OU Engineering

Michele Galizia, an assistant professor in the Gallogly College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma, has received a 2021 National Science Foundation Early CAREER Development grant to continue his research focusing on membrane technology, a technique that separates molecules from mixtures by size and shape. About 10% of global energy consumption is devoted to these chemical separations and enhancing the energy efficiency of industrial separations is crucial to decreasing costs and controlling environmental pollution. The five-year grant – CAREER: Engineering polymers cohesive energy density and free volume for highly selective organic separations – begins Sept. 1 and has a  total anticipated award amount of $543,641. “This project will combine experimental and computational approaches to discover a new class of materials prepared by properly manipulating the structure of polymer membranes ,” Galizia said. “I am thankf...

OU researcher Stefan Wilhelm recently received a prestigious Faculty Early Career Development Program Award from the National Science Foundation. The NSF awarded Wilhelm a $761,727 CAREER award to continue his research in nanotechnology, which assists in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer. Wilhelm’s work focuses on individual nanoparticles – which are about 1,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair – and how they interact with the body’s cells. “I’m so pleased to get this kind of recognition and financial support from the National Science Foundation,” said Wilhelm, who joined the OU faculty in 2017. “The award not only allows me to continue my research to help design safer and more effective nanoparticles to diagnose and treat diseases, but also will help increase the number of Native American students in college STEM programs.” Beyond research, the grant will fund Wilhelm’s BE4NANO – Bionanotechnology Engagement for Native Americans in Oklahoma – an out...

Numerous faculty from the Gallogly College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma received honors for their outstanding work during the 2021 OU Faculty Tribute. They are: Janet Allen ,  a professor in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, was presented with the Vice President for Research and Partnerships Award for Excellence in Applied Research and Engineering . She is known for her work in decision-based design and formulating problems and modeling uncertainty. Rong Gan , a professor in the School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, received the George Lynn Cross Research Professorship, the highest research and creative activity honor given by OU to a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership over a period of years in his or her field of learning or creative activity. She is a researcher and scholar in ear biomechanics for sound and blast overpressure transmission, computational modeling of the ear and implantable hearing devices. Jes...

An accomplished engineering professor at the University of Oklahoma has established an endowed fellowship to help graduate students further their studies in the OU School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering.  The Roger G. Harrison, Jr., Graduate Fellowship will support doctoral students. The $200,000 endowed fellowship will help fund advanced study in research areas such as biopharmaceuticals, nanostructure materials or sustainable energy. “The fellowship continues to enhance the Gallogly College of Engineering’s ability to attract top graduate students,” said Brian Grady, the school’s director. “Since Dr. Harrison’s fellowship is not attached to a grant, it will allow the recipient to embark on more speculative work that might not otherwise be covered financially by a grant.” Harrison, a native of Altus, Oklahoma, joined OU as a chemical engineering professor in 1988. His area of study focuses on the application of biotechnology to solve medical programs. He holds ...