OU Engineering

The OU Engineering blog will no longer post news but will continue to serve as an archive of past news articles. To view engineering news, please visit  https://www.ou.edu/coe/news-hub/news . 

The University of Oklahoma Gallogly College of Engineering hosted around 400 students from Oklahoma and Texas Jan. 27th for an invitational Science Olympiad Tournament. The tournament consisted of 23 events classified into four event types: core knowledge, build, laboratory/hands-on and hybrid.  A sampling of event titles and descriptions follow: Anatomy & Physiology: Participants were assessed on their understanding of the anatomy and physiology for the human Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, and Excretory systems.  Chemistry Lab: Teams completed tasks and answered a series of questions involving the scientific processes of chemistry focused in the areas of Periodicity and Equilibrium.  Geologic Mapping: Teams demonstrated understanding in the construction and use of topographic maps, geologic maps, and cross sections, and their use in forming interpretations regarding subsurface structures and past depositional environments on Earth and other planetary bodies. Flight: Pri...

In early January, six students from Sooners Without Borders at the University of Oklahoma headed to Des Moines, Iowa, teaming up with Habitat for Humanity. Their goal: construct an accessibility ramp for a local family. Their mission was part of Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge program, providing year-round volunteer opportunities for college students. The students, all from the Gallogly College of Engineering at OU, embraced the challenge. Formerly Engineers Without Borders, Sooners Without Borders had changed its name to be more inclusive of all majors at OU, says Lisa Morales, the group's staff adviser. “A lot of projects used to focus on clean water and students had the opportunity to travel abroad. Once Covid happened, we had to shift the focus of Sooner Without Borders,” Morales said.  In Des Moines, the project expanded beyond the ramp, involving tasks like installing kitchen cabinets and flooring for a new home. Morales says she was impressed with the student’s adeptness with...

Six OU Engineering students have been selected as recipients of the Fall 2023 Engineering Dissertation Award. The $5,000 award, designed to foster excellence among doctoral students, supports scholars in the final stages of their Ph.D. studies. The awards committee, led by Associate Dean for Research Zahed Siddique, Ph.D., underscores the award’s significance for scholars near their graduation. Launched in 2018, the Engineering Dissertation Award, supported by the Thomas Ira Brown Jr. Endowed Scholarship, honors Brown's contributions to the electronic control of industrial gas turbines. Commemorating his legacy, the award aims to continue his impactful work. Brown earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from OU in 1950. Fall 2023 recipients are: Alexandra Beattie, Data Science and Analytics, Recommended by Dean Hougen Title: "Sensitive Attribute Association Bias in Latent Factor Recommendation Algorithms: Theory and in Practice" Abstract: This dissertatio...

The OU Gallogly College of Engineering is proud to celebrate Shivakumar Raman, professor and director of the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, who was featured on the January cover of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers ISE Magazine. In an interview conducted for the segment titled, “What’s Your Story?”, Raman reflected on his 35-year career at OU, noting trends in manufacturing, skills ISE graduates need to improve their career opportunities and the benefits of affiliation with IISE. Raman earned his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas, Arlington and his doctorate in industrial engineering from Pennsylvania State University. He has received 50 external grants and contracts totaling $23 million and is co-author of 180 technical documents including 85 journal articles and 10 book chapters. He has taught more than 5,000 students studying industrial and systems, and aerospace and mechanical engineering and was named an IISE Fell...

At the University of Oklahoma, a transformative course called Pathways to Engineering Thinking is leaving a mark on OU students and the community. In the first-year engineering course, over 800 students across 16 sections collaborated to tackle real-world challenges presented by community partners. Their projects ranged from developing prosthetic limbs for injured animals to creating innovative solutions for community gardens and zoos. The course aims to guide students through the engineering design process, emphasizing collaborative teamwork and problem-solving skills.  This semester’s projects reached many areas of the community. Partnerships with the OU Food Pantry, OU Community Garden, Oklahoma City Zoo, OU Engineering K-12 Outreach, a local dog rescue and the City of Norman provided students with real-world challenges to address. Each team delved into issues presented by the partners, working toward delivering functional design solutions by the semester’s end. The heart of the...

The Gallogly College of Engineering is pleased to announce the appointment of Charles Nicholson as the new director of the Data Science and Analytics Institute. Nicholson, associate professor in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, brings a wealth of experience and expertise in systems engineering and data science to this leadership role. Nicholson spent over a decade working in industry in the field of data science and analytics before joining academia. During this time, he led multiple efforts and various teams in designing a broad array of analytics solutions for multiple corporations across the nation and internationally.  He earned his Ph.D. in Operations Research from Southern Methodist University and joined OU in 2013.  His research focuses on optimization modeling and machine-learning to enhance communities (e.g., cities, towns) to withstand and recover from disruptive events such as natural hazards and public health threats. In addition to serving the Sch...

Optica, an international association in optics and photonics, recently announced the election of University of Oklahoma engineering professor Javier Jo, Ph.D. , as a Fellow member.  Jo, a faculty member in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was honored for his contributions to integrating optical imaging and artificial intelligence for biomedical applications. His research focuses on developing optical sensing and imaging technologies to understand pathophysiological mechanisms in human diseases and improve their clinical management. “Dr. Jo’s groundbreaking research, which combines optical imaging and artificial intelligence, has significantly advanced our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying human diseases. This well-deserved recognition from such a prestigious association reflects the significance of these contributions,” said J.R. Cruz, Ph.D., director of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. At OU, Jo’s research program add...

Inspired by the April 2015 challenge by Jim Gallogly, the college's namesake, to pursue excellence, the Pursuit of Excellence Award honors those who regularly and selflessly serve the college with excellence in all they do. Presented at the fall Board of Advisors meeting, the awards are among the highest recognition given by the college. In addition to a cash award, recipients receive a certificate of distinction. Introducing the class of 2023 Pursuit of Excellence Award recipients: Graduate Student Award - Buket Cilali Buket Cilali is pursuing a doctoral degree in industrial and systems engineering. She has served as a teaching assistant and has contributed to the research enterprise through contributions that include publishing a book chapter, a conference paper and a journal paper. Students appreciate her willingness to help. She serves the OU student chapter of INFORMS and the organizing committee of the international organization Forecasting for Social Good. Staff Award – Aaro...

Cytovance Biologics, Wheeler Bio and the Gallogly College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma recently joined forces in a collaborative panel discussion focused on the field of bioprocessing. Experts in the bioprocessing industry highlighted the array of employment prospects within the sector. They also underscored the critical role played by OU Engineering in preparing students for success in bioprocessing, largely attributed to the Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regions Challenge Grant.  The discussion exemplifies the collaborative bridge between academia and industry, encouraging knowledge exchange and preparing students for promising careers in bioprocessing, says Daniel Baker, project manager for the OU Bioprocessing Core Facility which is expected to open in 2024.  OU Engineering Dean John Klier, Ph.D., agrees adding that OU Engineering is thrilled to offer this type of opportunity to OU students. “Biologics, medications derived from bio...

Marmar Moussa, Ph.D., an assistant computer science professor at the University of Oklahoma, has secured an award of nearly $1 million from the National Institutes of Health to advance her work in computational genomics.  The study, titled “Computational approaches to the mechanistic elucidation of the serrated pathway of human colon carcinogenesis,” aims to unravel the mechanisms driving the serrated pathway of human colon carcinogenesis using computational methods that help explain how colon cancer develops. “This research is essential due to the intricacies of colon cancer initiation. Colon cancer often originates through various mechanisms, including mutations and genetic changes that lead to abnormal lesions known as precursor lesions,” Moussa said. “Some of these lesions, such as hyperplastic polyps, are well understood and pose minimal risk. However, others, like serrated lesions, remain less understood and require in-depth investigation.” Serrated lesions are characterized ...

In collaboration, the University of Oklahoma has taken the lead in a Department of Energy project, with support from Kansas State University, to pioneer a new generation of reversible electrochemical cells. The cells have the potential to revolutionize energy storage by integrating seamlessly with fossil fuel assets. The project’s objective was to conduct an extensive study aimed at developing an energy storage technology capable of efficiently converting carbon dioxide emissions captured from fossil fuel assets into valuable fuels, such as methane, says Pejman Kazempoor, Ph.D., a professor in the OU School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Gallogly College of Engineering, who leads OU’s contribution to the project.  “One of the standout features of this reversible electrochemical technology is its ability to solve existing problems in the energy storage landscape, particularly its exceptionally high round-trip efficiency and durability. Unlike conventional energy storage te...

University of Oklahoma engineering researcher Reza Foudazi, Ph.D., has been selected to receive a $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense under the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or DEPSCoR. The highly competitive grant was awarded to only 28 academic teams nationwide.  An associate professor in the School of Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, Foudazi’s research centers on the exploration of electrochemical energy storage systems that incorporate multivalent ions. He says the systems are of interest due to their potential for higher energy density when compared to conventional lithium-based systems.  “We are dedicated to advancing the field of electrochemical energy storage. The primary goal of this research is to understand the fundamental design principles behind nanostructured thermoresponsive electrolytes for multivalent ions,” Foudazi said.  Foudazi's team will produce ionogel electrolytes by using b...

OU Engineering has welcomed 14 new faculty members for the 2023-24 academic year. This marks a milestone in the college's growth journey, with faculty numbers increasing from just over 100 in 2017 to 175 in 2023. OU Engineering is committed to expanding its faculty ranks, aiming for over 200 faculty members by the 2025-26 academic year, says OU Engineering Dean John Klier. To achieve this goal, the college has initiated more than 20 faculty searches. The State of Oklahoma continues to acknowledge the need for more engineers. They recently responded to OU Engineering’s request for additional recurring funding. The funding will play a crucial role in offering undergraduate student tuition waivers, supporting graduate students and helping recruit new faculty and staff. These positions will be phased in over the next three years. "OU Engineering extends its gratitude for the ongoing support from the State of Oklahoma as it continues to address the growing demand for engineers,...

From left, Lucia Torres, OU Engineering dean John Klier and Hamilton Young.   Two University of Oklahoma engineering students, Hamilton Young and Lucia Torres, have been recognized by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation as part of the Astronaut Scholars program during Innovators Week and Gala held from Aug. 16-19 in Orlando, Florida. The Astronaut Scholarship is a highly competitive award granted to undergraduate students nationwide pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. This year, Young and Torres were among 68 students from 46 different universities selected for the recognition. “Hamilton Young and Lucia Torres exemplify the caliber of students we are proud to have at OU Engineering. Their selection as Astronaut Scholars shows their dedication and commitment to advancing the field of engineering. We are thrilled to see them recognized on a national stage and look forward to witnessing their contributions to the world of STEM,” said John Kl...

The Gallogly College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma concluded its annual Summer Bridge Program on Aug. 4. The four-week on-campus initiative, designed for incoming freshman students with an interest in engineering, has seen a record-breaking number of participants this year. The program helps prepare students for the academic rigors of engineering coursework. It offers course credit, team-building exercises and developmental seminars. Students take classes such as calculus and Introduction to engineering. They also participate in a team-based engineering design project, providing them with hands-on experience and a glimpse into their first semester of college. “We are incredibly proud of all the participants and their achievements at Summer Bridge,” said Brandon Abbott, the program’s director. “This program not only provides academic preparation but also fosters a sense of community and engineering identity. We look forward to continuing to support and empower future engi...

Eight students hailing from the Gallogly College of Engineering have been chosen as recipients of the summer 2023 Engineering Dissertation Award. The $5,000 award, designed to foster excellence among doctoral students, supports scholars in the final stages of their Ph.D. studies. The awards committee, led by associate dean for research Zahed Siddique, Ph.D., underscores the award’s significance for scholars near their graduation. Initiated in 2018, the Engineering Dissertation Award is funded by the Thomas Ira Brown Jr. Endowed Scholarship. Remembering Brown’s pioneering work in electronic control of industrial gas turbines, this award perpetuates his legacy. Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1950 from OU. The summer 2023 awardees are: Chris Billings, School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Recommended by Yingtao Liu, Ph.D. Title: “Additive Manufacturing And Synthesis Of Advanced Antibacterial And Sensing Photocurable Polymer Nanocomposites” Abstract...

In recognition of their contributions to the field, two retired professors from the Gallogly College of Engineering have made their way onto the cover of Journal of Surfactants. The featured professors are Jeff Harwell, who served in the School of Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, and Dave Sabatini, who previously served as faculty in the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science. Journal of Surfactants, known for its focus on surface and interfacial phenomena, highlighted the work and impact of the two educators in Volume 26 Issue 3, titled “Special Issue: A Celebrations of Dr. Jeffrey Harwell and Dr. David Sabatini: Leaders, Researchers and Teachers in Applicated Surfactant Formulations.” The special issue was spearheaded by OU Ph.D. alumni Edgar Acosta, now at the University of Toronto, and Javen Weston, at Tulsa University. The recognition comes in the wake of several faculty members from OU Engineering retiring during 2022-2023. The roster of...