Donald H. Sebastian, provost (interim) and senior vice president for research and development at NJIT, will participate in a panel discussion at the “Best and Brightest” Forum on Medical Innovation today at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. Other panelists include Dick Gephardt, chairman of the Council for American Medical Innovation and former Missouri representative and House Majority Leader, and Bob Franks, president of the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey and former New Jersey representative. Sebastian will be speaking on related topics at the New Jersey Technology Council Regional Commercialization Conference on Dec. 10  in Wilmington, Del.  >>

New Jersey Monthly magazine this month named NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch one of New Jersey’s most important people to watch in 2009.  >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch has announced the appointment of Donald H. Sebastian, PhD, senior vice president for research and development, to the position of interim provost, effective Jan. 1, 2009.  >>

NJIT’s Office of Technology Development is hosting an 11-week series of webinars focused on commercialization of research (life science and engineering-based technology), on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 14–March 25, 1-2:30 p.m. in the Guttenberg Information Technologies Center 1403. Co-organized by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and the National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer, the course will discuss the practical business and legal issues that researchers need to understand to commercialize their research. Contact Judith Sheft, Associate Vice President Technology Development at 973-596-5825; sheft@njit.edu.            >>