Professor of Biomedical Engineering FiorenzoOmenetto last month was elected a fellow to the American Physical Society (APS), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the field of physics.
Omenetto is one of 249 fellows selected from a pool of 500 nominated individuals, according to APS Director of Membership Trish Lettieri. There are currently 6,540 active fellows in the APS, she said.
Omenetto expressed gratitude that the APS has elected him to the fellowship.
"It's very nice to be recognized by your peers," Omenetto said. "You never expect it, so it's very flattering to hear that people think you're doing cool stuff."
In explaining the criteria to be named a fellow, Omenetto said that the APS takes into account contributions to the physics community from a service or educational standpoint.
"You have to have done something relevant scientifically ... so that the community of researchers and the members of that professional society, in this case the physicists of the world, say that you've done well in a certain set of things, so they would like to recognize you as one of their distinguished peers," Omenetto said.
According to Lettieri, much of the honor of being elected to the APS fellowship comes from peer recognition.
"The whole process is pretty much [that] you're nominated by your peers and reviews, and then elected by your peers, so it's an honor within the organization because there [is] such a small number elected every year," Lettieri said.
Omenetto's current research in the Department of Biomedical Engineering focuses on using biologically derived, sustainable materials for applications in high technology.
"What I'm trying to do right now is ... to see if there is a way that we can change materials, so to speak ... and my interest is [in] trying to see if you can bridge the divide between the qualities of biomaterials and the qualities that you need to find in high tech materials and see if you can use one for the other," he said.
David Kaplan, professor and chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, expressed praise for Omenetto's achievement.
"This is a well-deserved recognition for Professor Omenetto and also terrific for the university," Kaplan told the Daily in an email. "He is a true innovator and is also passionate about his research and the learning for our students."
Kaplan hopes that Omenetto's election will have a positive impact on the reputation of Tufts' Department of Biomedical Engineering, as well as on the rest of the university.
"Time will tell, but I hope [the recognition from the election] adds to and continues to help bring the best possible students to Tufts for their studies, at undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral levels in biomedical engineering, as well as [in] related disciplines," Kaplan said.
Omenetto noted that the recognition from the APS will not have any effect on his normal work routine.
"I'll continue to do the things that I do," he said. "[The election] is very nice, but I don't think that my life will change dramatically. I'll go to the lab as usual and deal with the things that I deal with, just like I did yesterday."
He added that his motivation to conduct research stems from his enjoyment of the work, rather than from receiving recognition or awards.
"I have a lot of fun doing what I do, and it's kind of nice when other people notice, but it's not why you do these things," Omenetto said. "You do these things because it's fun to do them."
