Nebraska researchers earn NUtech Ventures innovator awards

NUtech Ventures, the university’s technology commercialization affiliate, honored Nebraska faculty at its annual Innovators Celebration Nov. 6. The awards and their recipients are:

• Prem S. Paul Innovator of the Year: John Woollam, George Holmes Distinguished University Professor of electrical and computer engineering, and founder and president of J.A. Woollam. A leader in ellipsometry instrumentation, the company has secured more than 175 patents in its 31-year history.
• Breakthrough Innovation of the Year: Benjamin Terry, associate professor of mechanical and materials engineering. Terry’s research team is developing a biosensor for gastrointestinal surgery that provides real-time data monitoring and diagnostics.
• Emerging Innovator of the Year: Bill Kreuser, assistant professor of agronomy and horticulture. He developed GreenKeeper, a software application that helps turfgrass managers determine the ideal time to apply fertilizer and other inputs.
• Startup Company of the Year: Epicrop Technologies Inc., co-founded by former Nebraska researchers Michael Fromm and Sally Mackenzie. Epicrop develops epigenetic technologies that improve crops’ ability to withstand stressors such as extreme weather, leading to improved crop yields and resilience.