University inventor receives NAI fellowship

Erica Santiago / News Director

Shekhar Bhansali, the Alcatel-Lucent Chair and Professor of Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at FIU is among the eleven inventors from the Florida State University System elected Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors, as announced via press release from the Florida State Systems Board of Governors.

To be elected as an NAI Fellow is to be given the professional distinction as an academic inventor who has displayed an inventive spirit for innovation in creating or facilitating inventions that have made an obvious impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.

Bhansali is one of the 168 academic inventors selected for induction as NAI Fellows this year. The group now comprises 582 fellows from over 190 prestigious research universities and governmental and non-profit research institutions.

According to the press release, the 2015 Fellows accounted for 5,368 issued U.S. patents, bringing the collective patents held by all NAI Fellows to more than 20,000.

“We are proud of the outstanding innovators elected as NAI Fellows from our Florida state universities and research institutes,” said Marshall Criser III, chancellor of the State University System (SUS) of Florida “Their dedication to translating their research into inventions and patents is improving our state and the lives of our citizens.”

The NAI Fellows are to be inducted April 15. as part of the Fifth Annual Conference of the National Academy of Inventors at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

USPTO Commissioner for Patents Andrew Hirshfeld will provide the keynote address for the induction ceremony. In honor of their accomplishments, Fellows will be presented with a trophy, medal and rosette pin.

“It is my privilege to welcome the 2015 class of outstanding academic inventors to the Academy as Fellows,” said Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, president of the NAI.

“These inspiring individuals have made remarkable contributions to society through their work in research and discovery as well as in patents, licensing and commercialization. They encourage a culture where invention and innovation is brought to the forefront and it is an honor to recognize their tremendous accomplishments with NAI Fellow status.”