Technical Advisors
Our Technical Advisors are respected experts.
Their guidance has been, and will continue to be, invaluable.
Buddy Ratner
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Michael L. and Myrna Darland Endowed Chair in Technology Commercialization College of Engineering
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Professor Chemical Engineering
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Professor Bioengineering
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Adjunct Professor Materials Science & Engineering
Buddy Ratner is Co-Director of the Center for Dialysis Innovation, Director of the Engineered Biomaterials Engineering Research Center, Michael L. and Myrna Darland Endowed Chair in Technology Commercialization, and Professor in Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering at the University of Washington. He received his PhD from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. He is an expert in biomaterials used in medical devices and implants, and his lab is working on multiple bioengineering projects for tissues and organs. Dr. Ratner is a fellow and past president of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), as well as a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the AVS (formerly the American Vacuum Society), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, among other groups. Dr. Ratner has authored more than 400 scholarly works and has more than 30 issued patents. His numerous
awards include the 2014 Lifetime Inventor and Innovator Award from the University of Washington, as well as three honors received in 2015: the Distinguished Service Award from the ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry; the Langmuir Lecture Award from the American Chemical Society; and the Most Cited Paper Award from the Annals of Biomedical Engineering.
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PhD, Polymer Chemistry, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, 1972
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BS, Chemistry, Brooklyn College, 1967
Education
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Director, National ESCA and Surface Analysis Center for Biomedical Problems (NESAC/BIO), UW, 1985-1996
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Postdoctoral Fellow, Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, 1972-1973
Previous Appointments
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Distinguished Service Award, ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry, 2015
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University of Washington School of Medicine Lifetime Innovator and Inventor Award, 2014
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George Winter Award, European Society for Biomaterials, 2012
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Pierre Galletti Award of the American Institute of Medical & Biological Engineering, 2011
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Listed in AIChE’s “One Hundred Chemical Engineers of the Modern Era," 2008
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C. William Hall Award, Society for Biomaterials, 2006
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Founders Award, Society for Biomaterials, 2004
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Medard W. Welch Award, American Vacuum Society, 2002
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C.M.A. Stine Award for Materials Science, AIChE, 1998
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Perkin Elmer Physical Electronics Award for Excellence in Surface Science, 1991
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Polymer Division of American Chemical Society, 2014
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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society, 2012
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American Chemical Society, 2011
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American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2006
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Society for Biomaterials, 1993
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American Vacuum Society, 1993
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American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (Founding Fellow), 1993
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National Academy of Engineering, 2002
Honors & Awards
Carl Hensman
Expertise in Surface Molecular Chemistry and former CTO of Asemblon
Experienced Senior Program Officer with a demonstrated history of working in large-commercial, government, philanthropic, and start-up industries across domestic and international platforms. Strong strategic and tactical management with a technology development orientation. Professional level of skill and analytical approaches in Energy, Water, Sustainable Development, Technology and Product Development, Business Planning, Portfolio Management, and Environmental Issues.
Positions Held
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Senior Program Officer - Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, Seattle, WA; July 2016 - Present. Spearheaded the identification and development of groundbreakingtechnologies that target the critical need for safe sanitation for 2.4 billion people globally. Efforts focused on discovering, assessing, and developing advanced technologies through strategic partnerships with academia and industry and managing over $190 million in sponsored research. This work involved overseeing more than 130 projects in over 20 countries and collaborating closely with various governments to deploy and test prototypes. Carl also crafted and executed a strategic framework that enhanced technology integration and facilitated the commercialization of these technologies, with several commercial partners licensing them. His work has been crucial in building cross-strategic partnerships and introducing innovative solutions to the sanitation sector, leading to the deployment of scalable and modern sanitation technologies that are transforming global sanitation standards and public health infrastructure.
Advisor to the Gates Open Research Platform; December 2017 - Present (6 years 10 months); Greater Seattle Area. The main role of the Advisory Board is to advocate Gates Open Research to the wider academic community, as well as to provide constructive input and guidance on the strategic direction of the platform and advise on high-level policy decisions.
Program Officer - Water, Sanitation & Hygiene; January 2012 - July 2016 (4 years 7 months)
Seattle. Focused on technology assessment and development. The challenge is to create a disruptive and business-sustainable approach that addresses the need for safe sanitation for 2.5 billion people. Carl's portfolio contains novel technologies, integration projects, and approaches that adapt technologies from other fields of science and engineering.
King County
Energy Program Manager - Water Treatment Division (WTD); December 2010 - January 2012 (1 year 2 months). As a member of the Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) Resource Recovery Section, served as project lead, program manager, and division technical expert. The aim was to further and propagate the Energy Program within WTD with respect to the goals of the King County Executive.
Asemblon Inc.
Chief Technology Officer; January 2008 - November 2010 (2 years 11 months). Development and commercialization of a clean energy technology - powershifting/ storage using a liquid hydrogen carrier, Hydrnol.
Clemson University
Adjunct Faculty; April 2005 - October 2010. Adjunct Faculty with the Department of Forestry an Natural Resources.
Frontier Geosciences Inc.
Principal, Research Scientist and Owner; November 2000 - January 2008. Client consulting with respect to environmental and process chemistry impacts, specifically examining toxic metals such as mercury, arsenic, selenium etc. Focus was on coal fired, mining and petroleum industries, although nothing was ignored.
The Ohio State University
Post-Doctoral Fellow. May 1998 - November 2000 (2 years 7 months). Research into sample introduction techniques and new RF generator designsfor inductively coupled plasma analytical systems.
New Mexico State University
Research Assistant. 1993 - 1998. Inductively Coupled Gas Plasma and understanding the ionization and emission mechanisms of sample introduction.
DowElanco, Chemist
August 1992 - August 1993. Analytical chemist for herbicide/pesticide formulation development.
British Coal
Process Analytical Chemist; August 1990 - August 1991.
Exxon
Associate Chemist. April 1989 - August 1989.
Education
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University of Strathclyde, Bachelor of Applied Science - BASc, Chemistry · (August 1987 - May 1990)
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New Mexico State University, Ph.D., Chemistry · (1995 - 1998)
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New Mexico State University, M.S., Chemistry · (1993 - 1995)
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University of Strathclyde, P.G.D., Analytical and Process Chemistry · (1991 - 1992)
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University of Strathclyde, B.Sc., Chemistry · (1987 - 1990)
James Patterson
Professor of Chemistry & Synthesis Consultant
Positions Held
Asemblon Inc.
Synthesis Consultant, Seattle WA; 2023 to present. Advised on science regarding hydrogenation/dehydrogenation and LOHC molecules,
Consultant, Redmond, WA; 2006. Researched literature of pertinent synthesis papers and recommended synthesis strategies of surface modifying compounds.
North Seattle College
Tenured Chemistry Faculty (2003-2022; retired Sept 2022).
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Taught organic, biochemistry and general chemistry courses including laboratories.
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Organic chemistry lab development: incorporated research driven laboratory experiments into the curriculum; interdisciplinary labs involving chemical products with use in artistic creations.
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Participation in departmental, divisional and college activities and duties, including hiring committee, tenure committee, assessment committee.
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Climate justice workshops for integration of climate justice & equity into the curriculum.
University of Washington, Seattle WA
Adjunct Chemistry Faculty. Primarily taught 200 level organic lab courses as well as organic lecture courses.
Clean Energy Institute; 2019. Developed undergraduate laboratory synthesizing conducting polymers for photovoltaic cells.
Scientific Instructional Technician, Department of Chemistry, University of Washington. 1988-2003. Manager of 200-400 level organic chemistry laboratories. Duties included:
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Developed course curriculum and laboratory experiments; developed new and improved existing laboratories, edited & prepared lab manual for multiple organic lab classes on a quarterly basis.
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Operation and maintenance of lab equipment (200 MHz FT-NMR, Perkin-Elmer FT-IR and HP GC-MS.)
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Managed chemical acquisition, dispensing and waste disposal for 300+ organic lab students.
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Wrote SOP documents pertaining to chemical regulation & management
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Communicated with faculty and TA’s regarding procedures and safety protocols.
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Instructor of 200 and 400 level (advance organic synthesis) organic chemistry lab courses
PolyDrop LLC
Synthesis Consultant, Bellevue, WA; 2017. Structural analysis of organic polymers; developed synthesis strategies for organic conducting polymers.
Organic chemistry lab text contributor for “Introduction of Organic Laboratory Techniques: A Microscale Approach” by Pavia, Lampman, Kriz & Engel; 1989-2014. Collaborated with the authors and tested several organic chemistry laboratories. Developed novel experiments for the textbook.
Education
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M.S. (1988) Organic Chemistry University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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Emphasis on synthetic organic chemistry
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B.S. (1984) Chemistry Washington State University, Pullman WA