CU Innovators News

Richard Noble bridges the gap between research and industry

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 19:08:21 +0000

Richard Noble bridges the gap between research and industry Daniel Corbin … Thu, 04/03/2025 - 13:08

Heather Hansen

Celebrated professor and prolific inventor Richard Noble reflects on decades of teaching and discovery and embarks on a new path to commercialization of a game-changing technology.

Growing up the eldest of seven children, in a family of modest means, Richard Noble learned how to work together with his siblings and how to be independent and persistent—skills he’s relied on throughout his life. “To succeed, you have to be willing to persevere; you don’t give up,” said Noble, research professor of chemistry (��ƷSM��ӰƬ Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences).

Several decades later, what ‘sticking with it’ looks like for Noble is nearly 50 years teaching, close to 90 patents, hundreds of publications, millions of dollars in research funding, dozens of technologies licensed—and too many honors and awards to catalog including ��ƷSM��ӰƬ Inventor of the Year (2008), Dean’s Performance Award for Research (2013), Institution of Chemical Engineers Innovator of the Year (2013) and North American Membrane Society Fellow (2018).

Today, Noble is an internationally recognized leader in using novel membrane and thin-film materials. For decades, his lab has been experimenting with how ionic liquids (liquid salts), liquid crystals and electric and light energy can selectively separate components–in mixtures, membranes or even micro-scale devices. Harnessing these materials may have a broad range of potential applications, including nano-filtration (specifically treating ‘spent’ water from fracking), ‘lab on a chip’ devices and gas separation.

The CO₂ problem

How to separate carbon dioxide (CO₂) from other mixed gases, in particular, has been on Noble’s mind for a very long time. Extracting CO₂ from the air is challenging because the gas is highly diffuse, spreading rapidly and mingling readily with other gases. Currently, sequestering CO₂ traditionally involves chemical absorption, a process in which gases are sent through liquid amines (derivatives of ammonia), which trap the gas. In addition to the toxic and corrosive nature of amines, this separation technique is generally costly and energy-intensive.

Despite the many hurdles to sequestering CO₂, it’s important to Noble for a couple of reasons. Separating CO₂ from natural gas increases its heating value as well as the safety and efficiency of transporting it by preventing corrosion in pipelines (due to the acidity of CO₂) and issues during natural gas liquefaction in which CO₂ may crystallize. Removing CO₂ from natural gas before it’s burned can also lower its overall emissions.

Successfully separating and storing CO₂ could also play a key role in mitigating climate change. CO₂ is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) that is supercharging climate change. According to the NOAA Global Monitoring Lab, carbon dioxide alone is responsible for about two-thirds of the total heating influence of all human-produced GHGs. Trapping CO₂ before it’s emitted from the flues of large industrial plants—like cement and coal-burning power plants—could make a major dent in worldwide CO₂ emissions.

The ‘just right’ path to commercialization

Over his career, when Noble has considered what he wants the overall impact of his many innovations to be, he’s clear: “I’m an engineer, I want to know at the end of the day that somebody’s going to value what I do, that it’s useful. I’m always moving toward application,” he said. To that end, ��ƷSM��ӰƬ has licensed intellectual property for some of his inventions to companies large and small, including several of his membrane technologies. Over the years, he’s also considered spinning off a company to build his own business around some of his inventions.

For Noble, who is also a former director of the NSF Membrane Applied Science and Technology (MAST) Center, there were advantages and disadvantages to each approach. Licensing in the traditional way meant researcher and customer came together generally through sponsorship or an applied research project—great for the time-crunched professor but lacking some of the impact Noble wanted. At the other extreme was launching a startup, which meant finding capital, customers, the right team and the time to cultivate each—a combination requiring business prowess that, he said, was not his strength. “A long time ago, I realized that I don’t have good business sense,” said Noble, “But I wanted to find the people that knew the business so that they could take what I made and know how to do that part of it successfully.”

Recently, Noble chose a different path that represents a shift in licensing at the university, according to Marta Zgagacz, senior director at Venture Partners at ��ƷSM��ӰƬ.

Early this year, several of Noble’s patents based on ionic liquid membrane technologies used for carbon capture and separation were optioned by startup incubator High Tech XL, which builds fast-growing, deep-tech companies focused on changing the world. Membranes are an attractive tech for removing CO₂ from mixed gases because, structured and charged in the way Noble has devised, they are more productive and have a longer lifespan with a smaller cost and footprint than traditional techniques. Noble plans to join the new startup as a technical advisor.

Noble arrived at that ‘just right’ space between research and development thanks to new opportunities through Venture Partners—and his own enthusiasm. At Zgagacz's urging in 2022, Noble teamed up with the Venture Partners licensing team to join the Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop, offered as part of the National Science Foundation I-Corps™ Hub: West Region.

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

Over those few weeks, Noble gained a deeper understanding of the commercialization process and got to test his ideas with potential customers. “This evolution of Venture Partners has allowed academic people like myself to do the ‘R’ of R&D, and to find others who can do the ‘D’ whereas when I first started [at CU], that was a black hole,” said Noble.

Zgagacz describes this new route as a new path for commercialization, one that combines elements of partnership with existing companies and launching a startup without researchers having to drive company formation. “Some inventors or researchers might not be interested in starting a company or in being in partnership with an existing company, so they might be discouraged from talking to us,” she said. “But not everyone has to jump on that entrepreneurship wagon. There’s a third way of doing this, even if you don’t think your technology is ready for that.”

Zgagacz emphasized that there are many promising technologies being developed at ��ƷSM��ӰƬ, with inventors at all stages of their careers, and she wants them, like Noble, to find a home with Venture Partners. “Hopefully, other inventors, other researchers, other PIs will see his story, and it will resonate with them as a potential path,” she said.

In mid-2024, Noble took part in Venture Partners’ Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator, which matches entrepreneurs with breakthrough innovations. “I think it’s really good to educate faculty on what it really takes,” said Noble. “There’s a point where you have to let go and realize that different expertise is needed.” While Noble’s tech didn’t match during that Embark round, High Tech XL started showing interest around the same time and Noble and Venture Partners were ready. After a series of conversations, it was clear that the startup lab and Noble made a great match.

The importance of curiosity and community

A key mindset to experimentation that has served Noble well throughout his lengthy career—and that he recommends to his students—is a willingness to try anything. “I usually start with a crazy idea,” he said, “I tell them, ‘I don’t know if it’ll work or how it’ll work, but it’ll be new and different, so let’s just try it and see what happens.” As a scientist, you may not get the result you’re looking for immediately, but success by increments is still success. “Students have to trust and believe that doing this is going to lead to some positive outcomes, and it does,” said Noble. “Sometimes things went one way or the other way, but there’s a culmination and they see the evolution of knowledge and realize that this was something worth doing.”

That thinking is how Noble went from trying many different approaches to carbon separation over decades to where he is now. “People have been working on this thing for 50 years, and nobody’s come up with a really good way to do it,” said Noble. “But I thought, ‘We should be able to make a material that has really high productivity and works for a long time.’ And what we have now has immense potential.”

Another key lesson Noble teaches his students is the importance of working as a team to drive successful innovation. “You really have to be curious, you have to take risks, and you have to develop trust amongst the people you’re going to work with,” he said. “It’s not just one person generating things and then making the ultimate decisions. [Innovation] requires a cooperative approach to moving forward. It's a community.” Noble acknowledged the many fruitful partnerships he’s had over the years, including those with long-time collaborator Doug Gin, who passed away last July.

“It’s going to be very satisfying for me, and all the people that have worked with me over the years to see something that we worked on become commercial while making a quantum improvement in that technology area,” said Noble. “Because that’s what this is–a real game changer.”

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

Celebrated professor and prolific inventor Richard Noble reflects on decades of teaching and discovery and embarks on a new path to commercialization of a game-changing technology.

Off

Traditional

White

Two ��ƷSM��ӰƬ scientists win prestigious honor

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 20:36:26 +0000

Two ��ƷSM��ӰƬ scientists win prestigious honor Daniel Corbin … Thu, 03/27/2025 - 14:36

��ƷSM��ӰƬ College of Arts & Sciences—Ivan Smalyukh, professor of physics, and Thomas Blumenthal, professor emeritus of molecular, cellular and developmental biology (MCDB), are among the 471 scientists, engineers and innovators who have been recognized for scientifically and socially distinguished achievements by the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Off

Traditional

White

PhD student’s work on engineered adhesives wins national recognition

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 20:43:45 +0000

PhD student’s work on engineered adhesives wins national recognition Daniel Corbin … Mon, 03/24/2025 - 14:43

��ƷSM��ӰƬ College of Engineering and Applied Science—Paula Pranda, a chemical and biological engineering PhD student, earned the top student honor at the Adhesion Society meeting for her research on aligned Liquid Crystal Elastomer (LCE) adhesives. The society’s annual meeting was held Feb. 16-19 in New Orleans.

Off

Traditional

White

Aircrafts of the future: Boosting aerodynamic performance by engineered surface vibrations

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 19:17:16 +0000

Aircrafts of the future: Boosting aerodynamic performance by engineered surface vibrations Daniel Corbin … Mon, 03/24/2025 - 13:17

��ƷSM��ӰƬ College of Engineering and Applied Science—As the principal investigator of a $7.5 million, five-year Department of Defense Office of Naval Research (ONR) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), Hussein is leading an effort to reshape the fundamental character of fluid-structure interactions to reduce drag on high-speed aerospace vehicles—the focus of the project.

Off

Traditional

White

Xiao earns prestigious membership in the National Academy of Inventors

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 17:53:04 +0000

Xiao earns prestigious membership in the National Academy of Inventors Daniel Corbin … Wed, 03/12/2025 - 11:53

��ƷSM��ӰƬ College of Engineering and Applied Science—Jianliang Xiao is a “mechanics of materials” expert launching innovations in soft materials and flexible electronics. His work recently earned him an exclusive spot amongst some of the most successful academic inventors in the world.

Off

Traditional

White

Alum Sristy Agrawal leads ��ƷSM��ӰƬ startup Mesa Quantum to success

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 14:27:12 +0000

Alum Sristy Agrawal leads ��ƷSM��ӰƬ startup Mesa Quantum to success Daniel Corbin … Mon, 03/10/2025 - 08:27

Heather Hansen

Mesa Quantum, a ��ƷSM��ӰƬ spinout and leader in quantum sensing, recently announced $3.7 million in seed funding and a $1.9 million grant from SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force. Both investments are fueling the company’s drive toward commercializing chip-scale quantum sensors for multiple applications including next-generation position, navigation and timing solutions.

Sristy Agrawal

Sitting in Mesa Quantum's new, airy headquarters in Boulder, co-founder and CEO Sristy Agrawal (NIST, JILA, ��ƷSM��ӰƬ Physics), is clearly exhilarated—if also a bit jet lagged. She’s been traveling around the U.S., to Europe, and next to Asia, attending conferences and talking to governments about her company’s tiny technology that’s offering big solutions. In those conversations, said Agrawal, “We want to make sure that our roadmap and our product development ensures we’re not just developing a cool technology but also solving a real problem.”

One of the issues Mesa Quantum aims to solve is current vulnerabilities in the aging U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) which is often the sole source of positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services. Accurate GPS and PNT are integral in our everyday lives, from mapping and surveying to stock trading, power grids and emergency response. But the satellite-based signals that GPS relies on can be inconsistent and are unencrypted.

Improperly configured, corrupted or hacked GPS receivers and signals have wreaked havoc recently on aviation and government operations, disrupting large sectors of the global economy. “As we’ve seen in the last few years, GPS is not resilient at all,” said Agrawal. “You can buy something from Amazon for $20 which can jam the GPS in an entire neighborhood.”

Mesa Quantum is addressing the issues of PNT resiliency, as well as filling certain GPS accessibility gaps, by designing and manufacturing next-gen quantum sensors with chip-scale atomic clocks. “One approach to solving that problem, which is very promising, is if we could build really tiny atomic clocks that we could integrate in our hardware,” said Agrawal. “So we wouldn’t have to rely completely on such a weak signal that is jammable. So that is what we’re trying to do.”

Timing is everything

Agrawal and her team are transitioning state-of-the-art lab research from ��ƷSM��ӰƬ into practical and deployable quantum solutions. The tech originates from Svenja Knappe’s lab (��ƷSM��ӰƬ Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering, NIST) where, for over 20 years, her work has focused on developing miniaturized quantum sensors and systems. ��ƷSM��ӰƬ has a robust history of quantum innovators spanning 60 years, including four Nobel laureates. Mesa Quantum is licensing that tech from the university, with the help of Venture Partners at ��ƷSM��ӰƬ, and working to make components smaller and mass producible while driving down cost to make their sensors accessible across multiple applications. They hope to have a working prototype in 2026, and also worked with Venture Partners to launch the company.

Quantum sensors are essentially highly accurate measurement devices that collect data at the subatomic level by detecting the most minute changes in time, gravity, temperature, motion, magnetic and electrical fields and more. That kind of precision, in Mesa Quantum’s smaller, more cost-effective package could be tailored for a wide array of uses including medical diagnostics and biomedical research, environmental monitoring and, of course, positioning, navigation and timing.

In adapting Knappe’s novel atomic clock, Mesa Quantum is building sensors that can measure and detect changes in the environment around them to signal where they are in the world, where they need to go and to keep them in sync with other systems. Agrawal ultimately sees a place for their sensors anywhere highly accurate timekeeping is currently needed (like data centers and autonomous vehicles); where GPS may be weak, like in dense urban areas, and in challenging environments where GPS can’t currently go—underground, underwater and in secure military operations. They want their quantum sensors to “meet the market where it is,” she said.

Agrawal’s path to studying quantum science started back in high school where she first started to learn scientific concepts. Before, she never felt like a great student, but that sparked curiosity in her, and it remains so today. “Every day I had like 10 questions for the teacher which must have been very annoying,” said Agrawal, “but that’s when I really got interested in science.” Being open and curious have been key to Agrawal’s success. She grew up in a small town in a rural state in India where she’d go to a café to access the internet, or she’d stay at home reading H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine” or watching “Stephen Hawking’s Universe.” Agrawal also values having the willingness to make mistakes and to continue learning. “It’s not the end of the world if something doesn’t work,” she said. “But I would regret not trying.”

When working toward her PhD in quantum information science, Agrawal was looking at how to use quantum technologies to transform lives. “I got exposed to a lot of incredible research being done at JILA and NIST in quantum sensing,” she said, “And I got the bug for the impact that quantum technologies could have to actually solve real world challenges.” At the same time, Agrawal didn’t have a particular concept in mind. “Because I wasn’t married to a particular idea to begin with, I think that gave me a lot of flexibility,” said Agrawal. “I got quite excited about chip-scale atomic clocks right away because I’d been reading about the GPS problem.” Her next logical step was to direct her knowledge of the quantum realm and a passion for solutions into a startup. But how?

Homing in on a winning innovation

When considering entrepreneurship, Agrawal turned first to Venture Partners at ��ƷSM��ӰƬ, the commercialization arm of the university, and began working with Justin Stitzlein, a venture analyst at Venture Partners. The two met for coffee and Stitzlein was excited to learn about her background in quantum physics. “Then we provided her with a curated list of potential quantum technologies, she looked through that list and selected one that she thought seemed interesting and that might have a market opportunity,” he said. “Through her research and just a few conversations, Sristy really conceptualized this gap in the market. I don’t think that everyone can do that; she’s such an expansive thinker.”

But what is "commercialization?"

Explore the Path to Commercialization

In late 2022, Agrawal participated in the Venture Partners Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop, offered as part of the NSF I-Corps™ Hub: West Region, where Mesa Quantum was conceived. The program helps researchers build a foundation for impactful businesses by identifying market needs for their breakthrough technologies with a robust process of customer discovery, according to Emily Vogt, director of venture development. “[Sristy’s] chip scale atomic clock technology had broad applications across different industries,” said Vogt. “Her customer discovery journey through multiple I-Corps programs helped her find the shortest and most compelling path to market, while also highlighting different uses of the technology for future growth."

During the Starting Blocks program, Stitzlein encouraged Agrawal to home in on the technology’s potential applications and to develop a business model. She then started developing that commercial strategy and meeting with potential customers. “I've never seen someone hit the road as hard as she did,” said Stitzlein.

During that time, Agrawal dove into several other Venture Partners’ programs including the 2023 Lab Venture Challenge (where Mesa Quantum was awarded $125,000) and 2024 New Venture Challenge Deep Tech Competition (where Mesa Quantum was a finalist). She also participated in New Venture Launch, a Leeds School of Business class for cross-disciplinary teams, individual founders and entrepreneur-focused students. During that time, Agrawal also connected with her co-founder and Mesa Quantum’s chief technology officer, Wale Lawal (Harvard, Rice University, U.S. Air Force Academy).

From when she first began working with Venture Partners, Agrawal felt tremendous backing. “I could brainstorm everything with them,” she said. Venture Partners helped Agrawal move seamlessly through ��ƷSM��ӰƬ’s many opportunities and resources for campus innovators to develop new ventures. Before, as an academic, Agrawal said, she didn’t have access to daily conversations about becoming an entrepreneur like someone at a business school might.

That resonates with Bryn Rees, associate vice chancellor for innovation and partnerships at ��ƷSM��ӰƬ. “This is definitely a cross-campus collaboration, an example of a founder really leveraging all the different things that this campus has to offer,” he said. “Breaking down siloes is great.” Rees would like to see more founders like Sristy—“who’s got that commitment and willingness to try things”—bringing their knowledge and passion into the entrepreneurial arena.

Rees sees Agrawal and Mesa Quantum as the tip of the iceberg in terms of potential ventures spinning out of the university. “The vast majority of folks don’t know where to start, or don’t have the resources, or don’t have the bandwidth to do that,” he said. “What I think is so exciting about the university now is that for most of the iceberg that’s underwater, for those people who would love to do this if they have support, there are trainings, there are mentors, there’s funding, there’s access to a path to success.”

“Venture Partners created that space for me where I could have those discussions,” Agrawal said. “I cannot overstate how important the community has been in this journey. Mesa Quantum wouldn’t have happened without that support.”

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

Mesa Quantum, a ��ƷSM��ӰƬ spinout and leader in quantum sensing, recently announced $3.7 million in seed funding and a $1.9 million grant from SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force. Both investments are fueling the company’s drive toward commercializing chip-scale quantum sensors for multiple applications including next-generation position, navigation and timing solutions.

Off

Traditional

White

From left to right: William Raasch, Haoquan Fan, Sristy Agrawal, Austin Granmoe, Andres cuellar Vega (below), Antonio Yervez, Wale Lawal

Faculty Fellows program boosts societal impact

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 16:32:38 +0000

Faculty Fellows program boosts societal impact Daniel Corbin … Fri, 03/07/2025 - 09:32

With a foundation of education and specialized training augmented by years of hands-on experience leading a classroom, lab or studio in their area of expertise, faculty from universities like ��ƷSM��ӰƬ are critical to solving society’s toughest challenges and cultivating the next generation of thinkers and problem-solvers.

Off

Traditional

White

New technology turns waste heat into electricity, defies physical limit

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 19:51:59 +0000

New technology turns waste heat into electricity, defies physical limit Daniel Corbin … Mon, 02/17/2025 - 12:51

��ƷSM��ӰƬ College of Engineering and Applied Science—A team of engineers and material scientists in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering at ��ƷSM��ӰƬ has developed a new technology to turn thermal radiation into electricity in a way that literally teases the basic law of thermal physics.

Off

Traditional

White

Rentschler, Aspero Medical awarded $4.5M for endoscopy advancement

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:19:35 +0000

Rentschler, Aspero Medical awarded $4.5M for endoscopy advancement Daniel Corbin … Tue, 02/11/2025 - 10:19

��ƷSM��ӰƬ College of Engineering and Applied Science—It’s been six years since the launch of startup company Aspero Medical, co-founded by Professor Mark Rentschler of the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. The company has seen great success, including the development of a medical device designed to enable more efficient procedures in the small bowel region.

Off

Traditional

White

CU Engineering announces inaugural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:08:57 +0000

CU Engineering announces inaugural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows Daniel Corbin … Tue, 02/11/2025 - 10:08

��ƷSM��ӰƬ College of Engineering and Applied Science—The ��ƷSM��ӰƬ’s College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) has announced the recipients of its inaugural class of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) Fellows, a new program designed to support faculty, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students in advancing cutting-edge research with commercial potential. The fellowships are supported by the CEAS I&E initiative and Venture Partners at ��ƷSM��ӰƬ.

Off

Traditional

White

CU Innovators News

Richard Noble bridges the gap between research and industry

The CO2 problem

The ‘just right’ path to commercialization

But what is "commercialization?"

The importance of curiosity and community

What can we do together?

Off

Two ��ƷSM����ӰƬ scientists win prestigious honor

Off

PhD student’s work on engineered adhesives wins national recognition

Off

Aircrafts of the future: Boosting aerodynamic performance by engineered surface vibrations

Off

Xiao earns prestigious membership in the National Academy of Inventors

Off

Alum Sristy Agrawal leads ��ƷSM����ӰƬ startup Mesa Quantum to success

Timing is everything

Homing in on a winning innovation

But what is "commercialization?"

What can we do together?

Off

Faculty Fellows program boosts societal impact

Off

​New technology turns waste heat into electricity, defies physical limit

Off

Rentschler, Aspero Medical awarded $4.5M for endoscopy advancement

Off

CU Engineering announces inaugural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows

Off

The CO₂ problem

Two ��ƷSM��ӰƬ scientists win prestigious honor

Alum Sristy Agrawal leads ��ƷSM��ӰƬ startup Mesa Quantum to success

New technology turns waste heat into electricity, defies physical limit