THE CENTER FOR RESEARCH INNOVATION
NAI NORTHEASTERN CHAPTER MEMBERS
Join the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Northeastern Chapter and become part of a vibrant community of innovators driving change across Northeastern. Our mission revolves around recognizing, inspiring, educating, and connecting members of both academic and industrial communities. By joining us, you’ll gain access to a wide range of benefits, including:
- Inspiration: Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share your passion for invention and entrepreneurship, fostering a community of creativity and innovation.
- Education: Access to exclusive meetings designed to enhance your knowledge and skills in inventing, patenting, and commercialization.
- Connection: Forge valuable connections with fellow innovators, industry professionals, and academic leaders, expanding your network and opening doors to collaboration and mentorship opportunities.
Executive Committee

Jennifer Boyle-Lynch
Executive Director, CRI

Randy Erb
Associate Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering & NAI Faculty Chair
Advisory Board
Honorary Members-Internal

David Luzzi
Senior Vice Provost for Research and Vice President of the Innovation Campus

Deirdre Sanders
Principal

Kenneth Blank
Vice Provost for Research and Senior Advisor

Leonard Polizzotto
Executive in Residence, D’Amore-McKim Business School
Innovation Board

Mansoor Amiji
Distinguished Professor and Chairman, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Leila Deravi
Associate Professor, Chemistry and Chemical Biology & Co-founder of Seaspire

Yunume Fitchorova
Affiliated Faculty, Electrical and Computer Engineering & Senior Research Scientist, Kostas Research Institute

Yiannis Levendis
Distinguished Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Steve Lustig
Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering

Sanjeev Mukerjee
Professor, Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Sarah Ostadabbas
Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering & Director of the Women in Engineering Program

Aarti Sathyanarayana
Assistant Professor, Computer Sciences and Health Sciences

Srinivas Sridhar
Director of Nanomedicine Innovation Center and Nanomedicine Academy and Distinguished University Professor of Physics

Nian Xiang Sun
Distinguished Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Program Manager

PJ Dupuis
Assistant Director of Marketing and Programs
Chapter Members
Faculty
Honorary Students
- KAlbert-Laszlo Barabasi
- KAhmed Busnaina
- KRebecca Carrier
- KDanielle Curcio
- KStephen Director
- KJack Lesko
- KYiannis Levendis
- KSteve Lustig
- KDavid Madigan
- KMahshid Amirabadi
- KCarlos Hidrovo Chavez
- KGuohao Dai
- KLeila Deravi
- KSlava Epstein
- KDeniz Erdogmus
- KAndrew Gouldstone
- KYung Joon Jung
- KRyan Koppes
- KBradley Lehman
- KLaura Lewis
- KRichard Maulsby
- KMichele Polese
- KJoseph Preiss
- KJeffrey Ruberti
- KJack Salerno
- KAarti Sathyanarayana
- KDakuo Wang
- KYi Zheng
- KRoman Manetsch
- KTommaso Melodia
- KSaurabh Mhatre
- KMarvin Onabajo
- KSarah Ostadabbas
- KFrancesco Restuccia
- KJustin Ries
- KRifat Sipahi
- KNian Xiang Sun
- KGaneshsingh Thakur
- KEdmund Yeh
- KRudra Dalwadi
- KSaniya Dossa
- KMansi Gupta
- KGreta Johnson
- KIsabel Johnson
- KJayakumar Kumar
- KAnkit Maisuriya
- KVikas Nallabolu
- KSrividya Narayanan
- KVaishvi Pandya
- KJay Kumar Patel
- KAvendhika Raja
- KRuby Robicheau
- KZachary Siedlecki
- KArezoo Vedad
- KKaan Volkan
- KShengnan Zhang
- KAnio Zhang
Executive Committee

Jennifer Boyle-Lynch
Executive Director, CRI

Randy Erb
Associate Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Advisory Board
Honorary Members-Internal

David Luzzi
Senior Vice Provost for Research and Vice President of the Innovation Campus

Kenneth Blank
Vice Provost for Research and Senior Advisor

Len Polizzotto
Executive in Residence

Deirdre Saunders
Principal
Innovation Board

Mansoor Amiji
Distinguished Professor and Chairman, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Leila Deravi
Associate Professor, Chemistry and Chemical Biology & Co-founder of Seaspire

Yunume Fitchorova
Affiliated Faculty, Electrical and Computer Engineering & Senior Research Scientist, Kostas Research Institute

Yiannis Levendis
Distinguished Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Steve Lustig
Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering

Sanjeev Mukerjee
Professor, Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Sarah Ostadabbas
Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering & Director of the Women in Engineering Program

Aarti Sathyanarayana
Assistant Professor, Computer Sciences and Health Sciences

Srinivas Sridhar
Director of Nanomedicine Innovation Center and Nanomedicine Academy and Distinguished University Professor of Physics

Nian Xiang Sun
Distinguished Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Program Manager

PJ Dupuis
Assistant Director of Marketing and Programs
Chapter Members
Faculty
- KAlbert-Laszlo Barabasi
- KAhmed Busnaina
- KRebecca Carrier
- KDanielle Curcio
- KStephen Director
- KJack Lesko
- KYiannis Levendis
- KSteve Lustig
- KDavid Madigan
- KRichard Maulsby
- KMichele Polese
- KJoseph Preiss
- KJeffrey Ruberti
- KJack Salerno
- KAarti Sathyanarayana
- KDakuo Wang
- KYi Zheng
- KMahshid Amirabadi
- KCarlos Hidrovo Chavez
- KGuohao Dai
- KLeila Deravi
- KSlava Epstein
- KDeniz Erdogmus
- KAndrew Gouldstone
- KYung Joon Jung
- KRyan Koppes
- KBradley Lehman
- KLaura Lewis
- KRoman Manetsch
- KTommaso Melodia
- KSaurabh Mhatre
- KMarvin Onabajo
- KSarah Ostadabbas
- KFrancesco Restuccia
- KJustin Ries
- KRifat Sipahi
- KNian Xiang Sun
- KGaneshsingh Thakur
- KEdmund Yeh
Honorary Students
- KRudra Dalwadi
- KSaniya Dossa
- KMansi Gupta
- KGreta Johnson
- KIsabel Johnson
- KJayakumar Kumar
- KAnkit Maisuriya
- KVikas Nallabolu
- KSrividya Narayanan
- KVaishvi Pandya
- KJay Kumar Patel
- KAvendhika Raja
- KRuby Robicheau
- KZachary Siedlecki
- KArezoo Vedad
- KKaan Volkan
- KShengnan Zhang
- KAnio Zhang
Membership list will be updated annually in September.

Jennifer Boyle-Lynch
Jennifer is the Executive Director of Northeastern’s Center for Research Innovation where she is responsible for formulating the vision and executing the mission of the CRI. By merging her extensive experience in business and academia with a passion for generating real-world solutions, Jennifer facilitates the movement of Northeastern’s use-inspired research from lab to living room. Overseeing CRI programs that educate faculty, accelerate technological development, and spur venture creation, Jennifer stresses operational excellence and the cultivation of enduring relationships between industry leaders and the Northeastern community that catalyze local and global impact.
Prior to becoming Executive Director, Jennifer served as the CRI’s Director of Finance and Operations. Before joining Northeastern in 2010, she worked in the field of Sponsored Research as the International Project Coordinator at Harvard School of Public Health. Her entrepreneurial spirit found expression in Nu-Print, the company she founded and presided over for 14 years before venturing into higher education.
In 2017, Jennifer was the recipient of Northeastern’s prestigious “Outstanding Service Award,” in recognition of her compelling leadership and dedication to innovation.

PJ is the Assistant Director of Marketing and Programs for Northeastern’s CRI. She promotes the visibility and enhances the reputation of Northeastern’s technology transfer of researchers and entrepreneurs via cross-platform marketing and events. Marketing efforts educate and inspire the research community engaging CRI’s suite of patent, commercialization and venture services.
PJ has an extensive background in marketing and program management supporting higher education, health and wealth benefits, and the financial industry. She holds a Masters in Education from American International College and a Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University.

Ken Blank, Ph.D.
Ken Blank is a demonstrated innovative and effective leader in building high impact, sustainable use-inspired research programs.. He has a proven ability to engage industry, mission oriented government agencies, and universities in productive collaboration. These key alliances increase funded research to support the development of new emerging technologies and contribute to successful technology commercialization, and workforce-related programs. Blank has held senior research leadership positions at nationally recognized research institutions successfully increasing metrics in research revenue and technology commercialization.. He serves on the Board of Directors of The University City Science Center (Philadelphia, PA) and the New Jersey Innovation Institute (Newark, NJ) and is a Fellow of The National Academy of Inventors and The College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

Ken Blank, Ph.D.
Ken Blank is a demonstrated innovative and effective leader in building high impact, sustainable use-inspired research programs.. He has a proven ability to engage industry, mission oriented government agencies, and universities in productive collaboration. These key alliances increase funded research to support the development of new emerging technologies and contribute to successful technology commercialization, and workforce-related programs. Blank has held senior research leadership positions at nationally recognized research institutions successfully increasing metrics in research revenue and technology commercialization.. He serves on the Board of Directors of The University City Science Center (Philadelphia, PA) and the New Jersey Innovation Institute (Newark, NJ) and is a Fellow of The National Academy of Inventors and The College of Physicians of Philadelphia.