LSU College of Engineering E-News

LSU Mechanical Engineering Professor Named ASME Fellow

Ram Devireddy, associate professor, department of mechanical engineering, has been named a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Fellow grade, the highest elected grade of membership in ASME, is conferred upon members with at least 10 years of active engineering practice who have made significant contributions to the profession. Nominated by their peers and selected by the Fellow Review Committee with final approval of the Committee of Past Presidents, these individuals have distinguished themselves in their careers. There are only 3,215 Fellows out of 125,881 ASME members. Devireddy's research interests lie at the intersection of heat transfer and biology, specifically microscale phenomena and thermal properties of media (cell culture solutions), cells and tissues with applications to biopreservation. Devireddy was recognized for having made seminal research contributions in the area of bioheat and mass transfer and more recently in the field of adult stem biopreservation and thermo-electric materials. His research contributions have been published in 3 book chapters, 62 archival journal articles and 80 conference proceedings/abstracts. The quality of his publications has been widely recognized with best paper awards from the ASME Journal of Heat Transfer, Mid-West Thermal Analysis Forum the Society of Cryobiology and the Materials Research Society. Devireddy's research activities have been funded continuously from a variety of sources... (more)

LSU Construction Management Students Volunteer to Build Homes

Students from LSU's Construction Student Association volunteered at a Habitat for Humanity build in the Longwood Area off Gardere in Baton Rouge, La., on Jan. 28. Students nailed down roof decking, applied water-proof lining and exterior sheathing and installed windows as part of CSA's efforts to get involved within the community through monthly service projects. The Habitat build was the first in a series of planned volunteer projects for this semester. "The students that participated were excited to offer their construction knowledge and experience to the build," said Chris Shinaberry, service chair, CSA. Harold Lohman, CSA vice president and senior construction management student, hopes to see LSU's Construction Management program incorporate Habitat for Humanity hours in the degree curriculum. "It was helpful to see a real life example of what I had learned in class," Lohman said. Shinaberry says he is always looking for volunteer opportunities for CSA members to participate in, construction oriented or not. "I believe that through various service events, CSA members will develop a liking for volunteering and continue to offer the skills we are developing in class to areas in need," Shinaberry said. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing ministry that invites volunteers to help provide more families with decent, safe and affordable places to live. ### For more information,... (more)

Civil Engineering Professor Appointed President of ASCE BR Branch

Dr. Clinton Willson, associate professor, LSU department of civil and environmental engineering, will serve as president of the Baton Rouge branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers. As a longtime and active member of ASCE, Willson has served on the ASCE BR Branch Board of Directors since 2006. He previously served as a director, secretary-treasurer, vice president and president-elect. As president, Willson plans to build upon the recently released Louisiana Infrastructure Report Card by educating the public and policy makers on the value of civil infrastructure in our daily lives. A number of ASCE BR Branch members and LSU alumni played a large role in final report. "We owe it to all of them and to the public to ensure that the results and messages are as widely disseminated as possible," Willson said. Willson will also focus on ensuring that current and future civil engineers have the skills and tools to meet the challenges imposed by our critical and, in all too many cases, aging infrastructure. Willson will also spotlight the 50th Anniversary of the ASCE Baton Rouge Branch, increase the ASCE and Branch presence through outreach and educational activities and provide a technically relevant and strong 2012 Louisiana Section Spring Conference. For more information about the Baton Rouge Branch of the ASCE, visit their website at http://www.ascebr.org/ ### For more information, contact Cassie Arceneaux, College of Engineering, carcen6@lsu.edu... (more)

LSU Engineering Student Nationally Recognized as an ASCE New Faces of Civil Engineering

Marlie Ventress, civil engineering senior, was one of 10 civil engineering students that the American Society of Civil Engineers recognized in its first annual New Faces of Civil Engineering - College Edition. These students were recognized for achieving the highest standards as college civil engineering students, whose academic success and extracurricular engagement point to a bright future as professionals in the field of civil engineering. "It is an honor and privilege to receive this recognition for my hard work and dedication," Ventress said. "This is another step toward developing my career goals from my previous internships and community involvement. I am proud to represent LSU as a top 10 Civil Engineering student on a national level." "Marlie is a very bright student and a very hard worker," said Sherif Ishak, associate professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. "She is very ambitious and is currently on an exchange program between U.S. and Scotland. I am confident that Ms. Ventress will have a bright future." "These students are an inspiration to future generations of students seeking a career in which they can make a difference," said ASCE President Andrew Herrmann, P.E. See photos of and read more about all of ASCE's 2012 New Faces of Civil Engineering - College Edition, and see all of the winners from each of the 15 engineering societies for... (more)

LSU Engineering Professor Helps Bring National Evacuation Conference to La.

The second biennial National Evacuation Conference will be held Feb. 7-9, in New Orleans at the Hilton Riverside hotel. Stephen Flynn, professor of political science and the founding co-director of the George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security at Northeastern University, will headline the lineup of keynote speakers and panelists set to appear as part of the 2012 conference. The 2012 National Evacuation Conference is organized by the Stephenson Disaster Management Institute and the Gulf Coast Center for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency, which is housed at LSU and the University of New Orleans, respectively. Flynn, who has authored "The Edge of Disaster: Rebuilding a Resilient Nation," will also host a book signing during the conference. This conference will be relevant to both academics and professionals with an interest in the development and modeling of comprehensive evacuation plans, and will offer a venue for dialogue between the academy and practice, as well as between the private and public sector. Participants will contribute to an important step towards more efficient and effective evacuation planning. "We are in the business of saving lives," said Gulf Coast Center for Evacuation & Transportation Resiliency Director Brian Wolshon. "LSU is part of the organizing effort to bring this mix of academics, practitioners and government agencies to address a significant issue and develop solutions for... (more)

Mixing it Up

Jim Odom Grows Global Company, Keeps Ties to LSU Engineering Winning international awards for innovative and affordable music production tools wasn't particularly what Jim Odom had on his mind while sitting in electrical engineering classes in the '90s. But it's exactly what happened. With a grandfather and father who were engineers, it seemed Odom was also destined to become one. Odom chose LSU engineering because he knew it would prepare him for a successful career. And it didn't hurt that LSU was close to home. "The courses you go through in electrical engineering at LSU do prepare you to keep up with technology, which is incredibly fast-paced," Odom said. Like many engineering students, Odom initially struggled with the mathematical concepts of the discipline and contemplated changing majors. But two of his professors recognized his in-depth understanding of engineering design and encouraged him to stick with it. "They felt I had the talent to be a good engineer," Odom said. With a strong support system, Odom graduated from LSU in 1992 with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. Today, Odom is an acclaimed entrepreneur, engineer, musician and producer. He serves as the President and Chief Strategy Officer of PreSonus Audio Electronics, a company that he and fellow LSU Electrical Engineering graduate and PreSonus VP of Engineering, Brian Smith, founded in order to solve the technical... (more)

LSU Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Improves Clean Energy Production Through Ethanol Research

Have you ever dreamed of seeing renewable sources become the world's primary source of energy? One LSU student is researching ethanol as an alternative energy source to help the environment and the United State's rising need. Nitin Kumar, LSU chemical engineering graduate student, conducts research related to the production of ethanol from Syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which can be obtained from various sources such as coal, biomass and natural gas. With oil prices rising, fossil fuels resources gradually being depleted and cleaner fuel demands increasing, ethanol offers a cleaner energy source that takes advantage of fuel and vehicle infrastructures already in place. "I want to see a future where we can have renewable sources of energy and less dependence on oil and fossil fuels," Kumar said. He is looking for direct catalytic conversion of syngas to ethanol and has studied several catalysts for this purpose. Kumar has produced new catalytic particles that measure in at less than 2 nanometers, much smaller than even the smallest known bacteria and viruses and that reproducibly convert Syngas to ethanol at efficiencies competitive with the best catalysts on the market. If Syngas can efficiently be converted to ethanol, for example through the use of more effective catalysts, then ethanol can increasingly be used as an alternative energy source, with cleaner burning properties and the potential for localized production in... (more)

2011 Fall Commencement

The College of Engineering held its diploma ceremony for Fall 2011 at the Maddox Fieldhouse, conferring 153 Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees, 39 Masters of Science degrees and 14 Ph.D. degrees. Of note, LSU College of Engineering graduates represented 27 Louisiana parishes, 10 states, and 16 foreign countries. This semester's graduating class contained a number of high-achieving students including: three Distinguished Communicators, five Summa Cum Laude graduates, one Magna Cum Laude graduate and eight Cum Laude graduates. Chancellor Michael Martin was the commencement speaker for the ceremony. Martin explained that commencement symbolizes not the end but only the beginning of where graduates will utilize their education. "Today is a day of celebration," Martin said. "I want you to remember what we call this day. It's called commencement, which means it's the not the end, it's only the beginning. This is really the beginning of where you are now going to utilize your education as you continue to educate yourself. So when I congratulate you, I'm congratulating you on what you will achieve, not just what you have achieved." Martin offered the following advice to the graduates, "Never stop learning. Never fear failure, know what you don't want to do but leave yourself open for an adventure and always know you are always a part of the LSU family." In ending his speech, Martin made predicted the final score of the BCS National Championship... (more)

LSU Biological Engineering “Happy” Award Winner Gives Back to Community with Playgrounds

Service learning and community engagement are an LSU Engineering tradition, especially for students in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering program. Every BAE student, including recent "Happy" award recipient and BAE senior Nicole Walker, gets the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with both engineering design and community service through Dr. Marybeth Lima's course BE 1252. Lima gives her students one semester-long task: to propose, design and build a new playground for a deserving public school in Baton Rouge and give back to the local community. Dr. Lima's students have now helped to fund and build more than 20 such playgrounds, and many of her students, like Walker, never stop giving. This year, LSU's Center for Community Engagement, Learning and Leadership, or CCELL, awarded Walker and nine other LSU faculty, students and community partners with the inaugural CCELL "Happy" Awards. These awards recognize recipients for their excellence in service learning. The "Happy" award was initiated to commemorate former CCELL director Jan Shoemaker's 10 years of distinguished service, commitment to education and service for the common good. Walker works with Lima, director of CCELL, to design playground layouts, order playgrounds parts and volunteer during playground installations. Walker has helped write two grants that brought in approximately $16,500 in funds to support playground builds for local... (more)

Three Engineering Graduates Earn Distinguished Communicator Honor

LSU's 276th commencement exercises honored three engineering students with the LSU's Distinguished Communicator Award, the first program of its kind in the nation. Along with these engineering students, two additional students representing numerous majors earned the distinction. Those honored from the College of Engineering included: Yasmin Mohammad, Jordan Moree and Elizabeth Nowacki. LSU's Distinguished Communicator Award recognizes students who demonstrate exemplary levels of communication skills during their undergraduate years. Recipients are selected on the basis of completing 12 hours of approved courses, submitting a digital portfolio, participating in internships or co-ops, demonstrating leadership, and maintaining a GPA of 3.0 in communication-intensive courses. Upon completion, students have their transcripts annotated to reflect their Distinguished Communicator designation. The five LSU students earned the DC honor by meeting high standards set by faculty in various colleges and by the LSU Communication across the Curriculum program. The students earned high grade-point averages in communication-intensive courses that were based on written, spoken, visual and technological communication. The students built digital portfolios, displayed as public Web sites that include their communication projects from courses, internships, leadership roles and public service. Yasmin Mohammad earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering. Mohammad has been... (more)

Getting Much More than Just a Senior Ring

Fall 2011 Senior Ring Ceremony holds intriguing, sentimental storylines Senator-Elect R.L. "Bret" Allain II (1980 BACH ENGR), of Jeanerette, La., expected to sit with his wife, Kim, to watch their daughter, Emma, receive her senior ring. Mom and daughter had other plans. "My children and I wanted to surprise Bret with his LSU ring at the ring ceremony," said Kim Allain. And they did! Until the family arrived at the Lod Cook Alumni Center, Bret Allain didn't know that he would be sitting among the honorees, not in the audience. "My dad never got a ring when he graduated from LSU in agricultural engineering, so my mom and I decided to surprise him - even though he said he didn't want one," said Emma Allain. "It was a memorable moment to share with my dad especially because we will both have engineering degrees as second and third generation LSU graduates. I decided to get a senior ring to have a reminder of all of my accomplishments at LSU, and now my dad can have one too." Even as Bret Allain jokingly murmured to his wife and daughter, "I'll get you back for this," he admitted to being delighted. "I couldn't afford to buy a ring when I graduated," he said. "I was very touched that my family surprised me at the ring ceremony with my LSU ring. It was even more meaningful sharing the ceremony and being presented with my daughter." ### This story was... (more)

LSU Receives $1 Million to Explore New Energy Source from Reservoir Heat Extraction

A group of LSU researchers is conducting innovative research to harvest heat from geothermal reservoirs to generate electricity. The proposed method couples forced convection (the movement of molecules within fluids) through long, near-horizontal wellbores with free convection arising from natural geothermal gradients. Christopher White, associate professor, and Mayank Tyagi, assistant professor, both of the LSU Craft and Hawkins Department of Petroleum Engineering and the Center for Computation & Technology (CCT), along with other LSU researchers, were awarded a grant for $997,333 from the U.S. Department of Energy for the project "Zero Mass Withdrawal, Engineered Convection, and Wellbore Energy Conversion." Compared to conventional geothermal development strategies, engineered convection improves thermal recovery efficiency and delays thermal breakthrough of heat-depleted geofluid at the heat extraction point. Computer simulations indicate that the engineered convection strategy could be effective for the saline aquifer temperatures, thicknesses, extents, permeabilities, and dips that are common in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. "Low-cost, environmentally benign geothermal energy could boost the economy of the region, especially in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas and remote areas with poor electric power transmission and transportation infrastructure, such as the coastal wetlands," said White, principal investigator of this project.The engineered... (more)

Maximizing Efficiency

Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Design Project Delivers Interactive Marquee, Online Advising System Going into their senior year as electrical and computer engineering students at LSU, Anthony Brown, Jared Ervin and Brett Lemoine didn't realize the impact their senior design project would have on their career goals. The project began with the task of building a marquee for the ECE office - an idea that late Dr. Jorge Aravena, former electrical and computer engineering department chair, proposed. The goal of the marquee was to display information relevant to students, visitors, etc. and was interactive. To do so, the group had to design a CMS program responsible for the back end management of content. But there was one more component the group would be tasked with. As part of a class exercise in "ideation," or concept creation, in EE 4810, students were challenged to think of a new way to conduct advising. After working together in groups, every group pitched online advising as the ideal solution to maximizing efficiency. "Students are always telling me how they wish the advising process was better. I decided to let them create the advising process through a team ideation exercise. I gave them a set of mandatory expectations that the college has for advising," said John Scalzo, instructor and undergraduate advisor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "Seven teams created individual... (more)

Khonsari and Zhou Named AAAS Fellows

Five LSU researchers have been honored with the rank of "Fellow" by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, the world's largest scientific organization. Having five AAAS Fellows in one year ranks LSU among the top 10 percent of universities with individuals receiving the honor - with 539 fellows selected from more than 230 institutions worldwide. Michael Khonsari, professor, Dow Chemical Endowed Chair in Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME), College of Engineering, and director, Center for Rotating Machinery, was named for his distinguished contributions to multidisciplinary scientific research and development particularly in the field of tribology and for outstanding leadership in building research infrastructure across the state of Louisiana. Kemin Zhou, Mark and Carolyn C. Guidry Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE), College of Engineering, was awarded for his distinguished contributions to the field of advanced control theory and technology. Election as a fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers in recognition of their efforts toward advancing science applications deemed scientifically or socially distinguished. "Professor Khonsari's contributions in tribology are numerous and substantial and his recent, unique work on the prediction of the life-time of engineering materials is of paramount relevance to a broad range of industrial... (more)

LSU Alumnus Named 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers President-elect

Dr. Westmoreland received his Masters in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University in 1974 under Dr. Doug Harrison and earned his Ph.D. from MIT in 1986. He is currently a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at North Carolina State and executive director for North Carolina State University's Institute for Computational Science and Engineering. While Dr. Westmoreland has received many honors and awards over the years for his work focusing on understanding and using kinetics at a molecular scale, theoretically and experimentally, he also takes the time to serve on the Department of Chemical Engineering's Departmental Industrial Advisory Committee. AIChE Press Release, October 26, 2011 NEW YORK - The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) announced that David A. Rosenthal, reliability delivery and assets management manager for Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. in its Houston, Texas office will become president of the 40,000 member organization in 2012. Rosenthal succeeds 2011 President Maria K. Burka, program director in the Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems Division of the National Science Foundation in Arlington, Virginia. Joining him on the Board of Directors will be Phillip R. Westmoreland, who will serve as president-elect in 2012 and as president in 2013. Westmoreland is a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at North Carolina State... (more)

Taylor Made

Phyllis Taylor and her late husband, Patrick "Pat" F. Taylor, have provided countless students the opportunity to earn a college degree. Pat founded Louisiana's Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), and his and Phyllis' work has led to the introduction of similar programs in 22 other states. Over the past several years, a select group of students in the colleges of Engineering and Science have been named Taylor Scholars through a program made possible by the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation. Scholars receive financial support that allows them to focus on academics and, in many cases, devote time to research and activities that improve communities at LSU and beyond. Following, meet this year's engineering Scholars whose excellence speaks to the value of this program. Taylor Scholars in the College of Engineering are a high-achieving group of underrepresented, full-time engineering students. The support they receive is awarded for four years of undergraduate study. www.eng.lsu.edu Jaworski Sartin Patrick F. Taylor Scholar Civil & Environmental Engineering • Bogalusa, La. A decade ago, Jaworski and his peers at Bogalusa Junior High School gathered to hear Pat Taylor talk about TOPS. His message was simple: You can go to college. Fast forward to 2011 ... Jaworski, a former TOPS recipient, was his college's first Taylor Scholars graduate and is pursuing a PhD. In 2007, he participated in the dedication of... (more)

No Other Place

A lot of people claim to bleed purple and gold, but how many lull their grandchildren to sleep by singing the "LSU Alma Mater"? Karen Schmitt did so proudly. She and husband Ed are LSU alumni, as are their two daughters and so many family members that they joke about the inevitability of their five grandchildren attending. The Schmitts even have an LSU-themed barn, complete with a Tiger-emblazoned pool table and a custom-upholstered purple and gold couch. Growing up in North Baton Rouge, Ed saw men from his neighborhood bike to their jobs at area plants. Assuming he would work as a plant operator, Ed never dreamed he would be president and CEO of Georgia Gulf Corporation. He worked construction jobs and bagged groceries to put himself through college. After earning a degree from the Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Ed worked for a handful of companies before settling into Georgia Gulf until he retired, in 2008. "LSU afforded me this opportunity," Ed says. "It opened the doors for me." Karen grew up in Denham Springs, La., and built a career teaching in Livingston Parish. Now retired, she is a new member of the Livingston Parish School Board. Karen was encouraged to pursue the position given her professional experience, the foundation of which she attributes to the LSU College of Education. The Karen Wax Schmitt & Family Endowed Professorship in the College of Education celebrates the three generations of Karen's... (more)

Doing Good for the Gulf

Civil Engineering Doctoral Student Wraps Up Pepsi Grant, Hopes to Leave Legacy It's always been Stuart Adams' nature to give back to the community. So when Pepsi's Refresh Projects launched the month-long social media contest after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, "Do Good for the Gulf," Adams went to work. As an undergraduate student, Adams' family home was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina. And having personally experienced the University Recreation Center's gym being closed for an extended period of time after Hurricane Gustav, Adams realized the impact these types of closures could have on schools - more specifically elementary and high schools. "I grew up here, and it's my duty to give back," Adams said. "Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav were definitely learning experiences for me and have guided my research interests." Adams' proposal sought to help K-12 schools implement hazard mitigation strategies, minimize school closure time following hurricanes, and educate students on hurricane mitigation techniques. Pepsi awarded Adams one of the $25,000 grants to put his plan in action. For the past year, Adams has worked diligently to bring new technology to the University and community, host engaging educational sessions at local schools, including Parkview Baptist and Baker High School, and prepare the LaHouse to give his demonstrations for future field trips. One of... (more)

LSU Engineering Offers Pathway to Success for BRCC Students

Thai Pham didn't always know he wanted to be an electrical engineer. But while working as a sales assistant for a wireless phone provider, Pham decided he wanted to do something different with his life. Pham enrolled in Baton Rouge Community College and began working toward an Associate of Science in Pre-Engineering degree. LSU College of Engineering and BRCC partnered in 2010 to create "Bears to Tigers" program." The program makes engineering more affordable and practical to many students who might have difficulty entering LSU, whether due to financial issues or entry requirements. The partnership allows participating BRCC students to become involved at LSU and experience additional opportunities specific to their major. In addition, the Office of Diversity Programs received a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to provide financial support for approximately 35 academically talented, financially eligible students, who have completed the Associate of Science in Engineering degree at BRCC and will transfer into an engineering degree program at LSU. As part of the program's inaugural class of five Pathway Scholars, Pham received a $7,500 per year scholarship for two years along with four other Bears to Tigers participants. For Pham, now an electrical engineering junior at LSU, receiving the Pathway Scholarship has taken a huge weight off his shoulders. "This scholarship gives us more opportunities. We don't... (more)

LSU ASME Students Give Back to the Mechanical Engineering Department, Renovate the L. R. Daniel Student Center

Andrew Reynolds, mechanical engineering senior and president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Student Chapter at LSU, noticed that the L.R. Daniel Student Center was showing its age. He and a group of ASME students volunteered their time and resources to renew the infrastructure of the Student Center, donating financial resources out of their own ASME foundation account. "Since I have studied mechanical engineering at LSU, I have frequently used the L. R. Daniel Student Center to complete homework and study for upcoming exams," Reynolds said. Noticing that the chairs and tables were in declining condition, Reynolds approached the ASME students and officers last spring about renovating the Center. "They agreed that it was a great idea," Reynolds added. "The team spirit and proactive action to improve the quality of life of the ME student body and other students who use these resources is quite exceptional," said Dimitris Nikitopoulos, professor and chair, LSU's Department of Mechanical Engineering. "I believe this project is worthwhile because it improves the facilities, specifically for the ME students and any other students who might use them as well," Reynolds said. He believes that the new tables and chairs will make students more comfortable and promote a better studying environment in the Student Center as well as provide years of quality use. "I have received nothing but positive... (more)

LSU College of Engineering Celebrates 75 Years of Tau Beta Pi

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Louisiana Alpha Chapter of Tau Beta Pi at Louisiana State University. Founded on November 30, 1936, the LSU chapter has initiated 3,491 students. For 75 years, LSU's Tau Beta Pi chapter has recognized those engineering students who have excelled both in their studies and in community involvement. Admission to Tau Beta Pi is invitation only. In order to receive an invitation, students must meet two requirements. To be academically eligible, a student must be in the top one-eighth of his junior class or one-fifth of his senior class. The second requirement of exemplary character is determined by each chapter. "Tau Beta Pi recognizes engineering students that excel in academics and are also involved in the community. Members are required to participate in community service activities that benefit the college," said Mitchell Fiegley, chapter president and biological and agricultural engineering senior. "Since membership is only open to upperclassmen ranked in the top of their class, recruiters from industry actively pursue our members. Having a Tau Beta Pi chapter at LSU encourages engineering students to do their best so that they can be invited to join this prestigious honor society." Tau Beta Pi is the nation's second-oldest honor society, and the only engineering honor society that represents the entire engineering profession. For more... (more)

BESO Celebrates 30th Annual Sweet Potato and Rice Sale

Sweet potatoes and popcorn rice... It's an LSU tradition. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Biological Engineering Student Organization's famous Sweet Potato and Rice sale. The sale, held on Nov. 14-18 and Nov. 21-23, is a unique project where all levels of biological and agricultural engineering students work together toward a common goal, Nicole Walker, a biological engineering undergraduate student and BESO member, explained. Last year, BESO sold almost 14,000 pounds of sweet potatoes and 3,000 pounds of aromatic popcorn rice, amounts that BESO students hope to exceed at this year's sale, Walker said. The profits of the annual Sweet Potato and Rice sale help to send biological engineering students to the annual Institute of Biological Engineering conference in March 2012. The conference will be held in Indianapolis, Ind. "At the conference, we are able to attend seminars on various topics ranging from biofuels to biotechnology," Walker said. One of the BAE senior design groups had the opportunity to present their senior research project at the conference last year, while this year, BESO anticipates a presentation from yet another senior design group. "We feel proud to show the other universities what LSU's biological engineering students are up to," Walker said. Without the profits from this sale, BESO members would not be able to serve as LSU BAE representatives at the IBE conference. "The more we sell,... (more)

Bridging the Gap: LSU Professor Helps Biological & Agricultural Engineering Students Take Research from Lab to Business

Dan Hayes, professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at LSU, has more in mind for his students than studying textbooks and conducting research in the academic laboratory. Hayes wants to build an entrepreneurial culture at LSU, through the development of a 12-credit certificate program that teaches the fundamental techniques of business processes and workings of a business plan so engineering students can translate their research ideas to the work place. The 12-credit program will help engineering students understand research and design projects from an industry perspective. Through six different BAE courses in entrepreneurship, psychology, business and industry engineering, students will learn the importance of designing with customer needs in mind. "Sometimes, as academic researchers, we get very myopic about our research, focusing solely on what is feasible and publishable from an academic standpoint," Hayes said. But, he pointed out, what is feasible and publishable from an academic perspective does not necessarily have real-world, industrial or clinical applications. In his own lab, Hayes is interested in designing cost effective manufacturing processes to make nanomaterials at both the small academic laboratory scale and the larger industrial scale. Currently, Hayes is working in collaboration with LSU Vet MED on new antimicrobial nanomaterials that combat deep tissue antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections that commonly accompany orthopedic... (more)

Discover Engineering: LSU Hosts Girls at Science Festival

More than 500 girls in grades five through eight visited Patrick F. Taylor Hall recently to explore the world of engineering for the Sally Ride Science Festival presented by Exxon Mobil Corp. The festival is a day of hands-on activities and discovery workshops related to science and engineering. Student and industry members of IEEE, a professional society for industrial and electrical engineers, and John Scalzo, instructor and undergraduate advisor, LSU College of Engineering, assisted with the day's festivities alongside more than 100 volunteers. The Festival atmosphere included tents lining the parking lot, which housed science workshops providing participants with hands-on lessons. The outdoor street fair included a booth that officers and members of the LSU IEEE student branch prepared. The booth included a variety of experiments, devices and instruments. Many of the girls had the opportunity to work with some of the typical electronic devices electrical and computer engineers design and use. Scalzo, with the help of IEEE student volunteers, presented a hands-on workshop demonstrating different energy conversion circuits. Approximately 40 middle school girls participated in the workshop. Keynote speaker and former NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, who wore a blue flight suit, talked about her engineering career and journeys into space. She stressed the importance of doing well in school so students have opportunities to pursue engineering and... (more)

Engineering students look to improve Sheriff’s Office systems

Groups of industrial engineering students are taking their senior project downtown - or more specifically, to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office. Two or three times per week, Beth Nowacki, an industrial engineering senior graduating in December, heads to the Warrants department at the station to work on reducing the redundancy of it's warrant entry system. Nowacki is part of a group, which also includes industrial engineering seniors Patrick Bride and Trentan Lancaster, tasked with improving a section of the office's data systems. "We're not fixing anything broken," Nowacki said. "We're just making it better." While Nowacki focuses on the warrant entry system, Bride tackles the foreclosures system and Lancaster is working with the fines department. All are subheading of the civil department of the EBRSO. The group's senior design class is taught and advised by undergraduate industrial engineering coordinator Dr. Gerald Knapp, who organized the project in conjunction with Baton Rouge engineering firm General Informatics. General Informatics was originally sought by the EBRSO to help make their systems run smoother, and the company reached out to LSU engineering students to help get the job done. General Informatics is owned by LSU alumnus Mohit "Mo" Vij, who worked with Knapp to bring the project to the classroom. Two other groups in the class are responsible for making similar... (more)

Engineering Graduate Students Assess Hurricane and Tornado Damage

One team of student researchers stayed busy this tornado season. LSU graduate students Stuart Adams, civil engineering, Elizabeth Chisolm, engineering science, and Vipin Unnikrishnan, civil engineering, traveled to Mississippi and Alabama following the April 2011 tornadoes, in order to assess and classify tornado damage with the help of LSU's new CAPTURE Lab technology. The CAPTURE lab, pioneered Dr. Carol Friedland, assistant professor of Construction Management, addresses the need for a multi-hazard approach to understanding extreme weather. The lab applies new technologies, including high-definition video of damaged areas mapped to a physical location - imagine a video version of Google Maps Street View - remote-control aircraft assisted aerial imagery and emerging iPad/tablet applications to speed up damage assessment and improve damage models. Adams, Chisolm and Unnikrishnan surveyed and collected data on damaged buildings in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Hackleburg, Ala., and in Smithville, Miss. The group used the collected data to rate the strength of the tornadoes based on the degree of damage to buildings and various structures. "Collecting data for extreme events helps engineers to piece together how buildings perform in extreme weather conditions and helps us to determine construction and design solutions that can be enacted to prevent future damage and loss of life," Chisolm said. According to Friedland, the end goal of the CAPTURE lab is... (more)

Easing the Transition

While most LSU students embody the "Love Purple. Live Gold." motto, the first semester can be intimidating for many new students who have to navigate campus, maintain a social life, adapt to college academics and build new friendships among other things. The Tiger Transition Team, a division of Student Life's First Year Experience, recognized these challenges and assembled a group of mentors willing to guide freshmen through their first semester of college. The Tiger Transition program pairs freshmen with upper-level students in similar majors who can provide support and guidance. Mentors and mentees meet at least once a month and stay in touch through e-mail, phone and social networking sites. "The Tiger Transition Team is a way for First Year Experience to decrease the number of dropouts," said Mitchell Fiegley, a biological and agricultural engineering senior and Tiger Transition Team board chair. LSU improved its average freshmen retention rate, which went from 84 percent in 2010 to 85 percent in 2011. Fiegley and Awonu Lekia, a petroleum engineering senior, both got involved with the Tiger Transition team in 2009 after receiving an email requesting volunteers. Since then, they have mentored mostly engineering students about balancing the academic and social aspects of college life and witnessed first-hand the benefits of mentoring others. Lekia's favorite part of the mentorship is being someone who can influence... (more)

Engineering Commitment, Rebuilding Haiti

It didn't take long after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated the people and infrastructure of Haiti in January 2010 for Jarrett Wilson, a Dallas native, to know that was where he needed to go. Wilson, a senior in mechanical engineering, desperately tried to go to Haiti on his own accord, but only first responders were being allowed access to the country at the time. He was told that summer 2011 would probably be the first chance he'd be allowed to visit. But that wasn't good enough for Wilson. He was determined to take his engineering skills and help the Haitians. Soon after, he heard about a group of students from LSU's Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) going to Montrious, a city 70km north of Port-au-Prince. It was the opportunity Wilson had been waiting for. The group travelled to the secluded community of Canaan that included a school, church, clinic and orphanage. "The first night we got there, seeing all of the people and the damage was almost unreal," said Wilson. "It took a few days to assess what could be done and where a starting point was." Wilson was the only student in the group who had technical experience, which proved to be critical. When the group arrived, the community had immediate electrical needs including a diesel generator that had broken two days before. Wilson wasn't sure of the exact problem or solution, but he turned to what he had learned throughout his LSU engineering... (more)

LSU Engineering and Geology Students Get Unique Look Inside Oil and Gas Industry

Imagine getting first-hand, real-world experience as an undergraduate student - a chance to see components of your education, traditionally limited to the classroom, translated into learning adventures. For 25 LSU engineering and geology students, this experience was the highlight of their summer and an opportunity to enter the fall semester with an enhanced, "big-picture" and practical perspective of their academic educations. LSU's College of Engineering partnered with Halliburton to host the first Camp Tiger, a week-long inside look at the raw chemical, manufacturing and field operations that make Halliburton a global leader in the oil and gas industry. Students spent a week at Halliburton's Duncan, Okla. training facility, the Halliburton Energy Institute, learning about different jobs in the industry and the touring the Halliburton Technology Centers alongside Halliburton training staff and two LSU engineering professors. "The most beneficial experience at Camp Tiger was to experience first-hand the work done at the oil field. It was fascinating to learn every single step of what it takes to remove oil and gas from the ground, and how safety procedures are followed," said Glauce Pickering, chemical engineering senior and camp participant. Camp Tiger offered learning experiences for students across a wide variety of engineering disciplines. Lessons in the design, improvement and maintenance of oil and gas industry chemical... (more)

LSU CoE Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management and Industrial Engineering Departments to be Realigned

On Wed., September 21, the Board of Regents approved the request to realign Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management and Industrial Engineering in the College of Engineering. The LSU Board of Supervisors approved the realignment on August 26. The realignment of two departments in the College will more accurately reflect the mission of the individual educational and research programs under the proposed departments. The projected alignment will change the former Department of Mechanical Engineering to the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and the previous Department of Construction Management and Industrial Engineering to the Department of Construction Management. Implementation of this plan will activate during Summer Semester 2012, with a transition plan developed during the 2011-2012 academic year. The repositioning of mechanical and industrial engineering will provide a more accurate reflection of emerging trends in industry, government, the state and nation. This structure will provide a better venue to meet the growing demand for engineers. Currently, the Louisiana Workforce Commission projects a need for 120 industrial engineers per year over the next decade. The State of Louisiana in total graduates 25 at this time. The new configuration will also facilitate collaboration between industrial and mechanical engineering on topics such as manufacturing, engineering design and design optimization; providing an opportunity for further advancement... (more)

LSU Researchers Score Grant for Half a Million to Develop Offshore Oil Spill Risk Scenarios

A team of LSU researchers, led by Mayank Tyagi, assistant professor in the LSU Craft & Hawkins Department of Petroleum Engineering (PETE) and the Center for Computation & Technology (CCT), has been endorsed by Shell for their three year project titled "Offshore Oil Spill Scenarios Development." The 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster made it incumbent on the offshore oil and gas community to evaluate risks in all phases of offshore development and prepare reliable, fast response mechanisms to minimize the environmental, economic, and human health and safety damage caused by such spill events. The proposed project will present an analysis of probable and potential events that could lead to accidental release of hydrocarbons into deepwater environments. "Our goal is to approximately quantify the risks and probabilities associated with a variety of potential leak source scenarios using the available data, identify areas where additional data are needed, and combine with a critical flow path analysis to determine different criteria for evaluating priority orders for intervention techniques," Tyagi said. A set of community actions will also be developed that leverage and incorporate the principles of business preparedness, mitigation, and continuity to decrease the economic impact of a spill event. Other team members include: Richard Hughes, Professional-in-Residence, John Rogers Smith, associate professor, Steve Sears, professor, and Darryl Bourgoyne... (more)

LSU Civil Engineering Professor Awarded ASCE Outstanding Educator

The Baton Rouge Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers awarded LSU Civil Engineering Professor Chester G. Wilmot, Ph.D., the Outstanding Civil Engineering Educator during its annual Past Presidents and Awards luncheon. The award recognizes Wilmot for his outstanding work in civil engineering education. "It's always nice to be affirmed, and thank you to ASCE for making the award," Wilmot said. "However, our civil engineering students deserve a lot of the credit - during their training they become committed and productive individuals of whom our department is justly proud. It's not hard teaching people like that." Wilmot teaches an impressive list of civil engineering courses, including graduate courses specialized in transportation engineering, transportation policy and planning and traffic operations and control. Wilmot's research interests include hurricane evacuation and traffic safety studies. Two LSU civil engineering alumni were also honored at the award ceremony. Russell J. Joey Coco, Jr., who graduated from LSU in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, was awarded the Outstanding Civil Engineer, and Marty A. Chorkey who graduated from LSU in 2010 with a master's degree in civil engineering, received the outreach award. Each year, the Baton Rouge Branch of ASCE honors local engineers with awards for categories including: lifetime achievement, outstanding civil engineer,... (more)

From Sweden to Tigerland: Visiting Engineering Student Contributes to Future Energy Research at LSU

Sandra Johansson, currently pursuing a master's degree in engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, spent 10 weeks performing cutting edge research on atomically precise metal catalysts as an intern for LSU's Gordon A. and Mary Cain Department of Chemical Engineering. Johansson received a scholarship to pursue her summer internship from the Swedish Committee for Chemical U.S. Travel program, which aims to give students the opportunity to work with interesting tasks that promote an understanding of chemistry and biotechnology in practice. "It was a great experience," Johansson said. "I liked the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of my work at LSU. It is good to try to connect the theoretical computational work with the more practical lab work." Johansson's research is part of the ongoing research collaboration with computational scientist Dr. David Bruce at Clemson. The interdisciplinary work falls in line with the mission of LSU's Center for Atomic Level Catalyst Design, a multi-million-dollar U.S. Department of Energy Energy Frontier Research Center that seeks to produce substances that 'speed up' chemical reactions of importance for our energy future. Johansson's research, related to tiny particles that speed up the conversion of toxic carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide may have applications in cleaning automotive exhaust, bridged both experimental and computational... (more)

LSU College of Engineering Undergrad Program Advances 12 Positions in U.S. News & World Report

LSU College of Engineering rose to a ranking of 82, up from 94 last year, in U.S. News & World Report's 2012 edition of Best Colleges. Out of the 363 engineering schools ranked nationally, the U.S. News & World Report ranks LSU's College of Engineering fifth among SEC undergraduate engineering programs, following only the University of Florida, Vanderbilt University, Auburn University and the University of Tennessee. LSU's program is also ranked the best in the state of Louisiana and received a higher ranking than the University of Alabama, University of Arkansas and Mississippi State University in the region. "These rankings by our peers reflect the efforts of our five-year strategic plan to emphasize the college's strengths and contributions on a state and national level," said Rick Koubek, dean, LSU College of Engineering. In addition, the college has advanced nationally in undergraduates enrolled and graduated, and at LSU the engineering undergraduate enrollment has increased 27 percent over the past three years. In the newly released 2011 edition of Profiles of Engineering & Engineering Technology Colleges, produced by the American Society of Engineering Education, or ASEE, LSU College of Engineering progressed to 34th nationally, up four spots, in the number of undergraduate degrees granted, placing it in the top 10 percent in the nation, out of 344 schools reporting. The college raised three... (more)

Students Represent Departments, University at Summer Symposium

Two LSU engineering students represented Baton Rouge this summer at Iowa State University's Wind Energy Science, Engineering and Policy Symposium. Randy Dupuis, electrical engineering senior, and Matthew Galeano, mechanical engineering senior were two of eleven students chosen to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams with ISU faculty to gain valuable training and research experience that addresses the critical, long-term national needs in wind-energy related areas. Over the course of the 10-week program, participants attended class lectures, took field trips and met with industry and government representatives. Participants visited the Clipper Windpower manufacturing facility in Cedar Rapids, Ia., and the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) in St. Paul, Mn. among others. "My favorite part of the experience was meeting and working with 10 other students from such diverse geographic and academic backgrounds," said Galeano. "This was a very interdisciplinary program. For example, there were atmospheric science, journalism and electrical engineering students from California, Puerto Rico and Pennsylvania." Participants were also required to perform individual research as well as group research on a topic outside of their disciplines. "The program really focused on multidisciplinary work," said Dupuis. "I enjoyed learning about different majors and how complex the wind industry is." For his individual... (more)

LSU Electrical Engineering Student Awarded Inaugural National Scholarship

Amelia Simpson, electrical engineering senior, traveled to Detroit, Mich., in July to accept the inaugural G. Ray Ekenstam Memorial Scholarship from the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Simpson accepted the award at this year's IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting Student Luncheon. Established in memory of G. Ray Ekenstam and his professional career in the fields of power engineering and industry applications, the scholarship is awarded to a qualified undergraduate student who seeks an electrical engineering degree in the field of power or a related discipline. "It is a great honor to be able to represent LSU on such a national level," Simpson said. "When I attended the luncheon in Detroit, there were students from all across the country who study power engineering, and I felt very proud to give LSU engineering recognition among such top scholars and academic programs." Simpson is currently the secretary for the LSU Chapter of IEEE, an LSU diversity ambassador, a member of the LSU Triathlon Club, and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. "Being chosen as the inaugural recipient means a lot to me because I have now set the bar for future recipients," Simpson added. "We are extremely proud of Amelia for winning this scholarship and representing LSU at the national level. Amelia has brought increased visibility not only to the College of Engineering but also to the value of the LSU engineer," said... (more)

LSU College of Engineering Welcomes Manship, E.J. Ourso College of Business Graduate Workers

Paige Brown and Kevin Roig, both LSU graduate students, have joined the LSU College of Engineering Dean's Office for the fall semester. Brown and Roig will both work to support the objectives of the College's five-year strategic plan. Brown, originally from Indiana, came to LSU to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in biological and agricultural engineering. Brown was an integral part of the LSU Swimming and Diving team as an undergraduate. She also received a Master in Biological and Agricultural Engineering degree in 2010. After a year in the biomedical engineering doctorate program at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., she decided her passion was scientific writing. Brown plans to apply to the Manship School of Mass Communication's doctorate program later this year. Brown will serve as the communications intern for the CoE Communications Department. In her role, Brown will help with the implementation of communication efforts and public relations initiatives plus website maintenance of content and visual aspect on the College website. She will also research and write feature stories and media releases to help increase the College's visibility locally, nationally and internationally. Originally from Covington, Roig moved to Baton Rouge in 2004 to begin his college career. Although he considers Baton Rouge home, Roig has lived in Venezuela, Bolivia and the Czech Republic during the 2006, 2009 and 2010 summers, respectively. He... (more)

Engineering students create vacuum that will change airplane clean-up

While some students were busy taking notes in class last semester, students in Industrial Engineering 4599 were working on changing the way airplane maintenance is performed. And they succeeded. University alumni Micah Shaw, Eric Fontenot and Aaron Yglesias created the Track Vac 2.0, a multi-faceted vacuum, in their prototype design created in the prerequisite course in fall 2010. The vacuum was created for Aeroframe, a company that specializes in the maintenance, repair and overhaul of commercial and military aircraft in Lake Charles. "Eric was in the first class, which helped us because he already had some knowledge about the vacuum and whatAeroframe wanted," Shaw said. Aeroframe General Manager Mark Redmond said the Track Vac 2.0 will significantly reduce the manpower needed to clean seat tracks on cargo planes. "Usually it takes 10 to 12 guys to clean the plane," Redmond said. "With the vacuum, cleaning the seat tracks will only require a few hours and a single person to check on the vacuum every once in a while." But the project is not fully complete, said Gerald Knapp, faculty adviser for the project. "Aeroframe said that they wanted some minor changes to the vacuum before the product can be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration for approval," Knapp said. These changes will be made during the spring semester in a joint project between the industrial engineering and mechanical... (more)

Petroleum Engineering Students Represent LSU at Annual Symposium

More than twenty LSU undergraduate and graduate petroleum engineering students attended the 15th Annual Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Symposium held August 11-12 in New Orleans, La., representing the Craft & Hawkins Department of Petroleum Engineering (PETE) and Society of Petroleum Engineers at LSU (SPE). Four petroleum engineering graduate students placed in the student poster and presentation contests. Alireza Edrisi and Mohamed Abdelrahim took first and second place, respectively in this year's technical paper contest. Nnamdi Agbasimalo and Muhammad Zulqarnain secured first and third place, respectively, for their poster presentations. Technical paper presentations and poster sessions provide graduate students valuable opportunities to enhance their university education. By presenting their research to industry, students have an additional mechanism to further cultivate their communication skills, foster new industry contacts, and represent the department and university in a very unique and prominent way. This year's symposium focused on Gulf of Mexico case studies and key technologies in a number of sessions. The sessions included drilling, production systems, completions, reservoir/economics, pipeline/infrastructure and geoscience. "It was very rewarding getting commendation for my work from technical experts and my contemporaries," said Agbasimalo. "After investing time and resources in a project, getting this kind of... (more)

Project N’Jneer: LSU CoE Hosts Hands-on Summer Camps for Middle School Students

LSU College of Engineering (CoE) hosted its seventh annual summer camps for middle school students, Project N'Jneer and Jr. Project N'Jneer, in July as part of LSU Continuing Education's Tiger Challenge camps. This year, nearly 80 students participated from grades 5-8 representing six Louisiana parishes and three other states. Anna Haldane, a teacher in at Gonzales Middle School in Ascension Parish and Summer Dann, STEP (STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - Talent Expansion Program) program manager, CoE, developed camp activities to educate middle school students about the different types of engineers and provide campers with opportunities to develop skills in analysis, evaluation and design. "It was so exciting to teach a topic that might seem out of the child\'s realm of understanding and see their faces when they get it!" said Haldane. Engineering education research shows that if students are exposed to engineering in middle school, they are more likely to take high school math and science classes needed for the college engineering curriculum and choose a STEM career. Campers were divided into "engineering firms" that developed a logo identifying their team and used the math and science skills they learned throughout the camp to build a bridge all while maintaining a project budget. Campers also learned about simple machines, circuits and polymers. Other activities included deconstructing... (more)