Search
Mike Mankosa

Eriez Vice President of Operations Receives Prestigious Frank F. Aplan Award

964

Erie, PA —The Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) recently presented Michael J. Mankosa, Ph.D., Eriez vice president of Operations, with the 2014 Frank F. Aplan Award during the society’s awards banquet which was held in conjunction with the SME Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Aplan Award recognizes engineering or scientific contributions that further the understanding of the technology of coal and/or minerals engineering.

The Aplan Award was established by the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) in 1989 with voluntary contributions of friends and associates as a tribute to Frank F. Aplan for his lifelong productive career in coal and mineral processing research and education. Dr. Aplan was the initial award recipient. In 2011, AIME transitioned administration of this award to SME.

Mankosa has served as Eriez’ vice president of Operations since 2003. His responsibilities include global oversight of Eriez’ Flotation Division as well as R&D, engineering, information systems and manufacturing operations at Eriez North American Division. He first joined Eriez in 1997 as the company’s Technical Director.

Mankosa earned his doctorate in mining and minerals engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). His graduate work focused on the design, instrumentation and control of process equipment.

Throughout his career, Mankosa has published nearly 100 articles in prominent scientific and technical journals, obtained numerous equipment and process patents and received more than $2 million in research funding from a number of state and federal agencies.

In addition to SME, Mankosa is an active member of various other professional associations. He has been recognized as AIME’s Outstanding Young Engineer (1994) and named the Virginia Tech Alumni of the Year, among other honors.