DuPont’s Uma Chowdhry honored with Industrial Research Institute’s 2011 Medal
The
Industrial Research Institute (IRI) bestowed its 2011 medal award this
week to Dr. Uma Chowdhry, DuPont’s recently retired senior vice
president and chief science and technology officer emeritus.
The
Medal, established in 1946, recognizes and honors leaders of technology
for their outstanding accomplishments in technological innovation which
contribute broadly to the development of industry and to the benefit of
society. Chowdhry received the medal during IRI’s Annual Meeting for
her unique combination of business and technology management experiences
coupled with her extraordinary leadership contributions to science and
technology.
“Dr.
Chowdhry has been vital in leading DuPont’s global market-driven
technology-based innovations,” said Ed Bernstein, IRI president.
According to DuPont’s executive vice president and chief innovation
officer, Thomas Connelly, “Dr. Chowdhry strengthened the connections
between R&D, marketing, and manufacturing to ensure rapid
development and introduction of new technologies worldwide. Under her
guidance, DuPont introduced the largest number of new products and filed
a record number of patents.”
“I’m
honored to accept this award from an association committed to
technological innovation and one that I have a long standing
relationship with and deep respect for,” Dr. Chowdhry stated.
“Organizations must be committed to innovation, accelerate new
solutions through partnerships and focus on transformation in these
rapidly changing times,” she added.
Dr.
Chowdhry joined DuPont in 1977 as a research scientist, and
subsequently took on various R&D, engineering and business
management responsibilities, leading to her appointment as vice
president of DuPont’s Central Research and Development labs, in 2004. In
June 2006, Chowdhry was appointed to the CSTO position, in which she
had overall responsibility for the company’s global market-driven
technology-based innovations. In this role, she led rapid development
and market introduction of new technologies worldwide. She led the
establishment of a large R&D lab in India and created a global
R&D network of scientists at major labs across DuPont. Dr. Chowdhry
also established several strategic partnerships with government,
academia and corporations worldwide.
Chowdhry
was elected member of the National Academy of Engineering in 1996,
member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2003, and Fellow
of the American Ceramic Society in 1986. She is currently a member of
the Board of Directors of LORD Corporation, the Advisory Board for
Advanced Technology at NIST (National Institute of Standards), and the
visiting committee for the Chemical Engineering Department at Stanford
University. Over the years, she has served on many committees including
those of the National Academies and on various Universities’ industrial
advisory boards. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the
Industrial Research Institute from 2002-2005.
IRI’s 2011 achievement award presented to DuPont’s Richard A. Hayes
IRI
paid tribute this week to Dr. Richard Allen Hayes, DuPont Senior
Technology Fellow, with its prestigious Achievement Award. IRI honored
Hayes for his outstanding inventions of polyacetal resins, modified
polyesters, infrared absorbers and gas separation membranes.
“Throughout
his career, Dr. Hayes has continually contributed to process
improvement technology,” said Edward Bernstein, IRI President.
The
award, established in 1973 and presented to Dr. Hayes at IRI’s Annual
Meeting in Philadelphia, recognizes outstanding accomplishment in
individual creativity and innovation that broadly contributes to the
development of industry and to the benefit of society.
Dr.
Richard Hayes is an inventor on over 100 U.S. patent applications, 69
of which have issued as U.S. patents. “Dr. Hayes is the very example of
how DuPont’s successes are directly linked to the creativity,
innovation, and dedication of our scientists,” noted Doug Muzyka,
DuPont’s vice president and chief science and technology officer. “I
stand with all of his colleagues in congratulating Dr. Hayes on this
honor. He sets an example for all of us.”
Hayes
received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Rice Univ., his Ph.D.
from the Univ. of California, Los Angeles and did postdoctoral studies
at the Univ. of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana until 1984. He then began his
research career with the DuPont Company in the Polymer Products
Department in Wilmington, Del., moving successively to the Engineering
Polymers business in Parkersburg, W.V.; the Packaging & Industrial
Polymers business in LaPorte, Texas; DuPont Central Research &
Development Department in Wilmington, Del.; the DuPont Polyester
Enterprise in Nashville, Tenn.; and currently serves as a senior
research fellow supporting the Packaging & Industrial Polymers
business in Sabine, Texas.
“I
am delighted to receive this award among my peers and from an
association that DuPont has been a member of since 1952,” said Hayes.
“I’m proud to be sharing this celebration with my DuPont colleague, Dr.
Chowdhry.”
SOURCE: Industrial Research Institute
