Millennium Café

Materials made from fungal mycelium, or the root-like structure of fungi, have become popular across industries for their affordability. However, mycelium material properties are not yet controllable. In this talk, I will discuss broad applications of fungal mycelium materials and our research efforts to understand why different fungal species exhibit different material properties. Outcomes of our work will advance rational design of mycelium materials to support economic growth in biomanufacturing.

Josie Krepps  | Food Science | Wee Lab

When people hear “ceramics,” most probably think of coffee mugs, plates, or something fragile. But what if ceramics could help produce clean fuels and power the energy systems of the future?
In this talk, I’ll introduce a new generation of functional ceramics, Protonic Ceramic Cells. By operating at a lower temperature, these materials enable efficient energy conversion and storage, opening the door to solutions that are more practical, scalable, and well‑suited for real‑world deployment.

Fan Liu | Energy and Mineral Engineering

What if we could build a living digital twin of the human heart—one that learns from data and guides personalized care in real time? This talk will introduce a new network approach for digital twinning of the human heart. Digital twin provides a virtual representation of cardiac dynamics in cyberspace, while simulation analytics in cyberspace distill actionable insights and optimize decision-making. We are building an open, extensible platform—and invite collaborators across disciplines to help shape the future of precision cardiology.

Hui Yang | Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering | Biomedical Engineering

The Spirit of Chocolate Project is a collaboration that blends art, history, and science to tell the 5,000-year story of cacao, its origins with Indigenous communities of the Amazon, its cultural meaning, and its connection to today’s farmers. Drawing on Penn State’s long legacy in cacao and chocolate research, the multimedia project uses visual art, a replica of an ancient cacao vessel, interviews, and even a living cacao tree to invite viewers into the world behind chocolate. We will share how this creative work intersects with our cacao research at Penn State and highlight opportunities for new interdisciplinary collaborations across campus. Chocolate from cacao origins will be available to taste. 

Mark Guiltinan | Plant Science
Siela Maximova | Plant Science

Richard Geiger, a serial entrepreneur, presents a practical overview of launching a university spin‑out, highlighting why startups are often the best path for early‑stage, high‑risk technologies. Geiger outlines the essential elements of success: achieving strong product–market fit, building a balanced founding team, developing an effective partnership with the technology transfer office, creating a robust IP strategy beyond the initial university patent, and securing early non‑dilutive and investor funding. He also discusses common pitfalls—such as misjudging technology readiness, misaligned founders, and restrictive licensing terms—to help new ventures avoid preventable setbacks.

Richard Geiger
Office of Technology Transfer

Materials engineering, radiation science, and medicine are converging to enable the next generation of imaging, therapy, and radiation protection technologies. This talk introduces a vision for a Penn State initiative in medical physics to unite interdisciplinary research and education in this rapidly evolving field. We will discuss potential ways to engage researchers across engineering, physics, life sciences, and medicine to build a collaborative ecosystem for innovation in medical physics, radiation technologies, and education.