Dartmouth Engineering Professor Elected Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors

Keith Paulsen Th’84 Th’86, Dartmouth’s Robert A. Pritzker Professor of Biomedical Engineering, has been named to the National Academy of Inventors' (NAI) inaugural class of Senior Members.

Professor Keith Paulsen

NAI Senior Members have success in patents, licensing, and commercialization and have produced technologies that significantly impact the welfare of society. Senior Members also foster a spirit of innovation within their communities while educating and mentoring the next generation of inventors.

At Dartmouth, Paulsen also serves as Professor of Radiology and Surgery at the Geisel School of Medicine, Scientific Director of both the Advanced Imaging Center and the Center for Surgical Innovation at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, and Co-Director of the Translational Engineering in Cancer program at Norris Cotton Cancer Center.

He and his colleagues are developing new imaging and computational technologies and methods to guide surgical resection of cancers in the brain, breast and spine. They have developed and patented devices and methods for intraoperative quantitative fluorescence imaging, image updating with stereovision and 3D ultrasound, and magnetic resonance elastography of brain and supine MRI imaging and image-guidance for breast surgical oncology.

“I am honored and flattered to be recognized by the National Academy of Inventors, and owe a debt of gratitude to my many co-inventors whose contributions to my success are innumerable," says Paulsen. "I also want to recognize the Technology Transfer Office at Dartmouth whose efficient and effective conversion of invention disclosures into patents and patents-pending is exceptional, especially in an academic setting. Dartmouth’s TTO is incredibly supportive and receptive to assisting faculty, and helping us understand and appreciate how our research generates intellectual property that is worth protecting and commercializing for the benefit of society.”

This inaugural class of NAI Senior Members represents 37 research universities and government and non-profit research institutes and are named inventors on over 1,100 issued US patents.

"The election of the inaugural class of NAI Senior Members is a significant designation for a group of prolific inventors from NAI Member Institutions who are collectively a driving force in American innovation," said Paul R. Sanberg, NAI President. "This is truly an accomplishment worth celebrating."

Senior Members undergo a two-step selection process, including internal NAI review and consideration by the Advisory Committee. The committee comprises elected NAI members and other professionals considered pioneers in their respective field.

Senior Members are elected quarterly, and nominations are accepted on a rolling basis.