Ivars Knēts
Ivars Knēts, (September 17, 1938, Riga, Latvia – March 1, 2019) was a rector and professor at Riga Technical University, as the Director of the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomechanics. Corresponding Member Latvian Academy of Sciences. Academician Academia Scientiarum et Artium Europaea.

Biography 
 1961–1963 — Junior Research Associate, Riga Polytechnic Institute,
 1963–1969 — Senior Research Associate, Senior Engineer, Head of Research Group,  Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Latvian Academy of Sciences.
 1969–1987 — Director, Research Laboratory of Biomechanics, Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Latvian Academy of Sciences,
 1990 – 1999 — Pro-Rector for Research and International Relations, Riga Technical University
 2001 — Director,  Institute of Biomaterials and Biomechanics of the Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University
 1999 – Rector, Riga Technical University.

Research Projects 
 I.Knets. (Head of Project). Development of Functional Materials Based on the Investigation of the Structure and Biomechanical Properties of Biological Tissues. Latvian Council of Science (1991—1996).
 I.Knets. (Head of Project). Investigation of the Biomechanical Reactions of Biomaterials in Biological Systems and its Computer Modelling. Latvian Council of Science (1996—2000)
 I.Knets. (International Coordinator). Development of Educational Systems in Bioengineering, Biomechanics, and Biomedical Engineering. EC TEMPUS S-JEP-4962/92 (1992—2005).
 I.Knets. (International Coordinator). Integration of Engineering Education and Research in Latvia. EC TEMPUS S-JEP-09777/95 (1995—1998).
 I.Knets. (Head of Project). Mechanical Behaviuor and Biomechanical Compatibility of the Facial Bone Tissue and Their Implant Materials in the Long-Term Loading Conditions. Latvian Council of Science (2001—2004).
 I.Knets. (Head of Project). Peculiarities of the Deformation and Fracture Processes in the Compact and Spongy Bone Tissue and their Implant Materials under Cyclic Loading. Latvian Council of Science (2005 —).
 I.Knets (Coordinator of Programme in Latvia) Approaching Reliability of Biomedical Devices. Leonardo da Vinci Scientific Programme EC (1999—2001)
 I.Knets. (Head of Latvian Part of Project). Development of a Nonlinear Numerical Constitutive Model for the Periodontal Ligaments. NATO Scientific Project (2002—2004)
 I.Knets . EU TEMPUS programme on "Development of Educational system in Bioengineering, biomechanics and biomedical engineering (September 1992 — August 2005)