Erdemir Receives Tribology Gold Medal for Pioneering Research

Dr. Ali Erdemir, Professor, Mechanical Engineering

"Dr. Ali Erdemir was awarded the prestigious Tribology Gold Medal by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Known globally as an expert in tribology, he has dedicated over 35 years to advancing the industry.

He started his journey in tribology with an undergraduate degree in metallurgy from Istanbul Technical University in Turkey. Later, he earned his master’s and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. He started his career at the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, conducting groundbreaking research from 1987 to 2019. Since joining the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Erdemir has continued to drive innovation by mentoring students and leading initiatives that strengthen the department’s research in materials science and tribology.

Throughout his career, Erdemir has made significant contributions to tribology, most notably with his discovery of near-frictionless carbon films, boron-based solid lubricants, and superlubricious graphene films. His research has driven advancements in energy conservation and environmental sustainability in mechanical systems.

He remains a dedicated leader in tribology, having served as president of both the International Tribology Council (2017-2020) and the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) (2016-2017). With 36 U.S. patents and over 250 journal articles to his name, his extensive contributions underscore a highly influential career."

Link to story: https://engineering.tamu.edu/news/2024/11/faculty-member-honored-with-tribology-gold-medal-for-pioneering-research.html