Provost Awards and Featured Experts

July 29, 2021

A Message from the Associate Dean

I hope you are having an enjoyable summer.

Before we launch into the busy-ness of the fall quarter, I would like to remind you about Sharon’s message in June regarding implicit bias training. In accordance with our strategic plan’s shared goal of fostering community and inclusion through EQ (emotional intelligence), we are asking all faculty and staff who have not completed implicit bias training within the last 12 months, to please complete the online training found in Career Pathway on DrexelOne. Faculty should send their completion certificates to Dorilona Rose no later than Monday, 8/2. Please reach out if you need assistance to access the training.

Caroline Schauer, PhD

Associate Dean, Research and Faculty Affairs

News

Awards Highlight Achievements of College Faculty and Staff

The College of Engineering was well represented at the 2020-2021 Provost Awards Reception, held on June 24. Awardees were recognized for their research, teaching, service, and advising, and overall contributions to their fields and the University community. Read more.

What We Can Learn from the Miami Condo Collapse

Abieyuwa Aghayere, PhD, professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering, has provided his insights on the Champlain Tower collapse to national media outlets, including CNN, The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He anticipates a number of building design, engineering and inspection policy changes in the aftermath of this historic disaster. Read more.

WATCH: Climate Research Featured on ASEE TV

As the University continues to commemorate Climate Year, the College of Engineering’s dedication to climate-centered research and action was the focus of a video produced by the American Society of Engineering Education. Watch.

Announcements

Save the Date: UIDP Connect 2021

Advance your connections on the university-industry partnership continuum at UIDP Connect 2021, a five-day event with built-in networking opportunities and high-caliber sessions for professionals in research leadership, corporate/academic relations, workforce/talent development, government relations, and more. Enjoy a diverse agenda with real-world applications for everyone on your team—from research administration to contracting, workforce development, and government engagement—at no cost to you! The event will be held September 13-17. More information can be found at the event website.

Science Integrity Virtual Listening Sessions

As part of their efforts to improve scientific integrity, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Scientific Integrity Task Force are organizing a series of three virtual listening sessions on July 28-30 to hear from individual members of the public who produce, communicate, and use scientific and technical information. To help the Task Force understand how to strengthen the integrity of Federal Science, NSF encourages members of the community to sign-up to make a brief oral comment sharing your thoughts. You can find more information and registration links at the White House site.

COVID Impact Statements

The Provost's Office has recently put out guidelines regarding the optional inclusion of a "COVID Impact Statement" with a variety of faculty lifecycle processes, including FARs, tenure & promotion, reappointment, etc. Please refer to your email for a message from Erin Horvat regarding this. If you have any questions related to the optional inclusion of COVID Impact Statements, please do not hesitate to reach out to Caroline Schauer or Dorilona Rose.

Volunteers Needed: SWE Roller Coaster Workshop

The Drexel SWE Outreach Committee, in partnership with TechGirlz, is hosting a virtual Roller Coaster and Engineering Workshop on Saturday, August 7 from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. For this event, the group seeks volunteers who can help girls design and build their own roller coasters using the engineering design process and household materials. Background checks are required for this event! For more information, contact SWE Outreach Chair Feben Wolde-Semayat at fw323@drexel.edu.

Dean’s Fellowship Application Period Open

Dean Walker invites applications for the Dean’s Fellowship program for the 2021-2022 academic year. As a Dean’s Fellow in the upcoming year, faculty will conduct projects in conjunction with the Dean, Associate Deans or Director of First Year Experience on topics including college finances, research administration, first-year student experience and enrollment management. Fellows will be invited to participate in relevant college leadership activities and are expected to report on the outcomes of their efforts at the close of the fellowship year. The fellowship will commence September 1, 2021, and participating faculty will receive a $5,000 supplement (transfer for non-salary discretionary use) during the academic year. To apply, please submit a self-nomination package, including a CV, personal statement describing your interest in the fellowship, and a brief letter of support from your Department Head (which may be emailed separately). All materials must be emailed to Associate Dean Caroline Schauer (cls52@drexel.edu) by August 3, 2021.

CONGRATULATIONS

Professor and department head of electrical and computer engineering Steven Weber, PhD, and Bruce Eisenstein Endowed Chair and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering David Han, PhD, have received funds from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) for a project entitled “Best Engineering Practices for Automated Systems.” This research will explore automation failures that provide insights relevant to the design of automation to support Unpiloted Aerial Systems (UAS) operations. Researchers will classify the various types of automation failures that are identified to better assess automation risks and areas of design that require special attention to eliminate or mitigate these risks in the operation of UAS.

Distinguished University and Charles T. and Ruth M. Bach Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Yury Gogotsi, PhD, is the recipient of two new grants. First, he has received funds to collaborate with FLIR Systems, Inc., on a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) supported project entitled “Integrated Soldier Protective System for Unburdened Chem-Bio Protection.” This project aims to develop low-burden, comprehensive protection against chemical and biological (CB) threats in the form of a lightweight, durable garment. Second, Professor Gogotsi will be collaborating with Giner Labs on a project funded by the US Department of Energy’s Small Business Innovation Research Program entitled “Multi-Functional and Conformal Na-Ion Conducting Membrane for Dendrite and Polysulfide Shuttle Suppression for Next Generation Room Temperature Sodium-Sulfur Batteries.” This project seeks to design a membrane to specifically address safety and cycle life for room temperature sodium-sulfur batteries thus increasing their commercial viability.

Professor Patrick Gurian (CAEE), Assistant Teaching Professor Johanna Casale (ELS), and Associate Professor Antonios Kontsos (MEM), assisted by Karen Shore of Corporate and Foundation Relations, were awarded $150,000 from the Kern Family Foundation for “Transforming First Year Engineering Design as a Catalyst for Institutional Change.” The project will support faculty seeking to reimagine their teaching of design fundamentals in the College of Engineering’s first year program.

Seen and Heard

Michael Waring, PhD, professor and department head of civil, architectural and environmental engineering, was quoted in a July 21 Chalkbeat Philadelphia story about concerns he raised about air purifier technology the School District of Philadelphia is planning to use in classrooms this fall.

Ajmal Yousuff, PhD, associate professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics, was quoted in a July 21 CNET story about the difference between the space visits Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos made this month and sending something into orbit.

Abi Aghayere, PhD, professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering, was quoted in a July 20 New York Times story about other cities around the country stepping up building inspection efforts in the aftermath of the Champlain Tower collapse in Surfside, Florida.

Jin Wen, PhD, professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering, was quoted in a July 16 Washington Post story about how to stay cool in the summer without air conditioning.

The College of Engineering's Eureka Summer STEM Camp with Girls, Inc. was featured in July 15 broadcasts by WCAU-TV (NBC-10), WPVI-TV (6-abc) and KYW-TV (CBS-3). (link for interal use only)