Jill Crawford-Nichols

Jill Crawford-Nichols joined the University of Minnesota’s Technology Commercialization office in January 2022 and is located in Duluth, MN where she works closely with researchers at UMD, NRRI and the Med School. Jill's role includes commercialization coordination for researchers navigating the tech transfer process at Tech Comm. Because of this, she is often the first person Duluth inventors interact with. Jill also works closely with Tech Comm's Gap Funding program, helping manage and advance UofM inventions towards commercialization via Tech Comm's multiple funding initiatives.

Jill has years of R&D project experience in the fields of healthcare, academia and design. Prior to joining the university, she worked for a healthcare innovation center, reviewing and developing inventions. Jill received her Masters in Interior Architecture and Product Design from Kansas State University. While at K-State, her focus was in universal design practices, which rooted a strong passion for a career in a field of positive impact. This passion is fulfilled every time she supports University faculty and students transfer their meaningful research into the public realm.