Richard Chylla, Ph.D., has been named Executive Director of the University of Virginia Licensing & Ventures Group (UVA LVG) effective January 24, 2022.
Chylla comes to the University of Virginia from the Innovation Center at Michigan State University where he served as Executive Director of MSU Technologies since 2012. He also served on the board of directors for the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) and held the AUTM chair position in 2019. He has more than 25 years of experience in university technology transfer, research leadership, and business development.
At Michigan State, Chylla was instrumental in launching two translational funds totaling $7M since 2014 in partnership with economic development agencies that supported more than 160 projects to advance university technologies generating licenses with industry, new venture creation, and jobs. He doubled the number of licenses and options since 2013, grew the total licensing revenue, and strengthened relations between the university and the local entrepreneurial community. MSU Technologies grew the number of university startups launched each year and attracted more than $100M in follow-on capital.
Chylla holds a Ph.D. and B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology and an Executive MBA in Global Management Development from the University of Michigan.