Eric Fossum, the CMOS image sensor pioneer who has led Dartmouth College’s technology transfer efforts since 2017, is stepping back from his role as vice provost for entrepreneurship and technology transfer to focus on academic-industry-government partnerships.
In a move that signals renewed institutional commitment to research commercialisation, Dartmouth is investing up to $60 million in institutional and philanthropic funding.
The college is seeking an executive director for the Magnuson Centre for Entrepreneurship to take on many of the duties currently fulfilled by Fossum.
Fossum will assume a newly created vice provost position – title pending – while remaining director of the college’s PhD innovation programme.
The restructuring separates strategic partnership-building from operational technology transfer duties, which will fall to the incoming executive director. That person will oversee the technology transfer office, industry engagement, research translation, student entrepreneurship, and alumni relations.
Fossum, the John H Krehbiel Sr. professor of emerging technologies since 2010, is best known for inventing the CMOS image sensor technology that enabled modern smartphone photography and medical imaging. His transition takes effect on 1 July.
