The Society of Mining Professors has awarded Juan Jose Monsalve Valencia, a PhD student in Virginia Tech’s mining and minerals engineering department, with the 2021 Michael Karmis SOMP PhD Fellowship Award.

The Michael Karmis PhD Fellowship award recognizes a junior Society member pursuing an academic career by acquiring a PhD in the field of mining engineering or mineral processing. Juan Jose will be recognized at the SOMP Annual General Meeting in Medellin, Colombia, in September 2021 where he will give a presentation on his PhD research.

Juan Jose is a graduate of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and joined the department in 2017 to pursue his MS and PhD in mining engineering. Advised by department associate professor Nino Ripepi, Juan’s research has focused on ground control and occupational health and safety in underground stone mines, and he has taught or co-taught courses in mining automation, surveying, and rock mechanics.

Juan was awarded last year with the Syd S. and Felicia F. Peng Ground Control in Mining Scholarship from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME). Juan is very active in different professional organizations, including SME, where he is a member of SME’s Young Leaders Committee and serves as vice chair of the Colombia Latin America Section. He is vice president of the Virginia Tech Student Chapter of the American Rock Mechanics Association and is an active member of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee for the Colombian Mining Professionals Association.

The Society of Mining Professors (SOMP) represents a global academic community committed to making significant contributions to the future of the minerals disciplines. The Society’s main goal is to guarantee the scientific, technical, academic, and professional knowledge required to ensure a sustainable supply of minerals for mankind. The Society facilitates information exchange, research and teaching partnerships, and collaborative activities among its members.

Society of Mining Professors