ECU associate professor elected to National Academy of Inventors Senior Members class
An East Carolina University associate professor was elected to the National Academy of Inventors 2020 Senior Members class, the organization announced Aug. 11.
The College of Health and Human Performance’s (HHP) Sharon Rogers Moore became just the second ECU inventor to receive the honor, joining a class of 38 academic inventors across 24 research universities, government offices and nonprofit institutes.
College of Human Health and Performance associate professor Sharon Rogers Moore, right, and engineer Sean Flanagan stand with the Sportscale prototype in Flanagan’s shop in 2015. Moore’s invention records repeated weight assessments of athletes to monitor their hydration, reducing the risk of athlete collapse in extreme heat and humidity. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)
Moore, whose research focuses on improving the health, safety and well-being of athletes, was awarded a patent in 2015 for her prototype scale that provides repeated weight assessments of athletes to monitor their hydration. These measurements led to a novel approach of tracking the health of athletes, reducing the risk of athlete collapse in extreme heat and humidity.
After collaborating with ECU’s Office of Licensing and Commercialization to file her patent, Moore founded Sportscale Inc., launching her product to the general athletic community. An updated release of Sportscale is expected in early 2021.
“I am honored to represent ECU and to be recognized in the company of such accomplished and innovative peers,” Moore said. “This recognition underscores the importance of community partnership, from which my invention and entrepreneurial pursuit was born. This has been a pivotal year for Sportscale and we are especially excited about the next chapter.”
In addition to her work with Sportscale, Moore volunteers her time to advise other faculty members on the obstacles and challenges that face inventors when trying to take a product from idea to launch.
Moore has participated in and supported university and regional entrepreneurship pitch competitions, placing first in the open category of the 2016 Spazz Fest Pitch Competition that highlights Greenville’s entrepreneurial community.
“Dr. Moore’s invention is a wonderful testament to her creativity and problem-solving nature,” HHP Dean Anisa Zvonkovic said. “Sportscale is a good example of what can happen when science and real-world application come together to benefit well-being.”
Class members will be recognized and inducted at the NAI’s annual meeting in June 2021.
Senior members of the NAI include active faculty, scientists and administrators from NAI-member institutions who have developed technology with the potential to provide a positive impact on society. Moore became a member of ECU’s NAI chapter in 2015.
Moore joined ECU in 2007 after serving as a research associate at Duke University. She earned her doctorate in human development from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2005. Moore also holds degrees from the University of South Carolina (M.S., 2002) and the College of William and Mary (B.S., 1999).