Worcester, MA— The National Academy of Inventors (NAI), an esteemed organization dedicated to recognizing and honoring academic innovation, has named Worcester Polytechnic Institute President Grace J. Wang, as an NAI Fellow. This distinction, the highest professional honor awarded exclusively to academic inventors, highlights President Wang’s exceptional contributions to pioneering research and innovation.
An accomplished materials scientist and esteemed leader in higher education, government, and industry, Wang holds seven U.S. patents. Her inventions have focused on materials, design, and manufacturing process improvements for magnetic recording media, such as hard disk drives. The patents stemmed from her work as a scientist and engineer at IBM/Hitachi Global Storage Technologies on the research and development of thin-film magnetic recording media and carbon overcoat for data storage. Wang played an integral role in the R&D of perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) for computer hard disk drives. Working closely with her colleagues, they introduced the PMR technology into the marketplace, achieving a significant industry milestone.
Wang is one of 170 people named to this year’s class of NAI Fellows. Since its founding in 2012, the NAI Fellows program has grown to include more than 2,000 researchers and innovators who hold more than 68,000 U.S. patents.
“I am honored to receive this prestigious recognition from the National Academy of Inventors. Throughout my career, in industry and higher education, it has been a privilege to focus on creating and supporting the research and development of innovative technologies that can have a meaningful impact for society,” said Wang. “I’m humbled to be named an NAI Fellow and join an amazing list of renowned professionals who have dedicated their work in universities and government and non-profit research institutes to pushing boundaries and advancing solutions.”
Wang’s career has reflected a commitment to research and innovation. Prior to coming to WPI, she spearheaded efforts at The Ohio State University to support research, creativity, and entrepreneurship by faculty, staff, and students. Previously, Wang led the research enterprise at the State University of New York System and built large-scale partnerships to grow impact-driven research and innovation. Before that, at the National Science Foundation, she managed a funding portfolio of over $900 million dedicated to investing in emerging engineering research, supporting engineering education, and fostering development and technology commercialization.
In 2022, Wang was appointed by the White House to serve on the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee. She is a council member of the Government-University-Industry-Philanthropy Research Roundtable at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. She is a member of the Board of Governors for the New York Academy of Sciences and serves on the Board of Massachusetts High Technology Council and the Board of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).Wang is also a member of Massachusetts’ Artificial Intelligence Strategic Task Force.
