IIN Innovation Awards

The IIN Innovation Awards celebrate advances in research, technology commercialization and education across the IIN’s 15 hubs. Faculty awards are presented in multiple categories, and student awards are given in an open competition.

2022 IIN Innovation Award Winners
L-r: Lahiru Jayakody, assistant professor in microbiology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Kaiyu Guan, Blue Waters associate professor in ecohydrology and remote sensing, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Bruce Sommer, director of economic development and innovation, University of Illinois Springfield; Pierre Paul, CEO and founder, We Hear You (Distillery Labs); Scott Hamilton-Brehm, associate professor in biological sciences, Southern Illinois University

2022 IIN Innovation Awards

Computing & Data
Kaiyu Guan, Blue Waters Associate Professor of ecohydrology and remote sensing, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Environment & Water
Scott Hamilton-Brehm, Associate Professor of biological sciences, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Food & Agriculture
Lahiru Jayakody, Assistant Professor of microbiology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Health & Wellness
Mohammad Islam, Research Assistant Professor of chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago

Open Category
Keith Jacobs, Statewide 4-H STEM Specialist, University of Illinois Extension

Student Category
Pierre Paul, founder of We Hear You, Distillery Labs

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2022 IIN Innovation Award Winners
L-r: Lahiru Jayakody, assistant professor in microbiology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Kaiyu Guan, Blue Waters associate professor in ecohydrology and remote sensing, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Bruce Sommer, director of economic development and innovation, University of Illinois Springfield; Pierre Paul, CEO and founder, We Hear You (Distillery Labs); Scott Hamilton-Brehm, associate professor in biological sciences, Southern Illinois University
2021 IIN Innovation Award Winners
L-R: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign EnterpriseWorks Operations Manager Rebecca Motley, University of Illinois System Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation Jay Walsh, Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation Kyle Harfst, Founder and CEO of PSYONIC Aadeel Akhtar, Northern Illinois University STEM Outreach Educator Jeremy Benson, Southern Illinois University Carbondale senior and founder of the SIUC Green Roof team Nelson Fernandes, SIUC professor of geochemistry and director of the Advanced Coal and Energy Research Center Kenneth B. Anderson, U of I System Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation Jisu Hong.

2021 IIN Innovators of the Year

Environment & Water
Kenneth B. Anderson, Director of the Advanced Coal and Energy Research Center, Professor of geochemistry, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Food & Agriculture
Girish Chowdhary, Donald Biggar Willet Faculty Fellow, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, co-founder and chief technology officer of EarthSense

Health & Wellness
Aadeel Akhtar, founder of PSYONIC
Elizabeth Gaillard, Professor of chemistry and biological sciences, Northern Illinois University

Open Category
SHIELD – Target, Test and Tell Team

Student Category
Alex Kosyakov, founder of Natrion
Nelson Fernandes, founder and project manager of SIUC’s Green Roof Project

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2021 IIN Innovation Award Winners
L-R: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign EnterpriseWorks Operations Manager Rebecca Motley, University of Illinois System Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation Jay Walsh, Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation Kyle Harfst, Founder and CEO of PSYONIC Aadeel Akhtar, Northern Illinois University STEM Outreach Educator Jeremy Benson, Southern Illinois University Carbondale senior and founder of the SIUC Green Roof team Nelson Fernandes, SIUC professor of geochemistry and director of the Advanced Coal and Energy Research Center Kenneth B. Anderson, U of I System Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation Jisu Hong.