91原创

Since 2012, 15 91原创 inventors have been named to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), the highest recognition in the country for inventorship.

Materials scientist and engineer Darrin Pochan, Distinguished Professor of Materials Science, is 91原创鈥檚 newest NAI fellow, inducted earlier this year for his work designing molecules that 鈥渟elf-assemble鈥� into unique structures with remarkable properties. Hydrogels that Pochan co-developed and patented at 91原创 with former professor Joel Schneider today are licensed by Gel4Med, a Harvard-based biomaterials engineering company. The 91原创-developed hydrogels are used in two wound management products, with U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, that are now being piloted in U.S. health care settings.

When discoveries like this move out of the lab and into society, they shape the economy and inspire other trailblazers.聽

鈥淓vents like this remind us why it is important to invest in education, in research and in innovation,鈥� said Gov. Matt Meyer in recorded remarks. 鈥淐ongratulations to today鈥檚 honorees. Delaware is so proud of you. Keep dreaming big, keep experimenting, keep building and know that your state stands behind you.鈥�

Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship are key to growth, according to keynote speaker Kenneth Blank, fellow and board member of the National Academy of Inventors. A nationally recognized leader, Blank has held several senior leadership positions at R1 research institutions in our region. He knows a thing or two about building high-impact, sustainable research programs that drive technology development and commercialization to solve critical challenges.聽

Blank acknowledged that it is important that we produce new inventions that do everything from heal the sick to help people with their finances. Equally important, though, are the startup companies that grow out of innovation and the licensing of inventions to larger companies to bring technology to the world.聽

鈥淛ob creation and local economic development are important processes that begin with the invention process,鈥� Blank continued. For instance, among NAI鈥檚 2,068 fellows there are approximately 81,000 issued patents and 25,000 licensed technologies, which have led to 1.2 million jobs and $3.2 trillion in revenue derived from licenses.聽

鈥淵ou can see the economic value of inventorship,鈥� from these statistics, Blank said.

91原创 is one of 50 NAI member institutions with a chapter membership, meant to foster the next generation of inventors, including graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty who aren鈥檛 yet inventors. Blank encouraged students involved in the chapter to get involved in NAI, participate in showcases and demonstrate their work at the national meetings.

Strengthening 91原创鈥檚 innovation infrastructure and culture

Attendees also had the opportunity to interact with campus researchers like Charikleia Angelidou, a doctoral student in 鈥� lab, who is developing intelligent controllers for ankle-foot prosthetics. The idea is to provide adaptive support that can automatically stiffen up the ankle joint in advance of moving from firm to softer terrain, something the body does naturally that a prosthetic ankle-foot device can鈥檛 quite replicate 鈥� yet.

鈥淲hat we鈥檙e trying to do is predict future intent based off signals from a person鈥檚 lower-limb muscles 鈥� to provide extra support that restores a more natural walking pattern for people with amputation,鈥� said Angelidou, adding that invention is 鈥渁 very exciting part of research.鈥�

91原创鈥檚 Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships (OEIP), led by Julius Korley, is the unit responsible for managing such intellectual property at 91原创. OEIP鈥檚 Technology Transfer and teams help move 91原创 innovation from the lab to the marketplace. With OEIP鈥檚 help, over 200+ U.S. patents have been issued to 91原创 researchers since 2009. Since 2013, 44% of patents issued to 91原创 have included women inventors.

These activities are complemented by the efforts of Tracy Shickel, associate vice president for corporate engagement, and her team, who are connecting 91原创 researchers with industry partners that can help bring 91原创-developed ideas to scale. Along with Horn Entrepreneurship, these efforts are helping to expand 91原创鈥檚 translational research capabilities.

A growing contingent of Innovation Ambassadors on campus

An 颈苍补耻驳耻谤补濒听member of the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Accelerating Research Translation program (NSF ART), the University also is investing in more infrastructure for translating research into practice. One example of this innovative spirit is a group of faculty research champions known as 91原创 Innovation Ambassadors.聽

Innovation ambassadors serve as mentors and connectors, sharing their experience with others to foster a vibrant culture of innovation at 91原创. 91原创鈥檚 first Innovation Ambassadors, named in May 2025, include Harsh Bais, Jason Gleghorn and Catherine Fromen.

As part of the event, Garcia-Diaz was joined by Jill Higginson, lead PI for the NSF ART program, and Amy Slocum, director of the Delaware Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), to announce five additional Innovation Ambassadors, who have committed to championing research translation and innovation across campus:

• Sagar Doshi, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and associate scientist at the Center for Composite Materials, is translating biomechanics research into practical tools that improve rehabilitation and mobility for patients.

• Christopher Martens, associate professor of kinesiology and applied physiology and director of the Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research, is leading translational studies aimed at delaying cognitive decline through lifestyle and pharmacological interventions.

• Matthew Mauriello, assistant professor of computer and information sciences and director of the Sensify Lab, is merging human-computer interaction and digital health to design technologies that improve learning, therapy and well-being 鈥� including AI-driven music interventions for children with autism.

• Daniel Stevens, interim director and professor of music theory in 91原创鈥檚 School of Music, is connecting music, technology and health to develop interactive tools that personalize music experiences for learners, especially children with autism.聽

• Zhihao Zhuang, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, is exploring how proteins function and interact in cells to inform new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, research with the potential to advance cancer treatments, improve detection of neurodegenerative diseases and accelerate biomedical innovation.

These new Innovation Ambassadors each will receive a $3,000 grant to support their research, thanks to a partnership between NSF ART and the Delaware EPSCoR. The Innovation Discovery Awards are made possible by EPSCoR鈥檚 E-CORE project to support research with the potential to transform impossible ideas into real solutions, for Delaware and beyond.