University Honors Campus Inventors at Inaugural Banquet

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Those attending the inaugural University of Arkansas Inventors' Appreciation banquet included (from left to right) Ryan Tian, Jia Di, W.D. Brown (emeritus), Hameed Naseem, Scott C. Smith, Ingrid Fritsch, Jim Rankin, Bob Beitle Jr., Ralph Henry, Jeff Amerine and Ajay Malshe.

The University of Arkansas recognized 16 current and former faculty and staff members on May 1 at the inaugural Inventors' Appreciation Banquet, hosted by Technology Ventures, the Fayetteville campus technology licensing office.

The event, held at the Inn at Carnall Hall, saluted the accomplishments of inventors who have been issued patents during their tenure at the university. They were initiated into the National Academy of Inventors, a nonprofit organization that accepted the University of Arkansas as a charter member last fall.

The academy endorses investigators at universities and non-profit research institutes who translate their research findings into inventions that benefit society.

"We wanted to recognize the incredible effort and sacrifice it takes to successfully develop world-class technology," said Jeff Amerine, director of Technology Ventures. "The marketable ideas U of A researchers have developed have the potential to change the world, and can act as the foundation for great ventures that will employ the best and brightest U of A graduates."

Jim Rankin, vice provost for economic development and research, congratulated the patent-winners in his remarks to the group.

"Capturing intellectual property is very important for the University of Arkansas and the state," Rankin said. "Governor Beebe's vision of a knowledge-based economy is driven by start-up businesses and licenses that come from university-owned intellectual property. Over the last five years we have had nearly 50 start-ups come out of the university. I want to applaud your success in helping the state progress toward the governor's goal."

Faculty and staff who were initiated into the academy were:

• Simon S. Ang, professor, electrical engineering
• Bob Beitle Jr., professor, chemical engineering
• Laurent Bellaiche, professor, physics
• W.D. Brown, Distinguished Professor emeritus, electrical engineering
• Jia Di, associate professor, computer science and computer engineering
• Ingrid Fritsch, professor, chemistry and biochemistry
• Huaxiang Fu, associate professor, physics
• Ralph Henry, Distinguished Professor, biological sciences
• Ajay P. Malshe, Distinguished Professor, mechanical engineering
• Hameed Naseem, professor, electrical engineering
• Errol Porter, research associate, electrical engineering
• Josh Sakon, associate professor, chemistry and biochemistry
• Leonard Schaper, professor emeritus, electrical engineering
• Scott C. Smith, associate professor, electrical engineering
• Ryan Tian, associate professor, chemistry and biochemistry
• Vijay Varadan, Distinguished Professor, electrical engineering

Beitle, Di, Malshe, Smith, Tian and Varadan also were awarded plaques for inventors with patents issued in the last fiscal year.

Rankin and Sharon Gaber, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, each received honorary membership into the National Academy of Inventors.