Martin Thuo has been named a National Academy of Inventors Fellow, the highest professional distinction awarded solely to academic inventors. The NAI announced in December the election of 170 exceptional inventors from 135 research universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutions worldwide into the 2024 Class of Fellows. Fellows will be inducted at the NAI 14th Annual Meeting in June in Atlanta.
Thuo, a professor of materials science and engineering, is a leading expert in functional soft matter, surface/interface thermodynamics, metastable materials for manufacturing/technology development, and experiential learning. Thuo’s groundbreaking work involves creative solutions to complex problems, with the successful development of low-temperature solders, that were transitioned into a startup now a part of the indium corporation. Other research areas include microelectronics, multi-stimuli hierarchical sensors, semi-crystalline materials, complex particle systems, recycling and sustainability, and low-cost health care solutions.
The NAI Fellow Selection Committee has acknowledged his exceptional contributions as an inventor, highlighting his significant impact on frugal science/innovation, and the ability to minimize cost and complexity while providing efficient solutions to better human conditions. Through his pioneering research, Professor Thuo is advancing scientific knowledge and the quality of health care.
Thuo is the lead inventor of 54 international patents, spanning the U.S., Canada, Europe, Brazil, Australia, China, Korea, Japan, Argentina, and Malaysia. Key inventions include heat-free and low-temperature solders, biorenewable solid lubricants, and self-assembled microelectronic components.
Thuo’s focus on academic entrepreneurship has led to the establishment of three key startups including Safi-Tech (now part of Indium Corporation), French battery company BeFC, and Landeu, which was launched at NC State. He has presented at international conferences as a keynote, plenary, and distinguished lecture speaker on heat-free and low-temperature solders, biorenewable solid lubricants, and self-assembled microelectronic components. He has also been invited to speak about his research at more than 50 conferences and seminars worldwide. His work has been published in 105 journal papers, including three book chapters.
Thuo’s scholarly work includes serving on the advisory board of the applied chemistry journal, Angewandte Chemie. He is also a member of the board of directors for the Africa Materials Research Society and is the Deputy Director for the Center for COmplex PArticle SystemS (COMPASS), where he leads the Collaboration and Exchange with Researchers in Africa (CERA). In recognition of his contributions, Thuo’s notable prestigious awards include the appointment of the Schafer 2050 Challenge Professorship (2022), the ACS Nano Rising Star Award (2020), and the Technical Development Materials Award in Printed Electronics by IDTEchX (2016).
Thuo shares that his point of pride are his students who have gone on to illustrious careers in industry such as IBM and Intel, founding startups, and working in academia.
NAI Fellows are known for the societal and economic impact of their inventions, contributing to major advancements in science and consumer technologies. Their innovations have generated over $3.2 trillion in revenue and generated 1.2 million jobs.