October 2014

Theresa Mayer Named Associate Dean for Research and Innovation

Architectural Engineering Department Wins the Henry C. Turner Prize for Innovation in Construction Technology

Research Teams to Study 2D Materials with NSF Funding

Alumni Tailgate Raises Funds for Scholarship

New Center to Focus on Cutting-Edge Advancements in the Natural Gas Industry

Peggy Johnson to Step Down as Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Learn more about this month's cover photo.

In the News

Akhlesh Lakhtakia hopes to help forestry experts save ash trees from devastating beetles MORE>>

Aerospace Engineering alumna
recognized for "being an impeccable leader, inspiring mentor, and exceptional engineer" MORE>>

Architectural Engineering's Houser leads research on LED technology MORE>>

Advait Kumar founded a start-up that provides clean water in India MORE>>

Recognitions and Awards

Two alumni receive the Penn State Alumni Association's Alumni Fellow Award MORE>>

Tony Huang honored with technical achievement award MORE>>

Long-Qing Chen receives materials theory award MORE>>

Penn State's student chapter of Bridges to Prosperity named Bridge Team of the Year MORE>>

Jose Palacios appears in American Society for Engineering Education's Prism Magazine's "20 Under 40" feature MORE>>

Around the College

ClariPhy cofounder Paul Voois ('88 EE) is the fall 2014 Bishoff Entrepreneur-in-Residence MORE>>

College of Engineering awards 12 instructional and research equipment grants MORE>>

Biological Engineering senior travels to "help as many people as possible" MORE>>

College's new Global Engineering Leadership Program supports international outreach for students and faculty MORE>>

Sean Brennan discusses the benefits and challenges of self-driving cars MORE>>

Upcoming Events

Oct. 21, 2014: Dean Amr Elnashai is an invited panelist for "Disaster Resilience: The Intersection of Research and Policy" at the US Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, DC MORE>>

Nov.1, 2014: Alumni Tailgate MORE>>

Nov. 6, 2014: Penn State Forum Speaker Series presents Robert D. Braun ('87 Aero), David and Andrew Lewis Professor of Space Technology at Georgia Tech

MORE>>

Nov. 12, 2014: Hankin Lecture: Peter Yost "Sustainability in Residential Construction" MORE>>

Nov.16-21, 2014: Global Entrepreneurship Week MORE>>

Mar. 24, 2015: Penn State Forum Speaker Series presents Nicholas DeIuliis ('90 ChE), president and CEO of CONSOL Energy MORE>>

About this month's cover photo:

On September 10, students participated in the Leonhard Center Speaking Contest. Undergraduate engineering students gave 10-minute presentations that outlined solutions to a real-world societal problem.

For more photos from College of Engineering events, follow us on Flickr.

College of Engineering Names New Associate Dean for Research and Innovation

Distinguished professor of electrical engineering Theresa Mayer ready to seize opportunities, address challenges

Theresa Mayer, distinguished professor of electrical engineering,
has been named the College of Engineering's associate dean for research and innovation.

She will assume her new role Oct. 15.

Mayer said, "This is an exciting time for engineering at Penn State. There are tremendous opportunities for our college to build on our strong foundation of interdisciplinary research excellence and deep collaborative industry and global partnerships to address grand engineering challenges that will have a profound impact on society."

LINK TO FULL STORY>>

AE Department Receives National Building Museum's Henry C.Turner Prize

Museum's executive director cites the innovative research underway at the GridSTAR Center in Philadelphia's Navy Yard

The Penn State Department of Architectural Engineering has been named the recipient of the National Building Museum's 2014 Henry C. Turner Prize for Innovation in Construction Technology.

The prize, which includes an honorarium of $25,000, recognizes an invention, an innovative methodology and/or exceptional leadership by an individual or team of individuals in construction technology.

The department was cited for "fostering a broad range of collaborative research efforts that will lead to efficiencies in the construction process and encourage energy-efficient building solutions."

LINK TO FULL STORY>>

NSF funds three Penn State teams to study 2D materials

Projects benefit from NSF Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation program

Through the National Science Foundation's Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) program, Penn State was awarded $4 million over the next four years to lead two teams of investigators and support members of a third team in the new field of 2D crystals and layered materials.

Image: Ana Laura Elias/Penn State

A material that is only a single atomic-layer thick can have completely different properties than its bulk counterpart. A new field of nanoscale science and engineering is emerging to study the wide variety of two-dimensional materials and what happens when they are stacked one on top of the other. Potential applications include energy harvesting and storage, sensing, electronics and photonics, and bioengineering.

LINK TO FULL STORY>>

Penn State-Maryland Tailgate to Benefit Engineering Alumni Society Scholarship

Students share how the PSEAS Scholarship has enhanced their education

The Penn State Engineering Alumni Society (PSEAS) will host its third annual alumni tailgate Saturday, November 1, at the Pegula Ice Arena. While the event features food and fun activities for Penn State fans of all ages, it also includes a silent auction that raises money for a great cause: the PSEAS Endowed Scholarship.

Established in 1998, the PSEAS Scholarship supports financially eligible and academically talented undergraduates who are enrolled or plan to enroll in the College of Engineering. It has provided more than $108,000 to 33 aspiring engineers.

LINK TO FULL STORY>>

GE to Invest up to $10 million for New Center for Collaborative Research on Intelligent Natural Gas Supply Systems

Researchers, students, and industry to collaborate on range of natural gas initiatives

Photo Credit: Flickr/Matthew Bradley

GE announced that it will invest up to $10 million in Penn State to establish a new innovation center focused on driving cutting-edge advancements in the natural gas industry.

The Center for Collaborative Research on Intelligent Natural Gas Supply Systems at Penn State (CCRINGSS) will engage Penn State researchers and students from many disciplines in collaborative work with various industry stakeholders. The center will seek to advance efficiency and environmental sustainability both through technological innovations and improved supply chain management.

LINK TO FULL STORY>>

Civil and Environmental Engineering Head Plans to Return to Faculty

Johnson to shift focus to her teaching and research

Peggy Johnson has announced that
she will step down as head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) next August.

She will remain in the college and resume teaching and research in the department.

Amr Elnashai, Harold and Inge Marcus Dean of Engineering, said, "Peggy has performed at the highest level on all aspects of the duties of a department head and a leading faculty member. During her tenure, CEE faculty secured many National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development awards and other prestigious awards. Her work with CEE alumni has resulted in tremendous progress, and her service on so many college and University committees has been exemplary."

LINK TO FULL STORY>>

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