College of Engineering News • Iowa State University

MCA chapter wins national Chapter of Excellence grant

The Iowa State University Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) received the $7,500 Chapter of Excellence Grant, a national award for only the ten best MCA student chapters in the U.S. The first $5,000 of the award goes to student scholarships, which were selectively divided four ways among Maria Hannasch, Tyler Mueller, Aaron Elston and Shawn McKenzie. …Continue reading “MCA chapter wins national Chapter of Excellence grant”

Engineering senior develops cutting-edge software

Growing up around R & D Industries, Inc., a computer network engineering and solutions company owned by his father, Christopher Van Oort, senior in software engineering at Iowa State, knows the ins and outs of computers. To gain practical experience, he has spent the past four years interning for Thinix, a small division of R …Continue reading “Engineering senior develops cutting-edge software”

Howe Hall features new open concept classroom

This week, Iowa State’s College of Engineering launched leading-edge classroom technology in an open concept room carved from unused atrium space. Tucked in a large alcove near the central stairs of Howe Hall, the classroom for up to 120 students features 12 monitors throughout, backlit white boards, moveable chairs, and a large display screen, projector, …Continue reading “Howe Hall features new open concept classroom”

ECpE researcher completes lab on a chip device

by Thane Himes Liang Dong recently completed research on a device that can help scientists find more effective ways to protect crops and combat Parkinson’s disease by studying, of all things, worms. Nematodes possess simple nervous systems, but still share important characteristics with the nervous systems of humans. By studying nematode nerves, researchers can learn more …Continue reading “ECpE researcher completes lab on a chip device”

Vogel develops communication standard at Emerson Electric Company

Scott Vogel, a 1989 electrical engineering alumnus, has been working for Emerson Electric Company for over 23 years, but his commitment to engineering began much earlier than that. As a young boy growing up in Fulton, Illinois, a small town just over the eastern Iowa border, Vogel considered himself a “computer geek” as he would …Continue reading “Vogel develops communication standard at Emerson Electric Company”

Iowa State team places 3rd in finals of NECA Green Energy Challenge

The Iowa State National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Student Chapter took home third place and the $750 prize at the fourth annual Green Energy Challenge finals in Las Vegas. The team gave an oral presentation of their written plan, a mock energy analysis and retrofit of Hilton Coliseum, to a panel of NECA industry leaders …Continue reading “Iowa State team places 3rd in finals of NECA Green Energy Challenge”

Bowler named College of Engineering equity advisor

The College of Engineering recently announced Professor Nicola Bowler as its next equity advisor. As such, Bowler will play a central role in implementing ISU ADVANCE goals, and will also be the primary leader of efforts at the college level to transform engineering for women and underrepresented minorities. Her appointment is effective immediately. More specifically, she will …Continue reading “Bowler named College of Engineering equity advisor”

IMSE alum finds success in healthcare industry; begins role as CEO at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa

Dan Varnum didn’t know when he started in Iowa State’s industrial engineering program more than 30 years ago that he’d end up in the healthcare field. The journey that would take him there started during a co-op as an undergraduate and recently landed him in the position of chief executive officer at Mercy Medical Center …Continue reading “IMSE alum finds success in healthcare industry; begins role as CEO at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa”

Iowa State researchers double down on heat to break up cellulose, produce fuels and power

AMES, Iowa – Nicholas Creager recently pointed to the nuts and bolts of one of Iowa State University’s latest biofuel machines. The 6-inch diameter, stainless steel pipe is the pressure vessel, which is essential for the system’s operation, said Creager, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering and biorenewable resources and technology. It’s a little over …Continue reading “Iowa State researchers double down on heat to break up cellulose, produce fuels and power”

CoE alum finds success in healthcare industry; begins role as CEO at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa

Dan Varnum didn’t know when he started in Iowa State’s industrial engineering program more than 30 years ago that he’d end up in the healthcare field. The journey that would take him there started during a co-op as an undergraduate and recently landed him in the position of chief executive officer at Mercy Medical Center …Continue reading “CoE alum finds success in healthcare industry; begins role as CEO at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa”

Programs push for women in science, engineering

Engineering may be commonly viewed as a male-dominated field, but there are plenty of women at Iowa State who would argue that engineering is not purely a male monopoly. Kelsey Bruning, president, and Cara Petrie, president-elect, are the leaders of the Iowa State chapter of the Society of Women in Engineering. These two have long …Continue reading “Programs push for women in science, engineering”

Levitas’ virtual melting research featured in Nature Materials

A recent paper on virtual melting by Valery Levitas, Schafer 2050 Challenge Professor and aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering faculty member, has been featured in Nature Materials. The paper, by Levitas and Ramon Ravelo, a collaborator from Los Alamos National Laboratory, “Virtual melting as a new mechanism of stress relaxation under high strain rate loading,” …Continue reading “Levitas’ virtual melting research featured in Nature Materials”

New faces in the college

To meet the needs of a growing program, the College of Engineering has welcomed new faculty in six of its eight academic departments this year. With research interests in areas like biomedical materials, fluid dynamics, and the economics of biomass, this group of faculty members brings innovative research ideas to the college along with new …Continue reading “New faces in the college”

Zengyi Shao: advancing the science of bioengineering

Zengyi Shao, who will join the chemical and biological engineering department at Iowa State in January 2013, says she was encouraged to pursue the field early on by a high school teacher. “Mr. Yuduo Tang first suggested I consider biochemistry as my undergraduate major because I was very interested in the life sciences and always …Continue reading “Zengyi Shao: advancing the science of bioengineering”

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