Texas Tech Researcher Receives Outstanding Manufacturing Award

A Texas Tech University industrial engineering researcher is one of six recipients of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) 2009 John G. Bollinger Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award. Iris Rivero, an associate professor and advisor of the Texas Tech’s Manufacturing and Design Research Group, works in industrial and manufacturing engineering and has been awarded more than $350,000 in grants. One of her recent projects includes designing a mass production process to fabricate carbon nanotubes composites with repeatable properties. She has participated as a faculty fellow at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and has worked on funded projects from NASA, the Department of Energy, and SME. She also is the recipient of several awards, including Texas Tech’s Alumni Association’s New Faculty Award in 2006. In addition to her research, Rivero teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in advanced manufacturing processes and nondestructive testing. Her industrial experience includes developing advanced manufacturing systems and materials at Detroit Diesel Corp. and Honeywell Engines & Systems. The award is given in recognition of significant achievements and leadership in the field of manufacturing engineering as a young engineer, and named in honor of John Bollinger for his lifelong contributions to manufacturing and long-time support of SME. Rivero received her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in industrial and manufacturing engineering from Penn State. Her research interests include nanomaterials, manufacturing processes, biomedical engineering, and nondestructive testing. Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu. CONTACT: Iris V. Rivero, associate professor, College of Engineering, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-3543, or iris.rivero@ttu.edu.