Awards and Notes

• North Carolina State University researcher, Dr. Donald W. Brenner of Raleigh, associate professor of materials science and engineering, received a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation in August 1995. The award is the highest honor given by the foundation to young university faculty in science and engineering.

  As part of the award, NSF provided $105,000 in funding for three years. Brenner has used the funds to support his research in the area of metallic and covalent substrates.

  Brenner has been working on the elastic and plastic responses of a series of metallic and covalent substrates subjected to highly localized nanometer-scale stresses for characterization using molecular-dynamics simulations.

  In addition to supporting Brenner's research, the award has also supported the development of web-based material for the undergraduate engineering course MAT310, a course designed to introduce students to various modern computational techniques.

  Brenner received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the Pennsylvania State University in 1987. He received his bachelor of science degree in chemistry from the State University of New York in 1982. He joined the College of Engineering faculty in 1994.

• Sunita Pullela, who received an M.S. in nuclear engineering in 1994, recently won the Best Presenter Award at the International Advanced Energy Conversion Systems conference in Japan. She presented a paper on her M.S. research about characterizing the PULSTAR neutron spectrum at several locations. Her advisors for her M.S. work were Pedro Perez and Dr. Charles Mayo. Pullela is currently working toward an M.S. in mechanical engineering at N.C. State, which she will receive in May. She resides and works in San Francisco.

• Dr. Michael L. Leming, assistant professor of civil engineering at N.C. State University, was elected a Fellow of the American Concrete Institute at the fall convention in Montreal, Canada.

  ACI awards the honor to "a person who has made outstanding contributions to the production or use of concrete materials, products and structures in the areas of education, research, development, design, construction or management."

• Donald J. Dudziak was awarded the 1995 Radiation Protection and Shielding Division Professional Excellence Award on October 30, 1995, by the American Nuclear Society. Dr. Dudziak has been a prolific contributor to the scientific information associated with radiation protection and shielding for over 25 years. He has made technical contributions in fission and fusion reactor shielding, conducted research in Monte Carlo methods, led neutronics code development efforts, and taught courses in shielding and nuclear engineering. Dr. Dudziak has served the Division as treasurer, vice chair and chair.

• Dr. Ralph E. Fadum, dean emeritus of the NCSU College of Engineering and professor emeritus of civil engineering at NCSU, was selected as one of four recipients of the Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal for Excellence. The Holladay Medal is the highest honor bestowed on a faculty member by the trustees and the university. The medal, named for the university's first president and first professor of history, recognizes the contributions of faculty in teaching, research and service.

• Dharma P. Agrawal, ECE, was presented the IEEE Computer Society Meritorious Service Award.

• James Mink and Michael Steer, ECE, received bronze medallions from the Department of the Army for outstanding scientific achievement.

• Stephen D. Roberts, head of IE, was presented the 1994 Distinguished Service Award, TIMS College of Simulation.

• NCSU alumnus Albert Carnesale (PhD NE 1966), Harvard University's provost and acting president, was guest speaker at the NCSU graduation ceremonies December 1994.

• An honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree was awarded late December 1994 to scientific pioneer Edward E. Hood Jr. (B.S. 1952, M.S. 1953), former vice chairman of the board and executive officer of General Electric Co.

• Ndaona J. Chokani and Lawrence M. Silverberg, MAE, and David F. Ollis, ChE, were named 1994-95 Outstanding Teachers.

• Clarence Smith, assistant head of industrial engineering, was elected chairman of the State Board of Refrigeration Examiners for 1995-96.

• Larry D. Nixon, (EE 1964), secretary-treasurer of Bass, Nixon, and Kennedy, Inc., in Raleigh, was elected to a one-year term as president of the North Carolina Engineering Foundation. Re-elected as foundation vice presidents for 1994-95 were Theodore J. Kratt, vice president of J.A. Jones Construction Co., Charlotte; and Glenn E. Futrell, managing partner, Pirates Cove, Manteo. Also elected as a vice president was James M. Davis Jr., senior vice president of power operations, Carolina Power & Light Co., Raleigh.

• Thom J. Hodgson, IE, was appointed the executive director of IMSEI effective January 13, 1995.

• James C. Mulligan, MAE, was appointed director of the Applied Energy Research Laboratory February 8, 1995.

• Raymond L. Murray, NE professor emeritus, received the 1994 Eugene P. Wigner Reactor Physicist Award from the American Nuclear Society.

• A research paper co-authored by Jadish Narayan, Distinguished University Professor; Kasichainula Jagannadham, associate research professor; and graduate student Tzvetlanka Jeleva, MTE, won first prize in a national competition of the Electron Microscopy Society of America (EMSA).

• Richard L. Porter, MTE, was named assistant dean for academic affairs in the College effective May 16, 1995.

• Bill Simpson, IES, received the 1994 American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) Manufacturing/Industrial Industry Group U.S. Excellence Award.

• The National Science Foundation has awarded a $1.45 million grant to the College of Engineering to purchase and develop cutting-edge scientific equipment to increase the durability and lifespan of the nation's bridges, highways, and buildings. The NSF awarded a total of $52.8 million to 145 U.S. universities as part of its Academic Research Infrastructure (ARI) program. N.C. State received the largest grant awarded to any engineering college in the United States and was one of only seven universities to receive more than $1 million. The grant, awarded to David W. Johnston, Shuaib H. Ahmad, N. Paul Khosla, Roy H. Borden, and Leonhard E. Bernold of civil engineering, will be used to purchase constructed infrastructure test equipment. The equipment supports research on new construction materials, performance of materials under stress and various environmental conditions, improved construction processes, and the interaction among building components. The grant will be matched with $1.45 million provided from university bonds and state funds designated to develop the EGRC. "The total of $2.9 million will be by far the largest equipment investment made in the history of the department," said Johnston, principal investigator for the grant. "The combination of the new space provided by the EGRC Constructed Facilities Laboratory building and the critical mass of research equipment will provide students and faculty with a premiere environment to advance construction knowledge."

• In February 1995 Don Haile, general manager of the IBM Network Software Division, announced the renewal of the IBM Shared University Research (SUR) grant that makes NCSU eligible to receive up to $1 million in IBM equipment which will advance education and research in the areas of high-speed communications and network-based education. Through the award, NCSU will receive IBM RS6000 workstations and ATM networking equipment that will establish a campus-wide ATM-based research test-bed.

• Robert M. Kolbas was named head of electrical and computer engineering effective August 1, 1995.

• Benny D. Freeman, ChE, was chosen to participate in the National Academy of Engineering's First Annual Symposium on Frontiers of Engineering, Irvine, California, in September. He is one of only 85 to 90 participants selected from across the country.

• Tony L. Mitchell was named director of minority programs for the College of Engineering effective September 1, 1995.

• Twelve undergraduates from seven colleges across the country came to the Center for Advanced Electronic Materials Processing (AEMP) to learn how to conduct research. The students participated in the fourth annual Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at N.C. State in cooperation with an AEMP outreach program at NC A&T. The students were at NC A&T May 22 through June 18 and at N.C. State until August 5.

• Vivian T. Stannett, Camille Dreyfus Professor emeritus of chemical engineering, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, February 10, 1995. He is only the ninth person on the N.C. State campus to receive this most prestigious award.

N.C. State student awarded motorola fellowship

The fellowship, which is jointly sponsored by Motorola Inc. and the Components, Hybrids and Manufacturing Technology Group of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), provides a stipend of $21,000 for tuition, supplies and living expenses.

Winick won the fellowship in a paper competition at the 45th Electronic Components and Technology Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, earlier this year. His paper, "A Micro-machined Approach to Optical Interconnect," was chosen the unanimous winner by a panel of judges.

As a member of a group led by Dr. Paul Franzon, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, and sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Winick explores unique applications of micromachines, miniature electro-mechanical systems made of thin-film materials (e.g., silicon) with moving elements that can be smaller than one tenth of one thousandth of an inch across.

Winick also designs micromachine devices that could be useful in screens for portable electronics and in optical and high-speed digital computers.

N.C. State and Duke University found joint research center

The Center for Communications and Signal Processing (CCSP) at NCSU changed its name when it joined with the research team from Duke. The National Science Foundation and other sponsors are providing initial funding.

Dr. Sarah Rajala, professor of electrical and computer engineering at N.C. State and director of CCSP, will serve as the director of CACC. Dr. Kishor Trivedi, professor of electrical engineering at Duke, will serve as site director at Duke.

N.C. State nuclear engineering students win grants

The symposium, sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' Nuclear and Plasma Science Society, is a biennial international event for fusion scientists and engineers and was held September 30 through October 5 in Champaign, Illinois.

"SOFE is a very prestigious gathering for plasma and fusion engineering," said Dr. Mohamed A. Bourham, associate professor of nuclear engineering and one of the students' advisers. "The students' receiving funds to attend and present their work indicates the importance of their research to the engineering aspect of fusion technology."

Kincaid is working on fueling future fusion reactors with pellet injectors; Sharpe studies reactor safety in conjunction with the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory; both Caress and Black conduct research on coaxial plasma thrusters.

The students' advisers are Bourham; Dr. John G. Gilligan, associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Engineering; and Dr. Robert M. Mayo, assistant professor of nuclear engineering.

UNC Alumnus wins IEEE NC Council's Outstanding Educator Award

Outstanding alumni named

Ralph K. Cavin III, dean of the College, announced the awards at a banquet held May 4 at the Capital City Club in Raleigh, as part of the annual Alumni Weekend activities.

DuPlessis (BSNE and BSMet 1958, MSMet 1960) is a technological and business consultant for Crucible Materials Corporation and former president.

Walton (MSCE 1969, PhDCE 1971) is chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Texas.

Weisiger (BSME 1954) was president of Carolina Tractor and Equipment Company in Charlotte for 26 years and is now the company's chairman.

NCSU engineering student honored for invention

One of three winners in the all-collegiate category, Mehrotra received $5,000. His adviser, Dr. Jayant Baliga, professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of the Power Semiconductor Research Center at N.C. State, received $2,500.

Mehrotra invented and patented a cost-effective way to increase the efficiency of power supplies in computers and telecommunication equipment.