In the final NASCENT Seminar for the semester, we will have a presentation from Aprille Busch of the National Science Foundation’s Southwest Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Node.
I-Corps aims to increase the economic impact of university research through regional training opportunities and grants from the National Science Foundation. The Southwest Node includes partnerships with five institutions: The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, Rice University, and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center.
“NSF I-Corps: Training and Grant Opportunities to Commercialize Your Research”
Aprille Busch (abusch@ic2.utexas.edu) joined the IC² Institute at The University of Texas at Austin as a Program Manager in 2015 after three years with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Science and Technology Cooperation where she fostered international science and technology relationships to encourage joint research, innovation, and economic growth with countries in Latin America, Europe, and Africa. A significant effort in her work was to engage the private sector and strengthen the links between basic research, innovation, and product development. One of Aprille’s key roles was to serve as the U.S. secretariat for the U.S.-Ireland Research and Development Partnership Steering Committee, which promotes joint research endeavors between the United States, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. Aprille currently manages and instructs for the National Science Foundation’s Southwest Innovation Corps (I-CorpsTM) Node, which supports and connects young scientists, leading faculty, and the greater business community across the Texas and Southwest region in testing their funded research for potential commercial applications through national and regional programming. Aprille began her career in Washington, D.C. with the late Senator Ted Stevens (AK), and served as his Staff Director and Chief Counsel on the Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Prior to her position with the State Department, Aprille was Defense Counsel for Representative Don Young (AK). Aprille received her B.A. in Communication from Saint Mary’s College, Indiana and a Concentration in International Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame. She received her J.D. from Tulane University Law School where she specialized in International and European Union law.