Amritesh Rai receives 2011 Phi Kappa Phi Undergraduate Enrichment Award

Amritesh Rai, a senior electrical and computer engineering student, has been awarded the 2011 Phi Kappa Phi Undergraduate Enrichment Award from The Ohio State Chapter Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Rai was selected as one of two recipients of the award, which includes a cash prize of $1000 to support his undergraduate research work.

“Being selected from a truly exceptional group of applicants means a lot to me as an ECE undergrad,” Rai said.

In addition to his studies, Rai works as an undergraduate research assistant in ECE Professor Paul Berger’s research group. Rai’s research interests lie in the field of solid state microelectronics and photonics. Currently, he is working on novel quantum tunneling devices and synthesis of high quality graphene on metallic substrates using CVD. He plans to attend graduate school to continue his education and research after he graduates in winter 2012.

Awarded in honor of the late Dr. Ted Robinson, the Phi Kappa Phi Undergraduate Enrichment Award aids students in undertaking projects designed to enrich their undergraduate academic programs. Dr. Ted Robinson was past president of The Ohio State University Phi Kappa Phi Chapter, former assistant vice president for regional campuses, and former vice president for student affairs. 

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the oldest and most selective honor society in the United States that recognizes excellence in all academic disciplines. Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi, along with Phi Beta Kappa, is a charter member of the Association of College Honor Societies. Today, Phi Kappa Phi has more than 1,000,000 members worldwide, with more than 280 chapters on college and university campuses throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.