Liya Regel Hon. D.Sci ’02 Named Professor Emerita at Clarkson University
Clarkson University Distinguished Research Professor of Engineering Liya Regel has been named Professor Emerita for 32 years of exemplary service to the University in the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Formal recognition took place at a special ceremony on May 9.
A world-renowned materials scientist, Regel joined Clarkson in 1992 and brought with her a legacy of innovation that spanned continents and even extended into space. She pioneered research on high-energy, heavy-ion implantation in different materials (semiconductors, magnetic semiconductors, rare-earth materials) using the nuclear particle accelerators and unique heavy-ion accelerators.
Her research explored groundbreaking topics like graphite-to-diamond conversion and materials processing in microgravity, and in high gravity using large centrifuges. She conducted over 250 experiments in space and hundreds of experiments in high gravity, including the creation of several new types of apparatus and the discovery of very surprising phenomena that excited the entire global materials science community. She collaborated with global research teams and served as one of the leaders on space materials science within the International Academy of Astronautics. At Clarkson, she founded the International Center for Gravity Materials Science, advised and mentored many students at all levels who now lead in academia, industry, and national labs.
Regel is also a patron of Clarkson's intellectual community. She founded the New Horizons in Engineering Distinguished Lectureship series in 2010. As the chair of the series, Regel has orchestrated campus visits since then by nationally renowned engineers and scientists, members of the U.S. National Academies. These visits include remarkable and inspiring presentations on important trends in engineering and science to Clarkson students, faculty, staff, and community members. She also endowed a distinguished professorship in 2019.
Educated in her native Russia, Regel holds that country’s highest degree, the Doctor of Sciences in Physics and Mathematics, in addition to a Ph.D. in Solid State Physics. She was recognized with an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Clarkson in 2002 (the only working faculty to receive this honor) and an Honorary Doctor of Science from HBCU Alabama A&M University in 2006 (the only woman scientist to receive this honor).
And in addition to her scientific achievements, she is an artist, composer, and advocate for integrating the arts into STEM education. While she chose to pursue physics over concert piano in her university studies, she continues to compose and live improvisation. She includes her music and art (sound-image presentations) in her STEAM lectures. She has long been an advocate of including the creative arts in the education of students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Her paintings are in public displays worldwide, private collections and in the permanent displays at Clarkson University.
Regel’s legacy is written not only in her publications, numerous awards and recognitions, but also in the culture of curiosity, creativity, innovation and academic excellence she is helping to shape at Clarkson.
