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T. Gregory Tucker is currently a licensing manager for intellectual property (IP) within the Office of Research & Innovation at the University of Louisville (UofL) and latest member on the advisory board for the Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance (KYIPA). He earned a doctorate in chemistry from Arizona State University and is a graduate of Tennessee State University. Greg is a co-inventor on multiple issued U.S. patents for potential renewable energy-use applications, a laboratory innovation medalist, and a member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) since Fall 2019.
He is also an early venture entrepreneur having worked with a couple of chem-based startups. Along with establishing an electric bike company, once recognized as a Small Business-of-the-Year in District No.27 of Central Phoenix back in 2016, Greg was also named an Outreach Member-of-the-Year for the Arizona Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in 2020, where he is affectionately known as Dr. T there. His scientific contributions have been published in both peer-reviewed journals and various articles inclusive of The Electrochemical Society (ECS), Institute for Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Advanced Energy Materials, Power Sources, and more over the years. Dr. Tucker received the 2022 Presidential Award from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists & Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) for facilitating outreach efforts in innovation and entrepreneurship. More recently in 2023, he served on the Vogt Awards final selection committee for local startups and a judge for the Ideathon during the Derby Diversity Week here in Louisville, Ky.
KYIPA is excited to name Greg as its inaugural Board of Advisors IP Diversity & Inclusion Pillar Lead. In this position, Greg will lead strategic advisement of KYIPA's diversity and inclusion efforts, supporting KYIPA activities for the next year and longer-term strategic planning. Learn more about Greg in our Q&A with him below!
How long have you been working in the field of intellectual property?
As a creator, educator, and worker, I’ve been in the IP space for around 12 years, originally as a co-inventor working with the tech transfer office at my past university then later serving in this space at various organizations in roles from subject matter expert, seminar facilitator, technical specialist, and commercialization manager for about 6 years now.
What originally piqued your interest in intellectual property?
I presented a class project for a possible biosensor with potential applications in the workforce and military. The biochem professor recommended I further detail the research scope of the prospective subject invention then submit a disclosure form through the university portal system for next steps to potentially file a provisional patent application with the tech transfer office.
What types of intellectual property have you worked on?
As of now, I work mainly on screening utility patent applications for filings and strategizing for the best prosecution pathways with our partnering law firms. Along with assisting in the processes for more R&D of the subject inventions towards commercialization with my fellow teammates in our UofL offices downtown. Plus, I have some working background with design patents and also trademarks more so from entrepreneurial ventures.
What's the most exciting part of working with intellectual property?
The most exciting aspect of being in the IP space is listening to someone’s idea and how they want to change the world for the better typically. Then helping in my capacity of commercialization to cultivate their creation to one day be a usable product or service to grow the local economy here with new jobs, our society worldwide, and even beyond.