Five Faculty Have Been Named Endowed Chairs and Professors in the Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is proud to recognize five faculty members who have been awarded endowed chairs and professorships. These positions, made possible through the generous support of our donors, provide long-term support for faculty leading innovative work in key areas of research, education, and service.
Leroy M Fingerson/TSI Incorporated Chair in Mechanical Engineering: Professor William Northrop, for his research contributions in engine emissions, and the application of statistical learning in modeling vehicle transportation systems, teaching contributions in thermodynamics and energy conversion systems, and service contributions as the director of the Murphy Engine Research Laboratory
Carl & Janet Kuhrmeyer Chair in Mechanical Engineering #1: Professor Tianhong Cui, for his research contributions in applying MEMS systems to address problems in biological and environmental sensing, teaching contributions in MEMS, and significant service contributions as Editor-in-Chief for multiple journals (Microsystems & Nanoengineering; Light: Science & Applications) .
Carl & Janet Kuhrmeyer Chair in Mechanical Engineering #2: Professor Alptekin Aksan, for his research contributions on the influence of encapsulation and confinement on cell behavior, as well as in cryopreservation, teaching contributions in the development of ME 4053, and service contributions as an NSF program manager.
Richard C. Jordan Professorship: Professor Cari Dutcher, for her research contributions in multiphase systems and interfacial phenomena, teaching contributions in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, and service contributions as a journal editor (Aerosol Science & Technology), and vice-president elect (eventual president) of the American Association for Aerosol Research.
Kuhrmeyer Family Chair in Mechanical Engineering: Professor Suhasa Kodandaramaiah, for his research contributions in developing sensor systems to map neuronal activity, teaching contributions in medical robotics, and service contributions as the department's director of student recruiting.
A committee of representatives from Mechanical Engineering and other CSE departments reviewed all applications and made a recommendation to Department Chair Chris Hogan. Thank the selection committee: Lian Shen, Raj Rajamani, Bill Arnold (CEGE), and Tim Lodge (Chemistry/CEMS) for their efforts in evaluating applications.