About Us
Our mission is to facilitate and celebrate innovation within the University community for the purpose of enhancing the University's reputation and visibility. Whenever possible, we will contribute to the public good through economic development.
IP & Tech Transfer Staff
Senior Vice Provost for Research & Graduate Education: Corinne Lengsfeld
Dr. Corinne Lengsfeld serves as the Senior Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Education and holds a tenured faculty position at the rank of Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at the University of Denver.
As Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Education, she has oversight over the Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, the Center for Statistics and Visualization, and the Knobel Institute for Healthy Aging. Dr. Lengsfeld received her bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California at Irvine in 1992, 1993, and 1997 respectively. Dr. Lengsfeld has been part of the University of Denver community for over twenty years.
Manager of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer: Ashley Thomas
Ashley Thomas leads the Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer (OIPTT) at the University of Denver. In this role, she works with the DU research community on intellectual property ownership and protection matters, fostering innovative ventures, translating research output to public and commercial benefit, and reviewing and drafting contracts related to technology transfer, research partnerships, and sponsored programs.
After graduating from DU’s Sturm College of Law in 2006, Ashley served as an intellectual property and business law attorney in the metro area before having the privilege of joining the DU Office of General Counsel as its first Legal Fellow. Following additional studies in physics, psychology, and neurobiology, Ashley pursued and received her PhD in the field of cognitive neuroscience from the University of California—Davis. With more than 15 years of experience in both research and law, Ashley has worked in academic research labs, in-house and outside counsel roles, engineering firms, and applied science divisions in the tech industry.
(303) 871-4230
IP Advisory Council
The Intellectual Property Advisory Council is a group of University of Denver faculty and administrators.
The Advisory Council makes recommendations to our Office in determining the extent of the University's ownership rights in Intellectual Property (IP) made or created by University faculty, students, staff, and others participating in University research programs as well as how University-owned Intellectual Property should be commercially developed.
The Advisory Council meets quarterly and is otherwise available to address urgent intellectual property issues as they arise.
Internships & Externships
The Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer has hired graduate student interns from the Sturm College of Law and Daniels College of Business with an interest in Intellectual Property (IP) or technology transactions. Graduate students from all University colleges are welcome to apply.
Students participating in the Internship Program are granted the opportunity to assist our Office's licensing professionals in commercializing University inventions. The intern may also conduct legal review on research-related contracts such as sponsored research agreements, non-disclosure agreements, data transfer agreements and material transfer agreements. Students will gain valuable experience in developing an understanding of intellectual property law, market and industry analysis, and licensing methods and techniques.
Sturm College of Law students may receive externship credit for work completed at our Office through Denver Law's Legal Externship Program.
If you are a graduate student interested in learning more about internship opportunities with our Office, please contact us.