Three join National Academy of Inventors

Richard McCullough, Harvard’s vice provost for research and a professor of materials science and engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), has been named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, along with two of his Harvard colleagues.

David A. Evans, a research professor and former chairman of the University’s Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and Chiang J. Li, a Harvard Medical School (HMS) lecturer at Beth Israel Deaconess, were also named fellows.

McCullough was cited for his research “focused on developing printable electronic materials, including the discovery of regioregular polythiophenes and commercial, reactive metal inks.” Regioregular polythiophene has been among the most highly studied materials in the past two decades.

In addition, the academy said, the vice provost “has been a tireless advocate for University-based start-ups and innovation,” and is the founder of two companies, Liquid X Printed Metals and Plextronics Inc., “that have commercialized many of his discoveries.”

According to the academy, fellows are “academic inventors who have demonstrated a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.”

“We are delighted to recognize the 2014 NAI Fellows and their unparalleled commitment to excellence in academic innovation,” NAI President Paul R. Sanberg said. “Their many discoveries have made a truly significant impact on society and we are proud to honor them for these contributions.”