March 1, 2006

UH Professor, Grad Student Make Strides in Diabetes Research
Researchers with the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering have made a major discovery in the field of diabetes research that is also an historic find in the area crystal formation and use. Peter Vekilov, associate professor of chemical engineering, and doctoral candidate Dimitra Georgiou, discovered a new mechanism for the formation of insulin crystals in the pancreas—only the third known mechanism of crystal formation ever discovered. Such a find may allow researchers to gain a better understanding of why insulin production slows in some individuals, leading to diabetes. Vekilov and Georgiou's research is highlighted in the February 7th issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

EAA Hosts Reception During National Engineers Week
The Engineering Alumni Association hosted its annual reception in celebration of National Engineers Week on Feb. 21. Nearly 200 engineering alumni, faculty, staff, students and representatives from local companies gathered to recognize student leaders and participate in the evening’s activities. Engineering alumni Tony Catalano (1979, MSChE) and May Shek (2002, BSChE) provided special entertainment with a “Who wants to be an Engineer?” competition involving three undergraduate contestants. Biomedical engineering junior Holley Love won the competition and received a $250 prize for answering every game show question correctly. Over $12,000 in awards were presented to students by local companies, engineering organizations and EAA.

UH Engineering Alums Honored During EWeek
Three UH Cullen College of Engineering alumni were honored by various organizations as part of National Engineers Week activities. Industrial engineering alum Mario Duarte was named one of the "New Faces of Engineering" by the Engineers Week Foundation; chemical engineering alum Karin Kabin was honored as the Young Engineer of the Year by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, South Texas Section; and mechanical engineering alum Ryan Schmidt was recognized as Young Engineer of the Year by the South Texas Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

College Names Outstanding Senior, Junior Student
The honor of being named Outstanding Student by the Cullen College of Engineering has been given to electrical engineering senior Ying Hu (pictured right) and mechanical engineering student Julian Vargas. Both Hu and Vargas were honored at a luncheon hosted by the Texas Society of Engineering as part of the National Engineers Week activities.

UH Engineering Students Win Regional Design Competition
A team of students with the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering captured first place in the design competition at the Texas A&M Regional Engineering Conference. Utilizing random items such string, a hula hoop and some wood, freshmen engineering students Leif Bagge, Michael Fernandez and Kevin Weaver built a device that was capable of keeping a ball in motion for more than two and a half hours.

›› 17th Annual Engineering Golf Tournament
Monday, April 3
Hearthstone Country Club
12:30 p.m. Shotgun Start

›› 18th Annual ASME/UH Cajun Crawfish Boil
Sunday, April 30, 1-5 p.m.
Lynn Eusan Park, UH Campus

›› Distinguished Engineering Alumni Awards Dinner
Friday, June 2
Four Seasons Hotel, Downtown Houston

›› 4th Annual Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni Luncheon
Tuesday, June 20, 12 p.m.
HESS Club

 

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