University of Houston Leads Texas With Seven New National Academy of Inventors Members

Seven University of Houston faculty members have been named Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors, the most of any single Texas institution this year, reinforcing UH's leadership in research-driven innovation with real-world impact. The university also collected a second national honor the same day: the National Academy of Inventors released its 2025 Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents list, and UH earned a place on it.

The seven honorees, the most ever for UH in a single class, span energy, health, materials science and neurotechnology. Haleh Ardebili, the Kamel Salama Endowed Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and assistant vice president for Entrepreneurship and Startup Ecosystem at UH, develops flexible and stretchable lithium-ion batteries for energy storage and wearable electronics, and holds four patents. Vemuri Balakotaiah, the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Chair and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, develops mathematical models to optimize catalytic reactions and transport processes. Jose L. Contreras-Vidal, distinguished professor in electrical and computer engineering and director of UH's NSF neurotechnology research center, develops brain-machine interface technologies and holds five patents, with two technologies advancing through clinical trials.

Of those recognized, the three faculty members from the University of Houston College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics represent the Department of Biology and Biochemistry, the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Jakoah Brgoch, the Eby Nell McElrath Professor of Chemistry in UH's Department of Chemistry, develops next-generation inorganic materials, including superhard materials for the oil and gas industry, anionic transition metal catalysts and novel phosphors for solid-state white lighting. Also among the honorees is Preethi Gunaratne, whose groundbreaking genome research has advanced biomedical science and led to multiple patented technologies.

UH now has 46 Senior Members in the NAI. Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president of energy at UH, tied the recognitions directly to the university's broader civic and economic mission. "This recognition affirms what we see every day at the University of Houston — bold, collaborative innovation focused on improving lives. Having seven faculty members named Senior Members reflects our momentum and a culture where discovery moves beyond the lab into solutions that strengthen communities and drive economic growth."

The distinction carries weight beyond the university's walls. UH faculty also represented three of Houston's four new Senior Members in 2025. Six Houstonians were also named to the NAI's class of fellows late last year, underscoring how consistently the city's research institutions have produced recognized inventors.

NAI Senior Members are faculty, scientists and administrators who have demonstrated innovation with the potential for meaningful societal impact, along with success in patents, licensing and commercialization, and a commitment to mentoring future inventors. Paul R. Sanberg, president of NAI, called this year's cohort "a truly impressive" class. "These innovators come from a variety of fields and disciplines, translating their technologies into tangible impact," he said. The 2026 class will be honored at the Senior Member Induction Ceremony during NAI's 15th Annual Conference, June 1-4 in Los Angeles.

On the patents front, the Top 100 U.S. Universities ranking highlights and celebrates U.S. academic institutions that play a significant role in advancing innovation through the critical step of securing their intellectual property through patents, enabling universities to translate their inventions into commercial technologies and creating tangible societal and economic impact. Collectively, the universities on the 2025 Top 100 U.S. list secured over 6,700 patents during the 2025 calendar year. UH's presence on both the patents list and the Senior Member roster in the same announcement reflects an institution pressing its research output toward commercialization on two separate tracks simultaneously.