Northwestern Engineering’s Jian Cao has received the 2016 Frederick W. Taylor Research Medal from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). The Taylor Medal is the highest honor given by SME to a researcher in the broad manufacturing field. Cao is the first woman to receive the prestigious research award since it was established in 1957.
Cao is Associate Vice President for Research in Northwestern’s Office for Research and professor in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and (by courtesy) Civil and Environmental Engineering. She is an interdisciplinary faculty member with CIERA, as well as ex-officio member of CIERA’s Advisory Board. Cao is also director of the Northwestern Initiative for Manufacturing Science and Innovation (NIMSI).