Gail Norris has been chosen to direct the College Office of Technology Transfer. As director, Norris will develop strategies for the licensing and commercialization of intellectual property developed at the University, as well as foster corporate collaborations and assist in the establishment of start-up companies which use technology developed at the University.
The Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) facilitates the commercialization of technologies and intellectual property developed by University of Rochester faculty, staff and students. The office helps translate scientific progress into tangible products, while returning income both to the inventor and to the University to support further research and education by assisting in licensing technologies to existing companies, facilitating the startup of new companies, and supporting the transfer of research materials to other universities, research agencies, and companies.
"The College is fortunate indeed to have been able to attract Gail Norris to the position of Director of its Office of Technology Transfer," says Paul F. Slattery, dean of Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Rochester. "During the ten months she served as interim director of the office, Gail's incisive intelligence, knowledge of law, experience in technology-related matters, and exceptional work-ethic made it overwhelmingly clear that she was the right person to permanently head the office."
Norris is a member of the American Bar Association, the National Association of College and University Attorneys and the Association of University Technology Managers. She received her bachelor's in management from Syracuse University and her law degree from Albany Law School of Union University.
From 1990 until 2000, Norris was a partner of the law firm of Nixon Peabody specializing in corporate law. In 2000, she became the general counsel for the U.S. operations of Celltech Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company based in the U.K. where she was responsible for all legal matters for the company's U.S. operations. Norris joined the Office of Counsel at the University of Rochester in August 2005 to assist the University with its business transactions, especially in the area of technology transfer.