NC State MSE proudly celebrates Professor Martin Thuo’s election as one of the 2024 Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). He will be formally inducted at the 14th Annual NAI Conference in Atlanta.
NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to academic inventors. Thuo, a standout innovator in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, is being honored for his impactful work in frugal innovation, designing solutions that reduce cost and complexity while delivering meaningful benefits to society.
His research spans functional soft matter, surface and interface thermodynamics, metastable materials, and experiential learning. Among his key inventions are heat-free and low-temperature solders, biorenewable solid lubricants, and self-assembled microelectronic components, technologies that have reshaped expectations for sustainable manufacturing and accessible electronics.
Thuo joins a prestigious group of NAI Fellows whose collective impact includes over 5,000 U.S. patents, more than $3.2 trillion in economic impact, and the creation of 1.2 million jobs. His induction underscores the Department’s continued leadership in translating groundbreaking materials science into global-scale applications.
Thuo’s recognition also highlights NC State MSE’s commitment to innovation with real-world impact. As part of the College of Engineering, he joins a growing number of faculty inventors making national and international contributions across research, technology, and education.
The NAI conference takes place June 23–26.
This was modified from an article originally published at the College of Engineering.