Lamar University has honored Jerry Lin, associate professor of civil engineering, as the 2008 University Scholar Award recipient, the university’s highest honor recognizing research and creative activity. The University Research Council selects the recipient of the honor.
Lin accepted the award at a ceremony and reception in the University Reception Center of the Mary and John Gray Library on Friday, April 25, hosted by Lamar’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Administration. Winners of 2007-2008 Research Enhancement Grants were also announced, during the ceremony.
“The University Scholar Award honors a faculty member for his or her outstanding contribution to scholarship, research, grant writing and/or creative activity,” said Stuart Wright, assistant director of the office of Research and Sponsored Programs Administration. “It is a career/lifetime achievement award, recognizing the recipient’s body of work.”
The University Scholar Award includes a $5,000 grant to support future research activities, Wright said.
A teacher, author and researcher, Lin plans to use his stipend to support a research scholar for short-term intensive study in air and water quality and research related travel.
Lin’s research pursuits are well-noted by his colleagues. “Jerry is a versatile and dynamic research scholar in environmental science and engineering, and is particularly well known for his scientific contribution in mercury research,” wrote Jack Hopper, dean of the College of Engineering, in nominating Lin for the award. “Since he joined Lamar in 1999, he has been consistently a top performer among the faculty of the College of Engineering in research, teaching and service.”
Hopper continued, “ His records in academic productivity, scholarly and creative activities, and securing external funding have been outstanding by any standard. In fact, Jerry plays a pivotal role in the research programs of the College of Engineering, has established track records in research and development worldwide, and receives many national and international honors.”
Those honors include the University Research Forum Award, Who’s Who in Engineering and Science and Gill Master Award for Young Investigator. In 2002, he received a University Merit Award., recognition accorded faculty members who show an outstanding commitment to education.
With experience from numerous research projects, Lin is considered a leading investigator in his field. His major contributions include work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center, Texas Hazardous Waste Research Center, Texas Air Research Center and Lamar University. He is also responsible for establishing the air quality modeling laboratory and membrane filtration laboratory at Lamar.
“Since 1999, Dr. Lin has received more than $3 million in research grants as a principal investigator or a co-principal investigator,” wrote Hsing-wei Chu, department chair and professor of mechanical engineering. “The projects cove a wide spectrum of environmental research, including air quality modeling, mercury pollution, membrane technology and water/wastewater treatment.”
He went on to write, “He also serves as a reviewer for many international journals and funding agencies. These achievements are truly extraordinary, considering his active involvement in many other teaching and service activities.”
Lin has authored more than 100 publications, including book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers and presentations and research project reports, noted Robert Yuan, chair of the Department of Civil Engineering, and Xing Fang, professor in the civil engineering department in their recommendation supporting Lin for the award. His publications were featured in the well-known international journals Environmental Science and Technology, Atmospheric Environment, Journal of Environmental Engineering and the Journal of Geophysical Research.
“His journal articles have been quoted by many other researchers and by scientists and engineers all over the world, e.g., China, Israel, France, Canada, Italy, the United States, Taiwan and Thailand,” Yuan and Fang said.
Lin frequently attends academic and research seminars and has been invited to speak at universities in China, Thailand, Singapore, Croatia and across the United States.
His professional affiliations include the American Society of Engineering Education, Air and Waste Management Association, American Chemical Society, American Geophysical Union and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Lin’s classroom pursuits are also noteworthy. Regarded with high praise from his students, he has taught five undergraduate and 12 graduate courses while at Lamar, including environmental engineering systems, advanced air pollution control and biological wastewater treatment.
In addition to working with students in the classroom, Lin serves as an academic advisor. He has worked as an academic supervisor or committee member of 25 master theses and seven doctoral theses since fall 1999. He also serves as the faculty advisor of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Under his direction, Lamar has won 42 regional competition awards since 2000.
Lin earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Tatung University. He went on to earn a master of science from Duke University and a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati, both in environmental engineering.
Previous recipients of the University Scholar Award are Jean Andrews, deaf studies/deaf education (1998), John Carroll, history (1999), Stuart Wright, sociology (2000), Richard Harrel, biology (2001); Xing Fang, civil engineering (2002); Jim Westgate, earth and space sciences, (2003); R.S. “Sam” Gwynn, English (2004); T.C. Ho, chemical engineering (2005); Jim Sanderson, English (2006); and Pamela Saur, English and modern languages (2007).
