New Mexico Tech has named Myrriah Tomar to an economic development role at the university.
As the executive director of the Office of Innovation Commercialization Business and Technology Management at New Mexico Tech, Tomar will focus on the university's efforts to foster startup activity. She will help develop economic development initiatives for the college and oversee its intellectual property, some of which could be commercialized by companies.
The former director of the New Mexico office of science and technology, Tomar's new position was announced by New Mexico Tech on Monday.
"I look forward to working with NMT's students and faculty and to continuing the momentum of New Mexico Tech's STE²M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Mathematics) initiative as an entrepreneurial university," Tomar said in a statement. The university's Office of Innovation Commercialization offers an array of resources for entrepreneurs such as patent searches, market analysis and strategy development.
During her three-year tenure at the state in the economic development department, Tomar helped build high-tech sectors including aerospace, bioscience, cybersecurity, and intelligent manufacturing, according to a release from New Mexico Tech. Tomar also created a cybersecurity initiative called CyberReady, which ensures New Mexico businesses are up to date with the latest federal guidelines regarding digital security.
Tomar holds a bachelor of science in biochemistry from the University of New Mexico and a PhD in molecular biology from The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, she said. Tomar also was previously selected as board chair for the Technology Research Collaborative, a group created in 2003 that works to promote technological commercialization, increase high-wage jobs and diversify the economy.
"I am very pleased to welcome Dr. Tomar to NMT as she brings expertise in technology transfer and commercialization, industry startup research, and economic development," New Mexico Tech president Stephen Wells said in a statement.
As of fall 2020, New Mexico Tech has nearly 1,700 students, according to enrollment data posted on its website.
