ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
R&D World names Parans Paranthaman 2026 Researcher of the Year
He will be formally awarded at the R&D 100 Awards Banquet at the Hyatt Scottsdale, AZ on November 19, 2026.
-
Bhavana P - Mon, 17, Aug 2026
- 17:40 EDT
- 37
Parans Paranthaman / R&D World magazine
R&D World magazine has named Indian-American scientist Parans Paranthaman as its 2026 Researcher of the Year, recognizing his contributions to materials science, energy technology and advanced manufacturing.
Paranthaman, a scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and an ORNL Corporate Fellow and UT-Battelle Distinguished Inventor, was honored for his career translating fundamental materials research into technologies with real-world applications.
He joined ORNL in 1993 and has authored more than 500 peer-reviewed publications and holds 65 U.S. patents. From 1999 through 2026, he received 10 R&D 100 Awards for developing materials and processes spanning lithium recovery, battery technology, antiviral coatings, permanent magnets, power electronics and high-temperature superconductors.
Also read: American Marketing Association honors Subroto Roy for AI research
Among his work are technologies to recover rare earth elements from phosphate feedstock, extract lithium from brines and recycled battery materials, produce N95 fabrics and antiviral coatings during the COVID-19 pandemic, and manufacture permanent magnets for electric motors.
Fourteen companies have licensed technologies Paranthaman helped develop, including Samsung Electronics, 3M, American Superconductor and SuperPower. His technologies have been used in areas including electronics, superconducting power systems, coatings and advanced materials.
He is a fellow of several major scientific organizations and has trained nearly 200 students, early-career researchers, teachers and interns. He has also received three DOE Outstanding Mentor Awards.
Paranthaman earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from Madurai Kamaraj University and a doctorate in materials science and solid-state chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. He later conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Colorado Boulder.
The Researcher of the Year recognition is part of R&D World’s annual R&D 100 Professional Awards, which honor individuals for their impact on research, technology and society.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Leave A Comment
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login