UMaine professor emeritus earns lifetime achievement award from IEEE
John “Vet” Vetelino, professor emeritus with the University of Maine Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was recognized for his lifetime achievements in sensor and microacoustics research, education and entrepreneurship from the world’s largest technical professional organization, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
The IEEE’s Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control Society gave Vetelinio its Walter Rayleigh Ultrasonics Award, the highest honor from the society, during its 2023 International Ultrasonics Symposium in September in Montreal. This annual award is presented to an individual with more than 25 sustained years of success in the field of ultrasonics, a focus of Vetelino’s research. More information about the award can be found on the IEEE website.
“Vet has contributed significantly to research and education throughout his career,” said Mauricio Pereira Da Cunha, a UMaine professor of electrical and computer engineering who nominated Vetelino for the award, during the symposium. “In addition to advising over 60 Ph.D. and master’s students and hosting over 15 research scientists, he’s been very engaged in several projects in undergraduate education that had significant impact in recruiting and retaining students in science and technology.”
Vetelino was one of the founding members of what is now UMaine’s Frontier Institute for Research in Sensor Technologies (FIRST), and served as its acting director in 1982 and 1983. He also previously served as chair of the university’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering from 1980-85. During his tenure, he authored or co-authored over 200 publications, many of which he presented at international conferences worldwide.
The Rayleigh Ultrasonics Award is not the first honor bestowed upon Vetelino by the IEEE. In 2010, he became the first electrical and computer engineering faculty researcher in Maine to become an IEEE Fellow.
“I’d like to thank Mauricio for nominating me for the Walter Rayleigh Award and the IEEE Ultrasonics Selection Committee for choosing me for the Walter Rayliegh Award,” said Vetelino at the symposium, added that he also was thankful for his Ph.D. advisor at the University of Rhode Island, Shahanka S. Mitra, and “the undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Maine and elsewhere.” In addition, he thanked “established and aspiring researchers who helped me considerably in terms of launching my career, as far as research was concerned. And obviously for my family for their strong and continuous support for my 53 years.”
Vetelino also received the UMaine Distinguished Maine Professor Award in 2008, the UMaine Faculty Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions in Teaching and Research in 1985 and the UMaine Presidential Research and Creative Achievement Award in 1980.
In addition to advising more than 60 masters and doctoral candidates, Vetelino has received more than 100 science and education research contracts totaling more than $25 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense (DOD), government laboratories and industrial laboratories. He also received 25 NSF science education grants for involving highly qualified undergraduates in state-of-the-art research.
The numerous research breakthroughs by Vetelino and his research groups have resulted in the incubation of several small sensor companies. They include Mainely Sensors, the Sensor Research and Development Corp., BIODE Corp. and Microconversion Technology. He has also consulted with government laboratories and many industries and has served as a reviewer for several scientific journals and government funding agencies.