Thomas J. Webster, Ph.D.

H-index: 129

Fellow, AANM, AIMBE, BMES, FSBE, IIAM, IJN, NAI, and RSM

Nominated for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2025)

Without a doubt, recent advances in materials have revolutionized numerous industries over the past half of century, including my area of research which includes our ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. But, how did this occur ? Was your research part of these advancements ? Have we innovated and commercialized enough ? While some of these wonderful research advances have made it to the market helping real people, many have not. Are we doing enough to translate materials research into real products ? Are companies not paying attention to this wonderful research ? Are Universities not doing enough to help you ? Is your research being licensed to larger companies to make products that help society? Are you starting new companies ? What about federal funding agencies ? Are they supporting your commercialization efforts ? And, most importantly, are you in the right environment to innovate and commercialize your research ?

Well in my own experience, above all else, it takes a supportive environment. We all have great ideas. But, it takes more than that. It takes a supportive community to translate lab research into commercial products. It takes determination and fortitude to see it through. You need to surround yourself with the right people – and if you are currently not around a supportive optimistic environment, leave ! Leave that negative, ultra-competitive University you are at - I did ! Leave that University that takes over 70% in indirect costs that doesn’t help your research ! Leave that company that is stifling your advances. Start your own company ! Attend the right conferences, not those super competitive conferences where the same old people give the same old talks, and put your work down just to support their own !