Research and Sponsored Programs
Laval Awards: 2024-2025 Recipients
Yuanyuan Xie (Mechanical Engineering) was selected as the recipient of the 2024-25 Claude C. Laval III Award for Commercialization of Research, Innovation, and Creativity. As part of his project, a demonstrated low-cost, scalable, self-contained water piston engine (WPE) system will be developed to extract kinetic energy from slowly flowing water and meet the local clean energy demands.
Hyunjin Shim (Biology) was selected as the recipient of the 2024-25 Claude C. Laval Jr Award for Innovative Technology and Research for her project, "Designing genetic white noise with Generative AI for DNA/RNA sequencing." The project represents a pioneering effort to harness Generative AI for advancing DNA/RNA sequencing technologies.
In 1984, Fresno State established an award in honor of Mr. Claude C. Laval Jr., a long-time resident of Fresno and a productive inventor. This award has supported the development of innovative technology and related research at the university.
Claude C. Laval Jr. was one of the most prolific independent inventors, holding more than 90 U.S. and foreign patents. He worked for over 46 years on innovative research and technological development in such diverse fields as filtration, food processing, photography, toys, pollution control, oil and water well machinery, as well as consumer products.
Overcoming a lack of formal training in engineering or science, Laval Jr. produced inventions that were the result of a willingness to challenge “conventional wisdom” about what will or will not work. His inventions can be characterized as both creative and practical, while his research was usually of an applied nature, utilizing working models to select the best course of action rather than being limited to theory alone.
Funding for the award is provided by a gift to the university from Mr. and Mrs. Claude C. Laval III.
Eligibility: All currently enrolled full-time Fresno State undergraduate and graduate students, as well as Faculty (tenure-track, tenured, full-time lecturers. Each student applicant must list a faculty mentor in their application, and must be enrolled on Fall of 2025. All academic disciplines are eligible to apply.
Criteria: Applications will be evaluated for creativity, innovation, practical application, and general merit. | Award Amount: $5,000.00
Application submission process: Applicants should prepare their applications per the outline below. All application materials should be submitted via InfoReady by 5 p.m. on May 8, 2025.
Post‐award: Awards shall be in accordance with Fresno State Foundation policies and procedures. Upon notification of award, recipients will work with Foundation Financial Services on the procedure for submission of expenditures. Awardees are required to submit a preliminary report documenting progress to date and a formal detailed report of the work accomplished in September of 2025.
All reports are to be submitted to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Awardees may also be required to give a talk to a campus audience in September of 2025 and agree to be interviewed by University Communications. Fresno State may publish non‐confidential information about the project on a web site, print or other media platforms.
Or contact Doug Carey at 559.278.0856 | schaffins@csufresno.edu
A new award of up to $10,000 to foster innovation and technology commercialization is available to faculty and students at Fresno State.
The Claude C. Laval III Award for Commercialization of Research, Innovation and Creativity supports Fresno State students and faculty whose scholarly activities are focused on commercialization of intellectual property, innovation and creativity. Recognizing that many discoveries and inventions require significant additional development in order to attract commercial partners, the award is intended to help move concepts, ideas, and inventions closer to commercialization.
The award is not intended to support basic research or the early stages of innovative idea generation.
To be qualified for this award, the applicant must (at the minimum) have a minimum
viable product* and have completed a preliminary market evaluation of their product
or service adequately to convince others that their idea has uniqueness and value,
which could eventually lead to profitability. Once viability is established, commercialization
is the process of bringing new products or services to market. It can entail any effort
essential to achieving commercial success, including engineering and design production,
distribution, patentability, staffing, or expanding an existing business.
*Minimum viable product meets the minimum necessary requirements for use but can be
adapted and improved in the future after further user/customer feedback.
Applications are invited from full-time faculty and students at Fresno State who have an interest in pursuing the next steps towards technology transfer, commercialization and entrepreneurship. Applications can be submitted by individuals or groups. Student applicants shall be enrolled in Fall 2025.
The award can support entrepreneurial activities such as but not limited to further commercialization of innovations, gathering data which can support commercial feasibility of the innovations, prototype building for proof‐of‐concept and patent applications/attorney fees.
Allowable costs include supplies, equipment, travel, patent application/attorney fees, student support, and other professional services which can be justified as necessary to support commercialization. Principal Investigator salaries, tuition reimbursement and indirect costs are not allowable.
Application submission process: Applicants should prepare their applications per the outline below. All application materials should be submitted via InfoReady by 5 p.m. on May 8, 2025.
Applications review process: The Claude Laval III Committee will evaluate the applications for criteria such as market opportunity (market need/value proposition, societal/market need, and uniqueness of concept), technical merit (proof-of-concept, feasibility of plan, and viability of project goals), work completed to date, participation and/or interest by external parties, and the proposed budget, along with considerations of entrepreneurial activities, minimum viable product and market evaluation, and project scope and milestones.
Post‐award: Awards shall be in accordance with Fresno State Foundation policies and procedures. Upon notification of award, recipients will work with Foundation Financial Services on the procedure for submission of expenditures. Awardees are required to submit a preliminary report documenting progress to date and a formal detailed report of the work accomplished in September of 2025.
All reports are to be submitted to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Awardees will also be required to give a talk to a campus audience in September of 2025 and agree to be interviewed by University Communications. Fresno State may publish non‐confidential information about the project on a web site, print or other media platforms.
Questions? contact Sarah Chaffins at 559.278.0856 | schaffins@csufresno.edu
Applicants from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply. Applicants with previously unfunded proposals may submit proposals for this award.
