Jeffrey Lewis Duerk, Ph.D.

Two Case Western Reserve University researchers have been elected National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellows for lifetime achievements and leadership in innovation and scientific discovery.

Case School of Engineering Dean Jeffrey Duerk, the Leonard Case Professor of Engineering, and Francis Papay, a professor of surgery in Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve, will be inducted with the 175-member class of 2016 Fellows on April 6 at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Boston during NAI’s annual conference.

NAI Fellows are nominated by their peers for outstanding contributions to innovation in such areas as patents and licensing, innovative discovery and technology, significant impact on society and support and enhancement of innovation.

Previously elected NAI Fellows from Case Western Reserve include Trevor Jones, a lifelong engineering pioneer and dedicated supporter of the university, who was inducted in 2014, and Distinguished University Professor Hunter Peckham, the Donnell Institute Professor of biomedical engineering and orthopedics and founder of the Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation Center, inducted in 2013. Robert Miller, former professor of neurosciences and vice president for research at the university, was also inducted in 2013.

Jeffrey L. Duerk oversees $11 million in gifts, including $5 million for Think[Box] program.

The Case school of engineering is proud to announce the appointment of its new dean— former biomedical engineering department chair Jeffrey L. Duerk.

The school recently announced $11 million in new gifts under Duerk’s leadership, with more than $5 million going to support the university’s Think[Box] program, an initiative designed to provide space and resources to help students and researchers bring their ideas to life—and to market.

Biomedical Engineering Department Chair Jeffrey L. Duerk, PhD, will become the next dean of the Case School of Engineering, effective Jan. 1, Case Western Reserve University President Barbara R. Snyder announced.

An alumnus of the school, Duerk has been a member of the university faculty since 1988 and has held leadership positions of increasing responsibility since 1994.

“Jeff possesses the intellect, experience and passion for excellence required to realize the immense potential that exists in the Case School of Engineering,” Snyder said. “An accomplished scientist in his own right, he understands well how to encourage collaboration and execute strategies to advance academic achievement.”