OU Engineering

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...

Two robotics teams representing the Gallogly College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma showcased their expertise this summer securing victories at two competitions: the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition and the University Rover Challenge. Sooner Competitive Robotics   clinched both first place overall and first place in their specific category, AutoNav, at the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition held at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, from June 2-5. The team's performance marks their return to the top spot after securing first place in 2021 and finishing second in 2022. The competition witnessed participation from 29 universities across the United States, Canada, India and Japan.  Braden White, a senior in computer engineering from Frisco, Texas, took on the role of team captain, while Jorge Exinia, an alum of OU’s computer engineering program, held the position of president for Sooner Competitive Robotics .  Sooner Competitive Robotics' achi...

Students from the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma secured a second-place finish in the 2023 Coulter College Program presented by the Biomedical Engineering Society and Medtronic on Aug. 3-6 in Minneapolis. The program focuses on empowering young engineers to bridge the gap between cutting-edge biomedical technologies and real-world clinical needs, says Rebecca Scott, Ph.D., an assistant professor who serves as the group’s adviser. Out of a pool of competitive entries, the OU team emerged as one of the standout performers in the 2023 competition receiving the “Best User Insights Award.” For the challenge, they undertook the task of developing a solution to assist clinicians in identifying suitable candidates for pain stimulators, with a broader focus on alleviating chronic pain.  “We are immensely proud of our students and their remarkable achievement,” Scott said. “The recognition underscores OU Engineering’s commitment to preparing student...

From left, Victoria Stevens, Lorene Roberson and Margarita Rodriguez The OU Engineering communications team attended the 2023 Oklahoma College Public Relations Association annual conference in July at the Downstream Casino Resource in Quapaw, Oklahoma.  Victoria Stevens and Margarita Rodriguez received the Grand Award (first place) for web design .  Karen Kelly and Lorene Roberson received the Grand Award for OU Engineer , a monthly e-publication focusing on research. The work placed first in the shoestring category.  Roberson also was awarded an honorable mention for a full-length feature titled "OU Biomedical Engineering Researcher Ready to Transform TBI Surgery." OCPRA received approximately 523 entries from 39 institutions across the state. Entries are judged by a panel of experts in their respective fields who are not OCPRA members. For a complete list of winners and examples of their work, click here .  Kelly, communications director for the Gallogly Coll...

About 80% of Engineering Days 2023 participants hail from towns across Oklahoma. From left, Thomas Cuellar of Oklahoma City, Andrew Bomboy of Choctaw, Ethan Schwartz of Tuttle, and Jackson Mejia of Norman. Photo album here. In response to the demand for engineers, the Gallogly College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma recently welcomed high school students to grow their interest in engineering. Known as Engineering Days, the college hosted over 200 students during an 11-day event in June. Oklahoma is experiencing an urgent need for skilled engineers, with projections indicating that OU Engineering must graduate 900 students annually over the next five years to meet the demand, says Randa Shehab, Ph.D., the college’s senior associate dean. “The importance of engaging students in real-world problem-solving and collaborating with faculty who are actively working on solutions benefits all Oklahomans,” Shehab said. Since its inception in 2015, Engineering Days has been a flagship...