After earning a B.S. in metallurgical engineering from New York University and an M.S. and D.Sc. in metallurgy from Columbia University, Dr. Sheldon Weinig spent five years as a professor and then founded Materials Research Corporation (MRC), a multinational semiconductor company. Following the explosive growth of the industry, MRC was listed on the American Stock exchanged and opened plants in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Dr. Weinig made the transition from technologist to businessman and remained as Chairman and CEO for over 20 years.

Sony acquired MRC in 1989 and kept Dr. Weinig as Vice Chairman of Engineering and Manufacturing of Sony America. On April 1, 1996, he retired and accepted Adjunct Professorships at Columbia University and the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

The Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Institute awarded Dr. Weinig the 1980 SEMMY Award, and in 1990 he was elected to the International Technology Institute’s Hall of Fame for Engineering, Science and Technology. For his technological contributions to the field of electronic materials, Dr. Weinig was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 1984, and in 1988 the Government of France awarded him the rank of Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur.

Dr. Weinig received an honorary doctorate of law from St. Thomas Aquinas College and honorary doctorate of science degrees from Adelphi University and the State University of New York at Stony Brook.