Scott Catlin has been appointed associate vice president for innovation and technology commercialization. He will oversee the Office of Technology Transfer at the University of Rochester.
"Scott Catlin's breadth of knowledge, expertise, and corporate experience will serve us well and advance the mission of the Office of Technology Transfer," said Robert Clark, interim senior vice president for research.
Catlin is currently legal section head for Abbott Medical Optics Inc. in Santa Ana, Calif., where he managed a team of 18 attorneys and support staff. Catlin earned his B.S. in optical engineering at the University of Rochester in 1992, graduating summa cum laude. Three years later, he graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame Law School with his Juris Doctorate. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and is a member of the Licensing Executives Society and American Intellectual Property Association.
"I look forward to building bridges between the University's researchers and the commercial world," said Catlin. "The goal is to turn the University's cutting-edge innovation into products and services that benefit patients, society and the environment, while also helping to create jobs in the local community."
The Office of Technology Transfer is responsible for protecting the University's intellectual property and facilitating the commercialization of technologies. The separate technology transfer offices at the University of Rochester Medical Center and the River Campus were combined last December into one operation.
"Ensuring that our technologies have the best chance of getting out to the market for public use is an important part of our University mission," said Gail Norris, vice president and general counsel. "The consolidation of our technology transfer operations in one location and under one new leader is going to be great for the University and this mission."
Catlin served as division counsel for intellectual property at Abbott Medical Optics, managing all aspects of intellectual property development, protection, and enforcement. He also worked in a start-up company and as a management consultant for Bain & Company. Before starting his career in the private sector, Catlin spent four years in the U.S. Air Force as assistant staff judge advocate (JAG) where he was a criminal prosecutor and investigated cases of medical malpractice and aircraft mishaps.
Catlin, who begins his new role at the University on March 1, will report directly to the senior vice president for research.