But unlike Dorothy's fictitious friend, Das comes equipped with a heart, one that's set on revolutionizing the University of Kentucky's ties with industry. Those researchers might come from UK, another university, a national lab or overseas. Das doesn't think it matters. And he's not interested in research for its own sake. Before you even take an idea off the shelf, you have to think of potential users and then get them to become involved and excited.
Researchers profit by having their discoveries put to use.
It's through this value-added outsourcing that Das hopes to demystify the relationship between industry and academia. Subodh Das received from Alcoa Aluminum early in his career pictures Charles Martin Hall, considered the father of the aluminum industry. Das began his career at Alcoa Aluminum. In white coat and gloves, Das could be found in the laboratory doing solo work late at night and on weekends, creating new aluminum processes and procedures. His research quickly led to five patents, and he was promoted to manager of technical planning.