Three Penn State aerospace engineering faculty - Jack Langelaan, associate professor; Sven Schmitz, associate professor; and Jose Palacios, associate professor - are helping design Dragonfly. The "dual quadcopter" will make an eight-year trek to Titan, Saturn's largest moon, and then spend two-and-a-half years flying and landing and gathering data about the icy body.>>
AUGUST 2019
FEATURES
Bioengineered cell walls open new medical, research possibilities
Biomedical engineers at Penn State have developed a process to build protective, synthetic plant cell walls around animal cells. The work, published in Nature Communications, could hold significant potential for a variety of medical and biomanufacturing applications for human health.>>
Barn owls may hold key to navigation and location
The way barn owl brains use sound to locate prey may be a template for electronic directional navigation devices, according to a team of Penn State engineers who are recreating owl brain circuitry in electronics.>>
Professor receives NSF grant to model cell disorder in heart
Hui Yang, Harold and Inge Marcus Career Associate Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at Penn State, was awarded a $320,625 grant from the National Science Foundation to study exactly how a process called glycosylation can cause proteins to disrupt the harmony of cell activity in the heart.>>
Using deep learning to improve traffic signal performance
Traffic signals serve to regulate the worst bottlenecks in highly populated areas but are not always very effective. Researchers at Penn State are hoping to use deep reinforcement learning to improve traffic signal efficiency in urban areas, thanks to a one-year, $22,443 Penn State Institute for CyberScience Seed Grant.>>
Microgrids, major changes: Professor leading effort to redesign power grid
When Hurricane Sandy hit the eastern seaboard in 2012, entire city skylines went completely black with the curious exception of a few small areas still emitting light, thanks to their use of combined heat and power (CHP) systems, a key component to microgrids. Jim Freihaut, professor of architectural engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering, sees these microgrids not as exceptions but as the norm of the future.>>
RECOGNITIONS & AWARDS
Iavarone named College of Engineering's student marshal for summer commencement>>
David Spencer named AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow>>
Thole honored for technical contributions, commitment to diversity in aerospace>>
Electrical engineering professor wins distinguished educator award>>
Student chapter wins fourth consecutive national industrial engineering award>>
Faculty members join Energy 2100 initiative as Fellows>>
Faculty, students receive recognition from ASTM International>>
Sophomore represents Penn State at innovation challenge in Israel>>
AROUND THE COLLEGE
Penn State-led Global Building Network at forefront of building performance>>
New program to be offered in partnership with the World Campus>>
Ozbolat receives grants totaling $1.5M for bioprinting>>
Early look at engineering to be offered to broad range of students>>
First-of-its-kind graduate course tackles legal issues in additive manufacturing>>
Building sustainability researcher joins architectural engineering>>
Eric and Janet Branyan endow professorship, excellence fund in engineering>>
New IEE leaders mindful of energy, environmental challenges>>
SEDTAPP welcomes new director of professional programs outreach>>
Penn State professor co-chairs roadmap to guide synthetic biology investments>>
Professor funds new engineering endowment to help students travel for success>>
Sustainable buildings and lighting researcher joins architectural engineering>>
O'Connor presents at international conference, shares insights in laser diagnostics>>
Artificial heart lab demonstrates the impact of undergraduate research>>
Eberly College of Science and College of Engineering receive '52 alumnus bequest >>
PlantVillage gives undergraduate a chance to help feed the world via technology >>
SEE 360 students work to improve Berkey Creamery experience for customers >>
Students, professor build specialized scanner to bring paintings to life >>
Penn State alumnus leads effort to restore the Chesapeake >>
IMPORTANT DATES
AUGUST 23
Penn State Larson Transportation Institute Golf Tournament
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