Congratulations to metallurgical engineering Distinguished Professor Jan D. Miller, who was chosen to receive The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS) Fellow Award for the Class of 2022 for “outstanding contributions to the practice of metallurgy, materials science, and technology.” The award includes a lifetime membership to the society and is its top honor.
According to the society, Miller received the award for his “seminal contributions to the characterization and understanding of interfacial phenomena in mineral processing and extractive metallurgy as well as associated mentoring and teaching.”
Miller received his bachelor’s in mineral preparation engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and a master’s and doctorate in metallurgical engineering, both from the Colorado School of Mines.
He joined the U as an assistant professor of metallurgy in 1968 and was named associate professor in 1972 and professor of metallurgy in 1978. While at the U, he was Associate Director of the Center for Advanced Coal Technology, Director of the USBM Generic Center for Comminution, and Director of the Center for Coal Processing Technology.
Miller was named the Ivor D. Thomas Professor of Metallurgy in 2000 and appointed chair of the U’s Department of Metallurgical Engineering from 2002 to 2013.
His numerous awards include the Extractive and Processing Lecture Award from TMS; the Antoine M. Gaudin Award and M.E. Wadsworth Award from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration; The Frank Aplan Award from The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers; the Distinguished Achievement Medal from the Colorado School of Mines; the Utah Governor’s Medal Award for Science & Technology; and he was named to the National Academy of Inventors in 2014. He also was honored by the University of Utah with the Outstanding Teaching Award, the Faculty Recognition Award, and the Rosenblatt Prize for Excellence.
His contributions to minerals/metals/materials related research and leadership have included in-depth understanding of many minerals and their interactions with solutions and dissolved species at the atomic and macroscopic levels, innovations in characterization technologies, and developments of new technologies for industrial applications.