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  September 20, 2004

Faghri Named To UTC Chair
In Thermal-Fluids Engineering

Amir Faghri, professor and dean of the School of Engineering, has been named to the United Technologies Corporation Chair in Thermal-Fluids Engineering, a position that will be based in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Image: Amir Faghri

Amir Faghri, dean of the School of Engineering, will hold the new UTC Chair in Thermal-Fluids Engineering created by a gift from the United Technologies Corp. and Pratt & Whitney.
Photo by Peter Morenus

The appointment, approved recently by the Board of Trustees, is in recognition of Faghri's international reputation in thermal-fluids engineering. He is the author or editor of six books, more than 245 archival technical publications - including 144 journal papers - and six U.S. patents. In addition, he currently serves on the editorial boards of eight of the most prestigious journals in the field. His signature work, Heat Pipe Science and Technology, is the most widely used book on the subject.

"I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious acclamation from my colleagues. It is a privilege, and I remain dedicated to continuing my research in heat transfer," said Faghri.

The chair is one component of a $4 million gift from UTC and Pratt & Whitney. Headquartered in Connecticut, both companies have had a long history of close educational and research relationships with the School of Engineering, said Fred Maryanski, interim provost.

"The investment UTC and Pratt & Whitney have made in the University of Connecticut demonstrates UConn's important role in the development of the state's scientific and technological infrastructure," Maryanski said. "Dean Faghri has been a key player in the state's technological growth."

Faghri is recognized worldwide as a leader in heat transfer research, education, and service. He has received the most significant awards in his field of research, including the Heat Transfer Memorial Award of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers International, and the Thermophysics Award of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

He is most widely recognized for his groundbreaking work in heat pipe science and technology. The proliferation of these small, high-technology devices in applications ranging from aerospace thermal control to the cooling of high-performance computer chips, is widely attributed to Faghri's scientific achievements.

In addition, Faghri has made seminal contributions in the area of multi-phase heat transfer for applications ranging from advanced cooling systems to alternative energy systems, including solar energy systems and thermal energy storage devices.

Faghri remains an active contributor to the thermal-fluids arena, while also fulfilling his responsibilities as dean of the engineering school.