I N N O V A T I O N W O R K S
INNOVATION FOR THE GREATER GOOD
To stay at the forefront of one ’ s respective field, innovation is often required as technological advances are made, and the needs of society evolve Innovation is defined by Merriam-Webster as the introduction of something new, a new idea, method, or device Birol Ozturk, PhD, Physics professor in the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences (SCMNS), defines innovation as, “the creation of something new that will have an impact on society and the broader community.” To him, innovation isn’t limited to technology, but anything that can impact humanity in general – the earth, human creatures, animals and more. Driven by consumer need, and a personal connection to help the universe, Dr. Ozturk’s motivation is clear.
Although Dr. Ozturk’s area of expertise lies in Physics, and STEM-related fields, you will quickly learn that he “doesn’t do science, just for science.” He has a natural curiosity to understand how nature works and wants to ensure that he and his work are useful to humanity “How can I turn this product (or idea) into something that can help the greater good?” Prior to joining Morgan in 2014, while teaching in Boston, he did just that A student in one his courses was visually impaired, and he quickly learned that he would need to provide alternative methods to illustrate various examples that his greater student body could visually see Prior to the rise of 3D printer usage throughout academia and more broadly, Dr. Ozturk implemented 3D printed graphics and charts with braille. “It’s not solely about the money. It’s about helping the people around you. ”
Dr. Ozturk’s expertise in bridging the gap between academic research and practical application is prevalent through development of an internship program that allowed him to mentor graduate level students, providing them with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities under his guidance.
WHAT'S INSIDE?
IPD Disclosures
U.S. Issued Patents
I-Bits
2024 IOY Award Winners
WHAT DRIVES INNOVATION?
Innovation Drivers are the factors that drive both “big I” (new and potentially disruptive innovation), and “little i” (incremental) innovation.
Common drivers of organizational innovation include: consumer need, improved quality, creation of new markets, reduced labor and material costs, improved efficiency, reduced damage to the environment, and energy consumption, and conformance to regulations Innovators themselves may be driven by a personal or emotional connection.
Each issue of Innovation Works will provide the reader a window on what drives Morgan’s innovators
INNOVATION FOR THE GREATER GOOD
continued from page 1
Students engage in a variety of software programming and hardware projects. Dr. Ozturk also serves as an affiliated faculty member in the Center for Research and Education in Microelectronics, enabling him to collaborate with his colleagues in high quality research and program development. In addition, he helped establish the PhD program in Material Science and contributed t initiative housed in the School of Education. D Innovation Maker Space, located in the Earl S. d with 3D printers, Computer Numerical Control ls for us by students, faculty, and staff
Dr. Ozturk’s contributions to innovation throughout campus extend beyond the education programs and outlets he helped establish, but also in his lab. In collaboration with a few of his students, he has submitted over eight intellectual property disclosures (IPDs) to the Office of Technology Transfer and has been awarded several I-GAP grants to further his work on his various technologies. He has also been awarded two U.S. Utility Patents (he holds three total) and has been named the Physical Science Innovation of the Year award recipient twice (2020 and 2023, respectively.)
His leading technology, the Quantum Sensor, a device he developed with insights from students and colleagues, demonstrated quantum sensing of magnetic fields The device has been in development for about three years and has gone through many iterations after receiving feedback on its functionality and usage through the I-Corps program I-Corps is a National Science Foundation (NSF) program that provides real world training on how to incorporate innovations into commercially viable companies to solve societal problems Through the program, Dr Ozturk and his team were able to receive organic feedback on the sensor and implement it on future iterations and upgrades.
INNOVATION AT MORGAN
Intellectual Property Disclosures
Innovations from: 1/1/2024 - 12/31/2024
Physical Science Innovations
Fiber Quantum Sensing Device for Brain Signal Detection
Dr Birol Ozturk, Dr Peker Milas, Sheikh Mahtab, Tomas Sujeta
Microbial Fuel Cell that Increases Efficacy of Constructed Wetlands
Dr. James Hunter, Nicholas Miwornunyuie
E4USA Curriculum Design
Dr Kemi Ladeji-Osias
Microbial Waste Water Fuel Cell (MWFC) for Renewable Energy
Dr. Dong Hee Kang, Dr. Enrique Pajardo
Portable Quantum Sensing Device
Dr. Birol Ozturk, Dr. Peker Milas, Tomas Sujeta, Sheikh Mahtab
Method for Detecting Rotational Landslide and Predicting Pre-failure
Triggered by Precipitation
Dr. Yi Liu
Using Frequency Modulation to Measure Ferromagnetic Resonance at Cryogenic Temperatures
Dr Ramesh Budhani, Dr Vinay Sharma, Dr Ezana Negusse
Information Science
Blind Spot Warning with Hedging to Promote Defensive Driving Around Trucks
Dr. Di Yang, Dr. Mansoureh Jeihani, Abolfazi Taherpour
I N N O V
Online Algorithm of Extracting Time to Collision (TTC)
Dr Di Yang, Dr Mansoureh Jeihani, Tianyu Shen
Building a Mentoring Community Training Model
Dr. Laura Dorsey-Elson, Dr. Avis Jackson
Method to Implement a Clinically Relevant Mouse Model of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Other Chemotherapy-Related Side Effects from Treatment of Breast Cancer
Dr Timothy Meeker
Responsible AI Factor Method
Dr. Kofi Nyarko, Gabriella Waters
Self-Correcting Pulse Oximeter
Dr Timothy Meeker
Information Science Innovations (continued)
Quantum Sensing for Muscle and Nerve Signal Detection
Dr. Timothy Meeker, Dr. Birol Ozturk, Dr. Peker Milas
Data-Driven Methods to Identify and Locate RF Emitter Signals
Michael Talley, Jr., Dr. Kofi Nyarko, Dr. Willie Thompson II
Mixture Model of Self-Monitoring
Damon Bryant
Least Squares Channel Estimation and Equalization Method for Communications Systems
Dr. Arlene Cole-Rhodes, Funmiola Akeju
Ocean Data Jupyter Notebook Tutorials
Sean Foley
Supply Chain Instructional Software System
Dr. Ziping Wang
Automated Wheelchair Interface and Control System
Dr. Mansoureh Jeihani, Dr. Kofi Nyarko, Michael West, David Nyarko, Derrick Cook, Charles Dankwa
Predicting Long Term Student Success Through a Noncognitive Instrument
Carrol Perrino, Cheryl Rollins, Taj Rollins, Avis Jackson
Wearable Ultralite Onboard Unit (OBU) for Road Users
Dr. Mansoureh Jeihani, Dr. Di Yang, Ehsan Mehryaar
MiCASA Land Carbon Flux Mass Informed Software Automation
Dr. Brad Weir, Dr. Lesley Ott
Method to Enable Professional Citizen Journalism
Benjamin Davis, Dr Timothy Akers, Suresh Nair
Method to Quantify a Cyber Maturity System
Dr. Wondimu Zegeye, Dr. Richard Dean, Dr. Farzad Moazzami, Dr. Wole Akpose
Reliability Analysis Framework for Software Defined Network (SDN) Controllers
Dr. Kevin Kornegay, Shelaniece Clash, Antwan Clark
Method to Link Clinical Faculty with Teaching Institutions
Dr. Maija Anderson, Dr. Kim Sydnor, Angela Davis, Pawn Johnson-Hunter, Dr. Sarah Szanton
Air Quality Forecasting Data Fusion Tool
Dr. K. Emma Knowland, Dr. Carl Malings, Nathan Pavlovic
Life Science Innovations
Fremyella Diplosiphon as a Nutritional and Functional Food Source
Dr. Viji Sitther, Dr. Ben Tabatabai
A Novel Quantum Good Authentication Protocol
Dr Shuangbao (Paul) Wang
Methods to Enable Cellular Energy Metabolism in Cyanobacteria in Response to the Application of nZVIs and Ampicillin
Dr. Viji Sitther, Dr. Yavuz Yalcin
MORGAN ISSUED PATENTS
Issued: CY2024
#11,861,275
Digital Signal Processing Using Recursive Hierarchical Particle Swarm
Optimization - Issued 1/2/2024
Dr Kofi Nyarko, Dr Benjamin Hall
#11,867,457
Hybrid Mobile Shellfish Cooling System - Issued 1/9/2024
Dr. Seong Lee, Dr. Xuejun Qian, Yulai Yang
#11,864,868
Modular, Portable, and Rapidly Deployable System for Health AssessmentIssued 1/9/2024
Dr. Timothy Akers
I N N O V A
#11,953,334
System and Method for Vehicle Routing - Issued 4/9/2024
Dr Young-Jae Lee, Dr Amirreza Nickkar
#11,967,064
Rapid Sensing of Biological and Environmental Analytes - Issued 4/23/2024
Dr. Edward Constance, Dr. Kadir Aslan, Dr. Enock Bonyi
#11,687,717
System and Method for Monitoring and Routing of Computer Traffic for Cyber Threat Risk Embedded in Electronic Documents - Issued 6/27/2023
Dr. Garfield Jones
#11,982,442
System and Method for Bio Combustion - Issued 5/14/2024
Dr Seong Lee, Dr Xuejun Qian, Yulai Yang, Raghul Chandrasekaran, Dr Oludayo Alamu, Blaise Kalmia
#11,990,851
Manufacturing of a Flexible Piezoelectric Film-based Power SourceIssued 5/21/24
Dr. Birol Ozturk, Dr. Peker Milas
I O N W O R K S
MORGAN ISSUED PATENTS
Issued: CY2024
12,024,704
Composition and Method for Enhancing Photosynthetic Efficiency, Growth, and/or Lipid Production of Microorganisms - Issued 7/2/2024
Dr. Viji Sitther, Somayeh Fathabad
#12,106,652
Travel Abroad Student Safety Tracking System and DashboardIssued 10/1/2024
Dr Kimberly Warren
#12,145,597
System and Method for Driver Distraction Detection and ClassificationIssued 11/19/2024
Dr Mansoureh Jeihani, Dr Samira Ahangari, Dr Adbdollah Dehzangi, Arsalan Hassan Pour
INNOVATION FOR THE GREATER GOOD
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I N N O V A
Dr Ozturk and his team have continued their innovation in the development of a nanoscale sensor which was funded through a TEDCO Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII) grant that is receiving positive feedback and currently being enhanced through other funding sources. The ongoing work is allowing he and his team to pursue commercialization potential and continue enhancements to improve the technology
Dr. Ozturk’s various touchpoints throughout campus have contributed to Morgan’s overall innovative landscape. As the University continues to make strides to achieve R1 designation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions in Higher Education, he echoes many in the belief that the designation is attainable and will position Morgan as an example to other institutions and bring esteem to current students and alumni “Morgan is not just an undergraduate institution for minority students. We are also doing high quality research and are indeed a prestigious institution as well. Morgan will continue to be a part of the conversation (of high research universities) and will gain visibility within the higher ed landscape ”
Dr Ozturk’s innate desire to serve humanity through his innovation allows him to foster the needs of society while engaging in quality research with his colleagues and students. He will continue to provide students with the skills and experience necessary and transform lab concepts and theories into valuable tools in life and industry, “Growing the Future, Leading the World” beyond Morgan.
I N N O V A T I O N W O R K S
INNOVATION OF THE YEAR AWARDS
The Innovation of the Year Awards celebrate Innovation at Morgan and recognize the innovative contributions of University faculty, staff, and students in a number of categories. These categories include: innovations in life, physical and information sciences (selected from intellectual property disclosure submissions); U.S. Patent awardees; and student, instructional and staff innovations
The ceremony was held in the University Student Center on April 7, 2025 The event recognized innovators who achieved their respective accolades during FY24 through December 2024
Intellectual Property Innovation
Physical Science Awardee
Awardees
Microbial Wastewater Fuel Cell (MFWC) for Renewable Energy
Dr Dong Hee Kang, Dr Enrique Pajardo
Information Science Awardee
Method to Assess Green Infrastructure
Dr James Hunter, Ida Yanou
Life Science Awardee
Fast Growth & Low Salinity Oysters
Dr. Ming Liu
Morgan Community Innovator Awardees
Student Innovator of the Year
Yulai Yang
Instructional Innovator of the Year
Dr. Letitia Williams
Staff Innovator of the Year
Craig Bullock
Awardees photographed with Wayne Swann, Office of Technology Director and Provost Hungtao Yu.
I N N O V A T I O N W O R K S
Science Magazine Awareness Campaign: Establishing Morgan as a Well-Recognized, Well-Respected, and Well-Rounded Research Institution
The Office of Technology Transfer has partnered with Science Magazine for an awareness campaign to highlight various MSU State sponsored Centers and our ascension to R1 Research University destination. The main goal of this CY 20232024 project was to support a well-recognized, well-respected, and wellrounded external view of the institution.
Click below to view the six featured articles in from the campaign.
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity Article - Click here
Featured Centers: Center for Equitable Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Systems (CEAMLS) and Cybersecurity Assurance and Policy (CAP) Center
Urban Health Impact Article - Click here
Featured Centers: Center for Urban Health Equity (CUHE) and Center for Urban Health Disparities Research and Innovation (RCMI)
Engineering National Impact Article - Click here
Featured Centers: National Transportation Center (NTC) and Center for Education & Research in Microelectronics
Urban Impact Article - Click here
Featured Centers: National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities and Center for Urban Violence & Crime
Earth Sciences National and Global Impact Article - Click here
Featured Centers: Patuxent Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory (PEARL) and Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR) II
Morgan Institutional Profile: Economic and Social Impact - Click here
Office of Technology Transfer
Earl S. Richardson Library, Suite 207 443.885.1003
technology transfer@morgan edu www morgan edu/technologytransfer
Office of Technology Transfer Team:
Wayne Swann, Director
Ray Dizon, Associate Director
Bill Berman, Senior Manager of Technology Transfer
Alexa Morris, Senior Manager of Programs
Shamia Boone, Program Specialist
Kanika Ellis, Project Manager
LeQuita Harrison, Administrative Assistant