Dr. Jaime Grunlan is now holder of the Leland T. Jordan '29 Chair Professorship.
Grunlan, who joined the J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University in 2004, is an internationally renowned research leader in the area of flame-retardant materials, utilizing nanocoatings to create better fire protection for a wide variety of materials, including upholstered furniture, textiles and insulation.
He said his new appointment is "an amazing honor," particularly for a faculty member at this time in his career.
"It’s absolutely the culmination of more than 16 years of hard work and innovation here at Texas A&M," Grunlan said. "The resources this provides will certainly create more opportunities for scientific collaboration and student travel, among other things."
Grunlan, whose research has been cited more than 17,000 times, is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of South Brittany in France.