Unlike a typical scholarship that only covers the cost of tuition and fees, the SMART scholarship also provides an annual stipend, a summer internship, an experienced mentor and guaranteed employment with the DOD after graduation.

The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing STEM degrees who can commit to one year of employment with the DOD upon graduation. The goal is to develop a talent pipeline of technically proficient professionals who can meet the nation’s security needs.

Carlos Arteaga

M.S. in civil engineering

For Arteaga, applying for the DOD SMART Scholarship program was a no-brainer. He already works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a geotechnical engineer and plans to use his time in the program to develop as a professional within that agency. He says this program stood out because it aligned perfectly with his values of technical excellence, service to country and long-term impact.

“I was drawn to the program’s integration of academic advancement with real-world application, especially within the DOD’s infrastructure and research divisions,” Arteaga says. “The opportunity to contribute to national security while deepening my expertise in structural and geotechnical engineering made it an ideal fit.”

As a master’s student on the non-thesis track, Arteaga plans to take a more practical approach to the internship. He hopes to gain a better understanding of how engineering decisions are made in defense and looks forward to collaborating with experts across the DOD.

Balancing coursework with a job and the responsibilities of the DOD program is no easy feat, but Arteaga says that the flexibility and technical rigor are what drew him to �����’s graduate programs.

“The curriculum has strengthened my foundation in structural and geotechnical principle while also enhancing my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively,” Arteaga says. “Combined with my experience at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, my time at �鶹ӳ����ý has prepared me to contribute confidently and competently to the DOD’s mission.”

Chance Brewer ’20

Ph.D. in mechanical engineering

Through his work in the Putnam Lab, managed by Shawn Putnam, mechanical engineering associate professor, Brewer has had the chance to collaborate on research projects sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). As a DOD SMART scholar, Brewer will rejoin the AFRL team to work on research related to his expertise.

“My academic research on multifunctional materials in thermal management systems is already closely tied with the work I will be doing with AFRL, but the challenges and applications I am targeting will shift to focus on thermal control for space vehicles,” Brewer says. “Over the past two summers I have worked with the same team that I will be working with for SMART, so I am already very familiar with the community that I will be joining after I graduate, and I feel very fortunate to be joining such a great team.”

Brewer thanks Putnam as well as the �鶹ӳ����ý Office of Undergraduate Research and the �鶹ӳ����ý Academic Advancement Programs office for their support and encouragement to get involved with research as an undergraduate student. He credits their guidance and sense of community with shaping his graduate experience and, ultimately, a career with the DOD.

“My ultimate goal from this experience is to establish a career within AFRL leading research on coupled thermal and optical materials for thermal monitoring and control systems,” Brewer says. “Through these efforts, I also hope to learn how we can leverage thermal solutions being developed for space applications to help support missions across the DOD and to help advance thermal management systems for commercial technologies.”

Jean-Philippe Perrault ’06 ’14MBA

Ph.D. in industrial engineering

Like Arteaga, Perrault is already employed with the DOD. He works as an engineering supervisor for the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD). He’s also a father of five, a chess coach an active community volunteer and a doctoral student. With a very full schedule, the DOD SMART Scholarship was a practical choice because it designates study time during work hours, alleviating the pressure of pursuing a Ph.D.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in business administration, Perrault returned to �鶹ӳ����ý in Fall 2024 to continue his studies. He also serves on the advisory board for the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems and with the encouragement of Professor Luis Rabelo, joined the industrial engineering doctoral program’s systems engineering track.

Perrault’s research focuses on the development of a theoretical framework to adopt AI technology in military training systems. He says the SMART scholarship program will help him deepen his technical knowledge and in turn, inform his research.

“Beyond technical skills, I aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of how research translates into real-world applications within the DOD, including navigating the complexities of defense innovation and collaboration,” Perrault says. “I also look forward to developing leadership, project management and interdisciplinary collaboration skills that will enable me to contribute effectively to the defense community both during and after my scholarship.”

Perrault plans to continue working for the NAWCTSD but hopes to strengthen the collaborative relationship the agency has with �鶹ӳ����ý. As a three-time alum, he says that some of his most cherished memories were formed at �鶹ӳ����ý — memories of friendship, hard work and achievements.

“As a continually growing university located close to home, �鶹ӳ����ý has played a significant role in shaping my professional journey,” Perrault says. “My success is largely attributed to the comprehensive education and experiences I gained here — the coursework, laboratories, professors and student support services all contributed to my development as a leader within our local community.”

All five awardees teach and conduct research through �����’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), and together their funding totals an estimated $3 million to advance real world technologies and positively impact the world.

The annual award program from NSF supports an estimated 500 early-career STEM faculty nationwide from either institutes of higher education or academic nonprofit organizations who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.

Since the program launched in FY 1995, nearly 100 �鶹ӳ����ý faculty have qualified for NSF CAREER grants, generating more than $40 million in research funding. It has supported a pathway to implement their research through �����’s Office of Technology Transfer, which helps bring discoveries to the marketplace through licensing �鶹ӳ����ý technologies and providing information about sponsored research opportunities.

�鶹ӳ����ý Associate Professors Sidong Lei and Truong Nghiem along with Assistant Professors Kevin Moran, Wen Shen and Hao Zheng continue to accelerate research in their respective fields through their NSF CAREER projects.

Studying Specialized Semiconductors

Sidong Lei

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

NanoScience Technology Center (NTSC)

Project Title: Van der Waals Semiconductor Integration via Surface and Interface Tailoring

Award: A total of $516,085 over five years, with $449,136 over three years at �鶹ӳ����ý

Sidong Lei endeavors to meet the demand for better materials to help make smaller devices run more efficiently.

“We all want our phones, smartwatches and laptops to be lighter, faster and more powerful,” says Lei, an associate professor of materials science and engineering. “To make that happen, we need to shrink the size of the electronic circuits so that more components, such as transistors, which are tiny switches for computing, can fit onto a single chip.”

Lei researches new methods of developing innovative microelectronics by studying electronic and optoelectronic properties of emerging materials.

“As we push the limits of traditional silicon technology into the sub-10 nanometer range, it becomes extremely difficulty to make the chips even smaller,” he says. “At the same time, new technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning are demanding faster speeds, lower energy use and many more. All these make current microelectronics struggle and urge new materials and device architecture.”

Through the NSF CAREER award he received in 2023 and brought with him to �鶹ӳ����ý the following year, Lei is exploring how Van der Waals semiconductors may be integrated at the 3D level versus the 2D level. These specialized semiconductors represent a major frontier in materials science, offering a path to ultrathin, flexible and high-performance electronic and photonic devices— pushing beyond the limits of traditional bulk semiconductors such as silicon.

“The question is how can we produce functional devices with these materials?” Lei says. “Other than fundamental investigations, we want to see our explorations and innovations find practical applications in critical fields. My research aims to find pathways towards this purpose.”

His NSF CAREER project, much like the advanced materials he studies, integrates well with his group’s portfolio of research and translates into real-world applications.

“We are developing methods to fabricate very large-scale integration circuit based on 2D materials and looking for strategies to combine them with mature silicon technology to further enhance their functionality,” Lei says. “We are also investigating strategies to fabricate very-large-scale integrated circuits in flexible and stretchable packaging materials. This research will allow us to implement next-generation wearable and implantable electronics devices for health monitoring and disease treatment, for example, on Parkinson’s disease.”

The vast opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration to advance research at �鶹ӳ����ý were a significant factor in Lei’s decision to expanding his career here.

“�鶹ӳ����ý offers a comprehensive platform to elevate my research,” he says. “Modern scientific and technological challenges are typically highly complex, requiring the integration of expertise from different fields. The integration is truly happening here. Only a few months after joining, I have already become acquainted with many new colleagues who are experts in their respective fields, continually refreshing my perspective.”

Lei considers his triumph in earning an NSF CAREER award funding a shared effort, and he credits �鶹ӳ����ý and his colleagues for their unwavering support and guidance.

“The award represents a meaningful confirmation from my peers of my efforts and endeavors,” he says. “However, the most enjoyable and exciting part was the journey itself, which included deciding on research directions, building a research team and then gradually generating results.”

Improving User Interface Experiences

Kevin Moran

Department of Computer Science

Cyber Security and Privacy Cluster

Project Title: Enhanced UI Engineering via Automated Semantic Screen Understanding

Award: $582,308 over five years

Whether it’s a smart phone or a computer, the user interface (UI) is a critical gateway for people interacting with software and technology.

An intuitive UI can make a world of difference to new users and ultimately be the deciding factor for users when it comes to feeling comfortable with technology, says Kevin Moran, assistant professor of computer science.

His research group at �鶹ӳ����ý aims to make it easier for software engineers to build complex yet user-friendly systems that translate into practical use.

“More aspects of daily life rely on software than at any point in human history,” he says. “From banking to social media, the importance of the quality of the software that we interact with on a daily basis has never been more important. My lab at �鶹ӳ����ý aims to help provide engineers the tools that they need to wrangle this complexity, using machine learning, program analysis, and careful tool design.”

Through his Software Automation, Generation, and Engineering (SAGE) Lab, Moran and his research group help simplify the difficulties engineers may face in building and troubleshooting such complicated systems. His research tackles two challenges in software engineering: making issue tracking (also known as bug reporting) more robust and improving the UI engineering process.

UI engineering is the practice of developing, testing and managing UI software, which is an emerging topic his group specializes in, and it is the focus of his newly awarded NSF CAREER project.

“My team and I have done quite a bit of work on UI engineering, a research area we pioneered,” Moran says. “Building the user interfaces for software has long been documented to be a particularly challenging task. My team and I were among the first to combine program analysis, computer vision, and machine learning techniques to develop tools to help aid developers in engineering high quality UIs.”

His project focuses on automating tedious tasks for software engineers through artificial intelligence (AI). The proposed AI model will learn from UI interactions, understand UI features, and automatically translate them to code for engineers.

Ultimately, this may save software engineers time and increase their efficiency in developing UIs, Moran says.

“Our aim with this work is to get our developed programming tools to software engineers so that they can improve the quality of the UIs they are building,” he says. “For the general public that uses software, this means UIs that are easier to use and contain fewer bugs.”

The path to earning such a prestigious grant like the NSF CAREER award requires a high level of detail and Moran says receiving one is incredibly gratifying.

“CAREER proposals are rigorously reviewed by other scientists in my area of research, and receiving the grant is tremendous validation for a very ambitious future research agenda related to improving UI engineering,” he says. “This award will fund students who will be working on projects to help make it easier for developers to build high quality user interfaces, so that hopefully in the future, we can reduce the frustrating interactions that users may have when interacting with software.”

Moran says �鶹ӳ����ý provided a space for professional growth. The university’s vast resources, which include welcoming and collaborative faculty, helped to further hone his skills that ultimately led to receiving his NSF CAREER award.

“Being a part of this academic community lead to the formation of some of the ideas in my proposal and I am excited to be a part of computer science at �鶹ӳ����ý, particularly as we expand our department and expertise in AI,” Moran says. “CECS has a CAREER mentoring program where I was paired with senior scientists in my area of work who were able to give me early feedback on my proposal. They helped me to refine the plan of work and gave me invaluable suggestions. �鶹ӳ����ý played a key part in my success for this award”

Machine Learning Guidance to Make Smart Systems Even Smarter

Truong Nghiem

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Project Title: Composite Physics-Informed Learning of Dynamics Systems

Award: $477,585 over five years

Associate Professor Truong Nghiem came to �鶹ӳ����ý in Fall 2024, bringing expertise in machine learning and autonomous systems.

His research focuses on developing new methods that blend machine learning with physical principles to improve complex systems such as autonomous vehicles, smart buildings and industrial automation systems.

“My work aims to help create the intelligent, autonomous systems of the future—systems that will enhance productivity, improve safety, and make everyday life more convenient and sustainable,” says Nghiem, whose research group is called the intelligent Cyber-Physical Systems (iCPS) Lab. “I specialize in intelligent cyber-physical systems — engineered systems that seamlessly integrate the cyber world, which includes computation, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), with the physical world, which includes mechanical and dynamic systems like vehicles, buildings and robots.”

His CAREER project, which he transferred from his previous university, directly supports his ongoing efforts and broadens the scope of his machine learning research.

“This research aims to create a composite physics-informed machine learning (CPIML) framework,” Nghiem says. “Physics-informed machine learning (PIML) embeds the laws of physics into the learning process, leading to models that are more accurate, physically consistent and interpretable compared to traditional machine learning approaches. CPIML takes this a step further by enabling the composition of both physics-based models and PIML components — along with their physical properties — to model more complex, large-scale systems.”

Applications of machine learning that may be integrated into everyday life include improved response times of autonomous vehicles and robots, smarter energy systems that optimize energy use and temperature control, and more reliable industrial robotic systems that require minimal supervision.

Nghiem says he strives for his research to not only provide foundational knowledge but to also have a direct impact on real technologies that people are using right now.

“As our world becomes increasingly automated, ensuring that systems are safe, efficient and trustworthy isn’t just a scientific goal — it’s a societal necessity,” he says. “I have developed efficient models for HVAC systems in buildings that improve energy management, and I’ve also worked on predictive models for autonomous racing cars, pushing the boundaries of what AI can do in dynamic, high-speed environments.”

Like the complex systems Nghiem studies, a university’s network of resources should be robust and reliable. He says he’s fortunate that his research fits perfectly into �����’s supportive interdisciplinary ecosystem.

“�����’s commitment is evident through initiatives like the and the ,” Nghiem says. “This work also underscores the importance of combining knowledge from different domains, bringing together AI, engineering and physics to create solutions for real-world problems.”

Elevating Rare Earth Elements to Make Powerful Magnets

Wen Shen

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)

NanoScience Technology Center

Project Title: Manufacturing of Rare Earth Permanent Magnets via Three-dimensional Printing and Decomposition of Hydrogels

Award: $697,264 over five years

Rare earth permanent magnets (REPMs) — composed of alloys containing rare-earth elements — are the strongest permanent magnets with numerous applications across aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical devices and renewable energy industries due to their exceptional magnetic properties.

REPMs generate strong magnetic fields through aligned atomic structures, attracting ferromagnetic materials by inducing a magnetic field, enabling them to lift heavy loads, power motors and generate energy in various technologies.

Despite their widespread use, current REPMs manufacturing techniques are energy- intensive, complex and struggle to fabricate magnets with intricate shapes and minimal defects.

That’s where Wen Shen, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at �鶹ӳ����ý, comes in. Her NSF CAREER project aims to develop a new hydrogel-based additive manufacturing process that fabricates high-quality REPMs more efficiently.

The new fabrication process, which uses 3D printing and decomposition of hydrogels containing rare-earth elements, has tremendous potential, Shen says.

“This research will enable an energy-efficient and laser-free additive manufacturing process that fabricates REPMs with near-zero defects as well as excellent magnetic and mechanical properties,” she says. “If successful, the outcome of this research will significantly impact the global REPMs market.”

Shen says she’s honored to be an NSF CAREER award recipient and continues to elevate her impactful research.

“The CAREER award allows me to conduct in-depth studies,” she says. “It fits well into my career, allowing me to advance my goals as both a researcher and educator while fostering impactful contributions to academia and industry.”

�鶹ӳ����ý encourages state-of-the-art research through its resources, educational opportunities and collaborative environment. Shen says that she and her colleagues are grateful for the vast availability of university-wide support that helps advance their research and allows faculty to thrive.

“The fellowships as well as the research facilities and infrastructure provided by the MAE department, CECS [the College of Engineering and Computer Science] and NSTC [NanoScience Technology Center] to my group allowed me to conduct unique and transformative research that can make potential societal impacts,” Shen says. “I would like to acknowledge my department chair, the CECS dean, [and] the NSTC director, who have been very supportive of my research since I joined �鶹ӳ����ý.”

New Chips to Keep Pace with Modern Processing Demands

Hao Zheng

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Project Title: A Scalable, Polymorphic, and Efficient Architecture for Irregular and Sparse Computations (APEX)

Award: $550,000 over five years

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, while transformative, has created new challenges for today’s computing hardware.

Hao Zheng, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, says he’s determined to navigate these challenges and arrive at solutions. His NSF CAREER project, much like his research, focuses on how to enhance the performance, energy efficiency and utility of chip processors to support the evolving landscape of AI workloads.

“My research lies in the area of computer architecture and machine learning,” Zheng says. “I aim to design versatile chip processors that can greatly speed up machine learning applications with significantly reduced power consumption.”

Creating general-purpose or fully customized chips have been the most common methods of addressing emerging challenges in computational tasks, but both approaches have drawbacks.

Zheng’s bold solution is to design a chip that can adapt to any applications with various computing tasks. His research group, the Intelligent Computer Architecture and Technology (iCAT) Laboratory, is working to revolutionize current chip architectures, such as graphics processing units (GPUs), to handle the rising complexity of modern AI workloads. These include not just large models but multimodal systems, robotics, simulations and real-time decision-making.

“Specializing the underlying hardware architecture has become a trending solution to meet the computational demands of modern applications,” Zheng says. “However, current specialized hardware, in the form of accelerators, is either fully customized for regular applications or lacks the generality to support a wide range of applications. However, today’s applications are evolving rapidly with increasingly complex workloads such as large language models, multi-modal models, embodied AI, among others.”

Some real-world applications of his research can directly affect how robotics, augmented and virtual reality, autonomous driving, simulations and biological discoveries operate.

“This award will introduce a transformative concept — the polymorphic chip processor — to support ubiquitous irregular and complex applications with intensive data,” Zheng says. “The research will invent a new class of chip processors, grounded in graph theory, that can dynamically adapt to irregular and complex workloads at runtime. We believe this can have a transformative impact on computer architecture, compilers, scheduling and many other key areas in computing.”

Zheng says his NSF CAREER award is just the beginning of what he can achieve here at �鶹ӳ����ý.

“This honor is a testament to the collective efforts of my entire research team,” he says. “I truly appreciate the collaborative research culture here at �鶹ӳ����ý. I’ve also benefited greatly from the guidance and encouragement of my colleagues, and I would like to thank our department chair, Dr. Reza Abdolvand, for his support over the past several years. Most importantly, I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with four exceptional Ph.D. students who have grown alongside me throughout this journey.”

Opportunities for growth and enrichment at �鶹ӳ����ý are plenty, Zheng says. Exploring emerging unconventional applications for chips, strengthening educational development and collaborating with industry are three pillars he aspires to focus on and expand as he continues his research.

“First, I plan to establish a solid theoretical foundation for irregular application acceleration,” Zheng says. “Second, I intend to collaborate with industry to prototype the concept. By the end of the award period, we aim to have a functional chip processor running in the lab, demonstrating the practicality of our idea.”

One of the most important and personal components of his future efforts is his emphasis on education.

“This is the core mission of both our university and the academic community,” Zheng says. “As a first-generation college student, I am aware that a significant number of �鶹ӳ����ý students come from similar backgrounds. I will provide mentorship to both undergraduate and graduate students interested in the chip industry.”

Kareem Ahmed, a world expert in hypersonic and space propulsion, is a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and a faculty member of �����’s Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research.

His groundbreaking work includes developing technology that makes a 15-minute flight from coast to coast a future possibility.

Ahmed joins  of �鶹ӳ����ý faculty members to receive the five-year trustee chair appointments, which were created in 2003 to help retain and attract exceptional faculty. The designation carries an annual stipend for honorees to advance their scholarship, part of which can be used as a salary supplement.

, who are evaluated by a trustee chair review committee and affirmed by �����’s president and provost.

“Accomplished and innovative faculty — including those honored as trustee chairs — are the cornerstone of �����’s academic excellence and essential to achieving our vision as Florida’s Premier Engineering and Technology University,” �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright says. “Dr. Ahmed’s bold work is inventing the future of the aerospace and defense industries, inspiring future innovators and generating impact that will be felt for generations.”

Ahmed heads the �鶹ӳ����ý Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion, which opened last fall to develop technology and innovation aimed at enhancing national defense and fostering new frontiers in space exploration. Beyond advancing faster air and space travel, Ahmed and his team’s research holds promise for enabling lighter, energy-efficient rockets that burn clean fuel and travel farther at a reduced cost.

The U.S. Department of Defense supports Ahmed’s work through multiple research grants, which also offer opportunities for students to prepare for careers in the space industry. Ahmed’s strong record of mentoring and advising encompasses 145 doctoral, master’s and honors undergraduate thesis students who have either graduated or are currently pursuing their degree.

Before joining �鶹ӳ����ý in 2014, Ahmed was an assistant professor at Old Dominion University’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and served as a faculty member at Florida State University. He spent three years as a senior aero/thermo engineer at aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, focusing on military engines and working on advanced engine programs and technologies. Widely published in his field, Ahmed is a fellow of The Combustion Institute, a Department of the Navy Distinguished Faculty Fellow, an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics associate fellow and a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and Office of Naval Research faculty fellow.

Ahmed earned his doctoral and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University at Buffalo and his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the New York State College at Alfred University.

Professors Subith Vasu and Jayanta Kapat are leading a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to establish a consortium that will support students who are interested in earning engineering degrees.

The PARtnership and Training for NNSA Engineering and Relevant Sciences (PARTNERS) consortium will include the University of California, Irvine and the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). Sandia National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory will collaborate and support students and faculty.

The goal of PARTNERS is to provide a training ground and talent pipeline for the next generation of nuclear engineers.

“The U.S. has a nuclear stockpile and the NNSA is responsible for the safe maintenance and modernization of that stockpile,” Vasu says. “This particular opportunity allows us to conduct research and train students. The hope is that, after graduation, these students will get a job offer from the NNSA or related industires.”

This is the second NNSA consortium that �鶹ӳ����ý has joined under Vasu’s leadership. In 2023, the university entered a $25-million, national consortium on nuclear forensics that was directed by the University of Florida.

Justin Urso ’15 ’22PhD, a co-principal investigator (PI) on the grant, says this new consortium, led by �鶹ӳ����ý this time, will augment the work already completed by the group of universities and national labs. On the research side, students and faculty will continue to work on projects that can predict and assess the damage from nuclear events and assist with nuclear forensics.

Students will have the opportunity to work on these projects, but they also have the chance to intern at one of the national labs in the consortium. They will be paired with a mentor and will continue to develop their research skills and train for a career in nuclear engineering under their guidance.

“The current nuclear engineering workforce is retiring but also the world is changing,” Vasu says. “The U.S. is the world police, and we need to make sure that nuclear weapons are only with responsible countries. The threats against the U.S. are also changing. Our enemies have newer, more sophisticated weapons.”

About NNSA

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semiautonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy that protects our nation by designing and delivering a safe, secure, reliable and effective U.S. nuclear stockpile; forging solutions that enable global security and stability through nonproliferation, counterproliferation, and emergency response; providing nuclear propulsion to power a global U.S. Navy; and leveraging transformative technologies to address emerging challenges.

About the Researchers

Vasu received his doctorate in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and joined �����’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2012. He is a member of �����’s Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research and is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Vasu is a recipient of DARPA’s Director’s Fellowship, DARPA Young Faculty award, the Young Investigator grant from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, American Chemical Society’s Doctoral New Investigator, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Dilip Ballal Early Career award, and the Society of Automotive Engineers SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational award. He has received many of the highest honors at �鶹ӳ����ý including the �鶹ӳ����ý Luminary, Trustee Chair Professor and Reach for the Stars awards. Several of his former students are employed by the NNSA, aerospace, energy and defense entities.

Kapat is a Pegasus Professor and the director of the Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research. The most significant impact of Kapat’s work stems from his vision for CATER. He brought 10 core faculty members with multidisciplinary capabilities together to solve some of the most complex research problems in turbomachinery for power generation, aviation and space propulsion. Through CATER, Kapat has facilitated graduate-level research and degrees and has established excellent success rates for internship and job placement of students at all levels. Because of the international reputation of CATER, high-caliber students from Brazil, France, Germany and India now come to �鶹ӳ����ý.

Urso is a research assistant professor at CATER. He earned his bachelor’s from �鶹ӳ����ý in 2015 and completed his doctoral degree at �鶹ӳ����ý in 2022 as a Graduate Dean’s Fellowship Recipient under Vasu.  He has over 30  publications and has been involved in mentoring efforts targeting undergraduate and  K-12 students in STEM.

�鶹ӳ����ý is No. 1 in Florida and among the top 5% nationally for computer and information sciences expenditures. The university also ranks in the top five in Florida for research backed by several national departments, including:

• No. 2 for NASA funding in Florida — and top 7% nationally (Up from 9% last year)
• No. 2 for Department of Defense funding in Florida — and top 11% nationally(Up from 15% last year)
• No. 2 for Department of Energy (DOE) funding in Florida — and in the top 12% nationally(Up from 20% last year)

Over the year, �����’s projects were tied to several agencies and scientific disciplines:

Computer and Information Sciences

�鶹ӳ����ý is first in Florida and among the top 5% nationally
�鶹ӳ����ý is one of three universities that are part of a three-year $927,203 grant for advancing future quantum information science (QIS) education by using identifying and addressing misconceptions related to it. Assistant Professor of Computer Science Ryan McMahan is the lead principal investigator for the project and providing an iterative development of QubitVR, a quantum-education VR application. These efforts include the machine-learning-based intelligent tutoring versions of the application, conducting the lab-based studies and evaluating QubitVR through an undergraduate QIS course.

Engineering

�鶹ӳ����ý is first in Florida and among the top 14% nationally for aerospace engineering expenditures
�鶹ӳ����ý is also third in Florida and among the top 13% nationally for mechanical engineering expenditures
�鶹ӳ����ý Pegasus Professor Jayanta Kapat and researchers Marcel Otto and Ladislav Vesely have invented a way to cost-efficiently convert excess renewable energy to hydrogen and oxygen and store it long-term — days, weeks or even months. Later, when the energy is needed, it’s reconverted and added to the electrical grid. That on-demand capability enables power companies to meet and balance the energy needs of a community not just from day to day, but from season to season.

Physical Sciences

�鶹ӳ����ý is second in Florida and among the top 7% nationally
Charles Schambeau ’18PhD, an assistant scientist with �����’s Florida Space Institute, is working on a new, NASA-funded project that will gather the most comprehensive collection of data on active centaurs and distantly-active Jupiter-family comets to date. The work will inform research into the origins of the solar system, as these bodies contain materials from the dawn of its formation.

Physics

�鶹ӳ����ý is second in Florida and among the top 4% nationally
Instead of pigment-based colored paint, which requires artificially synthesized molecules, Debashis Chanda, a professor in �����’s NanoScience Technology Center, has developed an alternative way to produce colored paint that is more natural, environmentally friendly and lightweight. Chanda’s interest in structural color and the development of the paint stemmed from the vibrancy of butterflies.

NASA

�鶹ӳ����ý is second in Florida and among the top 7% nationally
�鶹ӳ����ý received funding designed to foster long-term partnerships between NASA and other institutions and to give eligible research projects the chance to pursue larger grants in the future. Research projects include the development of a wireless multimodal sensor that can monitor conditions such as temperature, pressure, acceleration and airflow. Another project is studying the emissions of sustainable aviation fuels, while a third is developing a simulation engine that will allow NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration and researchers around the world to digitally develop and test new artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that manage aircraft and converged network system technologies, including cybersecurity measures that could protect unmanned aerial vehicles from malicious attacks.

Department of Defense

�鶹ӳ����ý is second in Florida and among the top 11% nationally
Kareem Ahmed, a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, received a $450,000 Naval Research Laboratory grant to develop a hypersonic engine that can morph or transform its configuration during flights to optimize performance. Ahmed is also heading a $1.5 million U.S. Department of Defense award to develop high-performance fuels for hypersonic propulsion.

Department of Energy

�鶹ӳ����ý is second in Florida and among the top 12% nationally
�����’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to enhance the current understanding of artificial intelligence reasoning. The project focuses on developing algorithms to create robust multi-modal explanations for foundation, or large, AI models through the exploration of several novel explainable AI methods. The DOE recently awarded $400,000 to fund the project.

�鶹ӳ����ý is one of 16 universities in the U.S. that have formed a consortium on nuclear forensics. The association is supported by a $25 million cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The goal of the consortium is to engage in research that supports the NNSA’s nuclear security and nonproliferation missions while building a next-generation workforce of nuclear scientists, engineers and researchers.

To keep the power grid reliable, �鶹ӳ����ý Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor Like Li is developing a novel energy storage system that can reserve solar energy for future use. The project is supported through a three-year, $3.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office.

Li will work with engineers from Sandia National Laboratories, Oregon State University, the University of Houston and Redoxblox, a startup that specializes in low emission energy storage units. Together, they will develop a thermochemical energy storage (TCES) system, which uses chemical reactions to either absorb or release heat for the respective charging and discharging steps.

The high temperature heat for the charging step will be from the concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP). It can also be charged by electric furnaces powered by any type of renewable energy such as solar panels or wind power. A TCES system can store a large amount of energy at very high temperatures for less money, making it advantageous. The high temperature heat released during discharging can be used to drive high-efficiency power cycles or as process heat for a wide range of industrial processes.

Li and his team have been using computational modeling and lab-scale reactor testing to design a solar receiver and chemical reactor. Once the parts are fabricated, they will conduct demos at Sandia using sunlight and a solar furnace.

“These demos are important because the technology is new,” Li says. “Most TCES reactors are at lab scales, our goal is to demonstrate an integrated TCES system coupled with CSP under real conditions.”

The demos are also important to the postdocs and graduate students in Li’s lab, who will have the opportunity to travel to Sandia to assist with the testing. He says this is a great chance for them to work with industry professionals, gain research experience and potentially find future job opportunities.

The work can also benefit companies in Orlando that have a vested interested in thermal energy storage, such as Siemens or Duke Energy.

“Now is a crucial time in history to redefine a cost-effective energy storage system to achieve energy decarbonization,” Li says. “If we can demonstrate that capability, we can apply our research and demos and attract attention that can lead to fruitful collaborations in the future, especially when we start to scale up those energy storage systems.”

About the Researcher

Li joined �鶹ӳ����ý as an associate professor in 2023. He is a member of the �鶹ӳ����ý Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research, and he leads the Thermal Energy Storage and Decarbonization Lab, which focuses on advanced energy storage technologies. Li previously worked in the mechanical engineering department at Mississippi State University and earned his doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida. His work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Tennessee Valley Authority and Duke Energy.

However, an environmentally friendly solution may emerge within the next decade with the help of a �鶹ӳ����ý researcher.

Engineering Professor Subith Vasu is working with commercial truck manufacturer PACCAR, owner of the Peterbilt and Kenworth brands, to create a hydrogen-based combustion engine for heavy-duty vehicles. The project is funded through a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and is the agency’s first effort to develop hydrogen combustion engines for commercial trucks.

“We’re fortunate to be part of this project,” Vasu says. “It’s a very prestigious effort for �鶹ӳ����ý, to be part of this project that’s highly relevant in the decarbonization of transportation efforts around the globe. It will also be a great opportunity for students to get involved with an industry-funded project.”

The Demand for Hydrogen

For decades, diesel has been the fuel of choice for large commercial vehicles. But in recent years, the government has pushed for a cleaner alternative. In 2021, President Biden appropriated $62 billion to the DoE, including $9.5 billion for clean hydrogen solutions as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Over this past year, the Environmental Protection Agency also tightened its NOx emissions standards for heavy-duty commercial vehicles beginning with 2027 model year equipment.

While Tesla has developed a semi-truck that runs on electric motors, Vasu says there are some limits to the weight it holds and the distance it can travel.

“Tesla is developing electric supercars and semi-trucks, but there are limits to the batteries,” Vasu says. “They’re fine for driving down to the nearest town but driving from Seattle to Miami, you need significant battery power, also you don’t have time to wait until it is fully charged since most of these freightliners are under time pressure.”

Building a Better Engine

Hydrogen can solve the problem of a longer-lasting battery, but PACCAR currently has more questions than answers. How will hydrogen behave in the extreme temperature and pressure of an engine? Under what conditions will it ignite? Alternatively, what conditions will prevent ignition?

Vasu and his team of researchers will find these answers through experiments run in their state-of-the-art shock tube. The data collected will be used to create computational models to share with PACCAR.

Vasu received his doctorate in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and joined �����’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2012. He is a member of �����’s Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research and is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Vasu is a recipient of DARPA’s Director’s Fellowship, DARPA Young Faculty Award, the Young Investigator grant from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, American Chemical Society’s Doctoral New Investigator, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Dilip Ballal Early Career award, and the Society of Automotive Engineers SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational award. He has received many of the highest honors at �鶹ӳ����ý, including the �鶹ӳ����ý Luminary and Reach for the Stars awards.

�鶹ӳ����ý and the Corridor launched the program to advance technology commercialization by strengthening the relationship between academic research and its real-world applications. The Industry Innovation Program provides critical funding for research led by expert faculty and students, addresses specific business challenges presented by an industry partner and encourages startups to translate technology in support of the industry partner’s economic development goals.

Duke Energy, a Fortune 150 company serving 8.4 million customers in six states, is the Industry Innovation Program’s first corporate sponsor providing $250,000 to facilitate research activities that will help to achieve its clean energy transition goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Duke Energy is seeking to advance research in Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES) systems and carbon-efficient electricity generation. In a 2-to-1 match, The Florida High Tech Corridor committed another $125,000, bringing the total available funds for sponsored research to $375,000. Additional program funding through the college, department or �鶹ӳ����ý Office of Research may also be provided to each project.

The Industry Innovation Program will enhance economic development through technological research and commercialization, build relationships between research faculty and businesses with a presence in The Corridor’s 23-county region and promote workforce development by requiring student involvement. Upon the conclusion of each research project, industry partners may continue collaborating with researchers to investigate their topics further and eventually purchase or license the technology. Researchers may also spin off startups.

“Duke Energy Florida has prioritized energy efficiency and grid resiliency to meet the needs of its customers today and better Florida’s infrastructure for the future. This collaboration is a meaningful way to advance research and propel commercialization conversations to meet these goals,” says Melissa Seixas, state president of Duke Energy Florida. “We look forward to seeing the outcome of these research projects and the innovative solutions they may bring to this industry.”

Through a competitive process, including white paper reviews by university experts and Duke Energy technology specialists, the Industry Innovation Program selected five research teams to receive its inaugural awards:

• Like Li, Associate Professor
  Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research
  Project: Electrically Heated Thermochemical Energy Storage for Long-Duration Storage and Grid Decarbonization
  This project aims to develop a low-cost, zero-emission, solid-state fuel that enables energy storage for short or long periods. The environmentally sound fuel could be stored until needed to provide low-cost, high-temperature heat for the power block. The goal is to develop this technology for commercial use, helping to support clean energy and improve the reliability of the power grid.

• Manjunath Matam, Assistant Professor
  Florida Solar Energy Center
  Project: A Novel MAZE Connection Technique for Optimal Performance Floating Solar PV System
  Floating solar panel systems, which generate renewable energy on water, often lose efficiency due to dirt buildup. To address this issue, the team is testing a new wiring technique called the “MAZE connection” that improves performance under these conditions, making the systems more reliable and financially sustainable.

• Wei Sun, Associate Professor
  Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  Project: LESS-FUEL: Long-duration Energy Storage Systems for Florida Utilities toward Emission eLimination
  This research evaluates LDES systems to strengthen Florida’s power grid by storing energy for over 100 hours, ensuring reliability and resilience during demand fluctuations and extreme weather events. By assessing the viability of different LDES technologies, it aims to provide utilities with the tools to integrate these systems, supporting Florida’s transition to 100% renewable energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

• Yifan Wang, Assistant Professor
  Florida Solar Energy Center
  Project: Optimal Design and Integration of Hydrogen Energy System with Solar and Peaker Plants
  To support a clean energy transition and reduce emissions, this project will explore integrating hydrogen energy storage with solar power and peaker plants, a type of power station that operates primarily during times of peak electricity demand. By using solar-powered electrolysis to produce green hydrogen, the system would provide long-duration energy storage and dispatchable power, helping to balance grid fluctuations. This project also will develop a dynamic model and an optimization framework to identify cost-effective strategies for designing and operating this type of integrated system.

• Marcel Otto, Assistant Professor
  Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research
  Project: Long-duration Thermal Energy Storage with Ultra-efficient Molten Salt and Ceramic Particles to sCO2 Heat Transfer
  This project is creating a system that stores excess electricity as heat using molten salt and ceramic materials, which can later be turned back into electricity when needed. It uses supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) to improve efficiency and reduce costs compared to traditional methods. This technology could make the power grid more stable and reliable by storing energy for hours or even days, which is especially helpful in places like Florida that rely on renewable energy. With this advancement, clean, renewable solar energy can be available even when the sun does not shine.

“At The Corridor, we like to say that ‘tech for tech’s sake misses the point.’ Our strategic focus is on technology and research development for the betterment of our regional community, and this new program allows us to do exactly that,” says Paul Sohl, CEO of The Corridor. “The Industry Innovation Program is an exciting step forward, bringing the expertise of our �鶹ӳ����ý researchers together with industry partners who are addressing some of the greatest challenges facing our region, our nation and the world. It is a powerful combination.”

�����’s Vice President for Research and Innovation Winston Schoenfeld says the partnership and the projects it supports are examples of the many ways the university’s research capabilities can create lasting, far-reaching impact.

“�鶹ӳ����ý is honored to collaborate with the Florida High Tech Corridor and Duke Energy to provide this invaluable opportunity to our innovative faculty and student researchers,” Schoenfeld says. “Partnering with industry leaders to solve real-world challenges not only ensures �鶹ӳ����ý research leads to advancements that have societal impact, but also promotes an educational ecosystem that provides practical training and skill sets to best prepare students for the workforce.”

Founded in 1963 with the mission to provide talent for Central Florida and the growing U.S. space program, the university’s extensive involvement in space research and education not only drives innovations in space technology but also prepares the next generation of leaders in the field.

With more than 40 active NASA projects totaling more than $67 million in funding, �鶹ӳ����ý continues to push the frontiers of space research, and its contributions promise to help shape the future of humanity’s presence in the cosmos.

�����’s cutting-edge areas of space expertise include:

Space Medicine

�����’s College of Medicine is pioneering new frontiers in aerospace medicine, positioning itself as a leader in space health research and education. Spearheaded by initiatives to create an interdisciplinary curriculum, �鶹ӳ����ý is integrating expertise from engineering, medicine and nursing to address the unique health challenges of space exploration.

The college is building on existing research in space health, including innovative studies on the effects of microgravity on bone health, which could lead to improved protection for astronauts. Collaborations across disciplines, such as testing therapeutics for radiation protection and developing antimicrobial solutions for space station environments, highlight �����’s commitment to advancing astronaut health and shaping the future of space medicine.

Space Propulsion and Power

�鶹ӳ����ý is advancing space propulsion with groundbreaking research that could make space travel more efficient and viable for future missions. Researchers are developing innovative hypersonic propulsion systems, such as rotating detonation rocket engines, which harness high-speed detonations to increase propulsion efficiency and reduce fuel consumption — an advancement that could significantly lower costs and emissions associated with space travel, creating new commercial opportunities in the industry. �鶹ӳ����ý is taking its hypersonics research even further with its recently launched Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion — the HyperSpace Center.

Additionally, �鶹ӳ����ý teams are exploring novel power systems for spacecraft venturing far from the sun, where solar energy becomes impractical. With funding from NASA, researchers are creating storable chemical heat sources capable of providing essential heat and power in extreme environments, from the icy surfaces of distant moons to the intense heat of Venus.

Space Technology and Engineering

�鶹ӳ����ý is forging the future of space technology with innovations that push the boundaries of lunar and deep space exploration. Through advancements in lunar resource utilization, �鶹ӳ����ý has developed methods to efficiently extract ice from lunar soil so that it can be transformed into vital resources like water and rocket fuel, while new techniques for processing lunar soil drastically reduce construction costs for infrastructure such as landing pads.

�鶹ӳ����ý researchers are also pioneering 3D-printed bricks made from lunar regolith that withstand extreme space conditions, setting the foundation for resilient off-world habitats. Lunar regolith is the loose dust, rocks and materials that cover the moon’s surface.

�����’s Exolith Lab, part of the , continues to lead in space hardware testing, advancing resource extraction and lunar construction technologies. Meanwhile, FSI’s CubeSat program is opening new doors in space exploration with compact, affordable satellites that give students and researchers access to microgravity and beyond.

Space Commercialization

�鶹ӳ����ý’s new space commercialization program — led by , College of Business professor of practice and associate provost for space commercialization and strategy — positions the university as a leader in space-related business education.

Autry will guide the college’s efforts to deliver Executive and MBA programs in space commercialization, driving curriculum development and establishing space-focused programs that equip students to lead in the growing commercial space industry.

In addition to the space commercialization program, Autry will be working with external stakeholders, including NASA, the U.S. Space Force and commercial firms like Blue Origin, SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, to develop opportunities to advance mutual interests in space.

This includes working with Kennedy Space Center to lead a State University System partnership with the state of Florida to develop the necessary talent to maintain and expand Florida’s leadership in space exploration and commercialization.

Autry will also be leading �����’s effort to develop and execute a roadmap for the university’s SpaceU brand through targeted investments in talent and facilities.

Space Domain Awareness

�鶹ӳ����ý is advancing space domain awareness research to protect critical assets in orbit by developing sophisticated algorithms for tracking and predicting the movement of objects such as satellites and asteroids, so they don’t collide with spacecraft. Under the guidance of aerospace engineering expert Tarek Elgohary, �鶹ӳ����ý researchers are creating a computational framework to rapidly and accurately track space objects in real time. This initiative is backed by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research Dynamic Data and Information Process Program.

�鶹ӳ����ý is also addressing the growing issue of orbital debris through a NASA-funded study that includes researchers from �����’s FSI and . This project seeks to increase public awareness and support for managing space debris, a hazard to satellites and potential space tourism ventures.

Workforce Development

�鶹ӳ����ý is propelling students toward dynamic careers in the space industry with hands-on programs and sought-after internship opportunities. Through the new engineering graduate certificate in electronic parts engineering, developed in collaboration with NASA, students are gaining essential skills in testing and evaluating space-ready electronic components — a key advantage for aspiring space professionals.

Additionally, �鶹ӳ����ý students can benefit from hands-on internships at Kennedy Space Center, where they gain real-world experience in various fields, from engineering to project management.

At the , students gain direct experience in microgravity research and robotics. The center embodies �����’s commitment to democratizing space access, offering pathways for students from all backgrounds to participate in and contribute to the growing space industry.

FSI’s CubeSat program further immerses students in satellite design and operation, offering direct involvement in active space missions.

Planetary Science

�鶹ӳ����ý’s planetary science program is driving breakthroughs in space exploration with projects spanning the moon, Mars and beyond. The NASA-funded Lunar-VISE mission, led by �鶹ӳ����ý, will explore the Gruithuisen domes on the far side of the moon to understand their volcanic origins, potentially unlocking insights crucial for future space exploration.

Complementing this, �鶹ӳ����ý researchers are contributing to NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer mission, which will map water ice deposits on the moon — an essential resource for sustained stays in space. On another front, �鶹ӳ����ý scientists are studying dust behavior in microgravity through experiments that flew on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, potentially leading to strategies for mitigating lunar dust, a challenge for electronics and equipment on future missions.

Expanding its reach beyond the moon, �����’s planetary science research involves asteroid studies, including the high-profile OSIRIS-REx mission to asteroid Bennu and examining seismic wave propagation in simulated asteroid materials to understand asteroid evolution and early planetary formation. �鶹ӳ����ý is also home to the , a node of NASA’s Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, which facilitates NASA’s exploration of deep space by focusing its goals at the intersection of surface science and surface exploration of rocky, atmosphereless bodies.

Additionally, �鶹ӳ����ý researchers are studying trans-Neptunian objects and using the James Webb Space Telescope to explore the solar system’s outer reaches, analyzing ancient ices to uncover clues about the solar system’s history, while also investigating exoplanets to advance our understanding of other planets and to search for life beyond Earth.

In parallel, �鶹ӳ����ý researchers are also advancing bold ideas for terraforming Mars through nanoparticle dispersion to create warming effect, making the Red Planet potentially more habitable.

�鶹ӳ����ý researchers have also contributed their expertise to multiple high-profile NASA missions, including Cassini, Mars Pathfinder, Mars Curiosity, and New Horizons.

Advancing Astrophotonics, History and Policy

�����’s space research spans pioneering astrophotonics technology, studies in space history and critical analyses in space policy, each offering unique insights into the universe. The within CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics, is pushing the boundaries of photonics and astronomy, using tools like photonic lanterns, fiber optics, and hyperspectral imaging to detect cosmic phenomena and address profound questions about dark energy.

Meanwhile, delves into space history, exploring the cultural and scientific impacts of milestones like the Apollo missions and the Space Shuttle program, helping illuminate humanity’s journey into space.

The contributes to this comprehensive approach with its broad studies of space policy, both domestically and internationally, including examining military space policy and rising space powers. The work involves studying space law, international agreements, and policy frameworks that guide space activities, which is essential for addressing the governance and strategic planning needed for space exploration and utilization.

Pioneering Tomorrow’s Space Exploration

�鶹ӳ����ý is pushing the frontiers of space research and education, tackling today’s challenges while preparing for the demands of future space missions. As the new space race continues, �����’s forward-thinking approach will continue to drive progress, inspire new possibilities and expand humanity’s reach into the universe.

New appointee Subith Vasu and reappointee Alain Kassab are professors in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS). They are among of �鶹ӳ����ý faculty members to receive the five-year trustee chair appointments, which were created in 2003 to help retain and attract exceptional faculty. The designation carries an annual stipend for honorees to advance their scholarship, part of which can be used as a salary supplement.

Deans nominate  for the appointments. A trustee chair review committee evaluates them, and they are affirmed by �����’s president and provost to take effect in August.

Vasu and Kassab share a passion for teaching and promoting student success, and they have an array of impressive accomplishments as scholars and researchers.

Vasu joined the university in 2012 and is an expert in optical diagnostics and spectroscopy for energy and aerospace. His research group at �鶹ӳ����ý has produced more than 500 articles for journals and conferences about using diagnostic sensors for various applications, including propulsion, power generation, transportation and spacecraft air quality monitoring. His various national and international early career awards include the 2020 U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Director’s Fellowship, 2018 DARPA Young Faculty Award and the 2017 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Dilip R. Ballal Early Career Award, an international award given to only one person each year. His �鶹ӳ����ý honors include earning a Reach for the Stars Award, which recognizes highly successful research and creative activity by early-career professionals, and a �鶹ӳ����ý Luminary award.

In nominating him for the trustee chair appointment, CECS Dean Michael Georgiopoulos described Vasu as “among the top scholars in the U.S. and the world” who plays a critical role in the college’s core energy and propulsion research.

“His work on understanding the fundamentals of chemical weapon simulants destruction using shock tubes has brought international attention to �鶹ӳ����ý,” Georgiopoulos said. “The work was featured in a United Nation’s documentary, Combustion Man. This is a rare and once-in-a-lifetime achievement for all scientists and engineers.”

Kassab joined �鶹ӳ����ý in 1991 and directs the biomedical engineering program at �����’s . He has long distinguished the university nationally and internationally through research, partnerships and the advancement of the mechanical and aerospace engineering curriculum. For instance, his work on treatment planning for congenital heart disease has drawn national attention and the support of the American Heart Association and other research foundations. His research engages several disciplines and includes computational methods in heat transfer and fluid flow, inverse problems, boundary element, meshless methods and in bioengineering, generating more than 400 scientific publications. Kassab is a Pegasus Professor, the highest designation a faculty member can earn at �鶹ӳ����ý, and his lengthy list of honors includes being elected a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

In nominating Kassab for reappointment, Georgiopoulos wrote: “Dr. Kassab is a highly productive researcher with an international reputation in computational methods in heat transfer, fluid flow and bioengineering. He has made highly significant and consistent contributions to �鶹ӳ����ý developing and growing academic programs. He is an outstanding educator in his own right. In my opinion, he has achieved the extraordinary levels of accomplishments in teaching, research and service expected of a �鶹ӳ����ý Trustee Chair.”

Both appointments align with �����’s strategic plan goals of retaining and recruiting outstanding faculty.