Pierce named NAI Fellow

William Pierce, executive vice president for research and innovation for the University of Louisville, has been named an NAI Fellow by the National Academy of Inventors.

According to the NAI, election to fellow status is “a high professional distinction accorded to academic inventors who 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.” “I’m humbled by the NAI Fellow distinction,” Pierce said. “But this honor is as much about the outstanding, collaborative work being done in every department at UofL as it is about my career.” Pierce, who has two degrees from UofL, began his career in academic research as a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University. He has been a UofL faculty member since 1982 and in his current position since 2009. He is also the founder of Pradama Inc. During his 35 years as a researcher, Pierce has focused on drug design and biomolecular mass spectrometry. He has attracted funding from agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and the U.S. Defense and Energy departments. In total, Pierce has participated in 54 extramurally funded projects totaling more than $45 million. There are 582 NAI Fellows, representing more than 190 prestigious research universities and governmental and non-profit research institutions.