Samir Mitragotri. Courtesy image
> UC Santa Barbara engineering professors Samir Mitragotri and Steven DenBaars have been named to the rank of Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors, the university reported in a media release.
Recognized for their “highly prolific spirit of innovation,” Mitragotri and DenBaars can be credited with more than 220 issued and pending U.S. patents in total. Their research in biotechnology and energy efficiency have been commercialized and developed into products by companies around the world.
Mitragotri and DenBaars are the first among UCSB’s faculty to be elected to the rank of Fellow in the NAI, which was founded in 2010 to recognize inventors that hold patents issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This year, they join 141 other innovators from top-tier research institutions across the globe who received the NAI’s highest professional distinction.
“It is a great honor to be recognized for my inventions by NAI, and to have my research supported by UCSB for over 20 years,” said DenBaars, professor of materials and of electrical and computer engineering at UCSB.
Steven DenBaars. Courtesy image
DenBaars is the co-director of the Solid State Lighting and Energy Center and holder of the Mitsubishi Chemical Chair in Solid State Lighting and Displays at UCSB.
DenBaars’ research focuses on electronic materials growth and semiconductor devices, particularly in the realm of compound semiconductors such as indium phosphide and gallium nitride (GaN). He holds more than 165 patents, with several more pending on GaN growth and processing. Recently, he was part of a team that determined the optimal structure for phosphors (a key component in LED lighting), a breakthrough that can lead to brighter and more efficient LED lights.
Mitragotri is a professor of chemical engineering, a founding director of the Center for BioEngineering and director of the Translational Medical Research Laboratory at UCSB.
Mitragotri’s research focuses on drug delivery and biotechnology, and has led to dozens of patents and pending applications.
His research has enabled the development of needle-free methods of drug delivery, synthetic blood components that mimic the structure and certain functions of red blood cells and platelets, and nanoparticles that amplify the effectiveness of targeted drug delivery, such as chemotherapy.
“I am excited to be elected as an NAI fellow,” Mitragotri said. “This celebrates the inventive spirit of research at UCSB. Innovation is a key feature of research and we are delighted to see it recognized.”