Indian-American professor Pradeep Lall has been awarded the 2024 Founder's Award from the Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA), a global network that aims to improve knowledge, exchange experiences, and address problems in electronics manufacturing.
Currently the MacFarlane Endowed Distinguished Professor and alumni professor in Auburn University’s department of mechanical engineering, Lall also serves as the director of the National Science Foundation Center-CAVE3 Electronics Research Center.
This is SMTA’s highest recognition, celebrating outstanding contributions to the electronics manufacturing industry and the association. The award was presented during the 40th SMTA Conference in Rosemont, Illinois.
Lall, a prominent figure in electronics reliability and manufacturing, has been deeply involved with the SMTA for nearly 30 years. He has authored or co-authored more than 70 papers for the association, served as a technical committee member for multiple conferences, and established Auburn University’s SMTA student chapter as its founding faculty advisor.
“The fun part of my day job is working with bright young minds,” Lall said. “Organizations like SMTA play a vital role in exposing students to manufacturing technologies, which is crucial to the re-entrenchment of manufacturing in the United States.”
Lall’s research focuses on additive manufacturing methods for electronics designed to operate in harsh environments, such as automotive and defense applications. Reflecting on industry challenges, he stated, “The need for domestic electronics manufacturing has never been greater. The global semiconductor shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of reestablishing U.S. capabilities in manufacturing and assembling advanced electronics.”
Accepting the SMTA Founder’s Award, Lall expressed gratitude. “It was especially memorable to receive the award in the presence of prior award winners, peers, friends, and colleagues whom I have known for nearly three decades,” he said.
Dean Mario Eden of Auburn’s College of Engineering remarked, “The Founder’s Award is not only another testament to Dr. Lall’s reputation but also reflects how integral EPRI’s work is to the resurgence of advanced electronics manufacturing in the United States.”
Lall’s contributions to the field extend beyond SMTA. He has authored two books, 15 book chapters, and over 900 journal and conference papers on topics such as electronics reliability, manufacturing, safety, and energy efficiency. He holds joint courtesy appointments in Auburn’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Department of Finance and serves as the academic co-lead of automotive and asset monitoring technical working groups at NextFlex Manufacturing Institute.
His achievements have earned him numerous accolades, including the SEMI R&D Achievements Award, ASME Avram Bar-Cohen Memorial Medal, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Biedenbach Outstanding Engineering Educator Award. He is a Fellow of the ASME, IEEE, NextFlex National Manufacturing Institute, and the Alabama Academy of Science.
Lall has held distinguished roles at national and international levels, serving on committees such as the National Academies Committee on Electronic Vehicle Controls and as Associate Editor for the IEEE Access Journal and IEEE Transactions on Components and Packaging Technologies.
He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
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