Western Engineering News | April 11, 2012
Watch a video of the award presentation.
It is easy to earn a great reputation as a researcher when you have great graduate students working in the lab alongside you, says Ajay Ray.
Ray, chair of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Western, feels the role of a graduate supervisor is not to micro-manage, but to mentor students so they are encouraged to give their best.
He is an internationally renowned and respected researcher in the area of chemical reaction engineering and process systems engineering. He has made influential contributions in the fields of photocatalysis and photocatalytic reactor design, process modeling, simulation and multi-objective optimization of chemical reactions and processes, and in design and development of simulated moving bed systems.
It is due to his success and reputation in the lab Ray was named the 2011 recipient of the Western Engineering Prize for Achievement in Research.
“I believe this award is more of a recognition of my students,” Ray said, humbly. “You look good because they make you look good.”
Ray takes pride in cultivating an average student into a better academic, including developing some leadership skills along the way. “I give them complete freedom,” he said.
“I believe they have to like what they do. It’s a lifelong relationship,” he explains. “It gives me so much pleasure.”
He adopts an open-door policy, inviting students to share personal and professional issues. “Creativity will come when there is comfort,” he explains.
Ray publishes in high-quality research journals. His citations are in excess of 3,000 – a point he is proud of – with an average of 350 citations in each of the last five years and with an ‘H’ citation index of 30. He has one patent, published a textbook, four book chapters, 135 publications in refereed journals, 45 papers in refereed conference proceedings and a large number of other conference papers and other publications.
In addition, Ray has supervised over 35 PhD and master’s students and is currently supervising 11 graduate students.
“I don’t like to work on a project for long; you get bored,” he notes. “I do things for different applications.
“When your fundamentals are strong, you can do other work,” he continues.
He has also secured a large amount of research funding. In 2011, he received an NSERC Discovery grant, which was one of the three largest NSERC discovery grants awarded at Western University.
In recognition of his accomplishments, Ray has received a number of awards, including several international recognitions. As well, he serves on the editorial boards of many international journals.
Ray has actively collaborated with Trojan Technologies to develop a research program related to water treatment and quality. He championed the establishment of a Trojan Technologies Western Chair in Water Quality and as a result of this collaboration, one of his laboratories in the Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion is designated as a Trojan Technologies laboratory.
“His record of accomplishment is incredibly rich, and it is a clear testimony to the success of one of the most dedicated, talented and effective university professors that I have ever met,” said Jesse Zhu, Chemical and Biochemical professor, in his nomination letter.
“Dr. Ray has demonstrated an outstanding ability to excel in his many areas of responsibility, as a very effective educator, contributor to the supply of highly qualified engineers to the society, as a creative and innovative researcher, and as a committed, energetic and a successful farsighted leader.”
The Engineering Prize for Achievement in Research is presented annually to recognize the outstanding research contributions of a faculty member in Western Engineering. Ray will be presented with the award at the Annual Faculty and Staff Awards Banquet, to be held Thursday, May 17 at Great Hall, Somerville House. For more information, please contact Sue Chapman.
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Contact
.: Allison Stevenson
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T: .519.850.2917
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