KNI-affiliated faculty members Jacqueline K. Barton and David A. Tirrell are named 2018 Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
Of the 148 academic inventors named to the class of 2018 Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), two are KNI-afflilated faculty members from Caltech: Jacqueline K. Barton, John G. Kirkwood and Arthur A. Noyes Professor of Chemistry and Norman Davidson Leadership Chair of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and David A. Tirrell, Caltech's provost and Carl and Shirley Larson Provostial Chair and Ross McCollum-William H. Corcoran Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
The National Academy of Inventors is a member organization comprising U.S. and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutes, with over 4,000 individual inventor members and Fellows spanning more than 250 institutions worldwide. Its mission is "to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the USPTO, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society."
Barton's research group examines the chemical and physical properties of DNA and the biological implications of those properties. Their research has shown that DNA is more than just the library of the cell, existing only to hold genetic information; on the contrary, DNA is a molecule rich in complexity and full of surprises.
Tirrell's group combines organic, biological, and materials chemistry to make new macromolecular systems of controlled architecture and novel function.
According to the NAI's press release, "Election to NAI Fellow status is the highest professional distinction accorded to academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society. The 2018 class of NAI Fellows has made an incredible impact in a variety of fields, including biomedical engineering, laser photonics and computer sciences."
The 2018 NAI Fellows will partake in an induction ceremony on April 11, 2019 as part of the Eighth NAI Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas, where they will receive a trophy, medal and rosette pin for their achievements.
Many congratulations to Professors Jacqueline Barton and David Tirrell!