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Current MechSE News
- MechSE graduate students launch GraMS group
- As of January, graduate students in MechSE have a student society of their own that aids networking, social connections. GraMS, which stands for Graduate MechSE Students, creates opportunities for graduates to connect outside the classroom and lab environments.
- MechSE celebrates first prize for EOH 2012, Spirit of Illini Engineering Award
- After earning The Spirit of Illini Engineering Award for the department's showing at Engineering Open House 2012, MechSE students and faculty gathered for a reception to celebrate and present additional awards.
- Engineering mechanics student awarded Stippes Scholarship
- Ryan Mott, a junior in engineering mechanics, was awarded the Marvin C. Stippes Scholarship for 2011.
- Three MechSE students named to Senior 100
- MechSE seniors Bryce Austell, Stan Chang, and Eric Gobst have each been named to the University's "Senior 100" for 2012.
- Agarwal wins poster award at MRS meeting
- MechSE graduate student Peeyush Agarwal, who works on Assistant Professor Elif Ertekin's research team, won a "Best Poster" award at the April Materials Research Society meeting in San Francisco. In this video, Agarwal explains his poster to the MRS awards committee.
- MechSE teams take prizes at entrepreneurial competition
- Three teams of mechanical engineering and engineering mechanics students won prizes at the Cozad New Venture Competition on March 31 and April 1 for their startup companies and business plans.
- MechSE electives highlighted at ASME presentation
- The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) at the University of Illinois held their Technical Elective Night on Tuesday, April 3rd. The event is an informational session for juniors and seniors about the 300-400 level elective classes that they need to take in order to graduate.
- Eco-Marathon team brings home first-place trophy
- The Eco-Illini Team and the Illini EcoConcept Team competed in the Shell Eco-Marathon in Houston, Texas on March 29th, and brought back another first-place trophy for the University of Illinois!
- Kyritsis wins MechSE’s two-year teaching award
- Associate Professor Dimitrios Kyritsis has been named the winner of the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering's Two-Year Effective Teaching Award for 2012. The award is voted on by former students to recognize truly outstanding teaching in the department.
- Phillips named winner of five-year teaching award
- Professor Emeritus Jim Phillips has been named the winner of the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering's Five-Year Effective Teaching Award for 2012.
- Video shows MechSE's award-winning EOH exhibits
- The Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering won 1st place for its exhibits at the 2012 Engineering Open House. This student video gives a quick tour through many of these MechSE exhibits.
- University of Melbourne professor discusses turbulence at final Disquisitiones Mechanicae lecture
- The fourth and final installment of the 2011-12 Disquisitiones Mechanicae lecture series was held March 15 and 16, featuring guest presenter Professor Ivan Marusic from the University of Melbourne, Australia.
- MechSE student made Knight of St. Patrick
Stanley Chang, a senior in mechanical engineering, was recently made a Knight of St. Patrick for his outstanding involvement in the College of Engineering.
- Sehitoglu receives campus-wide award for graduate mentoring
Professor Huseyin Sehitoglu, the Nyquist Endowed Chair in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, has been selected as the recipient of the 2012 Campus Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring.
- MechSE’s Saintillan receives NSF CAREER grant
Assistant Professor David Saintillan has been awarded a CAREER grant on “Electrokinetic transport of fluid, particles, and macromolecules in nanochannels and nanopores” from the Particulate and Multiphase Flow program of the Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, & Transport Systems Division of the National Science Foundation.
- MechSE students compete in national bicycle design competition
MechSE seniors in ME 470 are using their skills to build a bicycle for the Parker Hannifin Chainless Challenge, and hope to bring first-place trophy to UIUC for the second time.
- Dankowicz recognized for innovative teaching
Professor Harry Dankowicz, a Cannon Faculty Scholar in Mechanical Science and Engineering, has been selected as the recipient of the Collins Award for Innovative Teaching.
- Aluru receives College of Engineering teaching award
Narayana R. Aluru, Kritzer Professor in Mechanical Science and Engineering, has been selected as the recipient of the 2012 College of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award.
- Christensen awarded for excellence in research
Associate Professor Kenneth Christensen has been named a recipient of the 2012 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research.
- Princeton’s Stone discusses fluid mechanics at February’s Disquisitiones Mechanicae
The third installment of the 2011-12 Disquisitiones Mechanicae lecture series was held February 9 and 10, featuring guest presenter Professor Howard Stone from Princeton University.
- Hrnjak awarded IOR J&E Hall Gold Medal
MechSE research professor Predrag S. Hrnjak was recently awarded the Institute of Refrigeration J&E Hall Gold Medal for the most noteworthy contribution to the advancement of refrigeration.
- University memories, department aspirations key to alum’s gift decision
Alumnus' gift to the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering will support endowed faculty positions, promote academic excellence, and increase educational opportunities for students, especially those with financial need.
- World’s top mountaineer headlines Illinois E-Week
Ed Viesturs, the world’s premier high-altitude mountaineer, will give a presentation on February 13, at 7:00 p.m. in Foellinger Auditorium, as part of E-Week.
- Jasiuk named SES Fellow
Professor Iwona M. Jasiuk has been elected Fellow of the Society of Engineering Science (SES) in recognition of her outstanding research contributions and service to the society.
- Matalon named AIAA Fellow
MechSE’s Moshe Matalon, the College of Engineering Caterpillar Professor, has been elected Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
- MechSE professors’ article featured in scientific journal
MechSE assistant professor Kimani C. Toussaint and professor Iwona M. Jasiuk, along with two of their students, ECE’s Raghu Ambekar and MechSE’s Michael Chittenden, published an article in the December 2011 edition of the scientific journal Bone.
- Polak awarded for top MRS student presentation
Samantha Jane Polak, a graduate student working under MechSE Professor Amy Wagoner Johnson, was recently awarded at the Materials Research Society (MRS) Fall Meeting for having one of the top four student presentations in her symposium.
- Retired professor William Dunn passes away
William E. Dunn, a retired professor from Mechanical Science and Engineering, passed away suddenly on Saturday, December 31. He was 61 years old.
- Khan shares his story of success
Sports Illustrated's Peter King interviews alumnus Shahid Khan, the new owner of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Vanka named ASME Freeman Scholar
MechSE professor Pratap Vanka has been named the 2012 Freeman Scholar by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
- King develops new nanoprobe for electronic measurements
Bliss professor Bill King has developed an electro-thermal nanoprobe that can independently control voltage and temperature, and measure temperature-dependent voltage, at a nanometer-scale point contact.
- Thomas, Koric receive IDC innovation award
The Continuous Casting Consortium, directed by C.J. Gauthier Professor Brian Thomas from MechSE with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications’ Seid Koric, has received the HPC Innovation Excellence Award from the International Data Corporation.
- Multimedia Fluid Mechanics presented at Disquisitiones Mechanicae
The second installment of the 2011-12 Disquisitiones Mechanicae lecture series was held December 1 and 2, featuring guest presenter Professor George “Bud” Homsy from the University of British Columbia. He is an alumnus of the University of Illinois, where he earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering.
- L1 Adaptive Control spans a number of application areas
MechSE professor Naira Hovakimyan's L1 Adaptive Control is gaining attention from numerous organizations who utilize control systems.
- Alumnus Shahid Khan to buy NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars
Local resident and businessman Shahid Khan, who received a B.S. degree from the former Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Illinois, will be the National Football League's newest team owner.
- Christensen, Mejia-Alvarez receive Frenkiel Award
MechSE associate professor and Kritzer Faculty Scholar Kenneth Christensen and his former graduate student Dr. Ricardo Mejia-Alvarez were recently honored by the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics.
- Disquisitiones Mechanicae lectures kick off with standing-room-only crowds
Professor Raymond Goldstein's perspective lecture “Evolution of Biological Complexity” drew more than 250 attendees to the NCSA auditorium.
- Hsia named AAAS Fellow
Mechanical Science and Engineering professor Jimmy Hsia has been elected to the rank of Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
- Alumnus receives ASTM International Award of Merit
R. Craig McClung, who earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and M.S. in theoretical and applied mechanics from Illinois, has received the Award of Merit from ASTM International Committee E08 on Fatigue and Fracture.
- King among researchers developing new nanostructure inking technology
Using specialized nanoscale equipment developed at Illinois, researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have shed light on the role of temperature in controlling a fabrication technique for drawing chemical patterns as small as 20 nanometers.
- Polycarpou featured in ASME tribology article
In "Tribology Makes the World Go 'Round," Wilkins Professor Andreas Polycarpou discusses the science and technology of how surfaces in motion interact.
- MechSE research institute featured in MRS Bulletin
The International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I2CNER) was recently featured in the October 2011 bulletin of the Materials Research Society.
- Freund elected AIAA Associate Fellow
Professor Jonathan B. Freund has been elected Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
- Pantano named AIAA Associate Fellow
MechSE Assistant Professor Carlos Pantano has been elected Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, in honor of his outstanding accomplishments and contributions to engineering.
- MechSE alumnus inducted into Hall of Fame
On October 14, Illinois alumnus Alexander Rankin (BS Mechanical Engineering ’57) was inducted into the College of Engineering’s Hall of Fame.
- Freund elected Fellow of American Physical Society
Professor Jonathan B. Freund has been elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
- Disquisitiones Mechanicae coming soon
Disquisitiones Mechanicae 2011-12 will feature lectures on fluid mechanics in complex environments by four renowned international experts. Each speaker will give presentations on cutting-edge research in their areas of specialty designed to enrich the mechanics community at the University of Illinois, enable discussion and debate of current issues, and expose students to topics that are at the forefront of fluid mechanics research.
- Professor Ostoja-Starzewski guest-lectures at Cornell
Cornell University’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering hosted Illinois professor Martin Ostoja-Starzewski as guest lecturer on September 26.
- Podcast: The Future of Machine Invention
As we enter the new age of robotic and intelligent machines, what will be the future of machine invention and the role of dynamics and control? Listen in as Professor Harry Dankowicz explains the answer.
- Hovakimyan named University Scholar
Naira Hovakimyan, a MechSE professor and Schaller faculty scholar, has been recognized as a 2011 University Scholar.
- Hrnjak receives Gustav Lorentzen Prize
MechSE research professor Pega Hrnjak has won the prestigious Gustav Lorentzen Prize, which was awarded to him August 25 at the International Congress of Refrigeration in Prague, Czech Republic.
- Sinha wins DARPA award
Assistant Professor Sanjiv Sinha has been awarded a 2011 Young Faculty Award from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
- SURGE and MERGE programs helping under-represented groups
The MechSE students who have received SURGE fellowships attended the annual SURGE luncheon on Thursday, August 25.
- Polycarpou joins CIC leadership program
Wilkins Professor Andreas A. Polycarpou, MechSE’s associate head of undergraduate programs, is one of five Illinois faculty members who have been named 2011-12 fellows of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation’s Academic Leadership Program.
- Johnson takes leadership of MechSE grad program
Professor Harley Johnson officially took the reins as MechSE’s new Associate Head for Graduate Programs on August 16.
- MERGE Program offers free Illinois campus visits
MERGE brings promising graduate school prospects from diverse cultures to the campus for an expense-paid, in-depth view of the outstanding programs and facilities available for graduate study at Illinois.
- Polycarpou named Wilkins Professor
Professor Andreas Polycarpou has been named a W. Grafton and Lillian B. Wilkins Professor, one of the highest designations for a MechSE professor.
- Professor Shannon named ASME Fellow
Since joining the University of Illinois in 1994, Professor Shannon has devoted his talent, time, and tireless energy to research, teaching, and services at the university, professional society, national, or even global level.
- High school girls experience engineering on campus
Thanks to the G.A.M.E.S. Camp at Illinois, high school-aged girls received the chance to get a firsthand look at what options are available in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
- Foxconn exec Lu named distinguished alumni
Sidney Lu (BS Mechanical Engr. 1981) is the corporate executive vice president of Foxconn and general manager for its Network Interconnection Business Group (NWInG)—one of the world’s top five employers.
- Highly honored professor, Richard DeVor, passes away at 67
Professor Emeritus Richard E. (“Dick”) DeVor, College of Engineering Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Manufacturing, passed away this week at his home in Lake Mills, Wisconsin.
- King named ASME Fellow
Professor William King has received the highest membership grade of distinction from ASME.
- Nano-CEMMS training gains international flavor
Italy's Annamaria Lisotti visited UIUC and the UNITE program in mid-July.
- Ferreira discusses nano-manufacturing in Technology Review
"In order to exploit nanoscale phenomena in products, you need to have manufacturing tools that give you precision, in quantity, and cheaply," said MechSE's department head, Placid Ferreira.
- Matalon a featured CEFRC presenter at Princeton
MechSE Professor Moshe Matalon recently received the honor of instructing at the Combustion Energy Frontier Research Center (CEFRC) at Princeton University, during the last week of June.
- Memorial held for Professor John Chato
In late June, colleagues, friends, and former students gathered to hold a memorial session for John Chato at the ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference in Farmington, Pennsylvania.
- Purdue's Sutherland joins MechSE alumni board
A new member of the MechSE Alumni Board, John Sutherland was on campus in April for the board’s annual meeting.
- Formula SAE team finishes 6th at California event
MechSE's Formula SAE team had strong performances across all events to place 6th at the international SAE competition in California.
- Distinguished alumnus Nick Aravas visits Illinois
Volcanoes erupting in Iceland prevented MechSE Distinguished Alumnus Nick Aravas from receiving his 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award at the University of Illinois campus last year. This year nothing got in his way as he came to campus in April and gave a lecture about his research on the constitutive modeling of skeletal muscle and tendon tissues.
- Hovakimyan named sole recipient of 2011 AIAA award
Professor and Schaller Faculty Scholar Naira Hovakimyan has been selected to receive the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Mechanics and Control of Flight Award for 2011.
- Gibbons named to MechSE Alumni Board
Jean Gibbons (BSME ’82, MSME ’85), the COO of Grumman Butkus, has been named a new MechSE Alumni Board member.
- Professors receive Department of Energy award
Illinois engineering professors Petros Sofronis and Ian Robertson have received the 2011 Delivery Team Award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program.
- Wagoner Johnson receives NSF collaborative research grant
The National Science Foundation has awarded MechSE assistant professor Amy Wagoner Johnson $404,990 for her project “Collaborative Research: Regulators of cellular microenvironment and multiscale osteointegration.”
- Rogers receives $500,000 Lemelson-MIT prize
John A. Rogers, director of the Nano-CEMMS Center and the Lee J. Flory-Founder Chair in Engineering at the University of Illinois, has won the 2011 Lemelson-MIT Prize. The annual award recognizes outstanding innovation and creativity.
- Ferreira elected SME Fellow
Professor Placid Ferreira, MechSE’s Department Head, has been elected as a Fellow of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
- Ertekin joins faculty for Fall 2011
Elif Ertekin, a postdoctoral research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will be one of three new assistant professors in the Mechancial Science and Engineering Department in Fall 2011.
- Nano-CEMMS visit held at Illinois
The administrators of the Nano-CEMMS Center hosted their annual site visit at Illinois on June 6-9.
- Kim to join MechSE as new assistant professor
This August, Seok Kim will start his career as one of three new assistant professors hired in the Mechanical Science and Engineering Department.
- Researchers develop cartilage-to-bone regeneration
University of Illinois researchers have developed a novel way to promote cartilage-to-bone regeneration in damaged long bones.
- Ewoldt to join MechSE faculty
Randy Ewoldt will be leaving the University of Minnesota to become a Mechanical Science and Engineering assistant professor at Illinos.
- Harry Dankowicz receives CAS Appointment
MechSE Professor Harry Dankowicz has received a Center of Advanced Study (CAS) research appointment that he will take during the semester of spring 2012.
- Nanotechnology features Ferreira's nano-imprinting publication
MechSE department head Placid Ferreira co-wrote the publication that was the cover feature for the April 15 issue of Nanotechnology.
- MechSE alumni board president appointed University of Iowa provost
MechSE alumni board president Barry Butler was appointed provost of the University of Iowa in May 2011, after serving as interim provost since October 2010.
- Taher Saif honored as ASME Fellow
ASME has elected MechSE Professor Taher Saif to the grade of ASME Fellow.
- Toussaint elevated to Senior Member of OSA
Kimani Toussaint, Jr. was recently elevated to the rank of Senior Member in the Optical Society of America (OSA). A Senior Member of OSA is one who is currently an active member of OSA, and has demonstrated at least 10 years of significant professional experience in the field of optics and photonics.
- New Illinois research institute to advance future clean energy
The University of Illinois has established a new research center on campus to develop the fundamental science required for a carbon-neutral energy economy. The center is part of the $100 million International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I2CNER, pronounced “Ice-ner”) located at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan. MechSE Professor Petros Sofronis is director of the Institute.
- Toussaint awarded two research grants from the National Academies Keck Futures Initiative
MechSE Assistant Professor Kimani C. Toussaint, Jr. was recently awarded funding from the National Academies Keck Futures Initiative (NAKFI) for two separate research projects.
- David Saintillan receives 2011 Pi Tau Sigma Gold Medal
MechSE Assistant Professor David Saintillan receives the 2011 Pi Tau Sigma Gold Medal. This award is given to a young professor who demonstrates outstanding achievement in mechanical engineering.
- King named Bliss Professor
William King is one of seven College of Engineering faculty members who have been named as Bliss Professors—in recognition of demonstrated leadership in their technical areas and significant contributions to the reputation of the college and the university.