Skip to main content

National Academy of Inventors.png

National Academy of Inventors, UC San Diego Chapter

In order to build and sustain a more robust innovation ecosystem, the University of California San Diego is the first University of California campus to establish a chapter of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). This designation provides tools and resources to help UC San Diego raise the profile of its inventions and technologies and encourage innovations on campus, as well as educating and mentoring student entrepreneurs.

"Innovation is in our DNA," Chancellor Pradeep Khosla stated. "And innovation-based programming helps us better serve students, providing them the experience they need to succeed once they graduate. A focus on turning research into viable products and services benefits not just the university, but more importantly the regional economy and lives of people around the world."

The chapter will have a faculty advisory board to discuss metrics for success and programming opportunities, as well as strategic priorities for the coming year. The inaugural board includes faculty from across campus, including Health Sciences, the Rady School of Management, and the Jacobs School of Engineering to ensure representation across UC San Diego’s innovation ecosystem.

 

'Discovery in action & real-time

 

Why NAI?

UCSD NAI chapter logoAn NAI chapter designation gives the UC San Diego community access to networks and tools that can facilitate inventorship and entrepreneurism in students, faculty, and staff.

Chapter members will be able to:

  • Participate in annual meetings
  • Network with inventors around the world
  • Meet participants from organizations like the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  • Submit articles to NAI’s journal Technology and Innovation

  

 Expression of interest form

 

NAI Fellows at UC San Diego

Below are Elected Fellows from UC San Diego. The year that they were elected to the National Academy of Inventors follows their name. * Indicates a fellow that is deceased.

  • Roger Tsien*, 2012
  • Dennis Carson, 2013
  • Steven Briggs, 2014
  • Juan Lasheras*, 2014
  • Shu Chien, 2015
  • Michaeal Sailor, 2015
  • Sungho Jin, 2016
  • Pradeep Khosla, 2018
  • Susan Taylor, 2018
  • Paul citron, 2019
  • Albert Pisano, 2019
  • Tariq Rana, 2020
  • Liangfang Zhang, 2020
  • Shoachen Chen, 2021
  • Tse Nga Ng, 2021

About NAI

The National Academy of Inventors was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors, enhance the visibility of academic technology, and educate and mentor innovation-minded students. NAI boasts over 1,000 fellows and 250 institutions worldwide. In total, the fellows have formed more than 9,000 companies and generated over $190 billion from nearly 11,000 licensed inventions. UC San Diego is home to 13 NAI fellows, including current and emeritus faculty.

Get engaged with your UC San Diego NAI Chapter

While NAI fellows are inducted into the academy through a formal nomination process, prospective chapter members can apply locally through UC San Diego’s Office of Innovation and Commercialization. Students will also have the unique opportunity to become honorary members where they will have access to NAI-supported mentorship, professional development resources, and events that recognize the value of student inventorship in academia.

Fill out the form to share your interest in becoming part of the UC San Diego chapter. The admission cycle is rolling during the first year so we'll be in touch with additional questions and for follow-up information.

UC San Diego Chapter Leadership

UC San Diego Faculty Advisory Board

  • Paul Roben, Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Commercialization
  • Lisa Ordóñez, Dean for the Rady School of Management
  • Al Pisano, Dean for the Jacobs School of Engineering
  • Vish Krishnan, Faculty Director for the California Institute for Innovation & Development, Rady School of Management
  • Samuel Ward, Director of the Device Accelerator Center
  • Colin Depp, Director of ACTRI Education, Training, and Career Development

With additional support from:

  • Karen Jensen, Entrepreneurship Advocate for the California Institute for Innovation & Development, Rady School of Management
  • Dennis Abremski, Executive Director for the Institute for the Global Entrepreneur, Jacobs School of Engineering
  • Shane Moise, Senior Manager for Strategic Innovation Alliances, Office of Innovation and Commercialization

For more information, contact: Shane Moise at smoise@ ucsd.edu