Beitle Named Biggadike Faculty Fellow

The University of Arkansas College of Engineering has selected Robert "Bob" Beitle, P.E. and the Jim L. Turpin Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Separations, as the 2025-2026 Biggadike Faculty Fellow.

As the 2025-2026 Faculty Fellow, Beitle will develop a comprehensive commercialization roadmap for researchers, providing faculty with clear pathways, resources and guidance for translating research discoveries into market-ready innovations and commercial ventures. His work will help align college needs with existing programs and create an entrepreneurship support model that benefits engineering faculty, students and staff across campus.

"I'm excited to get started on this initiative," Beitle said. "This fellowship provides an opportunity to build bridges between our research laboratories and the marketplace, helping our faculty translate their innovations into solutions that can benefit society."

"Supporting faculty commercialization efforts is essential to our mission of creating positive impact beyond the lab," said Kevin Hall, associate dean of academics in the College of Engineering. "As a land-grant institution, we know our mission includes turning research breakthroughs into solutions that serve our communities. The work Dr. Beitle is doing will equip our faculty with the resources they need to be successful. This is one of many new initiatives supported by our innovation and impact strategist, a role we recently created to translate our research into real-world impact."

Beitle's application stood out for his extensive experience with technology transfer processes and his vision for supporting faculty commercialization efforts across campus.

Over the past five years, Beitle has focused on technology transfer with Arkansas-based biotech companies, including NSF-funded COVID-19 diagnostics development with NowDiagnostics, ARA-funded biologics research with Pel-Freez LLC, and industrial/AEDC-funded process development project with Lycus Ltd. in El Dorado, Ark. His entrepreneurship credentials include serving as co-principal investigator for NSF I-Corps campus programming, and other efforts that led to externally funded partnerships, six patents, two licenses and two startup companies.

The Biggadike Faculty Fellowship provides $20,000 over one academic year to tackle projects of strategic importance to the College of Engineering, and will continue these efforts past the initial appointment to ensure continuity of materials and strategies developed. Beitle will also have the& opportunity to attend virtual monthly meetings hosted by the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program, which identifies academic leaders and provides growth opportunities to advance their leadership skills.

About the College of Engineering: The University of Arkansas College of Engineering is the state's largest engineering school, offering graduate and undergraduate degrees, online studies and interdisciplinary programs. It enrolls more than 4,700 students and employs more than 150 faculty and researchers along with nearly 200 staff members. Its research enterprise generated $47 million in new research awards in Fiscal Year 2025. The college's strategic plan, Vision 2035, seeks to build the premier STEM workforce in accordance with three key objectives: Initiating lifelong student success, generating transformational and relevant knowledge, and becoming the destination of choice among educators, students, staff, industry, alumni and the community. As part of this, the college is increasing graduates and research productivity to expand its footprint as an entrepreneurial engineering platform serving Arkansas and the world. The college embraces its pivotal role in driving economic growth, fueling innovation and educating the next generation of engineers, computer scientists and data scientists to address current and future societal challenges.