USTAR Projects
USTAR is an innovative, aggressive and far-reaching effort to bolster Utah 's economy with high paying jobs and keep the state vibrant in the Knowledge Age. The USU faculty identified below are involved with teams that are developing products and services that can be commercialized in new businesses and industries.
Biofuels Initiative
Utah State University (USU) has been awarded a grant from the Utah Science Technology and Research (USTAR) Economic Development Initiative to further develop its research facilities and infrastructure for biofuels research and development. USTAR has approved a budget for up to $6 million over five years beginning January 1, 2007. Building on a foundation of established research experiences and new strategic hires, USU aims to establish a sustainable multi-disciplinary research team that will develop new biomass feed stocks, develop highly efficient feedstock production units, maximize product yields, and process the products into commercial biofuels and other commercial products that will provide the basis for economic development activities within the State of Utah.
| Executive Comittee Members | Foci | Department |
| Byard Wood (Director | Solar Bioreactor | MAE |
| Ron Sims | Microalgae Feed Stock Production | BIE |
| Lance Seefeldt | Microalgae Feedstock | Chemistry & Biochemistry |
| Conly Hansen | Anaerobic Digesters | Nutrition & Food Sciences |
http://biofuels.usu.edu for more information
Center for Active Sensing and Imaging
The principle focus of the USTAR active sensor group is ladar/lidar technology development for applications including environmental remote sensing, commercial imaging, and military intelligence gathering. The team’s goals build on a foundation of established research and staff, augmented by new strategic hires, to:
- Create significant new business opportunities for Utah based on a world-class core competency in laser-based cameras
- Develop other innovative sensors
- Apply current and future IP to commercial applications
- Boost the creation of economically competitive products
- Contribute to US homeland security and national defense
| Team | Department |
| Robert Barson (Executive Director) | |
| Paul Israelsen | ECE |
| Gail Bingham | Space Dynamics Laboratory |
| Tom Wilkerson | Space Dynamics Laboratory |
| Allen Howard | Physics |
Synthetic Bio-Manufacturing Center
The purpose of the SBC is bio-production of valuable materials and chemical through the construciton of unique production platforms based on microorganisms coupled with downstream processing resulting in products of commercial interest.
| Team | Department |
| Dong Chen | Research Associate Professor |
| Scott Hinton | Dean, College of Engineering |
| Ronald Sims | Department Head, BIE |
| Jon Takemoto | Professor, Biology |
| Berry Treat | Senior Commercialization Associate, TCO |
http://sbc.usu.edu for more information