Two University of Tennessee, Knoxville, engineering professors have been named fellows of the National Academy of Inventors, the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors.
Weston Fulton Professor Sergei Kalinin, of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Research Professor Chuck Melcher, of both MSA and the Department of Nuclear Engineering, are part of an incoming class of fellows from 39 US states and 12 countries. The NAI Fellowship recognizes their exceptional achievements for contributions that have made a significant impact on innovation, economic development, and society’s welfare.
Chuck Melcher
Sergei Kalinin
Kalinin’s work combines the classical physical approach of making things simpler by going to atomic and nanometer scales with the development of machine learning–enabled tools that make the discovery faster. Over the past 25 years, it has generated more than 20 patents.
Melcher is a pioneer in the field of radiation detection materials for applications in medical imaging, remote downhole measurements in oil wells, and nuclear security. He is a named inventor on 31 US patents and 32 foreign patents.
Kalinin and Melcher will be formally inducted as fellows at the NAI annual meeting on June 26, 2025, in Atlanta.