The Latest From Mechanical Engineering
Update ME
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is an active research hub at the forefront of developments in human health, the environment, robotics, manufacturing, energy, and more. Our faculty, researchers, and students work on everything from designing clean engines to curing cancer. Read about what ME is doing to change the world right here in Minnesota.
Lakshya Gangwar Receives Inaugural Ernest G. Cravalho Award
Posted
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is proud to announce that Dr. Lakshya Gangwar, a postdoctoral associate in the department and a Ph.D. alumnus, has received the inaugural Ernest G. Cravalho Award from the Society for Cryobiology. The award was presented at CRYO2026, the society’s annual meeting, held July 15–17 at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Peter Bruggeman and Jae Hyun Nam Receive Microscopy Today Innovation Award with Hummingbird Scientific
Posted
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is proud to announce that Professor Peter Bruggeman and Dr. Jae Hyun Nam, together with Hummingbird Scientific, have received a Microscopy Today Innovation Award for the co-design of the Operando Plasma Transmission Electron Microscopy Sample Holder, an in-situ TEM platform that enables real-time, nanometer-scale imaging of materials as they react in atmospheric-pressure plasma. The award was formally presented at the Microscopy & Microanalysis 2026 meeting, held August 2–6 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Light on the Move: ME Researchers Create Microscopic Particles that Steer Light
Posted
Researchers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering within the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering have developed a new class of microscopic particles that can swim through liquid and redirect light on command, combining mobility and sophisticated optical control in a single device.
Uwe Kortshagen and Suo Yang Receive Genesis Mission Award
Posted
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is proud to announce that Professors Uwe Kortshagen and Suo Yang have received a U.S. Department of Energy Genesis Mission award for their project, “AI-driven rapid discovery of plasma deposition for novel materials for next-generation semiconductor devices.”
Suo Yang Named Georgia Tech 40 Under 40 Honoree
Posted
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is proud to announce that Professor Suo Yang has been named to the 2026 Class of 40 Under 40 by the Georgia Tech Alumni Association.
Vikas Goud Jukanti Receives AITF Best Poster Award at the 12th International Conference on Boiling and Condensation Heat Transfer
Posted
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is proud to announce that Vikas Goud Jukanti, a graduate student advised by Professor Vinod Srinivasan, has received the AITF Best Poster Award for AI and Machine Learning Applications in Boiling and Condensation Heat Transfer at the 12th International Conference on Boiling and Condensation Heat Transfer (ICBCHT-12), held at MIT, Cambridge, USA, June 14–17, 2026.
Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship Awardees 2026–2027
Posted
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is proud to announce the 2026–2027 recipients of the Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship (DDF). These exceptional students are making groundbreaking advancements in their respective fields of research.
Shubham Dongarwar Receives Best Student Paper Award at ICOPS 2026
Posted
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is proud to announce that Shubham Dongarwar, a PhD student advised by Professor Peter Bruggeman, has received the Best Student Paper Award at the 2026 International Conference on Plasma Science (ICOPS), organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Sungyon Lee Awarded RIO Grant-in-Aid
Posted
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is pleased to announce that Professor Sungyon Lee has been awarded a RIO Grant-in-Aid from the University of Minnesota's Research and Innovation Office (RIO). The award supports 24 projects across the Twin Cities and Rochester campuses.
Goldstein Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award Winners for 2025–2026
Posted
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is proud to announce that Rochak Badyal and Pauly Soulia have been selected as the 2025–2026 recipients of the Goldstein Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award. This award was created to recognize departmental teaching assistants (TAs) who exhibited excellence in teaching and made a significant difference in student learning.
ME News
ME News is mailed to alumni and friends of the department, with a circulation of 12,000+.
Questions? Submissions? Contact: [email protected]
