TI's Sameer Pendharkar Accepts Prestigious Award from The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas

HOUSTON, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) announced that Sameer Pendharkar will receive the 2008 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award, granted by the Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST) during its annual conference held today in Houston. The Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award, established to acknowledge achievements by young investigators in medicine, engineering, science and technology innovations, will recognize Pendharkar for developing innovative power management semiconductor technology to improve the reliability and safety of automotive systems, extend battery life in consumer electronics and improve next-generation video capabilities.

"The Academy and the O'Donnell Awards help foster the next generation of scientists and increase the awareness and communication among the state's best and brightest about research priorities for the future," said Dr. J. Tinsley Oden, 2008 TAMEST President. "We are happy to congratulate Mr. Pendharkar for his commitment and achievements in electronic technology design. His work is an inspiring example of the spirit of research and innovation that continues to move science and technology forward."

The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas was founded in 2004 to provide broader recognition of the state's top achievers in medicine, engineering and science, and to build a stronger identity for Texas as an important destination and center of achievement in these fields. Members include Texas Nobel Laureates and over 200 National Academy members. The O'Donnell Awards are named in honor of Edith and Peter O'Donnell, steadfast supporters of the Academy since its inception.

Pendharkar, who joined TI's analog technology development group in 1996, is one of the youngest individuals to be named a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff (DMTS), a distinction given to only two percent of the TI technical community. His work focuses on designing efficient transistor switches that will improve power conversion efficiency by more than 50 percent compared to present state-of-the-art technology. His innovations serve as the foundation of high-voltage, power efficient devices used in automotive applications, such as improved electronic stability control, automatic braking and weight sensors for airbags. In addition, these efficient, robust transistors enhance power systems for consumer electronics to extend battery life while enabling video capabilities in cell phones, laptops, media players and similar devices.

"Penharkar is committed to developing the technologies that solve some of today's most critical issues, such as bringing energy efficient or 'green' products to market as well as incorporating the highest level of safety features into our automobiles," said Venu Menon, TI vice president and manager of analog technology development (ATD). "His design and process innovations are found in millions of consumer and industrial products worldwide -- what many engineers spend their entire careers working toward, Sameer has accomplished in only ten years. He continues to be a rising star in the area of technical innovation and is working toward even larger contributions that will continue to impact society in the future."

Pendharkar, age 35, is a senior member of the IEEE (formerly the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and was nominated for Young Researcher's Recognition in the "MIT - Technology Review 100" in 2004. He has been awarded more than 35 patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office since 1996, is the author or co-author of more than 45 papers published in conference and journal publications and presents frequently to both academia and participants at international conferences focused on power semiconductor devices and reliability. He holds two master's of electrical engineering degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay (Mumbai).

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