ENGINEERING SPRING 2013
Making Streets
SAFER SAFER
Creator of SAFER Barriers Finds New Home at UAB
ENGINEERING AGENDA DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS, It brings me great pleasure to present to you this issue of UAB Engineering. The past year has brought many exciting changes to the school—all of which you will read about in the pages ahead. We are extremely grateful for the opportunities that lie before us and are thrilled to be able to share our progress with you through this publication. As you explore this issue, you will notice that we have recently welcomed several new members to the UAB School of Engineering family. As many of you already know, the School of Engineering selected a new dean earlier this year. Dr. J. Iwan Alexander will be joining us August 1 from CASE Western University where he was the Cady Staley Professor and chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. With more than 40 years of engineering experience, we are confident that his leadership will have a broad, positive impact on UAB for many years to come. Also joining the School of Engineering this past October as professor and vice president of product development was Dean Sicking, Ph.D. Dr. Sicking is perhaps best known as one of the developers of the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barriers that are used on NASCAR and IRL racetrack walls around the world. We are delighted to have Dr. Sicking on board, where his leadership of highway safety research is proving to be an invaluable asset to our progress. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest thanks to all of you for supporting UAB and the School of Engineering. It has been my pleasure to serve as interim dean for the school and I am especially thankful to all of you who have remained connected and engaged. As the UAB School of Engineering continues to experience exciting changes from year to year, we are grateful for one thing that is constant—your support. Thank you for being such a vital part of our extended community.
Melinda M. Lalor, Ph.D. Professor and Interim Dean, School of Engineering
1 UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013
PAGE 3
Making Streets
SAFER SAFER
Creator of SAFER Barriers Finds New Home at UAB
CONTENTS
PAGE 7
Features Building Smarter, Building Better: New Center Creating Cities of Tomorrow.......................... 7 Shelter from the Storm: Materials Provide Enhanced Tornado Protection................ 9 Homegrown Leadership: SOE Alumni Now President and Provost of UAB............. 11
Departments Student Spotlight.............................................................. 12 Alumni Profile................................................................... 15
PAGE 15
Development.................................................................... 17
PAGE 9
UAB Engineering is published by the UAB School of Engineering in collaboration with the Office of Public Relations and Marketing. Executive Editors: Matt Windsor, Victoria Allen • Managing Editor: Grant Martin • Writers: Victoria Allen, Grant Martin, Kevin Storr, Greg Williams • Executive Art Director: Ron Gamble • Art Director: Jessica Huffstutler • Photography: Steve Wood • UAB Engineering Editorial Board: Melinda Lalor, Ph.D., Interim Dean; Zoe Dwyer, Ph.D., Director of Freshman Services; Victoria Allen, Director of Development and External Relations; Beth Briggs, Alumni Relations Officer; Tina Bryant, Administrative Support
UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013 2
Making Streets
SAFER SAFER
Image courtesy Trinity Highway Products
Creator of SAFER Barriers Finds New Home at UAB
If you’ve driven any distance along an interstate in the past couple of decades, you have likely driven past the work of Dean Sicking, Ph.D. And if you’ve had the misfortune to crash your car into a guardrail along that interstate—and lived to read this story—it could be that you have Sicking to thank. For more than 30 years, Sicking
authority on highway safety research
for a world-class highway safety
has been a leading figure in highway
whose work has had a tremendous
research facility in Birmingham,
safety research. His designs are
impact,” says Linda Lucas, Ph.D.,
Sicking actually had no previous
installed on guardrails and other road-
UAB provost and former dean of
knowledge of UAB or the surround-
side barriers throughout the United
the School of Engineering, who was
ing area. A native of Texas and
States. He was also one of the devel-
instrumental in Sicking’s recruitment.
longtime resident of Nebraska, he
opers of the Steel and Foam Energy
“We knew there was potential for
says UAB was nowhere on his radar
Reduction (SAFER) barriers that are
him to do great things here, thanks
screen before a chance meeting at
used on NASCAR and IRL racetracks
to the multidisciplinary work already
an engineering conference brought
around the world.
going on in our school as well as the
him into contact with UAB professor
possibility of partnerships with indus-
David Littlefield, Ph.D. “A mutual
try outside of UAB.”
friend introduced us, and it turned
Sicking joined UAB last fall as a professor and the vice president of product development after a nationwide recruiting battle saw UAB pit-
out that David and I have a lot in The Perfect Pitch
ted against other top universities for
Even though Lucas and others
Sicking’s services. “Dr. Sicking is an
could see the enormous potential
3 UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013
common,” Sicking says. “During the conversation, I told him I was looking for a position and that I had some
Image courtesy Gregory Industries
According to Littlefield, he was
As luck would have it, Littlefield’s
immediately intrigued by Sicking’s
pitch intrigued Sicking enough for
research, which he says was closely
him to make a visit to Birmingham,
aligned to his own work at UAB,
and soon after, he was hooked. “I
albeit for different applications. “I
loved everything about Birmingham,
had no idea at the time how recep-
from the staff at the hotel to the
tive UAB administrators would be,
administration and the extremely
but I knew there was at least the
high level of research being conduct-
potential to form a partnership with
ed at UAB,” he says.
Barber Motorsports Park,” recalls
Another key figure in his recruit-
Littlefield. After discussing Sicking
ment, Sicking says, was George
with Lucas and UAB vice president
Barber, owner of Barber Motorsports
interviews lined up. A couple of days
for research Richard Marchase,
Park in nearby Leeds, Alabama.
later, he called and asked if I would
Ph.D., Littlefield says he discovered
Barber is building a new state-of-the-
consider UAB.
that there were multiple other tie-ins
art research facility for Sicking on
“It caught me by surprise. Not just
on campus for someone of Sicking’s
site at his track. “The facility will be
because I hadn’t had any contact
capabilities—particularly in product
large enough for us to conduct crash
with UAB, but also that a full profes-
development. “This was an area
tests for a wide variety of research
sor would have the authority to make
UAB had been aggressively pursuing
purposes,” he says. “We will have a
that call. There aren’t many places
for some time,” Littlefield says. “So
rail system that will allow us to study
in my experience where faculty
even though our meeting was purely
the impact of a vehicle hitting a bar-
and administrators have that kind of
coincidental, the timing couldn’t
cohesive relationship.”
have worked out better.”
Dean Sicking received a bachelor’s degree (1980) in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree (1987) in civil engineering from Texas A&M. He then worked as a researcher at the Texas Transportation Institute while working on his Ph.D., which he received from A&M in 1990.
THREE QUESTIONS FOR DEAN LEO SICKING, PH.D.
continued on next page
Q: Your devices have saved hundreds of people from serious injury or death in highway accidents. Have you ever crashed into one of your own devices? A: I’ve never hit one of my own systems, thank God. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who has crashed into one of our systems, but I have received letters from people and heard stories from police officers who have worked the accidents. I hope my experience continues to stay on the research side. Q: Has studying hundreds of accidents influenced your choice of vehicles? A: Yes. Mass is your friend. Anyone who tells you small cars are just as safe as larger vehicles doesn’t know what they’re talking about. In a collision between small and large cars, the smaller car almost always gets the worst of it. Q: Your SAFER barriers have been installed at racetracks all over the world. Are you a fan of auto racing? A: When I was a kid, I was a big fan of A.J. Foyt, an IndyCar racer and fellow Texan. But when I graduated college and started working, I didn’t have much time for sports. These days, if I have time to follow any sport, it’s usually football. UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013 4
rier, for example, or we may simulate
program, growing a research budget
the effects on dummies inside the
of $100,000 per year to more than
tion may seem ironic to some, there
vehicle. The impact lab will have a
$1 million per year in his first three
is a stark difference between hear-
wide range of capabilities, so we
years. Most of that increase came
ing anecdotal evidence of someone
just need to generate some research
from recruiting various state depart-
walking away from a frightening
to start utilizing it. The synergy
ments of transportation to fund
highway crash and actually see-
between the university and industry
research at Nebraska.
ing the video footage of a racecar
is the kind of collaboration I really want to be a part of.”
“Over the years, we generated
While the disparity of media atten-
driver emerging from what could
dozens and dozens of safety devices
have been a fatal impact. In 2002,
to the point where it’s virtually
that’s exactly what millions of race
From Highways to Speedways
impossible to drive more than a mile
fans saw when NASCAR driver
Sicking began his career at the
on any major freeway in this country
Kurt Busch crashed into the wall at
Texas Transportation Institute at
without encountering one of our sys-
Indianapolis Motor Speedway dur-
Texas A&M. From there, he moved
tems,” Sicking says. “Our roadside
ing the Brickyard 500. “It was a
on to a “small research program”
safety devices save hundreds if not
scary crash because the impact with
at Nebraska that was being run by
a thousand lives per year without
the barrier was on the driver’s-side
one Ph.D. student and two master’s
getting a whole lot of attention, but
door,” says Sicking. “Normally that
degree students. From that modest
when we build a device that saves
would be very serious if not fatal,
start, however, Sicking was able to
one or two racecar drivers, everyone
but the fact that he was unhurt
build an internationally recognized
wants to know about it.”
was obvious when he immediately climbed out of the car.” Soon after that experience, NASCAR had SAFER barriers installed at all of its tracks. Since Image courtesy Trinity Highway Products
then, there has not been a fatality resulting from an incident with an outer wall barrier in any of NASCAR’s three major series.
“OUR ROADSIDE SAFETY DEVICES SAVE HUNDREDS IF NOT A THOUSAND LIVES PER YEAR WITHOUT GETTING A WHOLE LOT OF ATTENTION, BUT WHEN WE BUILD A DEVICE THAT SAVES ONE OR TWO RACECAR DRIVERS, EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT IT.”
5 UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013
“OVER THE YEARS, I’VE HEARD OF SEVERAL POLICE OFFICERS WHO SAY SOMEONE ADMITTED AT AN ACCIDENT THAT THEY HAD BEEN TRYING TO COMMIT SUICIDE BY HITTING ONE OF OUR SYSTEMS,” SICKING SAYS.
“I THINK THAT’S A PRETTY GOOD TESTIMONIAL OF HOW EFFECTIVE THEY CAN BE.” when hit by a vehicle. The first
letter he received—this one from a
study of the device showed that out
highway patrolman who came upon
the industry standards that the
of 400 crashes, there were three
an accident—where the driver got
National Cooperative Highway
injuries and no fatalities—reducing
out of his car and started cursing
Research Program set for safety
the amount of risk by a factor of 10.
and kicking at the vehicle. When the
performance evaluation. To do that,
With all the research data and real-
policeman got closer, he heard the
he and his team reconstructed
world results showing the product a
man say, “I can’t even kill myself
800 high-speed crashes across
success, however, Sicking says no
right.”
the American interstate system.
amount of data could match the sat-
“Because there is such a wide distri-
isfaction he got from one personal
eral police officers who say some-
bution of impact scenarios on a high-
letter.
one admitted at an accident that
Reducing Risk During the 1990s, Sicking wrote
way, there is a limit to what you can
“The first time this thing ever
“Over the years, I’ve heard of sev-
they had been trying to commit sui-
do,” Sicking says. “But we selected
got hit was when a young lady was
cide by hitting one of our systems,”
the 85th percentile impact speed
driving home from the library at the
Sicking says. “I think that’s a pretty
and the 85th percentile impact angle.
University of Texas,” Sicking explains.
good testimonial of how effective
If you combine those two together,
“She was driving a small pickup truck
they can be.”
it turns out to be the 95th percentile
with her cruise control set at highway
worst-case impact condition. We
speeds when she fell asleep and
can’t design all of our safety devices
drifted off the road. She hit the guard-
to accommodate the guy who is
rail at 65 or 70 miles per hour, and
running from the cops at 100 miles
her only injury was a bruise across
per hour when he crashes. If we did,
her chest caused by the seat belt. I
it would be so expensive that few
got a very nice letter from her father
places could afford them, so a lot
describing the crash. He felt that she
of dangerous areas would go unpro-
almost certainly would have been
tected. So we made a design that
killed had she hit one of the other
could protect against the worst-case
common guardrail systems, and there
scenarios in the most common acci-
is a high probability that he was right.
dents at normal highway speeds.”
But to hear that from a father who’s
The first widely used system
daughter walked away unhurt—you
Sicking developed was an energyabsorbing guardrail terminal—a
live for moments like that.” Despite the success his systems
device that sits over the end of a
have demonstrated, not everyone is
guardrail that flattens the guardrail
pleased. Sicking describes another
UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013 6
Building Smarter, Building Better New Center Brings Scientific Disciplines Together to Build Cities of Tomorrow In its early years, Birmingham’s explosive growth earned it the nickname “The Magic City.” Today, UAB researchers are exploring the science behind such magic. The UAB Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center brings together scientists from a variety of disciplines to investigate new ideas of how to make the city of tomorrow a smarter, safer, and healthier place.
“When we talk about smart and sustainable cities, we are talking about two different things,” says Fouad Fouad, Ph.D., co-director of the center and chair of the UAB Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering. “Sustainability refers to using methods and materials that are energy efficient, low-cost, and use recyclable materials. Smart buildings use technology to help save energy, reduce pollution, and things of that nature. Our goal through this center is to connect all the disciplines across campus so that we can take a more comprehensive approach that looks at all these considerations.” Building Better Health Civil engineering graduate student diet and exercise play in obesity rates. But what about environment? Through the Center for Sustainable Smart Cities, Bettinger is investigating whether or not the built environment of two nearby cities contrib-
Illustration by Ron Gamble
Sarah Bettinger is aware of the role
utes to obesity rates. “Specifically, we are interested in how things like
might impact obesity rates, Bettinger
factors, while transportation con-
outdoor air quality, municipal water
says. “Housing conditions could
cerns include proximity to services,
quality, housing conditions, and
include the prevalence of mold, inci-
neighborhood design and safety, and
transportation options and livability
dence of air conditioning, and other
the availability and accessibility of
7 UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013
transportation systems.”
says the results of such research
also have traveled to meetings and
could have a tremendous impact on
conferences internationally to discuss
not reached any preliminary conclu-
future growth worldwide. “Cities
sustainability issues with leaders in
sions, Fouad says such research is
are responsible for about 75 percent
other parts of the world.
indicative of the multidisciplinary
of energy use, 60 percent of water
approach of the center’s research.
consumed, and 80 percent of green-
disciplinary approach to attract
“In civil engineering we have always
house gases worldwide,” he says.
funding on a national level,” Fouad
focused on questions of sustainabil-
“Sustainable, smart cities on a global
says. “Another goal is to educate the
ity in civil engineering, but when you
scale will increase quality of life and
community. One problem with sus-
look at the scope of this research,
provide ways for future generations
tainable or ‘green’ technology is that
it calls for expertise in a variety of
to meet all of their needs.” To that
there is some resistance to those
areas. Not just engineering disci-
end, the center hosted the UAB
types of initiatives. So educating the
plines, but medicine, public health,
Sustainable Smart Cities Symposium
public on how sustainability can posi-
business, and many others.”
and initiated activities with the
tively effect their lives will be a key
Planning Commission of Greater
part of our mission and goals.”
Although Bettinger’s research has
“Our goal is to use this cross-
Birmingham in an effort to find ways
Global Scope Although much of UAB’s research will have a local impact, Fouad
to improve the quality of life locally. Fouad and co-director Maria Norena
Flying High SOE Launches Micro-Air Vehicle Program THOSE MICRO-AIR VEHICLES flying reconnaissance missions into
the first MAV designed at UAB.” Koomullil, along with Gary Cheng,
combat zones or into nuclear spill
Ph.D., an associate professor of
sites to detect radiation someday
mechanical engineering and mentor
may be designed at the School of
for the student design group, took
Engineering.
the use of propellers off the table
Senior engineering students were
and required the students to design
challenged to build an MAV weighing
flapping wings using industry soft-
less than 10 grams and powered by
ware. “Industry and the government
a four-volt battery.
labs all use computational simula-
Their recent test flight was sched-
tions before they fabricate the model
uled to last one minute, but it fell
or the prototype,” Koomullil says.
short—by about a minute, jokes Roy
“It’s important for the students to
Koomullil, Ph.D., associate professor
learn simulation before they enter
in the Department of Mechanical
the workforce, and this software
Engineering. “Even so, we consider
gives them valuable experience.”
this one a success because it was
The School of Engineering online master’s program is ranked as one of the best by U.S. News & World Report. Two master’s-level programs, Advanced Safety Engineering and Management (ASEM) and Construction Engineering Management (CEM), were ranked 27th based on faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, admission selectivity and student engagement. “I am thrilled that our totally online Master of Engineering programs at UAB have received national recognition,” says Martha Bidez, Ph.D.
UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013 8
Shelter from the Storm Modern Materials Provide Enhanced Protection against Deadly Storms Occasional tornadoes have long been an unfortunate fact of life in Alabama. But after a rash of severe storms in 2011 left hundreds dead and caused millions of dollars of property damage, UAB scientists say there is a new urgency to apply cutting-edge
“Our effort to improve storm shelters started in the wake of Hurricane
tornado threat test. In the NSSA test, 15-pound two-
Katrina and grew more urgent after
by-fours fired from a pressure can-
we saw 62 Alabama tornadoes in
non were unable to penetrate the
one day in 2011,” says Uday Vaidya,
panels, made of recycled materials,
Ph.D., professor within the UAB
in a dozen attempts. The wooden
Department of Materials Science &
missiles hit the panels at 100 miles
Engineering. In that year, tornadoes
per hour, the speed at which projec-
caused 551 deaths nationally—
tiles typically exit a tornado funnel
including 245 in Alabama—and prop-
spinning at more than 200 miles
erty damage exceeding $28 billion.
per hour. Such a storm would rate
“With an average of more than
EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita scale
1,370 tornadoes per year for the past
and be capable of leveling well-built
three years in the United States, it’s
homes. Passing the tornado test
time we changed the way storm
means the panels also pass the less-
shelters are built, with the goal of
taxing NSSA hurricane standard,
saving more lives,” Vaidya says.
where nine-pound missiles are fired at 60 to 75 miles per hour.
No-Fly Zone Panels for a new high-tech shelter
The successful test represents a first step toward commercial avail-
created at UAB have passed the
ability, which the team hopes to
National Storm Shelter Association’s
achieve by the 2013 tornado season.
materials science to the creation of 21st-century storm shelters.
Materials used in testing must withstand wooden projectiles hitting at speeds of 100 miles per hour.
9 UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013
The final hurdle comes this fall when the assembled structure will undergo testing. The UAB panels were tested at the NSSA facility on August 1, and the related patent applications filed on August 24. The UAB panels met the NSSA standards, which are based on Federal Emergency Management Association and International Council Code (ICC 500) requirements. Based on these early results, Vaidya and his team have lined up Sioux Manufacturing to fabricate the tabletop-size panels should
The panels designed by UAB engineers were tested at the National Storm Shelter
the final approvals come through.
Association’s research facility in Lubbock, Texas.
The team estimated that if merely 30 percent of the roughly 600,000 homes in the Southeast United States were to opt for a storm-
airborne and to protect against flying
shelter retrofit, it would represent
debris. They also leave the assembly
“To see panels pass our most
a $500-million market. UAB spinoff
line looking like typical interior walls;
extreme test the first time is very
Innovative Composite Solutions, led
they do not need paint and never will
impressive,” says Larry Tanner, P.E.,
by Vaidya and winner of the 2009
corrode.
manager of the NSSA/Texas Tech
Alabama Launchpad Competition,
Made from discarded liner once
SBIR Phase II program.
Debris Impact Test Facility. “If it
would oversee aspects of panel
used to wrap offshore oil-rig pipes,
saves even one life, it will have been
assembly in Birmingham.
the panels also embrace green engi-
worth the effort to design it.”
neering techniques. Recycled materiNo Gaps in the Armor The recipe of thermoplastic and fiberglass resins and fibers used in
Selvum Pillay, Ph.D., associate pro-
als used in the experimental phase
fessor in the School of Engineering
itself kept thousands of pounds of
and team member at ICS, says the
waste from landfills.
shelter represents one of many
the panels are stronger per-unit den-
The design team is continu-
sity than the steel used in many cur-
ing to refine the shelter roof and
generation of materials across many
rent shelters and weigh 80 percent
its armored door, which will be
fields. “Related efforts under way at
less, Vaidya says. Some of the same
sheathed in the same paneling as
UAB seek to re-engineer the pilings
foams and fibers are used in the lat-
the walls. The door also will feature
that failed during Hurricane Katrina to
est armored military vehicles.
a custom three-deadbolt locking sys-
flood New Orleans, dampen sound
tem and piano hinges.
for quieter cities, and better fortify
The panels, connected to each other and the floor of an interior
potential applications for a new
The initial phases of the panel
combat helmets,” Pillay says.
room, are designed to keep a fam-
design effort were funded through
ily from being crushed or becoming
the National Science Foundation’s
UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013 10
Homegrown Leadership UAB President and Provost Both Earned Degrees from the SOE IT IS NOTHING NEW for School of Engineering alumni to emerge in various leadership roles throughout the nation. But never before have the school’s graduates had such a direct impact on UAB, with UAB president Ray Watts, M.D., and provost Linda Lucas, Ph.D., both holding degrees from the School of Engineering.
The Long Way Home Watts has held many leadership roles
Emory University before returning to UAB to become chairman of the Department of Neurology in 2003. He
during his career, and it all started with
was named dean of the School of Medicine in 2010
an undergraduate degree from the UAB
before becoming the university’s seventh president in
School of Engineering.
February 2013.
A native of Birmingham, Watts was named Student Engineer of the Year Ray Watts
in 1975 by the Alabama Society of Professional Engineers during his junior
While Watts’s return to UAB can be seen as a homecoming of sorts, few people have a closer connection to
year at UAB. A year later, he was one of
the School of Engineering over the past 30 years than
three students to receive a national engi-
the UAB provost. Lucas served as the school’s dean
neering award. He earned a bachelor of
from 2001 until 2011, but her roots in the school go
science degree in engineering in 1976.
much deeper than that.
After graduating, he would leave engi-
Linda Lucas
Familiar Leadership
Lucas earned her bachelor of science degree in math-
neering to pursue a career in medicine,
ematics and chemistry from the University of Alabama
but he says his training at the School of
and her bachelor of science in engineering from UAB.
Engineering was invaluable. “I loved my
She earned master’s degrees in mathematics, educa-
undergraduate experience at UAB,” Watts
tion, and materials engineering from UAB—as well as a
says. “It was wonderful, and over the years, I have really
doctorate in biomedical engineering with an emphasis in
enjoyed watching UAB grow. After I finished my neurol-
biomaterials.
ogy residency, I would often come over and give grand
She joined the school’s faculty in 1982 as an assistant
rounds and serve as a visiting professor, so I always main-
professor and was named chair of the Department of
tained a connection with Birmingham and with UAB.”
Biomedical Engineering in 1995. As dean of the school,
Continuing the pattern of academic success he had
Lucas oversaw the construction of the Shelby Building
achieved as an undergraduate, Watts was valedic-
for Biomedical Research as well as other new state-of-
torian of Washington University School of Medicine
the-art laboratories. She also helped usher in 21st-cen-
in St. Louis, and he completed internship, residency,
tury education by offering a variety of online options for
and fellowship training at Harvard Medical School and
long-distance students.
Massachusetts General Hospital. He served a two-year fellowship at the National Institutes of Health and was a member of the faculty at
11 UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013
With a pair of engineers now leading the way for UAB, expectations are high for UAB to continue to establish a claim as one of the great universities of the 21st century.
student spotlight Blazer BEST In what has become a local tradition, students from central Alabama middle schools and high schools converged on Bartow Arena in October for the fifth-annual Blazer BEST competition. Based in Dallas, Texas, B.E.S.T. (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) Robotics, Inc., is a nonprofit, volunteer organization. More than 10,000 students participate in B.E.S.T. events nationwide.
Open House 2012
In addition to the annual event at Bartow Arena, this year’s competition included a kickoff at the
Friends, potential students, and
Galleria Mall in Hoover.
other visitors were treated to a glimpse of the endless possibilities of engineering at the school’s annual open house last spring, with everything from a catapult to a 3-D virtual-
Seniors Engineer Solution for NASA Cryogenic Freezer
reality system on display. Senior mechanical engineering
They were about five years old when Buzz Lightyear’s catchphrase “To
student TERRANCE SERNA demon-
infinity and beyond!” was adopted by a generation of youngsters. Now, the
strated the catapult, using a stuffed
childhood fantasy of working toward a space-based existence is reality for
animal as the projectile, he and a
a select group of engineering students.
young volunteer sent it flying toward a basketball hoop. BHARAT K. SONI, PH.D., chair
Logan Beane, Jeffery Black, Amanda Haglund, Brandon Kirkland, and Justin Terrell designed a test fixture for evaluating cryogenic insulation materials as part of an engineering senior design project. Their work
and professor of the Department of
revealed that glass microspheres, hollow borosilicate glass spheres approxi-
Mechanical Engineering, took visi-
mately the diameter of a human hair, are a more efficient thermal insulation
tors on a virtual 3-D tour of a house,
solution than the current technology for the NASA GLACIER cryogenic
a flying jet, and the human body.
freezer design, which was previously developed by the UAB Center for
Visitors inserted their hands into the
Biophysical Sciences and Engineering.
body and a large screen displayed
The microspheres will be incorporated into future GLACIER units and
what was inside, such as the valves
other CBSE projects pending approval from NASA officials at the Johnson
within the heart along with a heart
Space Center in Houston.
thumping sound. UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013 12
student spotlight SOE Finishes First Among State Schools at IEEE Competition STUDENTS from the UAB School of
schools from across the Southeast.
Engineering placed second at the
The UAB team qualified for the grand
IEEE SoutheastCon 2012 hardware
finale where they had to race eight
the robot had to do as far as naviga-
competition held in Orlando, finish-
other robots, an event that was tele-
tion and moving,” says John Higgins,
ing higher than any other school in
vised live on big screen TVs during
UAB senior. “The difficulty was in
the state of Alabama. The students,
the awards banquet, to see who
making the measurements that were
Wade Sweatt, Wesley Butsch, Chad
could navigate a course, find targets,
required because the circuitry for one
McMicken, and John Higgins, were
and make electronic calculations fast-
measurement wouldn’t work at all for
members of the senior design class
est.
the other measurement and would
“There are four blocks on the
in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
course and two plates at each
earn points at each task block.” “The difficulty didn’t lie in what
actually hinder the measurements.” The UAB team finished a close
block,” says Chad McMicken, UAB
second to the combined team of
lights our sharp engineering students
senior. “The robot was required to
Florida State and Florida A&M.
and strong engineering programs.
either measure the voltage, capaci-
Both compete well not only in the
tance, and temperature, or distin-
place finish was rewarding, but gain-
Southeast, but also nationally,” says
guish between a saw-tooth and a
ing all that experience in real-world
Melinda Lalor, Ph.D., interim dean,
square wave. The robot then had to
electronic applications that apply to
UAB School of Engineering.
take the appropriate course of action
their industry is the real payoff.
“This strong finish once again spot-
The competition featured 45
based on those measurements to
Homecoming 2012 The School of Engineering had another great Homecoming in 2012. The activities were organized and led by students, and the SOE finished second in the Building Decoration Competition, won the Most Creative Passenger award in the Gurney Derby, and was recognized for the Most Spirited Float at the annual Homecoming Parade. Dhruv Patel was the student leader for the school’s Homecoming activities.
13 UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013
The students said the second-
IEM Dinner The Information Engineering and Management (IEM) program celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2012 with a dinner and reception at the UAB Alumni House. During the ceremony, IEM Director Dale Callahan, Ph.D. (right), and alumnus Todd Miranda, spoke about how the program has furthered the careers of its graduates, as well as what the future may hold for IEM.
Online Student Helps Fashion New OSHA Standard FARRAH VACCA , a student in Advanced Safety and
device, such as tweezers, which is cumbersome and not
Engineering Management, recently helped change a stan-
the ideal fix for the problem,” says Vacca. “I talked to
dard created by the California Division of Occupational
the microtome users in our shop and they said handling
Safety and Health with a thoughtful comment.
the blade with tweezers makes it less safe, so my com-
Vacca, a safety professional for a Bay Area major
ments focused on the principal of prevention through
pharmaceutical company, was enrolled in EGR 616:
design—fixing the systemic problems of the design, the
Policy Issues in Prevention through Design when she
way it is manufactured, and the safeguards that are in
was assigned to find and comment on a safety standard
place.”
that was open for public comment. She noticed Cal/OSHA had written the first safety standard for microtomes—blades of steel, glass, or diamonds that cut
Cal/OSHA’s summary and response said Vacca’s public comments would provide better safety than the existing standard. The board added that although they regulate employers,
extremely thin slices of material for
not manufacturers, Vacca’s input may
observation in microscopy—that
“induce manufacturers to take a fresh
are used by Vacca’s company.
look at their equipment and develop
“Cal/OSHA’s standard said to keep hands one inch from the
designs that will move in the direction of engineering out the hazards” over time.
blade and recommended using a UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013 14
alumni profile HDR may not be a household name, but chances are most people have encountered one or more of the company’s projects—which include bridges, power plants, hospitals, prisons, and more.
Eclectic Engineering: Degree Leads Alumnus to a Wide World of Business Opportunity George Little is a 1981 graduate of the UAB School of Engineering. He was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in 2010 and was named one of UAB’s “40 Engineers Making a Difference” in 2011.
countries and currently has five projects in China, including designing the
Exploring Options “I never had aspirations to be presi-
world’s first “medical city” in Beijing.
dent of a company or anything like
“This will be the first fully integrated
that,” says Little. “Being the CEO of
health community in the world,”
an international company would not
says Little, a 1981 graduate of the
have been on my radar, but I have
UAB School of Engineering. “We’re
been very fortunate throughout my
working on a master plan that will
career to have good mentors at UAB,
WHEN HE WAS a teenager growing
include 10 hospitals with 1,000 beds
at Alabama Power, and at HDR.”
up in Hueytown, Alabama, George
apiece. To put that in perspective,
Little says he “wouldn’t have had a
consider the growth of UAB’s medi-
Alabama Power while still an under-
clue where Omaha was.” Over the
cal center over the last few years,
graduate at UAB. He stayed with
past two decades, his knowledge of
then multiply the size of that entire
Alabama Power for eight years
geography has grown considerably
medical center by 10.”
after graduation before taking a job
deeper. Little was recently promoted
When completed, the Beijing com-
Little started out working for
with HDR’s office in Minneapolis,
plex will cover 4.7 square miles—
Minnesota. “The electrical work I
to CEO of HDR, an engineering
equal to two-thirds the size of
was doing was actually a very small
and design firm based in Omaha,
Manhattan—and is expected to cost
part of what we were doing, so I
Nebraska, that designs and man-
7 billion in U.S. dollars. That’s quite
was exposed to a wide range of
ages construction projects all over
a responsibility for a CEO who says
disciplines,” he says. “I got experi-
the world. With more than 7,800
he started his career with no higher
ence with wastewater engineering,
employees in 185 offices, HDR has
ambition than securing a job as an
highways and bridges, and really the
managed projects in more than 60
electrical engineer.
whole variety of construction and
15 UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013
design projects HDR handles. As my confidence grew, I realized that I
Bridges, Ballparks, and Beyond While HDR may not be a house-
groundwater modeling; and our federal and energy group.
enjoyed working with clients and the
hold name, chances are most
business development aspects of
people are familiar with at least
es mainly on health care, where
being in management.”
some of the company’s projects,
we’ve been ranked number one in
Little worked several years as
“Our architecture company focus-
such as the Hoover Dam Bypass
design for the past eight years; sci-
manager of the Minneapolis office
or T.D. Ameritrade Park in Omaha,
ence and technology, which deals
before moving to Omaha to take
which replaced Rosenblatt Stadium
with high-level research facilities;
over the company’s engineering
in 2011 as the home of the NCAA
and civic and community architec-
division in 1998. “I had never done
College World Series. “There are
ture, where we design large prisons,
much traveling outside of the state
six primary areas where HDR func-
courthouses, and other facilities.”
of Alabama before I took the job
tions,” Little says. “Our engineering
with HDR,” he says. “I began travel-
company works in transportation,
important to have associates who
ing around the country with HDR
which includes designing highways
can work across many disciplines,
starting in 1994. We had some inter-
and bridges as well as transit sys-
Little says. It also helps to be in
national projects back then, but noth-
tems; water/wastewater, where we
touch with the needs of tomorrow
ing like what we have now.”
design and build water plants and do
while building for the needs of today.
With such diverse interests, it’s
From Motorcycles to Macs SOE Grad Takes her Talents to Apple WENDY SUDSINSUNTHORN, a 2007 UAB School
At Fisher Price, you had
of Engineering alumna, applied her creative and
every child’s dream job. What
technical skills to work on everything from Harley-
prompted the move to your new
Davidson motorcycles in Alabama to Thomas the
psiition with Apple?
Tank Engine in New York City. Soon, she may
I had an amazing year
be coming to an iPad near you through her new
working at Fisher Price be-
position as an engineering project manager for
fore I was approached with
Apple. Sudsinsunthorn recently spoke with UAB
an opportunity to work for
Engineering about her wide-ranging experiences.
Apple in California. I am excit-
How does the office environment differ between a
ed about the move and to be
more typical engineering job (like Harley-Davidson, for
working for one of the top companies in the world.
instance) and a toy company?
How can prospective engineering students (and anyone else)
The corporate environment is different, but the small-company environment allowed me to have
best position themselves to land a great job like yours? First, get involved on campus within your discipline
exposure to a lot of different aspects of busi-
and/or with student organizations. Study hard to make
ness. The corporate environment at Fisher Price
good grades, but also diversify your resumé with intern-
has enabled me to see the benefits of cross-
ships, community service, and organizations. And most
functional teams and checks and balances.
important, get some experience! UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013 16
development A Tribute to One, a Gift to Many CDS-John Blue Honors Adam Telle by Supporting SOE Students ADAM STRYKER TELLE’S career was cut tragically short when he was killed in a car accident in 2012, but the legacy of the 2010 SOE alumnus will continue to impact engineering students for decades to come. A generous gift from CDS-John Blue Company and other friends and admirers of Telle has established an endowed award in the Department of Mechanical Engineering to honor Telle’s memory. This award provides a way to celebrate the continuation of his legacy at UAB. “Adam Telle was such a special guy to us all,” says Marty Gray, CFO of CDS-John Blue Company. “He was so proud to be an engineer and was just starting his career. It just made sense to us to remember him by helping someone else realize their engineering dream just as Adam had done.” Telle received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the School of Engineering in 2010. Following graduation, he began his career as a design engineer at CDS-John Blue Company in Huntsville, Alabama. On February 7, 2012, Adam’s promising career was cut short when he lost his life in a car acciThis endowment is an appropriate tribute to Telle’s memory. It will positively impact the lives and careers of students like Telle who benefit from it, as well as the School of Engineering, the university, and the community. Melinda Lalor, Ph.D., who was interim dean of the School of Engineering at the time of the award, adds, “This gracious gift will make it possible for a continuous chain of talented young people to learn and grow as UAB engineering students, and then positively contribute to the greater engineering community. It is an appropriate way to remember this fine young man.”
17 UAB ENGINEERING M AGA ZINE • SPRING 2 013
“
Adam Telle was such a special guy to us all. He was so proud
to be an engineer and was just starting his career. It just made sense to us to remember him by helping someone else realize
“
dent at the young age of 24.
their engineering dream just as
Adam had done. — Marty Gray, CFO of CDS-John Blue Company
UAB School of Engineering DESIGNING A BETTER TOMORROW
MAKING A BEQUEST to the UAB School of Engineering is a thoughtful and flexible way to achieve your charitable and financial goals without making an outright gift today. Your bequest to the school may reduce your estate taxes and will give you peace of mind knowing that: • you are making a gift that will provide a legacy of support for professors, students, and programs at the School of Engineering; • you may direct your bequest to a particular purpose, program, or department (the SOE and the Office of Planned Giving will work with you and your advisors to ensure your gift is structured properly); and • you will be invited to join the Torchlighter’s Society, an exclusive group of donors who make lifetime gifts to UAB. If you would like to learn more about making a bequest to the SOE, please contact development director Victoria Allen at (205) 934-8481 or veallen@uab.edu.
Learn more at www.uab.edu/development/areas/academics/engineering.
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