Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the Materials 2023 Young Investigator Award is Dr. Bharat Gwalani.

Dr. Bharat Gwalani was born and raised in Rajasthan, India. He is a materials scientist by training and is currently a professor at North Carolina State University. He obtained a Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering in 2017 from the University of North Texas, Denton, USA. His current research focuses on developing alloys for structural and functional applications in extreme environments. He uses deformation processing-based techniques and multi-length-scale materials characterization tools to understand material behavior from the atomic to micrometer scales. In particular, his contribution to the field of high entropy alloy (HEA) development is noteworthy.

His research in material degradation, phase transformations, and microstructural-mechanical/magnetic property relationships have implications for improving materials’ performance and durability.

Dr. Gwalani's research interests also include solid-state processing of materials, additive manufacturing, and characterization of battery materials, demonstrating the breadth of his expertise and potential applications of his work. During his tenure at Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL), he led projects on understanding mass transport during shear processing, developing cold spray coatings, high-temperature electrical conductors, and high-temperature engine alloys for various DOE sectors, resulting in program development and growth.

In addition to his research, Dr. Gwalani is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. He participates in outreach activities at individual and community levels to inspire and uplift the next generation of students from all communities and backgrounds. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Gwalani for his outstanding achievements.

As the awardee, Dr. Bharat Gwalani will receive an honorarium of CHF 2000, an offer to publish a paper free of charge before the end of 2023 in Materials after peer-review, and an electronic certificate.

We would like to thank all the nominators from various fields of study for their participation and all the Award Committee Members for their evaluation of the many excellent nominations.

Prof. Dr. Maryam Tabrizian
Editor-in-Chief, Materials