By Communications staff, Washington State University, WSU Insider
Researchers affiliated with Washington State University have been awarded a U.S. patent for a new kind of spectroscopic microscope, a commercial innovation created from research based at the university.
The modular microscope design from Klar Scientific, a startup that grew directly out of WSU’s physics department, lets users swap out optical components depending on what they are studying, rather than being locked into one fixed configuration. It is a practical fix for real frustrations in research settings, where specialized equipment is expensive and often sits idle outside of narrow use.
Spectroscopic microscopy is at the heart of Klar Scientific, which holds licenses on two existing WSU patents related to autofocusing technology, giving the company a foundation of intellectual property to build from as it develops its product line. This patent is the company’s first U.S. patent for a developed product.
“This is a clear example of how research from the College of Arts and Sciences moves beyond the lab,” said Dean Courtney Meehan. “It highlights the ingenuity of our faculty and the real-world impact which results from sustained investment in both science and our students.”
The new design has applications across materials science, semiconductor research, and energy.
The new design has applications across materials science, semiconductor research, and energy, sectors that matter to both Washington’s economy and to federal research and development.
“WSU is incredibly supportive of entrepreneurship and innovation. The mutually beneficial partnership between Klar Scientific and WSU is leading to an exciting future,” said Matthew McCluskey, Klar’s chief technology officer and professor of physics at WSU. Richard Lytel, an adjunct physics professor at WSU, is the company’s CEO, while a former student and a postdoctoral researcher from McCluskey’s lab are now full-time Klar employees.
Klar’s recent innovations were made possible in part by investments in faculty-led research and hands-on student training that are creating environments where people, technologies, and companies are able to translate solutions from the laboratory into real-world applications.
“What excites me about Klar Scientific is not just the technology, but the ecosystem behind it, such as faculty innovation, student talent, and a university committed to moving discoveries into the world,” said Jeremy Tamsen, senior director for innovation and entrepreneurship in the Office of Research. “That’s the long‑term value of investing in research and startups at WSU.”
Learn more about WSU’s commercialization process.