Wayne State Engineering Professor Wins NASF Award
DETROIT -- Yinlun Huang, professor of chemical engineering and materials science in Wayne State University's College of Engineering, has been awarded the 2013 National Association for Surface Furnishing's Scientific Achievement Award.
The NASF presents the award annually to "an individual who greatly contributes to the advancement of the theory and practice of electroplating, metal finishing and the allied arts; raises the quality of processes and products; and has enhanced the dignity and status of the profession."
Huang received the award -- presented during the 95th annual SUR/FIN Conference in Illinois -- for his key theoretical contributions to the surface finishing industry. Specifically, he was recognized for his novel theories and methodologies, which, "establish a fundamental basis for proactive process waste minimization in electroplating lines; help solve large-scale hazardous/toxic chemical focused source reduction in a diverse industrial zone where supply chain management is a key; integrate technologies that can maximize the economic, environmental and social sustainability performance in metal finishing plants; and, possibly for the first time, evaluate the pathways for the electroplating industry for its sustainable development, through synergistically working with other manufacturing sectors."
Huang was also recognized for his professional leadership experience with the American Electroplating and Surface Finishing (AESF) Foundation, his extensive list of journal articles and book publications, and his efforts in technology development, which resulted in 12 technologies developed since 2000.
He has received many honors, including the American Institute of Chemical Engineers' Research Excellence in Sustainable Engineering Award in 2010 and the Michigan Green Chemistry Governor's Award in 2009, which honored his research on engineering sustainability with successful industrial applications. In 2008, he was designated a Fulbright Scholar by the U.S. Department of State.
"On behalf of the entire Wayne State University College of Engineering community, I congratulate Dr. Huang on this prestigious award," said College of Engineering Dean Farshad Fotouhi. "New materials and advanced manufacturing is a major area of focus for the college, and Dr. Huang's innovative work and expertise will continue to have significant implications on industry and in academia -- most notably, perhaps, in the lives of our students -- for many years to come."
Huang is currently serving as director for the National Science Foundation RCN-SEES project on sustainable manufacturing, which involves 21 domestic and foreign universities and 11 national organizations and university centers.
Huang obtained his bachelor's in chemical engineering from Zhejiang University, China, in 1982, and his master's and doctorate in chemical engineering from Kansas State University in 1988 and 1992, respectively. He joined Wayne State in 1993 following a postdoctoral study at the University of Texas at Austin.
