UH Professor Elected to Board of Directors for Texas Academy
(December 19, 2008) Fazle Hussain, Hugh Roy & Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been elected to the The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas board of directors. The organization provides recognition to the state’s top achievers in science, engineering and medicine and facilitates collaboration among engineers, academia and the corporate world to promote Texas as a national research leader while helping to foster the next generation of scientists. He will serve a three-year term beginning in January.

College to Benefit From Major Research Instruments Donated by Seagate
(December 17, 2008) Seagate Technology LLC has donated sophisticated research equipment, designed to measure and characterize magnetic materials and devices, to the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering’s Center for Integrated Nanosystems. The center received both an alternating gradient force magnetometer (AGFM) and a high field vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) to further the study of magnetic nanodevices.

Extreme Engineering: Student Captures First Place in Rigorous Competition
(December 16, 2008) Rehan Momin, a senior electrical engineering major, was among a group of students last month to win an intense 24-hour competition at the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers national conference last month. Dubbed the “Extreme Engineering Challenge,” the competition challenged teams of students to design a water supply system for use in an impoverished country, testing their problem-solving and teamwork skills.

Study by UH, Texas A&M Professors to Explore Bone Loss in Astronauts
(December 15, 2008) Daniel Martinez, associate professor in the department of health and human performance and the Cullen College’s biomedical engineering program, is working with lead investigator Harry Hogan and co-investigator Susan Bloomfield, both faculty at Texas A&M University, to study measures to counteract bone loss during space missions. All three are named on a roughly $1.1 million grant from NASA’s Human Research Program—nearly $265,000 of the total funding will support Martinez’s efforts.

UH Fuel Cell Research Highlighted by NSF
(December 15, 2008) The National Science Foundation recently highlighted fuel cell catalyst research being conducted by Peter Strasser, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the UH Cullen College of Engineering. His research was among less than a dozen showcased by NSF as a“CBET Nugget" — used to publicize important contributions from CBET principal investigators within the foundation. Strasser and his team have been working to create a less expensive, more efficient fuel cell catalyst.

NFL Grant Suports Gene Therapy Study to Benefit Athletes
(December 10, 2008) UH Cullen College of Engineering researchers Daniel Martinez and David Zimmerman have received an 18-month, $118,693 grant from the National Football League Charities to investigate the use of gene therapy to heal damaged ligaments. The treatment being developed could allow athletes playing in the National Football League a faster return to the field after injury.

Professor Inducted as a Distinguished Member of ASCE
(December 9, 2008) Jerry R. Rogers, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers at the organization's 2008 Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, Pa. in November. He was among 11 chosen for the honor, making him one of 565 engineers in the organization’s 156-year history to receive the title. Throughout his 40-year academic career, Rogers' research has focused on storm water management, urban growth planning, drainage engineering, water distribution and water resource systems.

Students Demonstrate Curious Inventions During Presentation
(December 8, 2008) Teams of engineering students demonstrated curious inventions during the ENGI 1100 end of semester project presentations last week. Inspired by whimsical cartoonist Rube Goldberg, the project challenges students to design a machine capable of performing a simple task through a set of variable steps, giving students an opportunity to test their engineering and teamwork skills.

Forward Progress: Machinist Builds Components for Lab Experiments
(December 1, 2008) Five years ago, Jeff Miller took over as lab machinist supervisor for the college’s department of civil and environmental engineering. The workshop was previously managed by his father-in-law, Martin Kowis, who worked for the department 20 years. Now, Miller is responsible for machining parts for civil engineering research projects within the college.