Faculty, staff accolades for February 2013

Jose Garcia, Ph.D., assistant professor of engineering technology at the College of Technology at Kokomo, has received a $5,000 grant to build a hybrid wind power drivetrain simulator. Students will be able to study concepts in mechanics, hydraulics, electronics and control with the simulator. The grant was provided by the National Fluid Power Association.

Brad Harriger, professor of mechanical engineering technology, and Jeff Holewinski, manufacturing engineering technology specialist, attended the AUTOMATE 2013 Show in Chicago. They manned a booth for the College of Technology for four days. AUTOMATE brings together more than 300 exhibitors and draws hundreds of people to see the latest in automation technology.

Bill Hutzel, associate professor of mechanical engineering technology, will be teaching a Back-to-Class session in Naples, Fla., during the President’s Council Keyes-Mollenkopf Weekend.  He was selected to teach based on participant evaluations from the Fall President’s Council Back-to-Class sessions in West Lafayette.

Five College of Technology faculty members were named to the Spring 2013 cohort of IMPACT, a course redesign initiative coordinated through the Center for Instructional Excellence.

  • IT 10400 (Industrial Organization), Edie Schmidt, Ph.D.
  • BCM 10001 (Introduction To Construction), Daphene Koch, Ph.D.
  • CGT 25600 (Human Computer Interface Theory And Design), Mihaela Vorvoreanu, Ph.D.
  • CGT 21500 (Computer Graphics Programming I), David Whittinghill, Ph.D.
  • ECET12000 (Gateway To Electrical Engineering Technology), Grant Richards, Ph.D.

Regena Scott's, Ph.D., IT 23000 (Industrial Supply Chain Management) was part of the Fall 2012 cohort. TECH 12000 (Technology and the Individual) was part of the Summer 2012 cohort, with instructors Pat Connolly; Dawn Laux; Nathan Mentzer, Ph.D., and Koch.

Suranjan Panigrahi, Ph.D., professor of electrical and computer engineering technology, is coordinating a scientific meeting at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) March 3- 6. The project, titled “Multidimensional Technological Innovations for Water-linked Health and Wellness,” is funded by Purdue's Office of the Vice President for Engagement and is a part of the Purdue-India engagement activities. In addition to Panigrahi, the project involves faculty from four other colleges at Purdue and faculty from IIT-KGP. Representatives from UNICEF and other non-governmental organizations will attend the meeting. The goal of the meeting is to initiate future research, education, outreach and entrepreneurship-based activities to address water-related health and wellness issues.

Marcus Rogers, Ph.D. (professor); Samuel Liles, Ph.D. (associate professor); and graduate student Eric Katz, all in the Department of Computer and Information Technology, will host Japanese National Police Agency, High-Tech Crime Technology Division Feb. 27. The Japanese contingent will tour the Cyber Forensics lab and discuss collaborations.

Marcus Rogers, Ph.D., professor of computer and information technology, was elected to the board of the Consortium of Digital Forensics Specialists. He is also co-editor of a recently published book titled Digital Forensics and Cyber Crime.

Marvin Sarapin, Ph.D., professor and head of the Department of Computer Graphics Technology, has been reappointed to the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) Board of Accreditation and is also serving as the University Program chair of the Accreditation Personnel Committee. ATMAE accredits a 179 baccalaureate-level programs in 51 institutions, 330 associate-level programs in 40 institutions, and three master-level programs.

Marvin Sarapin, Ph.D., professor and head of the Department of Computer Graphics Technology, and Mihaela Vorvoreanu, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer graphics technology and technology leadership & innovation, serve as co-editors for the Journal of Technology Studies (JOTS) the referreed scholarly journal of Epsilon Pi Tau (EPT) the Honor Society for the Professions in Technology. JOTS is published on-line by the Virginia Tech Digital Library as manuscripts exit the review pipeline. EPT also publishes an on-paper yearly version.

David Whittinghill, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer graphics technology, is one of five Purdue faculty members selected for a 2013 Service Learning Faculty Development Grant from the Center of Instruction Excellence. The faculty members were nominated by their deans, acknowledging their dedication and commitment to service-learning and contribution to scholarly work. Grant recipients will share the results of their service-learning projects after their completion. Faculty in the news:

  • Bedrich Benes, Ph.D., associate professor of computer graphics technology, and Chien-tsung Lu, Ph.D., associate professor of aviation technology, are two of five Purdue professors chosen for a Faculty Fellowship for Study in a Second Discipline for the 2013-2014 academic year.
  • Eric Dietz, Ph.D., professor of computer and information technology, was interviewed by DesignNews regarding lithium batteries and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
  • Mark French, Ph.D., associate professor of mechanical engineering technology: Ping-Pong balls faster than speed of sound
  • Marcus Rogers, Ph.D., professor of computer and information technology, was quoted in Computerworld Magazine regarding the Newtown, Connecticut shooting.
  • Julia Taylor, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer and information technology: Taylor provides insight on computers and humor