The National Academy of Inventors has appointed eight researchers from the University of Georgia as 2025 NAI Senior Members, exceeding its previous record of five inductees established last year. UGA now proudly boasts a total of 24 Senior Members.
“We are excited to acknowledge this recent selection of UGA members to the nation’s premier organization for innovative inventors,” remarked Chris King, interim vice president for research. “Their commitment to transforming research into real-world benefits reflects the university’s land-grant mission and our endeavor to serve the community through innovation.”
NAI Senior Members are esteemed faculty, scientists, and administrators who have shown excellence in patents, licensing, and commercialization. They create technologies that have either made or have the potential to create significant benefits for society.
The 2025 inductees from UGA are:
- Patrick Conner, professor of horticulture, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
- Jason Locklin, professor and chair of the chemistry department, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences; director, New Materials Institute
- Sergiy Minko, Georgia Power Professor of Fiber and Polymer Science, College of Family and Consumer Sciences; professor, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Suraj Sharma, professor, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
- Kenan Song, associate professor, College of Engineering
- WenZhan Song, Georgia Power Mickey A. Brown Professor, College of Engineering; director, Center for Cyber-Physical Systems
- Robert Woods, Distinguished Research Professor, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences; member, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center; fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry
- Jin Xie, professor and graduate coordinator, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Conner is acknowledged for his leadership in breeding pecans and muscadine grapes, resulting in considerable commercial influence. He is a listed inventor on eight issued U.S. patents related to muscadine grapes, peach, and pecan cultivars. His patented varieties have attracted 14 licensing agreements, generating over $400,000 in royalty income.
Locklin’s pioneering contributions to polymer science and materials engineering have led to the creation of innovative materials with practical usage in sustainable engineering. He holds 17 issued U.S. patents and numerous international patents in biomaterials and bioplastics. In 2017, he launched the New Materials Institute at UGA, facilitating collaborations with over 35 industry partners.
Minko’s studies on nanostructured soft materials, sustainable biomaterials, and functional polymers have resulted in seven issued U.S. patents along with various international patents. His collaborative efforts across disciplines have secured over $3.5 million in research funding and generated nearly 250 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He co-founded two companies, including CytoNest Inc., which recently introduced its initial product, CytoSurge 3D fiber scaffold.
Sharma has made pivotal contributions in textiles, sustainable materials, and nanotechnology, resulting in advancements in yarn nanogenerators, polymer drug conjugates, photocatalytic degradation of dyes, sustainable packaging solutions, and digital printing of natural dyes. He holds three issued patents, one of which has been licensed by Genesis AdvanceTech Engineering LLC, which commercialized a product using the innovation.
Kenan Song’s research pertains to the processing, structure, and characteristics of polymer-based nanoparticle-filled composites, concentrating on manufacturing, characterization, simulation, and practical applications to improve structural and functional efficiency. He possesses seven issued U.S. patents and has received accolades from the National Science Foundation, the American Chemical Society, and the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering, among others.
Wenzhan Song’s interdisciplinary work in sensor networks, data analytics, and secure data infrastructures has produced technologies applicable in health, safety, and infrastructure monitoring. His team invented the first “subsurface camera” that utilizes seismic signals for real-time 3D imaging with applications in environmental monitoring, geotechnical engineering, and security.
Woods is recognized as a leader in computational glycoscience and glycobiology. His investigations focus on glycoprotein structures and their significance in immune recognition, enhancing our understanding of glycosylation’s effects on immune responses and autoimmune diseases. He holds five issued U.S. patents along with several international patents, and he is the founder of Lectenz Bio, which has launched over 20 products that enhance glycoscience for research and biopharmaceutical applications.
Xie’s investigations in nanoparticle-based drug delivery and radiotherapy have led to the establishment of two novel cancer treatments through his startup, Athna Biotech. His enterprise has gained over $750,000 in National Cancer Institute Small Business Innovation Research grants. He possesses three patents and has contributed to more than 130 peer-reviewed articles and nine book chapters.
NAI Senior Members will be officially inducted on June 23-26 at the NAI annual gathering in Atlanta. A comprehensive list of NAI Senior Members can be found on the website.
The article Eight professors named NAI Senior Members first appeared on UGA Today.