Feb. 26, 2026
Photo by Yvonne Groner
Praveen Rao, an associate professor in the University of Missouri’s College of Engineering, has been named a National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Senior Member.
Senior members are considered emerging inventors from NAI’s Member Institutions. This year’s class of 230 NAI Senior Members is the largest to date, hailing from 82 NAI member institutions across the globe.
Rao’s research interests are in the areas of scalable artificial intelligence, big data systems, data science, health informatics and cybersecurity. Specifically, he focuses on developing scalable algorithms and software systems to handle data-intensive and AI workloads as well as applying AI techniques for health care and cybersecurity.
“Being selected as an NAI Senior Member is deeply meaningful to me,” Rao said. “Innovation begins when you identify a good problem. I’m fortunate to have worked with dedicated colleagues on research in my career that can drive technological progress and positively impact society. I am especially excited about the work I led at the Air Force Research Laboratory that resulted in two awarded U.S. patents.”
Rao will be formally honored during the Senior Member Induction Ceremony at NAI’s 15th Annual Conference in Los Angeles this summer.
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