Necessity is the mother of invention, and nowhere does that aphorism apply more than in the realm of humans and their physical needs.

That need has inspired Paul Hansma, a UC Santa Barbara biophysicist, to devote decades of his career to developing instruments that can advance medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of some of the most debilitating conditions, thereby improving human health.

“What I find most fascinating and fun about inventing is working with an interdisciplinary team to create really helpful gadgets,” Hansma said.

For his work, which has resulted in fundamental insights into and inventions for conditions such as bone injuries and osteoporosis as well as chronic pain, Hansma has been selected to join the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Hansma, according to the NAI, has “demonstrated a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.” He joins 174 other distinguished academic inventors across the country in this year’s cohort of NAI Fellows.

“I am honored to join distinguished inventors like Stephen Chu, Kumar Wrickamasinghe and Paul Alivisatos as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors,” Hansma said. “I am grateful to the people who nominated me and those who elected me.”