FALLS CHURCH, VA, July 09, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Joseph A. Akkara, PhD, with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Akkara celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Akkara is a retired chemist, researcher, educator and program director who worked in the division of materials research at the National Science Foundation(NSF)in Alexandria, Virginia. Renowned for his contributions to the field, he was appointed as Program Director by this United States government agency in 1999. Prior to his tenure at the NSF, he was a Research Chemist for the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, now the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center, from 1984 to 1999. Additionally, Dr. Akkara held various other noteworthy roles, dating back to 1959, including as Visiting Scholar at Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Senior Scientist at Medical Research Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts; and Chief of Radioassay at the Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
Dr. Akkara is credited with many inventions including two world patents. and has contributed several articles and books on enzymology, biomaterials, polymer synthesis, nonlinear optical materials, nanoparticles and nano-systems, and recent trends in emerging technologies.
In addition to his full-time commitments in the field, Dr. Akkara served as an adjunct faculty member at Framingham State University and served on the Biotechnology Advisory Board at Massachusetts Bay Community College. He was also an adviser for the National Research Council, and a member of the Board of Directors for Invention Evaluation. During his distinguished career, Dr. Akkara has achieved great success in enzymology, materials sciences and research program management. He notably holds several patents and publications in the synthesis, modification, characterization and applications of polymers and materials for electro-optic and high-performance multifunctional applications.
An alumnus of the University of Missouri, Dr. Akkara completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry in 1969. He then completed postdoctoral studies at the Rockefeller University, NY, NY, where he was honored to work under Nobel laureate, Dr. Fritz Lipman, who was head of the laboratory at that time.
Dr. Akkara has been actively engaged with various professional organizations relative to his field. Among these organizations, he is an active member of the American Chemical Society, the Materials Research Society, ASM International (a professional organization for materials scientists and engineers), and Sigma XI (The Scientific Research Honor Society). He has dedicated his career to the collective goals of these organizations in fostering excellence and ethics in research science and engineering, and in communicating these passions for research science and engineering with the general public. He served these professional societies in different capacities such as President of the Natick Chapter of Sigma Xi, and in organizing several workshops, seminars and conferences here and abroad in support of the goals of these organizations.
In preparing students for leadership in Math, Science and Technology for the future, Dr. Akkara served as a judge for many years for the Siemens Foundation Competition in Math, Science and Engineering (for graduating High School students); Sigma Xi Grant in Aid for Research(for undergraduate and graduate students); Conrad Foundation–the Conrad Challenge (an annual competition that challenges high school students to develop commercially-viable, technology-based products that address real-world issues); and many local Science Fairs.
Dr. Akkara is active in many community, cultural and public service organizations such as Lions Clubs International, Rotary International, Kerala Association of New England, Indian Association of Greater Boston and others that are serving the humanitarian needs of the community, in encouraging peace, and in promoting international understanding, goodwill and well-being. Toward these goals, he served these organizations in different capacities as a member, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President and President.
In recognition of his achievements in Chemistry, Dr. Akkara received Research and Development Awards from the U.S. Army in 1992 and 1996. He also received an Inventor of the Year Award from the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center in 1998. A celebrated Marquis listee, Dr. Akkara has been cited in over 50 editions of Who's Who, including Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Education and Who's Who in Science and Engineering.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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