Storrs, CT – Professor Ki Chon, a leading biomedical engineer at the University of Connecticut (UConn), has dedicated his career to developing computational algorithms that enhance the detection of atrial fibrillation (AFib) and other heart conditions.
According to UConn, the professor’s patented technologies, integrated into smartwatches and wearable devices, provide real-time monitoring that improves early diagnosis and patient outcomes.
For his contributions, Chon has been named a National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellow, a distinction awarded to academic inventors whose innovations have made a tangible impact on society.
He joins an exclusive group of 13 UConn faculty members recognized for their achievements.
“These individuals have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society,” the NAI stated.
UConn’s NAI Fellows include distinguished researchers across engineering, medicine, and material sciences
Among them, UConn President Radenka Maric was honored in 2019 for her breakthroughs in fuel cell technologies and clean energy systems. Ji-Cheng “JC” Zhao, dean of the College of Engineering, was elected in 2022 for advancements in additive manufacturing and high-throughput materials science.
Dr. Cato Laurencin, the first UConn faculty member to receive NAI Fellowship in 2013, serves as a national selection committee member and UConn’s NAI Chapter president.
“As a group, we work to identify individuals who would make ideal Fellows and Senior Members by evaluating how they contribute to the ecosystem of inventorship,” Laurencin said.
Globally, NAI Fellows hold over 68,000 U.S. patents, generating 1.2 million jobs and $3.2 trillion in revenue.
UConn researchers continue to push scientific boundaries, strengthening the university’s role in technological advancement.
