Four Inventors Honored

Four Florida Atlantic researchers were recently inducted into the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) chapter at FAU.

NAI, an international organization created to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, boosts more than 3,000 individual members and fellows from 200 institutions.

Florida Atlantic’s chapter was established in 2019 to honor the innovative accomplishments of researchers and support the mission of the academy to increase greater public understanding of the vital role research, innovation and technology plays in society. Collectively, this group of 26 researchers are named inventors of 158 issued U.S. patents. Florida Atlantic’s chapter was also recently honored with the inaugural Chapter of Excellence Award during the NAI Annual Meeting in Washington D.C.

Here's a look at the four new members:

Maureen Hahn, Ph.D., research associate professor of biomedical science, Charles E. College of Medicine, and scientific director, Florida Atlantic’s Neurobehavior Core. Hahn’s research focuses on unraveling the intricate signaling pathways of neurotransmitters that underlie various emotional and cognitive processes. Her research delves into mood, attention, reward, learning, memory and stress response. Central to her investigations are the neurotransmitter transporters that play a crucial role in regulating catecholamines, specifically norepinephrine and dopamine.

Sarah Du, Ph.D., associate professor, College of Engineering and Computer Science, began her journey to advance healthcare solutions by studying red blood cells and their role in diseases. Her early research laid the foundation for her innovative work in creating microfluidic portable devices. Du said she envisions a future where her devices provide patients and healthcare providers with more accessible and efficient solutions for diagnosing various medical conditions.

Predrag Cudic, Ph.D., associate dean for research and professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, studies chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, including addressing the challenges posed by multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. By employing innovative methodologies, his research aims to treat these infections, contributing significantly to the global efforts in combating antibiotic resistance.

Martin Riche, Ph.D., research professor at the Florida Atlantic Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, and principal investigator for fish nutrition. Riche’s expertise in aquaculture across the private, public, and academic sectors, fuels his reputation as a leading authority in freshwater and marine fish culture, larval culture, feed formulation, fish nutrition and the design and operation of recirculating aquaculture systems. His innovative contributions help advanced the understanding and practices within aquaculture, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable and efficient fish farming methodologies.

For a complete look at the event program, including a highlight on the guest speaker from Florida Power and Light, click here.

To learn more about NAI, click here.