Martin Reiman and Three Columbia Engineering Alums Elected to National Academy of Engineering
Columbia engineers recognized for contributions to network theory, silicon photonics, biomedical imaging, regenerative medicine, mechanobiology, and industry innovation
Martin Reiman, professor of industrial engineering and operations research
Martin (Marty) Reiman, professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, has been elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE).
A member of the Columbia Engineering faculty since 2017, Reiman is widely recognized as a leading authority on teletraffic theory and stochastic networks. His research has greatly contributed to the area of asymptotic analysis and diffusion approximations, which are critical for analyzing and managing large and complex networks and systems such as queueing systems, inventory systems, and revenue management.
“We are thrilled to see Marty honored by the NAE for his many contributions to the research community,” said Shih-Fu Chang, interim dean of Columbia Engineering. “He has long been recognized not just for his technical expertise, but the creativity and inventiveness he brings to his work.”
Over the years, Reiman has won many accolades for his research, including the John von Neumann Award of the Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences (INFORMS), one of the most prestigious awards in mathematics, with Ruth Williams in 2016. He is also a member and fellow of INFORMS and a member of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS).
From 1998 until 2015, he was a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories, where he began his career in 1977 after earning a PhD in operations research and a MS in statistics from Stanford University. He also earned an AB in mathematics and physics from Cornell University in 1974.
The newly elected class also includes Columbia Engineering alums Bahram Jalali MS’86, MPhil’87, PhD’89; Farshid Guilak PhD’92; and Ravindra Kulkarni MS’72 PhD’76 as an international member.
Columbia Engineering alums Bahram Jalali MS’86, MPhil’87, PhD’89 and Farshid Guilak PhD’92
Jalali is the Fang Lu Endowed Chair of Engineering and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UCLA with joint appointments in the Biomedical Engineering Department and the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI). An expert in silicon photonics and techniques for ultra-fast data generation and capture, he also co-founded Cognet Microsystems, an LA-based fiber optic component company. He has received many honors, including the R.W. Wood Prize from the Optical Society of America and is a Fellow of the IEEE and the Optical Society of America. He was chosen by the Scientific American Magazine as one of the 50 Leaders Shaping the Future of Technology and his demonstration of the first silicon laser was named one of the top 10 technology trends by MIT Technology Review magazine in 2005. He is also a current member of the Columbia Engineering Board of Visitors.
Guilak is the Mildred B. Simon Research Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Director of Research for the Shriners Hospitals for Children – St. Louis Shriners. He is also the co-director of the Washington University Center of Regenerative Medicine and has appointments in the Departments of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Engineering. In his lab, he focuses on osteoarthritis, using a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the role of biomechanical and biological factors in the onset and progression of osteoarthritis, with an emphasis on developing new molecular and cell-based therapies. He was recognized by the NAE for contributions to regenerative medicine and mechanobiology and their application to the development of clinical therapies. Guilak has won numerous national and international awards for his research and mentorship, including the 2016 Basic Science Research Award from the Osteoarthritis Research Society International. He is currently President of the Orthopaedic Research Society.
Kulkarni, who was the very first PhD student of Ponisseril Somasundaran, Lavon Duddleson Krumb Professor of Mineral Engineering, is a pioneer in silicone technology who developed a platform for many products for the India and global markets. He has been the founder and director of several Indian firms, including Silicone International Products, Elkay Chemicals, Arklite Specialty lamps, and Aeropure UV Systems. Kulkarni also held senior roles in research and development at Union Carbide, Exxon, and IBM, where he contributed to the development of flat panel display laptop technology for laptop computers and high-capacity hard drives.
Part of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, the NAE is dedicated to advancing the technological welfare of the nation through education, research, and recognizing the superior contributions made by engineers.