Category: STEM
$2.5M NSF S-STEM Grant to Support Students Majoring in Computing, Data Sciences
Dean Daniel Burkey will oversee a team that assists low-income and first-generation students majoring in computing and data science at UConn.
New Climate Center at UConn Will Support Weather Innovation, Energy Resilience Research
WISER’s research direction will focus on renewable energy, power outage management, electrical grid resilience, and climate change.
Civil and Environmental Engineering Research Team Develops Alert System to Prevent Wrong-Way Drivers
The team used a predictive modeling software to create an optimal wrong-way rumble strip design.
Ozkan to Lead Engineering Education and Experimental Learning Initiative at UConn
Assistant Professor Desen Ozkan will join the School of Engineering in August. She will develop a new graduate-level initiative that will explore engineering education theory, cultures, and research methodologies.
Science 1 to Revolutionize Research, Innovation, Collaboration for Materials Science and Engineering
The recently-dedicated Science 1 building is home to the Institute of Materials Science (IMS) and the Materials Science and Engineering Department.
UConn’s School of Engineering Aims to Help Impoverished Families Power Homes with Renewable Energy
Funded by a $700,000 clean energy grant, UConn’s IASE is designing a geothermal unit to heat an affordable housing complex.
UConn Engineering Welcomes 13 New Faculty
Following an exponential increase in student enrollment, an investment in entrepreneurship-backed faculty, and an overall investment in new subject areas, the University of Connecticut School of Engineering is proud to announce that 13 new faculty have started in Fall 2021.
Five UConn Engineering Professors Received NSF CAREER Awards in 2018
In 2018, five UConn Engineering faculty were awarded Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) grants from the National Science Foundation. The CAREER program awards these grants to exceptional junior faculty who exhibit outstanding skills in research and education, and show the potential to be academic leaders and role models. The amount of CAREER awards nearly doubled from 2017, when the school had three faculty members receive the coveted funds.
UConn Engineering Professor to Receive Honorary Degree from the Icahn School of Medicine
Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, the University of Connecticut’s 8th University Professor in school history, and a tenured professor in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, the Materials Science and Engineering Department, and the Biomedical Engineering Department, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai on May 11, recognizing his impact and contributions to the medical field and his pioneering work in Regenerative Engineering.
Javidi Wins Prestigious Award from The Optical Society
Dr. Bahram Javidi, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, is the 2018 winner of the prestigious Joseph Fraunhofer Award / Robert M. Burley Prize from The Optical Society. The award, given to one person in the country every year, was bestowed upon Javidi for his “seminal contributions to passive and active multi-dimensional imaging from nano- to micro- and macro-scales,” according to the award citation.
Dr. Keith Barker Receives Faculty of the Year Award
The UConn chapter of the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society recently awarded Dr. Keith Barker, professor of computer science & engineering, the 2017-2018 Faculty of the Year Award. Every year, members are asked to nominate a professor that had a profound impact on their career at UConn. Professor Barker, commonly referred to as KB, was […]
New Advanced Manufacturing Program Aims to Develop The Next Generation of Engineering Leaders
In a nationally-competitive proposal process, UConn School of Engineering was one of only two schools in the country to receive funds to train the next generation of advanced manufacturing leaders. As a result of this funding, the School of Engineering will start a master’s-level Advanced Manufacturing for Energy Systems (AMES) program, with classes commencing in the fall 2018 semester.
Eight UConn Researchers Elected to Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering
Eight total UConn faculty members, including six engineering professors, were elected into the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering in 2018. Election into CASE is based on scientific and engineering distinction achieved through significant contributions in theory or applications.
Professor Alpay Named GE Professor in Advanced Manufacturing
By: Amanda Olavarria The UConn Board of Trustees recently appointed MSE Professor Pamir Alpay as the General Electric (GE) Endowed Professor in Advanced Manufacturing. He received his Ph.D. in 1999 from the University of Maryland. Dr. Alpay joined UConn’s Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) in 2001 and from 2013 to 2017 he served as the Head of […]
Dean Kazerounian Named a Distinguished Engineering Educator by The Engineers’ Council
During an awards ceremony held at the end of February, the School of Engineering’s Dean Kazem Kazerounian was presentedwith the Distinguished Engineering Educator Award by The Engineers’ Council, a national engineering organization based in California. According to the citation, Kazerounian received the award for his “significant contributions to engineering education, research, and industry/university engagement that respond to global trends in […]
MSE Welcomes New Faculty Member Jasna Jankovic
Jankovic started as an assistant professor in the Materials Science and Engineering department in January 2018. She brings a wealth of knowledge to this position, having over 20 years of industry and research experience in various areas of engineering.
Huey Named New Department Head of Materials Science and Engineering
The School of Engineering is pleased to announce that Dr. Bryan Huey has been promoted to department head of the Materials Science and Engineering Department, effective December 1, 2017. Dr. Huey will be taking over the role from Dr. S. Pamir Alpay, who has been department head since 2013. Huey is a professor of materials science and engineering, […]
5 Questions With Mei Wei
The Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education talks about how she became a professor and the importance of promoting science to women
Dr. A. Jon Goldberg New Interim Head of Biomedical Engineering at UConn Health
A. Jon Goldberg, a founding member of the UConn Health Board of Directors, is the new interim head of BME at UConn Health
Save the Date! SoE’s Scholarship Reception and Ceremony Is Coming
Exceptional Engineering students will be honored Sept. 16
A New Use for Old Carpet
Richard Parnas, a Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering professor, is leading a team to find a better use for the 4 billion pounds of carpet that are discarded each year
How UConn Researchers Are Fighting Against Counterfeit Computer Chips (Video)
UConn’s Center for Hardware Assurance, Security and Engineering (CHASE) is developing new ways to thwart computer chip counterfeiters
Grant Will Fund Study On The Genetics Of Addiction
When it comes to diagnosing substance-related disorders, health care professionals are mostly limited to checking for behavioral and other clinical symptoms – crude tools for a complex condition. But a new study aims to find the genetic causes of those specific symptoms, which could lead to a more nuanced way of looking at addiction. […]
GK-12 Competition Gives High School Students A Leg To Stand On
Nine high school teams built and tested prosthetic legs as part of the latest GK-12 Design Challenge
UConn’s Formula SAE Race Car Has Its Best Year In Competition
The UConn car competed against 120 teams from 9 countries at the Michigan International Speedway in Michigan last week
In the News: Department of Homeland Security Features UConn’s Concrete Research
Some concrete results from UConn researchers
Engineering The Perfect Bicycle
Students who take Prof. Matt Klucha’s course on bicycle design learn about the importance of creativity and simplicity in engineering. And here’s a nice bonus: They also end up with a bike made with their own hands, customized to their needs. “It’s very hard to define creativity,” Klucha says. “What I prefer to do is […]
Engineering Commencement 2015: Watch the Video!
A lot of happy engineering graduates and their proud families gathered at the Gampel Pavilion for the 2015 School of Engineering Commencement
3-D Printing, Appetizers, and Drinks – All At The First UConn Science Salon
Eat, drink and talk about science! We’re launching UConn Science Salon
UConn Engineering In The News
Award-winning teachers, keynote speakers and karaoke singers! UConn engineers are pretty much everywhere in the news this week.
A Capitol Event, From Hexacopters To Liquid Nitrogen Marshmallows
They came for the ice cream, but stayed for the dazzling displays of technology at the State Capitol Building
Anson Ma Wins Arthur B. Metzner Early Career Award
Anson Ma wins the prestigious Arthur B. Metzner Early Career Award
New Journal Launches With Cato T. Laurencin As Its Editor-In-Chief
Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D is editor-in-chief of the new journal Regenerative Engineering and Translational Medicine
Priceline’s Founding CTO, Scott Case, Will Speak To SoE Grads
Priceline founder Timothy “Scott” Case is this year’s commencement speaker for Engineering graduates
Meet the 2015 Inductees of the Academy of Distinguished Engineers
The Academy of Distinguished Engineers welcomed seven new members
Our Annual Senior Design Round-Up, 2015
Future technologies – not basketball – were on display at Gampel Pavilion last week
Better (and Healthier) Ice Cream Through Engineering
Engineering a healthier ice cream option at the UConn Creamery
The Art Of The Science Presentation On Display At First SoE Grad Poster Contest
Communicating science is an art, as this poster contest shows
3D Printing Club Wows Judges at 2015 Brandeis Printathon
The UConn 3D printing club, 3DPC, won first place at Printathon 2015, a 24-hour 3D printing competition hosted at Brandeis University
UConn Researcher Using Silk To Treat Chronic Diseases
Dr. Kelly Burke is researching how silk can help treat chronic disesases
New Engineering-Business Joint Degree Now Available To Students
Starting this fall, students can work toward a combined Master’s in Business and Engineering
Student Presentations, and Honoring A UConn Alum’s Achievements At GE Night
GE’s Linda Jacobs shares a generous scholarship gift
Hacking For Health At The 2015 Patient Experience Hackathon
UConn and Yale team up to hash out some healthcare-improving ideas
UConn Professor And Students Honored As “Women of Innovation”
UConn was well-represented at this year’s Women of Innovation of the Connecticut Technology Council
Phone App To Monitor – And Help – People Suffering From Depression
Dr. Bing Wang’s work could turn the smart phone into a tool for monitoring depression
Faculty News
Awards, honors and panel selections for SoE faculty
Ask The Engineers: What Inspired You To Become An Engineer?
Got a question? SoE engineers have answers.
SoE Hosts Student Candidates From Around The U.S.
SoE hosts its first domestic graduate student recruiting event
SoE Career Fairs Have Been A Hit – And There’s More To Come
UConn engineering career fairs are bringing in big numbers
Hundreds Compete in 10th Annual Science Bowl
The Science Bowl brought hundreds of high school competitors to match their science wits
QR Codes Engineered into Cybersecurity Protection
Using those little black and white boxes to improve national security
Four SoE Faculty Win NSF CAREER Awards
Four NSF CAREER awards in one year for SoE! Dongare, Wille, Vadas and Park receive the prestigious honor
Honors For Two CTI Staff Members
It was a big month for the Connecticut Transportation Institute
Faculty News
Ki Chon, Liisa Kuhn and Jinbo Bi all feature in this issue’s Faculty News
Three Engineering Faculty Members Named 2014 CASE Members
Drs. Shvartsman, Tehranipoor and Chon are SoE’s news CASE inductees
Student Entrepreneurship is on the Fast Track, University Leaders Say
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Consortium takes off
Researchers Explore the Potential of Ultra-High-Strength Concrete To Repair Bridges
How super concrete can make our bridges safer
Building the Next Generation of Efficient Computers
UConn’s Brian Huey is helping create low-energy, highly efficient, instant-on computers
Researchers Look At Engineering Education For ADHD Students
People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), studies suggest, are more creative and more willing to take risks. A team of researchers say it’s those traits that are exactly what the field of engineering needs, but the traditional model of teaching is driving away potential pioneers in the field.
From the SoE Archives: Pioneering ME Prof. John N. Fitts
Yes, we’re “engineering the future,” but we also occasionally look back
UConn SoE In The News
UConn Engineering faculty, alumni and students all made the news
Faculty News
Dr. S. Pamir Alpay and Dr. Laurent Michel in the news
Ask the Engineers
Got a question for the engineers? Ask away!
VIDEO: See What’s Happening Here at the SoE!
An eye-catching video of the innovations and fun that happen here at SoE
Now Hear This! UConn Has a New Entrepreneurship and Innovation Consortium
Continuing its commitment to fostering new businesses, the University of Connecticut has established the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Consortium. It’s a collaborative initiative of the Schools of Engineering and Business, Office of the Provost, and Office of the Vice President for Research.
New Human Rights Minor Explores the Social Impact of Engineering
New track of courses for human rights minor explores social impacts of engineering
Energy and Environment Commissioner Visits C2E2
Robert Klee, commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), visited UConn’s Center for Clean Energy Engineering
UTC Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering Celebrates Its First Year
UTC Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering (UTC IASE) marked its one-year anniversary with an all-day conference featuring speakers and panel discussions
The Sounds of Innovation: How UConn Research Is Resurrecting Antique Musical Instruments
An engineering, medical director and art historian team up to explore (what else?) the makeup of 18th- and 19th-century musical instruments.
Bioinformatics Researchers Develop Personalized Vaccines to Treat Cancer Patients Nov. 10
Ion Mandoio of the CSE Is a co-PI for research with the potential to dramatically change how we treat cancer in the future.
Dr. Ma and Artificial Kidney Covered on TV News
Dr. Anson Ma spoke to WTNH recently about his and his students’ work on creating an artificial kidney using 3D printing
Faculty News
Jeffrey McCutcheon, Yongku Cho win awards.
Cybersecurity Contest Challenges Teams to Think Like a Hacker
Computer hackers descended upon UConn this past week, and for their efforts, came away with more than $100,000 in prize money.
SoE Taking Nominations for the Academy of Distinguished Engineers
The School of Engineering is beginning the selection process for 2015 inductees to the Academy of Distinguished Engineers, the 32nd year the School has presented these awards Since 1983 the School has paid special tribute to exceptionally distinguished alumni whose career achievements are of an enduring seminal nature, and dedicated individuals who have made dramatic and enduring contributions to our School. The […]
UConn, Ethiopia Working Together To Solve Water Problems
When UConn formed a partnership with five Ethiopian universities, the goal was to develop new ideas to alleviate the serious water-related problems in that country. Just a few years later, those ideas are already forthcoming. At the Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources (EIWR) – a centerpiece of the UConn-Ethiopia partnership – one student’s final paper stood […]
Cato Laurencin Receives NIH Pioneer Award
Renowned surgeon-scientist Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, a , has won a National Institutes of Health Pioneer Award for his exceptionally creative research in regenerative engineering.
Student News
Awards from IEEE and CIE, and a UNCF/Merck Graduate Fellowship
Students, Faculty Learn the Benefits Of New ANSYS Software Partnership
UConn and simulation software giant ANSYS strike up a partnership that benefits students and industry.
Faculty News
An IEEE award, a grant from the Hubbell Foundation and a short-term professor appointment
Joule Fellows Take Lab Lessons Back To The Classroom
UConn’s Joule Fellows – teachers from CT high schools – will take sophisticated engineering lessons back to their students.
Older Cities May Be Good for Your Health
UConn researcher finds that older cities are compact and good for walking, and therefore, your health.
Faculty News
Funding for new breast cancer technology and underwater monitoring and a study on the discovery of a new material.
Making Sense of Big Data: Project To Draw Insights From Genome
UConn’s Sanguthevar Rajasekaran is part of a research team developing ways to make sense of biological big data.
UConn’s Engineering Entrepreneurs Making Progress
An improved heart valve and a machine customized water are among UConn innovations.
Marten van Dijk Part of a Team of Researchers Securing Cloud Computing
Marten van Dijk (ECE) and other researchers working on security problems in cloud computing.
Meet the New Faculty For UConn Engineering
The new school year begins with an impressive group of new SoE hires.
UConn Receives Gift for Global Energy Sustainability Program
A recent gift from the Satell Family Foundation will support UConn’s new research partnership in sustainable energy with Technion–Israel Institute of Technology.
Leslie Shor Named a DuPont Young Professor
DuPont names Dr. Leslie Shor, who specializes in recreating very small habitats, a 2014 Young Professor
Dr. Radenka Maric and Dr. Mark Aindow Get Fuel Cell Funding
The researchers are part of a major effort to bring down the costs of low-temperature fuel cells.
Appointments and Re-Appointments
The School of Engineering appoints two new department and re-appoints three other department heads.
Faculty News
Dr. Cato T. Laurencin named, and ACS Fellow, Rainer Hebert awarded contract and other faculty news.
School of Engineering in the News
The UTC Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering, a sewer plant internship, and two “40 Under 40” items all make the news.
Faculty News
Rainer Hebert wins innovation award, Mei Wei receives grant
Zengmin Xia Named Woman of Innovation by the Connecticut Technology Council
For her work on the development of novel biomaterials for tissue repair and regeneration, the Connecticut Technology Council honors Zengmin Xia.
Omer Khan Part Of Team Designing Faster Computer Chip
Omer Khan (ECE) is part of a team of researchers designing a faster and more efficient chip.
Faculty News
Awards for Syam Nukavarapu and Barry Carter, a state appointment for Nicholas Lownes and the newest CASE Academy inductees
Joule Fellows Program Receives NSF Grant For RET Program
The Joule Fellows Program has received a National Science Foundation grant of $496,129 to develop a project designed to enhance engineering teaching in Connecticut high schools and, ultimately, address the ongoing decline in the number of U.S. citizens training to become engineers. For the project, entitled “RET in Engineering and Computer Science Site: The Joule Fellows: Teachers in Sustainable Technologies […]
MSE Professor Cato T. Laurencin Elected 2014 MRS Fellow
By Giorgina Paiella Congratulations to Dr. Cato Laurencin, who was recently selected as a Fellow of the Materials Research Society (MRS). The Materials Research Society is an organization comprised of materials researchers from academia, government, and industry. This global community of researchers aims to advance materials research worldwide through vibrant and diverse membership, collaboration among […]
Faculty & Staff Notes
Read about recent honors and activities of our engineering faculty, who are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies.
Stanley Black & Decker Teams With UConn
Drs. Jiong Tang and Chengyu Cao are collaborating with engineers at global tool giant Stanley Black & Decker to create a methodology to analyze the precise mechanism of tools in two of the company’s product lines, impact wrenches and air hammers, as the key step in developing software capable of shortening the company’s new product development cycle and enhancing the product performance.
Dr. Lykotrafitis Receives NSF CAREER Award
Dr. George Lykotrafitis has been awarded a coveted NSF CAREER Award for research that may ultimately help researchers better understand how signals propagate in neurons and pathways, leading to epilepsy and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Scholarship Honors Dr. Owen Devereux
A new scholarship fund has been established in memory of the late, beloved Owen F. Devereux, who led the Metallurgy Department at UConn from 1983-98 and served as a distinguished faculty member for over three decades. The Owen Devereux Scholarship in Materials Science & Engineering will be awarded to two exceptional undergraduate students each year.
‘Digital Alchemist’ Uses Computer to Design New Materials
Serge Nakhmanson describes himself as a ‘digital alchemist.’ A former scientist with the Argonne National Laboratory, he specializes in the computer-based design and discovery of advanced multifunctional materials.
Dr. Ali Bazzi: Lightning Rod for Power and Energy Education
Dr. Ali Bazzi is leading UConn’s movement to reinvigorate and modernize power engineering education. An expert in power electronics, electric machines, and electric drives technologies that transform renewable energy into usable power for the commercial electric grid, Dr. Bazzi has established the Advanced Power Electronics & Electric Drives Lab …
Dr. Kazem Kazerounian Selected Engineering Dean
UConn Provost and Executive VP for Academic Affairs Mun Y. Choi announced the appointment of Dr. Kazem Kazerounian as Dean of the School of Engineering following a nationwide search.
Dr. Anson Ma Participates in US-Japan Faculty Exchange Program
Dr. Anson Ma recently participated as a delegate in a prestigious U.S.-Japan Young Scientist Exchange Program that allowed him to spend five intensive days visiting top Japanese universities and research centers, where he presented his research on the rheology and processing of nanofluids and met with fellow young researchers whose expertise may complement and extend his work.
MTAP Enables Industry-Academic Alliances
Four small Connecticut companies are partnering with UConn engineering faculty members and staff to advance their manufacturing processes, thanks to a special program established by UConn’s Office of Economic Development called the Manufacturing Technical Assistance Program (MTAP).
Dr. Robert Gao Receives I&M Society’s 2013 Technical Award
Pratt & Whitney Endowed Chair Professor in Mechanical Engineering Dr. Robert X. Gao has been selected to receive the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society (I&M) 2013 Technical Award, one of just four awards presented yearly by the society.
Dr. Pamir Alpay Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society
MSE Professor and Department Head Dr. S. Pamir Alpay was recently elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) for his work on functional/smart materials.
Dr. Cato Laurencin Named to Prestigious Scientific Fellowship
Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, a world-renowned physician scientist at the UConn Health Center and member of the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering faculty, has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Dr. Peters Receives IBM Faculty Award
Dr. Thomas J. Peters, professor of Computer Science & Engineering, was presented an IBM Faculty Award for 2013-14, which entails a monetary component as well as continued preferred access to IBM researchers and research facilities, including the company’s supercomputers.
Dr. Lownes Receives Public Engagement Award
Dr. Nicholas Lownes was selected to receive one of just nine awards presented in conjunction with the 2013 Provost’s Awards for Excellence in Public Engagement. Dr. Lownes is the F.L. Castleman Associate Professor in Engineering Innovation in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department and serves as Director of the Center for Transportation and Livable Systems.
Dr. Shengli Zhou Honored
Dr. Shengli Zhou was elected a Fellow of the IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) in recognition of his “contributions to wireless and underwater acoustic communications.” Dr. Zhou is co-director, with Dr. Jun-Hong Cui, of the Underwater Sensor Networks Lab at UConn and an expert in underwater acoustic communications and networking, multi-user and multi-carrier communications, space-time coding, adaptive modulation, and cross-layer designs for wireless systems.
Faculty & Graduate Student News
Read about recent honors and activities of our engineering faculty and graduate students, who are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies.
Faculty Notes
Read about recent honors and activities of our engineering faculty, who are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies.
Dr. Quing Zhu Awarded $1.43M NIH Grant
Dr. Quing Zhu has received a four-year, $1.43 million grant from the National Institutes of Health in support of her research aimed at predicting the effectiveness of preoperative or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) used in treating advanced breast cancers.
New GAANN for UConn Engineering Team
Three Computer Science & Engineering faculty have received a highly competitive Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) three-year award of more than $805,000, which will support fellowships for graduate students pursuing research in “exascale computing.” Dr. Chun-Hsi (Vincent) Huang is the lead investigator on the grant.
Nudging Users to Protect Their Computing Systems
We’ve all seen those little messages pop up on our computer screens: “A software update is available from XYZ. Click ‘Update’ to install.” Probably more often than not, we ignore them just as we ignored mother’s good advice to “Be sure to wear a coat to school;’it’s cold outside.” And, just as we shivered in sub-freezing temperatures wearing a t-shirt and jeans at the bus stop, when we ignore the software update messages, we’re likely to experience negative consequences.
“Accelerating Materials Property Predictions Using Machine Learning” Published in Scientific Reports
Professor Ramamurthy Ramprasad, postdoctoral fellow Dr. Ghanshyam Pilania, and doctoral candidate Chenchen Wang of Materials Science and Engineering, in conjunction with Professor Sanguthevar Rajasekaran (Computer Science and Engineering) and Dr. Xun Jiang (Ph.D. Statistics 2013), jointly collaborated on a research paper published online on September 30, 2013 in Scientific Reports, the open access journal of Nature.
First Annual Competition for CHASE
The Center for Hardware Assurance, Security and Engineering (CHASE) recently awarded funds to six teams to carry out cutting-edge security research. The funding pool was established by industry members of the CHASE Consortium, which seeks to contribute toward solving security challenges that are widespread across many industries.
HPC Center Keeps Researchers on Track
At UConn, many researchers employ parallel computational techniques to solve problems, and they are reliant upon UConn’s high performance computing (HPC) capabilities to carry out their work.
Multidisciplinary Team to Develop Smart Building HVAC Model
A team of researchers from the School of Engineering and the UConn Health Center has received $1.09 million in NSF funding in support of their research aimed at developing a scalable and universal model for fault detection, diagnosis and prognosis of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, systems in buildings of differing sizes and functionalities.
Faculty Notes
Read about recent honors and activities of our engineering faculty, who are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies.
Alumni News
What are UConn Engineering graduates up to? Read about the recent career highlights of alumni like William Foley, Lon Hultgren, Donna Rizzo and Brian Quillia.
UConn-Jackson Lab Team to Study Bone Health
With the objective of gaining insight into the role of specific genes on bone health, a multidisciplinary team of researchers from UConn Engineering, the UConn Health Center and colleagues at the Jackson Laboratory have received a new five-year, $3.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Bioengineered ACL Developed by UConn Physician-Scientist Wins U.S. Patent
A bioengineered matrix for treatment of torn anterior cruciate ligaments invented by a UConn Health Center physician-scientist Dr. Cato T. Laurencin is now patented in the United States.
Around Engineering
Great things are always underway in the School of Engineering. Read about Engineering Advisory Board member Paul Adams, a Dominion Resources’ grant in support of a Grass Tech green energy project, and a visit by three distinguished researchers from Turkish universities.
Dr. Pu-Xian Gao Awarded a Humboldt Fellowship
Dr. Pu-Xian Gao, associate professor in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering and the Institute of Materials Science, has been awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship.
Additive Manufacturing Innovation Center Director Named
Interim Dean of Engineering Kazem Kazerounian has named Dr. Rainer Hebert as Director of the recently established Pratt & Whitney Additive Manufacturing Innovation Center (AMIC) at UConn. Dr. Hebert brings not only strong leadership skills to his new role but also expertise in additive manufacturing alloy development and process capabilities.
Measuring the Sustainability of Urban Transportation Systems
A group of researchers in UConn’s departments of Geography and Civil & Environmental Engineering have developed and tested a new index that will measure the sustainability of complex urban transportation systems across the globe.
The index will allow policymakers, scientists and the public to understand not just how congested cities’ transportation systems are, but the economic, social, and environmental impacts of the system as a whole.
UConn Leads Major Educational Project for Future Internets
Dr. Bing Wang is leading a major educational effort in the Global Environment for Network Innovations (GENI) project, a virtual laboratory for at-scale networking experimentation where the highest minds unite to envision and create new possibilities for future internets. The goal of the project is to understand and use the GENI infrastructure for networking research and education through workshops, summer camps, and course curriculums.
Grant to Advance Clean Coal Energy Efficiency
Dr. Pu-Xian Gao, an associate professor of Materials Science & Engineering, has received a $300,000 grant from the Department of Energy’s University Coal Research program in support of the research efforts to design and fabricate high temperature sensors based on the 3D nanowire assemblies.
New UConn Microgrid to Provide Power in Storm-related Outages
The University has received $2.14 million in state funding to create an independent microgrid energy system at its Depot Campus in Storrs. UConn’s microgrid will be supported by an existing 400kW fuel cell and a demonstration-scale 6.6 kW photovoltaic solar panel array located adjacent to the Center for Clean Energy Engineering. The microgrid is expected to be operational by June 2014.
Public-Private Partnership Advances Gas Turbine Materials Technology
Drs. Maurice Gell and Eric Jordan have developed a new process for making ceramic thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) that are used extensively in gas turbine engines. This Solution Precursor Plasma Spray (SPPS) process allows the deposition of higher temperature, lower thermal conductivity TBCs that will provide significant fuel savings for aircraft and land-based gas turbines.
Faster, Better, Safer Jet Engines
From Igor Sikorsky’s first American helicopter to Pratt & Whitney’s latest engine for the nation’s new Joint Strike Fighter jet, Connecticut has a proud history of aviation science innovation. At UConn, researchers are doing their part by supplying Connecticut’s robust aerospace industry with innovative technologies to support a new generation of faster, more efficient, and more reliable aircraft demanded by commercial airlines and the U.S. military.
Faculty Honored
In the spring, the School of Engineering honored six faculty members for their dedication to exceptional graduate student advising, and to the supportive mentoring of junior faculty members by presenting them Outstanding Faculty Advisor Awards and Outstanding Faculty Mentoring Awards.
International Partnership Launches Innovative Energy Research Center at UConn
The Fraunhofer Center for Energy Innovation at UConn, a partnership between UConn, Fraunhofer USA, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, was officially launched by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on July 25, 2013 at the University’s Depot Campus.
Science Radio Show Enlightens Listeners
Dr. Jeffrey McCutcheon is intent on bringing science, engineering and technology to a broader audience where preconceptions can be discussed openly and overturned. To that end, in April he launched a weekly, two-hour talk radio program on UConn’s noncommercial college and community radio station, WHUS, called Science Friction.
Dr. William Mustain Receives DOE Early Career Research Program Award
Dr. William Mustain is the recipient of a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Early Career Award, which is one of the most competitive in the United States, with only 65 awarded annually. Dr. Mustain’s five-year, $800,000 award was presented by the Office of Basic Energy Science.
VIDEO: Understanding the Transportation/Human Interface
There is an important link between our communities and our transportation systems. At UConn, faculty members and students are exploring transportation engineering challenges through the Center for Transportation and Livable Systems (CTLS). They are exploring driver behavior, roadway construction and design, the intersect between highways and communities, and a myriad of other topics. Through their […]
Faculty Notes
Read about recent honors and activities of our engineering faculty, who are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies.
Engineering Welcomes 22 New Faculty
Following an especially ambitious recruiting year, the School of Engineering is excited to announce that 22 impressive new faculty members will join us for the fall 2013 and spring 2014 academic terms. It is the largest number of new hires in the history of UConn Engineering and reflects the dramatic growth in enrollments underpinned by UConn’s commitment to ensuring critical mass for strategic growth areas.
Dr. Robert Gao Awarded NSF GOALI
Dr. Robert X. Gao, the Pratt & Whitney Chair Professor (Mechanical Engineering), and colleagues have received a three-year National Science Foundation GOALI grant to support collaborative research aimed at improving spare parts inventory management in the aircraft industry.
Dr. George Bollas Receives ACS Award
Dr. George Bollas, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, is the recipient of a prestigious American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund Doctoral New Investigator Award.
Dr. Jeffrey McCutcheon Named a DuPont Young Professor
Assistant professor Jeffrey McCutcheon was selected a 2013 DuPont Young Professor. He is one of just 14 young professors, representing seven countries, to receive one of the three-year awards this year. The award will fund his ongoing research in the area of novel membranes for use in water filtration and energy storage.
GOALI Award for Interdisciplinary Team
Materials Science & Engineering professor Dr. Radenka Maric, in close collaboration with Industrial Advisory Board member Armand Halter and Dr. William Mustain, has received a prestigious $423,000 National Science Foundation GOALI award.
UConn Researchers Develop Some of the World’s Smallest Metallic Nanorods
Two graduate-level researchers in the School of Engineering have grown some of the world’s smallest metallic nanorods; a significant scientific breakthrough that their faculty advisor, Dr. Hanchen Huang, says is a testament to UConn’s robust graduate education programs.
CASE Honors Four UConn Engineers
Three faculty members were inducted into the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering on May 22 during a gala event: Drs. Thomas Barber, Wilson K. S. Chiu and Mei Wei are among 33 new members who were elected in the 2013 class. In addition, alumnus Dr. Anthony DeMaria received the 2013 CASE Distinguished Service Award for his enduring contributions to the Academy as a charter member, fourth president and past-president.
VIDEO: Understanding the Transportation/Human Interface
At UConn, faculty and students are exploring transportation engineering challenges through the Center for Transportation and Livable Systems (CTLS). They are exploring driver behavior, roadway construction and design, the intersect between highways and communities, and a myriad of other topics.
Faculty Notes
Read about recent honors and activities of our engineering faculty, who are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies.
Networking the World: Dr. Peter Luh to Receive Prestigious Engineering Award
Dr. Peter Luh has been selected to receive the IEEE RAS Pioneer Award for 2013 “for pioneering contributions to the development of near-optimal and efficient planning, scheduling, and coordination methodologies for manufacturing and power systems.”
Innovators Feted
UConn Engineering was well represented during the Second Annual Celebration of Innovation, presented by the UConn Office of Economic Development on April 10th. The gala event afforded the innovation community an opportunity to network and to celebrate the achievements of some of its most outstanding members.
New Leadership Appointments in UConn Engineering
Interim Dean Kazem Kazerounian announced three new appointments in the School of Engineering leadership: Dr. Mei Wei has been named Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Education; Dr. Michael Accorsi will assume the role of Senior Associate Dean; and Dr. Daniel Burkey will assume the role of Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education and Diversity.
Dr. Barry Carter to Receive Distinguished Scientist Award
Dr. C. Barry Carter, professor of Materials Science & Engineering, will receive the Microscopy Society of America’s 2013 Distinguished Scientist Award for the Physical Sciences in recognition of his internationally acclaimed research and distinguished contributions in the field of microscopy.
Engineering Women Shine at Women of Innovation Awards Night
UConn Engineering was well represented during the 2013 Women of Innovation Awards night on March 19th, with six outstanding women finalists among a total of 52 finalists spread across nine categories. Doctoral candidate Zhaohui Wang took home the Collegian Innovation and Leadership Award for her exceptional achievements in the area of underwater acoustic communications and networking.
High School Student Participates in Biomass Project
Since September, Donna Aranibar, a Glastonbury High School senior, has been traveling to UConn twice weekly to participate in research underway in the laboratory of Dr. George Bollas, assistant professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering.
Faculty News
Read about recent honors and activities of our engineering faculty, who are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies.
Dr. Chrysochoou Receives Marie Curie Fellowship
Dr. Marisa Chrysochoou has been awarded a prestigious Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship that will embed her at the National Technical University of Athens for two years, where she will share her expertise on chromium contamination and specialized experimental techniques with an interdisciplinary team of colleagues who are investigating a large chromium plume in central Greece.
NASA Grant Supports Satellite Data uses in Flood Modeling
Dr. Emmanouil Anagnostou, an internationally renowned expert in the area of hydrometeorology and precipitation remote sensing, was recently awarded a $360,000 grant from NASA to advance his research aimed at improving the use of satellite-derived rainfall data in hydrologic modeling of complex terrain basin floods.
First Large-Scale Open Testbed in the Nation for Underwater Networks
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from UConn and three partnering universities is developing a suite of open underwater network testbeds that will be demonstrated along the U.S. East, West and Gulf Coasts, where water quality data will be continuously collected and transmitted to on-shore labs.
UConn Professor’s Patented Technique Key to New Solar Power Technology
A novel fabrication technique developed by UConn engineering professor Brian Willis could provide the breakthrough technology scientists have been looking for to vastly improve today’s solar energy systems.
Faculty Notes
Read about recent honors and activities of our engineering faculty, who are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies.
Dr. Anson Ma Receives CAREER Award
Assistant Professor Anson Ma has received a National Science Foundation Early Career Development (CAREER) award, which will support his research involving the use of carbon nanotubes to stabilize emulsions. The $400,000, five-year grant is the 26th CAREER Award among current UConn engineering faculty.
Faculty Notes
Read about recent honors and activities of our engineering faculty, who are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies.
Dr. Laurencin to Receive 2012 AAAS Mentor Award
The 2012 Mentor Award of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) will be presented to Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., “for his transformative impact and scientific contributions toward mentoring students in the field of biomedical engineering.”
Power Electronics Expert Ali Bazzi Joins UConn Faculty
UConn’s rapidly expanding power and energy research division received a boost recently with the hiring of Ali Bazzi, an expert engineer in advanced power electronics who comes to the University after a brief stint with the Delphi Corp., a global leader in electronic systems technologies.
Dr. Ioulia Valla Awarded NSF Grant
Assistant Research Professor Dr. Ioulia Valla has been awarded a $190,000 grant from the Energy for Sustainability Division of the National Science Foundation (NSF) for research aimed at transforming waste tar compounds into valuable gases using a one-step catalytic process.
New Appointments in Engineering
Interim Dean Kazem Kazerounian announced three new appointments in the School of Engineering: Dr. Dan Burkey will assume the role of Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education & Diversity effective July 1; Dr. S. Pamir Alpay has been appointed Head of the new Materials Science & Engineering Department; and Dr. Doug Cooper has been appointed Head of the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department.
Energy Center Names Program Director
The School of Engineering welcomes Teresa Barber-Tournaud, who joined the Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2) at UConn as Program Director in December 2012. Ms. Barber-Tournaud comes to UConn with 20 years’ experience at UTC, where she held positions of increasing responsibility with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, Hamilton Sundstrand (now UTC Aerospace Systems), UTC Research Center, UTC Industrial Lasers and the International Aero Engines consortium under Pratt & Whitney.
Trustees Approve Formation of Two Departments
During its mid-November meeting, the UConn Board of Trustees approved the establishment of two new departments in the School of Engineering: Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (CBE). The departments will emerge as separate units from the current Department of Chemical, Materials & Biomolecular Engineering effective July 1, 2013.
Faculty Notes
Read about recent honors and activities of our engineering faculty, who are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies.
Engineering Captures Top Environmental Honors
Dr. Allison MacKay, doctoral student Udayarka Karra, and UConn’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders – Nicaragua Team, along with undergraduate Nirav Patel and Ph.D. student Carlo Santoro, were honored recently during the 2010-2012 Environmental Leadership Awards ceremony.
UConn’s Nanoelectronics Lab: Building Community
Over the summer, UConn’s Nanoelectronics Lab, headed by Drs. Ali Gokirmak and Helena Silva, hosted two middle school teachers, Doug and Annie Perkins, and seven high school student who were participants in UConn’s Mentor Connection summer program. The two researchers and their graduate students involved the visitors in a variety of research projects involving electronics that expanded the reach of the UConn engineering community.
Around Engineering
Exciting developments are always percolating within UConn Engineering. Read a few of the highlights here, from student awards and activities to faculty honors.
Drs. Shor & Gage Win Gates Grant
Two UConn professor, Drs. Leslie M. Shor (Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering) and Daniel J. Gage (Molecular & Cell Biology), have been awarded a Grand Challenges Explorations grant, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to conduct innovative global health and development research project intended to increase crop yields in developing countries through the expanded use of beneficial bacteria.
UConn Partners with Penn State Altoona to Advance Solar Power Technology
UConn Engineering is partnering with Penn State Altoona in a collaborative research initiative, supported by a $650k NSF grant. The project is entitled “Electro-optical studies of nanoscale, geometrically asymmetric tunnel junctions for collection and rectification of light from infrared through visible”
UConn-ConnDOT Agreement Creates E-Crash Data Center
The Connecticut Transportation Institute and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) have inked an agreement that establishes the Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center at UConn’s Depot Campus in Storrs, CT.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Anson Ma
Dr. Anson Ma has received an NSF EAGER grant for his research aimed at understanding how nanoparticles flow in the bloodstream, with the goal of determining whether nanoparticles can be employed to improve the delivery of cancer-fighting drugs to tumors while reducing the toxic side effects to normal tissues.
Materials Modeling Expert Avinash Dongare Joins UConn Faculty
As scientists across the country work to unlock the potential of new materials as part of President Obama’s Materials Genome Initiative, materials modeling experts like Avinash Dongare are in high demand.
New Spectroscopic Device Provides Research Opportunities
Three UConn faculty members were recently awarded over $500,000 by the National Science Foundation for the purchase of a small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) instrument, which will enable researchers to resolve three-dimensional structures of molecules, down to the nanometer scale.
Exploring Solar Energy at UConn
After a nearly 40-year hiatus from UConn, solar panels have returned to the School of Engineering with the installation over the summer of two new 3.3 kW panels at the Center for Clean Energy Engineering on UConn’s Depot Campus. The novel hybrid photovoltaic power system serves as a valuable testing apparatus enabling engineering faculty and students to explore a variety of research projects in PV energy production and transmission.
Smart Robotic Drones Advance Science
Dr. Chengyu Cao sees a day in the not-so-distant future when intelligent robots will be working alongside humans on a wide range of important tasks, from advancing science, to performing deep sea rescues, to monitoring our natural habitats. It’s a bold leap from the pre-programmed factory robots and remote-controlled drones we are most familiar with today.
Biomedical Engineering Department Approved
In late September, UConn’s Board of Trustees approved a plan to establish a formal Department of Biomedical Engineering. The new department will be jointly created, administered and sustained at the Storrs campus by the School of Engineering, the School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine at the UConn Health Center, Farmington.
GE, UConn Collaborate on Advanced Technology Initiative [VIDEO]
GE will expand its longstanding relationship with UConn through a five-year, multimillion dollar investment intended to transform the state’s technology sector and spark breakthrough innovations in electrical distribution products. The financial support from GE’s Industrial Solutions business, creator of advanced technologies that protect and control the distribution of electricity, will bring together researchers from various academic disciplines and from the energy industry to conduct research and development (R&D) on core electrical-protection technologies, including circuit breakers.
Alumni Association Honors Two from Engineering
Professor Quing Zhu (ECE) and alumnus Faisal Hossain (Ph.D. ’04) were honored by the UConn Alumni Association with the 2012 Faculty Excellence in Research and Creativity (Sciences) award, and a Graduate of the Last Decade award, respectively, during a gala event on October 12th.
Horizons Video: Hearing and Sound Processing
How do we hear and interpret sound? Dr. Monty Escabi researches the hearing process to reveal how the brain processes and identifies real world sounds – such as speech, back-ground noise and animal vocalizations. Dr. Escabi touches upon novel alternatives to cochlear implants that may enable the hearing-impaired to have hearing-like sensation that more closely mimics real hearing.
Job Opening: Avery Point Campus
UConn Engineering invites applications for a nine-month non-tenure track faculty position at the Avery Point campus with teaching and advising responsibilities for graduate and undergraduate programs.
Engineering Partners in Genomics Institute
In early September, over 300 researchers from the UConn Storrs campus, the UCHC and JAX came together for a Genomics Symposium that included presentations and discussions, in a first step of the unfolding partnership
Faculty & Grad Student News
Read about recent honors and activities of our engineering faculty and graduate students, who are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies.
Bridge Resilience: Aim of Researchers
Researchers are testing a new style of bridge column construction with an eye to developing next-generation columns capable of withstanding catastrophic events such as earthquakes, explosions and fires.
New Faculty Enhance Engineering Reach
The School of Engineering welcomes nine new faculty members who bring diverse expertise that will complement our research, academic and professional missions
Dr. Yong Wang Makes Drug Delivery Breakthrough
Dr. Yong Wang and two colleagues have made innovative and invaluable improvements to the drug-loaded implantable hydrogels used for drug delivery
Software Donation Helps Ethiopia Study Water Resources
A leading geospatial software developer, Exelis Visual Information Solutions, is helping Ethiopian universities and researchers train a new generation of water resource professionals.
Growing Momentum: UConn to Hire 290 New Faculty
In June, UConn President Susan Herbst announced one of the most ambitious growth plans in U.S. higher education: the recruitment and hiring of 290 new faculty members.
Faculty & Graduate Student News
Read about recent honors and activities of our engineering faculty and graduate students, who are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies.
Faculty & Grad Student News
Our engineering faculty and graduate students are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies who regularly receive honors and awards. Read about some recent honors here.
VIDEO: Tracking Drugs in the Water Supply
Dr. Allison MacKay seeks to understand how common drugs, such as blood pressure-lowering medications, hormones and antibiotics, and other organic compounds enter the nation’s waterways, disperse and change over time.
Faculty Awarded Grants for Health Center Collaborations
Three research teams involving engineering faculty members have received $100,000 in two-year start-up grants under a competitive UConn grant program aimed at nurturing interdisciplinary research collaborations among faculty at the Storrs, UConn Health Center and regional campuses.
Faculty and Grad Student News
Our engineering faculty and graduate students are respected leaders in research, instruction, mentoring and professional societies who regularly receive honors and awards. Read about some recent honors here.
Dr. Bar-Shalom Receives 2012 CT Medal of Technology
Board of Trustees Distinguished Prof. Yaakov Bar-Shalom was awarded the 2012 Connecticut Medal of Technology for his groundbreaking contributions to the advancement of radar and sonar technology. Dr. Bar-Shalom’s work has served to strengthen the nation’s defenses and air transportation systems.
Director of Federal Energy Research Agency Tours UConn Engineering Facility
Dr. Arunava Majumdar, director of the nation’s only federal agency devoted to transformational energy research and development, toured UConn’s Center for Clean Energy Engineering on May 4.
Faculty News
Our engineering faculty members are respected leaders in research, instruction and professional societies who regularly receive honors and awards. Read about some recent honors here.
Three Engineering Faculty Elected to CASE
Three engineering faculty will be inducted into the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) on May 31, during a gala event to be held at the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs.
Team Works to Improve Agricultural Productivity
Drs. Leslie Shor (CMBE) and Dan Gage (MCB) recently received two grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The two cross-disciplinary projects focus on different aspects of microbial activity in soil, leading to a better understanding of soil microbial activity that could inform agricultural management techniques.
UConn Commissions Fuel Cell Power Plant
University officials, along with representatives of UTC Power and the Connecticut Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority, commissioned a new fuel cell power plant at UConn’s Depot Campus that will supply the campus with clean and efficient energy, cooling, and heating for years to come.
Horizons Video: Detecting IC Trojans
Integrated circuits (ICs or “chips”) are the brains for virtually everything electronic, from cell phones, microwave ovens and automobiles to radars, computers and the Joint Strike Fighter jet. In this second Horizons video produced by the School of Engineering…
Faculty News
Our engineering faculty members are respected leaders in research, instruction and professional societies who regularly receive honors and awards. Read about some recent honors here.
Professors Remembered: Wallace W. (W2) Bowley
Perhaps it was Wally Bowley’s unorthodox, yet effective method of teaching that made him an iconic professor during his time at the University of Connecticut. Maybe it was the ten patents he held in the fields of engineering. Or, perhaps it was the countless lives he touched as a loving father and as a mentor to his students.
Faculty News
Our engineering faculty members are respected leaders in research, instruction and professional societies who regularly receive honors and awards. Some recent laurels are described here.
You’re Invited!
On Thursday, April 26th, Sikorsky Research & Engineering will sponsor a singular Innovation Connection event that will include a presentation for high school students focusing on the X2 Technology demonstrator and how innovation helps helicopters reach record-breaking speeds.
Dr. Gokirmak Receives CAREER Award
Dr. Ali Gokirmak, assistant professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, is a 2012 recipient of a coveted National Science Foundation Early Career Development (CAREER) Award.
Peter McFadden: Teacher, Administrator, Friend
Dr. Peter W. McFadden has worn virtually every hat possible during his long and affectionate relationship with UConn: student, junior faculty member, professor, dean, Provost and Academic Vice President, chief fundraiser, “go to” problem solver and two-time alumnus.
Castleman Term Professors Named
The School of Engineering has named five outstanding faculty members as inaugural Castleman Term Professors in Engineering Innovation.
Developing the Next Generation of Fuel Cells
UConn’s Center for Clean Energy Engineering has developed a new manufacturing process for fuel cells that could make highly efficient, fuel cell-powered vehicles a viable commercial option in the next 10 years and possibly sooner.
Professor Radenka Maric developed the breakthrough process, which significantly lowers production costs while maintaining maximum efficiency.
CMBE Professors Investigate Nano-Devices for Explosive Detection
Two faculty members in the Department of Chemical, Materials & Biomolecular Engineering have begun a project that has the promise to transform the work and protect the lives of military and law enforcement personnel around the world. Associate professors Brian Willis and Yong Wang, working on a grant funded by the Office of Naval Research, are attempting to develop an electronic chemical sensing device that can identify the presence of explosives by sampling the vapor around an object.
Faculty & Staff News
At the School of Engineering, we are pleased to showcase the achievements of our engineering faculty from our various departments and programs.
UConn Helps Inaugurate Ethiopian Institute for Water Resources
The Ethiopian Institute for Water Resources (EIWR) was formally inaugurated during a ceremony at Addis Ababa University on February 15th, 2012. Officials from UConn, including Dean of Engineering Mun Y. Choi and Vice President for Research Suman Singha, as well as top officials from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education, participated in the festivities.
Faculty & Graduate Student News
A number of our highly accomplished faculty members and graduate students have received accolades in the last few months. Read about their honors here.
Sen. Lieberman Praises UConn Cybersecurity Labs
U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman visited the Storrs campus Thursday to promote new legislation aimed at protecting the country’s vital infrastructure from crippling cyber attacks by terrorists, rogue individuals and hostile nation-states. Read more here: http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2012/02/sen-lieberman-praises-uconn-cybersecurity-labs/
Faculty & Staff News
Stay up to date with the latest School of Engineering faculty news and happenings
UConn to Receive USDOT Funding
In January, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it will award $77 million in grants to 22 University Transportation Centers (UTCs) to advance research and education programs that address critical transportation challenges. UConn will receive a portion of the funding, as a member of a university consortium awarded $3.5 million under the program.
Dr. Amir Faghri Receives Coveted ASME Award
Amir Faghri, Ph.D., a professor of engineering at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, and leading researcher in the field of advanced energy systems, has been honored jointly by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).
Dr. Lykotrafitis Scores Journal Cover
A graphical image developed by Dr. George Lykotrafitis, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, appears on the cover of the January 4, 2012 issue of Biophysical Journal.
Innovators: Networking Function in February
Innovative students, faculty and friends, mark your calendars: on Thursday, February 16, the School of Engineering and Springboard will host another in the popular Innovation Connection functions at the Storrs campus.
New Developments
There are new developments at the University of Connecticut and the School of Engineering. Dr. Peter J. Nicholls, who has served as Provost and Executive Vice President at UConn with great distinction for the last six years, will be stepping down from that position on May 31, 2012.
Entrepreneur Eric Knight Joins Springboard
On December 16th, UConn alumnus, inventor and entrepreneur Eric Knight joined the Springboard Program at UConn as Manager and Entrepreneur in Residence.
Dr. Carter Elected AAAS Fellow
Dr. C. Barry Carter, Department Head of Chemical, Materials & Biomolecular Engineering, has been named a 2011 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). AAAS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world.
Editor’s Corner
Editor’s Corner profiles top journals edited by our faculty members. Today, we highlight the editorial contributions of Dr. Robert Gao, the Pratt & Whitney Endowed Chair in Mechanical Engineering.
Grants to Fund Tissue Regeneration Research
Dr. Mei Wei, a faculty member in the department of Chemical, Materials & Biomolecular Engineering and the Institute of Materials Science, has recently received two large grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) in collaboration with David Rowe, M.D., Director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine & Skeletal Biology and a professor of Reconstructive Sciences in the School of Dental Medicine at the UCHC. This funding will allow her to expand upon her ongoing work in tissue regeneration and engineering.
Study Targets Pharmaceutical Drug Impacts on Rivers
It has become customary for millions of Americans to consume both prescription and over-the-counter drugs with regularity. Unfortunately, this habit comes with adverse effects to our environment.
Alumni Notes
The Schools of Engineering and Business will hold an Alumni Reception in Dallas, TX on Tuesday, November 15th. Prior to the reception, at 3 p.m. 18 lucky alumni (the first 18 to respond) will have the opportunity to tour the elegant Mary Hunt Hill Bridge: contact Noreen Wall at (860) 486-5394 to reserve your spot.
Lanbo Liu Awarded a Fulbright Fellowship
Dr. Lanbo Liu, an associate professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE), won a prestigious Fulbright Scholar grant in the fall (’09) to conduct research at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim. He is among six UConn scholars to receive the honor during the 2009-10 academic year.
Six Engineering Faculty Elected to CASE
Six engineering faculty members have been elected to membership in the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) in honor of their career accomplishments. They were among 26 individuals inducted during the Academy’s annual meeting and dinner on May 22 in Mystic, CT. Famed deep-sea explorer Dr. Robert Ballard, who discovered the RMS Titanic, discussed […]
Faculty Win Navy Young Investigator Awards
Two engineering faculty have captured competitive Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program (YIP) awards to carry out research involving underwater communications channels and microreactors for use in fuel cells. Drs. Benjamin Wilhite, an assistant professor of Chemical Engineering, and Shengli Zhou, an assistant professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, garnered the YIP awards, which […]
