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

I N N O V A T I O N W O R K S