Don Boyd is an expert on the establishment and lifecycle management of high technology research-from discovery of new concepts, through technology development, applications of technology through prototyping and technology transfer into new products, services and business.

Boyd is the Vice President for Research at RIT, responsible for establishing university-wide research programs and business/government research relationships. He is president of the RIT High Technology Incubator, which identifies and supports opportunities for new high technology businesses based relevant to RIT.

He can speak about applied research programs involving imaging science, Microsystems, information technology, bioinformatics, graphic communications and fuel cell technology; RIT's STAR Center and its program and plans in developing and applying Microsystems photonics technology to remote sensing systems and the next generation of sensor based micro/nano-systems; and RIT's High Technology Incubator and its relationship to the University including the opportunities for entrepreneurship and transfer of RIT's intellectual property into business.

Boyd holds a Ph.D. in computer sciences from the University of Iowa (1971).

Michael Dwyer is an expert on the development of academic research programs in emerging technologies through the creation of partnerships between academia, industry and government.

With more than 25 years in engineering, marketing, and business-unit management, Dwyer focuses on matching faculty and students ideas with industry and government needs in applied research. His most recent position was vice president and general manager for Signaling Products at ALSTOM Signaling, a 0 million supplier of transportation management systems. Prior to that, he was vice president of marketing for ABB Automation, a .3 billion supplier of automation systems to the chemical, pharmaceutical, paper, and textiles industry.

Dwyer joined RIT in 2002 to focus on the development of the First in Class program through the creation of Industry and Government Partnerships.

Dwyer received his bachelor's degree in computer science from Clarkson University and is a double alumnus of RIT—master's of science in engineering technology, 1980 and an M.B.A. in technology management, 1994.