Eva Harth, a chemistry professor in the 91猎奇鈥檚 College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the highest professional honor awarded to academic inventors.
Harth is the 22nd faculty member from UH 鈥� and only the third woman 鈥� to be named an NAI Fellow, and she is just the fifth honoree from NSM. UH now has the third-most NAI Fellows of any college or university in Texas.
鈥淚t is a great honor to be named a Fellow of the NAI. It is deeply gratifying to know that the work my students and I do 鈥� the daily push, often in small steps 鈥� is seen and recognized.鈥�
鈥擡va Harth, UH Chemistry Professor
Recognition by the NAI places Harth in very select company as it is reserved for innovators whose discoveries have demonstrated real-world impact and broken new ground in their fields.
鈥淓va鈥檚 well-deserved recognition as an NAI Fellow exemplifies the spirit of innovation that makes UH a true powerhouse in materials research,鈥� said Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president of energy at UH. 鈥淎s we strive for an increasingly sustainable and affordable world, her groundbreaking work in polymer chemistry underscores how our faculty are not only advancing science but pushing the boundaries of what is possible.鈥�
Harth鈥檚 research, which has resulted in 23 U.S. patents to date, is reshaping the future of advanced materials with major implications for the energy industry. At the Harth Laboratory, she and her team are pioneering easier, more efficient ways to make polymers, and finding ways to combine polyolefins with other polymers and change their structures using low-cost additives, which could lead to better materials for energy storage, stronger and more adaptable plastics and new products with unique mechanical and optical properties.
鈥淎t UH, I鈥檓 surrounded by exceptionally talented, ambitious students and backed by a technology transfer office that truly empowers innovation,鈥� Harth said. 鈥淭hat combination has been invaluable, and I am grateful to be part of a collaborative environment where everyone is aligned, energized and always pushing to get better.鈥�
The 2025 class of Fellows is comprised of 169 inventors representing 127 universities, research institutions and government agencies and includes recipients of the Nobel Prize, the National Medal of Science and the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Since it was founded in 2012, the NAI Fellows program has grown to include 2,253 distinguished researchers and innovators who collectively hold more than 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.
鈥淣AI Fellows are a driving force within the innovation ecosystem, and their contributions across scientific disciplines are shaping the future of our world,鈥� said Paul R. Sanberg, president of the NAI. 鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome this year鈥檚 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.鈥�
The 2025 Class of Fellows will be honored at the on June 4, 2026, in Los Angeles, California.