Engineering Professor to Head NIH Study Section
(May 29, 2008) Ralph W. Metcalfe, professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering and mathematics, was appointed chair of the National Institutes of Health Cardiovascular Devices Study Section. At the study section’s upcoming meeting in Bethesda, Md. June 23, Metcalfe will head a group comprising 18 other experts—12 of whom are physicians and the remaining six consisting of engineers and scientists—from across the United States. The group will review more than 150 grant proposals related to cardiovascular devices submitted by small companies and universities.

Engineering Professor Helps Launch Libya Knowledge Transfer Program
(May 21, 2008) Hanadi S. Rifai, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Houston, and Rice University’s Herman Brown Professor of Engineering Philip B. Bedient, have developed a curriculum for a knowledge transfer program designed to assist Libyan engineers in modernizing their country’s infrastructure. The curricula is focused on improving out-of-date utility systems and promoting future urban planning in Libyan cities.

Engineering Organizations Present Professor with High Honors
(May 21, 2008) Kirill Larin, assistant professor of biomedical and mechanical engineering, has received two awards for achievements in his biomedical optics and imaging research. He received the 2008 Outstanding Young Scientist Award from the Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology in February and the Herbert Allen Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in April. In 2007, he received the U.S. Navy's Young Investigator Award.

Industrial Engineering Department Holds Annual Awards Banquet
(May 16, 2008) The UH Department of Industrial Engineering honored alumni, donors, faculty and students at its 2008 Awards Banquet on April 24. Industrial engineering alums Salah Turkmani, Patrick O’ Connor, Rex Walheim and Darshan Singh were honored with Distinguished Alumni Awards, while Brij and Sunita Agrawal, and Hari and Anjali Agrawal were given the IE Legacy Award for each establishing an endowed professorship within the department.

UH Students Win Regional Concrete Canoe Competition for Second Year
(May 16, 2008) A team of University of Houston engineering students paddled their way to a second consecutive first place win April 28 at the Texas/Mexico Regional Concrete Canoe Competition.The students beat out 11 teams competing at Texas’ Corpus Christi Bay for the title, earning the chance to compete in the 2008 National Concrete Canoe Competition in Montreal, Canada on June 19.

20th Annual Crawfish Boil Makes History
(May 14, 2008) The University of Houston/American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ annual Cajun Crawfish Boil fundraiser paid off big for students seeking scholarships in the Cullen College of Engineering. It is estimated that more than $150,000 was raised this year for undergraduate student scholarships, thanks to the addition of several event sponsors, including BP, the event underwriter.

Emeritus Professor, Former IE Chair Passes Away
(May 14, 2008) Scott T. Poage, emeritus professor and former chairman of the University of Houston Department of Industrial Engineering, passed away May 13, 2008 in Waco, Texas at the age of 76. He joined the department in 1968 and established its PhD program. His pioneering work in applications of mathematical optimization techniques in solving industrial engineering problems gained him an international reputation. He was a professional registered engineer in Texas for over 40 years.     

Engineering Professor Receives Top University Research Award
(May 14, 2008) Demetre J. Economou, John and Rebecca Moores Professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and associate chair of the department, was named a recipient of the University of Houston’s 2008 Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award. The award—which carries a $5,000 stipend—is given annually to individuals with a significant record of outstanding research, scholarship or creative activities in their field. Economou's research is focused on plasma science and technology, research that impacts everything from microchip manufacturing to plasma television panels.

UH Engineering Student Takes Home Top Regional Web Design Award
(May 13, 2008) Joshua Kovitz, a sophomore electrical engineering student, took home the first place award at the Region 5 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Student Branch Web Site Contest. As a first place winner, he will get a chance to compete in the international portion of the competition with students in six regions based in the U.S., as well as the four other international regions that include areas such as Asia, Africa and Europe.

Engineering Faculty Member Named Moores Professor
(May 9, 2008) Vincent M. Donnelly, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, has been named a recipient of the John and Rebecca Moores Professorship.
The Moores professorship is a five-year renewable award given to full-time, tenured faculty who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of teaching, service and research. He plans to use the $10,000 stipend to help further his research, which studies the problems associated with the continued miniaturization of microelectronic devices. 

Professor Receives Grant for Fuel Cell Catalyst Research
(May 2, 2008) Stanko R. Brankovic, assistant professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering, has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund to study a more efficient, cost effective way to produce platinum fuel cell catalysts. The grant is awarded to individuals whose research supports scientific education and fundamental research related to the petroleum field.

Engineering Faculty Recognized for Teaching, Research
(May 1, 2008) Dean Joseph Tedesco recognized UH Cullen College of Engineering faculty members for outstanding teaching and research during the 2007-2008 academic year at the college's Spring Faculty/Staff Meeting on April 29. Demetre Economou (ChBE) was honored with the Fluor Daniel Faculty Excellence Award, the highest award given by the college. Shankar Chellam (CEE) received the W.T. Kittinger Teaching Excellence Award, the college's most prestigious teaching honor, and Stuart Long (ECE) received the Career Teaching Award for excellence in teaching and service to students.