OU Scientist Named Fellow of National Academy of Inventors

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Thirumalai (Venky) Venkatesan
Thirumalai (Venky) Venkatesan has been named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. He is the director of the OU Center for Quantum Research and Technology. He also holds positions as a professor of electrical and computer engineering in the Gallogly College of Engineering and as a professor of physics and astronomy in the Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Venkatesan, an internationally noted researcher in advanced technology innovation, joined OU in 2021. The inventor of the pulsed laser deposition process, he has filed for 46 patents and been issued 33. He has over 800 publications and has mentored hundreds of students. 

In addition to being a NAI Fellow, Venkatesan will be inducted into the Royal Society in 2022. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society, a fellow of the Materials Research Society, a recipient of the Bellcore Award of Excellence, a winner of the George E. Pake Prize and a recipient of the Distinguished Lectureship on Applications of Physics awarded by the American Physical Society. 

Venkatesan, who started his research career at Bell Labs, earned a doctorate in quantum electronics at The City University of New York (CUNY), a master’s degree in physics from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and a bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. He has won the distinguished alumnus award from both technology institutes.

Venkatesan will be inducted during the academy’s annual meeting in June. Election to NAI Fellow is the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors.


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