June 16, 2011
Chugh wins Senior Specialist Fulbright Award
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A Southern Illinois University Carbondale mining professor will receive a prestigious award from a leading U.S. funding organization.
Yoginder “Paul” Chugh, professor in the Department of Mining and Mineral Resources Engineering in the College of Engineering, is receiving a Senior Specialist Fulbright Award. The award, which Chugh will receive in December, will help him develop dust control expertise while working in India.
Chugh will work at the India School of Mines in Dhanab, where he and others will put together a state-of-the-art dust control research laboratory. He also will develop undergraduate and graduate level courses aimed at controlling dust in mines and examining its source, physical and chemical characteristics and control technologies.
Dust is a major problem in mining, adversely impacting miners’ health and contributing to accidents and injuries. Developing dust control technologies has been a major focus of Chugh’s research at SIUC.
Chugh is receiving the award from the U.S. Department of State and the William J. Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. He is one of more than 400 U.S. faculty and professionals who will use the award to travel abroad as part of the Fulbright Specialties Program, which was established in 2000.
The Fulbright Specialties Program provides up to six-week academic opportunities to leading faculty and professionals in support of curricular, faculty development and institutional planning at post-secondary institutions worldwide. Known as America’s flagship international education exchange activity, the Fulbright Program has supported hundreds of thousands of scholars, leaders and professionals during its more than six decades in existence.
Fulbright recipients are selected for their academic or professional achievement records. Lizette Chevalier, acting associate dean of the College of Engineering, praised Chugh’s selection for the award.
“This is an exceptional opportunity and recognition,” she said.
An SIUC faculty member since 1977, Chugh has been a lead researcher in more than 90 research projects that received more than $20 million in funding from sources outside the University. He owns or co-owns eight patents and has designed everything from mine roof truss systems to dust control systems to systems to manage the waste products associated with coal mines.
Chugh is the author of about 200 professional articles and presented papers at top conferences all over the world while shepherding dozens of advanced-degree-seeking students through their dissertations and research projects. He’s also received many University awards, including outstanding department teacher, outstanding college teacher and outstanding faculty member.