Washington, February 28: The highest professional body of engineers in the United States, the National Academy of Engineering, has included at least nine Indian-Americans in its list of 172 new members. Election to the Academy is one of the highest professional honours accorded to an engineer. Siva B. Banda, an NRI who was elected to the Academy, is a senior scientist and Leader, Control Science Center of Excellence, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He has been elected for showing leadership in the development of the multivariable control theory and its applications to an array of military vehicles. Prof Anup K. Chakraborty of University of California, has been elected for the application of theoretical chemistry to practical problems. Rakesh K. Jain, Director, Edwin L. Steele Lab, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, received the honour for his work on the integration of bioengineering with tumour biology and imaging gene expression and function in vivo for drug delivery on tumours. Pradman P. Kaul, chairman and CEO, Hughes Network Systems, has been elected for leadership in the development of satellite communication networks. Prof Kishor C. Mehta of Texas University has been elected for systematic studies of structural damage caused by windstorms. Rajagopal S. Raghavan, Senior Staff Associate (retired), Phillips Petroleum Co, for contributions to the interpretation of pressure data in wells, etc.