The National Academy of Inventors has selected eight University of Georgia researchers as 2025 NAI Senior Members, surpassing its own record of five inductees set last year. UGA now has 24 Senior Members overall.“We are thrilled to celebrate these latest UGA elections to the country’s leading organization for groundbreaking inventors and innovators,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “Their dedication to translating research into tangible impact embodies the university’s land-grant mission and our commitment to serving society through innovation.”
NAI Senior Members are distinguished faculty, scientists and administrators who have demonstrated success in patents, licensing and commercialization. They develop technologies that have made, or have the potential to make, meaningful impacts on society.
UGA’s 2025 inductees are:
- Patrick Conner, professor of horticulture, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
- Jason Locklin, professor and chemistry department head, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences; director, New Materials Institute
- Sergiy Minko, Georgia Power Professor of Fiber and Polymer Science, College of Family and Consumer Sciences; professor, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Suraj Sharma, professor, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
- Kenan Song, associate professor, College of Engineering
- WenZhan Song, Georgia Power Mickey A. Brown Professor, College of Engineering; director, Center for Cyber-Physical Systems
- Robert Woods, Distinguished Research Professor, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences; member, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center; fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry
- Jin Xie, professor and graduate coordinator, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Conner is recognized for leadership in pecan and muscadine grape breeding, which has led to significant commercial impact. He is a named inventor on eight issued U.S. patents for muscadine grapes, peach and pecan cultivars. His patented varieties have been licensed through 14 agreements, contributing over $400,000 in royalty revenue.
Locklin’s innovative work in polymer science and materials engineering has led to the development of novel materials with practical applications in green engineering. He holds 17 issued U.S. patents and multiple international patents in the field of biomaterials and bioplastics. In 2017, he founded the New Materials Institute at UGA, which has fostered collaboration with more than 35 industry partners.
Minko’s research in nanostructured soft materials, sustainable biomaterials and functional polymers has resulted in seven issued U.S. patents and multiple international patents. His interdisciplinary collaborations have secured over $3.5 million in research funding and produced nearly 250 peer-reviewed publications. He co-founded two companies, including one, CytoNest Inc., that recently launched its first product, CytoSurge 3D fiber scaffold.
Sharma has contributed groundbreaking research in textiles, sustainable materials and nanotechnology, leading to advancements in yarn nanogenerators, polymer drug conjugates, photocatalytic degradation of dyes, sustainable packaging solutions and digital printing of natural dyes. He has three issued patents, one of which has been licensed by Genesis AdvanceTech Engineering LLC, which launched a product using the technology.
Kenan Song’s research focuses on processing, structure and properties of polymer-based nanoparticle-filled composites, emphasizing manufacturing, characterization, simulation and practical applications to enhance structural and functional performance. He holds seven issued U.S. patents and has received awards from the National Science Foundation, the American Chemical Society and the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering, among others.
Wenzhan Song’s interdisciplinary research in sensor networks, sensor data analytics and secure data infrastructures has resulted in technologies with applications in health, security and infrastructure monitoring. His team invented the first “subsurface camera” that uses seismic signals for real-time 3D imaging with applications in environmental mentoring, geotechnical engineering and security.
Woods is a recognized leader in computational glycoscience and glycobiology. His research focuses on glycoprotein structures and their role in immune recognition, improving understanding of glycosylation and its impact on immune responses and autoimmune disorders. He has five issued U.S. patents and multiple international patents, and he is the founder of Lectenz Bio, which has released more than 20 products that streamline glycoscience for research and biopharmaceutical use.
Xie’s research in nanoparticle-based drug delivery and radiotherapy has led to two innovative cancer treatments developed by his startup, Athna Biotech. His company has secured over $750,000 in National Cancer Institute Small Business Innovation Research grants. He holds three patents and has authored over 130 peer-reviewed articles and nine book chapters.
NAI Senior Members will be formally inducted on June 23-26 at the NAI annual meeting in Atlanta. A full list of NAI Senior members is available on the website.
