Faculty members named to the National Academy of Inventors

Three University of Arizona faculty members have been elected to join the 2026 cohort of Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors. The newly elected members include Professor Winslow Burleson, College of Information Science and the BIO5 Institute; Regents Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Marwan Krunz, College of Engineering; and Professor and Department Head of Biomedical Engineering Mario Romero-Ortega. 

They join a prestigious group of over 50 U of A innovators who have been named as Senior Members and Fellows of the NAI. Researchers such as these who engage in developing impactful inventions work with the team at Tech Launch Arizona, the office of the U of A dedicated to commercializing innovations stemming from university research and creative endeavors. 

“It’s innovators like these that take their research to a next step, demonstrating meaningful impact in the world,” said Tech Launch Arizona Associate Vice President Doug Hockstad. “We appreciate their dedication and look forward to working with hem to move many more of their innovations out into the marketplace.”

Winslow Burleson, College of Information Science

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Burleson is a long-time social inventor, scholar, researcher, artist and educator. He has been recognized as a Distinguished Member of the Association for Computing Machinery, and his most significant patent is a “Portable Inflatable Habitat with Modular Payload, System and Method, U.S. 10155573B2, Dec. 2018.” The JEDI Aquanautics initiative, integrating this habitat with the NSF MRI Holodeck has been recognized by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine as a “U.S. Ocean Shot” for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. He was a Kavali Fellow and has been recognized twice among Time Magazine’s Top Inventions of the Year.

A social innovator with an extensive imagination, Burleson directs his efforts to drive impact and address societal challenges. His contributions to the next generation of innovative thinkers include new ways to reimagine how universities can educate their students, and the thinking he has brought to courses on solving complex problems received the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) Science Prize for Inquiry-Based Instruction. His work was also recognized with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) 2019 Innovation Award of the Year for providing students with a multi-year, multidisciplinary integrated approach to education and research.

"It is exciting to be welcomed into the NAI's amazing community,” Burleson said. “I look forward to leveraging this opportunity to share the transformative power of innovation with the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs.”

Marwan Krunz, College of Engineering

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Professor Krunz focuses his research on wireless networking and communications, with emphasis on resource allocation, protocol design, and security. He has been involved in projects across the electrical engineering spectrum, including 5G and NextG systems; Wi-Fi; AI and machine learning for radiofrequency signal detection, classification, and synthesis; energy management in “Internet of Things” and wireless sensor networks; and streaming over wireless links.   

Along with his extensive bibliography of publications, he is a co-inventor of 10 issued patents. His over $20 million in research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, Qatar Foundation, and industry. Three of his patents have been licensed to the Raytheon Corporation, and two have been licensed to startups FreeFall Aerospace, Inc. and Electronic Design and Development Corporation. Through a license and subsequent sublicence, his work is now part of FreeFall 5G, bringing to market 5G millimeter-wave cellular systems. Krunz has also been an entrepreneur, founding SmartNet Communications, LLC, to commercialize AI-based solutions for adaptive wireless protocols.  

“Being named an NAI Senior Member is a tremendous honor that highlights the incredible, collaborative innovation ecosystem here at the University of Arizona,” Krunz reflected. “I look forward to continuing my work with Tech Launch Arizona to turn tomorrow's engineering challenges into transformative, real-world solutions.”

Mario Romero-Ortega, College of Engineering

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Romero-Ortega, department head of biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering, is a pioneer in the development of bioelectronic devices for peripheral nerve interfaces, with a focus on neuroprosthetics, neuromodulation, and nerve regeneration. His work bridges the gap between academic research and clinical implementation, with a strong emphasis on usability, biocompatibility and scalability.

He has eight granted patents and five pending, and his patents have been licensed to multiple companies, including one that he co-founded, Pioneer Neurotch Inc. He has invented regenerative neural interfaces that are restoring function and sensation to amputees, enabling intuitive control of prosthetic limbs and improving quality of life. His wireless neuromodulation platforms offer drug-free alternatives for managing chronic conditions such as hypertension and urinary incontinence, reducing reliance on pharmaceuticals and enhancing long-term health outcomes. These innovations are particularly meaningful for aging populations, where non-invasive, cost-effective therapies are urgently needed.

“I am deeply honored to join a select group of innovators at the NAI," Romero-Ortega said. "This recognition reflects the work of students and colleagues with whom I have the privilege to work with, and our shared commitment to improve medical treatment options through biomedical engineering"

Beyond his technical achievements, Dr. Romero-Ortega is a dedicated mentor and leader in the biomedical engineering community. He has nurtured a diverse pipeline of researchers and innovators, and his service to professional societies, including IEEE Engineering Medicine & Biology Society and the American Heart Association, demonstrates his commitment to advancing the field as a whole.

About the National Academy of Inventors

The 2026 class of NAI Senior Members comprises emerging inventors from 82 NAI’s Member Institutions around the world, collectively holding over 2,000 U.S. patents. 

Launched in 2018, the Senior Member recognition program was created to recognize active faculty, scientists, and administrators at NAI Member Institutions who have successfully produced, patented and commercialized technologies that have brought, or aspire to bring, real impact on the welfare of society and economic progress. 

Today, there are over 900 Senior Members holding over 11,000 U.S. patents.

The 2026 class of Senior Members will be honored during the Senior Member Induction Ceremony at NAI’s 15th Annual Conference taking place June 1-4th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.