National inventors group recognizes UC provost

National inventors group recognizes UC provost

Chemical engineer is named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors

The National Academy of Inventors on Thursday named the interim provost of the University of Cincinnati to its 2025 class of fellows.

It's the highest professional honor awarded exclusively to inventors.

John Weidner, PhD, is a chemical engineer and former dean of UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science. He was appointed interim provost earlier this year and serves as executive vice president for academic affairs.

John Weidner, UC Interim Provost

The National Academy of Inventors recognized UC in its 2024 list of the top 100 U.S. universities granted utility patents in the United States. The list celebrates innovation and invention in the United States.

"It is a measure of how we work on problems that matter," Weidner said.

Weidner studied chemical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned a doctorate from North Carolina State University. His research examines cost-effective electrochemical techniques for producing hydrogen.

In 2015 he obtained the first of three patents to produce hydrogen electrochemically while conducting research with Westinghouse at the University of South Carolina. He applied his expertise in mathematical modeling to demonstrate how the process works and isolate its variables.

"The fun part is how we solve the engineering challenges to make people interested in this patent," Weidner said. "If you can fundamentally understand how the system operates, you can build a mathematical model with the underlying physics. And your model can help you identify and solve the limitations and challenges."

Hydrogen is perhaps best known as an element in water. But in molecular form, it's in high demand for industrial uses, ranging from energy to manufacturing.

"There's a range of industrial applications for molecular hydrogen. Not only can hydrogen be stored and used to make electricity, similar to a battery, but it's also a feedstock for other chemical processes like ammonia production, a precursor for fertilizer," Weidner said.

UC Assistant Vice President for Technology Transfer Geoffrey Pinski nominated Weidner for the honor.

"John's pioneering work in large-scale hydrogen production and fuel cells is a powerful example of the kind of impact UC researchers can achieve when we work closely together," Pinski said.

"His innovations are advancing clean energy and showing how university research can drive economic growth through new funding opportunities and job creation. This is exactly the type of partnership and momentum we aim to support across the university."

UC Interim Provost John Weidner talks about UC's research with WCPO. Photo/Michael Miller

Weidner was appointed dean of UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science in 2019. While serving as its dean, the college saw its enrollment grow by 14% and receive a record $50 million in research grants in the last fiscal year.

Weidner presided over the opening of UC's new Bioscience Center in 2023 and steered collaborations with UC's Digital Futures and 1819 Innovation Hub in the Cincinnati Innovation District.

Weidner said he never set out to be an inventor.

"I'm curious about how things work. But as an engineer, we ask, 'What problem does this solve for society and how can it help us economically?'" he said.

Featured image at top: UC Interim Provost John Weidner poses in front of a Chem 150 display for UC Chemistry's 150th anniversary this year. Weidner was named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors for his innovative work in producing hydrogen. Photo/Michael Miller

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