Mechanical Engineering Professor Named Director of Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing Research Center

Tampa, Fla. (October 26, 2009) – After a unanimous choice by the search committee, Dr. Ashok Kumar, professor of mechanical engineering, has been named director of Director of Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing Research Center (NNRC), where he has also served as an affiliated faculty member.

“Dr. Kumar has agreed to serve as the center director effective immediately,” said Dr. John Wiencek, dean of the College of Engineering.  “Professor Kumar’s proven track record of growing research quality and quantity while working collaboratively will bode well as the NNRC seeks to move our research efforts in material science and device development forward.”

The emerging field of nanoscience and nanotechnology is leading to a technological revolution in the new millennium.  The application of nanotechnology has enormous potential to greatly influence the world in which we live.  From consumer goods, electronics, computers, information and biotechnology, to aerospace defense, energy, environment, and medicine, all sectors of the economy are to be profoundly impacted by nanotechnology.

“By virtue of their interdisciplinary nature, rapid advances in nanoscale science and technology can only thrive in a collaborative environment in which faculty and students from different disciplines discuss ideas, work together, and share their expertise,” said Dr. Kumar.

The NNRC which serves more than200 student users and 60 faculty members from the College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences has been a major catalyst for numerous inter-disciplinary research endeavors assisting faculty members to win federal competitive research and education grants.  The Nanotech I facility supports the research projects of faculty, graduate students, undergraduates and industrial researchers. For further information please visit http://nnrc.eng.usf.edu.