Three Ohio State Professors Inducted into National Academy of Inventors

Three professors from The Ohio State University have been elected to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) 2025 class of Fellows. The newly inducted members are Anant Agarwal, a professor in electrical and computer engineering; Alan Luo, a professor in materials science and engineering; and Dehua Pei, a professor in chemistry and biochemistry. This year, a total of 169 individuals were honored, bringing Ohio State’s representation in the NAI to 24 Fellows.

The NAI Fellowship is regarded as the highest professional distinction awarded exclusively to inventors, recognizing their contributions to innovation that significantly impacts society. The 2025 class includes representatives from 127 institutions across 40 U.S. states, highlighting a diverse range of inventions and advancements.

Acknowledging Innovation and Collaboration

John M. Horack, Vice President for Research at Ohio State, praised the new Fellows for their dedication to research and innovation. “The research done by Ohio State’s newest National Academy of Inventors fellows underscores our researchers’ role as a beacon of collaboration and progress, while also driving discoveries that directly impact people’s lives,” he stated. “Their recognition highlights the tangible impact of their innovations, from life-saving medical advances to transformative solutions that shape our future, and we are proud to support their groundbreaking work.”

Details of the Inducted Professors

Anant Agarwal, who joined Ohio State in 2017, previously served as a technical adviser for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wide Bandgap Initiative. His research focuses on the development of semiconductor technologies aimed at enhancing power electronics efficiency. Agarwal emphasizes that wide band-gap semiconductors can significantly reduce energy consumption in high-power systems, including applications in electric vehicles and renewable energy sources. He holds over 90 patents and has co-authored more than 400 research papers, with a notable recognition as an IEEE Fellow in 2012.

Alan Luo, who has been with Ohio State since 2013, leads research initiatives in lightweight materials and manufacturing. His work involves designing stronger, lighter alternatives to steel, which can improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions in both gas and electric vehicles. Luo’s contributions to integrated computational materials engineering have been significant, with 28 patents and over 400 technical publications to his name. His past accolades include the R&D 100 Award and recognition from the National Academy of Engineering.

Dehua Pei, a member of the Ohio State faculty since 1995, focuses on developing novel therapeutic agents to combat diseases. His team recently discovered a universal mechanism through which large biomolecules enter human cells, potentially paving the way for groundbreaking new drugs. Pei holds 33 U.S. patents and has received multiple awards, including the Ohio State Innovator of the Year award in 2017.

The NAI Fellows Program aims to celebrate academic inventors who have demonstrated an exceptional spirit of innovation, creating inventions that enhance quality of life and contribute to economic development. The latest class of Fellows will be honored at the NAI’s 15th Annual Conference scheduled for June 4, 2026, in Los Angeles.