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Dr. Ali Erdemir
Dr. Ali Erdemir will be recognized at the 2024 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Annual Meeting. | Image: Texas A&M Engineering

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is awarding Dr. Ali Erdemir with an honorary membership, a distinction recognizing a lifetime of service to engineering.

Erdemir serves as Halliburton Chair in Engineering Professor in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University.

He was elected a fellow of ASME in 2010 and was the ASME Mayo D. Hersey Award recipient in 2015. Erdemir said this latest honor from the organization reflects his distinguished and pioneering contributions to mechanical engineering.

“Being selected for a lifetime of contributions to the mechanical engineering profession is a great honor that I will cherish immensely,” said Erdemir. “I hope this honor will help further uplift the reputation of our mechanical engineering department and our university as a premier educational institution in Texas. I am truly indebted to my peers, research collaborators and students for their inspiration and support all these years. This honor is also a testament to the impactful work we have done together all these years. Most importantly, I thank my nominators who felt that I was worthy of this recognition.”

Erdemir has made great strides in advancing the fields of tribology and surface engineering. His research over the years has focused on developing new materials, coatings and lubricants that can be utilized in a wide range of applications, including those related to electric vehicles and environmental sustainability. Some of his most notable research projects involve the creation of a nearly frictionless carbon film and a coating that can convert lubricant molecules into a highly durable carbon tribofilm. Currently, Erdemir's research is focused on the upcycling of plastic waste to create new materials, coatings and lubricants that can be used to reduce waste and promote sustainability.

He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, the World Academy of Ceramics and The Science Academy — Turkey, a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and an honorary member of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers.

The ASME honorary membership was established in 1880 with the founding of the organization. It is only awarded to up to five members annually and has honored less than 450 members. Erdemir will be formally recognized next year at the 2024 ASME Annual Meeting.