T2 Stars: Kristen Burby: Driven by Determination and Armed With a Diverse Skill Set

T2 Stars highlights people who are making a difference and leaving their mark on the federal tech transfer community. With a background in environmental science and law, Kristen Burby's technical knowledge and negotiation prowess are valuable tools as a licensing executive at Sandia National Laboratories. Although fairly new to technology transfer, she has been committed to sharing her knowledge as a mentor in the Department of Energy's Office of Technology Transitions Technology Commercialization Internship Program and the DOE Technology Commercialization Fund's BOOST Lab2Lab Mentoring Program.

How did you get involved in technology transfer?

I always joke that I "fell into" technology transfer. I've always had an interest in working in the high technology sectors, but I never quite found the right space for my skills. My bachelor's degree is in environmental science, and I always enjoyed the technical side of my work. While in law school, I took an internship with the Intellectual Property and Licensing Office at Sandia National Laboratories and found I really enjoyed matching up my technical and legal skills. After a stint in private practice, I returned to Sandia and have been enjoying my time here ever since. I feel like I have found a role that really allows me to use all of my skills and keeps me engaged.

What do you love about your job?

I love to see the cutting-edge technologies coming out of Sandia and helping my principal investigators achieve their commercialization goals. I work with a portfolio of environmental and energy-related intellectual property and find that it closely matches my background. It is fascinating to see what all the brilliant minds around me are working on to solve our nation's most pressing problems. I find it inspiring to be around my PI's as they motivate me to help them move their technologies out into the world where they can do some good!

What is your most valuable skill or asset at work?

I believe my determination is my most valuable asset. It often takes a lot of focused energy to get early-stage technologies, such as those that come out of a federal laboratory, to be commercialized. I apply this determination in all my negotiations and really enjoy checking things off my list.

My most valuable skills are my legal skills. Working previously as an attorney, I have developed a solid foundation for contract drafting, negotiation and interpretation. It has helped me to navigate complicated intellectual property issues and achieve favorable outcomes when doing so. As different and new regulations are coming into play in the federal tech transfer space, I find I am ready to jump in and develop a plan for how to interpret and apply new rules and regulations. 

What's the biggest challenge in your position?

The biggest challenge in my role is working with early-stage technologies. Oftentimes, Sandia is developing technology and solutions that are way ahead of where the market is. At times, it can be difficult to find partners who are interested in commercializing those ideas. However, those willing to make the leap are usually able to find success and create a space for themselves as market leaders. 

These are some of my favorite deals to work on as they can yield significant outcomes for the technology, and it is something I can be really proud of.

What do wish more people knew about Sandia National Laboratories?

Sandia has an extremely wide range of research areas and technologies that are often unknown. My intellectual property portfolios of energy and environment are often not the first thing people  think of when they think of Sandia. Our energy and environmental technologies, however, are cutting-edge, and we are working hard to support environmental goals and electric grid stability. For example, I personally feel strongly about preserving our existing water supply and making sure it is clean and available for use. I was recently able to help a team of researchers commercialize their PFAS remediation technology that is being tested for use in water filtration. This technology has the potential to bring widespread, low-cost PFAS remediation to all municipal water systems. Being able to be a part of such ground-breaking work is validating both professionally and personally. I like to know that what I am doing can help make a larger impact.

What do you do for fun?

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time outside. Winter is my favorite season. I really enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing. There is nothing quite like skiing under the bright-blue New Mexico skies while taking in the expansive views. When it isn't winter, I enjoy hiking and camping with my husband, daughter and our dog. We love to explore new places and parks around us.

What advice would give to someone who is new to the tech transfer profession?

Enjoy this early time in your career to learn. It is not often we get to put so much focus on learning and professional development. In your early career, you are surrounded by knowledgeable people who can help you grow. Take advantage of every opportunity offered to you through mentorship and training to help you develop into an excellent tech transfer professional.