Tony Jun Huang Wins ASME Worcester Reed Warner Medal

Tony Jun Huang, the William Bevan Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Duke University, has been selected to receive the 2026 Worcester Reed Warner Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). 

Established in 1930, the Worcester Reed Warner Medal honors outstanding contributions to the permanent literature of engineering. The award recognizes seminal works — such as papers, books or digital media — that shape a generation of engineers and demonstrate lasting value. 

Huang is being recognized for foundational publications and enduring, transformative contributions on surface acoustic wave separation. 

The leader of Duke’s Acoustofluidics Lab, Huang is a pioneer of “acoustic tweezers” technology, which uses sound waves to manipulate micro and nano particles within liquid samples for applications in biological studies, medical diagnostics and therapeutics. His group has demonstrated precise, biocompatible manipulation of bioparticles over a wide range of length scales in complex fluids such as blood and sputum, with applications to diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease. 

Recent work from Huang’s group include a droplet-based acoustic centrifuge that could help screen for colon cancer; a ring-resonator device to enhance high-precision and low-power acoustic tweezers; and an acoustic system that can pull out viruses from complex samples like saliva. 

“It is especially meaningful to me to follow in the footsteps of pioneers such as the Chinese American legend Professor Yuan-Cheng Fung, a founding figure in bioengineering and tissue engineering; Professor Ephraim M. Sparrow, the doctoral advisor of my master’s advisor; and my dear colleague Professor Adrian Bejan in the MEMS Department,” Huang said. “All of them have received this honor and have influenced my development as a researcher in meaningful ways.” 

Adrian Bejan, the J.A. Jones Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Duke, received the Worcester Reed Warner Medal in 1996 for his influential contributions to the engineering literature, which included several single-author books and more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles. 

Nearly 30 years later, he is delighted to see his colleague recognized with the same honor. “Professor Huang deserves our applause and thanks. Contributions to the permanent literature are, by far, the most effective and lasting contributions to Duke University’s fame and high ranking.” 

Huang emphasized that the award reflects not only his individual work, but also the community that surrounds him. 

“Being in the company of such remarkable role models is both humbling and inspiring. It motivates me to continue working hard and to strive to make a meaningful impact in the field and beyond,” he said. “This recognition reflects not only individual effort, but also the extraordinary environment of support, encouragement and excellence that I have been fortunate to experience at MEMS, Pratt, and Duke. I am very grateful to be part of this community and proud to share this honor with them.”