Jones Becomes Executive Director of WSU Research Foundation

In his role at WSU, Jones will spearhead the university’s efforts to turn the results of university research into economic development opportunities in the private sector. As a land-grant research university, the transfer of technologies to the commercial sector is an integral part of WSU’s mission. WSU currently has 180 active patent or biomaterials licenses to 65 different companies.

“With experience at a land-grant university, in a patent law firm and in industry, Dr. Jones has the ideal background to help WSU transfer technologies developed in our research programs to benefit the people of the state, nation and world.  His vision and enthusiasm will help us move forward in these activities, which are assuming increasing importance in the state as it seeks to maximize the impact of the research universities,” said James Petersen, WSU’s vice provost for research.

Jones has served in his role at Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc. since 1999. In that position, he has been responsible for evaluating, patenting, marketing and licensing all life science related research advances from the university.

“I look forward to working with the faculty to increase the commercial and societal impact of the cutting-edge research conducted at WSU.  Efficient management of commercialization of intellectual property is an important outlet for the creative energies of researchers at WSU and can result in significant economic development,” Jones said.

Before moving to Virginia Tech, Jones was scientific adviser to Lyon & Lyon LLP in San Diego, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the country. Jones was involved in litigation involving key patents in plant biotechnology. He also has worked for Mycogen Corp. in San Diego, in international technical development and marketing and as a research scientist.

He earned a doctoral degree in plant pathology at North Carolina State University.