The Richard M. Fulrath awards recognize 5 engineers/scientists who have promoted technical and personal friendships between Japanese and US scientists, highlighting the diverse cultures surrounding the Pacific Rim. The awards recognize the individuals for their excellence in research and development of ceramic materials.
The award recognizes researchers in their early to mid-careers. Three awardees shall be from Japan – one from academia and two from industry. Two awardees shall be from the US – one from academia and one from industry.
Nomination Process
The awardees must be nominated by a nominator in a single page nomination letter. The nominee must provide a statement of eligibility and a narrative biography.
The awardees will receive a certificate, $2,000 award (to each of the five awardees), and complimentary annual meeting registration. The awardees also have responsibilities that will be outlined when notified of their selection.
Award Namesake
The award is named for Richard M. Fulrath (1924 – 1977) and was established by his friends in Japan. Dr. Fulrath was a Professor of Ceramic Engineering at University of California, Berkeley. Professor Fulrath made major contributions to the preparation of electrical ceramics with improved properties. His work made him well known and respected in Japan. After he spent a sabbatical in Japan in 1974, he continued to develop collaborations and friendships with Japanese researchers. He presented more than 70 lectures in different university and industry labs and encouraged others to develop similar collaborations and friendships.
Contact
Erica Zimmerman
ezimmerman@ceramics.org
Award Winners
2026 US Industrial Awardee
Takaaki Koyanagi
Dr. Koyanagi is currently a Senior R&D staff member in the Radiation Effects and Microstructural Analysis Group within the Materials Science and Technology Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States. He received his B.S. in Engineering Science in 2008, his M.S. in Energy Science in 2010, and his Ph.D. in Energy Science in 2013, all from Kyoto University, Japan. Dr. Koyanagi has published more than 130 papers; his work has been cited >4,000 times, resulting in an h-index of 40, and he has consistently delivered invited, plenary, and keynote talks at international conferences and symposia. He has received several awards, including The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society Frontiers of Materials Award (2024); the Masaji Yoshikawa Memorial Prize for Fusion Energy, Fusion Energy Forum of Japan (2022); Journal of Nuclear Materials “Rising Star Award” finalist (2022); and the Global Star Award, Engineering Ceramics Division, American Ceramic Society (2020). He has served as a lead organizer of the “Development and Applications of Advanced Ceramics and Composites for Nuclear Fission and Fusion Energy Systems” symposium at the International Conference & Exposition on Advanced Ceramics and Composites since 2019. Dr. Koyanagi has been at the forefront of developing nuclear materials for both fusion and fission applications. In 2023, he was honored with the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science Early Career Award for his pioneering work on the additive manufacturing of SiC for fusion applications. In addition, he currently serves as the national technical lead for the development of SiC composite cladding under the Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy’s Advanced Fuels Campaign.
2026 Japanese Academic Awardee
Shintaro Yasui
2026 Japanese Industrial Awardee
Kenji Shinozaki
2026 Japanese Industrial Awardee
Takayuki Nakao