1. NSF SBIR Phase IICC Supplements in Action
David R. Brown
Department of Chemistry, Southwestern College, Chula Vista, CA
Division of Undergraduate Education, National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA
ATE PI Conference
Washington, DC – October 24, 2013
2. The College and the
Department of Chemistry
The College
• Located in southern San Diego County, CA (8 miles from US-Mexico border)
• Enrollment of ~20,000 students; Average age = 26; 57% Female; 43% Male
• 63% Hispanic; 17% Asian/Filipino/Pacific Islander; 5% African-American
The Department
• Four full-time faculty members; 1.5 laboratory technicians
• Typically 6-9 part-time faculty members in a given semester
• Serves ~1000 students annually across the curriculum
ATE PI Conference
Washington, DC – October 24, 2013
3. In the Beginning...
NSF grant (DUE 9850951) from the Instrumentation
and Laboratory Improvement (ILI) program:
Instrumentation to Enhance the Chemistry Curriculum
at Southwestern College
• Acquired NMR, GC/MS, FTIR, UV-Vis and HPLC
• Also catalyzed construction of a new laboratory
ATE PI Conference
Washington, DC – October 24, 2013
4. Technician Education and Workforce Development
Received an NSF ATE grant to establish program in Chemical Technology
(Grant No. DUE 0101729)
ATE PI Conference
Washington, DC – October 24, 2013
6. Collaborations Between SWC and
Ondax, Inc. and Sierra Medical Technology, Inc.
Mid-Infrared Characterization of Volume Holographic Gratings
(NSF Award IIP 0710696)
Nanofabrication of Optical Structures
(NSF Award IIP 0710697)
Synthesis of High Quality Antimony Electrodes
(NSF Award IIP 0900987)
IR Characterization of a Polyurethane Polymer Coat
(NSF Award IIP 0900988)
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Washington, DC – October 24, 2013
8. Students Working in the Lab
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9. 2008 CUR Posters on the Hill
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10. Other Selected Presentations
ACS Western Regional Meeting – Oct. 2007
ATE PI Conference – Oct. 2007
ATE PI Conference
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12. Students Working in the Lab
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13. Conference Presentations
186th 2YC3 Conference – Nov. 2009
239th ACS National Meeting – April 2010
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Washington, DC – October 24, 2013
14. Lessons Learned/Caveats
Small Businesses and SBIR/STTR Program emphasize
commercialization and marketing.
Entrepreneurship can’t be taught.
Identify a “service” you can provide the company
that may lead to discovery of new product(s) or
process(es) and/or opportunities to streamline
current activities.
Effective communication is beyond essential.
Face-to-face meetings work wonders.
ATE PI Conference
Washington, DC – October 24, 2013
15. Acknowledgments
National Science Foundation
ILI Award DUE 9850951
ATE Award DUE 0101729
SBIR Phase IICC Awards IIP 0710696 and 0710697
SBIR Phase IICC Awards IIP 0900987 and 0900988
Juan Figueroa
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Act of 2006
Christophe Moser, CEO, Ondax, Inc.
Jeffrey Schipper, CEO, Sierra Medical Technology, Inc.
Chona dela Cruz
Manuel Alingog
Héctor Eduardo Mendoza Solano
Ana-Patricia López Ferrer
Gerardo Castillo
Ramón Ayala
ATE PI Conference
Washington, DC – October 24, 2013
Mark Gianino
Jennifer Stokes
Sabrina Lugo
Saraí Escalante
Arthur Miramontes