Awards & Scholarships

Reza Abbaschian is Director of Winston Chung Global Energy Center, Distinguished Professor, and William R. Johnson, Jr. Professor at University of California Riverside (UCR). He joined UCR in September 2005 as Dean of the Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE), a position which he held until July 2016.  During his tenure as dean, BCOE steadily grew in prestige, research productivity, and student success, landing in the top 50 public engineering schools in the nation. As dean, he also closed the largest cash gift from an individual donor in UCR’s history from Chinese inventor and entrepreneur Winston Chung. This gift, now exceeding $17M, funds the Winston Chung Global Energy Center. Reza received his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, MS in metallurgical engineering from Michigan Technological University, and BSc in mining and metallurgy from Tehran University. He has published more than 250 scientific articles including eight books, and thirteen patents and disclosures on subjects such as metal processing, composites, and high temperature-high pressure growth of jewelry diamonds. His research has led to the introduction of man-made diamonds to the market by Gemesis Inc. Reza has received several awards including the TMS Educator Award, Structural Material Division’s Distinguished Scientist/Engineer Award, TMS Leadership Award, ASEE Donald E. Marlowe Award, Davis Productivity Award of the State of Florida, and the Albert Sauveur Achievement Award of ASM. He is a past President of ASM International and has been elected a Fellow of ASM, TMS and AAAS.