Mahendra P. Singh, Preston Wade Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of “Preston Wade Professor emeritus” by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The emeritus title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Timothy D. Sands. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1977, Singh has developed an international reputation in earthquake engineering, random vibrations, composite structures, performance based seismic design, and health monitoring of civil infrastructure elements such as buildings and bridge structures.  

His work appears in more than 250 publications, including international journals, conference and workshop proceedings, and technical reports. More than 12 international companies have adopted some of his research findings. Singh has made more than 50 invited and keynote presentations in countries including the United States, India, China, Japan, Italy, Greece, Brazil, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Singh has served as director of the Program of Architectural and Mechanical Systems for the National Science Foundation, director of NSF's Program of Structural Systems and Hazard Mitigation of Structures, a visiting lecturer at the University of Illinois, Chicago, a visiting scientist for Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, and a senior engineering analyst and supervisor for Sargent and Lundy of Chicago.

He has received several professional awards, including the 1998 Markwardt Wood Engineering Award for the best journal paper from the Forest Product Society, the 1996 George G. Marra Award from the Society of Wood Science and Technology, and the 1992 Robert J. McGratten Literature Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Pressure Vessels and Piping Division.

Singh received his bachelor's degree and master's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology at Roorkee, India, and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. He was honored with a distinguished alumnus award and was named a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology at Roorkee.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.

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