As Ohio State continues to expand its role in the commercialization of research, it is important to create an environment that facilitates and rewards research creativity and entrepreneurship. To support and stimulate entrepreneurial activity among Ohio State researchers, several university-wide awards were presented on April 24, 2019, at the Research and Innovation Showcase hosted by the Office of Research and Corporate Engagement Office.
Wesley Thio (middle) receives the Next Generation Innovator of the Year award presented by Scott Osborne (left) Morley Stone (right).
Next Generation Innovator of the Year
Wesley Thio
Graduate Student
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
University of Michigan
Wesley Thio received his BS in electrical and computer engineering from The Ohio State University and is currently pursuing his MS in electrical and computer science at the University of Michigan. His undergraduate research studies centered on batteries and self-powered wearable technologies. He was awarded Ohio State’s Tech Hub 2017 Student Project Grant and was selected as a semi-finalist for the 2018 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize for his research in development of flexible batteries powered by electrochemical fabrics. Wesley completed an internship at the Università degli Studi di Catania in Catania, Italy in 2015 studying chaotic circuits, and interned at the National Taiwan University in 2016 studying solid state devices. His work in electronics and batteries has resulted in 11 publications, and six patents, with three pending.
Download a high-res image of Wesley Thio receiving the award
The Next Generation Innovator of the Year award is open to postdocs along with undergraduate and graduate students. The award recognizes innovation and entrepreneurship that has contributed to the development or commercialization of a new technology. It may also recognize a trainee-initiated start-up company whose success is a result of entrepreneurial talent, creativity and energy.