4 Houston innovators join prestigious group of inventors as senior members

top honor

Houston's Birol Dindoruk, Megan Robertson, Francisco Robles Hernandez and Allison Post have been named senior members of the National Academy of Inventors. Photos courtesy UH and THI.

Houston is home to four new senior members of the National Academy of Inventors.

To be eligible to be an NAI Senior Member, candidates must be active faculty, scientists and administrators from NAI member institutions that have demonstrated innovation and produced technologies that have “brought, or aspire to bring, real impact on the welfare of society,” according to the NAI. The members have also succeeded in patents, licensing and commercialization, and educating and mentoring.

The University of Houston announced that three professors were selected to join the prestigious NAI list of senior members. UH now has 39 faculty members on the NAI list.

“We congratulate these three esteemed colleagues on being named NAI Senior Members,” Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president for energy and innovation at UH, said in a news release. “This recognition is a testament to their dedication, research excellence and pursuit of real-world impact by knowledge and technologies. Their achievements continue to elevate the University as a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship.”

UH’s new senior members include:

  • Birol Dindoruk, the American Association of Drilling Engineers Endowed Professor of Petroleum Engineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Cullen College of Engineering. He is known for his research in carbon capture and storage, fluid-rock interactions and hydrogen storage. He holds three patents.
  • Megan Robertson, the Neal R. Amundson professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at UH’s Cullen College of Engineering. She is developing new polymers and groundbreaking strategies for recycling and reusing plastics. Robertson currently has three patents and two more patent applications pending.
  • Francisco Robles Hernandez, a professor of mechanical engineering technology at the UH College of Technology. He holds four patents, and several others are under review. His work focuses on carbon materials, including pioneering work with graphene and designs with steel and aluminum used in automotives and railroads.

“As an inventor, this is one of the highest honors you can be awarded, so I am very proud to receive it,” Robles Hernandez said in a news release. “UH has been instrumental in supporting my research and innovation efforts, but it’s the creativity of the students here that makes it successful.”

Allison Post, associate director of electrophysiology research and innovations and manager of innovation partnerships at the Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine, also made the list.

Post was recognized for her work in biomedical engineering and commitment to advancing cardiovascular care through innovations. Post is the youngest member to be inducted this year.

Other notable Texas honorees include Emma Fan from the University of Texas, Arum Han from Texas A&M and Panos Shiakolas at UT Arlington.

In 2024, Edward Ratner, a computer information systems lecturer in the Department of Information Science Technology at the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering, and Omid Veiseh, a bioengineer at Rice University and director of the Biotech Launch Pad, were named NAI fellows.

The Senior Member Induction Ceremony will honor the 2025 class at NAI’s Annual Conference June 23-26 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Houston startup’s brain implant for depression advances to clinical trial

moving forward

Houston-based Motif Neurotech has received FDA approval to move forward with its first clinical trial for its innovative way to fight treatment-resistant depression and other mental health disorders.

The company has developed a brain-computer interface technology based on research from Rice University. The blueberry-sized, wirelessly powered implantable device known as the Digitally-programmable Over-brain Therapeutic (DOT) stimulator delivers electrical stimulation to brain circuits linked to depression. The DOT stimulator sits in the skull above the dura without touching the brain and is considered an alternative to transcranial magnetic stimulation, which requires multiple treatment sessions and can cause headaches.

“The goal for this technology is that it would be the mental health equivalent of a continuous glucose monitor for diabetes,” Jacob Robinson, a Rice University professor of electrical computer engineering and bioengineering and CEO of Motif Neurotech, said in a news release. “What has been really special for me personally on this journey is to be able to work all the way from a concept through the process of research and development funded by the federal government at Rice, and take that into a product that is going to affect people’s lives for the better.”

Eligible adults whose depression has not improved after trying multiple therapies can take part in the study. The clinical trial will be conducted in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine, Brain Health Consultants (Houston), UT Health Houston, Massachusetts General Brigham, Emory Healthcare, University of Iowa, University of Utah Health and New York University, according to Rice.

Motif also announced that it was one of the first teams selected for ARPA-H’s EVIDENT initiative, which recently awarded up to $139.4 million to spur new, effective therapies for behavioral health. Through the initiative, Motif will collect additional data alongside its clinical trial.

“The idea with this funding is to support a number of teams who have rapid-acting interventions for a mental health condition and to collect additional data to help determine with greater precision whether a treatment is working, how it is working and which patients are benefitting most from which course of treatment,” Robinson added in the release.

Motif Neurotech was spun out of Robinson’s and Professor Kaiyuan Yang’s labs at Rice, along with collaborators and co-founders Dr. Sameer Sheth at Baylor College of Medicine and Dr. Sunil Sheth at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. It was founded through the Rice Biotech Launch Pad. The company closed its Series A round with an oversubscribed $18.75 million last year.

New immersive experience Time Mission clocks into Houston this summer

It's Time

Time for a new immersive experience to come to Houston: Time Mission, a kid-friendly, team-based adventure, is scheduled to land at the Marq-E Entertainment District in summer 2026.

Created by LOL Entertainment, a location-based entertainment company specializing in immersive attractions, Time Mission blends physical and mental challenges in a fast-paced experience, a release says. Players take on real-world tasks like cracking codes, dodging lasers, solving riddles, and exploring hidden tunnels to earn points for their team.

Racing through 25-plus unique portals, teams of two to five players embark on a time-travel journey across the past, present, and future, all while collecting points and battling the clock. The website says the attraction is appropriate for "players age 6 to 106."

“We’ve seen a shift in how people seek entertainment, choosing immersive adventures that foster connection and excitement," says Rob Cooper, CEO of LOL Entertainment, in the release. "We’re excited to introduce [Texas] to an experience where strategy, innovation, and teamwork collide."

There are currently Time Mission locations in Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, Illinois, and Belgium. Dallas will be the first Texas location, followed by Houston.

Immersive attractions have been popular in Houston for several years, from Meow Wolf just north of downtown to interactive experiences dedicated to balloons and more.

Time Mission will be located in a 10,000-square-foot space at the Marq-E Entertainment District (7620 Katy Fwy., Ste. 355). The exact opening date will be announced at a later time.

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This article originally appeared on CultureMap.com.

7+ can't-miss Houston business and innovation events in May

where to be

Editor’s note: Houston is living up to its nicknames as Space City and the Energy Capital of the World this month with a lineup of insightful talks, pitch days and industry conferences. Plus, there are opportunities to network over crawfish, learn about brain health and more. Here’s what not to miss and how to register. Please note: this article may be updated to add more events.

May 7 – Ion Block Party and Crawfish Boil

Head to this special edition Block Party, featuring a crawfish cook-off competition among the Ion’s businesses. Competing teams include Transwestern, Microsoft, Rice Alliance, Rice Nexus, South Main Baptist, Per Scholas, Industrious and many others. Taste test crawfish while supplies last, and sip a complimentary drink from Second Draught.

This event is Thursday, May 7, from 4-7 p.m. at the Ion. Register here.

May 12 – Why the Next Decade of Breakthrough Brain Tech Matters For You, and What to Do About It

Hear from Matias Serebrinsky, co-founder and general partner of San Francisco-based PsyMed Ventures, at this talk presented by EO Houston. Serebrinsky will discuss why founders are disproportionately affected by brain health issues and look at breakthrough brain and mental health tech.

This event is Tuesday, May 12, from 11:20 a.m.-1 p.m. at Tony's on Richmond Avenue. Register here.

May 18-19 — Geothermal Transition Summit North America

This two-day summit serves as the meeting point for the geothermal and oil and gas industries and will focus on geothermal energy, including scaling plants and navigating state regulations. The event promises 40 expert speakers, 15 exhibition spaces, and networking opportunities with 250 industry decision makers.

This event begins May 18 at Norris Conference Center. Register here.

May 19 – IOT Innovation Day

IoT Innovation Day will present a series of fast‑paced, 15‑minute tech talks focused on the future of connected devices. These sessions feature insights from founders, engineers, product innovators and industry leaders. Attendees are also invited to sign up to present their own tech talk showcasing their expertise, startup or solution.

This event is Tuesday, May 19, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Register here.

May 20-21 — ESF North America

ESF North America returns for its 5th edition, under the theme of “innovation and adaptation.” Attendees will explore how technology, innovation, and collaboration can drive a resilient, competitive refining and chemicals industry.

This event begins May 20 at The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria. Register here.

May 21 – AI + Energy Sector Pitch Day

Hear from startups powering the AI boom or using AI to support the energy transition at Greentown's latest installment of its Sector Pitch Day series. Brian Walker, program manager for emerging technologies in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office, will present the keynote address. Six Greentown startups will present pitches, as well as others from IMPEL, a DOE tech-to-market program, and more. Stick around for a networking happy hour.

This event is Thursday, May 21, from 1:30-6:30 p.m. at the Ion. Register here.

May 28 – NASA Stories at the Ion: A Conversation with NASA’s Artemis II Orion Vehicle Manager Branelle Rodriguez

NASA’s Artemis II Orion Vehicle Manager Branelle Rodriguez will discuss what it took to ready the spacecraft for its mission and return to Earth at this special installment of NASA Stories. Rodriguez will share insights on Orion’s high-speed reentry, the views of the Moon and Earth witnessed by the crew, and what’s next for Orion on NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions in 2027 and 2028. Complimentary breakfast and networking take place before each talk.

This event Thursday, May 28, from 8:30-10 a.m. at the Ion. Register here.

May 28 – NASA Tech Talks: Texas-France Space Hub Business Accelerator Initiative

NASA Tech Talks is partnering with the Rice Space Institute (RSI) this month to host the second cohort of the Texas-France Space Hub in Houston. The hub aims to unite academic institutions and private enterprises to expand commercial space presence in both countries. Startups from the hub will present during the event, followed by drinks and networking at Second Draught.

This event Thursday, May 28, from 6-7 p.m. at the Ion. Register here.

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