Ganpati Ramanath, the John Tod Horton '52 Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), has been named a fellow of the Materials Research Society (MRS) for his nanomaterials research.

MRS fellows are honored for their distinguished research accomplishments and their outstanding contributions to the advancement of materials research worldwide. The maximum number of new fellow appointments each year is limited to 0.2 percent of the current MRS regular membership.

Ramanath focuses his research on developing a fundamental understanding of structure-processing-property relationships in nanomaterials and interfaces for emergent applications in energy and electronics. His discoveries include a new class of thermoelectric nanomaterials built from assemblies of sculpted nanostructures for high-efficiency solid-state refrigeration and electricity harvesting from waste heat, along with nanomolecular layers of "nanoglue" that can join nonsticking materials, inhibit chemical intermixing, and boost thermal and electrical transport.

"This award is highly deserved," said Robert Hull, senior associate vice president for research and director of the Center for Materials, Devices, and Integrated Systems at RPI. "Ramanath's work — from fundamental advances in the design of nanostructures and interfaces, through to the processing and manufacturing of improved thermoelectric material — has made a major impact on the materials field."

"I extend my personal congratulations, along with those of the MRS board of directors, for this significant honor," said Sean Hearne, president of MRS. "The distinction is highly selective. We are fortunate to have received a large number of excellent nominations each year, which always makes the work of the selection committee extraordinarily demanding, but reflects very positively on the fellow program, as well as on MRS."

MRS offers journals, meetings, and outreach in materials science.