A testament to their roles as engineering innovators, Texas A&M University professors Dr. Hung-Jue Sue and Dr. Yue Kuo have been selected to the National Academy of Inventor’s (NAI) 2025 Class of Fellows.
The NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors. The 2025 cohort includes 185 distinguished academic and institutional inventors. Spanning fields like quantum computing, artificial intelligence and regenerative medicine, NAI Fellows are tackling pressing challenges and charting a course for the future.
“Congratulations to Dr. Kuo and Dr. Sue on their recognitions as NAI Fellows,” said Dr. Robert Bishop, vice chancellor and dean of Texas A&M Engineering. “The innovations they have made in their fields highlight their skills as leaders and serve as an example of the outstanding contributions our faculty members have on the global scale.”
Dr. Yue Kuo:
A Professor Emeritus in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Kuo is recognized for his innovations in nano and microelectronics, with special interests in semiconductor materials, processes and devices, thin films and plasma technology.
“It is a great honor to be selected as an NAI Fellow. My inventions and publications were aimed at industry production applications, with the ultimate goal of creating high-performance, highly reliable, manufacturable devices to solve current and future problems,” said Kuo.
Kuo has also made innovations with his research on various devices including thin film transistors, ultra-large scale integration circuits, solar cells and bio-optical sensors.
“Dr. Kuo is a globally recognized pioneer in microelectronics and semiconductor materials. His relentless pursuit of a deeper understanding of electrochemical processes has consistently driven innovation, leading to the development of new materials and devices that have had a significant impact on the field,” said Dr. Faisal Khan, chemical engineering department head. “Bringing this passion to the classroom, Dr. Kuo has shared his expertise and inspired a generation of students to pursue this critical area of study. His induction into the '25 National Academy of Inventors Class of Fellows is a natural and well-deserved recognition of his enduring contributions and exceptional inventive outcomes.”
Dr. Hung-Jue Sue:
The Meinhard H. Kotzebue ‘14 Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sue is recognized for his innovations in dispersion and assembly of nanomaterials for nanotechnology, energy sector and microelectronic applications.
“I believe that the use of fundamental knowledge to solve practical problems is a shortcut to innovation and invention,” said Dr. Sue.
Sue puts this philosophy into practice through his research on fracture, toughening and strengthening of polymers, blends, polyolefin films, fiber-reinforced composites, coatings, laminates, adhesives and nanocomposites.
“Dr. Sue has been successfully performing applied research for more than a quarter century, producing numerous impactful patents, many of which have been translated into real-world applications. This recognition was long overdue, and we are very pleased to see Dr. Sue finally honored for his significant contributions to the field,” said Dr. Ibrahim Karaman, materials science and engineering department head. “What impresses me most is his remarkable ability to secure continuous industry funding, ranging from $500,000 to $1.2 million annually over the past 25 years. This level of sustained support is truly extraordinary, especially given how challenging it is to convince companies to consistently invest in long-term research.”
The NAI Fellows program was founded in 2012 and has grown to include 2,253 distinguished researchers and innovators who hold over 86,000 U.S. patents and 20,000 licensed technologies. Their innovations have generated an estimated $3.8 trillion in revenue and 1.4 million jobs.
“NAI Fellows are a driving force within the innovation ecosystem, and their contributions across scientific disciplines are shaping the future of our world,” said Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, NAI Fellow and President of the National Academy of Inventors. “We are thrilled to welcome this year’s class of Fellows to the Academy. They are truly an impressive cohort, and we look forward to honoring them at our 15th Annual Conference in Los Angeles next year.”