College of Engineering News • Iowa State University

Stanford lecturer Khosla speaks on importance of “assembly line” biosynthesis research

Diseases of the world may have a tougher time proliferating in the future thanks to the work of scientists like Dr. Chaitan Khosla, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Stanford University. He spoke to faculty, staff and students of Iowa State University February 26 with a presentation entitled “Assembly Line Biosynthesis …Continue reading “Stanford lecturer Khosla speaks on importance of “assembly line” biosynthesis research”

Five Miller fellowships awarded for 2015-16

Written by Anne Krapfl Five faculty proposals to develop new approaches for teaching undergraduate courses will share $56,000 in available funds for 2015-16, the 19th year of the Miller Faculty Fellowship program. Senior vice president and provost Jonathan Wickert endorsed the recommendations of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) advisory board, which …Continue reading “Five Miller fellowships awarded for 2015-16”

Mechanical engineering alumnus creates “The International Awesomeness League”

Greg Stargell, a mild-mannered, soft-spoken physicist, helps protect the world from missile attacks. Sound like the premise for a comic book superhero? Sure, but it’s also Huntsville physicist Stargell’s real-life day job. The superhero fictions come during Stargell’s nights and weekends when Stargell composes the jokes and story lines for his alter-ego, Da Spokesman, a …Continue reading “Mechanical engineering alumnus creates “The International Awesomeness League””

AerE department chair interviewed about drone guidelines

This month the Federal Aviation Administration released proposed guidelines for commercial unmanned aerial systems—commonly known as ‘drones.’ Rich Wlezien, chair of the Aerospace Engineering department at Iowa State University, says the current rules are so strict Iowa State students can’t even test the drones they’ve built in class because they pay ISU tuition, technically making …Continue reading “AerE department chair interviewed about drone guidelines”

ISU alumnus presents at annual Black History Month event about overcoming obstacles

Dr. Petros “Pete” Gheresus, Robert and Claire Reiss Chair of Industrial Engineering  at Kettering University, has one resounding message about his journey from Eritrea (formerly a province of Ethiopia), East Africa, to the American Midwest: he didn’t get here alone. “I did not get here by myself,” Gheresus said. “Call it the miracle work of …Continue reading “ISU alumnus presents at annual Black History Month event about overcoming obstacles”

Iowa State civil engineering alumna named an ENR ‘Top 20 under 40’

JoNette Kuhnau (BSCE’00, MSCE’01), project manager for Kimley-Horn and Associates, was recently named to Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) Midwest Top 20 under 40. ENR Midwest Top 20 under 40 recognizes young design and construction professionals from the region who have made significant contributions to their firms, professions and communities. In the case of Kuhnau, she has …Continue reading “Iowa State civil engineering alumna named an ENR ‘Top 20 under 40’”

Kumar elected IEEE Control Systems Society Distinguished Lecturer

Ratnesh Kumar, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Iowa State, was elected a Distinguished Lecturer for the Control Systems Society of the IEEE. Kumar is one of 12 IEEE CSS Distinguished Lecturers, selected by a team of distinguished leaders of the discipline. Kumar will hold this position for next three years …Continue reading “Kumar elected IEEE Control Systems Society Distinguished Lecturer”

Proplanner featured in Iowa Innovation Corporation’s newsletter

Iowa Innovation Corporation’s newsletter Connections included a profile of Proplanner, an engineering software company founded by Dave Sly, IMSE professor of practice. The Iowa Innovation Corporation is a private non profit organization that fosters Iowa research and development, supports the commercialization of ideas, and establishes funding resources to help Iowa companies grow and innovate. Read the …Continue reading “Proplanner featured in Iowa Innovation Corporation’s newsletter”

Applying undergraduate knowledge to structures research and quality management

Lauren Ruchti works as undergraduate research assistant at the Institute for Transportation As a junior in civil engineering, Lauren Ruchti is making sure she learns as much as she can about the practice of structural engineering to prepare for her career. Through her experience as an undergraduate research assistant, Ruchti is investigating important topics, like …Continue reading “Applying undergraduate knowledge to structures research and quality management”

Kothari working on Android malware with help from DARPA

By Michael Still Your phone isn’t safe. Believe it or not, there was a time before voice command and GPS tracking when a phone was just a phone. Software plays a major role in making our phones do what they do which impacts in the way we live, work, and play. As a result, our safety …Continue reading “Kothari working on Android malware with help from DARPA”

Iowa State student outreach event teaches kids bridge-building

What do K’Nex, marshmallows, toothpicks, and crawling on tabletops have in common? Why, bridge-building of course. Several students in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering (CCEE) at Iowa State University led about 25 Story County elementary school students on a bridge-building adventure. One Sunday per month from November 2014 through February 2015, children discovered civil …Continue reading “Iowa State student outreach event teaches kids bridge-building”

Senator Ernst tours new ag labs at Iowa State

Senator Joni Ernst continued her 99 county tour Wednesday in Story County at Iowa State University.  Ernst toured a new complex of buildings on campus devoted to the latest Bio Renewable fuels and Agriculture and Bio Systems Engineering. “Our new buildings here are the result of our impact on the bio economy and agriculture here …Continue reading “Senator Ernst tours new ag labs at Iowa State”

The impacts of the invisible: how microbes affect our lives

New agricultural and biosystems engineering assistant professor studies microbiology and the influence of global change on the environment.  Adina Howe evaluates her success in two ways: through the impact her work has on society and through her students’ achievements. “It’s more than my personal accomplishments. As a professor, it’s exciting that I can motivate students …Continue reading “The impacts of the invisible: how microbes affect our lives”

Video game industry is more than just a degree

What does it take to make it in the video game industry? Everything and nothing. Keith Fuller, head of Fuller Game Productions, spoke to a full room of game developing hopefuls about the ups and downs of the industry. Fuller suggested that an education alone is no longer enough to assure professional success. “Start forging …Continue reading “Video game industry is more than just a degree”

New drone rules could benefit Iowa farmers, businesses

Newly proposed commercial rules for the use of unmanned aircraft open doors for Iowa farmers, realtors and businesses to be more productive, experts said Monday. “On one side we have this great economic development opportunity. (Unmanned aircraft) can have a huge impact on the productivity of farmland, so we don’t want to miss that,” said …Continue reading “New drone rules could benefit Iowa farmers, businesses”

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