FAQ
Q. How do I engage the Compliant Mechanisms & Robotics group (CMR) in a research project?
A. We work with government agencies, industry, venture capitalists, and others on research projects related to our area of expertise. To explore if a topic is a good fit, you can discuss it with the CMR Lab Manager, Professor Terri Bateman. The minimum research grant is about $100K per year, and a graduate student would usually focus on the project as their thesis or dissertation and undergraduate students would support them, all with faculty mentoring. Higher funding levels result in larger teams working on the project.
Q. How can my company license technology that was developed by the CMR?
A. We partner with the BYU Technology Transfer Office who works with companies to commercialize technology developed by the CMR. Because our goal is to have our research results be used by others, it is essential that we work with companies, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs who can bring the technology to market.
Q. How do I engage the CMR in my role as a member of the media or as an internet content creator?
A. You can contact Lynn Patten (executive assistant for Dr. Howell) for interviews with Dr. Howell, Prof. Terri Bateman (CMR Lab Manager) for visiting the CMR, or BYU University Communications for using video or photo content created by BYU.
Q. Who owns the intellectual property that results from a research project that is funded by a research sponsor?
A. The intellectual property (IP) developed as part of a federally funded research project is governed by the Bayh-Dole Act. The disposition of IP developed as part of a non-federally funded project is worked out between the sponsor and the BYU Technology Transfer Office.
Q. I have an applied project that isn’t a research project and is not related to licensing of CMR research. Can I engage the CMR to help?
A. We encourage you to contact the BYU engineering Capstone program where they will evaluate your project to see if it is a good fit for their program. If so, they can assign a student team and faculty coach to work on your project.
Q. How do I schedule Dr. Howell to speak to our organization?
A. Contact Lynn Patten, Dr. Howell’s executive assistant, about availability, fit, and other details.
Q. I’m working on a student project but I’m not at BYU. Can Dr. Howell or the CMR help me with my project?
A. One reason we created some of the resources on the CMR webpage, and the resources on the “outreach” page here, was to address this need. Unfortunately, given the limits on time, our attention is necessarily focused on students paying tuition here and on our research sponsors.
Q. Why do you patent some of the discoveries from your lab?
A. When I was a naive young professor, I thought putting technology into the public domain would help the technology be used. But my friends in industry explained that putting technology in the public domain actually made it so that they couldn’t use it because they wouldn’t be able to protect the investment required to develop the product. I eventually understood, and we began working closely with the BYU Technology Transfer Office who has been instrumental in helping technologies make an impact beyond the lab.
Q. I am considering pursuing a graduate degree and am interested in working in the CMR. What opportunities are available?
A. We decide how many students we can have in the CMR by the amount of funding available to support them and the projects they are working on. Because research grants tend to be short term and they are always coming and going, it is hard to judge what positions will be available when. Some students bring their own funding through fellowships from NSF, NASA, or the DOD, which simplifies the funding situation but is not required. The best thing to do is to apply for graduate school and list compliant mechanisms research as an interest and we can evaluate candidates then. Because BYU has a unique Honor Code, we suggest reviewing it first to make sure that it is compatible with your expectations.
Q. I am a BYU undergraduate student and am interested in working in the CMR. What opportunities are available?
A. We try to involve many undergraduate students in our work. The number of students we can involve depends on the available funding and the number of graduate students that are to supervise undergraduate students. You can send your resume and statement of interest to Professor Terri Bateman, the CMR Lab Manager.
Q. I would like to temporarily work in the CMR as a visiting professor on sabbatical or as a postdoctoral fellow. What opportunities are available?
A. We enjoy having visiting scholars in our lab and it enriches the experience of students and faculty. Visitors need to meet minimum criteria (including abiding by the BYU Honor Code and having necessary language skills), have a project that is a good fit for the visitor and the CMR, and provide their own funding. We would plan to provide collaboration opportunities, a desk in the lab, access to research equipment, and a pass for public transportation, if needed.
Q. The books on compliant mechanisms are expensive. Can you send me an electronic copy?
A. The publisher owns the copyright, so although I am the author, I no longer own the commercial rights to the book and am not authorized to provide electronic copies.