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Texas Tech Researcher Wins Technical Achievement Award from Industry-Leading Professional Group

Seshadri Ramkumar will receive his honor during the group’s conference in May.

A Texas Tech University researcher has been chosen to receive a prestigious technical achievement award from TAPPI.

Seshadri Ramkumar, a professor of technical textiles and countermeasures to chemical threats in Texas Tech’s Department of Environmental Toxicology and The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH), will receive TAPPI’s NET (Nonwovens Engineers and Technologists) Division Technical Achievement Award and the Mark Hollingsworth Prize for technical advancement in the field. The TAPPI NET Division is the world’s leading professional group in the field of nonwoven technology, and the Technical Achievement Award is deemed the highest technical award for the field’s researchers.

“This award has been possible because Texas Tech realized the importance of research in the new field of nonwovens way back in 1999 and supported my effort through the Admiral Zumwalt Program, which helped with the creation of FiberTect decontamination wipe technology,” Ramkumar said. “The research program showcases strong and continuing collaboration between Texas Tech, Reese Center and industry groups such as Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. I am thankful to Texas Tech for providing a supportive research environment that is absolutely needed for any research program to succeed.”

Ramkumar’s award will be presented at a May 17 awards dinner during the 2016 NET INC (Innovative Nonwovens Conference) in Cincinnati, Ohio.

“I have known Ram for nearly a decade and am proud to be involved in presenting this well-deserved award to him,” said Larry N. Montague, TAPPI president and CEO. “He is extremely energetic, solid and passionate about the Nonwovens industry, and his leadership skills have helped to drive the TAPPI NET Division forward as a true motivator.”

About Seshadri Ramkumar

Ramkumar’s research focuses on developing value-added materials using nonwovens and nanotechnology. He created FiberTect, a nonwoven decontamination wipe capable of cleaning chemical threat agents, and supervises the Nonwoven and Advanced Materials Laboratory within TIEHH. He is an associate editor for the AATCC Journal of Research published by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. He serves on the editorial boards of many international peer-reviewed journals, such as the Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics. He has successfully organized many international conferences on advances in fibrous materials in India, promoting bilateral relations in the field of technical textiles between the United States and India. He has received an honorary fellowship from the world’s largest textile professional society, Textile Association (India), which has more than 22,000 members.

About TAPPI

TAPPI is the leading association for the worldwide pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and converting industries and publisher of Paper360°, Tissue360° and TAPPI Journal. Through information exchange, events, trusted content and networking opportunities, TAPPI helps members elevate their performance by providing solutions that lead to better, faster and more cost-effective ways of doing business. It has provided management training and networking to the industry’s leaders for more than 100 years. For more information, visit TAPPI’s website.

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