Outstanding Materials Engineers (OMSE)

The title of Outstanding Materials Engineer is conferred by the faculty of the Purdue University School of Materials Engineering, in recognition of excellence in some aspect of the field of Materials Science and Engineering or an affiliated profession as exemplified by leadership and accomplishments.


OMSE Class of 2024

Scott Borcherding

Scott Borcherding

Vice President of Technical Operations, TreeHouse Foods
B.S. MSE '93

For his vast experience in engineering leadership supporting global growth and expansion, management of multiyear capital programs, and leadership of efforts to drive organizational capability and standardization of technical practices.

Dianna Clute

Dianna Clute

New Product Introduction Team Leader, Caterpillar, Inc
B.S. MetE '05

In recognition of her increasing levels of responsibility with Caterpillar, Inc., strong leadership experience, success in launching and managing new products, and delivering significant cost savings, along with her expertise in diesel and natural gas engines and materials science background.

Sharon Miller

Sharon Miller

Assistant Vice Provost, Purdue Indianapolis
B.S. MSE '02

For her proven track record of excellence in interdisciplinary teaching and leadership in developing innovative STEM curriculum. She has had a long term career focus on discipline based educational research in biomedical engineering while being able to draw from her multidisciplinary expertise.

Chad Zamarin

Chad Zamarin

Executive Vice President - Corporate Strategic Development, Williams
B.S. MSE '98

For his proven senior executive with leadership experience across the oil and gas space, including key leadership roles in natural gas pipelines and storage, new energy ventures and renewables, refined products pipelines and terminals, oil and gas production, gathering, processing, commodity marketing, and large-scale LNG liquefaction and export terminals.

Previous Year Award Winners

2023


Savithri Abey

Savithri Abey

Owner, Prosthodontics Of Central Indiana
B.S. MSE '99

In recognition of her contributions in the field of dentistry and dental materials research

Inna Elsner

Inna Elsner

Global Talent Development Program Manager, Seagate Technology
M.S. MetE '92
Ph.D. MSE '95


In recognition of her technical achievements in materials testing for packaging and her leadership in training and enabling a more diverse workforce in the consumer products and tech industry

Brian Gerardot

Brian Gerardot

Professor, Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technology, Heriot-Watt University
B.S. MSE '92

In recognition of his contributions in photonic physics, engineering photonics, and quantum sciences

Aaron Scroggin

Aaron Scroggin

Director, Corporate Quality Network and Advanced Quality Systems Manager, Intel Corp
B.S. MSE '98
M.S. MSE '99


In recognition of his long-term commitment to materials reliability and quality assurance in area of semiconductors

2022


Kayla Calvert

Kayla Calvert

Global Director of Metallurgical Engineering, Titanium Metals Corporation
M.S. MSE '06
B.S. MSE '04


For significant contributions in the research, development, and production of Ti alloys for high-performance applications across industries
Kayla Calvert Award Video

Jon Hilden

Jon Hilden

Associate Engineering Advisor, Eli Lilly & Co.
Ph.D MSE '01
M.S. MSE '98


In recognition of his significant contributions in the production and characterization of materials for pharmaceutical applications.
Jon Hilden Award Video

Jason Jenny

Jason Jenny

Operations Director of Global Operations, Wolfspeed Inc
B.S. MSE '92

In recognition of research, development, and production that has brought advanced wide band gap semiconductors to global markets.
Jason Jenny Award Video

Glenn Teuber

Glenn Teuber

Chief Operating Officer, Alphabet, Inc.
B.S. MSE '02

In recognition of his leadership in developing and growing products and businesses from hardware to connectivity services, enabling improved access and communication around the globe.
Glenn Teuber Award Video

2021


Matthew Kush

Matthew Kush

Manager, Ceramic Matrix Composites Technology Center, Rolls-Royce
B.S. MSE '92

For significant contributions in the research, development, and production of Ti alloys for high performance applications across industries

Tracy Lopes

Tracy Lopes

Head, Flexible Robotics, Johnson & Johnson
B.S. MSE '97

In recognition of her continued combination of leadership within the healthcare industry and her technical achievements in advancing surgical tools using advanced materials

Peter Tortorici

Peter Tortorici

Senior Manager, Medtronic
B.S. MSE '90
M.S. MSE '93
PhD MSE '97


In recognition of his technical achievements in materials reliability for implantable medical devices

2020


Carlotta Arthur

Carlotta Arthur

Director, Program for Women in STEM, The Henry Luce Foundation
B.S. MSE '85

In recognition of her continued contributions to the promotion and support of STEM in higher education and her demonstrated commitment to addressing diversity, equity and inclusion therein

Jacob Jones

Jacob Jones

Professor, North Carolina State University
PhD MSE '04

In recognition of his demonstrated excellence in the area of functional ceramic materials and advanced characterization tools that have impacted the international materials community

2019


Voramon Dheeradhada

Voramon Dheeradhada

Materials Engineer, GE Global Research Latham
M.S. MSE '02
PhD MSE '05


In recognition of her significant contributions in the development of high temperature and structural materials for aerospace and power generation, and additive manufacturing

Alison Park

Alison Park

Integrated Program Manager, Aerojet Rocketdyne
B.S. MSE '99

In recognition of her technical expertise and leadership in advancing materials in challenging aerospace applications using additive manufacturing, materials processing, and project management

Aaron Pedigo

Aaron Pedigo

Integrated Program Manager, Aerojet Rocketdyne
B.S. MSE '06
PhD '11


In recognition of his significant contributions in soldering and interconnect technologies, wire bonded encapsulated microcircuits, and materials analysis of electronic materials

2018


Kevin Lohner

Kevin Lohner

Principal Propulsion Engineer, SpaceX
B.S. MSE '97

In recognition of his significant contributions and more than twenty years of experience in design, development, and test of materials and propulsion components and systems

Bill Jarosinski

Bill Jarosinski

Director, Materials, Praxair Surface Technologies
B.S. MSE '90
M.S. '95


In recognition of his significant contributions with tungsten carbide and chromium carbide materials for improved wear resistance; alloy development for bond coat materials for gas turbine components, and his support and leadership within the Indianapolis Chapter of ASM International.

Jessica Van Dalen

Jessica Van Dalen

Patent Attorney (Partner), Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
B.S. MSE '07

In recognition of her significant contributions in applying her engineering knowledge to the field of intellectual property and patent law as well as for her strong commitment to community service and helping local entrepreneurs through the IP landscape

2017


Dennis Keiser Jr.

Dennis Keiser Jr.

Metallurgical Engineer, Idaho National Laboratory
PhD MSE '92

In recognition of his work in materials reliability and nonproliferation within the nuclear materials field, particularly in the area of materials for nuclear fuels

Janet (Degener) Lumpp

Janet (Degener) Lumpp

Professor; Associate Chair; Director of Undergraduate Studies, Electrical Engineering, University of Kentucky
B.S. MSE '88
M.S. '89


In recognition of her work in the areas of thin film growth and surface modification methods for microelectronics, and her efforts in outreach and education through her activity with the Kentucky Space Grant Program.

Dustin Ruh

Dustin Ruh

Commercial Director, Arconic
B.S. MSE '03

In recognition of his leadership in the high-performance aluminum alloy industry and for his service to the School of Materials Engineering

2016


William Shelley II

William Shelley II

Innovation Manager, RD&I, Wieland North America
B.S. MSE '97
M.S. MSE '99


In recognition of his demonstrated excellence in the areas of transitioning advanced ceramics materials to novel applications; the R&D of piezoelectric actuators for fuel injectors, piezoelectric ceramic composition development, and actuator development as well as design and testing of prototypes and scale up to production.

Yongho Sohn

Yongho Sohn

UCF Pegasus Professor and Lockheed Martin Professor of Engineering
PhD MSE '98

In recognition of his demonstrated excellence in fundamental materials properties measurements and microstructural characterization of advanced materials and nuclear-related systems that directly impacts Materials Genome/Computational Materials Engineering database development, as well as developments for materials in thermal barrier and oxidation resistant coatings for advanced gas turbine applications, ternary Heusler alloys and powder-derived metal-matrix and ceramic-metal structural composites.

Brian Underwood

Brian Underwood

Manager and Owner, Whaleback SBG, LLC
B.S. MSE '88

In recognition of his demonstrated excellence in the entrepreneurship arena and leading innovative approaches to solving industrial and consumer problems in a wide range of industries.

2015


Robert Hull

Robert Hull

Retired Director, Accurate Casting, Inc.
B.S. MSE '65

In recognition of his demonstrated excellence in bringing new casting technologies to industrial practice, and implementing materials manufacturing improvements in iron casting

Frank Cichocki Jr.

Frank Cichocki, Jr.

Engineering Fellow, Ethicon Inc.
B.S. MSE '95
M.S. MSE '97
PhD MSE '00


In recognition of his demonstrated excellence in the areas of new product development, including exploratory research, materials processing and characterization, device development, and product implementation in the medical device industry

Nicholas Medendorp Jr.

Nicholas Medendorp, Jr.

Co-Founder, CEO & Director at UV Innovators
B.S. MSE '93
M.S. MSE '95
PhD MSE '98



In recognition of his demonstrated excellence in product development, engineering, compliance, and advanced technology development for the LED lighting industry

Lisa Veitch

Lisa Veitch

Research Staff Member at IDA New Alexandria
B.S. MSE '86
PhD MSE '89


In recognition of her demonstrated excellence in implementing new materials and processing methods within the aerospace and defense sectors

2014


Timothy McCrea

Timothy McCrea

Corporate Controller, Centurion Industries, Inc.
B.S. MSE '83
PhD MSE '89


In recognition of his demonstrated excellence in the area of steel technology and his dedication and service to the School of Materials Engineering

Janet Sater

Janet Sater

Research Staff Member, Institute for Defense Analyses, Science & Technology Division
M.S. MSE '85
PhD MSE '88


In recognition of her demonstrated excellence in the areas of materials processing and manufacturing, composites, smart/adaptive materials and structures, morphing materials and structures, nastic materials, and biomimetic materials and her dedication to the School of Materials Engineering

Richard Sisson

Richard Sisson

Professor and Director of the Center for Heat Treating Excellence
PhD MSE '75

In recognition of his demonstrated excellence in the areas of diffusion kinetics, modeling, and thermodynamics and his dedication to the School of Materials Engineering

2013


John Barnes

John Barnes

CSIRO Titanium Technologies, Australia
B.S. MSE '92
M.S. MSE '94


In recognition of his demonstrated excellence in the area of titanium processing and his dedication and service to the School of Materials Engineering

Kenneth Blazek

Kenneth Blazek

Principal Research Engineer, ArcelorMittal
B.S. MSE '65
PhD MSE '71


In recognition of his demonstrated excellence in the area of steel processing and his dedication and service to the School of Materials Engineering

Mary Lee Gambone

Mary Lee Gambone

Head, Materials Engineering, Rolls Royce North America
B.S. MSE '74

In recognition of her demonstrated excellence in the area of aerospace technology and her dedication and service to the School of Materials Engineering

2012


Ryan Roeder

Ryan Roeder

Associate Professor, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame University
B.S. MSE '94
PhD MSE '99


In recognition of his demonstrated excellence in the area of biomedical applications of materials and his dedication and service to the School of Materials Engineering

2011


David Bahr

David Bahr

Professor and Head, School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University
B.S. MSE '92
M.S. MSE '93

2010


Mark Petri

Mark Petri

Director of the Electric Power Grid Program, Argonne National Laboratory
PhD MSE '95

2001


Janniah Prasad

Janniah Prasad

Consultant, Product & Process Development, QEM management Associatest
M.S. MSE '64

1999


Rodger Boehm

Rodger Boehm

Board Member, Meritor; Board Member and Advisor to CEO and Executive Team, Ruggable
B.S. MSE '82

Sooho Kim

Sooho Kim

Research Engineer, General Motors Global R & D
M.S. MSE '80

1998


Sheikh Akbar

Sheikh Akbar

Professor, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, The Ohio State University
PhD MSE '85

Kathleen Kansky Giannini

Kathleen Kansky Giannini

Met.E., Manager, Metallurgy and Testing, Ispat Inland, Inc.
B.S. MSE '82
M.S. MSE '83

Lorie Schmidt

Lorie Schmidt

Associate General Counsel, Solid Waste and Emergency Response Law Office, Office of General Counsel, US Environmental Protection Agency
B.S. MSE '81

John Storm

John Storm

President & CEO, Contour Hardening, Inc.
B.S. MSE '77

1997


Steven Ferdon

Steven Ferdon

Met.E., Director of Engineering Technology, Fuel Systems Business, Cummins Inc
B.S. MSE '82

James Karl

James Karl

Met.E., Memory Products Solutions Manager, IBM Microelectronics
B.S. MSE '81

Tresa Pollock

Tresa Pollock

ALCOA Distinguished Professor, Materials Department, College of Engineering, University of California
B.S. MSE '84

V. G. Veeraraghaven
V. G. Veeraraghaven
Met.E., Founder and Director, Kripya Group of Companies
M.S. MSE '73
PhD MSE '76

1996


William Durako

William Durako

Met.E., Retired Materials/Metallurgical Engineer
B.S. MSE '81
Kenneth Sandhage

Kenneth Sandhage

Reilly Professor, School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University
B.S. MSE '81
D. H.R. Sarma

D. H.R. Sarma

Senior Patent Agent and Licensing Manager, Purdue University
M.S. MSE '76
PhD '82
Linda Sarros

Linda Sarros

Met.E., Technical Service Representative, ArcelorMittal
B.S. MSE '77