NextFlex presented the sixth annual NextFlex Fellow Awards recognizing four individuals who have made significant contributions toward furthering the development of the FHE and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

The winning fellows received this award for their work in expanding learning programs nationally, guiding the development of human health monitoring projects, and leading advanced manufacturing and flexible electronics from a materials and industry perspective, according to NextFlex.

This year’s NextFlex Fellow Award winners are:

• Doyle Edwards, director of Government Programs, Brewer Science. As a frequent collaborator with NextFlex, Edwards has been a champion of NextFlex within his own company as well as the wider FHE community. With NextFlex’s help, Doyle has helped Brewer Science advance its manufacturing programs and capabilities;
• Joey Mead, PhD., interim associate dean, university professor, co-director of Nanomanufacturing Center of Excellence; deputy director, NSF Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing; Center director, SHAP3D at UMass Lowell. Mead serves both as a member of the Governing Council and as academic co-lead for the Materials Technical Working Group for NextFlex;
• Courtney Taylor, Ph.D., VP of Workforce and Economic Development, East Mississippi Community College. Taylor is single-handedly responsible for the success of FlexFactor in Huntsville with the Alabama Community College System. This successful implementation directly led to the expansion of FlexFactor to five additional locations around the country: Columbia, SC, New Orleans and Chalmette in Louisiana, and Cypress and Torrance in CA. Now living in Mississippi, Dr. Taylor leads an innovative workforce and economic development program and has announced that they will soon implement a new FlexFactor program with East Mississippi Community College as a key supporter of the local ecosystem;
• Jeremy Ward, Ph.D., Advanced Development team leader, Soft-Matter Materials, Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate. Ward has been a strong supporter of NextFlex since its formation in 2015. He served as government co-lead of the Human Health Monitoring Technical Working Group until 2020.

“This is an exciting time for FHE and advanced manufacturing, as we drive forward towards commercialization of the technology,” said Dr. Malcolm Thompson, NextFlex executive director. “All four recipients have been instrumental in not only guiding and advising on this path but helping to expand and advance the awareness, development and participation in this field.”