Dr. Raj Shah, Director of Koehler Instrument Company in Holtsville, New York, was recently honored with the prestigious Achievement Award from the National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI) at the Institute’s annual meeting in Palm Springs, California.
The NLGI Achievement Award is regarded as the Institute’s highest individual honor and recognizes exceptional and lasting contributions to NLGI, as well as a significant body of work within the global lubricating grease industry. Dr. Shah has been associated with NLGI for nearly three decades in various senior capacities.
In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Shah said, “Grease itself is a humble material — it works quietly, carries the load, and rarely gets the credit. So in that sense, maybe it has been a good teacher.” He thanked the mentors, colleagues, committee members, authors, friends, family, and coworkers who shaped his journey, adding, “Whatever I have contributed, I have learned far more from this community than I can ever give back.”
NLGI is one of the world’s leading professional organizations devoted to lubricating grease technology, bringing together grease manufacturers, researchers, equipment suppliers, additive companies, testing laboratories, and technical experts whose work supports transportation, energy, manufacturing, mining, agriculture, infrastructure, and defense.
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Dr. Shah has authored or co-authored more than 850 publications and has edited or co-edited six books in his field of expertise.
Within NLGI, Dr. Shah has previously received the Clarence E. Earle Memorial Award, the Golden Grease Gun Award, the ASTM International Award of Merit, ASTM’s highest individual recognition, which also carries the title ASTM Fellow. ASTM International includes more than 30,000 technical experts from over 140 countries and develops standards used worldwide to improve product quality, safety, trade, and consumer confidence.
Dr. Shah was also recently elected a Fellow of the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS), one of the society’s highest recognitions, honoring exceptional achievement in science, industrial accomplishment, leadership, research, and education.
He is an elected Fellow of ASTM International, STLE, NLGI, AOCS, the American Institute of Chemists, the Energy Institute, the Institute of Physics, the Chartered Management Institute, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Measurement and Control, and the Institution of Chemical Engineers. He has also received the STLE P. M. Ku Medal, the ASTM Eagle Award, multiple ASTM Awards of Excellence, the John A. Bellanti Sr. Memorial Award from NLGI, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai.
Dr. Shah holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. He is also an elected Chartered Engineer, Chartered Chemist, Chartered Scientist, Chartered Petroleum Engineer, Certified Professional Chemist, and Certified Chemical Engineer.
In the field of education and mentorship, Dr. Shah has served as an Adjunct Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and on advisory boards connected with Stony Brook Univ., Farmingdale State College, Penn State, and Auburn University.
“For the Indian-American scientific community, Dr. Shah’s journey carries special meaning. Educated first in India and later in the United States, he has built a career connecting Indian academic foundations, American industrial innovation, and global professional service,” the press release on Dr. Shah says.
Dr. Shah lives on Long Island with his wife, Dr. Niloufar Faridi, and their son, Kian. Outside his professional work, he enjoys kayaking, reading, mentoring students, and supporting philanthropic and special-needs community activities.