WORCESTER—Worcester Polytechnic Institute professor Yan Wang has been elected a 2025 Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the highest professional distinction awarded exclusively to academic inventors, the university announced.
Wang, the William B. Smith Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at WPI, is among 185 inventors selected worldwide for the 2025 class, which includes 169 U.S.-based fellows and 16 international honorees. Collectively, the group holds more than 5,300 U.S. patents, according to the announcement.
A leader in battery recycling and sustainable manufacturing, Wang is best known for developing a hydrometallurgical process that allows lithium-ion batteries to be recycled at industrial scale. His work has resulted in 12 U.S. patents and has led to the creation of two companies, including Ascend Elements and AM Batteries.
Wang said the recognition reflects years of collaborative research at WPI.
“Being elected an NAI Fellow is a tremendous honor, and I am grateful for this recognition of the work my students, postdoctoral fellows, collaborators, and I have pursued over many years,” Wang said in the announcement. “WPI has provided an environment where fundamental research and real-world impact go hand-in-hand, enabling our technologies to move from the lab to industry and contribute to a more sustainable world.”
Wang’s previous honors include the Bayh-Dole “Faces of American Innovation” award and election to the National Academy of Inventors’ Class of Senior Fellows in 2022.
WPI President Grace Wang, herself a member of the NAI Fellows Class of 2024, said the honor highlights both Wang’s work and the university’s emphasis on applied research.
“NAI Fellowship is one of the most prestigious honors an academic inventor can receive, and we are very proud of Yan Wang for this well-deserved achievement,” President Wang said in the announcement. “His groundbreaking research in battery-recycling technology and innovative entrepreneurship exemplify WPI’s mission to translate purpose-driven research into real-world solutions that strengthen industries, protect our planet, and improve lives.”
Founded in 2012, the National Academy of Inventors recognizes academic inventors whose work has translated into tangible societal impact. According to the organization, NAI Fellows collectively represent innovations that have generated an estimated $3.8 trillion in economic impact and 1.4 million jobs.
“NAI Fellows are a driving force within the innovation ecosystem, and their contributions across scientific disciplines are shaping the future of our world,” said Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, president of the National Academy of Inventors, in the announcement.
Wang will be formally inducted at the 15th Annual NAI Conference on June 4, 2026, in Los Angeles, where the 2025 Fellows will receive medals presented by a senior official of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
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