PASSIONATE PROBLEM SOLVER
Solving a problem can consume time and energy that takes away from other projects. Anything from deriving a difficult scientific equation or a identifying a path of least resistance can be an obstacle in finding a solution This can force someone to find alternatives such as finding someone else to assume the work given their workload or abandoning a project altogether While some may find the process of finding the solution agonizing others thrive in it One of those people that thrive in the solution finding process is Dr Kofi Nyarko who is a professor in the Mitchell School of Engineering
At his core Dr Nyarko sees himself essentially as an engineer and what do engineers do? Solve problems ” In speaking with him you will quickly learn and see that he is the embodiment of someone who is living and working in his passion As a true problem solver, he is driven by adding value and removing barriers to ensure the outcome is one that is beneficial to society
Dr Nyarko’s innovative spirit and genuine curiosity is evident given his countless past accolades and current projects and other initiatives here at Morgan As a professor in the School of Engineering, Dr Nyarko provides his students with immersive experiential learning opportunities at all levels, from instruction to freshman classes, to including his doctoral research students on patent worthy innovations Echoing Dr Wilson’s sentiments of positioning Morgan as a leading institution in research and innovation, Dr Nyarko is baffled by the idea of not including students in the innovative projects he is working on In molding the young minds of the future, he looks to take his students’ minds beyond their limits “Concepts are taught in the classroom, but the lab is where they are applied It provides them the opportunity to apply the knowledge, asks questions and creates an overall richer (learning) experience Students are then active participants in their learning experience and can see the direct correlation from their studies in hands-on application ” Dr Nyarko stands on his word having included students on over fifty percent of the intellectual property disclosures (IPDs) he has submitted to the Office of Technology Transfer Those IPDs in turn have become patent applications and issued patents as well
The experiences Dr Nyarko can provide his students through immersive learning opportunities illustrate his commitment to developing the next generation of engineers His various ongoing projects make him no stranger to accolades and achievements making him a noteworthy leader among his colleagues He was awarded the Information Science Innovation Leader at the 2022 Innovation of the Year Awards hosted by OTT for setting the standard among his colleagues and taking innovation and experiential learning opportunities for his students to new heights Some additional accomplishments include being named on 17 intellectual property disclosures, three issued patents by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and an awardee of the Intellectual Property Innovation of the Year award in 2019 and 2022 His past research as a lead inventor has focused on topics such as transmission of data through light waves and optimization algorithms for communications protocols
Dr Nyarko’s ongoing projects that focus on cybersecurity, machine learning and artificial intelligence align with his personal and professional passions As the principal investigator on a five-year grant recently awarded to Morgan by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) for $9 million, his new center will build a knowledge base on artificial intelligence and machine learning best practices and serve as a testbed for new technologies He says that this space is what currently excites him the most, and serving as the Director of the Center for Equitable Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Systems (CEAMLS) will allow him to realize the potential that the technology can enable
IPD Disclosures
U S Issued Patents
WHAT'S INSIDE? I N N O V A T I O N W O R K S
Innovator Spotlights
2022 IOY Award Winners
WHAT DRIVES INNOVATION?
Innovation Drivers are the factors that drive both “big I” (new and potentially disruptive innovation) and little i (incremental) innovation
Common drivers of organizational innovation include: consumer need improved quality, creation of new markets, reduced labor and material costs improved efficiency reduced environmental damage and energy consumption, and conformance to regulations
Innovators themselves may be driven by a personal or emotional connection
Each issue of Innovation Works will provide the reader a window on what drives Morgan s innovators
S P R I N G 2 0 2 3 | V O L U M E 4
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | DIVISION OF RESEARCH & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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Dr. Kofi Nyarko
I N N O V A T I O N W O R K S
PASSIONATE PROBLEM SOLVER
CEAMLS also allows Dr Nyarko to provide his students to enhance their skills and ensure they are on the cutting edge of the latest technologies and its various capabilities as they enter the workforce in various STEM-related fields The students will not only be users of the technology but creators; participate create do (take action)
Dr Nyarko’s efforts as the Director of CEAMLS and teachings as a professor allow him to feed his passion daily, while advancing and positioning Morgan as a leading research institution among other HBCUs and neighboring Maryland universities as well The research opportunities provided by annual State funding of $3 1 million to the ONR and similar resources will aid in the University’s quest to attain R1 designation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions in Higher Education As someone who always been research-oriented, but with a greater sense of overall vision, Dr Nyarko has zero doubt that Morgan is in a great position to achieve this designation in accordance with Dr Wilson’s strategic vision within the next ten years The funding will spur the collective mindshare of students and faculty and will drive output of patents, papers, and other media driven by new research projects
Dr Nyarko s various roles allow him to explore new ways that technology will make our lives better while also helping his students connect their classroom concepts with tangible outcomes beyond their coursework As scientists engineers and curious minds look to uncover how AI will shape our future its accessibility and overall impact Dr Nyarko will continue feeding his natural curiosity and innate problem-solving desires while molding young minds and the like here at Morgan Growing the Future Leading the World
2022 Innovation of the Year Awards
The Office of Technology Transfer hosted the 5th Annual Innovation of the Year Awards on Wednesday November 9, 2022, in the University Student Center This year s celebration commemorated five years since the office’s inception and the beginning of Morgan s innovation journey that has resulted in a growing portfolio of intellectual property disclosures start-up companies, issued patents and patent applications
The Office of Technology Transfer recognized innovators who have made substantial impact in their respective fields since the office was established These innovators awarded the Innovation Leader awards, have set a higher standard among their colleagues and taking innovation and experiential learning opportunities for their students to new heights
Innovation Leader Awardees
Dr. Viji Sitther, Life Science Innovation Leader
Dr. Kofi Nyarko, Information Science Innovation Leader
Dr. Seong Lee, Physical Science Innovation Leader
Intellectual Property Innovation Awardees
Physical Science Awardee - Tie
Integrated Automated Wheelchair and Adapted Automated Vehicle System
Dr Mansoureh Jeihani Dr Kofi Nyarko Dr Eazaz Sadeghvaziri Dr Anam Ardeshiri
Carbon Nanotube Magnetic Sensor to Monitor Heavy Metals in Water
Dr Dereje Seifu
Information Science Awardee
Detection and Survival Method Against Adversarial Attacks on Automated Systems
Dr Kevin Kornegay, Dr Tsion Yimer, Edmund Smith
Life Science Awardee
Accurate Sickle Cell Detection Method Using Deep Transfer Learning
Dr Md Mahmudur Rahman
Morgan Community Innovator Awardees
Student Innovator of the Year
Samuel Oludayo Alamu
Instructional Innovator of the Year
Dr Kimberly Warren
Staff Innovator of the Year
Maia Maclin
Office of Technology Transfer
Earl S Richardson Library, Suite 207 443 885 1003 technology transfer@morgan edu www morgan edu/technologytransfer
Office of Technology Transfer Team: Wayne Swann, Director
Ray Dizon, Associate Director
Alexa Morris, Senior Manager of Programs
Shamia Boone, Program Specialist
LeQuita Harrison, Administrative Assistant
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | DIVISION OF RESEARCH & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
2022 IOY Winners pictured with Dr Hongtao Yu, Provost & SVP, Dr Willie May, VP of DRED & Wayne Swann, Director of OTT
Dr. Nyarko engaged with a student.