National Academy of Inventors names 12 faculty members as senior members

Twelve Virginia Tech faculty members have been named senior members of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), joining 230 emerging inventors selected nationwide for the academy’s 2026 class. 

“This recognition underscores Virginia Tech’s growing national leadership in translating research into real-world solutions,” said Dan Sui, senior vice president for research and innovation. “Nearly doubling our NAI senior members speaks to the depth of our innovation enterprise and the commitment of our faculty who move discoveries across the full innovation pipeline—transforming bold ideas into patented, market-ready technologies that make a tangible difference in people’s lives."

The 2026 class will be recognized at the Senior Member Induction Ceremony during the academy’s 15th Annual Conference, June 1–4 in Los Angeles.

Virginia Tech’s National Academy of Inventors senior members and their accomplishments are:

• Christopher Arena, collegiate professor of biomedical engineering, co-invented pulsed-electric-field ablation technologies, including high-frequency electroporation systems engineered to treat tumors while minimizing unwanted neuromuscular stimulation. He also developed wearable therapeutic platforms for chronic wound care that integrate electrical stimulation, thermal therapy, and real-time monitoring to accelerate healing in diabetic foot ulcers.

• Romesh C. Batra, University Distinguished Professor and Clifton C. Garvin Professor, co-patented technologies that translate foundational solid mechanics into applied systems. They integrate acoustic, optical, and computational sensing to detect, interpret, and mitigate process fluctuations in real time, effectively bringing intelligent, adaptive monitoring to the manufacturing floor and optimizing atmospheric plasma-spray processes. These stem from collaborative work with Rolls-Royce on diagnostics and control aimed at enhancing abradable coating uniformity that is essential in improving turbine-engine performance and durability.

• Luiz DaSilva, the Bradley Professor of Cybersecurity and executive director of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, patented innovation that applies deep reinforcement learning to intelligently manage energy consumption in wireless sensor networks. By dynamically scheduling when low-power sensors collect and transmit data, the system extends battery life and overall network longevity without sacrificing data fidelity—advancing scalable, artificial intelligence-driven solutions for Internet of Things and distributed sensing environments. He also has a pending patent that uses reconfigurable intelligent surfaces for geofencing, meaning the creation of a software-defined perimeter where wireless communication is inhibited.

• Christina DiMarino, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, patented packaging and integration innovations that mitigate electrical insulation and electromagnetic interference challenges to enable medium-voltage power conversion systems with improved size, weight, and power. These technologies support future utility, data center, and transportation systems as demand for higher power, rapid deployment, and greater resiliency increases.

• Stefan Duma, University Distinguished Professor and director of the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, invented impact measurement and helmet evaluation systems that integrate linear and rotational acceleration metrics to quantify concussion risk more accurately. His patented methodologies translate injury biomechanics research into practical tools that guide protective equipment design and improve safety standards across sports, automotive, and defense applications.

• Thomas Hou, the Bradley Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, holds multiple patents in wireless network modeling, optimization, and spectrum-sharing technologies that underpin next-generation communication systems. His inventions enhance real-time performance and efficiency in 5G and emerging wireless systems, shaping both academic research and industry deployment strategies.

• Amanda Morris, professor and department chair of chemistry, developed patented metal–organic framework compositions and systems engineered for selective gas capture and catalytic conversion. Her inventions target carbon dioxide adsorption and transformation, integrating molecular design and photochemistry to advance sustainable energy production and carbon management technologies.

• Jennifer Munson, professor and director of the Cancer Research Center at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, patented innovations that apply fluid dynamics, tissue engineering, biomedical imaging, and computational modeling to develop diagnostic and therapeutic tools for cancer and other diseases. Her technologies include image analysis software and organ-on-chip platforms that model brain–immune interactions, positioning fluid flow and its effects as measurable and targetable components of disease progression and treatment response.

• Aaron Noble, the Charles T. Holland Professor and department head of mining and minerals engineering, has developed patents that focus on novel extraction, beneficiation, and separation techniques for the mining and mineral processing sector. His technologies improve recovery efficiency and process economics, strengthening domestic supply chains essential to energy systems, advanced manufacturing, and national security. Two of his inventions have been licensed and commercially deployed with nearly 1,000 installations across five continents.

• John Rossmeisl, the Dr. and Mrs. Dorsey Taylor Mahin Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery in the department of small animal clinical sciences, invented and advanced minimally invasive neuro-oncology therapies, including pulsed electrical field therapies, optogenetics, and precision drug-delivery systems for brain tumors. His patented translational technologies bridge veterinary and human medicine, leveraging comparative oncology to develop targeted treatments with reduced systemic toxicity.

• Michael Schulz, associate professor of chemistry, has designed functional polymer systems with patented applications in rare-earth element extraction and biologically responsive materials. His inventions include polymeric chelators for selective metal recovery and DNA-functionalized scaffolds for drug capture, translating advanced polymer chemistry into scalable environmental and biomedical technologies.

• Abby Whittington, associate professor of materials science engineering and chemical engineering, developed patented biodegradable polymer systems for drug delivery, medical implants, and sustainable materials applications. Her innovations include multimodal optically guided implant platforms and ecofriendly polymer blends compatible with advanced manufacturing methods such as 3D printing, aligning health care performance with environmental sustainability.