CU researchers

Explore our startups portfolio

Explore our technology portfolio

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) has announced that eight CU �ֲ��ý researchers and four startups received funding through the latest round of the Advanced Industries Accelerator Program. The awards, granted through the Proof of Concept and Early-Stage Capital and Retention programs, represent one of the university's strongest performances to date.

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A powerhouse in battery breakthroughs

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:03:01 +0000

A powerhouse in battery breakthroughs Daniel Corbin … Tue, 06/02/2026 - 13:03

Heather Hansen

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Photo: Nick Singstock, CTO and co-founder of new CU �ֲ��ý startup Mana Battery holds up a prototype of their new sodium-based battery.

The �ֲ��ý is at the cutting edge of battery technology, from groundbreaking research to billion-dollar ventures.

When Tyler Evans (Alum: CU �ֲ��ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering and Material Science) was applying to PhD programs, he knew he wanted to focus on batteries. “I remember having this impression that batteries were literally a way to bottle up energy and put it in your pocket and use it to do what you wanted, anytime you wanted, and that feels a lot like a superpower,” he said.

That was the start of an exciting era in energy storage, and the race was on to build a better battery that lasted longer, was safer and less expensive. At the time, there were just a handful of universities, including CU �ֲ��ý, working on that kind of technology, and Evans was interested in working specifically with Se-Hee Lee (CU �ֲ��ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), a pioneer in solid state battery technology who had joined CU �ֲ��ý from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (now the National Laboratory of the Rockies) several years earlier.

Photo: Tyler Evans, CEO and co-founder of Mana Battery, alum of CU �ֲ��ý CU �ֲ��ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering and Material Science.

Evans felt an immediate affinity with Lee’s research objectives and lab culture and wanted to join his team. “Because I knew I wanted to study energy storage and new battery technologies, the support I found was instrumental in setting me up not just to be a good battery scientist and technologist but also to look at the world through the lens of application and understand what could be useful for the world.”

Photo: Tyler Evans, CEO and co-founder of Mana Battery, alum of CU �ֲ��ý CU �ֲ��ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering and Material Science.

Photo: Se-Hee Lee (left) and Conrad Stoldt (right) both faculty and researchers in CU �ֲ��ý's Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering, in their lab at CU �ֲ��ý, using a glovebox. The glovebox is used to handle battery materials in an oxygen- and moisture-free environment, preventing reactions with air and enabling the safe development of next-generation energy technologies.

Soon, Evans was part of the team generating test data that led to grant funding for Solid Power Inc., a company spun out of the university by Se-Hee Lee and Conrad Stoldt (CU �ֲ��ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering). At the same time, Evans was crossing paths with Doug Campbell—Solid Power’s co-founder and a deep tech startup veteran, then its CEO—and Josh Buettner Garrett, the company’s CTO. Through those interactions, Evans was learning about the commercialization path for university lab innovations. “It felt exciting to be a part of that, to see your work have a pretty immediate and direct impact on a company that was hopefully going to make a real impact in the world,” he said.

Photo: Se-Hee Lee (left) and Conrad Stoldt (right) both faculty and researchers in CU �ֲ��ý's Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering, in their lab at CU �ֲ��ý, using a glovebox. The glovebox is used to handle battery materials in an oxygen- and moisture-free environment, preventing reactions with air and enabling the safe development of next-generation energy technologies.

Since then, Solid Power has become an industry-leading developer of next-generation all-solid-state battery technology. The company went public in 2021 with major partnership deals with BMW, Ford and Samsung SDI and now has a 75,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Thornton. As a company co-founder, Lee is excited to see Solid Power at the forefront of this technology, and he’s equally gratified that the company has hired many past CU �ֲ��ý undergraduate, Master’s and PhD students. “Creating so much opportunity for the younger generation, that’s kind of the most exciting stuff,” said Lee.

“Incredible productivity in battery innovation”

Lee was also the principal investigator (PI) guiding the team that led to the spinout of another company, this one co-founded by Evans and fellow student Daniela Molina Piper (Alum: CU �ֲ��ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering). That venture was SiILion Inc., which focused on developing high-energy, non-flammable, Li-ion (lithium-ion) systems for solid state batteries. Evans saw a new Li-ion cell technology through prototype and early-pilot demonstrations until 2018, when the company was acquired by Tesla.

Photo: Early prototypes of the Solid Power solid state batteries.

Solid Power and SiILion put CU �ֲ��ý on the map for battery breakthroughs, giving the outside world a sense of the high caliber of research coming out of the university, according to Bryn Rees, senior associate vice chancellor for innovation and partnerships. Soon thereafter, in 2020, Michael Marshak (Fmr. CU �ֲ��ý Chemistry) founded Otoro Energy Inc. to commercialize a breakthrough flow battery—a rechargeable battery in which electrolyte flows through one or more electrochemical cells from one or more tanks—technology developed in his lab. The company’s patented low-cost electrolyte, licensed from CU �ֲ��ý, uses abundant and non-critical minerals, is water-based (pH-neutral), non-corrosive, non-flammable and non-toxic. “We’ve had this incredible productivity in battery innovation at CU. It’s a unique strength that we’ve got here,” said Rees.

Photo: Early prototypes of the Solid Power solid state batteries.

But what is "commercialization?"

Explore the Path to Commercialization

Other prolific university labs have contributed to advancing battery technologies in unexpected and intriguing ways. Take Alan Weimer’s (CU �ֲ��ý Chemical and Biological Engineering) lab, where students work at the forefront of innovation in atomic layer deposition (ALD) nanocoating technology. That’s the process of putting down ultra-thin coatings on particles and plastics to improve the performance of new and existing products, including batteries. Researchers on Weimer’s team have shown that, with lithium-ion batteries, ALD can improve performance, extend life cycle and enhance safety in consumer electronics like laptops, cell phones and electric vehicles.

Photo: Factory floor of Forge Nano.

Weimer co-invented the core ALD tech that formed the foundation for an early spinout, ALD NanoSolutions Inc., which merged with Forge Nano Inc. in 2021. Forge Nano was co-founded by Paul Lichty (Alum: CU �ֲ��ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering and Chemical and Biological Engineering) and Dave King (postdoctoral research assistant) both formerly part of Weimer’s team. Lichty, now Forge Nano’s CEO, developed and patented an idea for scaling up the ALD process, and the company now uses the technology to make scalable nano-coatings for various applications, including batteries, semiconductors, and more. Forge Nano’s proprietary ALD formulation, called “Atomic Armor,” makes batteries’ electrodes better at storing energy. “It's difficult to think of anything else I could have done that would have as big an impact as this company,” Lichty has said.

Photo: Factory floor of Forge Nano.

A photo of the Ban Group, including Tyler Evans (left, furthest back), Chunmei Ban (center right), and Nick Singstock (far right)

Photo: Ban Group, including Tyler Evans (left, furthest back), Chunmei Ban (center right), and Nick Singstock (far right)

An ecosystem of great battery scientists

CU �ֲ��ý researchers like Lee, Lichty and Evans have distinguished themselves by taking on the tough challenges inherent in advancing batteries and storage tech, and successfully pushing those innovations out into the world in an unprecedented and meaningful way. “The notion in the field was that battery technology is too hard, and it’s too hard for these companies to successfully raise capital. It’s too hard for them to get partnerships and to commercialize. Yet what we’ve seen at CU �ֲ��ý has totally turned that thinking upside down,” said Rees. “These really great research capabilities have translated into super impactful ventures.”

Several factors make CU �ֲ��ý a powerhouse for battery innovation, according to Evans. “The Front Range and CU �ֲ��ý have a unique confluence of ingredients that have [contributed] to our strong track record of battery technology companies in the last decade or so,” he said. “First, the network of universities, national laboratories and entrepreneurial resources provides a pool of world-class people and creates fertile ground for breakthroughs. Second, the representation of major players in the energy industry and industries that use battery technology… creates pull for new technologies with a focus on building commercial value. And finally, situated at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, the people here have a very direct connection to the environment; we’re intimately linked to the impact of our work.”

Evans is now CEO and co-founder of Mana Battery Inc., a 2023 spinout of Chunmei Ban’s (CU �ֲ��ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering) lab. Ban, company co-founder and a leading researcher in batteries and battery materials, focuses on next-generation electrochemical materials, specifically sodium and magnesium, to meet the need to improve renewable energy storage systems. Mana Battery is advancing that groundbreaking work by developing sodium-ion batteries that are cheaper, safer and longer-lasting than standard lithium-ion ones.

At a CU �ֲ��ý-hosted conference on batteries and storage technology in 2024, Ban commented, “The U.S. has one of the largest sources of soda ash. The reserve is huge, so we have the resources to do something, and I feel it’s the right time,” she said. “We feel confident about our technology, a gigantic market for batteries is already here, and I have a great team.”

At that same meeting, Evans expressed gratitude at being part of the ecosystem of great battery scientists at the university. “CU �ֲ��ý has a really impressive track record in the battery space, and Mana is sitting in a place to enable a sodium-ion battery transition; they do everything lithium-ion can do at half the cost, which the grid needs. Batteries have the potential to change the world.”

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CU �ֲ��ý has emerged as a leading hub for battery innovation, producing breakthrough research and a series of successful startups—including Solid Power, SiILion, Otoro Energy, Forge Nano and Mana Battery—that are advancing safer, cheaper and more effective energy storage technologies. The university’s unique combination of world-class researchers, entrepreneurial support and industry partnerships has helped transform laboratory discoveries into companies with significant economic and societal impact.

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William Penuel, Jun Ye named newest American Academy of Arts & Sciences members

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:35:12 +0000

William Penuel, Jun Ye named newest American Academy of Arts & Sciences members Daniel Corbin … Wed, 04/22/2026 - 12:35

CU �ֲ��ý Today—The prestigious American Academy of Arts & Sciences has announced its newest members, and they include CU �ֲ��ý affiliates William Penuel and Jun Ye.

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CU �ֲ��ý Today—The prestigious American Academy of Arts & Sciences has announced its newest members, and they include CU �ֲ��ý affiliates William Penuel and Jun Ye.

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A simple shot shows promise to reverse osteoarthritis within weeks

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:10:40 +0000

A simple shot shows promise to reverse osteoarthritis within weeks Daniel Corbin … Mon, 04/06/2026 - 15:10

A research team including scientists and engineers from the �ֲ��ý, University of Colorado Anschutz and Colorado State University has developed a suite of new therapies that prompt aging or damaged joints to repair themselves within weeks, according to animal studies.

The new osteoarthritis treatments include a single, regenerative injection to a joint and a biomaterial repair kit that recruits the body’s own cells to patch holes in damaged cartilage.

To expedite the research, the federal Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) announced this week that the multidisciplinary team will advance to the next phase of the up to $33.5 million project. The project is under the ARPA-H Novel Innovations for Tissue Regeneration in Osteoarthritis (NITRO) program. NITRO is led by ARPA-H Program Manager Dr. Ross Uhrich.

“In two years, we were able to go from a moonshot idea to developing these therapies to demonstrating that they reverse osteoarthritis in animals,” said principal investigator Stephanie Bryant, professor of chemical and biological engineering at CU �ֲ��ý. “Our goal is not just to treat pain and halt progression, but to end this disease.”

The team hopes to publish their animal findings in a peer reviewed journal later this year and has formed a company, Renovare Therapeutics Inc. to move toward commercialization.

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The New York Times, WIRED, CU �ֲ��ý Today—A research team of scientists and engineers from the �ֲ��ý, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Colorado State University has developed a suite of therapies that prompt aging or damaged joints to repair themselves within weeks, according to animal studies. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has advanced the up to $33.5M project to its next phase, and the team has formed Renovare Therapeutics Inc. to move toward commercialization.

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