T2 Stars: Mark F. Kavlick, PhD

T2 Stars highlights people who are making a difference and leaving their mark on the federal tech transfer community. Mark Kavlick, PhD, is a research biologist who recently retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). he shares insights into developing key innovations, the importance of collaboration, and the challenges of keeping pace with rapidly advancing science and technology.

How did you get involved in technology transfer?

I developed an assay to quantify and determine the quality of mitochondrial DNA in a sample and believed that the interests of the government should be protected. I, therefore, sought patent protection for the U.S. Government with the expertise of an FBI attorney, Kristin Vidovich, who successfully secured two patents for that assay.

More recently, I have worked with Jonathan Spielman, of the FBI Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA), to establish one of the Bureau’s first cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) with a company to co-develop a comprehensive assay to determine DNA quantity and quality, using technologies developed by that company and at the FBI. This assay is of keen interest to our DNA case working units and labs elsewhere to save time, money, and, often, limited sample.

What do you love about your job?

I love the very nature of research. It is gratifying to be presented with a problem and to find a solution. Additionally, I have the opportunity to share my research with the scientific community, transfer technology, and publish the culmination of our research in peer-reviewed research articles.

What is your most valuable skill or asset at work?

I believe in, and strive to maintain, a healthy spirit of cooperation, collaboration and collegiality with my Bureau colleagues and external partners. My mentors, Roy Repaske, Hiroaki Mitsuya, and James M. Robertson instilled this spirit within me. I feel that we are all on the same team and are most efficient and productive when we work together.

What’s the biggest challenge in your position?

Perhaps the biggest challenge is staying abreast of science and technology, which are continually and seemingly exponentially advancing. Fortunately, the Bureau is supportive of, and indeed mandates, continuing education. The Bureau also supports attending and presenting at scientific conferences where ideas are exchanged, new technologies are learned, and relationships with others in the community are forged and maintained. The Bureau also has an excellent library that provides electronic access to a myriad of scientific journals to help us stay informed.

What do you wish more people knew about the FBI Laboratory Research and Support Unit?

The Research and Support Unit (RSU) serves and supports the FBI Laboratory Division, the forensic science community and the greater scientific community, in a variety of disciplines. This includes DNA, latent prints, questioned documents, explosives, toxicology and many more. The RSU is led by unit chief Eugene M. Peters and includes a team of talented and dedicated managers, scientists and support staff who strive to improve the forensic sciences.

What has been your favorite FLC experience?

My favorite experience was seeing the FBI established as a federal laboratory and it becoming a member of the FLC. Mr. Spielman was instrumental in accomplishing this and in establishing the ORTA at the FBI. He was honored as FLC Rookie of the Year in 2023 for his efforts in advancing technology transfer at the FBI. This award was well-deserved and a proud moment for the FBI.

What do you do for fun?

I value time with my wife, children, grandchildren, family and friends. I enjoy reading, listening to music, watching movies, completing home projects, learning new things and doing outdoor experiences — in particular, water-related activities.

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

Learn as much as you can about technology transfer and intellectual property, and have an awareness of the rights of the government and inventor. Find out who the key professionals are in these areas and form healthy, productive relationships with them to advance the interests of the government.