syracuse engineer S Y r a c use universi ty c o llege o f eng i neering and computer science
Surveying the Future
Advancing the Undergraduate Education Experience The Road to Sustainability
Student Bikes 250 Miles to Promote Green Education
Driven to Do More
Alumnus Avi Nash Finds Unique Ways to Give Back
From Engineer to Executive
Leveraging an Engineering Degree for Professional Success
sp r ing 2 0 1 4
on the
cover Meeting the Challenge
In an increasingly complex world, there is a paradigm shift happening in engineering and computer science education. Addressing the challenge of engaging students in the STEM fields demands a focus on advancing the educational experience of students at Syracuse University. Learn about how the College is taking up the charge to be a catalyst for change.
syracuse engineer DEAN Laura J. Steinberg, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for College Advancement Michael M. Ransom
Design Pinckney Hugo Group
Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs Can Isik, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Student Recruitment Kathleen M. Joyce
Photography Steve Sartori Chuck Wainwright
Associate Dean for Research and Doctoral Programs Mark Glauser, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Student Affairs Julie Hasenwinkel, Ph.D.
visit us on facebook
1 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
Assistant Dean for External Relations Ariel DuChene Executive Editor Ariel DuChene Contributors Ariel DuChene Kathleen Haley Denise Hendee Chilukuri Mohan, Ph.D. Debra Perkins Chris Powers
Web Site eng-cs.syr.edu Contact engineer@syr.edu
from the dean S
tudents at the College of Engineering and Computer Science deserve the very best education. To that end, the College has embarked on an ambitious program to super-charge the educational experience. As you will read in this issue of Syracuse Engineer, we are creating state-ofthe-art classrooms, recognizing our outstanding teachers with awards for excellence, connecting students with entrepreneurs and business leaders, and opening a new student shop where students turn designs into actual products and devices.
The College’s efforts were recently recognized by the National Science Foundation with a prestigious grant for nearly $1 million. With this grant, the College will serve as a national demonstration site for the introduction of advanced pedagogy into the engineering and computer science curriculum. We are training faculty members in using the tools and methods of modern pedagogy, including flipped classrooms, project-based learning, team dynamics, and technology-enhanced learning. As the faculty take these techniques into the classroom, we will document the impact on student learning and student motivation. Our results will make a powerful statement about engineering pedagogy in the 21st century. Meanwhile, our students are beneficiaries of the highest-quality, most effective methods of learning the art and science of engineering and computer science. I hope enjoy you reading about these activities in this issue of Syracuse Engineer.
Laura J. Steinberg, Ph.D. Dean SPRING 2014 2
contents
spring 2014
the Future 04 Surveying Advancing the undergraduate
15
education experience
Alum-sponsored lectures emphasize business side of engineering
07 If You Build It, They Will Come
Student-only machine shop brings ideas to life
the 09 Re-Engineering SummerStart
17
Driven to Do More
21
3-D Printing: From Cellular Phone Cases to Cellular Structures
Modified course structure engages and retains students
the Classroom 11 Flipping New teaching method boosts student participation
Engineering Meets Business
Igniting Innovation 13 SPARK: Partnership with local firm 25 encourages “intrapreneurship”
27
Online Mastery
33
Creating Waves
36
A Legacy of Student Support
Nate Rose ’14 sets an example for his peers
Stephen DeSalvo: Optimist
College expands reach with online programs
Controlling the flow of light
The College remembers Lori Hunter
37
Alumni Notes
38
In Memoriam
The Quiet Leader
Engineering student’s drive to make a difference
3 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
31
Building the Smart Grid Syracuse embraces training new power-industry engineers
Riding the Path to Sustainability Jeff Minnich ’15 pedals to promote sustainability
Avi Nash G’77 gives back
Pranav Soman, Ph.D. works to build human organs
23
29
News and notes from around the globe
W. Howard Card, EECS Professor Emeritus
SURVEYING THE FUTURE
Advancing the undergraduate education experience
T
he work of today’s engineers and computer scientists spans the globe, requiring the knowledge and flexibility to communicate across boundaries, cultures, and disciplines. Today’s undergraduates face one of the most competitive career environments in generations. Students must stand out as individuals—yet prove they can be successful as part of a team.
SPRING 2014 4
To satisfy these imperatives, the College of Engineering and Computer Science seeks to advance the entirety of the educational experience for today’s students—and to attract the next generation of talented, creative, and committed engineers and computer scientists. “Students need to have the foundations, but without the connection between the foundations and the really exciting applications, many students—even very capable students—lose interest along the way,” says College of Engineering and Computer Science Associate Dean for Student Affairs Julie Hasenwinkel. “The challenge is how to keep students motivated and keep the long-term goals in view. ”
Hasenwinkel and her colleagues are working on putting strategies in place to help keep students engaged and strengthen retention rates, including first-year coursework involving real-world projects and fostering stronger faculty-student interactions. Funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for $830,000, obtained last July, will bolster their efforts further. The project, “Meeting the Graduate 10K+ Challenge: Enhancing the Climate for Persistence and Success in Engineering (ECliPSE),” will roll out over the next several years. It Began With a Plan The project began forming in 2012 after Hasenwinkel organized a committee to look at ways to boost retention and best practices in engineering education. The effort was a way to address a focus on undergraduate education under College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean Laura J. Steinberg’s strategic plan. Hasenwinkel, who is the principal investigator, is joined on the project by committee members Assistant Professor and Director of the Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Program Katie
5 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
Cadwell; Engineering Management Program Director Frederick Carranti; Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Joan Dannenhoffer; and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs Can Isik. The project members, who had received seed funding from the dean, saw an opportunity to secure further funding with the NSF’s new “Graduate 10K+” initiative. Although the NSF has other funding programs to help train and retain college students in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, the Graduate 10K+ initiative is a public partnership with Intel and GE, which provided $10 million to help meet a goal of graduating 10,000 engineers and computer scientists in the near future. SU is one of only nine schools to receive the funding, which will go toward creating a more welcoming undergraduate experience. The team will focus on a faculty development program, implementing innovative teaching techniques in first-and second-year classes, and a redesign of the first-semester gateway engineering course with help from Bucknell University faculty, who have found success in efforts to retain undergraduates in the sciences. A New Paradigm for Excellence The College is resolute in its determination to prepare students to excel in industry, in academia—and in life. Students will learn how to learn and lead, how to seek and discover, and how to work together in resolving the challenges confronting our world. Hasenwinkel’s team is looking to start instilling these skills from the very beginning. The College’s gateway course, Students must stand out as Introduction to Engineering and individuals—yet prove they Computer Science (ECS 101), will be evolving through the use of hands-on can be successful as part projects across all disciplines. This of a team will give students the opportunity to experience engineering design and work on teams right from the beginning of their engineering studies. In most engineering curricula, the first few years are spent on courses in engineering fundamentals, with very few hands-on activities. This increased emphasis on engineering design projects in the
first year will help students appreciate how these fundamental courses tie into their capstone design projects, such as the design of airplanes that soar in the Carrier Dome, the design of intersections and bridges, or the design of new health care technologies. “A group of faculty is working on the development and implementation of the new course. One model allows students to enroll in different projects that give them the opportunity to explore different majors and make a more informed decision about the major they select,” Hasenwinkel says. “Also, our faculty The College’s ability to members believe engineering is an advance the student exciting field to work in, and we want to give faculty the opportunity to connect experience begins with the faculty—and they have with students and convey that excitement taken up the charge to be to students earlier in their careers.” Although the projects will benefit a catalyst for change all students, the team members hope they will be particularly beneficial in creating a more supportive environment for students from underrepresented groups. Increasing community connections with faculty and peers can help. For example, instead of class lectures, group projects in class might work better. “If the students are working in groups on problems, the professor can go around and interact more one-to-one,” she says.
Inspiring students, improving outcomes “We need to put our best foot forward in terms of the way we’re teaching the courses and using techniques that are going to be most effective in those early courses,” Hasenwinkel says. The College’s ability to advance the student experience begins with the faculty—and they have taken up the charge to be a catalyst for change. With a culture that celebrates teaching excellence comes a need to invest in providing opportunities for faculty to explore ways to integrate various engaging teaching techniques into the classroom.
This summer the College is hosting a workshop for all faculty members titled “How to Engineer an Engineering Education,” provided by faculty from Bucknell. “The workshop focuses on how to incorporate active learning into engineering courses,” Hasenwinkel says. “It includes discussion of research-based strategies for increasing student engagement in courses by using techniques to increase interaction with their peers and with their instructor—and increase their engagement with the material.” Some of the techniques involve having students work in teams to work on an activity, while being guided by the instructor. “The motivation is for them to solve the problem, which is analogous to what engineering is like in the real world,” she says. The model also makes the instructor naturally seem more accessible. “You’re really encouraging students to engage with Many times it’s just a matter you,” Hasenwinkel says. of getting students to focus Professor Cadwell, for example, on the big picture and what delivers what used to be her lecture material online for students to review as it takes to be a successful homework; she then spends that time in engineering student class for problem solving, Hasenwinkel says. As new strategies are implemented at the college, the researchers will be assessing the elements of the project over the years, looking at student attitudes toward persistence, connection to their peers and levels of self-confidence, and faculty perceptions. As an adviser, Hasenwinkel encourages students to reach out to the supports that are available at the College and University, including meeting with professors and teaching assistants and attending academic workshops. She also wants them to think about where they want to be after graduation. “Many times it’s just a matter of getting students to focus on the big picture and what it takes to be a successful engineering student,” she says. SPRING 2014 6
If you build it
They will come Y
ou have an idea. You make a design. But then—you build it. One of the most exciting steps in the engineering process is when all of the planning, designing, and analyzing comes to fruition with something you can hold in your hand.
A new, student-only machine shop in the basement of Link Hall makes it easier than ever for students to bring their ideas to life. The new 500-square-foot student shop sits adjacent to the main machine shop that for many years has served the College of Engineering and Computer Science and other schools at the University. Complete with worktables, hand tools, a drill press, two smallengine lathes, two mills, a surface grinder, and other equipment, the new shop allows students to make metal, plastic, and composite prototypes of pretty much anything. They must schedule and complete one hour of safety training to learn the basics, and then they are free to use the shop at any time. With students eager to get into the shop and get started, the College needed someone who could train and guide the students through their project work. With the anticipated opening of the shop, Tim Breen, who received a mechanical engineering degree from Clarkson University and spent many years at New Process Gear in East Syracuse as an automotive engineer, joined the College in April 2013.
7 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
“We have already had more than 100 students go through the basic training,” says Breen. “And we are hoping to keep building it up to meet student demand.” “Civil, bioengineering, you name it, we’re here for you,” Breen says, adding that the shop has become a regular tour stop for prospective and incoming students since it opened. “We’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the students who have used it.” “I’ve always been very interested in building things from scratch and using my imagination to solve problems,” says Alex Popov ’15, a mechanical engineering major. “I’ve really developed my visualization skills. When making pieces in both the lathe and mill, you need to be able to see the part visually in your mind as well as visually see the cuts before you make them.” The shop provides valuable hands-on experience, but it does have some limitations. So, if students need parts that are too complex for them to make themselves, Breen will have them made in the main machine shop, which is staffed by two full-time machinists. Breen enjoys getting in at the beginning of a project, serving as a project manager to help economize the process and make sure the students are getting practical experience and practical results. “The students are turning designs into parts for real application. That kind of innovation only comes with hands-on work,” he says.
Complete with worktables, hand tools, a drill press, two smallengine lathes, two mills, a surface grinder, and other equipment, the new shop allows students to make metal, plastic, and composite prototypes of pretty much anything.
More than 100 students have gone through the basic training, with hope to keep building it up to meet student demand.
The shop provides valuable hands-on experience, but it does have some limitations. So, if students need parts that are too complex for them to make themselves, Tim Breen will have them made in the main machine shop, which is staffed by two full-time machinists.
SPRING 2014 8
faculty excellence
julie hasenwinkel
Reengineering the SummerStart
T
here has been a great emphasis nationally and globally on promoting the study of disciplines such as engineering and computer science. This is a great goal, but one challenge that isn’t discussed as often in the public media is student retention once a student begins studying in these fields. Schools must keep them interested and engaged. There are students who, despite initial interest, do not graduate with degrees in engineering and computer science. And among minority groups, the rates are even lower.
For many students who leave, the decision is based on a perception that the curriculum is too difficult or is not applicable to the real world. To address students’ concerns, the College of Engineering and Computer Science is working toward making its introductory courses more interesting and engaging. In 2009, for example, the College restructured its summer math course for first-year students to include more 9 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
context-based problem solving and saw nearly immediate improvements in student scores. In Summer 2013, similar changes were made to ECS 109, the introductory SummerStart seminar course. SummerStart students are largely from underrepresented groups in engineering and are most at risk for leaving the College early. Traditionally, ECS 109 had been lecture-based with little engagement between faculty and students.
Julie Hasenwinkel, associate dean for student affairs and associate professor in biomedical and chemical engineering, received a Faculty Excellence Award for her proposed changes to the course. The new course featured four weeklong engineering projects designed to give hands-on training that applies real-world knowledge for students.
“The objective is to engage our students in real-world engineering projects and problem solving during SummerStart in order to enhance their enthusiasm for engineering, critical thinking skills, and attitudes towards persistence,� Hasenwinkel said.
Among students who participated in the revamped program:
64 % 74
%
were more interested in engineering
were confident about studying engineering in college
82 % 92
%
felt they could work effectively in teams
found the faculty accessible and felt comfortable asking questions in class SPRING 2014 10
faculty excellence
kevin du
flipping
11 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
the classroom
A nationwide 2012 TeacherView survey of nearly 500 teachers who have “flipped” their classrooms produced the following findings:
66 % 80 % 80 %
reported higher student standardized test scores
reported improved student attitudes
reported increased job satisfaction
F
lipped teaching is a popular
method in which students listen to prerecorded lectures and spend classroom time applying the lessons, rather than listening to lectures in class and applying them in homework. Kevin Du, professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, is using funds from his Faculty Excellence Award to introduce flipped teaching into his Computer Security and Internet Security courses during 2013 and 2014. “If conducted well, this pedagogy can potentially revolutionize our education and significantly enhance the learning of students in our department,” Du says. “Also, if more faculty members are recording their lectures, the school can offer more online courses and reach more distance-learning students.” Du spent the last several years mastering a lecture-recording method that allows him to insert quizzes and other interactive activities to engage students. The students then listen to his interactive lessons on their own, and use class time to solve problems and have discussions based on the content. After one full semester of trying the new style Du definitely is enjoying it and says he notices a difference in his students. “More students are actively participating during class discussions,” he says. “Time will tell if that translates into a better overall understanding of the material.” As part of his “classroom flipping” efforts, Du is teaching other faculty members his recording techniques to help encourage their adoption of flipped teaching. More information can be found at www.cis.syr.edu/~wedu/online/.
SPRING 2014 12
: spark
igniting
innovation I
n the world of biology there is a relationship known as mutualism where two organisms of different species, working together, each benefit from a relationship. This mutual relationship is the best way to describe the outcome of a partnership between Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science and O’Brien & Gere, a national engineering solutions company with a strong presence in the Central New York community. Entrepreneurship is a booming initiative on many College campuses, but an underutilized concept is one of intrapraneurship. There are companies worldwide looking for creative talent who can join an organization and inspire innovation from the inside. Spark offered just that opportunity to educate students about the power their work can have inside a company and inspire current employees to think differently about an existing problem in the company’s portfolio. O’Brien & Gere is committed to building a culture of innovation, and the Spark competition was an engaging way to connect students and employees in a unique setting. “This think-tank-style competition encouraged creativity and innovation as an extension of the students’ core technical training while providing an opportunity for collaboration between the bright Syracuse University students and our subject matter experts here at O’Brien & Gere,” said Lee Davis, president and COO of O’Brien & Gere.
13 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
Twenty-four students arrived early on a Friday morning and were quickly briefed on the culture of O’Brien & Gere. The students then heard pitches from subject matter experts for the real business problems they would be addressing for the day. “I wondered what I was going to As we sat before our final get out of it,” said Larissa Pechenyy presentations, I was blown away ’14. “I saw a solid line between me as a student and the employees in the room. at the interactions between I questioned my ability to actually professionals and students, contribute to their ongoing work.” the exchange of ideas and just The students formed teams in which how much I had learned. No they worked directly with the subject longer were there walls between matter experts and faculty mentors for employees and students but the entire day. With problems from teams working and a community integrating power from renewable energy sources into the power grid working to solve problems to dealing with the waste produced through the yogurt-manufacturing process, students were working on real client problems and worked diligently to become experts themselves. The energy in the conference rooms was infectious, and employees who weren’t participating in the day took notice of the flurry of activity. The students were completely immersing themselves—their determination was evident as
not a single team was willing to stop to eat or take a break. Students grabbed their food and quickly returned to their rooms to continue working. In the final phase of the competition, the student teams presented their findings to a panel of judges. Each team was expected to present its solution and be prepared to answer questions from the judges. The O’Brien & Gere subject matter experts were the biggest supporters of their student presenters. “As we sat before our final presentations, I was blown away at the interactions between professionals and students, the exchange of ideas and just how much I had learned,” said Pechenyy. “No longer were there walls between employees and students but teams working and a community working to solve problems.” O’Brien & Gere and the College have both declared this program as a resounding success and plan to continue it as an annual College event. “It was truly exciting to not only witness but support future engineers and scientists as they apply theory from the classroom to practical, real-world challenges,” said Davis.
SPRING 2014 14
Diane Reineke G’90 Vice President of Business Development, Intelligence Systems Northrop Grumman
engineering meets business 15 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
W
hen Mary Barra took the helm of General Motors in January 2014, the news media swarmed around the fact that she had become the first female chief executive officer of one of the biggest corporations in America. One fact you heard less about was that Mary Barra has an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering.
The number of CEOs with engineering degrees is significant. Of the Fortune 500 companies’ CEOs, 28 percent have a degree in an engineering discipline. This fact alone should change the conversation for why students should consider studying engineering and computer science. Studying engineering and computer science produces leaders. When Dean Laura J. Steinberg addressed the freshman students in their first week on campus this year, she stressed that being a student in the College of Of the Fortune 500 Engineering and Computer Science is companies’ CEOs, 28 about developing a mastery of a specific percent have a degree in discipline, and it is also about learning an engineering discipline how to learn. Studying engineering and computer science teaches collaboration, discipline, problem solving and creativity, all of which are invaluable in the business world. A degree in engineering and computer science opens up a world of possibilities beyond the purely technical — a fact that is not always addressed in the classroom. One alumnus, Mussadiq “Muss” Akram ’10, was driven to find a way to highlight the breadth of opportunities open to students in the world of business. His gift to the College funds programming that emphasizes the impact people can have when Engineering Meets Business (EMB). “Having had the benefit of a multidisciplinary education at Syracuse University, I learned the importance of balancing technological and business concerns, and that has helped me immeasurably in my role as an energy consultant,” Akram says. “Supporting an initiative that fosters forwardthinking engineers prepared to face ever-evolving industry challenges is the perfect way for me to give back to a College that gave me so much.” When alumna Diane Reineke G’90 came to campus for the College’s inaugural EMB event, she shared her insights on navigating the journey from academic engineering to success in the business world. In her current role as vice president of business development for the Intelligence Systems division at Northrop Grumman, a leading global security company, she is responsible for developing strategies to capture new business opportunities on programs critical to national and global security. Reineke, a self-proclaimed “accidental executive,” provided students with a glimpse of the business world. “The balance of the engineering and business equation in particular plays a critical role in value creation,” she said. “Whatever you do,
focus on how you provide value. In doing so, you will not only contribute to the success of your team and the larger business enterprise, but to your professional success as well.”
Diane Reineke G’90 with Muss Akram ’10 Reineke shared these guiding principles for success—principles that apply throughout the life cycle of an engineering professional’s career: Engineering provides a depth of knowledge. “Your engineering degree gives you the background and tool kit to be able to tackle hard problems and is a foundation that you can build on in many ways, whether it is a continued technical career, a segue into the business side or earning an advanced degree in many other disciplines.” Be confident. “Always continue to stretch yourself. Be confident. You are capable of more than you think. Raise your hand for the View your career as a tough assignments and be courageous. journey rather than a It will increase your stock in the eyes series of destinations of your colleagues and managers, and you will build credibility as the can-do person. Show that you are a team player and that you’re willing to do what it takes to get the job done.” Don’t be afraid to fail. “Always strive for excellence, but don’t be afraid to take risks. If you never have a failure, it probably means that you haven’t gone beyond your comfort zone and you won’t grow. Trust me, I’ve had plenty of failures in my career. It makes you stronger.” View your career as a journey rather than a series of destinations. “Think of everything you do and each opportunity as a colorful thread as you weave your life’s tapestry. We are the sum of our life experiences.” Find balance. “Find the balance between your career and the life you want to have. And always remember to follow your heart and do what you love.” SPRING 2014 16
alumni profile
avi nash
Professor Santanam with students for India symposium on energy audits
driven
to do more
Alumnus Avi Nash gives back W
hen Avi Nash G’77 first left India as a 22-year-old graduate student, he never imagined he was taking the first steps in a winding journey that would see him become an engineer, financier, philanthropist and social entrepreneur. He came to Syracuse University on a research assistantship with Allen Barduhn,
17 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
graduated from the College of Engineering & Computer Science with a chemical engineering degree in 1977, earned an M.B.A. from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and worked for companies including Universal Oil Products (UOP), Booz Allen Hamilton and Goldman Sachs.
Today, Nash runs Avi Nash LLC, a management consulting firm in Greenwich, Conn., that works with global chemical industry leaders in mergers and acquisitions, capital market transactions and other strategic matters. He serves on the board of directors of Sigma-Aldrich, a life sciences and technology company. Along the way, he has never forgotten the College’s influence on his success. “The engineering background I gained at Syracuse helps my mind develop a logical way of thinking, dividing up problems into mini modules and then putting the modules back together to solve the problem. Plus, the quantitative skills I developed as an engineer were valuable in the investment world,” he says. “Syracuse played an instrumental role in my career and I really wanted to give back. I wanted to help the College meet unmet needs, and make a tangible difference rather than just writing a check that gets lost in a fund somewhere.” He is doing just that, using his Indira It’s been a real pleasure to Foundation to contribute in unique ways to help fund multiple projects for the College’s work with Syracuse again. I “Enhancing the Climate for Persistence had no idea what we were and Success in Engineering” (ECliPSE) going to do when we first initiative. The ECliPSE program is creating started, but in less than a a new model for undergraduate engineering year we have mushroomed education and is a shining example of how the one project into several College is “driven to do more.” First, Nash helped provide funds for a others. That doesn’t happen multidisciplinary, studio classroom. “The walls unless the chemistry is right between the different disciplines of engineering are breaking down, and a new classroom that could combine the needs of multiple types of engineering was a good place to start,” he said. During a subsequent visit to the College, he was impressed with many of the younger faculty, including one in particular who had spent her own money to visit a professor at another school to learn new, different teaching techniques. “I thought that was really neat and demonstrated the motivation and passion of the Syracuse College of Engineering and Computer Science faculty,” recalls Nash, who reacted by helping to establish the Idea-Exchange Travel Fund, which allows faculty members to travel to other universities to meet and exchange ideas with peer faculty who have introduced student-active pedagogies in their curriculum. “Making funds available for researching new ideas really got me thinking,” Nash says. “It’s not just what you have but what you do with what you have that is the key. How are we providing good
programs for students? What more can The walls between the we do?” different disciplines of Nash’s native India is a developing engineering are breaking nation with untapped potential. down, and a new classroom However, it faces fierce poverty. Upon that could combine the seeing all the interesting and innovative needs of multiple types of projects under way at the College, Nash determined another way he could help. engineering was a good “Syracuse professors work on a place to start large number of projects that could be beneficial to the United States, as well as India and other poor countries,” he says. For example, Professor Shalabh Maroo, a mechanical engineering professor, is developing solar-powered reverseosmosis units to produce clean drinking water from brackish water. Through Nash’s generosity, Professor Maroo is building a prototype to take to India and demonstrate in a remote village. “If you can demonstrate validity, then you can sell it. Let’s use the SU resources, have students help design and build the prototype, validate the application and then scale up. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Another group of students is working on energy audits for hospitals, universities, and other large organizations. Nash is providing funding Syracuse played an to send those students to schools in India instrumental role in my to train Indian students on the neat ways to help bring about energy conservation career and I really wanted improvements. to give back. “It’s been a real pleasure to work with Syracuse again,” Nash says. “I had no idea what we were going to do when we first started, but in less than a year we have mushroomed one project into several others. That doesn’t happen unless the chemistry is right.” The chemistry has been right, and the physics and engineering too. SPRING 2014 18
DEFY LOGIC
MAKE
the nash challenge DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT, NOW
Thanks to $150,000 in challenge funding from alumnus Avi Nash G’77, THE NASH CHALLENGE MATCHES your gift to Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science! Whether you direct it to specific initiatives or support our Dean’s Fund for Engineering, every gift counts. Matching amounts will go to the Dean’s Fund to support the College’s highest priorities in advancing the educational experience of our students.
DISCOVERY STARTS HERE
Our students want to learn—more. Real-world RESEARCH EXPERIENCE gives them a chance to excel. Your support will give more students a chance to assist our world-class faculty in tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from health care and cybersecurity to renewable energy and environmental sustainability.
WINNING BY DESIGN
Engineering is a team sport. Help students to gain hands-on, practical design experience, project management proficiency, and winning teamwork and leadership skills, through inclass projects and extracurricular activities ranging from the Formula SAE Race Car design project, to the Cessna/Raytheon Missile Systems Student Design/Build/Fly competition, and Engineers without Borders.
1=2 Visit eng-cs.syr.edu/nashmatch
NEXT-GENERATION EDUCATION
Collaborative problem solving is central to next-generation engineering education. Your support will help us to build the first of several new collaborative learning facilities— and to equip them with the state-of-the-art instructional technologies and flexibility necessary to facilitate rigorous team-based projects and instruction.
ENGINEERED FOR WORK
Our students are driven and ready to work. Help them learn from industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs—on campus and in the field. Your support will help our students work with top professionals as they tackle challenging, real-world problems at firms ranging from Fortune 500s to start-ups.
A TIME FOR ACTION
TAKE THE NASH CHALLENGE and join us in Advancing Our Educational Experience. Together, we will strengthen the next generation of engineers and computer scientists at Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. Help us maximize their impact, as we strive to build a safer, healthier, more sustainable future. Give now and make your gift count—TWICE. Visit eng-cs.syr.edu/nashmatch.
3-D printing from cellular phone cases to cellular structures
21 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
T
hree-dimensional printing has become a game changer in the world of customized product development. One can imagine a world where our inkjet printers will be sitting alongside personal 3-D printers. Need a new iPhone case? Print it yourself in your own home.
Pranav Soman is a professor in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering and is a researcher in the Syracuse Biomaterials Institute. For more information, visit http://soman.syr.edu/
But what if we could print human organs? According to assistant professor Pranav Soman, the idea isn’t inconceivable. Soman’s primary research interest merges the science of manufacturing and the world of bioengineering. Using a multidisciplinary approach, Soman is developing new ways to use biomaterials, lasers, and nanotechnologies to interact with, probe, and manipulate cells. In simpler terms, he is using a 3-D printer to ultimately build actual human organs. While Soman admits that the ability to build a human-sized heart, liver or kidney is about 10 years out, he is working toward that goal. In his Additive Biomanufacturing laboratory, he has built 3-D printers that use biocompatible inks to form complex cellular structures. His current research is focused on solving a current challenge in the drug development world. Before going to clinical testing, drugs must go through rigorous lab testing on flat-panel cell cultures and then through in vivo testing. “Animals do not have the exact cell makeup that humans do, and the flat-panel tests are not representative of the human body,” Soman says.
Soman envisions that these lab-created organs can be used to move drug testing from flat panels to actual organs and see how the drugs behave in the body more accurately. There are still some kinks in the process to work out — most notably the issue of how to get blood to pump through these manufactured organs. However, Soman’s work is helping to fill a gap in current drug-testing research. “Building three-dimensional human organs can help us test drugs’ effects on multiple organs at the same time in a more effective and efficient way.”
SPRING 2014 22
building the smart grid A
revolution is quietly taking place in the fundamental infrastructure that makes everything else possible: the power grid that facilitates the supply of reliable and inexpensive electricity to our homes and workplaces.
23 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
Change in the electrical power grid is necessitated by outmoded technology, aging equipment that is hard to maintain, environmentally undesirable emissions in many traditional power generation systems, and the rapid expansion in electrical power needs of the developing world. In addition, change is demanded by the dependence of the financial and telecommunication infrastructures on the power grid, as well as the introduction of renewable energy sources that help the earth but pose challenges in promising a reliable supply that meets demand consistently over time, since electrical energy storage capabilities are limited. Change is facilitated by The power system is the the development of new policies, largest machine in the technologies and algorithms for U.S., and its continued data analysis, power electronics, development requires a communication, control, scheduling, multidisciplinary research and trading in energy markets. concept that includes The result of such change is the advances in communication “Smart Grid” of the future, and the biggest obstacle to its development and control systems, is the urgent shortage of engineers cybersecurity, privacy, proficient in the newly developed and economics technologies and capable of utilizing them in building reliable systems. Many of the engineers currently employed in the power industry were trained decades ago and are expected to retire in the next two decades. Syracuse University, along with a few other academic institutions, has taken on the task of educating engineers of the future to replace this workforce. Four years ago, SU and five other New York State schools received a workforce development grant of $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop “Smart Grid” college programs in collaboration with each other. Many new programs and courses have been developed in these four years, along with new or renovated laboratoryassisted syllabi. A centerpiece of these efforts is the new Smart Grid lab in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The Smart Grid lab is currently home to many undergraduate and graduate courses with significant practical components, such as Power Electronics, Sensors and Measurements,
Electromechanical Devices, and Integration of Renewable Energy Sources. The lab also supports several graduate research projects, such as studying the impact of renewable energy sources coming into the grid. Another student project develops technology that provides on-demand feedback to customers; this impacts consumer behavior and reduces the overall cost of energy. “The power system is the largest machine in the U.S., and its continued development requires a multidisciplinary research concept that includes advances in communication and control systems, cybersecurity, privacy, and economics,” says Tomislav Bujanovic, research professor and Smart Grid lab director. “Balancing the ideas of the experts in all overlapping and/or adjacent research fields is another Smart Grid research challenge.”
SPRING 2014 24
the quiet
leader By Ariel DuChene
A
s a computer engineer, entrepreneur, DJ, and leader I have crossed paths with Nate Rose ’14 on a number of occasions. The first time I really met Nate Rose was during a focus group for the College of Engineering and Computer Science. We were asking students to help us uncover the core identity of the College. I quickly noticed that while he didn’t answer every question, when he spoke his opinions were noticed by the other students and they were impactful. The portrait of a stereotypical leader is someone with a powerful personality who leads with bold strokes and aggressive ambition. Rose, on the other hand, comes across as quiet and unassuming. But looks can be deceiving. The more you talk to him, the more evident What excites me the most it becomes that he is undeniably a leader. about Syracuse University His words are just as deliberate as his actions. He knows where he is going and is the wide variety of if he doesn’t know how to get there, he people to interact with. has built the connections to seek out the SU is rich in diversity answers. and allows me to meet Rose came here as a transfer student, people of different but he knew from high school that backgrounds and creeds. Syracuse University was where he belonged. “It was the only place I Their perspectives and experiences have aided in felt would allow me to venture off in multiple avenues of interest effectively,” my own personal growth. says Rose. A testament to his persistence:
25 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
When he didn’t get into SU from high school, he decided to enroll at Le Moyne College so he could be close to the school he ultimately wanted to go to. And in the spring semester of his freshman year he was accepted to SU. He is currently the president of the National Society of Black Engineers’ student chapter and leader and founder of TEDxSyracuseUniversity. TEDxSU is a new organization based on the global digital media platform TED Talks, which brings together fascinating thinkers who look to push the boundaries of Technology, Entertainment, and Design. I attended a team meeting for TEDxSU where they were interviewing candidates for their first TEDx conference. When Rose left the room his teammates used words like “team-player,” “empowering,” and “deserving of attention.” The students on his board came from multiple different Colleges on campus, and you could tell that Rose understands the benefits of bringing together people with different ideas. “What excites me the most about Syracuse University is the wide variety of people to interact with,” says Rose. “SU is rich in diversity and allows me to meet people of different backgrounds and creeds. Their perspectives and experiences have aided in my own personal growth.” Rose, like many of our students, is focused on making the world a better place. “I seek answers to why the world we live in is the way it is—answers to the unexplainable and solutions to problems we currently face. From this approach we can push the boundaries of our world and improve quality of life.” Pursuing a degree in computer engineering has allowed him to marry his thirst for knowledge with the ability to make a difference. “I want to pursue other degrees, specifically computer science and cognitive science. Ultimately I want to work on some sort of innovative technology that will help others.”
SPRING 2014 26
student spotlight
stephen desalvo 27 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
STEPHEN DESALVO
: “First and
OPTIMIST
foremost, I seek to help others. ” — Stephen DeSalvo
S
tephen DeSalvo’s bright smile and drive to make an impact on the world give the impression that there isn’t anything he can’t do. He has an eye for opportunities where he can make a difference, and he seizes those with a great sense of passion.
With everything he does, it’s difficult to decide where to begin. Do you highlight the research he has been doing alongside graduate students since he was a sophomore? Do you emphasize his drive to make an impact through outreach to the community? Do you talk about his passion
for student government and the role it plays in the University community? Then there are his academic achievements, involvement in professional societies, accolades from faculty, aspirations for law school, and enthusiasm to jump in and help support the senior class giving campaign.
The common thread among all of these ties back to what matters most to him — helping others. “While at Syracuse, I have attempted to maximize my opportunities to help others while doing something I love, such as engineering and student government,” he says. While freshman year can be a year of great transition for some students, DeSalvo walked on campus ready to make a difference. In his freshman year he founded a student organization called the Optimist Club. The club’s mission is to promote civic engagement by conducting projects that aid local youth. The group, which started just four years ago, has grown to more than 85 members. While sophomore year can be one of the most academically rigorous, DeSalvo sought
out another challenge—to do research. In Professor Sureshkumar’s lab in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, he performed molecular dynamics simulations of signaling factor interactions with model biofilm matrices. Bacterial biofilms are a major factor involved in the persistence of chronic infections, such as cystic fibrosis. The goal of these simulations is to better understand the signaling factors that allow the cells to form, which can then lead to more effective strategies for treatment of biofilms. From the day DeSalvo stepped on campus, his goal was to attend law school, but his passion for chemical engineering and the opportunity to help people on a global scale forced a moment of introspection. He was able to realize that through pursuing a degree in intellectual property law, he could combine his ambition with his passion and his unending sense of optimism. “After law school, I aim to apply what I have learned to a leadership position that will allow me to work with others whose sole mission is to make tomorrow brighter for everyone than it is today.”
SPRING 2014 28
riding the path
to sustainability t say that any one person inspires me so much as I am inspired by the “I wouldn’ natural world. I spent the entirety of my childhood hiking the great Rocky
Mountains, searching its corners for twisting rivers holding trophy trout, climbing the cliffs of its canyons, and spending every waking moment I could in the outdoors,” says environmental engineering major Jeff Minnich ’15.
A long way from Colorado, his sense of adventure and his love of the color orange drew him to Syracuse University. But his journey to SU was only the beginning. This past fall, Minnich was selected to join nine other students from across the country on an eight-day journey to bike 250 miles from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia as part of an initiative spearheaded by the Green Apple Organization, a part of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). “The goal of our journey on the bicycle trip was to promote Green Apple and their mission statement, ‘where we learn matters,’ by getting kids directly involved with and excited about the principles of sustainability,” says Minnich. This band of travelers stopped three times along their trek to perform different service projects with students of varying ages. 29 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
At a public charter school in D.C. they worked with sixth- and seventh-graders to clean and winterize their garden space by gathering and composting all dead vegetation. They helped them build a “living wall” by collecting recyclable plastic drink bottles, filling them with soil and planting bulbs in them, and then attaching them to a fence surrounding the school garden. And finally, they got them moving. “We got them all running around in the field going to different stations to learn about various sustainable practices they could easily implement at home,” Minnich says. Minnich says the most memorable moments of his journey occurred during that first service project. “When we pulled up to the school, we approached a group of freezing-cold children who wanted nothing other than to go inside or back to their homes. After they learned our mission and
began getting their hands dirty, they couldn’t get enough. I’ll never forget the image of them lined up as we left, waving and begging us to come back soon.” At the Harrisburg Area Community College campus in Lancaster, PA, they met with a group of students, helped them with a campus and stream cleanup and helped to winterize the school’s butterfly garden. Then, at the GW Carver High School for Engineering and Science in The biggest thing I Philadelphia, they worked with ninthgraders in the classroom to discuss three learned along the different aspects of sustainability: food, journey was that the transportation, and energy use. “We right group of people worked with groups of small kids to discuss can truly make their current perceptions of sustainability anything happen in these areas, and then we educated them on simple ways they could improve sustainability in each area on a personal level.” Their journey culminated with the opportunity to carry their message to the USGBC’s Greenbuild Conference. “The Greenbuild Conference showed me how many people are dedicated to the vital mission of sustainability within the building industry. With over 25,000 in attendance, Hillary Clinton as a keynote speaker, and the biggest expo hall I could possibly imagine to showcase the immense amount of cutting-edge sustainable technology available today, I found a new hope for humanity as we continue to grow on this world at an alarming rate; a hope that we might just be able to do so in a responsible manner.” Journeys are often about discovery, adventure, and lessons we learn along the way. “The biggest thing I learned along the journey was that the right group of people can truly make anything happen.
I came into this experience never having done any sort of long-distance bicycle touring and not knowing a single person I would be teaming up with. I arrived in D.C. all by myself and navigated my way to the USGBC headquarters, where I was immediately greeted by what I could tell was a special group of people. The 10 of us who were chosen for the experience filed in throughout The ten of us who the morning, and once we all ended up in the were chosen for conference room we clicked into a unit right away. The synergy continued as we began the experience filed the ride and carried each other through the in throughout the various challenges we faced, such as flat tires morning, and once and fatigue. We all carried each other, and we all ended up in we collectively made a huge impact on the the conference room students we worked with that we would not we clicked into a unit have been able to achieve on our own.” right away If you want further proof that Minnich is on a never-ending quest for discovery, he is currently studying abroad in Dublin but will return to campus in the fall, when he hopes to prepare for graduate school for a degree in architecture. “I want to combine the skill sets of both fields to contribute to the necessary expansion of our metropolitan areas while leading the push for responsible and sustainable building.”
“With a few more years under my belt now, I am beginning to see how important the built world is, and more importantly how it reacts with nature. In the natural world, all relationships are symbiotic; no energy is put to waste. This perfect harmony inspires me more than anything.” To learn more about Green Apple, visit www.mygreenapple.org.
SPRING 2014 30
online mastery
learning time on your time
Professor Wenliang Du
31 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
T
hanks to the advent of technology and the Internet, the world has become much smaller. Our ability to connect is no longer limited to those places to which we can travel. Our access to information and education is no longer limited to the academic programs in our towns and cities. Technological advances have provided opportunities for leading academic institutions to reach a Flexibility Online students have careers, families, travel schedules, and conflicts that make adhering to a strict course schedule challenging. The College wanted to offer students flexibility if they did want to pursue a real-time experience. The solution— asynchronous and synchronous online master’s programs. Online students are taking their courses alongside on-campus students. They can watch the lectures while they are being offered, submit questions, and receive answers as if they were right there in the classroom. But if that isn’t feasible, students can also access the lectures after the fact, and special lecture-capture technology lets them move through the lecture at their pace. “Ours is a unique instructional model for online courses, but we believe it provides more value to the online students by providing synchronous access to the faculty,” says Mike Frasciello, the College’s new director for online learning. Facing Forward Think back to your days in the classroom and you might imagine a faculty member, back turned, writing on a board. While this can work in a classroom setting, it is not ideal for online students. The solution: investing in tablet and screen technology that encourages faculty members to spend more time facing and interacting with the students. “Generally, professors find it more engaging to be facing the students more often,” Frasciello says.
broader audience of students seeking to advance their careers. With a commitment to the quality of the student experience, the College of Engineering and Computer Science has worked diligently to ensure that our entry into online education is done in a way that enriches the student experience for students both in the classroom and around the world.
programs now available:
m.s. in computer engineering m.s. in electrical engineering programs available in fall ’14:
m.s. in computer science programs available in spring ’15:
m.s. in engineering management
SPRING 2014 32
CREATING
WAVES 33 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
P
rofessor Amit Agrawal finds beauty in the most infinitesimal of realms, nanoscale spaces only detectable through powerful microscopes, using fabricated materials not found in the natural world.
Agrawal conducts research in the field of nanoscience, specifically exploring the interaction of light with artificially fabricated materials— also known as metamaterials. He constructs metamaterials, composites of metals, such as silver or gold, and dielectrics—glass or polymers—that interact with electromagnetic waves or light in unique and sometimes surprising ways and, in turn, possess certain striking visual properties. Applying a voltage and shining light on these materials sometimes results in brilliant shades of reds, greens, and blues (RGB). “That’s why I like optics—you can see beautiful colors,” Agrawal says. Some of his recent work involves trying to make an RGB pixel array, akin to those used in TV or cellphone display screens, using special polymers coated on a nanostructured metal surface, exhibiting a variety of colors that could be turned on and off using electric fields. This field of study, electrochromism, could be especially useful in creating cheaper and more efficient visual displays. “The people in the display industry want contrast without sacrificing speed or switching efficiency,” says Agrawal, whose research was highlighted in the journals Nature, Nature Physics, and Nature Photonics earlier this year. “There are intelligent ways of integrating such polymers with plasmonic or metal-based nanophotonic structures to achieve these goals.” Agrawal, the John E. and Patricia Breyer Professor in Electrical Engineering, brought his research and expertise to the College of Engineering and Computer Science in 2011, after conducting groundbreaking postdoctoral research with colleagues at the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) in the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). “My general area of research is plasmonics. It’s a technical word for optics that is based on metals,” says Agrawal, who holds a visiting fellow appointment at CNST. “When light interacts with metals, it creates an electromagnetic wave at its surface called a plasmon—analogous to a wave created on the surface of water when you throw a stone on it. Because of the properties of the metal and the medium surrounding it, plasmons have the same frequency but much shorter wavelength compared to the incident light—making them an ideal candidate for nanoscale optics applications.” Agrawal’s research, in collaboration with NIST, centered on creating a large-area metamaterial that exhibits a negative refractive index at ultraviolet frequencies. The negative index medium that they created matches the commonplace experience of materials that look the same in all directions, such as a piece of glass, while at the same time exhibiting counterintuitive response in terms of controlling the flow of light. This included getting the light to flow “backward,” or refract to the “wrong” side of the normal. Agrawal and his NIST colleagues constructed the metamaterial by stacking very thin layers of silver and titanium dioxide (at individual thicknesses thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair), that together act as a flat lens because of the negative refractive index, as opposed to the curved convex or concave lenses typically found in optics. The flat lens, when illuminated with ultraviolet light, could directly image 3-D objects, projecting a three-dimensional replica on the other side.
SPRING 2014 34
The flat aspect of the metamaterial allows it to have infinite optical axes, as opposed to a typical glass lens with only one optical axis, and therefore is capable of imaging objects on a much larger scale. The theory for the behavior of such materials has been around for decades but could not be proved due to technological limitations. Agrawal’s research and nanofabrication provide some of the first experimental realizations of many of these ideas. In another area of optics, Agrawal’s work, with his colleagues from the University of Utah, in the area of quasiperiodic structures, or quasicrystals, was highlighted in an issue of Nature Photonics last year. With their unique ordering of atoms and a lack of periodicity, quasicrystals possess remarkable crystallographic, physical and optical properties not present in regular crystals. In the article “Optics of photonic quasicrystals,” the researchers presented the history of quasicrystals and how this area can open The people in the up numerous opportunities in optics display industry want research. This might include building smaller optical circuits, performing contrast without lithography at a much smaller length scale sacrificing speed or
switching efficiency. There are intelligent ways of integrating such polymers with plasmonic or metalbased nanophotonic structures to achieve these goals
and making more efficient optical devices that can be used for biosensing, solar cells or spectroscopy applications. At SU, Agrawal, who earned a B.E. degree in electronics and telecommunications at Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Utah, continues to fabricate nanomaterials necessary for his research at NIST, as well as at sites at Cornell. His research will soon be supported in the College’s new Ultrafast Nanophotonics Lab, which will contain such
35 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
equipment as an ultrafast laser (the first of its kind at the College), microscopes, spectrometers, and cameras. Agrawal is the inaugural John E. and Patricia Breyer Professor in Electrical Engineering, which was endowed by SU Trustee and the College’s Dean’s Leadership Council member John E. Breyer and his wife, Patricia A. Breyer. “Pat and I have had close ties with Much of Agrawal’s cuttingSyracuse University for many years and wanted to support engineering edge work is ripe for exploring and science in a lasting way. We felt applied areas—industrial, that funding a professorship would defense, and commercial achieve our goals as well as those of the uses—but it’s in the intrinsic University,” John Breyer says. “We are science where Agrawal finds pleased that Professor Amit Agrawal the most satisfaction was selected to be the first person to fill the professorship. He is a deserving young scholar who will contribute to research and education at Syracuse University.” With the professorship and lab, Agrawal found his place at the College to do this specific type of research and teach students about the fascinating world he studies, including in a graduate-level special topics class, Nanophotonics.
Much of Agrawal’s cutting-edge work is ripe for exploring applied areas—industrial, defense, and commercial uses—but it’s in the intrinsic science where Agrawal finds the most satisfaction. “There’s an applied domain, where people are trying to make things they thought were never possible, and then there’s a fundamental domain where we still don’t completely understand how light interacts with such complex materials at the nanoscale,” Agrawal says. “We’re primarily working on the fundamental aspect and still figuring out the physics.”
in memoriam
I
n 1995, soon after assuming the position of director of minority engineering programs at the College, Lori Hunter recognized the need to expand support opportunities to all engineering students—regardless of race or gender. Working with the faculty, staff, and students, Hunter launched a groundbreaking student support program that fostered collaboration and teamwork across the College and provided students with academicfocused leadership opportunities.
Today, almost 20 years later, Hunter’s Programs Rooted in Developing Excellence, or PRIDE, remain an integral part of the student experience at the College. Hunter’s legacy includes the Academic Excellence Workshops and the Pathfinders program. In the Academic Excellence Workshops, upperclass facilitators provide guidance on courses, such as Calculus, that are often stumbling blocks for firstyear students, while the Pathfinders program is where upperclassmen serve as mentors to first-year students, providing guidance on academics and support in other aspects of college life. These programs and many others continue to challenge, encourage and inspire our students to pursue academic, professional, and personal excellence. In her final act of devotion to the college, Hunter established the Lori Hunter PRIDE Endowed Fund—to provide financial support to strengthen the PRIDE program every academic year in perpetuity. Her gift is a challenge to us to continue our work in supporting the success of our students and to find ways to encourage students to strive for excellence. In an address to students, alumni, faculty, and staff at the 15th anniversary of PRIDE programs in 2011, she said, “The legacy of PRIDE is that academic excellence knows no gender and no race. Success is the only option for everyone.” The Latin inside Syracuse University’s seal translates to, “Knowledge Crowns Those Who Seek Her.” A seeker of knowledge, a dedicated leader, an alumna, and a friend—this is how we will remember Hunter. Her legacy will be to continue to impact the success of our students for years to come.
The legacy of PRIDE is that academic excellence knows no gender and no race. Success is the only option for everyone.
To support the PRIDE fund, visit eng-cs.syr.edu/PRIDEfund.
SPRING 2014 36
alumni notes 1950s Walter Blanchett ’52 (Electrical) of Marlton, N.J., worked for six companies before retiring from IBM in 1997. Franklin G. Reick ’52 (Industrial) of Washington Township, Bergen County, N.J., recently published his memoir, Just Frank: My Life as an Intrepid Inventor (Full Court Press). He recently released his newest product, HinderRust, a rust inhibitor and industrial lubricant. Additionally, he holds 40 U.S. patents, and one of his products, Tufoil, holds a Guinness World Record for being the most efficient lubricant.
1960s John Richard Shanebrook ’60 G’63 Ph.D. ‘65 (Mechanical) of Coral Springs, Fla., recently published The History of Nuclear War I (AuthorHouse, October 2013). Shanebrook details historical events leading to nuclear war and how Hiroshima and Nagasaki were devastated by nuclear weapons in August 1945. This is Shanebrook’s second book on nuclear issues. The first was published in 2007.
1970s Sumit DasGupta Ph.D. ’77 (Computer & Information Science) retired from the semiconductor industry on June 30, 2013, after 44 years of service. DasGupta spent 29 years at IBM and the last 11 years as senior vice president of engineering at Silicon Integration Initiative, a semiconductor industry consortium that develops software standards and their implementations to support the design and manufacture of integrated circuit chips. Jonathan Greenburg ’78 (Bioengineering) has a highly specialized dental practice in Southern California focusing on treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). For the past 10 years, Greenburg has been advancing his invention designed to help people who suffer from snoring or sleep apnea and cannot tolerate a CPAP machine. Greenburg 37 SYRACUSE ENGINEER
engineered the benefits of the machine into a hybrid oral device called the ZYPPAH. He’s currently working with his patient, Warren Sapp, Super Bowl XXXVIII champion, to help raise awareness of untreated OSA with the NFL and their retired players. Greenburg and his wife, Laura Krasny Greenburg ’78 (WSOM), reside in Calabasas. Robert Hasemeier ’73 G’74 (Civil), boardcertified environmental engineer for Barton & Loguidice, P.C. in Camp Hill, Pa., has been appointed vice president of the CumberlandFranklin County Boroughs Association. Hasemeier will work to promote relationships among the boroughs within Cumberland and Franklin counties, provide legislative and regulatory representation at the state and federal levels, and represent the boroughs as part of the Pennsylvania Association of Boroughs.
1980s Russell Ford ’86 (Chemical), VP and global service leader for drinking water and reuse with CH2M Hill, was honored at the 2014 Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA) Awards STEM Conference on Feb. 7 with the prestigious BEYA Pioneer Award. Ford has over 27 years’ experience developing, evaluating, and designing treatment processes to remove contaminants from drinking water. In addition to his services as instructor, facilitator, and speaker in many educational settings, including Cook College and Rutgers University, Ford plays the saxophone in the Hanover Wind Symphony. He and his wife, Karen reside in Randolph, N.J. Daniel Kopcow ’87 (Chemical) is a senior chemical engineer at the Ithaca, N.Y., office of GEI Consultants, a national geotechnical, environmental, water resources, and ecological science and engineering firm. Margaret Nieburg Leader ’85 (Civil) recently joined the Indiana State Department of Agriculture as program manager for agricultural and environmental affairs. Previously, she served as conservation
director of the Vermillion County Soil and Water Conservation District. Last summer Leader received the highest honor awarded for environmental conservation: the Ted Falls Memorial Environmentalist of the Year Award, presented by the Indiana Division of the Izzak Walton League of America. She and her husband, Jeffery Leader ‘85 (Electrical/ Mathematics), reside in Terre Haute, Ind.
1990s John Gondak ’95 (Civil) is associate head coach for the Nittany Lion track & field and cross country team at Penn State. Eric M. Finer ’97 (Chemical) and Joanna Chambers Finer ’97 (SWK) announce the birth of their daughter Kiera Lenna, who joins sisters Brooke and Sarah. Manish Parashar, PhD ’94 (Computer Engineering), professor of electrical and computer engineering at Rutgers University, is founder and director of the Rutgers Discovery Informatics Institute as well as founding co-director for NSF Cloud and Autonomic Computing Centers at the University of Florida, University of Arizona, and Rutgers. Manish, an IEEE and AAAS Fellow, won the 2013 R&D 100 Award for “ADIOS: Adaptable I/O System for Big Data” and the Google App Engine Education Award for Cloud Computing for Scientific Applications Jonathan Sacks ’99 G’01, G’05 (Bioengineering/Marketing Management) and his wife, Lauren Sacks ’01 G’03 (Education), proudly announce the birth of their twin girls, Remy Elizabeth and Tatum Anne. The twins join big brothers Parker and Brody. Jonathan is senior director, Global Femoral Brands at Stryker Orthopaedics in Mahwah, N.J. Adam Wendt ’97 (Computer Engineering) is director of technology for SRC’s defense and environmental solutions division. SRC Inc., formerly Syracuse Research Corporation, is a not-for-profit research and development company with more than 55 years of experience in defense, environment, and intelligence.
2000s David Dewhirst ’05 (Computer Science), software engineer and co-founder of ThreeTwelve Creative in Chattanooga, Tenn., was recently awarded a company contract to handle all aspects of start-up development for Boomeon, an online community for Baby Boomers at www. boomeon.com. Dewhirst’s company will handle all the daily operations, architecting, designing and coding for the site. Max Eckstein ’08 (Computer Engineering) is now an associate at Booz Allen Hamilton Consulting Services in Washington, D.C. Eckstein, a member of the College Young Alumni Board, previously worked as a systems integrator and capture management senior at Lockheed Martin. He received a master’s degree in engineering management and systems engineering last year from George Washington University. Last June, Eckstein married SU alumna Christine Kelley ’09 (VPA). Congratulations to Max and Christine! Hervens Jeannis ’09 (Computer Engineering) is in the Ph.D. program in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. A graduate student researcher in the rehabilitation science and technology department, he is working on the Strong Arm Project, which is developing an assistive robotic device to be used by veterans with disabilities and others to be transferred out of a wheelchair with the assistance of a caregiver using one finger. Brian Kyo-Hurn Lee ’07 G’10 (Environmental) is currently studying for his PE exam as he works as an environmental engineer for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) in Bath, N.Y. Elizabeth A. Matessino ’09 (Bioengineering) of Los Angeles graduated from the Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California.
Matthew Peterson ’04 (Biomedical Engineering), biological systems engineer at MITRE Corporation, recently received a Ph.D. from Boston University. His research, in collaboration with other scientists, has taken the first steps toward understanding the bacterium that causes tuberculosis and how it is wired to adapt to changing conditions in its host. This research, featured in the July 2013 issue of Nature, reveals a genome-scale representation of the regulatory network for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and offers unique insight into bacteria survival and future treatment.
2010s Ryan D. Govoni ’12 (Aerospace) graduated from Navy Officer Candidate School and received a commission as an ensign in the United States Navy while assigned at Officer Training Command in Newport, R.I. Bryce Hammerton ’13 (Civil) has joined Bergmann Associates as a design engineer in the Traffic Operations & ITS Services Segment at the company’s Buffalo, N.Y., office. Giselle Schlegel ’12 (Chemical), junior engineer at Cross Point Engineering in Westwood, Mass., was featured as the July 2013 Young Professional on the AIChE website, ChEnected. Schlegel, who played D1 field hockey for Syracuse as an undergraduate, was recently selected as the community outreach coordinator and K-12 liaison to the young professionals committee for the AIChE.
in memoriam Dr. W. Howard Card, Professor Emeritus of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, passed away in August 2013. A loyal Canadian, he was an excellent faculty member who always conducted himself with dignity and professionalism. He was ethical in every sense of the word and dedicated to higher education. His undergraduate studies were at the University of Toronto with graduate work completed at MIT and Syracuse. He and I were in classes together in the late fifties and early sixties, and ultimately we both joined the faculty of the ECE Department. I always considered him valuable to the department and also to the College. Howard’s specialty was electrical engineering in general. He was a good practical engineer and a principal contributor to our laboratory program. He did many things that others simply could not or would not do. I greatly appreciated his service. We were fortunate to have him as a member of our faculty, and we shall certainly all miss him. Our deep sympathy is extended to his wife, June, and to their children, William and Virginia. DR. BRADLEY J. STRAIT Professor and Dean Emeritus College of Engineering and Computer Science Syracuse University
Lauren Seelbach ’10 (Civil), is pursuing a master’s degree in technology and policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Seelbach, a member of the College’s Young Alumni Advisory Board, is working in MIT’s Humanitarian Response Lab on domestic post-disaster response research, and is interning with the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management.
SPRING 2014 38
Syracuse University College of Engineering and Computer Science Syracuse, NY 13244-1240
NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
ENVIRONMENTAL SAVINGS compared to its virgin equivalent ROLLAND ENVIRO100 PRINT
WATER
SOLID WASTE
AIR EMISSIONS
POWER
EMISSIONS
2,477 gal.
376 lbs
1,254 lbs CO2
4 MMBTU
5 lbs NOx
It’s the Equivalent of: Water: 27 days of water consumption • Air emissions: 2,379 miles driven • Power: 17,913 60W light bulbs for one hour. UTC Climate, Controls & Security saved the above resources by printing on Rolland Enviro100 Print. The paper contains FSC certified fiber, is EcoLogo and Processed Chlorine Free accredited and is manufactured using biogas energy. Environmental savings calculations are based on 780 lbs of paper production run.
visit us on facebook
eng-cs.syr.edu