Other Awards and Honors
2011 Awards
Jay Grate Honored as Battelle Distinguished Inventor
Jay Grate, Fundamental and Computational Sciences Directorate, is the latest PNNL staff member to receive the prestigious honor of being named a Battelle Distinguished Inventor.
The title of Battelle Distinguished Inventor is reserved for staff members who have received 14 or more U.S. patents over the course of their career at Battelle or Battelle-managed laboratories. A total of 60 Distinguished Inventors have been recognized to date, 16 of those from PNNL. Jay was honored as that 16th inventor at a celebration held Jan. 27 before staff, Lab leadership and managers who gathered to recognize this highly significant accomplishment.
Jay joined PNNL in 1992. His body of work has encompassed basic research in analytical chemistry and chem/bio sensing leading to the development of prototype detectors with high molecular specificity that are used to quantify biological toxins and pathogens, chemical agents, and radionuclides. He also has pursued research on the application of nanostructured materials in analytical chemistry and catalysis. His patented work includes concepts in functional materials for biocatalysis and chemical sensing as typified by the BSP3 polymer, a unique material that allows sensors to detect trace quantities of nerve agents and other toxic vapors, and for which he received an R&D 100 Award in 2004.
Jay has also been awarded a number of patents for his work in microscale column separations, which are relevant to the development of microfluidic bioanalytical separation systems, and which underpin innovative sensors for pathogen and botulinum toxin detection. Several of his patents have been licensed to commercial partners currently pursuing work in the areas of bioseparations, sensing, polymers, vapor preconcentration, radioanalytical separations and biocatalysis.
"Jay's science leadership roles in numerous projects have provided opportunities to showcase his expertise in the analytical chemistry, sensor, and microfluidics areas leading to innovative invention disclosures and subsequent licensing of intellectual property to the commercial sector," said Greg Exarhos, Jay's manager. (announced 2/1/2011)