Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering

Engineering students shape future of origami drone design
A team of IE 4350X: Engineering Problem Solving for Defense students worked this semester in a class taught by IMSE associate professor Cameron MacKenzie with specific focus on origami drones, a unique design featuring folding & shape shifting in the wings. Read More

May 15, 2025
Matt Frank named C.G. “Turk” and Joyce A. Therkildsen Department Chair of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering
Matthew C. Frank has been named the C.G. “Turk” and Joyce A. Therkildsen Department Chair of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering at Iowa State University. Frank’s appointment begins July 1. Read More

May 14, 2025
Allison Hubbell: Outstanding senior in industrial engineering
"When you think about college, it’s easy to focus on the obvious things — classes, dorms, sports teams. And while those are part of the experience, the real promise of Iowa State is something deeper: it’s the opportunities that help you grow into the person and professional you want to become." Read More

May 12, 2025
Iowa State University dedicates new Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building
Iowa State University’s Therkildsen Industrial Engineering building offers industrial engineering students a technically-enhanced research laboratory and learning space where they can gain knowledge to design tomorrow’s innovative, safe and nimble production processes across all industry sectors. Read More

May 2, 2025
Pivots, prototypes, and persistence: How two Cyclone Engineers are solving an age-old ag challenge
Dakota Belling (’23 civil engr) and Eugene Meyer (’22 industrial engr) launched an agtech startup, Bovi-Jet, with the help of Iowa State entrepreneurship programs. Read More

April 8, 2025
Four State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa Participants Awarded $500 IMSE Scholarships
Four participants were awarded $500 IMSE scholarships at this year's State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa (SSTFI). Read More

April 4, 2025
‘Pursuing ideas I’m passionate about’: Allison Hubbell, pitch-off competitor
"Iowa State's entrepreneurial resources are incredibly beneficial. Every event I’ve participated in has helped me grow and gain confidence." Read More

March 6, 2025
Big ideas need specific tools — Walter Glockner found them in industrial engineering
Pursuing his passion to build and to solve problems led him to industrial engineering and eventually into IMSE assistant professor Jakob Hamilton’s lab as an undergraduate research assistant. Read More

February 28, 2025
Kara Albrecht: Outstanding senior in industrial engineering
Kara Albrecht, industrial engineering, has been named a fall 2024 Iowa State University College of Engineering outstanding senior. Read More

December 9, 2024
Sales Engineering minor bridge to a sales career
Macie VanNurden’s (B.S. ’22, industrial engineering) first stop in her journey from Wisconsin to Los Angeles was at Iowa State University majoring in industrial engineering with a sales engineering minor. This past July, VanNurden officially completed the program and rolled off as an outside sales engineer in Los Angeles, a place she’s always wanted to live and with a job that is much more customer-facing and dynamic. “I have direct ownership of customer relationships and personal brand—it is almost entrepreneurial in that sense. I look forward to further developing my sales style and strategy while continuing to learn and serve in everything I do,” says VanNurden. Read More

December 5, 2024
Melissa Boom: IE Alum Receives 2024 Women MAKE Award
For Boom it is important to spend time on being a positive role model for female employees. She mentors several female leaders at Winnebago Industries and is committed to the success of STEM programming for young students in high school. Read More

November 8, 2024
Senior Capstone Project Leads to Dream Job
Elizabeth (Belling) Krigbaum (B.S. '22, industrial engineering) knew she wanted to transfer to study industrial engineering (IE) at Iowa State after attending Des Moines Area Community College. “When the industrial engineering major was presented, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. To me, it was and has been the perfect fit for my interests and skills,” says Krigbaum, “My time at ISU was hands down my favorite years of school.” Read More

October 22, 2024
Michael Dorneich named Morrill Professor
Michael Dorneich, Joseph Walkup Professor of Engineering and professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering has been named Morrill Professor. The Morrill Professorship is a university award recognizing faculty members for their national and international reputation of demonstrated outstanding success in teaching and learning in undergraduate, graduate and/or extension/outreach programs. Read More

September 24, 2024
Trusting the robot in the workplace
Jundi Liu, assistant professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, graduate student Mobina Amrollahi, and undergraduate research assistant Rindirisia Wangira are actively conducting AGV/human trust laboratory studies using a virtual reality apparatus for human-robot interaction research. Modern manufacturing is seeing rapid changes in the workplace. One change is integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated technologies like Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) into operational processes. Read More

August 20, 2024
Allie (Harris) Millikan: From Cyclone Nation to Magic Kingdom
For Allie (Harris) Millikan (B.S. ’19 industrial engineering, concurrent MBA ’19), the industrial engineering (IE) road led from Cyclone Nation to Magic Kingdom. “I have such incredible memories from our family Disney trips growing up. I couldn’t imagine a more magical place to work,” she says. Read More

July 31, 2024