Ohio State Senior professor of Mechanical Engineering J. William Rich will be receiving a $3,000 honorarium and a $20,000 grant to continue his research for the next three years.
Rich was one of six faculty members who were honored earler this year with a Distinguished Scholar Award. Winners were nominated by students and colleagues and then selected by a committee of alumni, students, faculty and previous winners. Rich said he plans to use his grant money to support research in non-equilibrium thermodynamics.
After being a member of the OSU faculty for 15 years, Rich earned a bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon, a master’s in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Virginia, and a doctorate and masters from Princeton in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Working with three other professors, three research assistants and 14 honor students, Rich said his work is not only interesting, it is also fun. Rich said all the students come from widely varying backgrounds, adding to the diversity and experience within the lab.
His work in non-equilibrium thermodynamics deals with exciting electrons in the atoms of gases to create new energy. In spite of additional vibrations and energy, the gases remain cool. Neon lighting, new types of gas lasers and supersonic planes all use this type of technology. Rich is a key contributor to the advancement of this technology through the research he has conducted. According to Rich, it is fair to say that OSU is a leader throughout the nation in these types of studies.
The United States Air Force Office of Scientific Research and NASA sponsor Rich’s work in conjunction with the university. Rich also collaborates with other departments within the university, such as the Physics and Material Science to further his research.
Colleague Walter Lempert, a professor of mechanical and chemical engineering, said, “Rich’s willingness to work with new young people hand-in-hand has helped his success.” Lempert has known about Rich’s work for 10 years, and was not expecting to get the chance to work with him so closely at OSU. Lempert describes Rich as a, “Wonderful person.” He said, “His welcoming manner creates a great work atmosphere and contributes to the success of the research in the labs.”
Fellow OSU professor, Vish Subramaniam, was one of the people that helped write Rich’s nomination. Subramaniam calls Rich’s work “landmark” and will be working with him in the future. Subramaniam said he nominated him because, “The work he has done, the work he continues to do, and because of the work he will do in the future.”
Rich was also nominated by colleagues because of his extensive knowledge of history and literature, in addition to his numerous scientific and engineering accomplishments. He is highly respected in his field, not only at OSU, but throughout the nation.
“It is really gratifying to be appreciated by my colleagues and the administration of the university,” Rich said.
