University of Arizona Professors Honored as National Academy of Inventors Fellows
Two distinguished faculty members from the University of Arizona have achieved notable recognition by being named fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Shibin Jiang, an adjunct research professor at the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences, and Abhijit Mahalanobis, an associate professor in electrical and computer engineering at the College of Engineering, have both been honored for their groundbreaking contributions.
Their election as NAI fellows underscores the significant impact of their inventions on their respective fields. University President Suresh Garimella, himself a fellow of the NAI, remarked, “Being elected to the National Academy of Inventors is a distinguished honor recognizing both technical innovation and its impact in the world.” He added that the achievements of Jiang and Mahalanobis align with the university’s mission as a land-grant institution.
NAI fellowship is a prestigious acknowledgment, representing the highest professional honor for academic inventors. Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president of research and innovation, noted, “The selection of Dr. Shibin Jiang and Dr. Abhijit Mahalanobis as fellows of the National Academy of Inventors reflects their remarkable achievements in turning ideas into impactful solutions that serve society and inspire the next generation of inventors.”
Shibin Jiang: Innovator in Photonics
Jiang’s pioneering work in photonic glasses, fiber amplifiers, and lasers has earned him 52 U.S. patents. His academic efforts include editing 40 books and publishing 98 papers in scholarly journals. Jiang is also an entrepreneur, having founded or co-founded companies such as NP Photonics and AdValue Technology. His work on erbium-doped phosphate glass fiber, licensed to NP Photonics, has advanced the creation of high-power fiber amplifiers and lasers for various applications.
Jiang expressed gratitude to his colleagues and family, stating, “It was the hard work of the scientists, engineers and technicians I worked with that earned me this significant award.” He remains committed to furthering his contributions to society and humankind.
Abhijit Mahalanobis: Leader in Defense Technology
Mahalanobis specializes in video and image processing for defense applications, particularly in automatic target recognition. He boasts over 190 publications and six patents. Before joining the University of Arizona in 2022, he held significant positions at institutions like the University of Central Florida and Lockheed Martin. Mahalanobis is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of aerospace and defense engineers.
Expressing his honor, Mahalanobis said, “I am humbled and deeply honored to be recognized by the NAI as a fellow.” He looks forward to fostering creativity and developing innovative solutions in his field of research.
Jiang and Mahalanobis join a prestigious group of 18 current and former University of Arizona faculty members who have been elected as NAI fellows. They will be celebrated alongside the 2024 class of fellows at the academy’s 14th annual conference in Atlanta, where they will receive medals from a senior U.S. Patent and Trademark Office official. This year, the class includes 170 members from 135 universities and research institutions globally.
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