Faculty News and Notes
Clemson professor recognized by American Ceramic Society
Denis A. Brosnan, a professor of material science and  engineering at Clemson University, received the John Jeppson Award from American Ceramic Society (ACerS). The John Jeppson Award recognizes distinguished scientific, technical or engineering achievements in ceramics
Brosnan is director of the National Brick Research Center, ACerS Fellow and member of the Structural Clay Products and Refractory Ceramics Division. Brosnan received degrees in ceramic engineering from Iowa State University and Clemson University. He holds 11 U.S. patents including one that dramatically changed the field of restorative dental materials. He is currently researching manufacturing and environmental concerns in clay bricks and restoration of historic masonry buildings.
LaBerge elected to head Society for Biomaterials
Clemson bioengineering professor and department chairwoman Martine LaBerge has been elected president of the leading professional society in the biomaterials/bioengineering field, the Society for Biomaterials (SFB), which comprises more than 1,000 members from academics, industry, government and clinics.
As SFB president, LaBerge supervises and controls the business and affairs of the corporation and chairs the meetings committee and the board of directors.
“It is a great honor to lead the SFB. Clemson University has played a pivotal role in the establishment of the society. I am proud to carry the torch that my predecessors have passed to me,” she said.
LaBerge joined the Clemson faculty in 1990 and has served as head of bioengineering since 2004. Her research expertise is focused on the evaluation and characterization of natural and artificial surfaces used in the design of implants for orthopaedic and vascular applications.
A fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, she also is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society for Engineering Education, the Biomedical Engineering Society and the Orthopaedic Research Society. The Clemson University President’s Commission on the Status of Women presented her with its 2001 Outstanding Woman Faculty award, recognizing her as an exceptional teacher, mentor and role model for all students, especially potential women engineers.
Smith receives Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Dennis W. Smith, Clemson professor of organic  chemistry, has been recognized with the 2007 Outstanding Young Alumni award by his alma mater, Missouri State University. This honor recognizes graduates of Missouri State University for extraordinary achievement in their personal and professional endeavors. Because of his career accomplishments, the MSU Board of Trustees honored Smith with one of the highest awards given by the university. Since the inception of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 1985, only 25 individuals have received this recognition.
Smith, Jr. received his BS in chemistry from Missouri State University in 1988. He received his PhD in chemistry from the University of Florida in 1992. Smith joined The Dow Chemical Company Central Research Laboratory as Sr. Research Chemist (1993), and was later promoted to Project Leader (1996) working primarily on the synthesis and characterization of high performance thermosets for thin film microelectronics applications. He was a recipient of the 1997 Dow Chemical Central Research Inventor of the Year Award before joining Clemson in 1998, where he is currently a professor of organic chemistry.
Smith is a founding member and associate director of Clemson’s Center for Optical Materials Science & Engineering Technologies (COMSET). He has also served the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry as Councilor, Founder and Organizer of the international conference, Fluoropolymer 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006. In 2006 he was elected Vice Chair of the Polymer Division. He is the current American Editor of the journal, Polymer Bulletin, and serves on the editorial board for High Performance Polymers, Polymers for Advanced Technology.
Yang named DuPont Young Professor
Yanru Yang, assistant professor in environmental engineering and science at Clemson University, was named a DuPont Young Professor by the DuPont Fellows Forum. Yang is now a member of the 40th class of DuPont Young Professors.
The award was created 40 years ago, and more than 500 young professors have received the recognition. In total, more than $42 million in grants have been awarded to these professors around the world.
Yang will receive a grant of $25,000 per year for three years and is invited to meet with members of the DuPont Fellows Forum to present her work in a seminar. She may use the grant money to obtain matching funds through the National Science Foundation or other organizations.
Yang received her doctorate in environmental engineering from Tsinghua University (China) in 1996. She is focused on environmental biotechnology with a particular interest in microorganisms relevant to the degradation of hazardous substances and treatment of water and waste.
The DuPont Young Professors program was designed to provide unrestricted startup assistance to promising young professors. |
