Rajesh N. Davé is a distinguished professor in the Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering and, until recently, the director of the New Jersey Center for Engineered Particulates at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Under his direction, the center developed into an important resource for researchers and industry alike in the rapidly expanding areas of nanoparticles and nanocomposites. The center is equipped with state-of-the-art electron microscopy capable of characterizing particles at the nano and submicron levels, and researchers work in partnership with industry to develop tailored particulate materials with unique properties for applications in pharmaceuticals, food processing, cosmetics, ceramics and electronics. Davé has collaborated on the invention of several coating techniques that have patents pending and are available for commercialization.

The center’s research team launched two new studies with National Science Foundation funding. Davé is leading a team of researchers from NJIT, Rutgers, Princeton and Auburn who are studying techniques for mixing nanocomposites to improve the performance of drugs, biomaterials and catalysts. The study is testing environmentally benign substances such as carbon dioxide as a medium in which clusters of nanoparticles can be broken apart and mixed with other nanosized components to produce nanocomposites with unique properties for a variety of industrial applications.

In 2008, Davé received the Excellence in Research Award for the Newark College of Engineering. The award is presented annually in recognition of a sustained record of contributions that have enhanced the reputation of NJIT. That same year, Davé received a Master Teacher designation, which is conferred annually on a select number of individuals who have demonstrated the highest level of excellence over a sustained period. In 2004 NJIT alumni recognized Davé with the Van Houten Award for Teaching Excellence. He received the NJIT Teaching Excellence Award (Upper Undergraduate Level) in 2003, and the Newark College of Engineering Innovation in Engineering Education Award in 1999.

Davé received his PhD from Utah State University; his MS from Utah State University; and his BTech from the Indian Institute of Technology.