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