Technology Ventures, part of the Division of Research and Innovation, hosted its annual Innovator Awards Banquet to recognize University of Arkansas researchers named on U.S. patents issued in 2024. The banquet, held on Oct. 1, also honored new inductees into the U of A Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors.

Guests were welcomed by Chancellor Charles Robinson, who expressed his appreciation for the university's inventors and researchers, recognizing their dedication to advancing innovation and the impact their work has on the University of Arkansas and beyond.

Margaret McCabe, vice chancellor for research and innovation, also addressed attendees.

"Our inventors are doing remarkable work and developing technologies that are leading us to a brighter future," McCabe said.

David Hinton, associate vice chancellor for research and innovation and executive director of Technology Ventures, joined McCabe and Provost Chaubey in presenting plaques to this year's patent awardees.  

See the full list of 2024 patent plaque recipients listed below.

This year, three faculty members were inducted into the U of A Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors. The new inductees were Pradeep Kumar, Xianghong Qian and Ryan Tian.

The National Academy of Inventors was founded to recognize and encourage inventors with U.S. patents, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students and create wider public understanding of how its members' inventions benefit society.

Music for the evening was provided by Sally Jo Roussin of Hill Records, the U of A's student-run record label.

The event celebrated the creativity and dedication of U of A researchers whose innovations continue to strengthen the state's knowledge-based economy and enhance the university's role as a leader in research, entrepreneurship and applied innovation.

Research commercialization at land-grant institutions like the U of A plays a vital role in transforming academic discoveries into real-world applications. It fuels economic development, supports entrepreneurial growth, and helps attract and retain top talent and companies across Arkansas.

PATENTS ISSUED TO U OF A FACULTY IN 2024

Cu2S-based superior anode for sodium-ion batteries (Patent No. 11,876,226)
Inventors:  Xiangbo Meng, Jiyu Cai

Burkholderia cenocepacia and Pseudomonas fluorescens compositions and methods of using the same (Patent No. 11,889,834)
Inventors: Clemencia M. Rojas, Ruben O. Morawicki, Ines Pinto, Alejandro Rojas

Swarm manufacturing for smart factory (Patent No. 11,975,486)
Inventors: Wenchao Zhou, Lucas Galvan Marques, Zachary Hyden, Pablo Guerra

Tempo-cellulose structures and related methods (Patent No. 11,981,756)
Inventors: John P. Moore, II, Jamie Hestekin, Peter Crooks, Narsimha Reddy Penthala, Shobanbabu Bommagani, Soma Shekar Dachavaram

Pseudomonas protegens and products thereof to control bacterial panicle blight of rice (Patent No. 11,999,963)
Inventors: Clemencia M. Rojas, J. Alejandro Rojas, Jackson O. Lay, Jr.

Carbyne-based sensing device for high spatial resolution in DNA sequencing and biomolecule characterization and method of fabricating the same (Patent No. 12,012,329)
Inventors: Steven Tung, Bo Ma, Ty Seiwert

Crosslinked colloidal cellulose nanocrystals and methods of preparation and use thereof(Patent No. 12, 139, 559)
Inventors: Jin-woo Kim, Joseph Batta-Mpouma, Joshua Sakon

Energy harvesting devices and sensors, and methods of making and use thereof (Patent No. 12,163,508)
Inventors: Paul Thibado, Pradeep Kumar