Statler College professor awarded Academic Pioneer Award from the American Composites Manufacturers Association

Hota GangaRao was presented with the Academic Pioneer Award from members of the American Composites Manufacturers Association committee.

Hota GangaRao, professor in the Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and director of West Virginia University’s Constructed Facilities Center, has been named the 2022 recipient of the Academic Pioneer Award from the American Composites Manufacturers Association.

Story by Brittany Furbee, Communications Specialist
Photos by Paige Nesbit, Director of Marketing

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

GangaRao is only the second recipient of the Academic Pioneer Award, which recognizes individuals in academia with original, visionary and innovative ideas that have been scientifically investigated, tested and demonstrated to advance composites technology. 

“This award is a true reflection of how advanced composites manufacturers through American Manufacturers Association are reaching out to academia and government agencies in advancing laboratory-based research findings to practice in the shortest time possible without sacrificing safety of the end product,” GangaRao said. “I am indeed humbled to have been the recipients of this award and indebted to ACMA for this recognition.”  

GangaRao is a renowned researcher in the composites industry and has received many accolades and awards in his 53-year career at WVU.  

Most recently, GangaRao was part of a team that received the 2019 Delmonte Award for Excellence, presented by the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineers North America, for their development of a patented NextGen Multifunctional Composite System. The composite system also earned GangaRao and his partners the Most Creative Application Award in the design category at the 2018 Composites and Advanced Materials Expo.  

Throughout his career, GangaRao has published over 350 technical papers, published three textbooks, co-authored two textbooks, authored five book chapters, produced 13 patents, been featured on ABC and CNN News as an expert correspondent, received over $1 million a year in external funding for research projects, and helped over 300 students graduate from the Statler College with masters and doctoral degrees by serving as their principal researcher and academic advisor.  

Additionally, GangaRao has testified in front of the United States Congress on several occasions to promote polymer composites for infrastructure applications on behalf of ACMA and American Society of Civil Engineers, just two of the 15 technical and professional organizations in which GangaRao is a member of.  

“Hota is an outstanding researcher and world-authority in composite structural components,” said Vladislav Kecojevic, the Robert E. Murray Chair and professor of mining engineering and Interim Chair of the Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “This award is a recognition of his accomplishments and exemplary work as he continues to pursue exciting research that has been making a significant contribution to the industry.” 

GangaRao was recognized for this achievement during the 2022 ACMA Membership Awards Ceremony on October 17, in Anaheim, California.  

Founded in 1979, ACMA is the world’s largest composites industry trade group of manufacturers, material and equipment suppliers, distributors, academia and end users, and is dedicated to growing the composites market. 

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