Min Zou Announced as a Fellow in National Academy of Inventors

“I am deeply honored to be elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors,“ Zou said. “My heartfelt thanks go to my nominator for recognizing my work, to the leadership at the College of Engineering, my department, the Institute for Nanoscience and Engineering, Technology Ventures for their support in IP development and commercialization, my talented students for their invaluable contributions, and to the Arkansas Research Alliance for facilitating industry connections.”  

Zou's research addresses the mechanical, frictional, optical and surface wetting properties of nano-engineered materials, including surfaces that both repel and attract water. She has invented durable, low-friction coatings for machinery components, significantly improving their performance and longevity. Additionally, her anti-reflective coatings with self-cleaning and anti-fogging properties have enhanced the efficiency and lifespan of solar panels and LED lighting, contributing to the renewable energy sector.   

One of Zou's notable innovations includes the development of the world's largest polysilicon grain for solar cells at the time of its invention, achieved through aluminum-induced crystallization of amorphous silicon, a pivotal advancement in solar energy technology. She also pioneered a 3D printing process to reduce friction and wear in artificial knee menisci. Furthermore, her techniques for digitizing and fabricating custom surface topographies with submicron resolution have advanced surface topography engineering.   

Zou, in her 22nd year with the university, is a research powerhouse. She's been awarded approximately $30 million in external research funding in which she serves as the principal investigator, published 144 peer-reviewed papers and been elected as a fellow in several professional societies, including the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers. 

Ranu Jung, the founding executive director of the Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (or I3R) at the University of Arkansas, nominated Zou for induction into the NAI. Researchers at I3R, in collaboration with Zou, are studying how body movements and tissues affect implanted electronic devices. 

“Prof. Min Zou has demonstrated exceptional achievements in surface and materials engineering, profoundly impacting public welfare and economic growth through her innovative contributions,” Jung wrote. 

Jung, already a fellow in the NAI, also noted that Zou has nurtured an entrepreneurial spirit in her undergraduate students by incorporating patent search and creativity into courses she teaches, encouraging and supporting her research group to pursue entrepreneurship training, such as earning entrepreneur certificates, participating in the BioDesign Sprints Program at University of Arkansas, and completing the NSF I-Corps program. 

Kim Needy, dean of the college of Engineering, said of the honor: “We’re not only fortunate as a college to have Min Zou, we’re fortunate as a society to have her brilliant and creative mind working on how to solve tough problems in diverse areas of science. This honor is so well-deserved, and I’m privileged to add my congratulations.” 

In addition to Jung, Zou joins Ingrid Fritsch, professor of chemistry; Hameed Naseem, University Professor of electrical engineering; and Joshua Sakon, professor of biochemistry, as National Academy of Inventor Fellows.  

Executive director of Technology Ventures, David Hinton heads up the local chapter of NAI. He said he hopes to nominate a new fellow every year for the national academy. 

About the NAI: Since its founding in 2012, the NAI Fellows program has grown to include 2,068 exceptional researchers and innovators, who hold over 68,000 U.S. patents and 20,000 licensed technologies. NAI Fellows are known for the societal and economic impact of their inventions, contributing to major advancements in science and consumer technologies. Their innovations have generated over $3.2 trillion in revenue and generated 1.2 million jobs. 

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.