Mahendra Singh receives Distinguished Alumnus Award from Indian Institute of Technology

27 Nov 2013

Mahendra Singh, the Preston Wade Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Virginia Tech , has received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Indian Institute of Technology at Roorkee, India.

In making the award, IIT credited Singh with his international reputation in earthquake engineering, random vibrations, composite structures, performance based seismic design, and health monitoring of civil infrastructure elements such as buildings and bridge structures.

His work appears in more than 250 publications, including international journals, conference and workshop proceedings, and technical reports. More than 12 international companies have adopted some of his research findings. Singh has made over 50 invited and keynote presentations in countries around the globe including U.S., India, China, Japan, Italy, Greece, Brazil, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

IIT Roorkee, formerly the University of Roorkee and the Thomason College of Civil Engineering, is the first engineering college of India, established more than 160 years ago in 1847.

Singh is a two-time graduate of the Roorkee institute, receiving his bachelor's degree and master's degree in civil and in structural engineering in 1962 and in 1966, respectively. He earned his doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Illinois in 1972.

During his career, Singh's research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Army Corps of Engineers.

A member of the Virginia Tech engineering faculty since 1977, Singh has also served as: the director of the Program of Architectural and Mechanical Systems for the NSF; as the director of NSF's Program of Structural Systems and Hazard Mitigation of Structures; a visiting lecturer at the University of Chicago; a visiting scientist for Lawrence Livermore Laboratory; and a senior scientist and supervisor for Sargent and Lundy of Chicago.

He has received several national awards, including the 1998 Markwardt Wood Engineering Award for the best journal paper from the Forest Product Society, the 1996 George G. Marra Award from the Society of Wood Science and Technology, and the 1992 Robert J. McGratten Literature Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Pressure Vessels and Piping Division.

"This honor reflects well on the engineering science and mechanics department, the college of engineering, and the university. We are all very pleased with this recognition of Professor Singh's accomplishments and I feel privileged to have him as a colleague," said Scott Case, professor and interim department head.