UFFC Member Brendan Hanrahan Honored with Presidential Award for Mentorship

The IEEE Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control (UFFC) community is delighted to announce that Brendan Hanrahan, a dedicated UFFC member and active volunteer in the Ferroelectrics community, has been recognized as a recipient of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). This prestigious award was announced by President Biden on January 13, 2025, as part of a ceremony honoring 336 educators and mentors across the nation for their exceptional contributions to STEM education.

Brendan, a senior materials engineer at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory’s Energy Sciences Division, was celebrated for his remarkable efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM through mentoring. Over his career, he has mentored countless individuals, with 86% of his mentoring cohort representing underrepresented groups in STEM. His mentees have gone on to prestigious organizations such as DARPA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, contributing to the broader STEM workforce with their expertise.

Beyond his professional work, Brendan serves as President of the Mid-Atlantic Micro/Nano Alliance, a nonprofit organization where he has expanded access to technical mentorship for community college students. His mentees have received numerous accolades, including awards for public speaking, pitch competitions, and publications in peer-reviewed journals.

The PAESMEM award, established by Congress in 1995, recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated excellence in mentoring underrepresented groups in STEM. Each recipient is awarded $10,000 by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is celebrated for their sustained dedication to building a more inclusive STEM community.

As an integral part of the Ferroelectrics community, Brendan exemplifies the values of mentorship and collaboration that drive the UFFC forward. His commitment to shaping the next generation of innovators not only strengthens the U.S. STEM pipeline but also reflects the spirit of inclusivity and excellence championed by the UFFC.

Congratulations, Brendan, on this well-deserved honor! Your contributions inspire us all and highlight the power of mentorship in fostering equity and innovation in STEM.

For more information about the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring, visit PAESMEM.