Dr. John Klier , global Research & Development director of Dow Performance Materials and Chemicals, has been elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Election to membership in the NAE is one of the highest professional distinctions in the engineering field. NAE members are elected by their peers and cannot nominate themselves. The Academy honors those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice or education, pioneering new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional field of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.

"I am grateful, honored and humbled to be elected to the Academy," Klier said. "The recognition is all the more meaningful, knowing that I have been recognized and elected by my peers in engineering."

Klier was recognized specifically for his contributions to the development of novel coatings, polymer dispersions, and low volatile organic compounds (VOC) technologies including microemulsions, which helped drive the transformation of the industry toward high performance and sustainable waterborne paints, coatings and formulations. Klier led the Dow Coating Materials R&D teams responsible for invention and development of revolutionary architectural coating technologies that provide functionality beyond aesthetics. For example, FORMASHIELDTM acrylic emulsions are a formaldehyde abatement technology that works after the paint dries. It's a breakthrough that doesn't just reduce paint's impact on indoor air quality - it actively helps improve it.

Klier is among 67 new U.S. members and 12 foreign associates announced by NAE President C.D. Mote Jr. earlier this month. This year's list of honorees includes several Fortune 50 CEOs, distinguished professors and university presidents as well as industrial scientists.

"On behalf of Dow and the entire R&D organization, I want to congratulate John on his election to membership in the NAE," said A.N. Sreeram, Dow corporate vice president of Research & Development. "This rare honor is well-deserved, given John's outstanding contributions to coatings, colloid and interfacial science and technology, including novel functional polymer technologies for sustainable coatings and paints.

Klier joined Dow's Corporate R&D laboratories in 1989. He served in various R&D roles in the areas of microemulsion technology for consumer and industrial product formulations, specialty coatings, water soluble polymers, specialty fibers, polyolefins and elastomers, and wire and cable compounds. He has broad experience throughout Dow having worked in Business R&D, Corporate New Ventures and Core R&D organizations. Most recently, in the Dow Automotive business, he was responsible for overseeing the development of high performance, crash durable automotive adhesives - essentially industrial super glue. In 2014, BETAMATETM structural adhesives won an R&D 100 Award and are being used to help enable lightweight vehicles like the all aluminum Ford® F-150 pick-up truck. He is author on over 70 issued patents and pending patent applications along with numerous publications. John earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Purdue University.

Since the NAE was founded in 1964, fewer than a dozen Dow scientists have been recognized with membership.

About the NAE

The U.S. National Academy of Engineering is a private, independent, nonprofit institution that provides engineering leadership in service to the nation. Its mission is to advance the well-being of the nation by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and by marshalling the expertise and insights of eminent engineers to provide independent advice to the federal government on matters involving engineering and technology. See www.nae.edu for additional information.

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