Dr. Gabriel Cossio – Entrepreneurial Lead
Dr. Gabriel Cossio, founder of Nanoscale Labs and a current Activate Fellow, has been selected to participate in the highly competitive National Science Foundation (NSF) National I-Corps program—a premier initiative designed to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge research into commercially viable technologies.
Dr. Cossio will lead a multidisciplinary team comprised of Ph.D. candidate Raul Barbosa (Technical Lead), industry executive Shan Kutagulla (Industry Mentor), and Dr. Edward Yu (Principal Investigator of Record). Together, the team is advancing a pioneering nanopatterning platform with transformative potential across industries such as solar energy, biosensing, and medical devices.
Shan Kutagulla – Industry Mentor
At the core of their innovation is a novel directed aerosol colloidal self-assembly technique, which enables the rapid and cost-effective creation of high-quality nanopatterns. This method represents a significant departure from conventional fabrication approaches, offering enhanced scalability and broader application potential in domains such as solar light trapping, implantable biosensors, and advanced medical materials.
The foundational research was initially supported by the National Science Foundation. Additional commercialization support has come through Dr. Cossio’s involvement in the Activate Fellowship, a two-year program that provides scientists and engineers with the funding, mentorship, and entrepreneurial training needed to bring deep tech innovations to market.
Edward Yu – Principal Investigator
Participation in the NSF I-Corps program will empower the team to engage in intensive customer discovery, validate potential market applications, and build a robust business model. The program’s structured curriculum and national network of mentors are designed to equip scientists with the tools necessary to successfully bridge the gap between the lab and the marketplace.
Support for the team’s participation is also being provided by the NSF I-Corps Southwest Hub, which serves as a regional node for innovation and entrepreneurship training across the southwestern United States.
“I am honored and excited to be selected for the NSF I-Corps program,” said Dr. Cossio. “This opportunity will help us refine our technology through direct engagement with stakeholders and accelerate its path to market, where we believe it can deliver meaningful impact.”
Raul Barbosa – Technical Lead
The successful commercialization of this platform has the potential to yield broad societal benefits, including:
- Enhanced efficiency and reduced production costs in clean energy technologies
- More accurate and accessible medical diagnostics through advanced biosensing
- Improved performance and safety in medical implants and devices
- New employment opportunities in nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing
With the combined support of the NSF National I-Corps Program, the NSF Southwest Hub, and the Activate Fellowship, Dr. Cossio’s team is well-positioned to drive forward a breakthrough that could redefine several high-impact sectors—contributing not only to scientific advancement but also to economic growth and societal well-being.
