The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) elected Dr. Ali Erdemir among its latest class of fellows.
Erdemir serves as the Halliburton Chair in Engineering Professor in the J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. He is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
The rank of fellow is the highest awarded by the NAI and honors academic inventors who have made great innovations in the creation or facilitation of outstanding inventions with a quantifiable contribution to society.
Erdemir said his ability to combine creative thinking with a practical working model is among the most important traits he has displayed throughout his career, contributing to his receipt of 35 granted U.S. patents and six R&D-100 Awards.
He said he is honored to be recognized among his peer fellows, whose collective creativity have made significant positive impacts on the lives of many around the world.
"Being recognized for your creativity is certainly a great feeling," Erdemir said. "Becoming a fellow the National Academy of Inventors is perhaps the most significant recognition of someone’s creativity and inventorship."
Erdemir’s research focuses on the areas of tribology and surface engineering to develop new materials, coatings and lubricants for a broad range of applications, ranging from electric vehicles to environmental sustainability. A few of his notable research topics include the celebrated development of a nearly frictionless carbon film and a coating capable of converting lubricant molecules into an ultra-durable carbon tribofilm. His current work involves the upcycling of plastic waste into new materials, coatings and lubricants.
He will be inducted alongside his peers at the NAI's 12th anniversary annual meeting set for June in Washington, D.C.