Nikhil Gupta, a professor at the Polytechnic Institute of NYU was a recipient for the Young Leader Professional Development Award from The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society for his work in developing lightweight composite materials for aircraft, marine vessels and automobiles. His recent research aims to develop more effective protective materials that would save passengers in the event of an accident.
The society presented the awards at TMS Division luncheons and council meetings held from March 3 through 7 in San Antonio, Texas. Gupta was one of 20 award recipients.
“TMS has developed this award specifically to help young professionals connect with the leaders of the society and of the materials science field,” Gupta said.
TMS focuses on mineral processing, primary metals production and research on applications of materials.
TMS strategic communications campaign manager Angela Fenwick said TMS’ young leader professional development award program was created to enable young professionals in the technical divisions for future leadership positions.
“[The award program] is designed to help these young leaders become actively engaged in TMS activities through exposure to technical, management and leadership opportunities within the society and through contacts and networking opportunities with TMS leaders and prominent society members,” Fenwick said.
Criteria to receive the Young Leader Professional Award include possessing leadership skills and having an interest in participating in division technical committees.
In addition to doing his own research, Gupta mentors graduate and doctoral students.
“His reputation and his list of published works in the area of polymer composites precede him, and his dedication to and the success of his research is clearly apparent by the continuous support, grants and awards he receives for his research,” said NYU-Poly fourth-year doctoral candidate Ronald Poveda. “Most of all, he is a dedicated adviser who guides his students toward the same success he has experienced in his career as a materials scientist and mechanical engineer.”
NYU-Poly Acting President and Provost Katepalli Sreenivasan stated that Gupta motivates others to progress in science and does this by encouraging young people and the public to understand the important principles that can lead to life-changing technology.
“Whether he is explaining the science behind athletic helmets to 125 million viewers via NBC, helping high school students develop award-winning research during NYU-Poly’s Summer Research Institute or visiting engineering universities throughout India during a lecture tour sponsored by the American Society for Materials and the Indian Institute of Metals, [Gupta] is a resounding voice for education, engineering and NYU-Poly,” Sreenivasan said.
In addition to the TMS award, Gupta is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Visiting Lectureship Award from the American Society for Metals-Indian Institute of Metals in 2007 and 2009, the Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship administered by the American Society of Engineering Education and the Junior Faculty Fellowship at the Othmer Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies at NYU-Poly.
A version of this article was published in the Tuesday, March 12 print edition. Neela Qadir is a deputy university editor. Email her at [email protected].