Intellectual property director named at Mississippi State

Contact: Maridith Geuder

A senior manager at an Ohio-based industrial consortium is the new director of Mississippi State's office of intellectual property and technology licensing.

Charles T. Rivenburgh assumes his new university position Nov. 1, pending formal approval by the state Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning.

Rivenburgh has been director of technology transfer for Edison Polymer Innovation Corp., an Akron consortium that includes more than 100 industrial members involved in polymer research. The consortium works closely with Case Western Reserve and Ohio State universities, University of Akron and other schools.

He headed more than 120 projects, including ones dealing with composites, rubber, coatings, and biomedical applications. His efforts resulted in eight license agreements, 32 patents and more than 40 research programs between industry and the partnering universities.

"He has a wealth of experience in working to move technology from the campus into the commercial sector, and will be a leader in Mississippi State's efforts to transfer intellectual achievements to practical applications," said Robert A. Altenkirch, MSU research vice president.

Rivenburgh also has served as director of commercial development for Lubrizol Corp., a Cleveland, Ohio, company specializing in chemicals and biotechnology, and as new ventures business manager for PQ Corp., a privately held chemical company in Valley Forge, Pa.

He is a chemistry graduate of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, who went on to complete a master's in business administration in marketing from Widener University in Chester, Pa.