When one thinks of skyscrapers or bridges,images of towering steel beams or cables thattouch the sky come to mind. But, accordingto engineering Professor Poul Lade, the mostimportant element in the construction of suchmodern marvels is something much moremundane — dirt.

For example, if the builders of the LeaningTower of Pisa had been able to consult withLade, they might have picked a more stablespot on which to build the famous landmark.

“How the soil is displaced when a sky-scraper or bridge is constructed is crucial,”says Lade, who is also chair of the Depart-ment of Civil Engineering. “If the weight ofthe concrete is not distributed evenly, then thesoil could shift too much, which would leadto major problems such as collapse or cracksin the foundation or base.” Or, in the case ofthe tower, a building that leans.

Involved in soil research for the last 30years, Lade has made important contributionsto the field that go beyond CUA’s campus. Hedisseminates his findings to the engineeringcommunity by publishing them in scientificjournals or presenting them at conferences,with his students listed as co-authors.

Engineers, impressed with Lade’s ideas,often will contact him to get permission touse the new formulas. In addition, prestigious

firms have hired his students after graduation.The CUA alums then incorporate the resultsof their university experiments into their workon the job site.

The core of Lade’s research lies in the typeof soil underlying the foundation of a bridgeor building and how it can affect the way thatthe weight of the concrete is distributed.Some soil has more voids (open spacebetween soil grains) or is more porous thanothers. Factor in water erosion, shifting of tec-tonic plates or powerful wind patterns, andany soil supporting the foundation could beplaced under tremendous and varying stress,increasing the risk that a concrete block couldshift and throw a structure out of kilter.

To measure the stability of a soil area, engi-neers use a miniature version of a machinecalled a Triaxial Apparatus. The motorized,blender-shaped contraption holds a solid,foot-long cylindrical mass of soil and uses airpressure to squeeze it from the top and sides,gauging how much force the dirt can with-stand before shifting or crumbling. Then,applying a complex mathematical formula

… continued on page 4

Making Home a SaferPlace for the Disabled

Home. For most people it represents a safe havenfrom a stressful world — a place where one canrelax and forget about the day’s problems.

But for many elderly and people with dis-abilities, even a simple fall can transform thehome into an unfriendly, dangerous or evendeadly place. To help make homes safer, BinhTran, associate professor and chair of theDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, isdesigning a monitoring system that will makeexisting and new homes “smarter.”

“We hope to use this technology to monitoractivities and then use that information toimprove a person’s quality of life or determinewhether he or she needs help in maintainingan independent lifestyle,” he says. “In addition,we would be able to predict medical conditionsbefore the onset of serious illness.”

The “ConsumerHome PerformanceMonitoring Kit” —developed by Tran andseveral students in hisHome Care andTelerehabilitationTechnology Center —tracks a person’s dailyactivities in the homeusing sensors, switches, a central transmitterand an in-house computer server. Installed intoexisting electrical outlets and routine appliances,the sensors are connected to the central trans-mitter, which is hooked up to the server.Functioning as a “watchdog,” the serverprocesses the accumulated information.

After it’s customized to a particular floorplan, the kit can track how many times a person enters and leaves a certain room, howoften he or she cooks and how many lights areleft on during the day. Kit users also can havethe system programmed to particular prefer-ences. For example, if a user has had a particu-lar room temperature programmed, the heating system will automatically reach that

… continued on page 5

NewsENGI EERING| FALL 2004 ISSUE |

THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA

Binh Tran

Above: Student Chris Smith and ProfessorPoul Lade adjust equipment for a soil mechanics experiment.

Professor’s Soil ResearchKeeps Buildings on Firm Ground

2

E N G I N EEngineering WelcomesNew FacultyThe Department of Mechanical Engineering welcomed two new faculty members this year:assistant professors John A. Judge, and Zhaoyang(Young) Wang.

John A. Judge began his departmental duties in September 2004 as an assistant professor ofmechanical engineering. Previously he conductedpostdoctoral research at the Naval ResearchLaboratory in Washington D.C., through aresearch associateship award from the NationalResearch Council. He was investigating theoccurrence of disorder-induced vibration localiza-tion in one- and two-dimensional arrays ofmicromechanical resonators.

He received his Ph.D. in May 2002 from theUniversity of Michigan, where he studied local-ization-related phenomena in the vibration ofturbomachinery under the guidance of ProfessorChristophe Pierre. His teaching and researchinterests are dynamics, including rigid-bodydynamics, vibration and structural acoustics, nonlinear dynamics, and control. Judge says he is “… very eager to work in a setting whereteaching is highly valued as well as research. He is drawn to the small class sizes and personalinteraction with students that a university the size and focus of CUA can provide.”

Zhaoyang Wang joined the faculty in January2004 as an assistant professor of mechanical engi-neering. He received a Ph.D. in solid mechanicsin December 1999 from Tsinghua University inChina, and received a second Ph.D. in mechani-cal engineering in December 2003 from theUniversity of Maryland. He has a very strongbackground in solid mechanics, experimentaltechniques, optical methods, nanotechnology,computer vision, image and data processing, fail-ure analysis, and optimization of microelectronicsand MEMS/NEMS devices for optimummechanical and thermal reliability.

The professor says he is dedicated “to helping students discover methods in lifelong learningand developing a sense of responsibility to seekknowledge.” While a Ph.D. candidate, Wangtaught undergraduate courses as an instructorrather than as a teaching assistant, which earnedhim considerable experience. He has receivednumerous sports and research awards fromTsinghua University and the University ofMaryland. He plays badminton, rugby and handball, is an avid reader, and likes movies and music. Besides his native Chinese andEnglish, he also speaks French.

Dean’s MessageIt is my great pleasure to communicate with you again, in thisthird issue of the CUA Engineering News. At the writing of theDean’s message, I have completed my third year as dean ofthe School of Engineering and I am very pleased to state thatthe school has experienced tremendous and positive changein the last three years in allaspects, including infrastructureimprovement, faculty hiring,research activity and studentrecruitment. The year2003–2004 was a very success-ful one. Some of its highlightsfollow:

■ The newly renovated ScullenRoom was re-dedicated toformer Dean Anthony J.Scullen in October 2003.Very Rev. David M.O’Connell, C.M., universitypresident, conducted theceremony, which wasattended by many faculty members, CUA deans andadministrators, students, alumni and staff.

■ The school granted 39 bachelor’s degrees, 30 master’sdegrees and four doctoral degrees last May at the school’sannual diploma distribution ceremony, which took place infront of the portico of Pangborn Hall.

■ In October 2003, the Accreditation Board for Engineeringand Technology (ABET) conducted an interim visit to theschool following up its initial visit in October 2001. Duringthe most recent visit, the accreditation team focused onthe assessment of the electrical and biomedical engineer-ing programs and the equipment issue of the civil engi-neering program. With information from a draft report Ireceived from ABET, it is my great pleasure to announcethat all program weaknesses have been resolved and theengineering programs are accredited until Sept. 30, 2008.We have already started to prepare for the next re-accredi-tation visit scheduled for October 2007.

■ Our faculty continues to be very active in funded researchand scholarly activities. The rate of proposal submissions forexternal funding and technical-paper submissions to peer-reviewed journals is high. The faculty participates actively inexternal activities by serving on proposal and paper reviewboards, presenting at national and international symposia,serving as members of conference-organizing committeesand attending continuing-education seminars.

■ In the fall 2003 semester, the school welcomed 62 newundergraduate students, including 58 new freshmen andfour transfer students. This group represents a slightincrease of new undergraduate students, compared to atotal of 60 new students admitted in fall 2002. The schoolalso gained 37 new graduate students.

■ Last October, Robert O’Neil, M.C.E. 1970, a member ofthe National Academy of Engineering, was honored at theHomecoming Week luncheon hosted by the school cele-brating his receipt of the 2003 CUA Alumni AchievementAward.

■ The school welcomed three new faculty members: assistantprofessors for the mechanical, civil and electrical programsand a new chair for the Department of Electrical

John A. Judge

Zhaoyang Wang

E E R I N G Award Lunch Recognizes Exemplary Faculty and StudentsThe School of Engineering held a luncheon on May 13 to celebrate the end of the 2003-2004 academic year and to recognize student andfaculty award winners. CUA provost John Convey addressed the atten-dees, who included CUA deans and administrators, faculty, staff andengineering alumni.

After the provost’s remarks DeanCharles Nguyen announced the win-ners of the 2004 Kaman Awards forFaculty Excellence. The Kaman Awardfor Faculty Excellence in Researchwent to Mark Mirotznik, associate pro-fessor of electrical engineering andcomputer science. The Kaman Awardfor Faculty Excellence in Teachingwent to J. Steven Brown, associate pro-fessor and chair of the Department ofMechanical Engineering.

Mirotznik was selected to receive theresearch award for his excellence in gen-erating articles for journal publications, obtaining research funding andadvising doctoral students. His research interests are computational elec-tromagnetics, bioelectromagnetics, dielectric measurements of biologicaltissue and numerical modeling of infrared detectors.

In 2003-2004 he published five peer-reviewed articles in journalsincluding IEEE Transactions and IEEE Letters. This year Mirotznik alsopublished four conference papers and was awarded sizeable externalgrants from the Office of Naval Research and the Department ofDefense. He is currently advising four doctoral students, with two students at the dissertation completion stage.

Brown is well-known as a dedicated engineering professor and facultyadviser. He was selected to receive the teaching award based on his performance as measured by student evaluations and other factors. He received 4.7 out of a maximum rating of 5 points on a CUA student evaluation for the statement “overall a good teacher” for a variety of courses he taught fromspring 1998 to fall 2002. In addition,Brown has co-authored five papers onengineering education. He alsoreceived the Ralph Teetor EducationalAward from the Society of AutomotiveEngineers in March 2001.

The Kaman Award winners alsowere recognized at the school’s diplomadistribution ceremony on May 15;each winner received a plaque and a$1,000 check from the engineeringschool. The Kaman awards are fundedby an endowment from Charles H.Kaman, B.A.E. 1940. In the past,award nominations could only be made by the chair of the candidate’sdepartment. Recently the nomination procedure was modified to allownominations from faculty and students for the teaching award andnominations from faculty for the research award.

At the luncheon, Dean Nguyen also announced the names of thestudent winners of school and department awards. (See story on page11.) Poul Lade, chair of the Department of Civil Engineering, thenannounced the newly established student awards for his department:the academic excellence award named for Timothy Kao, former depart-ment chair, and the service award named for Dennis McCahill, formerdepartment faculty member.

3

Mark Mirotznik

J. Steven Brown

Engineering and Computer Science. The new facultymembers bring to our school excellent academic andindustrial experiences.

■ Our engineering students continue to make us very proud.They won numerous national and international competi-tions and scholarships including the Barry M. GoldwaterScholarship, the Department of Homeland SecurityUndergraduate Scholarship, several ASCE-NCS scholar-ships, the American Concrete Institute-NCS StudentScholarship, the American Society of Highway Engineers-Potomac Section Scholarship, several ABC-NCS scholar-ships, several CMAA-NCS scholarships, and the CEF of VAscholarship. One of our students received an award certifi-cate in the undergraduates research paper competitionsponsored by the D.C. Council of Engineering andArchitecture and ASCE, and another won third place for aposter presented at the Northeast Biomedical Conferencein Massachusetts.

■ After gaining the approval of the CUA graduate board, theschool’s engineering management, electrical, mechanical,civil and biomedical engineering programs signed agree-ments with the U.S. Navy’s Officer Nuclear Power Schooland the Bettis Reactor Engineering School to allow Navypersonnel to transfer up to 12 credits toward CUA master’sdegree programs.

■ In April 2004, Father O’Connell, Poul Lade, chair of thecivil engineering department, and I attended the OPALaward gala at which James Wilding, B.C.E. 1959, receivedan OPAL Lifetime Achievement Award from ASCE for hiscontributions to the public works field.

■ I was selected to receive a lifetime achievement awardfrom the World Automation Congress (WAC) for my con-tribution in founding the congress’s International Journal ofIntelligent Automation and Soft Computing and for myresearch work in control and robotics. I accepted theaward in Seville, Spain, in June.

■ Last May 17, I was pleasantly surprised and honored toreceive a phone call from the White House, telling me thatPresident George W. Bush had appointed me to serve onthe board of directors of the Vietnam Education Foundation(VEF) for three years. As a board member, I met with high-ranking Vietnamese officials in Hanoi in June 2004 on behalfof the U.S. government. While in Vietnam, I explored edu-cational opportunities for CUA with Vietnam universities. Ialso was in New York and California this summer talkingwith potential donors to CUA.

I am very happy with the success of the School ofEngineering in 2003-2004. The school’s excellent reputation isreflected in our ability to attract top students and faculty. Wecontinue to build the school, aiming at the model of a research-based institution with high-quality educational programs. I amthankful for the continuing support of friends and alumni likeyou and look forward to reporting, in the next issue, results ofsome development and fund-raising activities already underway.

Charlie NguyenDean, School of EngineeringNguyen@cua.edu

Soil Research … continued from front page

involving volume and pressure to those data,the engineers multiply the numbers to find thehuge soil area surrounding each concreteblock.

Although generally accurate and accepted as a standard in the civil engineering industry,Lade says this method does not provide a com-plete picture of the soil’s makeup. So he andhis students in the department’s Soil ResearchLab conduct their own tests.

“The tests done in the field usually place thesame amount of pressure on the sides of thesoil sample,” Lade says. “What we do is placevarying degrees of stress to better replicate theactual conditions that exist in nature.”

For their initial tests, Lade and his studentsuse a much larger Triaxial Apparatus — aboutthe size of a beer keg. They place a hollow alu-minum cylinder inside the machine and pour

soil (usually purchased at Home Depot orLowe’s) around it. Then they remove the cylin-der, replacing it with a latex-rubber membraneto keep the dirt’s shape. Pressure is then exert-ed from the top through an air-filled cushionand from the sides through two pistons thattwist and shake the canister to simulate aground shift.

After tabulating the results — how muchstress caused the soil sample to crumble —Lade and his students take a small cube of soilfor a final test on what Lade calls a “True”Triaxial Apparatus. They set the cube on ametal plate surrounded by air cushions. Again,air or water floods the cushions to varyingdegrees until the soils breaks or changes shape.Lade then combines the new calculations withthe previous experiment to measure the soil’sstrength.

“By measuring smaller blocks of soil and try-ing different amounts of pressure on each side,

you can get a true idea of how strong that soilis,” he says. “We then get these new formulas tothe engineering firms so their testing is easierand they don’t have to run such experiments.”

Lade sees no end to his research as “theindustry is always searching for the perfect wayto calculate soil strength.” Over the years, hehas published more than 200 articles andreceived several million dollars in funding fromagencies such as the U.S. Air Force and theNational Science Foundation. Numerousresearchers cite Lade’s work in their projectsand many firms have hired him as a consultantto help with their soil studies.

He also has reached an international audi-ence through his research.

“I remember one time when I was inGermany for a conference, and someone cameup to me and said that he had made a smallinstructional film based on a paper I had written years before,” Lade says.

4

Biomedical Engineering Creates Two Student Centers for Computing and Design

In the biomedical engineering corridor at Pangborn, a buzz ofstudent activity can be heard well into the night during the

academic year. Late-night study sessions, design group meetingsand tutoring sessions are commonplace. The use of modernengineering tools and the rigorous curriculum’s team-based proj-ects and hands-on design activities require students to dedicatetime outside the classroom.

Last year, the biomedical engineering program — with supportfrom the Office of Sponsored Programs and the Office of theDean of Engineering — dedicated two new student centers forcomputing and design that total more than 750 square feet.

With generous support from Associate Provost James Mayo,Joseph Hidler, assistant professor of biomedical engineering,helped to establish the new Biomedical Engineering ComputingCenter in early spring 2003.

The center currently houses six work stations with a suite ofengineering and computing software tools for course activities.These include advanced design and modeling packages such asMatlab and various toolboxes, AutoCad, finite element analysissoftware (i.e. Ansys, Abaqus), Visual Studio (i.e. VisualBasic, VisualC++, VisualJ++) and others. One work station is equipped formultimedia development activities and for preparation of formalpresentations. The computing center doubles as a central loca-tion for facilitating group and team-based learning.

The Biomedical Engineering Design Center was established insummer 2003. This center houses the equipment needed forhands-on design activities required by courses such as JuniorBiomechanical Design, Senior Design, Senior Project Laboratory,Rehabilitation Engineering and others.

The center is equipped with fast-prototyping capabilities forfinished printed-circuit board production (PCB), for 3-D smallparts fabrication via an automated CNC machine, and for basicmachine shop tools. PCB fabrication via the Quick Circuit Systemby T-Tech Inc. of Atlanta supports courses that include Freshman

Laboratory, Biomedical Instrumentation, Senior Design, andRehabilitation Engineering.

In addition, Hidler and Scott Mathews, assistant professor ofelectrical engineering and computer science, refurbished thedepartment’s CNC machine by Techno-isel Inc. of New HydePark, N.Y., in spring 2004. The machine is equipped with thepopular Bob-CAD software package and is used to do mechani-cal-design projects assigned for courses such as Biomechanics,Junior Biomechanical Design and others.

Biomedical engineering’s administrative office was renovatedin fall 2003, completing the first phase of the department’smakeover and expanding its size by 50 percent. In the 2004-2005 school year, the department will create two new facultylaboratories for research in advanced biomechanics and biomate-rials. The department also will complete renovations on a newelectronic teaching facility.

CUA engineering students Robert Hernandez and Janine Nuerva completecourse assignments at the biomedical engineering computing center.

5

A Safer Place … continued from front page

temperature when he walks in the room. If theuser has vision problems, the sensors can beprogrammed to increase the amount of light ina particular room.

In addition, lights can be programmed toturn on and off when someone enters andleaves a room; appliances, such as an oven, canbe set to shut off automatically if they havebeen on for a long time and no motion hasbeen detected around them.

But the kit’s functions reach beyond comfortand convenience, Professor Tran says. Improvedsafety is the primary goal. For instance, the sen-sors monitor users’ daily routines, such as thetime they rise in the morning. If the user sleepslate, a “flag” is generated by the sensor, filteredto the transmitter and documented by the com-puter server.

“If too many flags are registered, then awarning is sent out,” he says. “This might hap-pen during the Christmas season if an elderlyperson is depressed about being away from herfamily, or if someone has developed an illnessthat prevents him from performing daily tasks.”

In such an event, a prerecorded phone mes-sage or e-mail is sent to a friend or relative stat-ing that the kit owner might require assistance.The same principle applies if someone falls andhurts himself. Motion sensors can detect if he issitting on the couch, reclining on a bed or lyingmotionless on the floor.

“We use the analogy of a babysitter,”Professor Tran says. “If an emergency is verysmall, you might contact a neighbor to checkon a child. If it’s something more pressing, you might call the parent. If it’s something veryserious, it might be a 911 call. So there will bevarious people to contact depending on thetype of situation.”

The monitoring kit is currently advancedenough to be tested in a real home environ-

ment. Over the past few years, Tran and his stu-dents have tested the system in the telerehabili-tation technology center in Pangborn Hall.These tests involved installing cameras andmotion sensors in the lab as well as buildingand fitting a dollhouse with the system to dis-play at engineering and scientific conventions.Tran and his team are currently working withthe National Rehabilitation Hospital and otherpartners to place the system in actual homes.

“The technology itself is ready to go,” hesays. “The main thing is to see if the kit canpredict health impacts, as well as if people arewilling to be monitored in this way. The lattermay be a bigger hurdle for us to overcome thanthe technical aspect.”

Once the system is ready for sale, Tran hopesto collaborate with various engineering andhome-security firms to market it. He hopes tooffer a product that will be affordable for seniorcitizens — less than $1,000. Security companiesthat have shown interest in his research includeIntel Corp., Honeywell and Link to Life, whichmanufactures home-monitoring systems forsenior citizens.

“This is a big potential market for companieslike these,” Tran says. “They’ve been doinghome security; the next step is home safety. Soour work definitely has attracted a good deal ofinterest.”

CUA Offers Graduate Creditsfor Naval Training Programs Catholic University now offers 12 creditstoward most engineering master’s degreesbased on completion of the Officers NavalNuclear Propulsion Training Program or theBettis Reactor Engineering School.

Previously, university regulations limited thenumber of transfer credits for the propulsiontraining program to six. The new transfer poli-cy is based on a detailed review of the NuclearPropulsion Training Program and the BettisReactor Engineering School curricula, whichshowed that these two Navy programs exceed12 credits of graduate work. The policychange was implemented by CUA’sEngineering Management Program inDecember 2003 and shortly afterward wasextended to the university’s other engineeringprograms.

Applicants who have completed theOfficers Naval Nuclear Propulsion TrainingProgram or Bettis Reactor Engineering Schooland have met the normal entrance criteria forCUA’s School of Engineering are eligible forthe master’s program. Applicants who do nothave bachelor’s degrees in science, engineeringor mathematics can meet the engineeringundergraduate prerequisites with successfulcompletion of the Nuclear PropulsionTraining Program.

The engineering school has had nuclearofficers in every graduating class for about 20 years. Over the years the presence of Navyofficers in CUA engineering programs hasinfluenced curriculum development and faculty selection, especially in the EngineeringManagement Program.

Retired Navy Capt. Walter Krause startedthe management program in the late 1970s.As a former submarine officer he understoodthe educational value of the Navy’s programs.He also understood that an officer’s typicaltwo-year tour of duty in Washington did notprovide enough time to complete a master’sdegree. He initiated CUA’s practice of accept-ing credit for the Nuclear Propulsion TrainingProgram in place of technical course electives.

Above: Binh Tran holds two tools of his homeactivity monitoring research.

The agreement signing ceremony betweenDean Nguyen (sitting at right) and T.H.Beckett, deputy director, naval reactors, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

6

The CUA Student Chapter of the AmericanSociety of Civil Engineers (ASCE) hosted the17th annual National Concrete CanoeCompetition June 17 to 20, in cooperationwith Master Builders Inc.

Twenty-three university teams and theiradvisers stayed in CUA residence halls duringthe competition. On thenight of their arrival, par-ticipants enjoyed theTaste of the World dinnerand a swing dance withlive music by the groupBlue Sky 5.

The competition was one of three eventssporting the theme“Celebrating Concrete!”The other events, held atthe National BuildingMuseum in Washington,D.C., included an exhibitcalled “Liquid Stone,” sponsored by LaFarge,one of the largest cement-producing companiesin the world, and the hands-on ConcreteCarnival.

The CUA team planned and set up much ofthe competition, which drew 22 teams from theUnited States and one from Canada. Because ofits service, the CUA team will receive an auto-matic bid to next year’s national competition.CUA teams have competed at national canoecompetitions in prior years: 1998, 1999 and2001.

Teams were judged on design, construction,presentation of fabrication of the canoe, and theraces themselves, which were held at LakeFairfax in northern Virginia. The awards ban-

quet was held June 20 at the Edward J. PryzbylaUniversity Center.

In preparation for a regional match-up priorto the national competition, the CUA teamstarted working on its design in September2003. Competing last April against fourVirginia universities, the CUA team placed 4th

in ascetics and 5th in presenta-tion. CUA students SaraDelmonico and Rhia Candia wonthe spirit-of-competition award.Other CUA team membersincluded captains Charlie Kramerand Chris Smith, Paul Becker,John Blades, Greg Cook, TimGarland, Nishadi Karunarathne,Trevor MacKessy-Lloyd, John

McLaughlin, Nina Rodriguez, Ben Senger andSean Walsh.

Each year most ASCE student chapters atU.S. universities participate in the competition.The students build a canoe out of concrete,reinforced according to certain preset rules. Theconcrete mix and the reinforcement have tomeet a set of challenging specifications, whichchange every year.

The canoe has to be long enough (typically19 to 22 feet) to carry a maximum of four peo-ple, who will paddle it during a race. To ensurethat boats that break, leak or capsize do not endup on the lake bottom, all canoes must pass aswamp test. Canoes are intentionally dunkedand filled with water, and must remain afloat topass the test. The concrete mix has to be lightenough that canoes will float without assistancefrom artificial flotation devices.

Student teams usually start working on thecanoe design and the concrete mix, which mustmeet contest requirements, during the fallsemester. They start building the canoe in thespring semester, just before the regional races,which take place from March to May. Each student chapter belongs to one of 18 ASCEregions in the United States. The national com-petition sometimes includes Canadian teams,and on some occasions, the competition’s hostfrom the previous year.

For more information on the ASCE/MBTNational Concrete Canoe Competition, visitthe Department of Civil Engineering Web siteat http://engineering.cua.edu/civil/ or theMaster Builders Inc. Web site athttp://www.masterbuilders.com/ConcreteCanoe.

ASCE Student Chapter at The Catholic University of America hosts

2004 National Concrete Canoe Competition

Students (from left): Chris Smith, Ben Senger, Sara Delmonico, Nishadi Karunarathne, Charlie Kramer,Sean Walsh and Rhia Candia with their canoe.Inset: Rhia Candia, left, and Sara Delmonico display their spirit-of-competition award.

Students (from left): Sara Delmonico, MichaelHiggenbotham, Chris Smith, Ben Senger andRhia Candia prepare for the competition.

Pangborn’s Scullen Room RededicatedOn Oct. 17, 2003, the School of Engineeringrededicated the Scullen Room at a ceremonycelebrating renovations that doubled the size ofthe room to a capacity of 150 and includedinstallation of state-of-the-art video and audiotechnologies.

Named for the late Anthony J. Scullen, deanof the school from 1938 to 1953, the room onPangborn Hall’s first floor has been part of thedaily life of the engineering school since itscompletion in 1990. Former Dean John J.McCoy recognized the need for a conferencespace at the school and initiated the project in1989. With the financial support of CUA engi-neering alumni, the room was built and namedfor Scullen who was well known for his leader-ship and devotion to the school. It is used forseminars, presentations, dinners, luncheons andopen-house and orientation events.

Current and former CUA engineering deansas well as university administrators, alumni,faculty, students and staff attended the ceremo-ny. Very Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M., uni-versity president, served as celebrant of the cer-emony. In his introductory remarks, DeanCharles C. Nguyen thanked Father O’Connelland other guests for attending the ceremony.Father O’Connell then conducted the rededi-cation ceremony with the assistance of under-graduate engineering students MariaFerraraccio and Timothy Walton.

After a reading by Ferraraccio of the Gospel ofSt. Luke, Father O’Connell blessed the room,saying, “Make it become a center where studentsand teachers, imbued with the words of truth,will search for the wisdom that guides Christianlife and strive wholeheartedly to stand by Christas their teacher and revealer of all truth.”

Referring to two new crucifixes for theroom, he said, “Bless these as we place them inthis room as a reminder of your love for us andof our resolve to live our lives in gratitude for

that love.” Walton then placed the crucifixesover the doors of the room.

Also dedicated was a room plaque (shown)containing pictures, names and years of serviceof 13 deans of the school as well as importantdates and milestones in the school’s history.The list of deans begins with HardeeChambliss, Ph.D., who served from 1930 to1934, and runs through Dean Nguyen, whowas appointed in 2001.

Former deans who attended the ceremonyincluded George E. McDuffie, Ph.D., 1970 to

1981; Andrew G. Favret, D.Engr., 1984 to1988; John J. McCoy, Sc.D., 1988 to1996;and William E. Kelly, Ph.D., 1996 to 2001.

Dean Nguyen presented each of the formerdeans with plaques noting their contributionsand years of service to the school. Each of theformer deans spoke, praising the school andrecounting stories about their years at CUA.The former deans were impressed with changesat the school and, in particular, with the energyand enthusiasm of Father O’Connell and Dean Nguyen.

7

In the United States $16.4 billion is spent annually onmanaging interstate highways. How do scientists evalu-

ate highways, airports, bridges and other parts of thetransportation infrastructure? Could they conduct theirevaluations in a more timely and cost-efficient manner?

Lu Sun, assistant professor of civil engineer-ing, is examining this question as the principalinvestigator for a three-year research projectfunded by the National Science Foundation. Hisresearch centers on a method used to evaluatestructures and infrastructures known as non-destructive evaluation or NDE.

The current standard of evaluation, accordingto Sun, involves damaging the item being test-ed. For example, evaluators remove a solid core ofmaterial from an airport runway. This core is sent off siteto a lab for evaluation. The hole left by the processobviously damages the infrastructure and must berepaired.

The method that the professor is studying has gener-ated great interest recently for its potential to deliver safe, fast, economical, non-inva-sive, accurate, and, of course, non-destructive assessments of structural and materialproperties. The characteristics typically measured in the context of highways and air-ports are elasticity, density, thickness and a measure called Poisson’s ratio, whichdescribes how structures or materials react to a load of weight.

A variety of NDE techniques, including ground-penetrating radar and acoustic emis-sion, are currently available. Although useful, these methods have limitations in theevaluation of structural integrity of highways and airports. Sun’s research uses seismicmethods as a tool for NDE.

Seismic methods, which measure the seismic waves resulting when an impact ham-mer or a vibratory load strikes the ground, have a unique advantage over the traditionalmethods. Currently seismic methods are the only NDE methods capable of providing allthe necessary material and structural characteristics of interest to pavement engineers.

“From the point of view of statistics,” he says, “existing NDE methods for highwaysand airports evaluation haven’t really taken uncertainty into account.” The core of anyNDE technique, he adds, is to solve an inverse problem, reconstructing unknown struc-tural and material properties from a measured surface response under specific condi-tions. The failure to account for uncertainty impedes the usefulness of NDE results.

“The goal of my research,” the professor says, “is to systematically investigate thefundamentals of inverse problems and to establish a unified, rigorous theoretical frame-work for NDE, which incorporates the latest statistical decision theory and optimizationmethods, and to develop analysis software facilitating the implementation, automationand application of NDE techniques.”

His project is an interdisciplinary effort that includes analytical, computational andexperimental components. The project also provides excellent teaching material. Fullydeveloped NDE techniques may one day be as important for construction quality control and the maintenance and management of transportation infrastructure as computer tomography (CT) is for medical diagnosis. And Sun stands at the foregroundof this cutting-edge research.

Researching a Better Way to Evaluate Structures

Lu Sun demonstrates nondestruc-tive testing at the Federal High-way Administration’s AcceleratedPavement Testing Facility.

8

FACULTY

Pub l i c a t ions andPre sen ta t ions

■ Ahmed, F., “Digital watermarking solutionsfor secure online content distribution,”Center for Intellectual Property 2004 AnnualSymposium, Adelphi, MD, 2004.

■ Ahmed, F., “Digital watermark - a snap-shot,” Virginia Tech Northern VirginiaCampus Computer Science Department,March 2004.

■ Ahmed, F. and Moskowitz, I., “A correla-tion-based watermarking method for imageauthentication applications,” Journal ofOptical Engineering, August 2004.

■ Ahmed, F. and Moskowitz, I., “Phase signa-ture-based image authentication watermarkrobust to compression and coding,” in Proc.SPIE Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, 2004.

■ Brown, J.S., “Fundamental aspects of theapplication of carbon dioxide in comfortcooling,” International Congress ofRefrigeration, Washington, DC, 2003.

■ Brown, J.S., “Transcritical carbon dioxiderefrigeration cycle model with visual inter-face,” International Journal of Modeling andSimulation, Vol. 23, pp. 143-152, 2003.

■ Brown, J.S. and Carr, M.A., “Internal com-bustion engine demonstrator or first yearintroduction to engineering laboratorycourse,” in Proc. of the 2004 ASEE AnnualConference and Exposition, Salt Lake City,UT, 2004.

■ Ratts, E.B. and Brown, J.S., “Laminarentropy generation over a flat plate withisothermal and constant heat flux boundaryconditions using the von karman integralmethod,” in Proc. of the 2004 ASME HeatTransfer/Fluids Engineering SummerConference, Charlotte, NC, 2004.

■ Tongele, T.N. and Chen, T., “Control oflogitudinal wave propagation in conical peri-odic structures,” Journal of Vibration andControl, 2003.

■ Popescu, F., Hidler, J., and Rymer, W.Z.,“Elbow impedance during goal directedmovements,” Exp. Brain Research, Vol.152(1), pp. 17-28, 2003.

■ Hidler, J. and Schmit, B.D., “Evidence forforce-directed feedback inhibition in chronicstroke,” IEEE Transactions on Neural Systemsand Rehabilitation Engineering, Vol. 12(2),2003.

■ Hidler, J., “Loss of differential muscle con-trol leads to weakness and discoordination inindividuals with acute hemiparetic stroke,”IEEE Engineering in Medicine and BiologySociety, Cancun, Mexico, September 2003.

■ Hidler, J., “Emerging technologies forunderstanding and treating motor-impair-

ment in stroke and spinal cord injury,”Washington Hospital Center Grand RoundsClinical Lecture Series, Washington, DC,April 2004.

■ Kelly, W.E., “E-learning: learning at yourown pace in your own space,” The 2nd ISONetworking Conference, Ottowa, Canada,2003.

■ Kelly, W.E., “Resolving standards conflictskey to U.S. - European foreign trade,” LegalBackgrounder, Vol. 18, pp. 1-4, September2003.

■ Purcell, D.E. and Kelly, W.E., “Adding valueto a standards education: lessons learnedfrom a strategic standardization course,” ISOBulletin, pp. 33-34, July 2003.

■ Spivak, S.M. and Kelly, W.E., “Introducestrategic standardization concepts duringhigher education studies … and reap thebenefits,” ISO Bulletin, pp. 22-24, July 2003.

■ Kirtley, C., “An instrumented insole formeasurement of foot motion,” ISB TechnicalGroup on Footwear Biomechanics,Queenstown, New Zealand, 2003.

■ Kirtley, C., “Information flow in the postur-al control system,” 19th Congress of theInternational Society of Biomechanics,Dunedin, New Zealand, 2003.

■ Kirtley, C., “Autodiagnosis of gait abnormal-ities,” Biomechanics of the Lower Limb inHealth, Disease and Rehabilitation,Manchester, England, 2003.

■ Kirtley, C., “Gait analysis for tele-home care,gaiting from here to there: new trends inprosthetic and orthotic gait,” ISPO CanadaSymposium, Toronto, Canada, 2003.

■ Lade, P.V, “Limitations of kinematic harden-ing for modeling soil behavior,” 1st U.S.Japan Workshop on Testing, Modeling andSimulation, Boston, MA, 2003.

■ Lade, P.V., “Analysis and prediction of shearbanding under 3D conditions in granularmaterials,” IS-Lyon-03 on DeformationCharacteristics of Geomaterials, Lyon, France,2003.

■ Abelev, A.V. and Lade, P.V., “Effects of cross-anisotropy on three-dimensional behavior ofsand. Part 1: Stress-strain behavior and shearbanding,” Journal of Engineering Mechanics,ASCE, Vol. 129(2), pp. 160-166, 2003.

■ Lade, P.V. and Abelev, A.V., “Effects of cross-anisotropy on three-dimensional behavior ofsand. Part II: Volume change behavior andfailure,” Journal of Engineering Mechanics,ASCE, Vol. 129(2), pp. 167-174, 2003.

■ Durbano, J.P., Ortiz, F.E., Humphrey, J.R.,Prather, D.W. and Mirotznik, M.S.,“Hardware implementation of a three-dimensional finite-difference time-domainalgorithm,” IEEE Antennas and WirelessPropagation Letters, Vol. 2(1), January 2004.

■ Mirotznik, M.S., Mait, J.N. and Prather,D.W., “Design of two-dimensional polariza-

tion selective computer generated hologramsusing form-birefringence,” OSA 2003Diffractive Optics and Micro-Optics TopicalMeeting, New Mexico, August 2003.

■ Smith, J.R. and Mirotznik, M.S., “Methodof moment (MOM) modeling of wirelesscommunications over rough surfaces - a new2D basis function set and comparison withexperimental data,” Multi-Conference onSystemics, Cybernetics and Informatics(SCI2003), Orlando FL, September 2003.

■ Durbano, J.P., Ortiz, F.E., Humphrey, J.R.,Prather, D.W. and Mirotznik, M.S.,“Development of hardware-based FDTDsolvers: an analysis of design strategies andimplementation results,” Multi-Conference onSystemics, Cybernetics and Informatics(SCI2003), Orlando FL, September 2003.

■ Latimer, J.R. and Namazi, N., “Cumulantfilters - a recursive estimation method forsystems with non-gaussian process and meas-urement noise,” IEEE 35th SoutheasternSymposium on Systems, 2003.

■ Burris, H.R., Moore, C., Vilcheck, R.,Mahon, R., Stell, M., Davis, M., Scharpf,W., Reed, A., Rabinovich, W., Gilbreath, C.,Oh, E. and Namazi, N.M., “Low frequencysampling adaptive thresholding for free-spaceoptical communication receivers with multi-plicative noise,” SPIE Conference, July 2003.

■ Rujirutana, S., Xuan, J., Freedman, M.,Nguyen, C.C. and Wang, Y., “Non-rigidimage registration by neural computation,”Journal of VLSI Signal Processing, pp. 237-246, 2004.

■ Corral, G., Ibáñez, L., Nguyen, C.C. andNavab, N., “Medical robotics and fluo-roscopy serving: automating needle place-ment for spine procedures,” in Proc. of 2004World Automation Congress, Seville, Spain,June 2004.

■ Nguyen, C.C., “Current state and futuretrends of medical robotics,” WorldAutomation Congress, Seville, Spain, June2004.

■ Nguyen, C.C., “An overview of medicalrobotics and its applications,” University ofRome, La Sapienza, Rome, Italy, June 2004.

■ Ling, S.C. and Pao, H.P., “A unified theoryfor the origin of turbulence and its subse-quent evolution in reynolds number scalingin turbulent flow,” Alenander, J. Smits, Ed.,The Netherlands, Kluwer AcademicPublishers, 2003, pp. 141-145.

■ Pao, H.P., Ling, S.C. and Sun, L., “High-precision water level sensing system,” COAA2003 Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.,October 2003.

■ Ling, S.C. and Pao, H.P., “Regulation of theatmospheric temperature over the ocean,”COAA 2003 Annual Meeting, Washington,D.C., October 2003.

■ Pao, H.P., “The outlook of fossil energy,”

Fossil Energy and Carbon SequestrationWorkshop, Nanjing, China, October 2003.

■ Hostens, I., Papaioannou, G., Spaepen, A.and Ramon, H. “A study of wheelchair char-acteristics on a luxury wheelchair and a newprototype wheelchair,” Journal of Sound andVibration, Vol. 266, pp.253-452, 2003.

■ Papaioannou, G., Demetropoulos, C.K.,Guettler, J.H., Yang, K.H. and Jurist, K.A.,“FE modelling of the osteochondral defectsin the human knee: influence of defect sizeon cartilage rim stress and load redistributionto adjacent cartilage, in scattering theory andbiomedical engineering modeling and appli-cations,” G. Dassios, D.I. Fotiadis, K. Kiriakiand C.V. Massalas, eds., World Scientific,2004.

■ Papaioannou, G., Anderst, W., Yang, K.H.and Tashman, S. “Validation of a subject spe-cific finite element model of the human kneedeveloped for in-vivo tibio-femoral contractanalysis,” Supplement circa OrthapedicResearch Society, March 2003.

■ Sun, L., “An explicit representation of steadystate response of a beam resting on an elasticfoundation to moving harmonic line loads,”International Journal for Numerical andAnalytical Methods in Geomechanics, Vol. 27,pp. 69-84, 2003.

■ Sun, L., Hudson, W.R and Zhang, Z.“Empirical-mechanistic method-based sto-chastic modeling of fatigue damage to pre-dict flexible pavement fatigue cracking fortransportation infrastructure management,”Journal of Transportation Engineering, ASCE,Vol. 129(2), 2003.

■ Sun, L., “Future perspective of transporta-tion research,” Southeast University,Nanjing, China, 2003.

■ Sun, L., “Recent advances in traffic flowresearch,” The Catholic University ofAmerica, Washington, D.C., 2004.

■ Won, C., Chon, D., Tajik, J., Tran, B.Q.,Robinswood, G.B., Beck, K.C. andHoffman, E.A., “CT-based assessment ofregional pulmonary microvascular blood flowparameters,” Journal of Applied Physiology,Vol. 94, pp. 2483-2493, 2003.

■ Tran, B.Q., “Consumer home performancemonitoring toolkit,” RESNA, Atlanta, GA,June 2003.

■ Pinkjarkar, S. and Tran, B.Q. “Remoterehab-at-home: VR system for promotinghome cardiac rehabilitation,” RESNA,Atlanta, GA, June 2003.

■ Tran, B.Q., “Telehealth and telerehabilita-tion: implementation and applications oftechnology for enhancing health, functionand independence in elderly populations,”Gerontological Society of America, San Diego,CA., November 2003.

■ Maksimovitc, V., Tsopelas, P., Makowsky,L, Bishop, S., Gugino, P. and Wiggins, C.,

“AT mine overpass capability of ground-vehi-cle mine detection system,” Annual SPIEDefense and Security Symposium, Orlando FL,April 2004.

■ Katsaras, C.P., Koumousis, V.P. andTsopelas, P., “Geometrically non-linearspring and dash-pot elements in base isola-tion systems,” The 9th InternationalConference on Civil and StructuralEngineering Computing, Egmond aan Zee,The Netherlands, September 2003.

■ Ruzzene, M. and Tsopelas, P., “Control ofwave propagation in sandwich plate-rowswith periodic honeycomb core,” Journal ofEngineering Mechanics, ASCE, Vol. 43, pp.888-894, April 2004.

■ Mello, M., Han, B. and Wang, Z., “Infrareddiffraction interferometer for co-planaritymeasurement of high-density solder bumppattern,” Optical Engineering, ASCE, Vol.129(9), pp. 975-986, 2003.

■ Chang, S., Elkins, L., Wang, Z., Zhou, T.,Foo, S. Tchoyprakov, A. and Fuller, J.,“Hand motion recovery based on skin colorsegments and motion parameter estimation,”SPIE International Symposium on Defense andSecurity, Orlando, FL, 2004.

■ Wang, Z. and Han, B., “Computer-aidedfringe analysis for deformation studies inmicroelectronics assemblies,” SEM XInternational Congress, Costa Mesa, CA,2004.

■ Wang, Z. and Han, B.”Enhanced randomphase shifting technique,” SEM XInternational Congress, Costa Mesa, CA,2004.

■ Whang, Y.C., Burlaga, L.F., Wang, Y-M. andSheeley, N.R., Jr., “Solar wind speed andtemperature outside 10 AU and the termina-tion shock,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 589,pp. 635-643, 2003.

■ Whang, Y.C., Burlaga, L.F., Wang Y.-M. andSheeley, N.R., Jr., “The termination shocknear 35º latitude,” Geophysical ResearchLetters, Vol. 31, L03805, 2003.

■ Whang, Y.C., “Solar wind in the distantheliosphere and the termination shock,”10th Space Phyics Conference, ShanghaiChina, October 2003.

■ Whang, Y.C., “The termination shock,”National University of Science and Technologyof China, Hefei, China, October 2003.

■ Williams, D. and Wilson, O.C. Jr.,“Enhanced clloid sability of nanophase bio-ceramics,” Department of Biology, HowardUniversity, Washington, D.C., March 2004.

■ Wilson, O.C. Jr., “The renaissance of bio-metallic implants,” 133rd Annual Meeting ofthe Minerals, Metals and Materials Society(TMS) Metals for the Future Symposium,Indianapolis, IN, March 2004.

■ Wilson, O.C. Jr., “Bioceramics in medi-cine: the healing power of art,” 38th

National Conference for the National Councilon Education in the Ceramic Arts (NCECA)Investigations, Inspirations: The Alchemy of Artand Science, Indianapolis, IN, March 2004.

■ Xuan, J., Wang, Y. and Freedman, M.,“Deformable sheet-curve models for registra-tion of MR breast images,” SPIE MedicalImaging ‘03, San Diego, CA, 2003.

■ Zhang, J., Srikanchana, R., Xuan, J.,Choyke, P., Li, K. and Wang, Y., “Partially-independent component analysis of tumorheterogeneities by DCE-MRI,” SPIEMedical Imaging ‘03, San Diego, CA, 2003.

■ Zhang, Z., Wang, Y., Lu, J., Kung, S.-Y.,Zhang, J., Lee, R., Xuan, J., Khan, J. andClarke, R., “Discriminatory mining of geneexpression microarray data,” Journal of VLSISignal Processing, Vol. 35, pp. 255-272,2003.

■ Srikanchana, R., Xuan, J., Freedman, M.,Nguyen, C. and Wang, Y., “Non-rigid imageregistration by neural computation,” Journalof VLSI Signal Processing, Vol. 37, pp. 237-246, 2004.

Act i v i t i e s

■ Farid Ahmed, Ph.D., dept. of electrical engineering and computer science, served as a member of the management committeeand lead computer science faculty in theDepartment of Labor sponsored Master ofScience in Computer Science program.

■ Farid Ahmed, Ph.D., dept. of electrical engineering and computer science, served as a program committee member of theAssociation of Computing Machinery(ACM) sponsored International Conferenceon Communication and InformationTechnology, 2004.

■ Tung-Huei Chen, Ph.D., dept. of mechani-cal engineering, attended the ASMEInternational Mechanical EngineeringCongress in Washington D.C, November2003.

■ Tung-Huei Chen, Ph.D., dept. of mechani-cal engineering, attended the 7th AnnualArmy Landmine Basic Research TechnicalReview Meeting and Workshop inSpringfield, VA, February 2004.

■ Arturo Fernandez, Ph.D., dept. of electricalengineering and computer science, served asa member of the Multiphase Flow TechnicalCommittee of ASME.

■ Arturo Fernandez, Ph.D., dept. of electricalengineering and computer science, served asa co-organizer of the solid-fluid symposiumto be held during the ASME FluidEngineering Division Meeting in Houston,TX, in 2005.

■ Joseph Hidler, Ph.D., dept. of biomedicalengineering, attended the American Society

9

of Biomechanics conference in Toldeo, OH,in September 2003.

■ Joseph Hidler, Ph.D., dept. of biomedicalengineering, continues to serve as associateeditor for the IEEE Transactions on NeuralSystems and Rehabilitation Engineering.

■ Joseph Hidler, Ph.D., dept. of biomedicalengineering, served on grant review panelsfor the National Institute on Diability andRehabilitation Research (NIDRR), theVeterans Affairs (VA) and the NationalScience Foundation (NSF).

■ Joseph Hidler, Ph.D., dept. of biomedicalengineering, attended the IEEE Engineeringin Medicine and Biology conference inCancun, Mexico, in September 2003.

■ William E. Kelly, Ph.D., dept. of civil engi-neering, participated in the Architecture,Construction, and Engineering (ACE)Washington Mentoring Program and servedon the chair scholarship committee.

■ William E. Kelly, Ph.D., dept. of civil engi-neering, served as a member of the AmericanNational Standards Institute (ANSI); he wasa member of the ANSI Board of DirectorsExecutive Committee, chair of the ANSIPersonnel Certification AccreditationCommittee, and chair of the ANSIEducation Committee

■ Charles C. Nguyen, D.Sc., dean, traveled toNew York City to meet with Herbert Allison,CEO and president of TIAA-CREF andchairman of the board of directors of theVietnam Education Foundation (VEF).They met to discuss VEF business. Duringthe same trip Dean Nguyen met withTruong D. Tran, owner of Hotel Carter,New York, to discuss development andfundraising.

■ Charles C. Nguyen, D.Sc., dean, attendedthe first Vietnamese American National Gala(VANG) in Washington, DC, May 2004.The CUA School of Engineering was a goldsponsor of the gala.

■ Charles C. Nguyen, D.Sc., dean, traveled toHanoi, Vietnam, in June 2004 to meet withrepresentatives of the Vietnamese govern-ment as a member of the board of directorsof the VEF. During the trip he also met withseveral Vietnam University presidents andprofessors to explore educational opportuni-ties and potential collaboration.

■ Hsien P. Pao, Ph.D., dept. of civil engineer-ing, attended the Fossil Energy and CarbonSequestration Workshop at the SoutheastUniversity in Nanjing China in October2003.

■ Hsien P. Pao, Ph.D., dept. of civil engineer-ing, attended the COAA 2003 AnnualMeeting at The Catholic University ofAmerica in Washington, DC, in October2003.

■ Yiorgos Papaioannou, Ph.D., dept. of bio-

medical engineering, served as a reviewer forthe European Committee Study Section forEuropean Commission funded projects, rep-resenting the Greek Government Ministry ofEducation.

■ Yiorgos Papaioannou, Ph.D., dept. of bio-medical engineering, created an initiativeleading to an intra-university consortiumdedicated to the creation of a New StudentCenter for Computing. New computationalcapabilities with the formation of a BeowolfSupercomputer Cluster will allow the Schoolof Engineering to participate in severalSupercomputer Consortia in the UnitedStates and to improve collaboration withinthe schools and departments of CUA.

■ Yiorgos Papaioannou, Ph.D., dept. of bio-medical engineering, participated in the thePh.D. supervision committee for candidateIvo Hostens, a student at the KatholiekeUniversiteit Leuven — Department of Agro-Engineering and Processing, Laboratory ofMechatronics, Belgium. His Ph.D. thesiswas entitled “Analysis of seating during low-frequency vibration exposure.” Hostensgraduated in 2004, and CUA was named inthe list of contributing universities.

■ Yiorgos Papaioannou, Ph.D., dept. of bio-medical engineering, participated in theorganizing and scientific committee for aconference entitled “New Frontiers inBioengineering, a Workshop Series inBiomedical Engineering.” This conferencewill be hosted under the International 2004Olymiad celebration events at University ofIoannina, Greece.

■ Lu Sun, Ph.D., dept. of civil engineering,served as a paper reviewer for the followingjournals: Transportation Science, Journal ofTransportation Engineering (ASCE),Transportation Research Record (TRB),Intelligent Transportation Systems Journal,Journal of Infrastructure Systems (ASCE),Computer-Aided Civil and InfrastructureEngineering, Journal of Applied Mechanics(ASME), Journal of Engineering Mechanics(ASCE). He also reviewed papers for the 2ndInternational Conference on AcceleratedPavement Testing.

■ Lu Sun, Ph.D., dept. of civil engineering,served as a proposal reviewer for The NationalScience Foundation and The MidwestRegional University Transportation Center.

■ Binh Q. Tran, Ph.D., dept. of biomedicalengineering, organized the CUA ResearchSymposium on Technology and Aging titled“Technology for Promotion of Health andIndependence Through the Lifespan,” whichwas sponsored by the Washington Academyof Biomedical Engineering (WABME) andRehabilitation Engineering Research Center(RERC) on Telerehabilitation, April 26,2004.

■ Panos Tsopelas, Ph.D., dept. of civil engi-neering, became associate editor for theJournal of Structural Engineering, AmercianSociety of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

■ Panos Tsopelas, Ph.D., dept. of civil engi-neering, attended the NEES-MembersWorkshop in Park City, UT, in May 2003.

■ Panos Tsopelas, Ph.D., dept. of civil engi-neering, served as a review panelist for theNational Science Foundation (NSF) in May 2003.

■ Jason Xuan, Ph.D., dept. of electrical engi-neering and computer science, participatedin several ad hoc study sections at NIH in2003. The study sections were entitled“Development of novel technolgies for in-vivo imaging,” “Low cost imaging device,”and Image-guided interventions.”

Grant s

■ Ahmed, F., “Image signature-based authenti-cation in transform domain watermarking,”Naval Research Laboratory, October2003–September 2004, $56,000.

■ Brown, J.S., “Development and validationof micro-channel condenser/gas cooler modelfor air conditioning and refrigeration applica-tions,” National Institute of Standards andTechnology, April 2003–April 2004,$24,489.

■ Brown, J.S., “Methodology for proper evalu-ation of refrigerants in refrigeration and airconditioning applications,” DuPont, June2001–May 2004, $75,000.

■ Brown, J.S., “Research on intelligence inmanufacturing and standards,” NationalInstitute of Standards and Technology, April2003–March 2006, $706,613.

■ Hidler, J., “Gait restoration in stroke andincomplete sci patients using the lokomatrobotic treadmill system,” NationalRehabilitation Hospital, $22,545.

■ Kelly, W.E., “Connecting to Engineering,”General Electric Foundation, May 2000 -December 2004, $83,000.

■ Mirotznik, M.S., “Form-birefringent IR sur-face coatings,” Office of Naval Research(ONR), January 2004–October 2004,$60,000.

■ Mirotznik, M.S., “Rapid prototyping systemfor electromagnetic surfaces,” Department ofDefense (DOD) Defense UniversityResearch Instrumentation Project (DURIP),May 2004–October 2004, $210,000.

■ Pao, H.P., “CO2 sequestration by ammoniascrubbing,” Department of Energy (DOE),April 2003–October 2004, $50,000.

■ Pao, H.P., “Development of a leakage testguidance manual for storm water BMPs,”D.C. Government, July 2001–October2003, $30,000.

10

■ Sun, L., “Renewal processes based trafficflow prediction and validation,” CUA, 2003,$7,064.

■ Sun, L., “Statistical elastodynamic inversionfor pavement nondestructive evaluation,”National Science Foundation (NSF), 2004-2007, $254,000.

■ Tran, B.Q., (Co-PI) “RehabilitationEngineering Research Center onTelerehabilitation,” Department ofEducation National Institute on Disabilityand Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR),October 2002–September 2004, $320,000.

■ Tsopelas, P., “Tire-soil contact-pressure dis-tribution studies for countermine vehicularconcept design and for the experimentalunmanned ground vehicle (XUGV),”Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Army,September 2002–April 2004, $70,000.

■ Tsopelas, P., (PI) and Massimo, R. (Co-PI),“Honeycomb and re-entrant periodic archi-tectures for vibration hazard mitigation andimproved performance of structural assem-blies,” National Science Foundation,September 2002–August 2005, $301,588.

■ Whang, Y.C., “Double discontinuities inspace plasma,” Department of Energy,August 2000–August 2003, $195,000.

■ Whang, Y.C., “Solar Wind Electron DataAnalysis,” NASA-Goddard Space FlightCenter, June 2002–June 2003, $31,630.

■ Whang, Y.C., “The origin and early propa-gation of eruptions in the sun’s corona,”NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, July2002–July 2003, $48,921.

■ Whang, Y.C., “Radial evolution of theBastille Day flows,” NASA, September2002–August 2003, $50,000.

■ Xuan, J., (co-PI) “Comprehensive computa-tional analysis of gene expression data,”NIH, $302,379.

■ Xuan, J., (co-PI) “Endocrine therapy ofbreast cancer,” DOD, $585,788.

Awards

■ Farid Ahmed, Ph.D., dept. of electrical engi-neering and computer science, was awardedthe ASEE-Navy summer faculty fellowship atthe Center for High Assurance ComputingSystems at NRL in Washington, D.C., May2003–August 2003.

■ Charles C. Nguyen, D.Sc., dean, receivedthe Lifetime Achievement Award from theWorld Automation Congress (WAC) in June2004 for his contribution in founding theInternational Journal of IntelligentAutomation and Soft Computing, and forhis scholarly work in control and robotics.

■ Charles C. Nguyen, D.Sc., dean, wasappointed by President Bush to serve on theVietnam Education Foundation, May 2004.

■ Hsien H. Pao, Ph.D., dept. of civil engi-neering, was honored as a life member by theAmerican Society of Civil Engineers in 2004.

■ Binh Q. Tran, Ph.D., dept. of biomedicalengineering, was listed in Who’s WhoAmong America’s Teachers, 2003–2004.

STUDENTS

S tudent Awards and Scho la r sh ip s(NCS signifies National Capital Section.)

■ David Crum, junior in civil engineering,received a $1,500 American Society of CivilEngineers (ASCE)-NCS Scholarship. He alsoreceived the American Society of HighwayEngineers (ASHE)-Potomac SectionScholarship of $1,500 and a $1,000 awardfrom the Construction ManagementAssociation of America (CMAA)-NCS.

■ Mike Dikon, B.C.E. 2004, magna cumlaude, received the Timothy W. Kao Awardfor Excellence in Civil Engineering

■ Uduak Effiong, junior in biomedical engi-neering, received 3rd place for his posterentitled “Gum arabic surface-modified mag-netic nanoparticles for cancer therapy.” Theposter was presented at the NortheastBiomedical Conference in Massachusetts inApril 2004.

■ Kiernan Fitzpatrick, B.S.C.S. 2004,received the John N. Welch Award forExcellence in Computer Science.

■ Suzanne Igoe, B.M.E. 2004, magna cumlaude, received the C.C. Chang Award.

■ Nicholas Kahl, B.M.E. 2004, received theAmerican Society of Mechanical EngineeringAward.

■ Nishadi Karunarathne, B.C.E. 2004,received the Construction EducationFoundation of Virginia (CEF of VA)Scholarship of $2,500.

■ Clarissa Kenny, B.S.Arch./B.C.E. 2004,received the 2004 Outstanding StudentAward from ASCE-NCS.

■ Charles Kramer, B.C.E. 2004, received theDennis F. McCahill Award for Service inCivil Engineering.

■ John Monaghan, B.E.E. 2004, received theGeorge E. McDuffie Award for Excellence inElectrical Engineering

■ John Nahra, B.S.Arch./B.C.E. 2004, magnacum laude, received the Anthony J. ScullenAward.

■ David Nerbun, junior in civil engineering,received the Department of HomelandSecurity Undergraduate Scholarship, whichwas granted to just one of 50 candidatesnationwide. The award provides full tuitionplus a $1,000 monthly stipend during theschool year until graduation. As part of the

scholarship, Nerbun also had a $5,000internship for summer 2004 at theEnvironmental Measurements Laboratory inNew York City. He also received a $350award for his entry in the 2004 YoungEngineer Prize College Student PaperCompetition sponsored by the WashingtonSociety of Engineers. His award-winningpaper was titled “Brittle cellular materials:Potential application in seismic hazard reduc-tion of buildings.”

■ Keith Roberson, junior in civil engineering,received the $2,500 (ASCE)-NCS HathawayMemorial Scholarship. He also received a$2,000 award from Associated Builders andContractors (ABC)-NCS.

■ Nina Rodriguez, B.C.E. 2004, received theDean’s Service Recognition Award.

■ Mark Rolfs, sophomore in civil engineering,received a $2,000 award from (ABC)-NCS.He also received a $1,000 award from(CMAA)-NCS.

■ Edward Robers IV, B.E.E. 2004, magnacum laude, received the George E. McDuffieAward for Excellence in ElectricalEngineering

■ Kealy Rudersdorf, junior in civil engineer-ing, received the Barry M. GoldwaterScholarship of $7,500 per year for two years.Rudersdorf also received the ASCE-NCSHummel Memorial Scholarship of $3,500.

■ Joshua Schellhammer, B.S.C.S. 2004,received the John N. Welch Award forExcellence in Computer Science.

■ William Strouse, junior in civil engineering,received the American Concrete Institute-NCS Student Award.

■ Anji Wall, B.M.E. 2004, summa cum laude,received the Benjamin T. Rome AcademicAchievement Award. Wall also received theRita Shaffer Biomedical Engineering SocietyAward and the H.B. Atabek Award.

11

Mechanical EngineeringSeniors Build Dune BuggyThe senior design course for mechanical engineering students is always a challengingexperience, but the Class of 2004 decided to“outdo” previous classes. The 2004 designteam, comprised of seniors AndrewD’Agostino, Lara Denesia, Dan DiMaio,Suzanne Igoe, Nick Kahl, Joe Kostkowski andDan Zane, decided not to participate in theMini Baja Competition, sponsored by theSociety of Automotive Engineers. The teamfelt that the competition, which has been apopular choice for classes over the last 20years, was not big enough, fast enough, orchallenging enough. Instead they chose tobuild an off-road dune buggy.

The design team began by purchasing aSuzuki Bandit motorcycle engine and design-ing the frame, suspension, and drive trainaround it. Individual team members tookresponsibility for different aspects of the proj-ect: frame, safety, electronics, engine and drivetrain, and suspension and steering.

During the fall 2003 semester, team mem-bers focused on the vehicle design. The stu-dents’ design ideas were honed into reality with the help of Assistant Professor Tung-HueiChen, Ph.D., and instructor Ken Romney, P.E. At the end of the fall semester, the students turned their focus to fabrication of the dune buggy.

Many parts of the buggy were the result oforiginal designs, including the a-arms of thesuspension, the steering knuckles, the brakedisks and the shifter assembly. With the help of CUA machinists Herb Elstein and DonSmolley, the students were able to fabricatethese parts and others in the mechanical engineering machine shop at the universityPower Plant.

During the spring 2004 semester, the teamenjoyed a field trip to the United States NavalAcademy in Annapolis, Md. Led by Cmdr.Matthew Carr, the tour focused on the acade-my’s engineering laboratories. Although flood-ing during hurricane Isabel in fall 2003 dam-aged many of the laboratories the tour stillproved valuable for the CUA design team.Because the Naval Academy has participated invehicle competitions in the past, the CUA stu-dents were able to examine previous buggy andcar designs as well as the machine-shop andwelding facilities where they were fabricated.

The completion of the project brought bothsuccess and failure. Although the seniors weresuccessful in their design and construction ofthe off-road dune buggy, they were unable tocompete in a race. The class had planned totravel to Florida and participate in an amateuroff-road race in late April. Unfortunately, therace was cancelled due to unforeseen adminis-

trative difficulties involving the competition’sorganizers. But the off-road dune buggy metperformance criteria set by Chen and Romney,and the students showed off their finished

product to CUA faculty, staff, and students atPangborn Hall’s mechanical engineering designlaboratory.

12

Above (from left): Dan DiMaio, Andrew D’Agostino,Joe Kostkowski, Nick Kahl, Dan Zane, Lara Denesia,Suzanne Igoe and Ken Romney take a break frombuilding their off-road dune buggy.Right: Andrew D’Agostino test drives the vehicle.

The CUA Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) saw anincrease in student involvement in 2003–2004, with more students participating in

existing activities and starting new ones. The chapter’s goal is to promote civil engineeringthrough academic and social activities. At its monthly meetings, the chapter sponsoredguest speakers who talked about their expertise in civil engineering. Many of the speakerswere CUA graduates who described how their education has bolstered their career.

The ASCE chapter and the Department of Civil Engineering hosted the 17th AnnualNational Concrete Canoe Competition, which was held June 17 through 20 at Lake Fairfaxin Northern Virginia. (See story on page 6.)

This year for the first time the chapter sponsored a team that researched the design and construction of a steel bridge. The team attended the ASCE Student Chapter RegionalConference in Morgantown, W. Va., April 1 through 3, to assess their competitors for the2005 National Student Steel Bridge Competition. Team members included Dan Crum, Tim Garland, Dave Kriston, Daniel Monterrubio, Shannon O’Brien, Matt Pinckney, KeithRoberson, Kealy Rudersdorf, Ben Senger and Will Strouse.

The CUA team is committed to designing an innovative bridge that will earn them aberth at the national competition. Contest rules require that bridges are 30 feet long, 3 feet wide and customized to fit a specific course. Teams are judged on ascetics, performance, weight and construction time.

The chapter, in partnership with other civil engineering societies in the Washington, D.C.,area, sponsored several field trips last year. Engineering students toured the construction siteof the new Metrorail station on New York Avenue in the District and D.C.’s Blue PlainsWastewater Treatment Plant. On the field trips, students experienced what they learned at CUA and asked questions of the civil engineers on site.

The CUA chapter also participated in community-service projects. The most popular project involved experiments at the National Building Museum for ZOOM into EngineeringDay during National Engineering Week Feb. 22 through 28. CUA students helped schoolchildren develop their engineering skills by constructing spaghetti bridges and gumdrop domes.

The chapter earned second place during the 2004 CUA Engineering Week Celebrationheld Feb. 16 through 20; the CUA Student Chapter of the American Society of MechanicalEngineers earned first place. The two chapters capped off the week’s events with the 3rd Annual Engineering Ball at Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant in Northwest Washington,where about 180 engineering students and faculty members turned out for dining anddancing.

ASCE Student Chapter Strengthens Activities

Women Engineers Prove Their Mettle The CUA Student Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers participated in a widerange of activities during the 2003-2004 academic year. The society is dedicated toorganizing and promoting collaborative projects that provide networking opportunitiesfor women engineers.

The chapter helped to organize the 2004CUA Engineering Week Celebration, whichfeatured activities in honor of NationalEngineering Week. The chapter, along withCUA’s other engineering societies, plannedactivities for the week of Feb. 16 to 20 thatincluded the egg drop and construction ofgumdrop domes. Students enrolled in differ-ent engineering departments participated inthe activities, competing for points through-out the week.

The Engineers’ Ball, which was organizedby the chapter, was held Feb. 20 at Maggiano’sLittle Italy restaurant in NorthwestWashington, D.C., where about 180 engineer-ing students and faculty members enjoyed anevening of dinner and dancing. TheDepartment of Mechanical Engineering wonfirst prize for earning the highest numberpoints during the week.

This summer the chapter again hosted itsKEYs to Empowering Youth program for mid-dle-school girls ages 11 to 13. Held Aug. 23through 26 at Pangborn Hall, the programprovided workshops about engineering careersand opportunities for women. Approximately25 girls from Maryland, Virginia andWashington, D.C., attended the program. InAugust 2003 the CUA chapter hosted a four-day KEYs program along with its Gateways toEngineering program for girls ages 14 to 16.For more information about the society’s out-reach programs, visit the chapter’s Web site athttp://engineering.cua.edu/activities/swe.

Chapter members served as hosts duringCUA’s Homecoming Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, 2003.They also greeted accepted freshmen and trans-fer students and answered questions aboutCUA on Odyssey Day last April 16. The chap-ter also co-sponsored and helped to run theengineering school’s End-of-the-Year Barbecue.

Engineering Hosts BarbecueThe School of Engineering End-of-the-YearBarbecue, sponsored by CUA’s engineeringsocieties, was held April 29 on the Mall acrossfrom the Basilica of the National Shrine of theImmaculate Conception. The event drew somany students and faculty that the organizersran out of food. The students played whiffleball and kick ball while the faculty munchedand mingled. The organizers thank all whoattended the picnic and hope the event will beas successful next year. They especially thankthe CUA student members of the AmericanSociety of Mechanical Engineers who providedthe grill; members of the Society of Women

Engineers, who helped set up the barbecue andclean up afterward; and members of theAmerican Society of Civil Engineers, who purchased and prepared the food.

13

Summer Camp RestructuredSince 1989 the School of Engineering has hosted a summer engineering camp aimed athelping high school students evaluate different engineering disciplines and determiningwhich is the best for them. The camp — Eye on Engineering and Computer Science —traditionally has featured interactive labs thatexplored a specific field and its applications.

Emma Cox, assistant to the dean for projectmanagement and director of the camp program,decided to try a different slant for 2004.

“The participants always learned a great deal,”says Cox, “but we were looking at ways to makethe program better, more exciting, while retain-ing our original mission.” She proposed a compe-tition in which the high school students wouldhave to apply what they were learning toward aspecific goal. The departments weighed in withtheir ideas and suggestions, and a new concept was born.

“We didn’t want to lose the goal of distinguishing between the fields of engineering,”says Cox. “Students most frequently come to us because someone in their life, a parentor a teacher, has told them they’d make a great engineer, but they don’t really knowwhat that means, or what their options might be with a degree in engineering.”

The CUA engineering school has students who earn a bachelor’s degree in engineeringand eventually become project managers, patent lawyers or medical doctors.

Cox says that the school wanted the camp toreflect the range of opportunities in the field. Theschool decided that participants would attendsessions focusing on individual fields and on teambuilding, an important skill for engineers.

As a result of the school’s efforts, the projectfor the 2004 engineering camp, held June 27through July 1, was to design, build and programrobots to play pingpong. The campers, assignedto small teams with specified roles, first workedwith CUA civil engineering professors to constructa bridge. Then, working with undergraduateengineering students who served as camp counselors, the campers learned how to construct and program a robot - dubbed “Mr. George Roboto.”

They then guided the robots over their bridges to test their strength and stability, hopingthe bridges wouldn’t collapse. Next the teams moved on to their ultimate challenge: Therobots had to find the pingpong balls and deliver them to their opponent’s side of thearena within a specific period of time. Using their imagination and technical skills, the teamsdetermined whether the robots delivered the balls by throwing, pushing or carrying them.

For more information visit: http://engineering.cua.edu/activities/engr2002.

Eye on Engineering and Computer Science has been made possible since 1990 through agenerous gift by Jose Yglesias, B.E.E. 1951.

Students compete during Engineering Week.

14

O’Neil Honored As Alumni Award Winner

On Oct. 30, 2003,Robert O’Neil,M.C.E. 1970, washonored as the recip-ient of CUA’s 2003Alumni AchievementAward forEngineering, at aluncheon hosted bythe School ofEngineering

At the luncheon,attended by nearly 80 alumni, faculty, staff,students and CUA administrators, DeanCharles Nguyen presented O’Neil with aplaque commemorating the award. Poul Lade,

chair of the Department of Civil Engineering,congratulated O’Neil, who is a professionalengineer as well as president emeritus ofParsons Engineering of Washington, D.C., anda member of the Advisory Council of the CUASchool of Engineering.

He has been project director on large andcomplex underground and above-ground tran-sit systems in Baltimore, Miami, Los Angeles,Cleveland, Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, N.Y., andTaipei, Taiwan. He has been elected to theprestigious National Academy of Engineeringand, in 1988, received the College ofEngineering Honor Award from the Universityof Notre Dame, where he earned his bachelor’sdegree.

Robert O’Neil

Job Fair Draws Engineering Firms to CUA

Dean Nguyen:Honored For Life’s Work andReceived Presidental Appointment

The 2003–2004 academic year was memo-rable for Charles Nguyen, dean of theSchool of Engineering, who received a lifetime achievement award and his firstpresidential appointment.

In March 2004, the World AutomationCongress (WAC) announced its 2004 life-time achievement award winners, includingDean Nguyen, who was selected for his con-tribution to the field of automation. He hasbeen associated with the congress since itsfounding in 1984. The 2,500-member con-gress, was established to promote intelligentautomation and methodologies such as intel-ligent control, genetic algorithm and neuralnetworks.

The dean started WAC’s InternationalJournal of Intelligent Automation and SoftComputing (AutoSoft) in 1991 and served asits editor in chief from 1994 to 2002. DeanNguyen has served as AutoSoft’s foundingeditor and chair of its editorial advisoryboard. The dean also was recognized for hiswork in control and robotics, reflected inarticles in more than 100 scientific publica-tions. He also has organized and chairednumerous conferences for WAC and otherorganizations such as IEEE and IFAC. Heaccepted the award last June in Seville, Spain.

In May 2004, President George W. Bushappointed Dean Nguyen to serve on theboard of directors of the Vietnam EducationFoundation (VEF) for three years.

“I am very honored to be appointed byPresident Bush to serve on the VEF’s boardof directors,” says the dean. “This is my firstpresidential appointment and I am veryproud of it. This appointment will enhancethe visibility of CUA and the School ofEngineering.”

The foundation is an independent U.S.federal agency created to strengthen the scientific, engineering, medical and techno-logical communities of Vietnam througheducational exchange and scientific and tech-nical cooperation. Nguyen, as a member ofthe foundation’s board of directors, joins U.S.secretaries of state, treasury, and education,two senators and two U.S. representatives.

For his first assignment with VEF, DeanNguyen traveled in June to Hanoi to meetwith high-ranking Vietnamese officials todiscuss the foundation’s goals. While inVietnam, he met with officials of Vietnameseuniversities to explore possible collaborativeprograms with CUA.

Engineering students meet with prospective employers atthe Second Annual Engineering Internship and Job Fair.

Dean Nguyen at the Vietnam Education Foundation meeting in Hanoi.

The Second Annual EngineeringInternship and Job Fair, held last Jan.29, brought nearly 140 engineering stu-dents and 35 employers to the EdwardJ. Pryzbyla University Center. Sponsoredby the School of Engineering and theOffice of Career Services, the eventproved beneficial for both students andemployers.

The employers — many of themCUA alumni — reported that they wereimpressed with the well-attended event.Current students met with employersand, in some cases, found out about jobopportunities. Faculty members alsoattended the event and talked withemployers.

The next engineering fair is scheduledfor Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005. For infor-mation on how engineering firms canparticipate, contact Alan Goodman,director of the Office of Career Services,at 202-319-5623 or goodman@cua.edu.

The Washington, D.C., area is considered bymany the hotbed of biomedical engineering.Within a 20-mile radius of its center lieworld-renowned biomedical related insti-tutions, including the 27 institutes ofthe National Institutes of Health,the Food and DrugAdministration, Walter ReedArmy Medical Center andothers. Further, the burgeoning growthof biomedical researchin the D.C. metropolitanarea has resulted in thrivingbiomedical businesses through-out the region.

In spring 2003, four Washingtonacademic institutions, with longstandingtraditions in biomedical education, trainingand research, established the WashingtonAcademy of Biomedical Engineering(WABME). The founding institutions includeThe Catholic University of America,Georgetown University, George WashingtonUniversity and Howard University. ProfessorSeongki Mun of Georgetown Universityserves as the academy’s president and CharlesC. Nguyen, dean of CUA’s School ofEngineering, as its finance director.

The academy’s mission is to promote long-term research, technology transfer, andeducation in the area of biomedical engineer-ing in the national capital region. Throughcollaboration involving the academic institu-tions, federal laboratories and area industry,the academy seeks to strengthen existing andfuture biomedical research efforts and to create new scientific pathways for future discoveries. For more information, visit theacademy’s Web site at www.wabme.org.

During the 2003-2004 school year, theacademy sponsored four workshops, each onehosted by a different founding institution. The inaugural workshop hosted by GeorgeWashington University was titled “Genomicsand Proteomics for IndividualizedPharmaceuticals and Therapeutics.”Georgetown University’s workshop —“Cancer Imaging for the Operating Room2020” — was held in November 2003.Howard University hosted a workshop titled“Targeted Hyrdogels Induce the Body toRepair Itself ” in February 2004.

In April 2004, Catholic University hostedthe final workshop for the academic year.Titled “Technology for Promotion of Healthand Independence Through the Lifespan,” theworkshop focused on technology and aging.Binh Q. Tran, associate professor and chair ofthe Department of Biomedical Engineering,

facilitated the session. Panelists included William Herman,

director of the Division of Physical Sciencesat the Food and Drug Administration,

Rockville, Md.; Michael J. Rosen, director of the Rehabilitation

Engineering Research Center onTelerehabilitation, Washington,

D.C.; Alan Dubow, vicepresident of ViTelNet,

Inc, McClean, Va.,and Al Browne, vice

president of CommunityPreservation Development

Corp., Washington, D.C. Morethan 50 professionals from acade-

mia, industry and federal laboratoriesattended the event.The academy has received funding from

the U.S. Army and The Whitaker Foundationto finance additional workshops during the2004–2005 academic year.

15

Adjunct LecturerReceives Service Award

On Sept. 26, 2003, theSchool of Engineeringhonored Robert E.Fenton, an adjunct lectur-er for more than 20 yearsin the EngineeringManagement Program.Fenton has been with theprogram since 1979, andhas taught six differentcourses of the curriculum.

He is the director oftechnical operations forBAE SYSTEMS Inc., amajor international aero-space and defense corpo-ration. As a contractor forthe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Fenton is supporting the administration’snew Air Traffic Organization in its strategic and business planning. Based on its annual $9-billion revenues, the organization would rank 220th on the Fortune 500 list if it were a business. Fenton just completed the organization’s first-ever business plan.

Fenton is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and holds master’sdegrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, George WashingtonUniversity, the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and Salve Regina University.

CUA Helps Establish Biomedical Engineering Academy

Graduation 2004: After four years of hard work, civil engineering graduateNina Rodriguez (left) and biomedicalengineering graduate Anji Wall enjoytheir final moments at the School ofEngineering’s commencement, May 15,2004. For a complete list of graduates,turn to page 16.

Robert E. Fenton displaying his service award with JohnLeonard, chair of the Engineering Management Program.

WASH

INGTO

N

ENGIN

EERIN

G

ACADEMY OF

BIOMEDICAL

CUA

School of Engineering

Charles C. Nguyen, Dean202-319-5160

John F. Leonard, Assistant Dean,Graduate Programs202-319-5191

Binh Q. Tran, Chair,Department of Biomedical Engineering202-319-5181

Poul Lade, Chair,Department of Civil Engineering202-319-5163

Philip Regalia, Chair,Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science202-319-5193

J. Steven Brown, Chair,Department of Mechanical Engineering202-319-5170

Doctor of PhilosophyNasreen F. HaideriJose R. LatimerRujirutana SrikanchanaHui Zhao

Master of Biomedical EngineeringAminata Bintu Wahab AlharazimIian BlackDivyesh SharmaMelissa Ann Torres

Master of Civil EngineeringLiliang ChenNicole Angelique Stephanie HindsDeding Xu

Master of Electrical EngineeringGabriella Soledad Corral RayAnna M. ColeSimon Nsingi Mpasi

Master of Mechanical EngineeringJaclyn A. Schade

Master of Science in Computer Science

Yibin DongTomas KuceraRishikesh MahajanHareshkumar Patel

Master of Science in EngineeringAzzam A.A. AlsheikhGuy Serge AngoumaMichael Christopher BaruccheriChristian Briand Cowdrey, IIAllison North DigglesWilliam R. Ellis`Paola Margarita LainoMark LaTorreFeiquan LuoTodd Robert MaginWanko Kounatze NicodemeTimothy John PoeSuttinut SashasakmontriDavid R. SmithBrian J. Tanaka

Bachelor of Biomedical EngineeringMichelle Joy QuinnAlexander R. RazzookMichael James RomanoAndrea Laine TatumAnji Elizabeth Wall

Bachelor of Civil EngineeringMichael Patrick DikonMaria C. FerraraccioMatthew HillearyNishadi A. KarunarathneCharles D. Kramer, IIIJessica K. LandonDaniel Patrick McCarronJohn Gerard McLaughlinNina Maria RodriguezNicholas J. SceggellWilliam Joseph Sutton, IISean Patrick Walsh

Bachelor of Civil Engineering andArchitecture Joint Degree

Clarissa Suzanne KenneyJohn Aloysius Nahra, Jr.Helen Frances Tocco

Bachelor of Electrical EngineeringBenjamin Saul GibsonMatthew Thomas KramerGregory Paul MannJohn Joseph MonaghanEdward Augustine NathanEdward Brien Rogers IV

Bachelor of Mechanical EngineeringAhmed AbelsalamAndrew James D’AgostinoLara Marie DenesiaDaniel Richard DiMaioSuzanne Kathleen IgoeNicholas Benjamin KahlJoseph Michael KostkowskiMichael J. SchwarzDaniel A. Zane

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Kieran Sean FitzpatrickRoselene K. GomesMichael Rommel D. PerrinJoshua Ryan Schellhammer

Congratulations to the Class of 2004!

THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICASchool of EngineeringWashington, DC 20064

NON PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT 711

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Nasreen F. Haideri, “Evaluation of the Biomechanical Strategies of Standing Balance,” Steven Stanhope, adjunct associate professor and adviser.Jose R. Latimer, “Cumulant Filters: Nonlinear Filters for Recursive State Estimation of Systems with Non-Gaussian Process andMeasurement Noise,” Nader Namazi, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science and adviser.Rujirutana Srikanchana, “Functional Imaging and Analysis of Tumor Heterogeneity by Cluster and Independent ComponentAnalysis,” Yue Joseph Wang, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science and adviser.Hui Zhao, “Computer-Aided Lung Cancer Detection Methods in Temporal Chest Radiography,” Yue Joseph Wang, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science and adviser.

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