Battelle Names Amy Heintz Inventor of the Year

COLUMBUS, OH --(Marketwired - May 09, 2016) - In the time she spends as a material scientist at Battelle, Amy Heintz loves to think about what is possible. Then, she enjoys working independently and collaboratively to make it happen.

So far it's included inventing an anti-icing system for aircraft based on carbon nanotubes, contributing to next-generation solar cells and a novel drug delivery device. And that's the short list.

Heintz, a Senior Research Scientist who has worked at Battelle for 13 years, recently was named the Inventor of the Year at Battelle's Annual Achievement Awards called "Celebration of Solvers," held at the Columbus Museum of Art. Heintz and many of her Battelle colleagues were recognized for their impact and contributions to research and to the community.

Battelle's first female Inventor of the Year, Heintz was honored for her significant innovative contributions to many fields including aerospace, biopharma and medical products, consumer and industrial products, electronics, and energy conversion.

She led two different strategic initiatives for Battelle. Both efforts resulted in successful maturation of technologies from early discovery to product. HeatCoat™ is a new anti-icing platform for aircraft that is now in preparation for flight demonstration. "In 2003, we were exploring the structure-property relationships of carbon nanotube coatings, wondering how their unique properties could be useful," Heintz said. "Now, we've got a team of engineers integrating our coatings into real aircraft systems."

The Engineered Drug Delivery Initiative developed approaches for delivering challenging biologic medicines. This work assists impaired patients in self-administering protein-based therapeutics. "We took a holistic approach to solving the problem of how to administer viscous drugs to patients with limited dexterity," Heintz said. "We created solutions by innovating at the device-level, the usability-level, and even at the formulations-level."

Heintz's research focuses on such heady phenomenon as dissimilar interfaces, organizing materials to tune adhesion, adsorption and electron, phonon, or gas transport. In the real world, her research is applied to solve proprietary challenges for commercial customers -- like creating a novel package for a major beverage manufacturer. She has collaborations with many academic institutions, government laboratories and start-up companies. Heintz holds four U.S. patents, three European patents and has 13 patents pending.

"I am grateful to be recognized for work that is so meaningful to me," Heintz said. "It is a privilege to work at an organization like Battelle where I have the chance to apply fundamental science to solving problems in so many different areas. I look forward to what's ahead. The fast pace of discovery research makes this a really exciting time for applications research. "

Heintz, a resident of Dublin, OH, holds a B.S., Chemistry High Honors, Highest Distinction from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She also has a Ph.D. in Polymer Science & Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

About Battelle

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle makes the world better by commercializing technology, giving back to our communities, and supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.

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