Raj N. Singh-2023 Rishi Raj Medal Awardee

Dr. Raj N. Singh is a Regents Professor at the Oklahoma State University (OSU), USA where he also served as the founding Head of School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). He obtained his Sc.D. degree in Ceramics from M.I.T. He worked at Argonne National Laboratory, GE-R&D Center, and University of Cincinnati (UC) prior to his current position.

Dr. Raj Singh is a world expert on ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and has demonstrated innate ability to invent new materials and their novel processing. He has made seminal and transformative scientific and technological contributions to the field of CMCs and their applications in jet engines. He pioneered development of the patented melt-infiltration (MI) process technology for making fully-dense, net-shape and damage-tolerant silicon carbide fiber-reinforced CMCs. This game-changing, unique, and inherently simple MI process has led to their widespread use and commercialization by GE-Aviation since 2016 and accumulated > 20 million flight hours in LEAP engines for Airbus, Boeing and COMAC aircrafts. These are world’s first commercial jet engines with CMCs used as structural turbine components for reducing weight, enhancing engine efficiency, offering societal benefits through reduced CO₂/NOx emissions, and creating multibillion dollar new businesses because of Dr. Singh’s pioneering inventions.

He is Fellow members of the National Academy of Inventors, the American Ceramic Society, the ASM International, and the Graduate School at UC. He has received many awards such as most recent Rishi Raj Medal of the ACerS, Regents Professor (OSU), Williams Chair (OSU), Albert Sauveur Award (ASM), GE-Awards of Whitney Gallery of Technical Achievers for MI-CMC Technology, Publications, Bronze-Silver-Gold-Patent Medallions, and distinguished service awards from universities, industry, and national laboratory organizations. He made scientific and technological contributions through 350 research articles, 27 granted patents, and books in the fields of CMCs, diamond films, BNNT, electrolyte retainer for MCFC, electrolyte for Na-S battery, self-healing glass seals and electrolyte and electrodes for SOFC and ferroelectric ceramics with large (0.8%) strain. Dr. Singh’s current research interests are in processing and properties of nanomaterials for quantum devices, fuel cells, batteries, supercapacitors, medicine, and smart systems.