Director, Chair, Free Enterprise

Steven Nichols’ research interests include topics in engineering technology entrepreneurship, design and manufacturing, technology commercialization, and professional aspects of engineering practice. He currently serves as a professor of Mechanical Engineering, as the director of the chair of Free Enterprise, and as the director of the Advanced Manufacturing Center. He has served in numerous administrative and academic positions in the College and at University of Texas at Austin.

As the associate vice president for research, Nichols supported the commercialization of the knowledge base of The University of Texas at Austin and supervised the activities of the Office of Technology Commercialization. Nichols advocates that the knowledge base of a university has potential to more broadly benefit society, and he believes that commercialization activities at universities must support the education, research, and service missions of a university. He initiated the Texas Alliance for Technology Commercialization and hosted the Alliance's first Technology Forum in May of 2002.

As the director of the Clint Murchison Chair of Free Enterprise, Nichols focuses on creating and nurturing a culture of technology innovation, creativity, and leadership at the University of Texas and the global community that the University serves. As part of his activities, he organized the Roden Scholar (Leadership) program and supported the start-up of the Engineering Entrepreneurship Society, and the Idea to Product (I2P) technology competition. I2P has grown from a small group of teams at UT-Austin into a global program involving faculty, staff, and students from across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Nichols has also initiated multidisciplinary research and classroom activities that encourage collaborative learning environments for students, faculty, and staff from the College of Engineering, the College of Natural Sciences, the McCombs School of Business, and the School of Law.

As the associate chair for the Department of Mechanical Engineering, he coordinates with faculty and industrial representatives. He also prepared proposals for industrial support for departmental activities. Nichols also served as a designated contact for alumni. As part of his responsibilities, he has raised more than $10 million in industrial support for educational activities.

Nichols is a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, is a Fellow of ASME, and has received the Fred Merryfield Design Award from the American Society of Engineering Education. He also received the inaugural Olympus Award for excellence and leadership in invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Nichols received a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and J.D. in law (with honors).