Bart Raeymaekers named a fellow of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers

Bart Raeymaekers, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been named a fellow of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE).

The STLE Fellow award identifies “persons of outstanding personal achievement in the field of tribology or lubrication engineering who have 20 years of active practice in the science and/or engineering professions and have been an STLE member for 10 years,” according to the award description. Fewer than 200 individuals hold the title globally.

Tribology is the field of engineering that studies the interactions between surfaces in relative motion, including friction, wear, and lubrication. Advances in tribology are critical to improving the efficiency, durability, and performance of mechanical systems across industries.

Raeymaekers is an internationally recognized expert in the field, with an extensive body of work that spans surface engineering, contact mechanics, and advanced manufacturing. His research has been widely published and cited, and he has contributed to fundamental understanding and practical innovation in the field.

He is also the editor-in-chief of Tribology Transactions, STLE’s flagship journal. In 2022 he joined Virginia Tech, where he directs the Manufacturing and Tribology Laboratory, and he recently took a leadership role in Virginia Tech Made: Center for Advanced Manufacturing.

Brian Lattimer, department head and Nicholas and Rebecca Des Champs Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, commented on the honor.

“We are fortunate to have an expert like Dr. Raeymaekers on our team,” Lattimer said. “Especially as we have grown the advanced manufacturing team, he has been critical not only for his experience but also his leadership. It is tremendous to see him recognized as fellow of STLE by his peers, further demonstrating him as a top leader and expert in his field.”