Two UC Irvine teachers selected at the National Academy of Engineering – UCI News

Ervine, California, February 12, 2025 – Two California University, Irvine’s lecturers are selected at the National Engineering Academy, one of the highest professional honors provided to those who pursue research, education and applications in engineering and technical fields. Kiriakos Athanasiu, a prominent professor of biomedical engineering, and Eric Rigna, an excellent professor of land science, are among 128 new NAE members based on the United States.

NAE membership distinguishes those who have made an exceptional contribution to engineering research, practice or education, including significant contribution to engineering literature. Membership elections also recognize the “pioneering of new and developing areas of technology, making great progress in traditional areas of engineering or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education,” according to a NAE statement.

“Congratulations to Professors Atanasio and Rygina for this extremely professional achievement,” says Hal Stern, UC Irvine Provost and an executive Vice -Country. “The academy’s election is a recognition of their impactful scientific contribution to society, which help to provide bioengineering solutions for musculoskeletal suffering and to develop our understanding of the effects of global climate change.”

Athanasiu, who also owns the title of Henry Samuelli’s biomedical engineering, was named NAE because of his contribution to the understanding and treatment of musculoskeletal suffering and his leadership in bioengineering. By creating one of the most recognized research groups in the world in tissue regeneration, Athanasiou examines the interface of engineering, medicine, surgery, veterinary surgery, life and business sciences. Its functional, tissue-engineering cartilage replacements can be used throughout the body-from the nose and ears to the shoulders, spine, hips and knees.

Athanasiou’s main work significantly influenced the science and health technology. It is a leading body for the transformation of engineering innovations into commercially available medical instruments, devices and biologies. Along with his membership in NAE, Athanasiou was elected a member of the National Medical Academy and the National Academy of Inventors and is an associate of the American Association for the Development of Science.

“I am deeply revered by this recognition by my peers at the National Engineering Academy,” Athanasiou said. “The help of people around the world who suffer from the pain and exhaustion of the joints and the musculoskeletal disadvantages is what manages the efforts of my lab every day, so I am glad to receive this recognition from my respected colleagues.”

Rignot was excellent from NAE voters for his contribution to modeling and analyzing the effects of global climate change on polar ice tables. It uses various technologies, including radar satellites of synthetic-actres, air laser and radio-echo-sounding sensors and submersible field collecting robots, along with the numerical climate and ice sheet models to understand the dynamics of the ice ice Antarctica and Greenland Ice sheets and their impact on the increase in sea level.

His research has documented a significant acceleration of ice loss due to climate change and are represented by leading news editions, including New York Times., Los Angeles Times, Washington PostBBC, CNN, National Geographic And many others.

Rignot was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2018 and is an associate of the American Geophysical Union and the American Association for the Development of Science. He also received the exceptional medals for NASA’s scientific achievements and exceptional leadership medals.

Since 2014, it has been listed among the most influential researchers in the world in Geoscience in the list of highly cited Thomson Reuters researchers. He co -authored the fourth intergovernmental panel on the climate change report, which received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. In addition to his appointment at UC Irvine, he holds a position as a senior scientific scientist at the NASA Jewish Laboratory.

“I am very grateful that I heard of this honor from the National Engineering Academy while on an expedition to Eastern Antarctica,” Rignot said. “It means a lot to me, our UC Irvine Research Group, and to our glacio community that works to study the impact of climate change on our incredible polar regions, is important for our colleagues in NAE. I am deeply grateful for the recognition. “

With the election of Athanasiou and Rignot, UC Irvine already has 17 members of the National Engineering Academy.

The brilliant future campaign of UC Irvine: Publicly launched on October 4, 2019, the brilliant future campaign aims to raise awareness and support for the university. By participating in 75,000 graduates and raising $ 2 billion for philanthropic investment, UC Irvine seeks to achieve new heights of high achievements in the success of students, health and well -being, research and more. The Engineering School and School of Physical Sciences Henry Samueli plays a vital role in the success of the campaign. Learn more in and

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