The new NDSU chapter of the National Association of Inventors has inducted its first members. The inaugural group includes the top nine patent holders at NDSU and two honorary inductees from local industry.
The members were recognized at the closing ceremonies of the NDSU Innovation Challenge on Dec. 3.
David Grewell, professor and chair of industrial and manufacturing engineering, recently was named a fellow of the association. He will serve as chapter president, while Scott Meyer, director of entrepreneurship in the College of Business, is vice president and Michal Kessler, dean of engineering, is secretary.
“NDSU joined the NAI to promote interdisciplinary research, inventive thought and entrepreneurship,” Grewell said. “In addition, the leadership team of the NDSU chapter wanted to recognize the researchers who are working hard to enhance the quality of life of others, as well as local industry partners who are pushing the edge of economic development through entrepreneurship.”
The NDSU chapter’s initial inductees include:
• Dean Webster, coatings and polymeric materials
• Val Marinov, industrial and manufacturing engineering
• Philip Boudjouk, chemistry and biochemistry
• Shane Stafslien, coatings and polymeric materials
• Robert Sailer, mechanical engineering
• Chad Ulven, mechanical engineering
• Raj Bridgelall, transportation and logistics
• Lokesh Narayanan, industrial and manufacturing engineering
• Mukund Sibi, chemistry and biochemistry
• Barry Batcheller, Appareo Systems
• Noel Anderson, John Deere
The chapter’s leadership team has a combined total of nearly 40 patents. The team will continue to identify NDSU employees and local industry partners to grow the local chapter and also nominate highly productive members for national fellowships.
The National Association of Inventors is comprised of members from U.S. and international universities, governmental and non-profit institutes. It has more than 4,000 inventor members and fellows from more than 250 institutions worldwide.
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