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FAU’s Isaac E. Elishakoff, Ph.D., Awarded Prestigious J.S. Rao Medal

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�鶹��Ʒ��Ƶ’s Isaac E. Elishakoff, Ph.D., Distinguished Research Professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious J.S. Rao Medal in Vibration Engineering. This international honor recognizes “great contributions to vibration engineering and technologies.”

The J.S. Rao Medal was established in 2017 and commemorates the late J.S. Rao, Ph.D., (1939-2020), a world-renowned authority in vibration engineering, rotor dynamics, machine design and tribology. Rao’s work shaped modern engineering practice and influenced aerospace, mechanical and energy systems across the globe. Receiving this award places Elishakoff among a distinguished group of eminent engineers and previous medalists who have significantly advanced engineering science.��

“Professor Elishakoff’s selection for the J.S. Rao Medal is an extraordinary honor that reflects the global reach of his scholarship,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “This recognition elevates not only the reputation of our college but also the stature of �鶹��Ʒ��Ƶ on the world stage. His visionary contributions to vibration engineering and structural mechanics continue to shape the field, and his example inspires our students, faculty and researchers to pursue excellence with dedication and purpose.”

Elishakoff, who joined �鶹��Ʒ��Ƶin 1989, is globally recognized for groundbreaking work in random vibrations, structural reliability, buckling of structures and shells, probabilistic mechanics, and stochastic modeling – scholarship that continues to influence engineering design codes and safety standards worldwide. ��

“I am profoundly grateful for this recognition, which honors the legacy of Professor J.S. Rao – a towering figure whose contributions have guided generations of engineers,” said Elishakoff. “To stand among the distinguished scholars who have received this medal is both humbling and deeply meaningful. This award is also a tribute to the support of my colleagues and graduate and undergraduate students at �鶹��Ʒ��Ƶ, whose collaboration has enriched my work and strengthened our shared commitment to advancing engineering science.”

Elishakoff holds fellowships with multiple prestigious organizations, including the European Academy of Sciences, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Japan Society for Promotion of Science, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Noel Challemel, Ph.D., University of Brittany, France; Julius Kaplunov, Ph.D., D.Sc., University of Keele, United Kingdom; and Izuru Takewaki, D.Eng., Kyoto University, Japan, served as editors of a three-volume book titled “Modern Trends in Structural and Solid Mechanics,” dedicated to Elishakoff. This multi-volume work stands as a distinctive tribute to the �鶹��Ʒ��Ƶresearcher by the researchers of 12 countries.

This past year, Elishakoff was honored as a Theodore von Kármán Fellow at the University of Aachen, Germany. Kármán was a professor in Aachen (1913-30) before moving to the United States to direct the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory at Caltech.

Elishakoff has also served as a Visiting Distinguished Research Professor at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, a leading university worldwide, since 2013. ��He served as a Visiting Eminent Scholar at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and at Hunan University. Additionally, he was a S.P. Timoshenko Scholar at Stanford University, and a Frank Freimann and then Henry Massmann Chair Professor at the University of Notre Dame, the W.T. Koiter Chair Professor at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, United Kingdom. At FAU, he is the inaugural recipient of the President’s Award for Career Achievement (PACA).

His previous recognitions include the Baroness Batsheva Rothschild Prize in Israel (1975), American Society of Mechanical Engineers Worcester Reed Warner Medal (2016), European Academy of Sciences Blaise Pascal Medal (2021), and American Society of Civil Engineering, Engineering Mechanics Institute’s Masanobu Shinozuka Medal (2025).

Over the years, Elishakoff has authored more than 630 scientific papers published in leading international journals and is credited with writing or editing 34 books. Among these is his acclaimed work, “Probabilistic Methods in the Theory of Structures: Random Strength of Materials, Random Vibration, and Buckling,” which has been hailed by peers as one of the best and most comprehensive texts available on the subject. His contributions extend beyond research as he has mentored more than 80 graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and visiting researchers, nurturing future leaders in engineering.

In addition to his technical contributions, Elishakoff’s impressive five books over five years continue to influence engineers and researchers worldwide. His work addresses critical topics ranging from probabilistic structural analysis to the philosophies of structural safety and reliability, blending rigorous theory with practical applications. For example, his book on the dramatic effects of cross-correlations in random vibrations challenges long-held assumptions in engineering practice, urging more accurate modeling of complex dynamic interactions.

Through decades of pioneering research, international collaboration and unwavering dedication to mentorship, Elishakoff continues to shape the future of vibration engineering and the broader field of mechanics.

-FAU-

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