PubTalks: Fireside Chat with NUWOHM

From Lab to Launch: A Fireside Chat with Nuwohm’s Founders Big science. Real-world stakes. An Oregon startup building what comes next. What does it take to turn years of research into a product—and build a business around something most people have never heard of? Join us Wednesday, November 4, for a fireside chat with Olivia & Gunnar Vulpin, founders of Nuwohm, an emerging Eugene company bringing University of Oregon research into the marketplace. Their focus? Bipolar membranes: specialized materials used inside systems that can capture carbon, recover critical minerals, and produce cleaner fuels. Nuwohm designs these membranes to help those systems operate more efficiently and withstand demanding conditions—with technology developed at UO and manufacturing based here in Oregon. But a promising technology is only part of the startup story. Moving from the lab to the market means understanding customers, building manufacturing capacity, and figuring out where an invention can make the greatest difference. That’s the journey we’ll explore. Get to know the people behind Nuwohm and the questions shaping their work: - How do you turn specialized research into something customers need? - What changes when you move from developing a technology to building a company? - How do founders with different backgrounds approach a shared challenge? - What could growing advanced manufacturing mean for our region? MEET THE FOUNDERS Olivia Vulpin, Ph.D. | CEO & Co-Founder Olivia earned her doctorate at the University of Oregon under Professor Shannon Boettcher, studying bipolar membrane performance and durability. She pairs her scientific expertise with training in commercialization, economics, and policy—and a drive to put sustainable technologies to work beyond the lab. Gunnar Vulpin, J.D. | COO & Co-Founder Gunnar brings a background in environmental and business law, along with precision manufacturing experience. His winding path into entrepreneurship now places him at the intersection of company operations and emerging electrification technologies. Whether you’re building a business, exploring an idea, or curious about what’s taking shape in Oregon’s innovation community, this conversation is for you. No electrochemistry background required. Bring your curiosity and reserve your spot.