Betsy Merrick
Director Programs/Marketing/PR
Office of Technology Commercialization, The University of Texas at Austin
Annual Meeting Program Committee Member.
Past AUTM Board Member (3 Terms)
AUTM Member since 2005
What is your current state of mind?
Maintaining a reasonable and rounded perspective…and yours?

Which living person do you most admire?
Barbara Walters – I marvel at the minds she has prodded.
 
What is your greatest extravagance?
Private time – with no devices.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Patience — sometimes you have to ‘just do it.’ (thank you Nike)

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Adages – I love them but I typically mess them up.

Which talent would you most like to have?
The ability to sing without my daughter telling me to ‘please stop, mom.’

What is your motto?
You can’t fly with eagles when you keep walking with turkeys. (Quote: Zig Ziglar) 

Where do you see tech transfer 5 years from now?
Here are a few that are top-of-mind:
  • Developing new ways of increasing revenues and funding channels to enable additional focus on early stage IP and to leverage innovations into more products.
  • Continuing to seek federal funding agencies and industry partnerships – essential for funding opportunities, continued research, and developing university talent. 
  • Continuing to increase focus on start-ups to advance technology and attract industry.
  • TTOs bringing in deal makers and business development staff to advance the technology and stimulate more activity – smart deal-making equals higher returns to the institution. 
  • Expanding TTO responsibilities.
  • Ever-evolving models of tech transfer.