The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, or ASME, has elected professor Cengiz Ozkan as an ASME Fellow in recognition of his “exceptional achievements and contributions” to the engineering profession.

“The Fellow grade is truly a distinction among ASME members,” wrote Thomas Costabile, ASME executive director and CEO, in a letter informing Ozkan of the honor. 

Ozkan, a professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering in the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering, joined UCR in 2001. He received his doctoral degree in materials science and engineering from Stanford University. 

His research interests include the design and synthesis of nanoscale materials for energy storage; nanoelectronics and sensors; bottom-up fabrication of bio-nano systems; fundamental understanding and characterization of electrical and optical properties of nanoscale materials; and nanoscale structure–property relationships. He has over 45 U.S. and foreign patents granted in areas of electrochemical energy storage technologies and nanoelectronics.

“I am deeply honored to have been elected an ASME Fellow,” Ozkan said. “I am delighted that our innovative research at UCR on energy storage, nanomaterials and nanoelectronics is being recognized. I would like to thank my students, my collaborators, and my colleagues for their support.” 

Ozkan has received several other awards and honors. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors and was elected a Fellow of the Materials Research Society. He also received the William Johnson International Founders Award, the John J. Guarrera Engineering Educator of the Year Award, the TUBITAK Presidential Scientific Achievement Award, and the SRC Inventors Award. 

Last year, Ozkan was elected a Member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences, and he

 was honored during the 60th General Assembly of the Turkish academy held recently in Ankara, Turkey. He was one of 19 scientists elected to the academy.