Ray Baughman

Ray Baughman is the Robert A. Welch Professor of Chemistry and Director of the NanoTech Institute at the University of Texas at Dallas, a position he has held since August 2001 after 31 years in industry. He is a Member of The National Academy of Engineering and The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas; a Foreign member of the European Academy of Sciences; a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the National Academy of Inventors, and the American Physical Society; and an Academician of The Russian Academy of Natural Sciences.

Dr. Baughman's research spans cutting-edge areas of materials science with particular focus on artificial muscles, energy storage systems, novel carbon materials, and nanomaterials processing. His work bridges theoretical and experimental approaches to develop materials with extreme and rare properties, including highly conducting organic polymers and photonic crystals. He has pioneered significant advancements in electrochemical devices ranging from sensors and fuel cells to batteries, supercapacitors, and actuators.

Throughout his distinguished career, Baughman has received numerous prestigious awards including election to the National Academy of Engineering (2008), the Chemical Pioneer Award (1995), the SGL Carbon Award (2013), and the R&D 100 Gold Award for Market Disruptor (2015).

• Fellow National Academy of Inventors (2015)
• Foreign Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences (2015)
• R&D 100 Gold Award for Market Disruptor (2015)
• Member National Academy of Engineering (2008)
• Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award of Carnegie Mellon University (2007)
• CSIRO Metal for Research Achievement (2006)

With 80 issued US patents and over 416 refereed publications that have garnered more than 32,580 citations and an H-index of 82, Baughman has established himself as a leading figure in materials science. He maintains strong international connections as an honorary professor at six Chinese universities and was listed 30th in the Top 100 Material Scientists of the Decade (2000-2010).

Baughman directs the NanoTech Institute at UT Dallas and has significant international recognition, including the establishment of the Baughman laboratory in his honor at the Jiangnan Graphene Research Institute in Changzhou, China in 2014. His work continues to bridge academic research with practical applications in energy, materials science, and nanotechnology.