Tampa, FL – July 17, 2025
The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) is pleased to announce the recipients of their prestigious annual awards presented June 23rd-26th during their 14th Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The event not only brings together some of the greatest minds from across the globe to share their research and insights, but also serves as a premiere opportunity to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions and impacts made by NAI Members and champions within the innovation ecosystem.
The Academy has a rich history in recognizing and celebrating inventors and innovation leaders from academic institutions, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, as well as exceptional student inventors from across the nation. This year, the conference featured the recognition of eight awards, celebrating innovators from across the world and a diversity of disciplines.
“It has always been a part of the Academy’s mission to serve and uplift our individual and Institutional Members, as well as the innovation ecosystem at large. Our Annual Conference provides us with the incredible opportunity to have all these phenomenal inventors, leaders, and change-makers in one place, allowing us to celebrate and thank them for their invaluable contributions to the Academy, the innovation landscape, and the world”, said Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, President of the National Academy of Inventors. “I want to congratulate this year’s awardees again. We look forward to continuing to support you in your innovative journeys.”
Recognizing Individual Inventors
The Academy has long recognized individual inventors through the prestigious designations of NAI Fellows, Senior Members, and Honorary Members. Last year, the Academy expanded its tradition of honoring exceptional individuals by partnering with NAI Member Institutions and Fellows to create awards celebrating achievements in more focused areas of the innovation landscape.
The US Office of Technology Commercialization, Department of Energy/NAI Innovator of the Year Award, was developed in partnership with NAI Member Institution the US DOE Office of Technology Commercialization. This award recognizes DOE innovators with an aim to highlight the invaluable contributions of their lab researchers in advancing technology transfer and commercialization missions across the DOE National Laboratories, plants, and sites. Anthony Pugliese, HonNAI, Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization and the Chief Commercialization Officer of the U.S. DOE, presented the award to this year’s recipient Jay Keasling, FNAI from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for his work in metabolic engineering that have led to advancements in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, commodity and specialty chemicals, and biofuels.
Another Member-launched award, the Yogi and Lovely Goswami Award in Energy and Sustainability, honors distinguished individuals who have left an indelible mark in the field of energy and sustainability throughout their illustrious careers. This award was made possible by the generosity of Yogi Goswami, FNAI, longtime Fellow of the Academy who has dedicated his career to creating sustainable energy solutions and currently serves as Director of the University of South Florida’s Clean Energy Research Center. This year’s recipient was Martin Green, Scientia Professor at University of New South Wales. Green was recognized for his incredible contributions to solar photovoltaic technologies, transforming the solar energy industry to be more efficient and cost-effective.
Celebrating Student Innovation
NAI’s Annual Conference includes the Student Showcase, a premiere student innovation event celebrating phenomenal next generation inventors from around the nation. This unique experience gives students the opportunity to showcase their work and connect with the world’s greatest minds to receive feedback, insights, and mentorship. The Showcase culminates with two special recognitions, both developed by or honoring the legacy of NAI Fellows.
The Genspiration Prize awards excellence in student innovation and honors individual inventors or teams at K-8, 9-12, and University levels whose innovations demonstrate significant potential for positive societal impact. The Genspiration Prize, made possible by the Genspiration Foundation, was co-founded by Judy Genshaft, FNAI, a longtime supporter of the Academy and former President of NAI Member Institution the University of South Florida. The Genspiration Young Inventors Prize in the K-8 category was awarded to Dylan Mudalige, representing the Ohio Invention Convention for BalanceBuddy, a smart, automatic training wheel that helps kids learn to ride a bike safely and easily; and the 9-12 category prize was awarded to Arnav Chaphalkar, representing the Chicago Invention Convention for BlindSpace, a solution enabling visually impaired individuals to navigate the world with a whole new level of independence. The Genspiration University Inventors Prize was presented to Aditi Bhattamishra, representing NAI Member Institution Worcester Polytechnic Institute, for the invention PAU, a prosthetic, bionic limb which increases accessibility and dependability for the user.
The Dr. Barry Bercu Biomedical University Inventor Prize also recognizes outstanding innovation. Introduced last year to honor the legacy of Barry B. Bercu, FNAI, this award specifically honors exceptional university student inventions within the biomedical field. The Prize was created by the Bercu family in memoriam of Barry B. Bercu, a pediatric endocrinologist and visionary innovator, with an aim to recognize biomedical innovations that could serve as impactful solutions and increase quality of care for patients. This year’s awardee was Louis DeRidder, Medical Engineering & Medical Physics PhD Candidate at NAI Member Institution Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, recognized for his invention, CLAUDIA, a new closed-loop drug delivery system that allows personalized and more accurate drug dosing for those undergoing chemotherapy
Champions of the Academy
The conference also included the celebration of the Academy’s highest honors, the Chapter of Excellence Award, the Sentinel Award, the Founders Award and the newly introduced Presidential Fellow Award.
Tufts University received the NAI Chapter of Excellence Award, honoring NAI Chapters for their dedication to the Academy’s mission and achievements in key areas such as celebrating local inventors, supporting the next generation of inventors, and fostering a culture of innovation through programs and events. Tufts launched their Chapter just last year, and were recognized for their incredible commitment to drive a culture of academic innovation where collaboration flourishes.
The NAI Sentinel Award, acknowledging individuals and organizations whose actions and support ensure that the mission of the Academy will continue far into the future, was awarded to Stephen Susalka, HonNAI, CEO of AUTM, and Phil Weilerstein, HonNAI, CEO and Founder of VentureWell. Through their vision and leadership, both AUTM and VentureWell have forged meaningful partnerships with NAI, united by a shared commitment to strengthening, connecting, and growing the innovation ecosystem. They both have been instrumental in bolstering innovation and ensuring a bright future where research and invention can flourish.
The NAI Founder’s Award, which honors incredible individuals and institutions who were instrumental in forming the foundation of the Academy, dedicating their time and expertise to shape its vision and impact, was awarded to Sudeep Sarkar, FNAI, NAI Board Member and Interim Dean of the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing at the University of South Florida. Sarkar was recognized for his instrumental insights and guidance in the Academy’s formative years that has helped it grow to the organization it is today.
The inaugural NAI Presidential Fellow Award was presented to Sethuraman Panchanathan, FNAI, former Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), and Andrei Iancu, HonNAI, Partner at Sullivan and Cromwell, LLC and former Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This award was established to recognize exceptional leaders in the innovation ecosystem that uphold the Academy’s mission while making an indelible impact. Both Panchanathan and Iancu have championed invention during their time at NSF and the USPTO respectively, focusing on initiatives and programs that move our nation forward and create beneficial societal and economic impacts. Panchanthan has been a visionary champion for broadening participation in STEM and scaling inclusive innovation ecosystems across the country. During his time at the USPTO, Iancu brought forward impactful reforms to strengthen the U.S. intellectual property system during a pivotal time for American innovation.
The 14th Annual Conference concluded with great excitement around a special announcement – next year’s conference will be hosted by the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. The theme, Spotlight on Our Stars, will continue to celebrate and recognize the incredible innovation occurring around the globe and the star inventors, researchers, and leaders who make it happen. Learn more about the 2026 conference and sign up to be notified when registration opens.