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ENGINEERING FALL 2014
UAB Schools of Engineering and Medicine Create Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
A NATURAL PARTNERSHIP
ENGINEERING AGENDA
DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS,
As many of you may know, the university announced ear-
lier this year that the Department of Biomedical Engineering
is now a joint department in the Schools of Engineering and
Medicine. The department will still be as much a part of the
School of Engineering as ever, but with many new advantages.
By aligning our BME Department in the same administrative
structure with a world-class medical center, our researchers
will be able to work more closely with clinicians to acceler-
ate the pace of research. Additionally, our students will have
increased opportunities to experience the many ways that bio-
medical science translates into more effective patient care.
In the Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Dr. Barry Andrews stepped down as chair earlier this year,
retiring after 38 years at the school. It is difficult to part with
someone with such deep roots at UAB, but the department
has made a smooth transition with Dr. Uday Vaidya stepping in
as chair. Under Vaidya’s leadership, the department is poised
to increase collaborations across campus and with industry.
Elsewhere in this issue, you may notice that same interdisciplinary theme in our other departments as well.
Prestigious new appointments and partnerships with public and private entities highlight the school’s ability to
complement other disciplines. This strategy adds value to the education we offer by giving students experienc-
es that will prepare them for a wide range of careers. As engineers become more integrated with various disci-
plines, we can effect positive change by coming up with sustainable solutions—so that the answers to today’s
problems also address the challenges of tomorrow.
As you look through this issue, I hope you will check the dates of upcoming alumni events. Whether you’re
in town or half a world away, we would love to see you on campus whenever you’re able so that you may con-
tinue to be a part of our school’s journey as we move forward into a new year.
Cheers,
J. Iwan D. Alexander, Ph.D.Dean, UAB School of Engineering
1 UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • Fall 2014
On the cover: From left, School of Engineering Dean Iwan Alexander,
Biomedical Engineering Chair Tim Wick, and School of Medicine Dean Selwyn Vickers.
UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • Fall 2014 2
F e a t u r e s
Material Witness: Andrews Retires after 38 Years; Vaidya Named MSE Chair ............................................. 5-6
Wallace R. Bunn Chair: Tanik Named to Prestigous Chair of Telecommunications ............................................ 7
Smarter Cities Challenge: SSRC and Birmingham Win IBM Grant ............................. 8
Building the Car of Tomorrow: Mechatronics and the Future of the Auto Industry ... 12-13
D e p a r t m e n t s
Facilities ...................................................................... 9-10 Alumni Profiles ..........................................................13-14 Giving Back ...................................................................... 17
CONTENTS
UAB Engineering is published by the UAB School of Engineering in collaboration with the Office of Public Relations and Marketing.
Executive Editors: Victoria Allen • Managing Editor: Grant Martin • Writers: Todd Dills, Grant Martin, Cindy Riley • Executive Art Director: Jessica Huffstutler • Photography: Steve Wood, Grant Martin • UAB Engineering Editorial Board: Iwan Alexander, Ph.D., Dean; Zoe Dwyer,
Ph.D., Assistant Dean; Victoria Allen, Director of Development and External Relations; Grant Martin, Director of Communications; Leann Neal, Alumni Relations Officer; Tina Bryant, Administrative Support
PAGE 3
PAGE 5
PAGE 10
UAB Schools of Engineering and Medicine Create Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
A NATURAL PARTNERSHIP
SINCE 1979, the Department of Biomedical Engineering
has resided wholly within the School of Engineering. By
integrating the department into the School of Medicine,
administrators say they hope to capitalize on existing and
emerging strengths in research, education, and patient
care at UAB.
“Creating a joint department with the School of
Medicine marks a natural progression for biomedical
engineering at UAB,” says Iwan Alexander, Ph.D., dean
of the School of Engineering. “The department has
long benefited from UAB’s reputation for world-class
research and education in medicine and health sciences.
Making the department a part of both engineering and
medicine will bring engineering faculty and students in
closer proximity to clinicians and medical research from
both schools—which will, in turn, allow them to develop
closer relationships through joint research and education
programs.”
From the medical perspective, biomedical engineer-
ing adds a dimension that will increase the scope of
research and patient care, says Selwyn M. Vickers,
M.D., senior vice president for medicine at UAB and
dean of the School of Medicine. “Making Biomedical
Engineering a joint department combines the natural
strengths and talents of UAB,” Vickers says. “The new
structure will allow us to more easily recruit faculty and
execute strategically toward creating devices or biologi-
cal systems that advance human healing.”
The joint department model is not unique to UAB, as
biomedical engineering departments in several elite uni-
versities have similar partnerships with medical schools.
Timothy Wick, Ph.D., chair of the department since
2005, says such an arrangement is particularly fitting
for UAB, where several key people in the university’s
leadership have strong backgrounds in both engineering
3 UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2014
The Department of Biomedical Engineering has long benefited from its proximity to UAB’s world-class health system.
Today, the ties are stronger than ever after the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees voted earlier this year to
establish Biomedical Engineering as a joint department between the Schools of Engineering and Medicine.
A NATURAL PARTNERSHIPUAB Schools of Engineering and Medicine Create
Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
“Making Biomedical Engineering a joint department combines the natural
strengths and talents of UAB.”
UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • Fall 2014 4
and medicine. UAB President Raymond Watts, M.D.,
received his undergraduate degree from the School of
Engineering, while Provost Linda Lucas, Ph.D. also grad-
uated from the school before going on to serve as chair
of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and later
as dean of the School of Engineering.
“For an arrangement like this to be successful, you
need strong leadership that is committed to the devel-
opment of translational science and the kind of entrepre-
neurial research this department has historically been
known for,” Wick says. “We have that kind of leadership
at the university level, as well as in both the engineering
and medical schools. By creating a joint department, we
will be better able to compete for funding, as well as for
top faculty and students.”
Historically, biomedical engineers at UAB have collab-
orated with clinicians and medical researchers on a lim-
ited basis through various centers or individual research
projects. By integrating the department into the medical
school, Wick says he expects to see an increase of
interdisciplinary research, as well as new interdisciplin-
ary programs that will facilitate the transition from the
laboratory to the clinic.
“A focus on patient health has always been implicit
in our mission as biomedical engineers,” says Wick.
“Working more closely with research scientists and
clinicians will allow us to accelerate understanding of
disease processes and develop new treatments faster to
treat chronic and acute disease conditions.”
For example, biomedical expertise in regenerative med-
icine, which includes the use of scaffolds and 3-D print-
ing for organ development, illustrates the confluence of
physical sciences and biological sciences. Another is the
creation of therapeutic delivery devices for people with
diabetes or cardiovascular disease. “In order to make sig-
nificant advances in medicine we need the ability to bring
intellectual resources from multiple disciplines to bear on
research and patient care,” Vickers says.
“Ultimately, the devices and products that are devel-
oped through biomedical engineering must find their
way into the hospitals,” agrees Alexander. “This helps
accelerate that process by integrating the biomedical
engineers into the medical-school structure.”
MILESTONES IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
1979 <The Department of Biomedical Engineering is cre-
ated as one of four original departments in the School of
Engineering, establishing the only master’s degree-grant-
ing BME program in the state.
1983 <Linda Lucas receives the first doctoral degree
awarded by the School of Engineering with a Ph.D. in
Biomedical Engineering.
2001 <The bachelor’s degree program in biomedical engi-
neering is established as the only accredited undergradu-
ate BME program in the state.
2005 <Timothy Wick, Ph.D., is hired as the chair of the
Department of Biomedical Engineering.
2006 <The Richard and Annette Shelby Building for
Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research is completed,
increasing UAB’s research space by 25 percent.
2014 <The Department of Biomedical Engineering is
recreated as a joint department between the School of
Engineering and the UAB School of Medicine.
“By creating a joing department, we will be
better able to compete for funding, as
well as for top faculty and students.”
5 UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2014
Material WitnessBARRY ANDREWS RETIRES AFTER 38-YEARS AT UAB
WITH MORE THAN 40 total years
as a student and faculty member in
the School of Engineering, Andrews
retired as chair of the Department of
Materials Science and Engineering at
the beginning of this month, capping
a distinguished career that spans
almost the entire history of UAB.
“It is unusual for a school to
keep a faculty member for that
length of time, particularly when
the faculty member is as accom-
plished and respected in his field
as Barry Andrews,” says School of
Engineering Dean Iwan Alexander,
Ph.D. “I first met Barry when I was
working in Huntsville and he was
working on research with NASA at
Marshall Space Flight Center. It was
a big advantage for me to come in
as a new dean to have someone
with the history and institutional
knowledge that he has.”
A native of Birmingham, Andrews
graduated from Woodlawn High
School in 1966 and enrolled in engi-
neering classes in what was then
the Division of Engineering. During
Andrews’ undergraduate years, the
School of Engineering was created
as part of UAB.
After being a part of the UAB
School of Engineering’s first graduat-
ing class in 1970, Andrews earned
both a master’s degree and Ph.D.
from Florida before returning to his
alma mater as a faculty member in
1976. He would go on to be named
the Ellen Gregg Ingalls/UAB National
Alumni Society Award for Lifetime
Achievement in Teaching in 2003.
In addition, he was awarded the
1989 Ingalls Award for Excellence in
Classroom Teaching and the 2000
UAB President’s Award in Teaching
for the School of Engineering. He
was also selected as the ASPE
Engineering Educator of the Year for
2003.
A Time to Lead
Through his first 25 years in the
department, Andrews served as
interim chair three different times.
The third time, he was briefly interim
before being named the permanent
chair in February 2003.
Under Andrews’ leadership, the
department began to expand into
composites research, and the school
invested money to convert the 501
building into what would become
the Materials Processing and
Applications Development (MPAD)
Center.
“I saw a lot of changes at UAB,
and the thing I am most proud of is
how we were able, throughout all
those changes, to continuously move
the department in a positive direc-
tion,” Andrews says.
In 1996 and 1997, Andrews sent experiments into
space aboard the Space Shuttle to do pioneering
research into immiscible alloys at zero gravity.
Barry Andrews came
home to UAB 1976, and
for the next 38 years
he was content to stay
there; but just because
he was home, that’s not
to say he was idle.
Material Witness
Endless Possibility
UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • Fall 2014 6
UDAY VAIDYA, PH.D., believes his
department’s research should be
restricted to the areas of science that
involve materials. In other words, the
possibilities are almost limitless.
Vaidya became chair of the
Department of Materials Science and
Engineering earlier this year. Vaidya
joined the faculty as an associate pro-
fessor in 2004, and he has served as
director of the Materials Processing
and Applications Development
(MPAD) Center since 2008. Both the
center and the department have long
been known for undertaking collabora-
tive projects with scientists from other
disciplines, and Vaidya says expanding
those projects will be a high priority.
“Almost any engineering field you
look at has materials issues, whether
in basic science or in industry,” Vaidya
says. “So there are a lot of opportuni-
ties for our department and for the
MPAD to make valuable contributions
to these efforts. One of my main
goals will be to expand our involve-
ment with the other departments in
the School of Engineering, as well as
with with other groups across campus
and in outside industry.”
Evolution of a Materials Engineer
Applying his expertise to other
disciplines is nothing new for Vaidya,
who received an engineering mas-
ter’s degree with a specialization in
mechanical design before taking a job
at a national lab in India “that would
be similar to NASA in the United
States,” Vaidya explains. “While
working in that lab, I gained experi-
ence working with composites and
aerospace-type applications.”
Vaidya received his Ph.D. from
Auburn University and took faculty
positions at Tuskegee and North
Dakota State before returning to
Alabama to accept a position at UAB.
A Homecoming
Soon after arriving in Birmingham,
Vaidya began building the materials
department’s composites program,
particularly focusing on thermoplas-
tics. Working on projects with strong
ties to industry, Vaidya and other
MPAD personnel have worked on all
phases of product development, from
initial design to prototyping, often test-
ing different materials to find ways
to lower production and operational
costs. “The nature of what we do
leads to a very high amount of experi-
ential learning,” Vaidya says. “We’ve
had a core group of about 15 gradu-
ate students in any given semester
over the past 10 years. Our graduates
have a lot of skill sets they need to
immediately contribute in a career.”
Solid Foundation
With a track record of success
already behind him, Vaidya says his
goal with both the department and
the MPAD is to leverage that suc-
cess to expand the scope of materi-
als research. “We have these core
strengths that our faculty is centered
around,” he says. “We can extend
that to very meaningful multi-disciplin-
ary relationships across campus and
beyond, and it won’t be as if we’re
starting from scratch.”
Other goals for the department
include, increasing experiential learn-
ing opportunities, increasing both
undergraduate and graduate enroll-
ment, and enhancing the depart-
ment’s online presence. “Recruitment,
retention, and outreach will be a big
focus,” Vaidya says. “We want to be
constantly aware of how we can use
what we’re doing to impact those
areas in a positive way.”
New Chair Aims to Widen MSE’s Scope
A native of Bangalore,
India, Vaidya is a two-
time recipient of the
UAB President’s Award
for Teaching (2005 and
2013). Earlier this year,
he was appointed as a
distinguished professor
of materials science and
engineering.
TANIK JOINED the Department of
Electrical and Computer Engineering
in 1998 and was named chair of the
department in 2013. He is the third
person to hold the Bunn chair, which
was established by a gift from
BellSouth in 1988.
“Murat Tanik is the perfect fit for
this prestigious appointment,” says
SOE Dean Iwan Alexander, Ph.D.
“With his years of expertise in tele-
communications research and his
leadership abilities, he will be able to
use this position to create opportuni-
ties for collaboration within the uni-
versity and with external partners.”
A native of Izmir, Turkey, Tanik
received his B.S. degree in math-
ematics and electrical engineering
from the Middle East Technical
University before moving to the
United States, where he earned a
master’s degree in computer sci-
ence and a Ph.D. in computer engi-
neering, both from Texas A&M.
He would go on to begin a
career in research with Arthur A.
Collins, who founded Collins Radio
Company—an innovative telecom-
munications firm that designed and
produced both short-wave radio
equipment as well as equipment for
the AM radio industry.
Tanik says he plans to use the
Bunn chair to promote the UAB
Center for Integrated Systems. “As
we establish collaborations with
different parts of the university and
with outside industry, integrated
systems will be increasingly impor-
tant,” Tanik says. “This
center will facilitate the
development of bet-
ter integrated systems
that will allow greater
collaboration among
disciplines, and UAB is
one of the best places
on earth to do it”
Within the cen-
ter, Tanik says he
is developing two
laboratories with
industry support: “the
Signal Processing and
Embedded Systems
Laboratory” and “the
Big Data Research and
Analytics Laboratory.” Additionally,
the Continuous Collaboration STEM
Innovation (C²-STEM-I) Laboratory
will be supported by these labs.
“Through these laboratories, we
will be able to provide services to
the community and to the univer-
sity,” says Tanik. “I think that is an
important part of the Bunn chair
responsibility.”
Tanik Named Wallace R. Bunn Chair of Telecommunications
Earlier this year, the University Of Alabama System Board Of
Trustees appointed Murat M. Tanik, Ph.D., to the Wallace R. Bunn
Chair of Telecommunications in the UAB School of Engineering.
Tanik began his career doing telecommunications research before he
moved into academia. As the Bunn Chair of Telecommunications, he
aims to develop and strengthen the integrated systems that are at
the heart of 21st-century technology.
WHO WAS WALLACE BUNN? Wallace
Raikes Bunn (1922-2011) worked for the Bell
System—which included the BellSouth
Corporation—for 43 years before he retired
in 1984. During that time, he held 20 differ-
ent jobs in 14 cities. He was inducted into
the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 1997
and the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame
in 1998.
In 1988, Bunn served on the BellSouth
Foundation’s Board of Directors, which
was charged with overseeing a $35-mil-
lion endowment dedicated to supporting
education. From that endowment, the board
donated $600,000 toward the School of
Engineering’s first endowed chair.
7 UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2014
UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2014 8
BIRMINGHAM, in collaboration with
the UAB Sustainable Smart Cities
Research Center, is one of 16 cities
selected to receive an IBM Smarter
Cities Challenge grant.
The Smarter Cities Challenge
contributes the skills and expertise
of IBM’s top talent to address criti-
cal issues facing cities around the
world. Over the past three years,
100 cities have been selected to
receive grants, with the contribu-
tions valued at more than $50 mil-
lion and counting.
“In Birmingham, the team worked
closely with city leaders and the
UAB Sustainable Smarter Cities
Research Center (SSCRC) to devel-
op strategies to reverse problems
with abandoned or deteriorating
properties and food deserts,” said
Fouad Fouad, Ph.D., director of
the SSCRC and chair of the UAB
Department of Civil, Construction,
and Environmental Engineering. “By
focusing on those two areas, we
can lay the groundwork for change
that will help stabilize neighborhoods
and lead to sustainable, healthy
growth for decades to come.”
Years of declining population
and neglect have resulted in some
Birmingham neighborhoods being
isolated from healthy food choices,
while abandoned houses and run
down properties decrease property
values and hinder business growth.
By addressing the problems of der-
elict properties and food deserts,
the IBM team will contribute toward
that core goal of making Birmingham
more livable—a broad term that
could have far-reaching implications.
“A city striving for higher quality
living conditions that are affordable
across a wide range of incomes will
create business and job opportunities
for a diverse, balanced community,”
says SOE Dean Iwan Alexander.
“We’ve learned through the years
that that is a healthy environment
for long-term growth. But how do
you keep it that way? It is a question
of balancing resource consumption
with our ability to create or supply
those resources necessary to build
and sustain a healthy city. That’s
why sustainability is so important.
You have to satisfy the needs of the
present without sacrificing the future
health of the community.”
Birmingham is one of only three
cities in the United States to receive
the IBM grant for 2014, joining Dallas,
Texas; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and
Suffolk County, New York.
SSCRC Helps Birmingham Land IBM Smarter Cities Challenge Grant
More than 300 people attended the third
annual Sustainable Smart Cities Symposium
last spring, hearing from a wide range of
speakers about the latest in urban sustain-
ability and development.
This year’s symposium, presented by
the UAB Sustainable Smart Cities Research
Center, featured an international panel
of speakers, including keynote speaker
Barbara McCann, director of the Office of
Safety, Energy & Environment for the Office
of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
In her address on “Complete Streets:
The Transition to Safe and Inclusive
Transportation Networks,” McCann
explained how a sustained commitment can
lead to safer neighborhoods and improved
opportunities for economic development. “It
is a simple commitment in the beginning, but
it can be much harder to actually implement
those plans and sustain progress,” McCann
said. “But when you get that broad commit-
ment on various levels, these communities
will begin to transform, and they will begin
to measure success in different ways.”
The symposium began with welcomes
from UAB Provost Linda Lucas, Ph.D. and
Birmingham Mayor William Bell. “I am proud
of the fact that the city of Birmingham is
taking an active role in this process to work
with you to come up with best practices to
improve our quality of life,” said Bell. “It is
my responsibility to integrate the research
into the city’s planning so that we will have
sustainable projects going on every day.”
Local Symposium Draws International Expertise
9 UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2014
Scanning Electron Microscope
AS DIRECTOR of the School of
Engineering’s Scanning Electron
Microscope (SEM) Laboratory ,
Monroe spends much of his time
making images of things too small
to be visible to the eye, and in many
cases, too small to be visible by the
most powerful of traditional micro-
scopes.
“A microscope uses light to mag-
nify an image to hundreds or thou-
sands of times its size,” Monroe
says. “But what happens if what
you want to see is smaller than the
wavelength of light? With the SEM,
we are scanning electrons instead
of light, so it picks up the millions of
electrons that make up the surface of
materials and shows a level of detail
you can’t see with light, regardless of
how much it is magnified.”
A Versatile Resource
Because of the extraordinary level
of detail it can achieve, the SEM
microscope is useful for a wide vari-
ety of applications. It also has the
ability to scan dry or wet samples,
such as tissue or other biomaterials.
Although the SEM Lab is housed
in the Department of Materials
Science and Engineering, Monroe
works with researchers all over cam-
pus to scan a wide variety of materi-
als, from cells and slices of bone to
dust mites and spider abdomens.
“This probably is the most ver-
satile scope we have on campus,”
says Monroe. “Others, such as the
transmission electron microscope,
allow you to look through materials
to see what lies beneath in layers,
but nothing else can scan a surface
and give an image this precise.”
Electron Evangelist
Although it’s true that Monroe has
seen things no one else can see, he
has no interest in keeping them to
himself. In recent months, Monroe
has begun posting SEM images
online, revealing some of the more
bizarre and more beautiful images
that come under his scope.
“I post images that I think are
interesting looking or pretty, but I’m
also trying to get the word out about
this resource that we have here,”
Monroe says. “Because of the ver-
satility of the microscope, I try to
meet with researchers and see if
there are ways the SEM can be of
use to their projects.”
With his bachelor’s and master’s
Tools of the Trade:
In his short time at UAB, William Monroe has seen some things no one else
can see. Millions of them, in fact.
facilities
degrees in electrical engineering,
Monroe is no stranger to research,
and even if he has never had to
measure bone density or determine
why a machine part failed, he says
his EE training has been useful in
a lab with such a broad range of
subjects. “Not knowing all there is
to know about a particular material
or sample, I have to approach every
image as a pattern recognition prob-
lem,” he says. “Sometimes I will
use an algorithm to help figure out
the grain or texture of an image—
to look at the scan and determine
what’s similar and what’s different.
Because even though a researcher
may know a lot about the material
they give to the lab to be scanned,
they haven’t necessarily seen what
I’m seeing. That’s the value of this
lab, that we can show them the
things that they don’t know are
there.”
Design Lab Offers Potential Solutions for a Variety of Applications
EVERY engineering student
knows about the Design Lab, a
2,000-square foot space on the
ground floor of the BEC that is
used for everything from Intro
to Engineering projects to senior
design.
As valuable as the workspace is
to students, however, lab director
Brian Pillay, Ph.D., says it may be
an overlooked asset by others at
the university. “We are trying to
get the word out that this facility
exists, and there may be times
where engineering expertise could
be of use to someone from anoth-
er part of campus. For example,
many researchers have ideas on
developing a novel product that
could help them perform a task
better or solve a particular prob-
lem, but they don’t know how to
turn that idea into a prototype and
subsequently a product. In those
situations, our engineering exper-
tise may be useful.”
With specialized equipment and,
more important, a deep pool of
engineering know-how, Pillay says
he hopes other will recognize the
resource they have on campus and
will take advantage.
“We are not a machine shop
where you can bring any broken
piece of equipment to
be repaired,” says Pillay.
“But if someone has an
engineering problem that
is outside their expertise,
we would like for them
to know that our engineers and the
design lab might be a possible solu-
tion.”
If you are a UAB researcher who
is interested in engineering assis-
tance, contact Pillay at (205) 996-
5797 or pillay@uab.edu, or contact
Design Lab supervisor Justin Koch
at (205)
934-8463 or
jkoch@uab.
Beam Deceleration ---In order to obtain high-contrast images at low landing voltages, the SEM lab is equipped with beam deceleration, allowing the user to bias the stage and lower the voltage at the sample while improving the signal returning to the detectors. For a full description and many other images, visit the SEM blog at http://labs.uab.edu/wsmonroe.
Has Your Research Hit a Snag? Ask an Engineer
UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2014 10
11 UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2014
VANTSEVICH is the leading specialist worldwide in
the dynamics, energy efficiency, and mobility of both
conventional and unmanned multi-wheel drive vehicles.
His work is based in an engineering discipline called
mechatronics, a combination of electronic and mechani-
cal systems that he describes as “a technology, a
philosophy, and a science” all rolled into one. The auto-
motive industry is a primary adopter of mechatronic sys-
tems, Vantsevich explains. Electronically controlled brak-
ing systems are one example; another is adaptive cruise
control, which deploys radar and electronic controls to
automatically adjust vehicle speed in order to maintain a
safe following distance.
But these high-tech devices come at a cost. “The
average car today has about two kilometers of wires”
inside and may have up to five computers, Vantsevich
says. That adds more than 60 pounds, “and you have to
burn more fuel to carry that weight.”
Power Tools
Vantsevich, who holds 30 certified inventions,
believes there is great opportunity for engineers
who can find new ways to redesign vehicles for the
mechatronics era. He is particularly interested in using
mechatronics to enhance the safety and efficiency of
vehicles, from cars to construction equipment and farm
machinery. He also actively works on “green tires” that
electronically control power distribution to the wheels to
provide fuel savings. In the future, embedded sensors
in tires will communicate with the rest of the vehicle’s
components and systems, further improving efficiency
and mobility, Vantsevich says.
UAB students get hands-on instruction in mecha-
tronics in the new Vehicle and Robotics Engineering
Laboratory, which Vantsevich founded after joining
UAB in June 2012 from Michigan’s Lawrence Technical
University. The lab “fosters multidisciplinary learning
through postgraduate, graduate, and undergraduate stu-
dent research, and through work on contract projects
with industry,” Vantsevich says. He has also launched
new undergraduate and graduate academic tracks in the
Department of Mechanical Engineering for the study
and research of mechatronics and its vehicle and robot-
ics applications, including an undergraduate course in
Design of Hybrid Electric Vehicles as a partnership with
Southern Company. Vantsevich’s goal is “to build a
world-class mechatronics program at UAB,” he says.
Car Talk
In September 2013, Vantsevich organized the first
Agile Ground Vehicle Dynamics, Energy Efficiency,
and Performance in Severe Environments International
Engineering Symposium at UAB. The symposium
attracted 15 world-class experts to discuss novel direc-
tions in ground vehicle dynamics; the 106 attendees
represented eight countries, 18 universities, and 17
Building the Car of TomorrowMechatronics and the Future of the Auto IndustryB Y T O D D D I L L S
Alabama has become an unlikely leader in the automotive
industry, with manufacturing plants from Mercedes, Honda,
and Hyundai producing the latest SUVs, minivans, and sedans.
Meanwhile, at the UAB School of Engineering, Vladimir
Vantsevich, Ph.D., Sc.D., and his students are working on the
next generation of vehicles.
UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2014 12
A PROJECT designed as part of the
BME Capstone Design Course was
awarded the Student da Vinci Award
at the 2014 da Vinci Special Awards
Gala at the Ford Conference and
Event Center in Dearborn, Michigan.
The international awards program
recognized UAB students for their
achievement and innovation in assis-
tive and adaptive technology helping
individuals overcome physical limita-
tions.
The winning team included BME
students Ryan Densmore, Daniel
McFalls, Shelby May, and Stephen
Mehi. Their project, the Toyrota, is
a powered wheelchair that toddlers
control with a joystick.
The project was was chosen
from a group of finalists represent-
ing the United States, France, Italy,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The Toyrota, which was developed
through a partnership between the
School of Engineering and the Collat
School of Business, is currently
in use at the Bell Center for Early
Intervention Programs.
Associate Dean Alan Eberhardt,
Ph.D., accepted the award. “These
projects showcase our students’
abilities to solve a real-world engi-
neering problem,” said Eberhardt.
“The Capstone Design Course
allows them to put their knowledge
to task, and we are extremely proud
that they are being recognized for
their hard work.”
Developed in 2001 by the National
Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Michigan
Chapter, the da Vinci Awards pro-
gram aims to recognize current
achievements and spur future inno-
vations to benefit all people chal-
lenged with physical limitations.
The Toyrota was one of two UAB
projects that were finalists for the
awards. The other was the Scale-
Metrix Wheelchair Scale, designed
by Jarrod Collins, Josh Haynes,
Austin Johnson, and Brandon
Sherrod, which has been in use at
the Lakeshore Foundation, also in
Homewood.
To watch a video of the Toyrota in
action, check out the feature on the
UAB News Vimeo page at
http://vimeo.com/73786946.
companies, including Honda, Ford, General Motors,
Chrysler, Volvo, and John Deere. This brought students
a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” by giving them
access to academic and industrial leaders from around
the world, Vantsevich says.
“Alabama is becoming very well known as an auto-
motive state,” he adds. “We need more events here
related to vehicle engineering. This is the very first inter-
national forum to bring experts here to discuss emerg-
ing technologies in vehicle dynamics. It’s a good sign
for local companies that we have the background and
capabilities at UAB. It will also attract more people from
all around the world to work with local companies.”
BME Capstone Course Wins at da Vinci Special Awards Gala
Elana Prizlow Sullivan of the National
MS Society Presents the da Vinci
Award to Alan Eberhardt of the School
of Engineering.
KIMBERLY GREENE, president
and chief executive officer of
Southern Company Services, was
inducted into the State of Alabama
Engineering Hall of Fame on
February 15, 2014. The induction is
the latest of a long line of honors
for Greene, who earned a master’s
degree in biomedical engineering
from UAB prior to beginning her
career in the utility industry.
Greene was recently named
executive vice president and Chief
Operating Officer of Southern
Company, where she will oversee
generation, transmission, engineer-
ing and construction services,
system planning and research, and
environmental affairs.
“Kimberly Greene is an example
of an engineering graduate who has
creatively applied her training as an
engineer to meet challenges in an
industry that spans the engineering,
science, and business disciplines
and has risen to a position of consid-
erable responsibility,” says School of
Engineering Dean Iwan Alexander,
Ph.D. “Her accomplishments are
an inspiration to our students and
her service to our school through
advisory board membership for our
ASEM program has been of tremen-
dous value and is much appreciated
by our faculty.”
Greene received her bachelor’s
RAYMOND THOMPSON, PH.D.,
was named the Engineering Council
of Birmingham’s Engineer of the
Year at the organization’s 55th annual
awards banquet.
Thompson earned his bach-
elor’s and master’s degrees from
the School of Engineering, went
to Vanderbilt for his Ph.D., then
returned to UAB where he taught
engineering for nearly 20 years. In
1998 he founded Vista Engineering,
a research, development, and con-
sulting firm specializing in materials
design and application.
“Ray Thompson is an excellent
example of the convergence of sci-
entific knowledge, engineering know-
how, business acumen and a can-do
attitude, all adding up to a UAB engi-
neer,” says School of Engineering
Dean Iwan Alexander, Ph.D., who
was on hand at the event to present
student awards to SOE graduates
and undergraduates.
Thompson himself is a former stu-
dent of the year winner, winning the
undergraduate award in 1973 and the
13 UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2014
alumni profiles
BME Graduate Kimberly Greene Inducted into Alabama Engineering HoF
SOE Graduate Raymond Thompson named ECOB Engineer of the Year
graduate award in 1974. Incidentally,
Thompson, his wife Pam, and UAB
President Raymond Watts, M.D., were
undergraduate student engineer of the
year winners in consecutive years.
Thompson’s connection to UAB
goes beyond his and his wife’s
experience. The son of a machinist
who spent just one year in college,
Raymond Thompson was one of five
siblings all of whom earned degrees
from UAB. Raymond and Neal
Thompson earned degrees from the
School of Engineering; Joe Thompson
earned a degree in medical physics
and a master’s in materials science;
and sisters Lynn and Janine earned
degrees in nursing and modern
dance, respectively.
“I had never been much outside of
Birmingham as a kid, so UAB seemed
like a natural opportunity,” Raymond
Thompson recalled in a 2005 UAB
Magazine article. “Turned out, it was
the opportunity for all of us.”
In addition to managing Vista
Engineering, Raymond Thompson also
works as a consultant in materials sci-
ence and engineering. He is a licensed
professional engineering in four
states, and is a fellow of the National
Academy of Forensic Engineers, the
American Society of Materials, and
the American Welding Society.
He holds three patents, is the author
of numerous papers, and one book.
degree in engineering science and
mechanics from the University of
Tennessee before going on to earn an
M.B.A. from Samford and a master’s
degree from UAB. Her original plan
involved putting her biomedical train-
ing to use designing artificial orthope-
dic implants in Indiana, but she took
a job at Southern Company as a tem-
porary measure while her husband
realized his goal of becoming an airline
pilot.
It wasn’t long before she found that
the skills she had developed as a bio-
medical engineer could be applied to
a wide variety of disciplines. “I never
intended to work for an electric utility,
but it turns out that the experience I
gained in graduate school was invalu-
able in this industry,” says Greene.
“Working independently, producing
and defending a thesis, and collaborat-
ing with professional engineers and
doctors prepared me well for the vari-
ous challenges I’ve faced throughout
my career.”
After her start at Southern Company
Services, Greene spent eight years
at Southern Company subsidiary
Southern Energy Inc., now NRG. In
2007, she joined the Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA) as chief financial offi-
cer and chief risk officer.
“We are obviously very proud
of Kim and the way she continues
to represent UAB and the School
of Engineering,” says UAB pro-
vost and former SOE Dean Linda
C. Lucas, Ph.D. “She has built an
amazing career, and we continue to
expect great things from her as she
returns to Birmingham in her new
role as executive vice president and
Chief Operating Officer of Southern
Company.”
UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2014 14
Thompson is one of a long line of ECOB Engineer of the Year Award winners with strong connections to the School of Engineering—either having graduated, served on the faculty, or served as adjunct faculty to the school.
1978—Edwin M. Hardin
1982—William F. Edmonds
1984—Edwin M. Hardin
1985—David A. Conner
1986—Charles E. Hickman
1992—Jay Goldman
1997—Ed Segner
2000—Gary J. Grimes
2003—Gregg L. Vaughn
2004—Martha Warren Bidez
2005—Thomas Fletcher Talbot
2009—Fouad Fouad
2011—Linda Lucas
15 UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2014
alumni profiles
AFTER WORKING nearly 40 years
in the construction industry, James
Dunlea knows better than to leave
a job unfinished. With that in mind,
Dunlea walked across the stage at
Bartow Arena in December to accept
a bachelor’s degree in civil, construc-
tion, and environmental engineer-
ing—putting the finishing touches on
a job that was several decades in the
making.
“I started college in 1971 studying
nuclear engineering at Georgia Tech,”
Dunlea says. “I left the program for
to go to work full time. I had every
intention of going back, but I enjoyed
making money more than being a
starving college student, and I just
kept working. I never made it back.”
Throughout the 1970s, 80s, and
90s, Dunlea worked at job sites in
Birmingham and Cleveland, Ohio,
specializing in sewer inspection and
rehabilitation. In 1999, he took a job
as a project manager for Nichols
Contracting Company in Birmingham,
and he was in that role when he
began to consider adding a degree to
his already lengthy resume.
“Around 2007, I drove through
campus every day to drop off my
girlfriend, Jean Price, who worked
at UAB Hospital,” Dunlea says.
“Through her, I got to know a lot
James Dunlea
WHEN JUAN SERRANO arrived
in the United States from Bogota,
Colombia, in 2002, he was quickly
drawn to the research he discovered
in the UAB Department of Materials
Engineering. “When I met Dr. Uday
Vaidya and saw the projects he had
in transportation and infrastructures,
I decided to apply,” he says. “Given
my academic credentials and my
undergraduate experience in com-
puter-aided engineering, he gave me
an opportunity to join the graduate
program as a research
assistant.”
An architect’s son
who’d been exposed
at a young age to construction sites
and drawings, Serrano earned a
degree in mechanical engineering
from the University of Los Andes.
But he credits his studies at UAB
with helping him secure his current
job at PPG Industries in Charlotte,
North Carolina.
“Working as a graduate student for
Dr. Vaidya, an expert in the field of
composites, certainly opens up a
lot of doors,” explains Serrano, who
holds an MBA from the University
of Massachusetts and a master’s
degree in materials from UAB. “The
exposure I had as a graduate student
in the composite materials laboratory
gave me a breadth of knowledge
and experience very few other pro-
grams in the nation have.”
Today, Serrano is a global business
development manager with respon-
sibility for the transportation markets
in PPG Fiber Glass. This includes the
automotive and heavy truck market
and, to some extent, the aerospace
industry. His main task is to use
company’s innovative fiberglass
product portfolio to maintain and
grow participation in transportation
Juan Serrano
UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2014 16
about UAB. It’s such a dynamic
place—an amazing university and
hospital system—and I started think-
ing about being a part of that. I had all
this experience in construction, plus
my earlier interest in engineering, so
the Department of Civil, Construction
Environmental Engineering seemed
like a natural fit.”
Although the curriculum may have
seemed familiar, Dunlea says it was
immediately apparent that college life
had changed since his earlier under-
graduate days. “A couple of the facul-
ty members assisted me to make sure
I was able to register online,” Dunlea
says. “The last time I registered, I
had to pull computer punch cards. But
even though it was unfamiliar, there
was never a moment where I felt
uncomfortable or out of place.”
Through no small effort on his part,
Dunlea was able to successfully bal-
ance school and career, often applying
bits of newfound knowledge almost
immediately on the job. engineering
curriculum as a 55-year-old freshman,
Dunlea says his uneasiness disap-
peared at orientation. “I can’t imagine
a school being more supportive of the
non-traditional student,” he says.
markets.
Serrano interfaces directly with
research and development teams from
different auto OEMs (original equip-
ment manufacturers) and Tier I sup-
pliers, and also provides market and
technology trends feedback to science
and technology researchers and busi-
ness leaders.
“The majority of my projects involve
the development of new composite
applications in automobile parts where
considerable weight savings against
traditional engineering materials can
be achieved in a cost-effective man-
ner. Introducing new materials into the
automotive industry is a lengthy and
challenging process. It involves stake-
holders from all regions of the world.”
A father of two who enjoys golf and
watching soccer in his spare time,
Serrano says he is excited about his
future with the company. “I hope to
develop my current role at PPG, so
that my division is positioned to con-
tinue to grow in a profitable manner
in the transportation segment. Long-
term, I would like to continue with
PPG in other managerial responsibili-
ties.”
OCTOBER 28 Central Alabama (Sylacauga, Childersburg, Alex City) Location: Sylacauga Country Club 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
NOVEMBER 13 Tuscaloosa, AL Location: The Cypress Inn Loft 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
DECEMBER 2 Pensacola, FL Location: Jackson’s Steakhouse 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
DECEMBER 9 Dothan, AL Location: Dothan Country Club 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
OCTOBER 14 Montgomery, AL Location: Capital City Club 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
OCTOBER 21 Auburn, AL Location: Grand National Golf Club 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
National Alumni Society | Schedule of Events
Check the School of Engineering Web site for the most up-to-date schedule of events at www.uab.edu/engineering/home/alumni-friends
Giving Back
17 UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2014
To show our appreciation for your generous gift, we will proudly display your name on an installation
outside of the lab space. This sign will serve as a
permanent reminder to all who enter the space that giving something really does change everything
at UAB.
If you would like to learn more about the “Power of
50” campaign or other giving opportunities in the school of engineering, contact Victoria Allen in the Dean’s Office at (205) 934-8481 or vallen@uab.edu. You may also click on the icon below wherever it appears on the School of
Engineering Web site.
As a result of the enormous success and unparalleled growth of UAB’s undergraduate program in biomedical engineering, we have reached the capacity for equipment and space in our main undergraduate teaching lab, the Multipurpose
Undergraduate, or “MUG,” Lab. The MUG lab has served as the primary teaching laboratory for many of communications and design courses in the BME curriculum.
With BME class sizes now ranging from 20-25 (and projected to grow to 50), and with the amount of classroom space being extremely limited across campus, the MUG Lab needs immediate renovation.
This renovation will help accommodate both an increased number of students and the need for a flexible and reconfigurable space for instructors and students using the space for a variety of BME courses and assignments.
THE POWER OF 50
The total cost of the renovation is $101,000. If just 50 alumni invest $1,000 each, then
about half of the renovation costs will be covered.
THE POWER OF INVESTMENT
Your investment in the BME program will help energize this effort and will ensure that
current and future biomedical engineering students have access to state-of-the-art educa-
tional and training facilities.
THE POWER OF ADVANCEMENT
• Advantages to BME Hoehn Lab Renovation:
• Support the growth of the BME Department over the next several years
• Accommodate an increased number of BME students
• Multi-purpose design allows for increased capital savings
• Reconstruction of all interior and exterior doorways will meet ADA accessibility guidelines
• Updated facility will include moveable tables and ergonomic chairs
BME Alumni and Friends Campaign
2014
UAB ENGINEERING MAGA ZINE • FALL 2013 18
IT’S NEVER BEEN EASIER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
No matter who you are, or where you are in life, you have the power to make life better for everyone. Because when you support
the work of UAB, giving something changes everything.
GIVE NOW | uab.edu/give
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