The University of South Brittany (UBS) in France awarded Dr. Jaime Grunlan, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University, its esteemed honorary doctorate degree – an honor associated with great distinction.
Officially established in France in 1918, the honorary doctorate – also referred to as doctorate honoris causa – is considered among the most prestigious distinctions awarded by French universities to foreign academics who have made a significant contribution to their respective field.
The ceremony took place June 26 in Lorient, France, along with the university's Ph.D. awards ceremony.
"I simply cannot believe I'm getting something like this at my age," Grunlan said. "The doctorate honoris causa means more than I can say. I know a number of French academics who have told me this is very rare."
According to a letter from UBS President Jean Peeters announcing the award, Grunlan was selected for the honor based on his renown as well as his collaborations with university researchers in the field of nanoconducting polymeric composites.
For more than a decade Grunlan has collaborated with UBS faculty member and fellow polymer nanocomposites expert Jean-Francois Feller. Grunlan and Feller have published numerous papers together since 2005 on the topic of polymer composite sensors/electronics.