Lifetime Achievement Awards honor 3 individuals at ANTEC 2010.

Press Release Summary:



On May 16, SPE will present 3 awards to as many individuals in honor of their lifetime achievements. Dr. L. James Lee will receive International Award for lifetime achievement in plastics engineering, science, or technology; Dr. Murali Rajagopalan will receive Research/Engineering Technology Award for lifetime achievement in plastics research or engineering; and Dr. Sadhan C. Jana will receive Education Award for lifetime achievement in plastics or polymer education.



Original Press Release:



SPE Celebrates Excellence by Honoring Three Leaders in Technology and Education with Lifetime Achievement Awards



ORLANDO, FL, U.S.A.-During ANTEC 2010, the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) will present three of its most prestigious awards to honor the lifetime achievements of three individuals. Presentations will take place at the SPE Celebrates Banquet on Sunday, May 16, 2010.

The honorees are:

Dr. L. James Lee, Ohio State University. He will receive the International Award for lifetime achievement in plastics engineering, science, or technology.

Dr. Murali Rajagopalan, Acushnet Company / Titleist Golf. He will receive the Research/Engineering Technology Award for lifetime achievement in plastics research or engineering.

Dr. Sadhan C. Jana, University of Akron. He will receive the Education Award for lifetime achievement in plastics or polymer education, sponsored by SPE's Detroit section in honor of Fred Schwab, a founding member of SPE.

Dr. L. James Lee is the Helen C. Kurtz Professor and Distinguished Scholar at the Ohio State University. He is internationally known for his work in polymer and composite engineering. During his industrial tenure and early career at OSU, he built strong programs to develop thermoset polymers and composite manufacturing processes. His research in reactive processing, low profile additives, sheet molding compounds, and liquid composite molding is the most comprehensive program in the United States for automotive and infrastructure applications. In 1997, he established the National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Advanced Polymer and Composite Engineering, a university-industry consortium. In 2004, he led 35 OSU faculty and collaborators from a number of universities in the establishment of the prestigious NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center at OSU, the largest polymer nano-manufacturing research program in the U.S. And in 2005, the Center for Multifunctional Polymer Nanomaterials and Devices was founded, with 6 university partners, under his leadership. Dr. Lee has published more than 400 technical papers, serves on the editorial boards of 5 well-known technical journals, and is a Fellow of SPE and of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Dr. Murali Rajagopalan is Director of Materials Research, Golf Ball R&D, at Acushnet Company / Titleist Golf. He studied polymer science at McGill University, then joined BF Goodrich Company as an R&D scientist for Geon Vinyl. There he invented and commercialized heat resistant PVC alloys and blends for HVAC applications and contributed to the commercialization of gamma-sterilizable PVC for medical devices. He moved to Acushnet in 1993, where he has become one of the most prolific inventors of new concepts in golf balls. He developed several new technologies using novel ionomers, reactive blends, and castable polyurethane for various golf ball components. The breadth, quality and sheer quantity of his intellectual work has been vital to Acushnet Company and its growth from $300-million in sales in 1993 to over $1.3-billion in 2007. Dr. Rajagopalan has over 170 U.S. Patents and 50 patent applications pending, most involving developments in golf ball materials and design. He is a Fellow of SPE.

Dr. Sadhan C. Jana is Chair of the Department of Polymer Engineering at the University of Akron. He received a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Northwestern University and worked at the General Electric Corporate Research Center for four years prior to joining the University of Akron in 1998. Dr. Jana has raised $2-million in research funding over the past eleven years, more than 80% of it from federal sources such as the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the US Army Research Center. His current research focus is on shape memory polymer nanocomposites, polymer nanocomposites produced by self-assembly, and polymeric bipolar plates for fuel cells. Dr. Jana led the development of a ten-year strategic plan in 2007 to address national needs in health, environment, alternative energy, and a broadened material base utilizing sustainable resources. Within two years of its execution, new faculty have been hired in the areas of photovoltaics, implant biomaterials, and biosensors and devices. Current faculty research focuses on nanomaterials, solving problems related to alternative energy, the issues of cleaner environment, and work on biological materials for orthopedics and implants. Prof. Jana is author of over 90 articles in peer-reviewed journals and refereed conference proceedings, has applied for ten patents, is a Fellow of the SPE, and is an associate editor of Polymer Engineering & Science.

THE SOCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS (SPE) is the premier source of peer-reviewed technical information for plastics professionals. Founded in 1942, SPE takes action every day to help companies in the plastics industry succeed by spreading knowledge, strengthening skills, and promoting plastics. Employing these vital strategies, SPE has helped the plastics industry thrive for over 60 years. SPE has become the recognized medium of communication among scientists, engineers, and technical personnel engaged in the development, conversion, and application of plastics. For more information, please visit www.4spe.org.

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