Mechanical professor honored with IEEE Biedenbach Outstanding Engineering Educator Award
Published: Jun 8, 2020 10:00 AM
By Jeremy Henderson
Pradeep Lall, the John and Anne MacFarlane Endowed Distinguished Professor of mechanical engineering, is the recipient of the IEEE Region 3 Biedenbach Outstanding Engineering Educator Award for 2020, which recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to the electrotechnology profession through teaching in industry, government or in an institution of higher learning.
Lall, director of the National Science Foundation Center for Advanced Vehicle and Extreme Environment Electronics (CAVE3), was recognized for his contributions to education in the field of additively printed electronics manufacturing and reliability for harsh environment operation.
“Dr. Lall is a world-renowned expert, researcher and teacher in the field of electronics,” said Jeff Suhling, Quina Endowed Professor and chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. “I am delighted to see him recognized with the IEEE Biedenbach Award.”
Lall says that one of his professional motivations is to demystify certain aspects of additively printed electronics and harsh environment electronics.
“Through my publications and courses, I try to make the subject more accessible to a wider audience, from high schoolers to practicing engineers,” said Lall, who has been the principal investigator on a number of research initiatives focused on those topics. “The topic of harsh environment electronics has implications in a number of industries including automotive, downhole and defense. The use of additive technologies provides pathways for faster time-to-market and productization of ideas and intellectual property.”
A significant portion of Lall’s research includes partnerships for workforce development. Accordingly, Lall has engaged high school teachers in sponsored research programs that expose students to additive electronics manufacturing at the K-12 level. He has engaged undergraduate students in Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs and generally advises a number of undergraduate students working on research projects on a regular basis.
In his role as director of CAVE3, Lall leads research projects in harsh environment electronics while interfacing with companies and government agencies that fund the center’s research. He leads a sizable team of graduate students in working on a wide range of programs with significant implications in the electronics sector of the nation’s growing additive manufacturing industry.
Lall was part of the founding proposal team for the NextFlex National Manufacturing Institute, which aims to renew and maintain the national focus of flexible electronics manufacturing; Auburn University is a tier-1 academic member of NextFlex. Lall also sits on the Technical Council and Governing Council of the NextFlex National Manufacturing Institute, as well as serves as the academic co-lead for the Asset and Situational Awareness Technical Working Group in NextFlex.
He was named a NextFlex Fellow in 2019.
“Dr. Lall has created a world-class research program in additively printed-electronics manufacturing at Auburn University,” said Christopher B. Roberts, dean of engineering. “This award adds to the recognition of the impact that he has made at the national level.”
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