AUTM Updates

Honoring the Best in Tech Transfer

Every year, the AUTM Annual Meeting offers a moment to recognize the extraordinary people behind the breakthroughs. This year’s awards highlight the leaders, mentors, and volunteers who serve as the backbone of our industry. From the "Compliance Queen" to seasoned veterans, this year’s AUTM Award winners have gone above and beyond to move the profession forward. 

Becky Hernandez, called by many the “Compliance Queen”, received the AUTM Bayh-Dole Award for her dedication to compliance and the Bayh-Dole Act. Hernandez is a member of CalTech’s Office of Technology Transfer and Corporate Management Team. 

Kevin Wozniak, Director of Research Security & Intellectual Property at COGR, was given the AUTM Chair’s Award for his tireless commitment to the tech transfer profession for more than 25 years. 

Radhakrishnan “RK” Narayanan was awarded the 2026 Volunteer of the Year in recognition of his longtime service to AUTM, including his roles with the Mentorship Committee, Eastern Region Committee, and Better World Project Committee. He is the Senior Director of Business Development and Technology Transfer at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. 

Nominated by their peers for exceptional teamwork and substantial contributions that further AUTM’s mission, the following received AUTM Volunteer Service Awards: 

  • Parag Vasekar, Better World Project Committee 

  • Steve Foster, Western Region Meeting Committee 

  • Maithili Shroff, Mentorship Committee 

  • Alan Bentley, AUTM University Startup Committee and Negotiations Course Committee 

  • Jodie Richardson, AUTM University Ops & Compliance Course Committee 

  • Drew Bennett, AUTM University Software Course Planning Committee 

  • Kashmira Kulkarni, AUTM Foundation 

  • Sat Balachander, Karen Bernard, Hemi Chopra, Karthikeyan Gopalakrishnan, Caitlin T. Long, John Lopinski, RK Narayanan, Rodney S. Ridley, Sr., Nidhi Sabharwal, Maithili Shroff, Tarianna Stewart-Hutto, Richard P. Swatloski, Alexander J. Turo, and Sommer Zimmerman, Eastern Region Planning Committee 

 Visit the AUTM website for press releases on each award.