Forty-seven Purdue University faculty and staff whose discoveries were patented during the 2011-2012 fiscal year were recognized Wednesday (April 3) at the Purdue Research Foundation's eighth annual Inventors Recognition Reception.

During the fiscal year July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, Purdue Research Foundation officials reported 356 invention disclosures, 446 patent applications worldwide, 95 issued patents worldwide and the creation of five startups from Purdue-licensed technologies.

"Purdue faculty, staff and students strive to make people's lives healthier, happier or more productive when they develop new products and processes," said Elizabeth Hart-Wells, assistant vice president and director of the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization. "The issuance of patents to protect intellectual property increases the potential this work will be translated into products and services for the public. The number of patents issued to Purdue-related discoveries has more than tripled from 31 in 2007-2008, which is a credit to the innovative faculty, staff, post-doctorate students and graduate students throughout the university's campuses."

Mechanical Engineering faculty researchers recognized at the reception were:

* Raymond J. Cipra, professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

* Jason V. Clark, assistant professor, School of Mechanical Engineering; assistant professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

* Timothy S. Fisher, professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

* Stephen D. Heister, Raisbeck Engineering Distinguished Professor, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics; director, Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories

* Klein E. Ileleji, associate professor and extension engineer, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Agriculture and College of Engineering

* Monika Ivantysynova, Maha Fluid Power Systems Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering; professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Agriculture, College of Engineering

* Yung C. Shin, Donald A. and Nancy G. Roach Professor of Advanced Manufacturing, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

* Thomas Siegmund, professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

* John M. Starkey, associate professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

Read the full Purdue news release about the Recognition Recption.