Carolina innovator inducted into the National Academy of Inventors

The National Academy of Inventors comprises over 250 universities and governmental and non-profit research institutes across the globe and includes over 4,000 individual inventor members.

Greg Copenhaver
February 28, 2024
By Andy Little ’24, College of Arts and Sciences
Photography by Donn Young

Gregory Copenhaver, director of the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute for Convergent Science, has been named a 2024 senior member by the National Academy of Inventors in recognition of his work as both an innovator and a mentor to future inventors. The NAI announced this newest group of 124 senior members, the largest class to date with members from 60 member institutions, on Feb. 27.

Senior members are active faculty, scientists and administrators from the academy’s member institutions who have demonstrated remarkable innovation-producing technologies that have a real impact on society. They are also fostering success in patents, licensing and commercialization while continuing to educate and mentor the next generation of inventors.

Dedric Carter, vice chancellor and chief innovation officer of innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development at UNC-Chapel Hill, said Copenhaver is a champion for interdisciplinary research at Carolina.

“Greg has leveraged energy into the goals of the Institute for Convergent Science, seeking to increase opportunities for research translation in North Carolina and beyond,” Carter said. “This new honor is fitting and well aligned with our efforts to recognize and celebrate inventorship at UNC.”

>>Read the full story on the College of Arts & Sciences website.