The Office of Research has announced the appointment of Jeremy Tamsen as the director of the Office of Commercialization. His appointment is effective Dec. 1.
“With an impressive background in law and commercialization, Jeremy will play a pivotal role in accelerating WSU’s growth of marketplace innovations and discoveries,” said Michael P. Wolcott, Regents Professor and interim vice president for research.
Before joining the Office of Commercialization, Tamsen served as the director of Innovation and Commercialization for WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. In this role, Tamsen provided intellectual property licensing support for WSU breeding programs and researchers. He also has collaborated with several Washington state commodity commissions to support innovations that benefit food production across Washington and beyond. CAHRNS produces the largest amount of licensing revenue across the WSU system, a direct result of successful plant variety licensing.
“From promising new technologies in microwave-assisted sterilization and pasteurization, to the exciting new WA 64 apple, Jeremy has made outstanding strides in guiding CAHNRS innovations from the world of research toward commercial success,” said Wendy Powers, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of CAHNRS. “His accomplishments not only financially support our work for a more resilient world, they help the public realize the value and impact of the land-grant university.”
From promising new technologies in microwave-assisted sterilization and pasteurization, to the exciting new WA 64 apple, Jeremy has made outstanding strides in guiding CAHNRS innovations from the world of research toward commercial success.
Wendy Powers, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean
College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
Washington State University
As the director of the Office of Commercialization, Tamsen will provide leadership for strategic plans for the OC and system-wide initiatives. He will also enhance research innovations and discoveries by bridging the gap between WSU researchers and industry. Additionally, he will continue to advise WSU’s CAHRNS leadership and develop strategies for securing and leveraging intellectual property and will serve as lead project manager for CAHNRS IP.
“Jeremy’s continued role working with CAHNRS and the Washington State Agriculture Commissions will position WSU to successfully move innovations forward. This is vital to growing commercialization at WSU,” said Wolcott. “Additionally, he will also play a critical role in protecting innovations and discoveries of researchers across every college, positioning WSU to make an impact on society and help grow our research and innovation. We are excited to welcome Jeremy to the Office of Research and the Office of Commercialization.”
Jeremy graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Idaho’s College of Law. While working towards his law degree, Jeremy worked as a Legal Extern for the Boise State University Office of Technology Transfer where he drafted legal memoranda, non-disclosure agreements, and IP licenses.
In 2016, he was appointed director of the University of Idaho Office of Technology Transfer. He was responsible for assessing and protecting discoveries and innovations created with university resources. During his tenure, royalty revenues rose nearly 600%, from $568,629 in 2016 to over $3.35 million in 2021. He also improved the culture of entrepreneurship and inventorship across the statewide university system by creating and deploying training and outreach materials, and planning and executing events for faculty members and staff researchers.
In 2022, he joined WSU CAHNRS, where he advised leadership regarding intellectual property, developed strategies for securing and leveraging IP, and served as lead project manager for CAHNRS IP. He collaborated with the Board of Regents, the Attorney General’s Office, and WSU Risk Management regarding high-value CAHNRS IP. Additionally, he advised faculty throughout the research, innovation, protection, and licensing processes.
“I am deeply honored to join the Office of Commercialization team, and to contribute to the development of WSU innovations and discoveries into useful products and services. During my tenure with WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, I saw firsthand the significant impact innovations developed by WSU researchers have in the state of Washington and beyond,” said Tamsen. “I am excited to work with researchers systemwide to bring their innovations successfully to the marketplace and continue to build upon WSU’s record of successful commercialization.”
