August 2018
Mechanical Engineering 150th Anniversary Celebration: 
Please Join Us!

The University of Michigan (U-M) Mechanical Engineering (ME) Department is in the midst of celebrating a major milestone, its 150th anniversary! ME helped pioneer the field 150 years ago, and continues to be a worldwide leader in research and education, both basic and translational, from transportation engineering to energy, from bio/health to manufacturing and beyond. 

Throughout 2018 the Department has celebrated the sesquicentennial with a variety of events, including a distinguished lecture series, and culminating on September 21, 2018 with a full-day of on-campus activities including panel discussions focusing on the Department's rich history and exciting future. We'd love for you to join us! Click HERE to RSVP.

Two of the six lectures in the ME 150th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture series remain, Cristina Amon on September 10, 2018 and Jon Lauckner on September 18, 2018. 

Message From The Chair
Dear Friends, 

2018 has been a year of milestones. Not only does it mark the University of Michigan's (U-M) Department of Mechanical Engineering's (ME) 150th anniversary, it also marks another milestone in our history, as longtime faculty member Ellen Arruda, who holds the Maria Comninou Collegiate Professorship in Mechanical Engineering, assumes the role of ME's 18th Department Chair on September 1, 2018. Suffice it to say, the Department could not be in better hands.

Transitions often lead to reflection, and as I prepare to complete my time as Department Chair after two five-year terms, I find myself thinking about the myriad of changes that have taken place since I started my tenure as Chair in 2008. From our world-class facilities including the new $46-million, 63,000 square-foot research complex addition, a $50-million renovation of GG Brown and renovation of the Walter E. Lay Auto Lab to the creation and implementation of a comprehensive and visionary strategic plan covering all areas of research, education, faculty, staff, facilities and external relations, we have accomplished so much. 

Click HERE to read more.

It has been my great honor to serve as Chair of the U-M ME Department for the last 10 years. To friends far and wide, thank you for your unwavering support over the past decade.

Humbly,
Kon-Well Wang
Tim Manganello/BorgWarner Department Chair
and Stephen P. Timoshenko Collegiate Professor

August, 2018
Ellen Arruda Named New U-M ME Chair
Ellen Arruda has been named the new chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering effective September 1, 2018. 

Arruda, who joined U-M's ME faculty in 1992, will be the eighteenth chair of the department. 

"I am honored and excited to lead this fantastic mechanical engineering department at this time," Arruda said. "The products and processes that mechanical engineers create are critical to our physical future. Mechanical engineering at Michigan is one of the best places in the world to be if you desire to engage in creative solutions that improve the quality of life and make the world safer, better, and cleaner."

Recognition & Achievements

  • Korybalski Lecture Brings C.D. Mote, Jr. to Campus MORE>>
     
  • ME 150th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture Series: Cristina Amon MORE>>
     
  • Sick and Violi recipients of Blue Sky Initiative MORE>>
     
  • Azocar wins 2nd place in IEEE Student Paper Competition MORE>>
     
  • Gourgou receives NIH K01 Career Development Award MORE>>
     
  • Diann Brei named next Integrative Systems + Design (ISD) Chair MORE>>
     
  • Fu's Research on the development of human embryo-like structures featured in Nature MORE>>
     
  • ME Welcomes Four New Faculty Members MORE>>
     
  • Callan Luetkemeyer receives 2018-2019 J. Robert Beyster Computational Innovation Graduate Fellowship MORE>>
     
  • Cooper's article on slashing imports of metal and steel published in The Conversation
  • Toward a stem cell model of human nervous system development MORE>>
     
  • Kruger receives 2018 Research Faculty Recognition Award MORE>>
     
  • Ellen Arruda named next ME Chair MORE>>
     
  • Muhammad Abdullah's team wins first place in Future of Energy Challenge MORE>>
     
  • ME 150th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture Series: Carla Bailo MORE>>
     
  • Even one automated, connected car improves safety, energy use in traffic
  • ME 150th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture Series & 2018 Korybalski Lecture: C.D. Mote, Jr.
    MORE>>
     
  • Brei Receives ASME Adaptive Structures and Materials Award MORE>> 
     
  • ME Plays Integral Role in Space Time Capsule Creation, CubeSat MORE>>
     
  • Sick receives 2018 President's Award for Distinguished Service in International Education
  • Wang receives 2018 Pi Tau Sigma-ASME Charles Russ Richards Memorial Award
  • Koren featured in Siemens' The Magazine article
  • Stefanopoulou elected SAE Fellow
  • Fan Group's recent study on dislocation-obstacle interaction published in Physical Review Letters  
  • ME 150th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture Series: Parviz Moin MORE>>
     
  • Koren receives 2018 IJPR Best Paper Award  
  • Five ME students receive 2018 NSF GRFP awards MORE>>
     
  • Wadas receives DOE NNSAS SSGF Award MORE>>
     
  • Dasgupta receives DARPA Young Faculty Award MORE>>
     
  • U-M ME 150th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture Series: John Hutchinson MORE>>
     
  • Kurabayashi lab's study using a droplet microfluidic device was published in Nature Communication MORE>>
     
  • Sienko receives ASME Engineering Education Donald N. Zwiep Innovation in Education Award MORE>>
     
  • Rokni receives 2018 Park AFM Scholarship Award MORE>>
     
  • ME students receive 2018 ME Departmental Awards MORE>>
     
  • Gaining new insights into multiphase flows: bubbly shock waves & superhydrophobic surfaces MORE>>
     
  • New gift will support two existing funds at ME MORE>>
     
  • Dasgupta and Vasudevan receive NSF CAREER Awards MORE>>
     
  • Brei selected to receive Rackham Master's Mentoring Award MORE>>
     
  • Reconstructive surgery tech gets start in ME 450 class MORE>>
     
  • Stefanopoulou selected to receive Rackham Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award MORE>>
     
  • Vasudevan receives ONR 2018 Young Investigator Award MORE>> 
     
  • Wu receives 2018 Ivor K. McIvor Award MORE>>
     
  • Peng receives E. & M. Ulsoy Citation Leader Award MORE>>
     
  • Dasgupta's research featured on front cover of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces MORE>> 
     
  • Ghadami and Cui receive Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship Awards MORE>>
     
  • ME students receive 2018 Leaders & Honors Awards MORE>>
     
  • U-M ME Alum Bhuvan Neema named to 2018 class of Energy Scholars MORE>> 
     
  • ME alumnus Yue Shao receives ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award MORE>>
     
  • Lu's research featured in ACS Central Science  MORE>> 
     
  • Sick elected 2018 Fellow of Combustion Institute MORE>>
     
  • ME researchers explore origami folding to enable tunable sonic barriers MORE>>
     
  • Chung receives 2018 IEEE MEMS Outstanding Student Paper Award MORE>> 
     
  • Bala Chandran's paper published in Energy and Environmental Science MORE>>
     
  • Wearable tech to quantify human performance in the field MORE>>
     
  • Spark Electric Racing represented at the North American International Auto Show MORE>>
     
  • Violi's group publishes article at NIPS on Machine Learning MORE>>
     
  • ME Faculty Receive 2017-2018 CoE Awards MORE>>
     
  • Stefanopoulou delivers Plenary Talk at the 56th Conference of Decision and Control describing Battery Controls MORE>>
     
  • Cybersecurity in self-driving cars: U-M releases threat identification tool MORE>>
     
  • Improving Vehicle efficiency and self-driving safety MORE>>
     
  • Liu's research highlighted in Research Features MORE>>
     
  • Okwudire's research gaining media coverage MORE>>
     
  • Cui wins MRS Gold Medal MORE>>
     
  • Barraza-Botet receives 2018 Mirzayan Fellowship MORE>>
     
  • Saitou elected IEEE Fellow MORE>>
     
  • Hu elected Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering MORE>>
     
  • Saitou and Liu research published in Newswire MORE>>
     
  • Seven ME students receive Engineering Graduate Symposium awards MORE>>
     
  • Shih receives 2018 SME Taylor Research Medal MORE>>
     
  • Fan receives 2017 ASME Haythornthwaite Young Investigator Award MORE>
     
  • To See a Full List Click HERE>>
 
Sick and Violi Recipients of Blue Sky Initiative 


Inspired by startup funding models, Michigan Engineering reinvents its internal R&D grant structure with the Blue Sky Initiative. 

Korybalski Lecture Brings C.D. Mote, Jr. to Campus
C.D. Mote, Jr., President of the National Academy of Engineering, delivered the 10th annual U-M ME 150th Anniversary Michael Korybalski Lecture on May 18, 2018. Mote's talk, which was titled "The Grand Challenges Scholars Program: Preparing Students for Global Engineering," focused on the challenges  facing the engineering profession in the global environment of the 21st century. 

Mote's lecture was a part of the annual lectureship endowed by Michael Korybalski, chair of the ME External Advisory Board and former chief executive officer of Mechanical Dynamics. The lectureship was created as a means to bring high-profile, inspiring speakers to the U-M community to help promote the impact of engineers on large societal problems, including energy and environment, health and quality of life, national security and disaster prevention.

Pictured from left, Kon-Well Wang, C.D. Mote, Jr., and Michael Korybalski

Kimberly Hammonds Receives 2018 Alumni Merit Award
ME alumna Kimberly Hammonds has been selected to receive the 2018 U-M ME Alumni Merit Award. Hammonds (BSME, 90') most recently served as the Group Chief Operating Officer of Deutsche Bank, where she was the third female in its history to serve on the Management Board of the 148-year-old company. She was named one of the top 10 Digital Leaders in Germany. Throughout her career Hammonds has worked in four different industries; automotive, technology aerospace and defense, and most recently financial services.

Katherine Avery Vozar Receives 2018 Outstanding Recent 
Alumni Award

ME alumna Katherine Avery Vozar has been selected to receive the 2018 University of Michigan Engineering Outstanding Recent Alumni Award. Vozar (MSE 11', PhD, 16') is currently a Technology Integration Lead at Ford Motor Company, where her work is dedicated to integrating emerging technology into forward model year vehicles, and accelerating systems-based, cross-functional development and implementation of relevant technologies sourced from multiple industries. 


LINK TO FULL STORY>>
 
Sienko Receives ASME Engineering Education Donald N. Zwiep Innovation in Education Award

Kathleen Sienko is the recipient of the ASME Engineering Education Donald N. Zwiep Innovation in Education Award. This ASME Engineering Education award recognizes mechanical engineering and closely related programs/departments for exceptional and innovative engagement in and fostering advances in mechanical engineering education, particularly those who have demonstrated exemplary contributions to the advancement of mechanical and multi-disciplinary project-based engineering education.

LINK TO FULL STORY>>
 
Dasgupta and Vasudevan Receive NSF CAREER Awards



U-M ME Assistant Professors Neil Dasgupta and Ram Vasudevan have both received National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Awards, the NSF's most prestigious award in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.

LINK TO FULL STORY>>
 
Vasudevan has also been selected to receive the Office of Naval Research (ONR) YIP Young Investigator Award. His proposal is entitled: "Real-Time Certified, Safe Control Synthesis for Autonomous Systems." 


Dasgupta was also honored with the Air Force of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Young Investigator Research Program (YIP) Award which is awarded to scientists and engineers at research institutions across the United States who have received Ph.D. or equivalent degrees in the last five years and who show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research. 

Stefanopoulou Delivers Plenary Talk at the 56th Conference of Decision and Control Describing Battery Controls
The CDC is recognized as the premier scientific and engineering conference dedicated to the advancement of the theory and practice of systems and control. 

Anna Stefanopoulou presented her Plenary on "Control Engineers: The Unsung Heroes of Battery Technology" explaining the importance and difficulties in battery management systems. 

Beyond EPA's Clean Power Decision: Climate Action Window  Could Close as Early as 2023
As the Trump Administration repeals the U.S. Clean Power Plan, a new study from the University of Michigan underscores the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions - from both environmental and economic perspectives.

Research led by U-M ME Professor Steve Skerlos, shows the climate action window could close as early as 2023. 

Improving Vehicle Efficiency and Self-Driving Safety

Professor Huei Peng and his research group have made excellent advances in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and automated vehicle technologies.

Peng's team developed an automated modeling methodology that searches designs to identify the optimal configuration and component size for a power-split hybrid powertrain system. In contrast to the conventional approach, they systematically searched through all possible designs, sometimes hundreds of millions of them, to identify dozens of potential designs. 

Existing automated vehicle evaluation methods include field tests and Monte Carlo simulations, neither of which enables the investigator, statistically, to bypass the many miles driven without incident to get to the events of interest. Peng and former graduate student Ding Zhao, who now serves as an assistant research scientist in the U-M ME department, have developed a methodology that does, known as accelerated evaluation. 

LINK TO FULL STORY>>
 
Smarter 3D Printers:
Improving Precision, Speed and Reliability at Low Cost

One of the challenges for today's 3-D printers lies in vibrations caused as they work. A printer's movable parts, particularly in lightweight desktop models, cause vibrations that reduce the quality of the item being produced. And the faster the machine moves, the more vibrations are created.

"Armed with knowledge of the printer's dynamic behavior, the program anticipates when the printer may vibrate excessively and adjusts its motions accordingly," said Chinedum Okwudire, an associate professor of mechanical engineering who directs U-M's  Smart and Sustainable Automation Research Lab.

U-M ME Researchers Explore Origami Folding to Enable Tunable Sonic Barriers

Managing traffic noise pollution has vexed researchers because of the broad range of audio frequencies that emanate from roads. Currently, only heavy, inflexible, wall-like barriers can reduce all of those sounds.

Researchers Kon-Well Wang, the Tim Manganello/BorgWarner Chair and the Stephen P. Timoshenko Collegiate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Ph.D. student Manoj Thota have brought a new method into the fold, developing an adaptive origami lattice structure that could quiet acoustic noise in roadways. There has been growing concern about the impact noise pollution has on blood pressure, hearing loss and attentiveness at work and school.

LINK TO FULL STORY>>
 
Wearable Tech to Quantify Human
Performance in the Field
Most biomechanics research takes place in laboratory settings, in part because conventional approaches, such as optical motion capture, require reflective markers and substantial calibration to effectively measure human movement. This makes them ineffective for working in the field.

Noel Perkins, Donald T. Greenwood Collegiate Professor and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor in Mechanical Engineering, is helping researchers break free of that constraint. 
Reconstructive Surgery Tech Gets Start in ME 450 Class
A new surgical device developed at the University of Michigan could make it quicker and easier to connect arteries in complicated procedures such as reconstructing a breast after mastectomy, or a severely injured leg after a car accident.

The "arterial everter" surgical device, which began as a project in an undergraduate class at Michigan Engineering, looks like a thin silicone pen with a flexible steel spine.  

LINK TO FULL STORY>>
 
U-M Solar Car Team - US Champions Win Second-Place Finish in Australia World Solar Challenge

In an innovative, bullet-shaped car, the University of Michigan Solar Car Team took a historic second place in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.  

LINK TO FULL STORY>>


University of Michigan
Department of Mechanical Engineering