August 16, 2000

Kaber, NSF Career Award Recipient, Joins Faculty

Dr. Kaber

Dr. David B. Kaber, a recipient of a Faculty Early Career Development (Career) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF), joined the NC State faculty as assistant professor of industrial engineering effective August 16, 2000. His Career award, which he brought with him from Mississippi State University, is the highest honor given by NSF to young university faculty in science and engineering.

As part of the award, NSF is providing $414,589 in funding for the four-year period of May 15, 1998, to April 30, 2002. Kaber is using the award to support his research project entitled, "Telepresence in Teleoperations." This research will study the sense of being present at a remote site, (telepresence) in context of human remote-control of robotic systems (teleoperations). Another major component of this research is the effect of technological and psychological factors on telepresence experiences in virtual environments and virtual interfaces for remote robot (telerobot) control. Factors include display and hand-controller configuration, time lags and spatial-positioning disturbances in teleoperator control, user training and task expertise, and task difficulty and importance.

Kabers’s research interests include automated systems, cognitive automation, human factors in teleoperation and telerobotics, human machine system interface, occupational safety and health and situation awareness in complex systems.

Kaber received his BS. and MSc. in industrial engineering from the University of Central Florida in 1991 and 1993, respectively, and his Ph.D. in industrial engineering from Texas Tech University in 1996.

-- powell --

August 2, 2000

Third Edition of Chemical Engineering Textbook by NC State Author Just Released

The third edition of a best-selling chemical engineering textbook, co-authored by two NC State engineering educators in 1978, has just been released.

"Elementary Principles on Chemical Processes" by Dr. Richard M. Felder, now Hoechst Celanese professor emeritus of chemical engineering at NC State, and Dr. Ronald W. Rousseau, now head of the school of chemical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, is used in roughly 80 percent of the chemical engineering departments in the United States.

It is also used by schools in Canada and other countries throughout the world. Previous editions have been translated into Chinese and Spanish.

The third edition carries the original mission of preparing students in the fundamentals of chemical process technology. It also provides a foundation for future studies in thermodynamics, transport, unit operations, kinetics and process dynamics. The textbook also is a popular reference for those in chemical process-related positions throughout their careers.

The authors have included in this new edition the problem-solving tools needed in a changing technological environment.

The inclusion of a CD-ROM entitled "Interactive Chemical Process Principle" is the "grandest improvement" of the new textbook, according to the technical editor of InTech magazine, Nicholas Sheble.

"Like a fine wine, this third edition of Felder and Rousseau's college textbook has benefited from the passage of time," he said.

August 1, 2000

Scott Appointed Director of Information Technology

William G. Scott Jr., Assistant Department Head and Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at North Carolina State University, has been named Director of Information Technology for the College of Engineering. In this position, he heads the Office of Information Technology and Engineering Computer Services (ITECS).

His appointment, effective July 1, 2000, was announced by Dr. Nino A. Masnari, dean of the College of Engineering, following approval by the NC State University Board of Trustees.

Scott succeeds Thomas K. Miller III, Associate Dean for Distance Education and Information Technology, who has been named Interim Vice Provost for Distance Education and Learning Technology for the university.

Scott has been with the Computer Science department for 12 years - 4 years as Director of Computer Operations and Facilities and the past 8 years as Assistant Department Head. He has been instrumental in moving the Computer Science department forward during a period of explosive growth. His primary responsibilities were computer hardware, software, and networking support, facilities manager, scheduling officer, summer sessions co-ordinator, adjunct faculty facilitator and coordinator of corporate education to the business community. He is noted for his work with prospective students, effectively recruiting them to NC State's Computer Science department, where he served as coordinator for Open House, Tailgate and other student outreach activities.

Scott also is a member of the teaching faculty in Computer Science and is the Program Adviser for the Information Systems Education Program series of short courses presented by the Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development at McKimmon Center.

Prior to joining NC State, Scott worked for more than 22 years in the business world. He has a solid background of experience and accomplishments in information technology, strategic planning and finance with Rockwell International and Alcoa. He served in both line and staff positions and worked in manufacturing, distribution and service areas in the United States and Canada.

July 31, 2000

Lavelle Appointed Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs

Dr. Jerome P. Lavelle has been named assistant dean for academic affairs in the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University, effective June 28, 2000.

Previously, Lavelle was an associate professor of industrial engineering at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.

Lavelle earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Ohio University in 1984 and 1986, and his doctorate from NC State in 1992, all in industrial engineering. Prior to joining NC State, Lavelle worked with AT&T Bell Labs and the NASA Kennedy Space Center.

July 17, 2000

Koch Named TMS Fellow

Dr. Koch

Carl C. Koch, professor of materials science and engineering at NC State University, has been chosen as one of the five recipients of the 2001 Fellow Award from The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS).

The nomination was approved by the TMS Honors and Professional Recognition Committee and the TMS Board of Directors. This award is presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the practice of metallurgy or materials science and technology. It is the highest award given by TMS and is limited to no more than 100 living fellows.

The formal presentation of the award will be made during the society's awards dinner on February 13, 2001, in New Orleans, LA, during the 130th TMS Annual meeting.

Koch received the Alcoa Foundation Distinguished Engineering Research Award in 1991 and the NC State University Alumni Association Outstanding Research Award in 1996. In 1997 he was selected to serve on the World Technology Evaluation Center Panel on Nanoparticle and Nanostructure Technology, sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

Koch received his PhD in 1964 and his MS in 1961 in metallurgy and his BS in 1959 in metallurgical engineering, all from Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve). During 1964-65 he was an NSF post-doctoral Fellow at Birmingham University, UK. He came to NC State in 1983 from Oak Ridge National Labs, where he was a Group Leader. He has served as director of graduate programs and currently serves as associate department head for NC State's Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

Koch is the major researcher behind the discovery that metallic glasses could be produced through mechanical alloying. His research interests focus on nanocrystalline materials, amorphization by mechanical attrition; mechanical alloying; rapid solidification; high temperature intermetallics; and oxide superconductors. He has been ranked as third in the world in the number of citations per paper for 1990-1994, for high impact papers in materials science. He has published more than 190 papers and journal articles. He is also a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), ASM International and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He is an editor of Materials Science and Engineering A, an international journal.

July 17, 2000

Rigsbee Named Fellow of ASM International

Dr. Rigsbee

Dr. J. Michael Rigsbee, professor and head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University, has been elected Fellow of ASM International, the Materials Information Society, by the society's Board of Trustees.

The honor of Fellow represents recognition of Rigsbee's outstanding contributions as an educator and researcher in the areas of physical metallurgy and surface engineering.

The honor will be conferred upon him at the ASM Annual Event, Convocation of Fellows, on October 10 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Rigsbee, who has served as department head since November 1998, has more than 115 publications and holds three patents. His research interests include the "atomic-level" design of non-equilibrium alloys using physical vapor deposition techniques and the application of electron optics-based microstructural and microchemical characterization techniques.

A Durham native, Rigsbee earned his bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering in 1969, his master's degree in materials engineering in 1971 and his doctoral degree in materials engineering in 1974, all from NC State University.

July 12, 2000

Dr. Ralph E. Fadum, 1912-2000

Dr. Ralph E. Fadum, dean emeritus of NC State University's College of Engineering, died July 12, 2000, at Mayview Convalescent Center in Raleigh. He was 87.

An international authority in the field of geotechnical engineering, he served as NC State Dean of Engineering from 1962 to 1978. Prior to that he served as head of the Department of Civil Engineering from 1949-1962. He was also designated as Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering.

Dr. Fadum was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on July 19, 1912. He received his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois and his master's and doctoral degrees in soil mechanics and foundation engineering from Harvard University. He taught at Harvard and Purdue University before joining NC State's faculty. Purdue awarded him an honorary doctorate of engineering in 1963.

Throughout his career, his contributions had considerable impact on national goals of engineering education and the engineering profession, as well as on his students and colleagues. He was an energetic advocate of programs that opened the engineering profession to many more women and minorities. His distinguished record in supporting excellence in engineering education and his pioneering work in soil mechanics and foundation engineering were recognized in 1975 by his election to the National Academy of Engineering, the highest distinction conferred on an engineer.

As engineering dean, he was instrumental in the development of important programs and centers devoted to special technologies, including the Center for Acoustical Studies, the Center for Marine and Coastal Studies, the Engineering Design Center, the Engineer-in-Residence Program, the Productivity Research and Extension Program (which evolved into the Integrated Manufacturing Engineering Systems Institute), the Water Resources Research Institute and the Furniture Research and Development Applications Institute.

As a leader in the areas of soil mechanics and foundation engineering, his expertise was sought by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Air Force, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Transportation. He worked on many projects, including the Trans-Alaska pipeline, the permafrost study in Greenland and the NASA Apollo program launching facilities.

Dr. Fadum belonged to numerous scientific, professional and honorary societies and was a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. His honors and awards were numerous, including the Department of the Army's Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Outstanding Civil Engineer in North Carolina and the Award of Merit from the NC State University Alumni Association.

In 1995, he was awarded the Holladay Medal for Excellence by the NC State Board of Trustees in recognition of his outstanding career in teaching, research and service at the university. In April of this year he was designated a Fellow of the Professional Engineers of North Carolina.

In addition, as a champion of athletics, Dr. Fadum served as chairman of NC State's Faculty Athletics Committee from 1961-1973, as president of the Atlantic Coast Conference from 1966-1969 and 1971-1972 and as a member of the Council of the National Athletics Association from 1972-1976.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine Lawrence Fadum; a daughter, Jane Fields Fadum of Raleigh; a brother, Torgier B. Fadum, Jr. and his wife, Mary, of Grand Island, New York; two stepdaughters, Cynthia Haverly of Valparaiso, Indiana, and Linda Eason of Canton, Michigan; and a step-granddaughter, Kristen Eason. Dr. Fadum was predeceased by a brother, Hans Fadum and a sister, Mildrid Brown.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 15, 2000, at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, St. Mary's.

July 11, 2000

IES Presents its Strategic Plan
2000 - 2003

IES (Industrial Extension Service) will present its Strategic Plan 2000-2003 to the College of Engineering at NC State University on July 11, 2000.

The "Signing Ceremony," held at the Velvet Cloak Inn, will be attended by representatives of various businesses and industries in North Carolina, members of NC State University, and the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

The Strategic Planning Steering Committee will endorse the IES Strategic Plan and present it to Nino Masnari, Dean of NC State University's College of Engineering. The executive director of IES, Terri Helmlinger, will then present the 21st century vision for IES Öa vision that aims to aid North Carolina in its growth and economy, and move forward with the progress and technology of the new millennium.

Other speakers in the agenda for the evening include: June Brotherton, Associate Director, NCSU Libraries and Chairperson Strategic Planning; Nino Masnari, Dean, College of Engineering; Rick Carlisle, Secretary of NC Department of Commerce.

A cross-section of twenty-four IES employees designed the "New IES" in conjunction with a Steering Committee representing NC State University, our clients, our partners, and our stakeholders. IES has an established reputation of providing the best service to its customers, backed by intellectual and innovative support. The "New IES" plans to continue in that tradition of excellence, and yet be challenged by growth in technology, research, and education. IES aspires to boost the state's economy and resources through its goals for the 21st century.

For more information, contact: Ruthann Cage at 919-515-9433 ruthann_cage@ncsu.edu

July 7, 2000

Angelo Scholarship Awarded to
Jonathan Rice

Rice

Jonathan L. Rice of Winston-Salem has been selected to receive an Ernest James and Ethel Hudgins Angelo Scholarship in the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University. Rice is the fourth recipient of an Angelo scholarship.

Dr. E. James Angelo Jr. and his brother William E. Angelo established the scholarship in memory of their parents. Recipients must be from Forsyth County, demonstrate an interest in the environment and pursue an engineering degree that will give them the opportunity to work to protect the environment.

Rice, who is the son of Richard L. and Ellen D. Rice, both of Winston-Salem, graduated from R.J. Reynolds High School this spring. He was captain of the Science and General Knowledge Academic Teams as well as the State Science Bowl. Rice was the recipient of the Bausch and Lomb Science Award and was a National Honor Society member. He was active with the Math Academic Team and Chess Club and was a bowling league team captain.

Angelo scholarships, valued at $7,500, provide full tuition, fees, room and board for one-year and are renewable.

July 7, 2000

Young Named Head of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at NC State

Dr. James H. Young, professor of biological and agricultural engineering, has been named head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at NC State University. His appointment was effective May 1, 2000.

Young, who has been serving as interim department head since
July 1,1999, joined the NC State faculty in 1966.

In addition to his teaching, he has pursued research in various aspects of crop processing, such as drying systems and environmental control. His primary focus is on heat and moisture transfer as applied to peanut and tobacco curing. He is author or co-author of more than 55 published papers.

He is active in many scientific, professional and honorary societies, including the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE), the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES), Phi Kappa Phi national academic honor society and Sigma Xi scientific research honor society.

Young is a Registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina, an ASAE Fellow and an APRES Fellow.

A native of Kentucky, he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in agricultural engineering at the University of Kentucky in 1962 and 1964 and his doctoral degree in agricultural engineering at Oklahoma State University in 1966.

July 6, 2000

Wilson Receives Meritorious Service Award

Dr. James R. Wilson, professor and head of the department of industrial engineering, has received the 1999 Operations Research Meritorious Service Award for his efforts on behalf of the journal Operations Research. The award recognizes the work that members of the scholarly community do to support the operations research profession. Names of the 1999 honorees are published in the July-August 2000 issue of Operations Research.

June 16, 2000

NC State Engineer Receives NSF Career Award

Dr. Krim

North Carolina State University researcher, Dr. Hamid Krim, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, is the recipient of an Faculty Early Career Development (Career) Program award from the National Science Foundation (NSF), effective February 2, 2000. The award is the highest honor given by the NSF to young university faculty in science and engineering.

As part of the award, NSF will provide approximately $220,000 in funding and opportunities for additional matching funds over the next four years. Krim will use the award for support of the project, "Smart Nonlinear Diffusion: A Probabilistic Approach."

Krim's research interests span the fields of vision, information and signal theory, statistics/probability and mathematical modeling with applications to real-world problems (imaging, communications, etc.).

Krim received his doctoral degree from Northeastern University in 1991, his master's degree from the University of Washington (Seattle) in 1980, and his bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California and the University of Washington in 1979, all in electrical engineering. Krim joined the NC State faculty in 1998. Prior to his appointment, he was a research scientist at MIT.

June 15, 2000

GE Fund Scholars Named at 13 Universities

-- Ronald C. Funderburk II Chosen from NC State's College of Engineering

GE Fund Scholars have been named at 13 universities across the country, in recognition of their outstanding academic performance and leadership potential.

GE Fund Scholars are students from under-represented backgrounds enrolled in business or engineering programs who are nominated by their universities in the spring of their freshman year. Scholars at private institutions receive $10,000 per year and those at public institutions receive $6,000 per year for their sophomore, junior, and senior years in college, contingent on continued academic performance.

In making the announcement, Joyce Hergenhan, president of the GE Fund, said, "Our hats are off to these terrific students who have already achieved great accomplishments. We're proud to support these future leaders." As of fall 2000, the GE Fund will be supporting a total of 42 GE Fund Scholars at 26 universities.

The Class of 2000 scholars includes

Engineering --

• Cornell University: Ramiro Rodriguez, of West Palm Beach, Fla.

• Georgia Institute of Technology: Richard A. Bowen, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

• University of Illinois: Cayse A. Llorens, of University Park, Ill.

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Marlita Taylor, of Laurel, Md.

• University of Massachusetts/Amherst: Joseph A. Finley II, of Boston, Mass.

• University of Michigan: Michael D. Cartwright, of West Bloomfield, Mich.

• North Carolina State University: Ronald C. Funderburk II, of Winston-Salem, N.C.

• Purdue University: Eric R. Curiel, of Portage, Ind.

Business --

• Boston College: Olukemi Umogbai, of Bronx, N.Y.

• Indiana University: William J. Storey, of Ft. Wayne, Ind.

• Syracuse University: Uliece N. Isaacs, Brooklyn, N.Y.

• University of Virginia: Julia D. Ferguson, Evanston, Ill.

• North Carolina A&T State University: Nelson Williams IV, of Oakland, Calif.

The GE Fund, the philanthropic foundation of the General Electric Company, works to improve the well-being of men, women, and children around the world. The Fund's US higher education initiatives focus on increasing access to higher education; boosting the number of women and minority higher education faculty in management, engineering, and sciences; and supporting effective curricular innovations.

The Fund made grants totaling over $35 million in 1999. The GE Fund does not accept unsolicited proposals.

For further information, contact: Roger Nozaki, 203/373-2418

June 14, 2000

Dudziak Inducted Into Phi Kappa Phi

Dr. Donald J. Dudziak, professor of nuclear engineering, is an alumni inductee into Phi Kappa Phi, a national academic honor society. Dudziak is one of eight NC State alumni and faculty and staff members inducted into the honor society this year.

June 13, 2000

DeSimone Receives O. Max Gardner Award

Click here to read about it --From NC State News Services

June 13, 2000

Kekas Named Director of Networking Technology

Dennis H. Kekas has been named Director of Networking Technology in the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University, effective May 1, 2000. This position assumes responsibility for the effective integration of three programs: the Center for Advanced Computing and Communication (CACC), the Centennial Networking Laboratory (CNL) and the Multimedia Laboratory (ML). The position was created so that the College may better address its involvement in national networking initiatives and to create a preeminent networking program within the College. As director, Kekas will oversee all of the activities as well as serve as director of each.

Since 1997 Kekas has served as Director of the Multimedia and Centennial Networking Labs at NC State University. Previously he was a Development Director at IBM Corporation in a number of divisions, including the Networking Hardware Division, Networking Systems, Communication Products, Store Systems Business and Brokerage Systems.

He holds eight worldwide patents and has won a number of awards for outstanding inventions, technical achievement and management excellence. In 1999 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Clemson University Alumni Association.

He is a member of the Advisory Board of Oak Ridge National Laboratories/University of Tennessee Center, serves on the Industrial Advisory Board of the Clemson University Research Foundation and serves on the Advisory Board of OpenNMS/Blue Bird Networks.

A registered Professional Engineer in both North Carolina and New York, Kekas received his BSEE from Clemson University and has taken coursework towards an MSEE at both Syracuse University and North Carolina State University.

June 13, 2000

Miller Named Interim Vice Provost for Distance Education and Learning Technologies

Dr. Miller

Thomas K. Miller III, associate dean for distance education and information technologies in the College of Engineering at NC State University, has been named interim vice provost for distance education and learning technologies at NC State University, effective July 1, 2000. The announcement was made by Provost Kermit L. Hall.

A professor of electrical engineering who joined the NC State faculty in 1982, Miller has been a leader in the development of distance education technologies. As a result of a program he and a team of engineers designed, in 1996 NC State's College of Engineering became the first in the state to offer an interactive distance education class in real time over the Internet.

A Kinston native, Miller is a member of the Academy of Outstanding Teachers at NC State, the IEEE Computer Society, the Communications Society and the American Society of Engineering Education. He lives in Raleigh with his wife, Trish, and their two children.

June 9, 2000

NC State to Offer Degree in Biomedical Engineering

On January 14, 2000, the UNC Board of Governors granted approval to North Carolina State University's College of Engineering to plan a Biomedical Engineering degree program.

The Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at NC State University currently offers a BS in Biological and Agricultural Engineering with four concentration areas - agricultural engineering, biomedical engineering, bioprocess engineering and environmental engineering. The biomedical engineering concentration has shown an increase in student interest during the recent past.

Biomedical engineering is projected to have considerable growth in employment in the next decade. As of April 1998, North Carolina ranked eighth nationally in bioscience business as assessed by state and national trade measures, according to "A Strategy for Enhancing the Competitiveness of NC Bioscience Industry" prepared by the NC Biosciences Organization. The number of biomedical engineering-related companies in North Carolina, and specifically in Research Triangle Park, provides a positive outlook for graduates.

June 7, 2000

Johnson Wins Fulbright Grant for Foreign Travel, Research

Dr. Richard R. Johnson, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, received a prestigious Fulbright Scholar grant for international academic pursuits. Johnson is at the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. He visited Kenya on a 1990-91 Fulbright grant.

June 1, 2000

Kilpatrick Named Head of Chemical Engineering at NC State

Dr. Kilpatrick

Dr. Peter K. Kilpatrick, professor of chemical engineering, was named head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at North Carolina State University.

His appointment was announced by Dr. Nino A. Masnari, dean of the College of Engineering, following approval last month by the NC State University Board of Trustees. The appointment was effective January 1, 2000.

Masnari said, "Dr. Kilpatrick is an outstanding teacher and researcher who is not only devoted to the education of his students but also to the success of his department. I am confident that under his leadership the chemical engineering program at NC State will continue to build on its tradition of excellence."

Kilpatrick, who served as interim department head since August 16, 1999, replaces Dr. Ruben Carbonell, KoSa Professor of Chemical Engineering, who had served as department head since August 1994. Carbonell now serves in several capacities, as director, William R. Kenan, Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science; co-director, NSF Science and Technology Center for Environmentally Responsible Solvents and Processes; and co-director, Kenan Center for the Utilization of CO2 in Manufacturing. Kilpatrick had served as associate head of the department prior to his interim appointment.

Kilpatrick's research interests focus on the manifold ways in which surfactants and amphibic molecules aggregate, adsorb and generally modify interfaces. His front-running research is capturing the attention of oil companies and the National Science Foundation for his development of new techniques for manipulating emulsions in crude oil with as little impact as possible on the environment.

Prior to joining the NC State faculty as an assistant professor in 1983, Kilpatrick received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1983 and his A.B. in chemistry from Occidental College in 1978.

He holds seven patents in partnership with colleagues and has received numerous awards and honors for his educational and research activities, including the Sigma Xi Research Award, the AT&T Foundation Award for Excellence in Education (ASEE) and the Alcoa Foundation Engineering Research Achievement Award.

June 1, 2000

NC State Engineer Receives NSF Career Award

Dr. Shih

North Carolina State University researcher Dr. Albert J. Shih, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, is the recipient of an Faculty Early Career Development (Career) Program award from the National Science Foundation (NSF), effective May 1, 2000. The award is the highest honor given by the NSF to young university faculty in science and engineering.

Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) and Cummins Engine Company are collaborators of this Career project, entitled "Cost-Effective Precision Form Grinding of Advanced Materials."

As part of the award, NSF will provide $200,000 over the next four years, with further opportunities for funding regarding an equipment supplement, industrial collaboration and a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.

Shih joined NC State's mechanical and aerospace engineering department in August 1998. He received his B.S. in 1984 and his M.S. in 1986, both in mechanical engineering from National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan. He received his Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics in 1991 from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.