NAI-SBU Chapter Annual Meeting Honors Academic Inventors
The Charles B. Wang Center at Stony Brook University buzzed with excitement for the Stony Brook University Chapter of The National Academy of Inventors (NAI-SBU Chapter) annual meeting on May 6. The evening celebrated innovation and inventorship within the university community, featuring an induction award ceremony and reception.
“In a university that is responsible for contributions towards inventing the MRI, uncovering the cause of Lyme disease, and discovering new species, like the Golden Bamboo Lemur, it is no wonder this chapter is host to so many talented individuals,” said Interim President McCormick. “By joining the NAI, you join a network of inventors from a wide range of fields and expertise, and together you will collaborate, connect, and share your passions for inventing, while recognizing your accomplishments as patent holders.”
This active presence of the Stony Brook University Chapter within the National Academy of Inventors is a direct reflection of the university’s deep commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and providing recognition for the impactful work of its researchers. Stony Brook’s affiliation with this prestigious national organization signifies its approach to generating groundbreaking discoveries and ensuring these advancements are translated into tangible benefits for the betterment of humanity.
“The Stony Brook chapter of the National Academy of Inventors is a powerful reflection of our university’s dedication to transformative discovery,” said Kevin Gardner, vice president for research and innovation. “By honoring our inventors, we highlight the vital role of academic invention in translating ideas into innovations that drive technological progress, address pressing global challenges, and create meaningful societal impact.”
This affiliation highlights the university’s understanding of the crucial role academic inventors play in driving economic development, improving quality of life, and addressing critical global challenges. By actively participating in the NAI, Stony Brook provides a platform to celebrate its inventive faculty, encourage intellectual property creation, and inspire the next generation of innovators within its academic community.
The National Academy of Inventors was founded to recognize and encourage inventors with patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), enhance the visibility of academic innovation, encourage intellectual property disclosure, educate and mentor students, and translate inventions to benefit society. The Stony Brook University Chapter was established to specifically recognize scientist-inventors across all disciplines within the university community.
The event began with a welcoming reception held in the lobby, allowing attendees to mingle before the main program commenced. The program kicked off with opening remarks from Sean Boykevisch, executive director of the NAI-SBU Chapter, and Interim President McCormick. Following the opening remarks, NAI Fellow Iwao Ojima, president of the NAI-SBU Chapter, presented the State of the Chapter, providing a concise yet comprehensive review of chapter activities from its establishment in 2015.
The highly anticipated induction of new NAI members and NAI honorary members took place, along with the announcement of NAI new senior members. Boykevisch moderated this segment, with Ojima serving as the presenter. A message from NAI President Paul Sanberg was also shared with the new inductees, accompanied by a pin ceremony. Membership in the NAI is typically available through local university chapters like Stony Brook’s, and chapter members are automatically enrolled as NAI members.
“The impact of our new team member’s research is truly remarkable,” said Boykevisch. “From enabling room-temperature quantum computer communication to developing innovative surgical tools that elevate clinical care, they are pioneering technologies poised to significantly enhance the human experience. Additionally, our new Honorary Members have greatly enriched SBU’s vibrant innovation ecosystem by facilitating patent filings and fostering meaningful industry-academic collaborations.”
The program continued with the keynote lecture delivered by Devinder Mahajan, professor of chemical and molecular engineering, materials science and chemical engineering, and the inaugural director of the Institute of Gas Innovation and Technology (I-GIT) at Stony Brook University. He was elected an NAI Fellow in the Class of 2024. The NAI Fellows Program is the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors, recognizing those who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation with inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and societal welfare.
Mahajan’s lecture was titled Monetizing Stranded and Local Feedstocks: A Case Study to Produce Fuels in Modular Systems. His work focuses on methane generation from Earth’s natural systems (marshes, swamps); dairies and oil & gas operations could reach three percent of the global GDP. Harvesting this collection of small energy resources would extend our domestic energy portfolio by catalytic conversion to shippable liquid (methanol) in mobile units is an attractive option. This option of harvesting energy from methane and then releasing it as CO2 would simultaneously reduce atmospheric releases by a factor of 80.
Following the keynote, the award ceremony for Young Academic Inventors was held. The recipients recognized for their achievements were:
Christopher Ashdown, a postdoctoral research fellow in biomedical engineering at SBU. He was recognized for his inventions related to the non-invasive, in vivo enhancement of immune function and immunotherapy using low intensity vibration. He is expected to receive his PhD in biomedical engineering from SBU in 2025.
Lauren Maloney, MD, a clinical asistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Stony Brook Renaissance School of Medicine. Her invention is a motion-adaptive training system designed to improve prehospital ultrasound education for paramedics. Her passions — biomedical engineering, education, and advancing prehospital emergency care — came together in this ultrasound simulation project creating a serendipitous fusion, showcasing incredible cross-campus collaboration across biomedical and mechanical engineering, emergency medicine, LINCATS, and more. She received her MD from SBU Medicine in 2016.
Aaron Sloutski, a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Material Science and Chemical Engineering at SBU. His inventions focus on creating hydrogels for two critical applications: one aimed at treating brain aneurysms and another one — an antibacterial dental drug carrier — is designed to aid in bone regeneration for root canal treatments. He received his PhD in biomedical polymer chemistry from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2022.
New NAI members, honorary members, Young Academic Inventors, and NAI chapter members had the opportunity to share personal reflections and inspiration.
“This spirit of innovation is exactly why I’ve been proud to call SBU home for 17 years, and I’m wicked excited to see where the adventure takes us next,” shared Maloney.
“I am honored to receive the Young Academic Inventors Award for my research on the development of biomedical polymeric systems,” said Sloutski. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the committee for this recognition and to my past and current colleagues whose collaboration and support have been crucial to the progress of this research.”
Before the event concluded, Anurag Purwar, a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors, spoke about NSF I-Corps.
The meeting wrapped up with closing remarks from SBU Chief Innovation Officer Michael Kinch. He extended his congratulations to the individuals honored and emphasized his hope that this event will serve as one of many opportunities for Stony Brook’s expanding academic entrepreneurial community to engage with the university’s robust innovation ecosystem.
“This year’s annual meeting of the NAI-SBU Chapter clearly demonstrated the vigor and warmth of the community of academic inventors, created at Stony Brook University campus, together with IPP staff, patent lawyers and potential entrepreneurs. Also, the special recognition of academic inventors who had US patents issued in 2024 by the SUNY Research Foundation with nice plaques added joy and honor to this community,” said Ojima, who was also the recipient of three patent plaques. “Furthermore, it is very encouraging to see the continuous emergence of highly talented Young Academic Inventors who will become the future leaders of this community and NAI.”
The evening concluded with a reception, providing further opportunities for networking and celebrating the spirit of invention that is so vital to societal progress, as highlighted by this quote from Albert Einstein: Imagination is more important than knowledge, for imagination embraces the world.
The NAI-SBU Chapter looks forward to encouraging and bolstering academic inventions, entrepreneurship, and cultivating the next generation of academic inventors.