The University of Arizona added its twenty first scientist to the distinguished listing of National Academy of Inventors fellows following the Dec. 11 announcement of Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vp for analysis and partnerships, as a newly elected fellow.
Díaz de la Rubia is one of 185 inventors being elected to the 2025 class of NAI fellows, the best skilled distinction awarded solely to inventors. The 2025 cohort contains 169 U.S. distinguished educational and institutional inventors and 16 worldwide fellows. The formal induction ceremony can be held June 4, 2026, through the NAI’s annual convention in Los Angeles.
Leslie Hawthorne Klingler/Office of Research and Partnerships
“Tomás epitomizes the spirit of the National Academy of Inventors through his dual commitment to groundbreaking scientific discovery and the translation of those discoveries into real-world impact,” mentioned University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella, who can be an elected fellow of the NAI. “His election as an NAI Fellow recognizes not only his personal innovations in materials science and fusion energy but also his visionary leadership in fostering commercialization and economic growth. We are proud to have a scientist and administrator of his caliber driving the University of Arizona’s research enterprise, and I congratulate him on this prestigious and well-deserved honor.”
Díaz de la Rubia’s work has led to transformative developments in science and expertise with wide-reaching public and financial advantages. He holds seven U.S. patents within the area of supplies engineering and has been acknowledged for contributions to scientific fusion ignition, a serious milestone for world science and vitality.
“I am deeply honored by this recognition, which reflects not only a lifetime of work, but the power of research to shape a better future,” Díaz de la Rubia mentioned. “From the particle accelerator labs of my early career to the national innovation ecosystems we’re building today, my journey has always been guided by a belief in science as a force for good. To have that work recognized alongside other innovators who have made monumental contributions to their fields is a crowning achievement my career.”
His management within the improvement of the laser inertial fusion engine, or LIFE, contributed to the primary occasion of scientific fusion ignition, a step towards clear, sustainable vitality that holds promise for world vitality safety. His LIFE design is broadly cited as a sensible roadmap to hybrid fusion reactors that can generate clear baseload energy whereas burning nuclear waste.
Another of his most vital patents underpins immediately’s strain-engineered CMOS, or complementary metallic oxide semiconductor, chips. The chips enhance the pace and energy effectivity of processors in units reminiscent of computer systems and smartphones.
Through strategic innovation initiatives throughout academia, nationwide laboratories and trade, his work has touched numerous lives by advancing nationwide safety, vitality sustainability and financial development.
“We’re thrilled to see Dr. Diaz de la Rubia honored as an NAI Fellow,” mentioned Doug Hockstad, affiliate vp of Tech Launch Arizona, the workplace of the U of A that commercializes innovations stemming from college analysis. “From the beginning, he has championed promoting a culture of innovation – driving discoveries beyond the lab and into the marketplace where they can change lives. His commitment to building an innovation ecosystem at the university inspires all of us working to turn ideas into solutions for a better world.”
The NAI fellowship is the best skilled distinction awarded solely to inventors. Together, the 2025 class maintain greater than 5,300 U.S. patents and embody recipients of the Nobel Prize, the National Medals of Science and Technology and Innovation, and members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, amongst others.
“NAI fellows are a driving force within the innovation ecosystem, and their contributions across scientific disciplines are shaping the future of our world,” mentioned Paul R. Sanberg, president of the National Academy of Inventors. “We are thrilled to welcome this year’s class of fellows to the Academy. They are truly an impressive cohort, and we look forward to honoring them at our 15th Annual Conference in Los Angeles next year.”
Díaz de la Rubia has been a member of the Defense Science Board, a board member of the National Defense Industry Association, a member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine Intelligence Community Studies Board, and at the moment chairs the Board of Directors of CRDF Global. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He holds a doctorate in physics from the State University of New York and has been acknowledged with the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Universidad Nacional del Centro del Peru and the Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa.
Before becoming a member of the U of A, Díaz de la Rubia led the analysis enterprise on the University of Oklahoma as vp for analysis and partnerships. In a earlier function at Purdue University, he served as chief scientific officer, senior vp for strategic initiatives, and vp for discovery park. Earlier in his profession, he was a director in technique consulting on the world skilled providers agency Deloitte LLP, the place he suggested the C-suite of main vitality firms on issues associated to expertise disruption and adoption. Prior to that, he spent 24 years on the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, one of the nation’s premier nationwide safety, vitality, and financial competitiveness analysis establishments, the place he rose to the place of deputy director for science and expertise and chief analysis and improvement officer. He is the creator of 150 peer-reviewed articles and convention proceedings, and his h-index is 63.