Clint Ballinger, Ph.D., professor of practice in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering (MANE) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is among 170 inventors elected by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) to its 2024 Class of Fellows. 

NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors. It recognizes those who create and facilitate inventions that improve quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.

Ballinger is recognized for his work as an inventor, as well as his impact as an educator, mentor, and adviser to the next generation of technology innovators and entrepreneurs. He has over 30 years of experience developing and commercializing new technologies in the area of nanomaterials, which has led to advances in LEDs, cell analysis, thermoelectrics, and semiconductor packaging. Ballinger holds 11 issued U.S. patents and 20 U.S. patent applications.

“I congratulate Clint Ballinger for this well-deserved recognition. At RPI, Clint combines his tremendous experience in research, invention, and translation with his passion for teaching,” said Shekhar Garde, Ph.D., Dean of Engineering. “Having educators like Clint Ballinger in our classroom makes RPI a special place.”

Ballinger is a business leader with a reputation for exceptional technical and analytical skills, and a history of launching products across multiple markets. As the founder of four companies where he successfully built a portfolio of over 100 patents, he is an expert in licensing and commercializing technology. 

“Since joining MANE a little over a year ago, Clint has made important contributions to our innovation and research ecosystem,” said Antoinette Maniatty ’87, Ph.D., department head of MANE. “His ability to translate his background in research and industry to the classroom is an inspiration to both his students and colleagues.”

Ballinger joins a distinguished group of fellow academic inventors. The fellows in the 2024 class represent 135 universities and governmental and nonprofit research institutes worldwide, and collectively hold more than 5,000 issued U.S. patents as well as a Nobel Prize. The NAI Fellows Induction Ceremony will be held on June 26, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia.