Northeastern University is proud to congratulate Professor Vincent Harris, University Distinguished and William Lincoln Smith Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Triple Husky, for being named a 2022 Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Harris was chosen for selection for “having demonstrated a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development, and welfare of society.”
Over the past 15+ years of his career, Harris has dedicated his work to developing radio frequency (RF) materials and devices, including next-generation 5G technologies, that are smaller in size and provide enhanced performance. His work has many applications in both military and commercial settings, and was the basis for the formation of a Northeastern spin-out company, Metamagnetics, in 2009. Metamagnetics was named the High-Tech Manufacturer of the Year by the MA Legislative Manufacturing Caucus in 2018.
“I want to be clear that my inventions and discoveries were aided by Northeastern’s innovation ecosystem,” said Harris. “Over the years, the University has provided an incredible environment that allowed my work to develop as it did. University resources, such as the Center for Research Innovation, were instrumental in launching our start-up from the academic environment into industry.”
What is the NAI Fellows Program?
The NAI Fellows Program highlights academic inventors who have demonstrated a spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society. Election as an NAI Fellow is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to academic inventors.
Collectively, the Fellows hold more than 53,000 issued U.S. patents, which have generated over 13,000 licensed technologies, 3,200 companies, and created more than 1 million jobs. In addition, over $3 trillion in revenue has been generated based on NAI Fellow discoveries.
Harris shares this honor with approximately 1,567 other NAI Fellows worldwide, whose ranks include presidents and senior leaders of research universities, governmental and non-profit research institutes; members of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine; inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame; recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation and U.S. National Medal of Science; and Nobel Laureates, among other awards and distinctions.
About the 2022 Class of NAI Fellows
The 2022 Fellow class includes 169 inventors hailing from 110 research universities and governmental and non-profit research institutes worldwide. They collectively hold over 5,000 issued U.S. patents. Among the new class of Fellows are members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Fellows of AAAS and other prestigious organizations, Nobel Laureates, other honors and distinctions, as well as senior leadership from universities and research institutions. Their body of research and entrepreneurship covers a broad range of scientific disciplines involved with technology transfer of their inventions for the benefit of society.
“This year’s class of NAI Fellows represents a truly outstanding caliber of innovators. Each of these individuals have made significant impact through their work and are highly-regarded in their respective fields,” said Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, FNAI, President of the NAI. “The breadth and scope of their inventions is truly staggering. I am excited to see their creativity continue to define a new era of science and technology in the global innovation ecosystem.”
The 2022 class of Fellows will be inducted at the Fellows Induction Ceremony at the 12th Annual Meeting of the National Academy of Inventors on June 27th, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
About Northeastern’s New NAI Chapter
Northeastern’s newly announced chapter of the National Academy of Inventors serves to empower inventorship and entrepreneurship across the innovation ecosystem by recognizing, inspiring, educating, and connecting, members of the academic and industrial communities.
At a local level, Northeastern’s NAI chapter will provide support for researchers and inventors by promoting their work and encouraging connections. The chapter will help members network, collaborate, and create mentor relationships with students and other faculty. The NAI chapter will also create additional entrepreneurial and commercialization opportunities by engaging new commercial partners. Additionally, it will offer a bridge for members to connect with members at peer universities.
Everyone in the Northeastern community is encouraged to participate in the NAI chapter. More information regarding participation will follow after the inaugural event.
“I believe that the student body and its overwhelming interest in entrepreneurship is largely responsible for Northeastern’s robust innovation ecosystem,” says Harris. “So, I am hoping there will be a lot of student engagement with the NAI chapter. I am excited to see the energy they bring to this initiative.”
Harris will serve as the Academic Co-Chair on the Executive Committee for the new NAI chapter for its first two years.
About NAI Fellow and Distinguished Professor Vincent Harris
Vincent G. Harris received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering and Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Northeastern University, his M.S. degree in engineering management from the University of Maryland, and his M.Eng. degree in executive technology management from the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania. He held previous roles as a Technical Staff Member and the Head of the Materials Physics Branch with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. He currently holds positions as a University Distinguished Professor and the William Lincoln Smith Chair Professor with Northeastern University. He has authored more than 425 technical peer-reviewed articles, including books, book chapters, review articles, and invited technical feature articles that have been cited more than 16,000 times. He holds more than 25 patents or patent applications.
Dr. Harris has been recognized with other national and international awards for scholarship, including, the American Ceramic Society’s Edward C. Henry Award; the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society’s Distinguished Scientist Award; and the Lee Hsun Research and Lectureship Award by the Institute of Metals Research—Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He was a Distinguished Lecturer of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE). He has been elevated to Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Physical Society (APS), the International Engineering and Technology Institute (Distinguished Fellow, IETI), the Institute of Physics (GB, Inst. of Phys.), the J. William Fulbright International Scholars Program, the Foreign Expert Program of the Chinese State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs, and the Jefferson Science Fellowship Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.