Recipient: 1999 Structural Materials Division Distinguished Scientist/Engineer Award

Reza Abbaschian

Citation: "For his outstanding scientific and technical contributions in solidification and processing of composites, leadership in MSE education, and service to the Society."

Biography: Reza Abbaschian is a professor and chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Florida. He earned his B.S. in mining engineering at the University of Tehran in 1965, his M.S. in metallurgical engineering at Michigan Technological University in 1968, and his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at the University of California at Berkeley in 1971. Before joining the University of Florida in 1981, he was a member of the faculty at Pahlavi University, Iran, a visiting associate professor at the University of Illinois, and a visiting scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Abbaschian has been active in several national educational and professional organizations, including the National Materials Advisory Board, NASA Space Station Users Advisory Committee, and the National Science Foundation Materials Research Advisory Committee. He is a trustee of the Federation of Materials Society, a past member of the TMS Board of Directors, and a past chair of the University Materials Council. He has served or chaired numerous panels and committees such as the National Science Foundation panel for education in materials science and engineering. He is one of the authors of the National Agenda in Materials Science and Engineering prepared for the Office of Scientific Technology and Policy and the National Research Council.