McCandless to lead tech management office
Kristin L. McCandless
A patent attorney with intellectual property (IP) experience will lead the Office of Technology Management at Mississippi’s flagship research university.
Kristin L. McCandless began her role as OTM director in early March. The Mississippi State unit is charged with efficiently capturing, protecting, and managing the commercialization of university-owned and -generated intellectual property.
“I am looking forward to fostering the many successful partnerships our scientists, researchers and faculty have developed in the private sector and finding new opportunities,” she said.
McCandless has practiced patent law since 2002, working with a wide range of technologies for university technology transfer offices, as well as commercial and private entities.
She graduated from Arizona State University College of Law, where she was a managing editor of the law journal. McCandless also earned a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Penn State and a master’s degree in hazardous materials and waste management from Arizona State.
“Kris has a varied background and experience that reflects the kind of broad knowledge base required for OTM leadership -- including engineering, safety management, nuclear utility policy and licensing, and technical management consulting. We are confident that Kris and the OTM team will take our commercialization and technology transfer initiatives to ever greater levels of success and impact,” said Kathy Gelston, Mississippi State’s associate vice president for corporate engagement and economic development.
As the state’s flagship research university, MSU is a recognized leader in a number of fields, and well known for productive partnerships, real-world impact, and offering undergraduate and graduate students unique research opportunities. In FY 2013, MSU’s research and development expenditures totaled $206 million -- representing nearly half of all R&D by higher education in the state, according to National Science Foundation data.
Learn more about MSU’s intellectual property and technology licensing program at www.otm.msstate.edu or contact McCandless at otm@msstate.edu or 662-325-9263.
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Jim Laird | Public Affairs
