FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Bryan Renk has begun duties at the Technology Commercialization Office of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture as the associate director for commercialization. He is responsible for various aspects of assessing technology, patenting, licensing and marketing. The office helps Division of Agriculture faculty and research scientists to identify, protect and commercialize intellectual property developed from their research.

"I am looking forward to working for the Division of Agriculture," Renk said. "It has a unique and strong tradition across the state. With my background in agriculture and licensing I hope to add value to the division's investment in the state of Arkansas."

"We're excited to have Bryan join us," said Lisa Childs, associate vice president for technology commercialization in the Division of Agriculture. "His broad and deep experience in agriculture technology commercialization is exactly what we were looking for. I believe our researchers and prospective licensees will really enjoy his enthusiasm and creative thinking."

Renk serves on the Board of Visitors for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at University of Wisconsin at Madison. He also currently sits on the board of directors for Maple Leaf Farms, the largest vertically integrated duck producer in the United States. He was formerly the executive director of BioForward, a member-driven state trade association that represents Wisconsin's life science industry. He has also served as president and chief executive officer of aOvaTechnologies, an ag-biotech startup company, and has held positions as director of licensing and director of patents and licensing at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. He has served as a board member for William F. Renk and Sons and FluGen.  

Renk holds M.S. and B.S. degrees in meat and animal science and muscle biology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He and his wife, Mary, have three sons, Zachary, Jonathan and Lewis.