Virginia Tech's mining and minerals engineering department attends the 2025 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Conference and Expo

Each year, the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) brings together dedicated professionals from the mining and minerals industry at the annual MINEXCHANGE Conference and Expo. With a global membership of over 14,000, SME fosters connections among mining experts committed to advancing safety, environmental stewardship, and industry innovation. MINEXCHANGE is a celebration of the industry's achievements, honoring the remarkable innovators, leaders, and experts in mining.

This year's conference and expo took place in Denver, Colorado, where the Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering at Virginia Tech sent 42 students and faculty to participate. They had the opportunity to engage with over 70 Virginia Tech alumni now working as professionals in the field, along with other industry peers.

Rohit Pandey, assistant professor of mining and minerals engineering, received the 2025 J.W. Woomer Young Engineer Award by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration’s Coal and Energy Division. Established by the Coal and Energy Division as the Coal Young Engineer Award in 1975, this award recognizes the engineering excellence and professionalism of young professionals in the coal industry.

Pandey currently teaches courses in mine water engineering, ventilation engineering, and rock mechanics, and is deeply committed to mentoring students in research and career development. Before coming to Virginia Tech, he spent time in the industry, serving as a mining engineer with Nevada Gold Mines and Peabody Energy, leading projects that improved operation safety, productivity, and profitability. 

“I feel incredibly honored and humbled to receive the J.W. Woomer Young Engineer Award,” said Pandey. “This recognition would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my advisors, mentors, and peers. It motivates me to continue developing and implementing technologies that enable safer and more efficient workplaces in our industry, and to dedicate myself to training and mentoring the next generation of industry leaders. This award reflects not just my efforts, but the remarkable people around me from whom I continue to learn every day.”

Aaron Noble, Head of the Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering, understands the honor of this recognition; he was the recipient of the 2018 J.W. Woomer Young Engineer Award.

“The J.W. Woomer Award recognizes exceptional young professionals who are rising stars in our field. I am delighted to see that Dr. Pandey received this prestigious award this year,” Noble said. “He is a skilled researcher and passionate teacher, who is well deserving of this accolade. We are thankful to the Coal and Energy Division and to SME for providing such a platform for professional recognition.”

Virginia Tech mining and minerals engineering students showcased their research at the expo and earned prestigious honors and scholarships. These awards will support their educational journey as they work toward a promising future in the mining industry.

Full list of Virginia Tech 2025 SME award recipients:

• Rohit Pandey: J.W. Woomer Young Engineer Award
• Mohit Gupta: MPD Rong Yu Wan Ph.D. Dissertation Scholarship
• Jesse Addy: Syd S. and Felicia F. Peng Ground Control In Mining Scholarship
• Cemile Dilara Bag: Environmental Division & Veolia Water Technologies Scholarship
• Cemile Dilara Bag: WAIMEE Scholarship
• Abduljeleel Ajibona: Dr. Jessica Elzea Kogel Mining Health & Safety Scholarship
• Abduljeleel Ajibona: Syd S. and Felicia F. Peng Ground Control Scholarship 
• Abduljeleel Ajibona: 4th Place, 2025 SME Graduate Student Research Poster Contest
• James Frimpong: Syd S. and Felicia F. Peng Ground Control Scholarship
• Kathleen Troy: MPD Richard Klimpel Memorial Scholarship
• Kathleen Troy: MMSA-SMEF Presidential Scholarship
• Colby McGrady: J.H. Fletcher & Co. Scholarship
• Cigdem Keles (former senior research associate): Health and Safety Division Award for Research and Educational Excellence 

Additionally, Virginia Tech achieved nearly a clean sweep at the Mineral & Metallurgical Processing Division (MPD) Plenary Session of SME. Three outstanding Virginia Tech alumni were honored with the prestigious Antoine M. Gaudin, Robert H. Richards, and Milton E. Wadsworth awards. The recipients were invited to deliver lectures, highlighting their significant contributions to the field and showcasing the excellence and innovation fostered at Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech alumni award recipients:

• Zhenghe Xu ‘90 received the Antoine M. Gaudin Award for his advances in the science of hydrophobic interactions and applications in minerals processing.
• Jaisen Kohmuench ‘95, ‘97, ‘00 received the Robert H. Richards Award for his contributions toward advancing the state-of-the-art in fine and ultrafine particle separation technologies that have been commercially successful and used in processing operations worldwide.
• Mohit Gupta ‘24 received the Rong Yu Wan PhD Dissertation Award for his outstanding doctoral research and dissertation, “Modelling Flotation from First Principles using the Hydrophobic Force as a Kinetic Parameter.”