2026 - Spring Engineering Newsletter

June 2026

SPRING EDITION

Dear Friends,

This month, we celebrate impactful research, undergraduate student spotlights and the newest members of the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering alumni family. On May 12th, we honored 547 graduates, including master’s degree students, doctoral candidates and undergraduates. Their achievements reflect the creativity, perseverance and excellence that define Rowan Engineering.

Congratulations to all.

Giuseppe R. Palmese, Ph.D.

Dean, Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering

Student spotlights highlight the breadth of undergraduate engineering experiences

Our Undergraduate Student Spotlight series highlights the breadth of what Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering students do inside and outside the classroom. Read stories from each discipline, showcasing hands-on learning, Engineering Clinic experiences, leadership, research, industry preparation and personal growth. Together, these spotlights reflect the passion and purpose shaping the next generation of Rowan engineers.

Engineering a comeback: Macy Gregory turned a medical crisis into a calling

Macy Gregory’s engineering career path started with a crisis.

In November of her sophomore year at the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering, the Cape May County resident received an alarming phone call from an ophthalmologist at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. An MRI of her brain revealed the reason her eyes were suddenly crossed.

Making waves with acoustics: From tiny microrobots to massive infrastructure, acoustic waves resonate

A love of music fueled an early interest in acoustics research for Chen Shen, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering.

Acoustics are like ripples in water. Sound waves behave similarly, spreading and interacting with obstacles.

However, unlike in music, acoustics are not limited to only audible sound, points out Shen, who has won awards and published dozens of papers for his groundbreaking work in the basic science and real-world applications of acoustic waves.

Rowan engineering professors receive national honors

Ying “Gina” Tang, Ph.D., professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Robert Hesketh, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering, recently received national recognition for their significant contributions to their respective fields. Tang was named an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow. Hesketh was named an American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Fellow. Both are longtime faculty members in the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering.

Exploring cell communication with 3D printing

In the body’s tissues, cells coordinate with one another constantly. Andrea Vernengo, Ph.D., associate professor of chemical and biomedical engineering in the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering, studies the messages they send and receive by suspending cells within soft substances, called hydrogels. With this approach, which relies on 3D printing, her lab studies wound healing and cancer, with the aim of discovering new therapies.

Rowan University researchers unveil Robossis Alpha, a breakthrough in orthopedic surgery

Mohammad Abedin-Nasab, Ph.D. and his team of researchers at Rowan University have introduced Robossis Alpha, the world’s first robotic surgical system designed for minimally invasive alignment of fractured long bones. This advanced prototype, nearing clinical trials, addresses a critical challenge in orthopedic surgery: ensuring precise bone positioning to prevent complications such as malalignment, repeated operations, chronic pain, impaired mobility and extended recovery times.

Researching additive manufacturing in civil engineering

A structural engineer by training, Islam Mantawy, Ph.D., wants to leverage additive manufacturing and robotic construction to solve problems conventional methods can’t easily overcome. Hazard resilience and climate adaptation are major concerns. How can we, for example, build structures faster using sustainable materials that are simultaneously resilient and that can adapt to different stressors such as climate variabilities?

Human-machine interactions could one day revolutionize fall prevention

Slip and falls among older adults and people in certain occupations can impact health and productivity and even risk permanent injury or death. What if there was a way to protect people from slips and falls using wearable devices?

Mitja Trkov, a mechanical engineer in the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering, focuses his research on soft robotics and human-machine interactions in biomedical applications.