Kyle Brinkman lauded for research achievements and service to profession

A Clemson University professor who has advanced research into batteries, fuel cells and nuclear waste management will be honored by his peers in February for his research achievements and service to his profession.

Kyle Brinkman, the chair of Clemson’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, will be recognized as a Brimacombe Medalist by The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS).

Colleagues who supported his nomination lauded him as an innovative scholar who has made important contributions to materials science and engineering, while serving his professional community and mentoring young professionals and students.

Brinkman said he is honored to accept the award.

“I thank my nominators and my colleagues at Clemson for making this honor possible,” he said. “It feels wonderful to have my hard work validated and to be placed in the same category as many of our profession’s leading scholars.”

Brinkman will be presented with the award in San Diego on Feb. 26 during the society’s 149th annual meeting and exhibition.

The award helps Clemson spread the word about its excellence in materials science and engineering, fueling efforts to recruit top faculty, students and research collaborators.

Previous Brimacombe Medalists have included leading professors and researchers from universities, industry and national laboratories.

The award honors mid-career individuals with “sustained excellence and achievement in business, technology, education, public policy, or science related to materials science and engineering and with a record of continuing service to the profession,” according to the society.

Brinkman was chosen “for advances gained by working at the ‘interface’ between disciplines, including solid state ionics for fuel cells/batteries and ceramics for nuclear fuels and waste immobilization.”

For Brinkman, the medal is the latest in a series of awards, including two others from TMS. He won the Young Leader International Scholar Award in 2015 and the Young Leader Professional Development Award in 2010.