Texas Tech University professor Seshadri Ramkumar has been selected as the recipient of the 2016 President’s Excellence in Commercialization Award.

Ramkumar, a professor of technical textiles and countermeasures to chemical threats in Texas Tech’s Department of Environmental Toxicology and The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH), is being recognized for his revolutionary contributions to nonwoven materials.

“I am humbled by this honor as it recognizes translational efforts,” Ramkumar says. “Texas Tech has to be applauded for creating many programs to support ‘mind to market research’ and help young students to be entrepreneurs. The next phase of research is all about technology transfer, and Texas Tech is rightfully investing in this effort by involving in programs such as 3 Day Startup, the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps, 1 Million Cups and more.”

Ramkumar’s research focuses on developing value-added materials using nonwovens and nanotechnology. He created FiberTect, a nonwoven decontamination wipe capable of cleaning chemical threat agents, and supervises the Nonwoven and Advanced Materials Laboratory within TIEHH. He is an associate editor for the AATCC Journal of Research published by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. He serves on the editorial boards of many international peer-reviewed journals, such as the Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics.

He has successfully organized many international conferences on advances in fibrous materials in India, promoting bilateral relations in the field of technical textiles between the U.S. and India. He received an honorary fellowship from the world’s largest textile professional society, Textile Association (India), which has more than 22,000 members.

“In an institution the size of Texas Tech, it can be difficult to choose just one person to honor for his or her contributions, but Dr. Ramkumar’s work in nonwoven technology has brought a wealth of positive attention to Texas Tech for the varied research and commercialization efforts being undertaken here,” says John Opperman, interim president of the university. “I am proud to have his level of expertise on our faculty.”

“I am delighted to see professor Ramkumar win the President’s Excellence in Commercialization Award,” says Robert V. Duncan, Texas Tech’s vice president for strategic research initiatives. “Recently he was selected internationally to receive TAPPI’s NET (Nonwovens Engineers and Technologists) Division Technical Achievement Award and the Mark Hollingsworth Prize. The TAPPI NET Division is the world’s leading professional group in the field of nonwoven technology, and the Technical Achievement Award is deemed the highest technical award for the field’s researchers. We are very fortunate to have Dr. Ramkumar on our faculty, and he is very deserving of this Presidential award of excellence.”

Ramkumar received his award during the 2016 Faculty Honors Convocation on April 21 at the university.