WEST LAFAYETTE – Rakesh Agrawal, a distinguished professor of chemical engineering at Purdue University, will receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Barack Obama.

The award is the highest honor for technological achievement.

Agrawal is the Winthrop E. Stone Distinguished Professor in the School of Chemical Engineering. He holds 116 U.S. patents, nearly 500 non-U.S. patents and has written 93 technical papers.

“Rakesh Agrawal has dedicated his career to areas of energy research critical for industry and society,” said France A. Cordova, president of Purdue University. “He has risen to an exceptional level of achievement. They national medals are the highest awards given in the United States for scientific and technological innovation.”

His current research involves the conversion of biomass to liquid fuels, low-cost solar cells, energy systems analysis and high-efficiency separation processes needed for industry and research.”