The University of Iowa’s local chapter of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has selected six new members to join in 2025.

An institutional member of the NAI, the University of Iowa Research Foundation created a local chapter in spring 2024 to expand access to NAI’s educational materials for inventors and entrepreneurs and provides a platform to recognize and celebrate a wide range of the university’s inventors. In the first year, the UI Chapter of NAI welcomed 20 faculty inventors who have made significant contributions to the University of Iowa and 15 honorary members who facilitate innovation and economic development.

“The University of Iowa Chapter of the NAI is pleased to recognize six new trailblazing inventors and innovators as we continue to nurture an ecosystem of discovery and creativity across campus,” said Aliasger Salem, associate vice president for research and chapter president.

The chapter has introduced two new membership types this year—student members and associate members. Associate membership allows faculty and staff who have made promising innovative or entrepreneurial contributions to the university but are not inventors on a patent to participate in the chapter and access NAI education resources. 

Learn more about the UI’s local NAI chapter.

Inventors

• Sandeep Laroia, Clinical Professor, Radiology
• Robert Philibert, Professor, Psychiatry
• Suresh Raghavan, Professor, Biomedical Engineering
• Kristina Thiel, Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Associate Member

• Molly Kucera, Associate Director, Ambulatory Surgery Center

Student Member

• Maleeha Naseem, Graduate Research Assistant, Epidemiology