Remembering Dr. Victor Wong
With great sadness, MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering shares the news that our colleague Victor Wong, Principal Research Scientist in the Sloan Automotive Laboratory, passed away on July 13, 2020 at the age of 68. In over three decades at MIT, Victor was a beloved colleague to many who worked with him and will be greatly missed by his team. His many research contributions, particularly in heavy-duty engine exhaust treatments and engine lubrication, were responsible for much of the Sloan Automotive Laboratory’s success over the years.
In addition to being a longtime member of MIT MechE’s research team, Victor was an alumnus of the department. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Purdue University, he studied at MIT MechE and received his master’s degree in 1976 and his PhD in 1978. In the years immediately after graduating, Victor gained industry experience at Detroit Diesel Allison and Cummins Engine Company.
Victor joined the Sloan Automotive Laboratory in 1986 as Manager and Lecturer. His research focus was on modeling and experimental diagnostics of diesel engine exhaust treatment systems, lubricant films in internal combustion engines, clean diesel technologies, engine combustion and emissions, heat transfer and lubrication studies for the application of advanced materials. During his time at MIT, Victor also served as Principal Research Scientist in the Laboratory for Energy and Environment and Program Manager of the Transportation Propulsion Program.
Throughout his career, Victor received many awards and honors. In both 1991 and 2001, he was the recipient of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Award for Research on Lubricants. In 1994 he received the SAE Arch T. Colwell Merit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Literature which Advances the Technology of Self-Propelled Vehicles and five years later ASME awarded him the ICE Division Citation or outstanding contribution in the field of engine lubrication. He also served as Chairman of ASME’s Internal Engine Division from 2003-2004.
Victor is survived by his wife, Kut-Nie Tan, his niece Dr. Geeling Victoria Wong, his sister Pick Wan Wong, his step-brother Dong Sheng Huang, and his nieces and nephews.
