March 2007

Simpson Honored for Excellence in Academic Integration (from the PSU Newswire, University park, PA) -- Timothy W. Simpson, professor of mechanical engineering, industrial engineering and engineering design at Penn State’s University Park campus, has been awarded the 2007 President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Integration. Read full story here. (3/07)

Jack S. Brenizer Jr. Awarded J. 'Lee' Everett Professorship in Engineering - Jack S. Brenizer jr., Chair of Nuclear Engineering and Professor of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering will be the first recipient of the J. 'Lee' Everett Professorship in Engineering.  The J. 'Lee' Everett Professorship is the fourth endowed position in the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering; the first three being the Diefenderfer Chair established in 2000, and the Guillet Professorship established in 2003, and the Arthur Glenn Professorship established in 2005. Read full story here. (3/07)

Mechanical engineering course has students developing new tools for doctors, health-care providers - (by Curtis Chan, COE) When we think about the essentials to the classroom, paper, pens, and books comes to mind. Perhaps a highlighter or some white out. But, most will never have the vas deferens of a bull on special order, or a biopsy needle used in surgery or a special sheathing used in endoscopic procedures. For the students of Mary Frecker's mechanical engineering class, these special items are the essentials for the classroom. Read full story here. (3/07)

Memorial Bike Ride Held (University Park, PA) - A memorial bike ride to honor professor of mechanical engineering, Bohdan Kulakowski was held on Sunday, March 25, 2007. The ride started in State College and proceeded to the memorial site on Warner Drive in Boalsburg. Bicyclists rode in honor of Kulakowski, who was tragically killed March 2006 while riding his bike home from work on campus. Bike trailers hauled flowers that were placed at the "ghost bike" memorial.

Kulakowski is sadly missed by the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering and the bicycling community. The Department has an on-line memorial book for the family located at http://www.mne.psu.edu/NewsandEvents/bohdan-service.html. If you would like to contribute a memorial statement for the memorial book you may submit your statement to the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering via e-mail to: MNE Webmaster. Memorial statements will be taken until the end of April 2007.

For more on this story please visit the Centre Daily Times website, and also the Centre Region Bicycle Coalition website. (3/07)

AREVA - Penn State Alumni Luncheon Held (Lynchburg, VA) – Dr. Karen Thole, Department Head of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering; Dr. Jack Brenizer (PhD NucE 1981), Chair of the Nuclear Engineering Program; and Liz Larsen, Director of Major Gifts, recently invited Penn State Alumni working at AREVA to a luncheon that was held in Lynchburg, Virginia on Monday, February 26, 2007. Read full story here. (3/07)

Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) Group to Receive Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) Award - The Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) Award has been awarded to members of the team of Penn State, Harvard, Duke, Ohio State, and University of British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Shashi Phoha, Director of Information Science Division at the Applied Research Laboratory is the Principal Investigator of this project, with Dr. Asok Ray, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering taking the lead on the major research thrust area. The research project will be dedicated to both theoretical and experimental aspects of fundamental research in Sensor Networks for enhancement of Information Fusion. Read full story here. (3/07)

Chao-Yang Recognized by Electrochimica Acta for Most Cited Papers - Chao-Yang, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Electrochemical Engine Center, has been recognized by the editors of Electrochimica Acta as having two (out of three) of the most cited papers of 2004. Electrochimica Acta is ranked 3rd among the major electrochemistry Journals.

Visit http://www.ise-online.org/popup/most_cited_2004.html to view editors announcement.  Congratulations C.Y.! (3/07)