Month: November 2016

Dr. Douglas Hirt has been named associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. Dr. Hirt has served in an interim capacity since February of this year. With his experience as a faculty member, researcher and administrator, Dr. Hirt is well positioned to advance the research enterprise of the college. He has been a member of the faculty in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering for more than 25 years and has served as department chair from 2009 until he assumed the interim associate dean’s role earlier this year. He was also director of the Clemson-based NSF Engineering Research Center for Advanced Engineering Fibers and Films.

Dr. Hirt’s research focuses on the surface modification of polymer films and fibers. He is a fellow of the Society of Plastics Engineers. As associate dean Dr. Hirt’s two primary areas responsibility are supporting faculty as they seek and receive extramural funding and supporting the work of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

Dr. Amod Ogale received the plaque for Graffin Lecturer Award at the 2016 World Carbon Conference. The award was presented to Dr. Ogale by Dr. Rodney Taylor, Chairman of the American Carbon Society.

Each year the American Carbon Society selects a lecturer who has made distinguished contributions to carbon science and engineering. The lecture is available to North American colleges, universities, and industry by arrangement with the lecturer. The award is named after George D. Graffin, a former employee of Asbury Graphite Mills, Inc., who had an excellent understanding of carbon and graphite technology and therefore a profound influence on the industry.

The W. David Smith, Jr. Graduate Publication Award was given to Professor Joseph Scott. This award is given by the AIChE Computing and Systems Technology (CAST) Division to recognize a PhD publication that has had a lasting impact on the field.

The award is typically given to people less than five years after receiving their  PhD. It recognizes an individual for published work on the application of computing and systems technology to chemical engineering. The work must have been done by the individual while pursuing graduate or undergraduate studies. It was awarded to Dr. Scott for his paper titled “Generalized McCormick Relaxations” in the Journal of Global Optimization. This paper also won the inaugural Best Paper Award for the Journal of Global Optimization in 2012.