November 25, 1997

ASM Honors Murty

Dr. K. Linga Murty, professor of nuclear engineering and materials science, was honored with a certificate by American Society for Materials President Dr. George Klauss for being selected as one of five American Society for Materials/Indian Institute of Metals lecturers. Murty plans to give talks at a number of Indian Institute of Metals chapters during a trip in December. He will present a keynote paper on Crystallographic Texture in Materials: Significance, Characterization and Application at the National Seminar on Application of Textures in Materials Research (NASAT-97). He also will present a lecture, in collaboration with Ed Preble, graduate student, at the International Conference on Corrosion (CORCON-97).

Murty attended the annual joint meeting of the Metallurgical Society/American Society for Materials in Indianapolis in September. Dr. M.D. Mathew, a post-doctoral research associate, and two graduate students, Peter Miraglia and Ed Preble, also attended the meeting. Murty also co-organized a recent symposium on Testing and Inspection Techniques for Structural Evaluation and Power Plant Life Extension.

November 24, 1997

Engineers Receive Outstanding Teacher Awards

Three College of Engineering faculty members have been selected to receive 1996-97 Outstanding Teaching Awards from the university. Dr. Joseph Michael Doster, associate professor of nuclear engineering; Dr. Benny D. Freeman, associate professor of chemical engineering; and Richard T. Kuehn, laboratory supervisor for electrical and computer engineering, were honored with 14 other university faculty members for excellence in teaching. The honorees will be inducted as members of the NC State University Academy of Outstanding Teachers.

November 24, 1997

Symposium to Focus on Microchip Design

The 30th International Symposium on Microarchitecture will be held November 30 through December 3 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Research Triangle Park, NC. The symposium will focus on high-performance CPU design, technically called computer microarchitecture.

Organized by Dr. Thomas M. Conte, assistant professor of computer science, and Dr. Mark Smotherman of Clemson University, the symposium is sponsored by the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers with corporate sponsorship provided by Intel. The keynote address will be delivered by Robert Colwell of Intel. Colwell is the lead processor designer for the PentiumPro and the Pentium II. Dr. Michael J. Flynn of Stanford University will also speak. Industry representatives, including Intel, Hewlett Packard, IBM, DEC and Ericsson, will attend the symposium.

For registration information, contact Smotherman at (864) 656-5878 or visit the symposium web site at http://www.ece.ncsu.edu/micro30. Interested media representatives are invited to attend and should call Conte at (919) 515-5067 for information.

November 24, 1997

NC State Engineer Identified as New Hero in His Field

Dr. B. Jayant Baliga, Distinguished University Professor of Electrical Engineering and director of the Power Semiconductor Research Center, has been named one of the "new candidates for hero status" by Glenn Zorpette in a recent special issue of Scientific American magazine.

In his article, "Fifty Years of Heroes and Epiphanies," Zorpette discusses the "legends, heroes and epiphanies" from the history of solid-state electronics. In his history, he specifically mentions the IGBT, which Baliga invented, as a device that has revolutionized the entire field of power electronics. He goes on to say that Baliga is among the rare few who are destined for hero status, joining the likes of Walter Brattain, John Bardeen, William Shockley, Robert Noyce, Jack Kilby and Gordon Moore, all legends in the field of solid-state electronics.

November 14, 1997

Roberts Receives NSF Fellowship

Dr. George W. Roberts, professor of chemical engineering, has been awarded a two-year National Science Foundation/Lucent Technologies (NSF/LT) Industrial Ecology Research Fellowship worth. Worth up to $50,000 each year, the fellowship recognizes scientists whose work focuses on helping industry reduce pollution and create environmentally responsible products. Roberts is one of 18 researchers worldwide to receive NSF/LT fellowships this year. He will use the funding to test a new technology he has developed for making hazardous industrial chemicals on site. It will improve environmental safety by eliminating the need for industries to transport dangerous chemical reactants to and from their plants.

November 6, 1997

Engineering Faculty Receive Alumni Awards

Three College of Engineering faculty members received awards from the NC State University Alumni Association presented at the 1997 NC State Honors Convocation. Dr. David F. Ollis, distinguished professor of chemical engineering, and Dr. James Ben O'Neal, professor of electrical and computer engineering, were named Alumni Distinguished Professors for undergraduate teaching. Dr. Robert M. Kelly, professor of chemical engineering, received an Alumni Outstanding Research Award.

October 30, 1997

NC State Professor Elected Visiting Fellow at Cambridge

Dr. Harold B. Hopfenberg of Raleigh, Camille Dreyfus Professor of chemical engineering, and director of the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science at North Carolina State University, has been elected a visiting fellow at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, in the United Kingdom. The appointment began in October and will extend through August 1998.

While at Cambridge, Hopfenberg will teach and supervise research in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, as well as in the Department of Chemical Engineering.

October 29, 1997

Turnisky Lectures in Brazil and France

Dr. Paul Turnisky, professor of nuclear engineering, recently traveled to Brazil and France to present lectures. In Rio de Janeiro, he presented "Nuclear Fuel Management Optimization of Light Water Reactors" to Furnas Centrais Electricas South America and "Advances in Nodal Methods for Core Simulators: to the Universidad do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. While in Brazil, he attended the XI ENFIR, the Brazilian Nuclear Society meeting, and presented an invited lecture, a seminar and participated in a round table discussion.

In France, Turnisky delivered an invited lecture in the Frederic Joliet Summer School in Reactor Physics sponsored by Commissariat a L'Engergie Atomique at Cadarache. He concluded his month-long trip with two days of lectures and interactions with Electricite de France and Framatome in Paris discussing research programs the companies sponsor through the NC State University Electric Power Research Center.

October 24, 1997

Baliga Appointed Distinguished University Professor

Dr. B. Jayant Baliga of Cary, professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of the Power Semiconductor Research Center at North Carolina State University, has been designated a Distinguished University Professor of Electrical Engineering.

The designation honors excellence in teaching and research at the university. Baliga is the 20th faculty member to receive the honor since 1967.

An internationally recognized authority in the area of power semiconductor devices, Baliga holds 95 patents and has authored more than 450 scientific publications and 10 books, including the basic text on power semiconductor devices used in most major universities in the U.S., Europe, India and Japan.

During his career, Baliga has pioneered the creation of new discrete devices based on combining MOS and bipolar physics with the invention of the IGBT, which is in production by more than a dozen companies world-wide for power control in electric vehicles, air conditioning and home appliances. He also originated the development of power devices from silicon carbide material.

Baliga's most recent development, the Trench MOS Barrier Schottky Rectifier (TMBS), is a semiconductor component that can significantly increase the efficiency of power supplies used in computers and extend the life of batteries in portable electronic devices.

In 1988, Baliga joined the North Carolina State University faculty as a full professor, following a successful career in industry with General Electric Research Laboratory. He established the internationally recognized Power Semiconductor Research Center at NC State in 1991. He received his bachelor's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in 1969 and his master's and doctoral degrees in 1971 and 1974 respectively from Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute, all in electrical engineering.

Baliga has received many awards and honors for his work, including the Dushman and Coolidge awards at General Electric, fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Pride of India award and membership in the National Academy of Engineering.

October 1, 1997

Brown Promoted to Director of Student Transitions

Dr. Thomas H. Brown Jr., P.E., of Raleigh, assistant to the director of SUCCEED, has been promoted to Director of Successful Student Transitions in the College of Engineering. Dr. Sarah A. Rajala, associate dean for academic affairs in the college, announced the promotion at the annual Fall Faculty Meeting held Sept. 3. The promotion was effective July 1.

Brown's responsibilities as director will include administration of the transfer program and Automated Degree Audits. He also will be responsible for professional engineering, bachelor of science in engineering programs and graduation checkout.

Brown received his doctorate in mechanical engineering from NC State in 1990. He received his bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering in 1969 and his master's degree in engineering science and mechanics in 1973, both from Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1981, he left Burlington Industries to attend NC State as a doctoral student. Before joining the SUCCEED program, Brown was the coordinator of advising for the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

September 29, 1997

NC State Engineer Receives NSF CAREER Award

North Carolina State University researcher, Dr. George N. Rouskas of Raleigh, assistant professor of computer science, is the recipient of a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation. The award is the highest honor given by the foundation to young university faculty in science and engineering.

As part of the award, NSF will provide $200,000 in funding over the next four years. Rouskas will use the award to support his research in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical networks.

Since joining the NC State faculty in 1994, Rouskas has achieved an international reputation in the area of optical networks. His research focuses on the design and interconnection of optical networks. WDM technology has the potential for greatly increasing the information-carrying capacity of optical fiber by transmitting information as optical signals using concurrent channels on different wavelengths.

In addition to supporting Rouskas' research, the award also will support the development of graduate courses on all-optical networking and an internetwork--interconnected networks--course on the new WDM technology. Rouskas also plans to actively involve undergraduate students in the networking projects.

Rouskas received his doctorate in 1994 and his master's in 1991 from the Georgia Institute of Technology, both in computer science. He received his bachelor's degree in computer engineering from the National Technical University of Athens. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and the Association for Computing Machinery. He holds a professional license from the Association of Professional Engineers of Greece.

September 25, 1997

Carbonell Addresses Congressional Committee

Dr. Ruben G. Carbonell, Heochst Celanese Professor of Chemical Engineering and head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, addressed new members of the House Science Committee in a program sponsored by Reps. Bob Etheridge of North Carolina and Kevin Brady of Texas.

The program, "Maintaining America's Leadership in the 21st Century: The Importance of Science and Technology Research," brought together university and business representatives to explain the importance of government investment in science and technology research and encourage support for science research.

The Science Coalition, an alliance of organizations, individuals, universities and institutions, helped organize the two-hour conference held on Capitol Hill.

In addition to Carbonell, other notable speakers included Dr. Leon Cooper, Nobel Laureate in physics, and top leaders from the University of Michigan and the University of California at Santa Barbara.

September 25, 1997

College of Engineering Holds Annual Faculty Meeting

The College of Engineering held its annual Fall Faculty Meeting Sept. 3 in Mann Hall. Dean Nino Masnari began the meeting with the presentation of the COE Faculty Senior Scholarship Award. Dr. Robert Kolbas, professor and head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, presented the award to Jamie Carol Byrum, senior in electrical and computer science.

Guest speakers included Chad Myers, senior in biological engineering and student body president, and Provost Phillip Stiles.

New faculty introductions included Dr. Abana Gupta, visiting assistant professor in civil engineering; Dr. Injong Rhee, visiting assistant professor in computer science; Dr. Bryan Hughes, assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering; Dr. Peter Houser, associate professor in textile engineering.

Dean Masnari gave a brief overview of the rankings and improvements in the College over the past year and recognized the increase in National Science Foundation CAREER awards among faculty members. In the past 15 months, eight faculty members have received CAREER awards.

The Spring Faculty Meeting has been scheduled for May 13.

September 12, 1997

PULSTAR Nuclear Reactor Turns 25

The Department of Nuclear Engineering held a celebration in honor of its PULSTAR nuclear reactor's 25th year of service on Sept. 9. The PULSTAR reactor is the fourth nuclear reactor since the original reactor was put into operation in 1953. The PULSTAR was commissioned in 1972.

Located in Burlington Engineering Labs, the reactor provides education and research opportunities for students and professors. In 1996, the department's nuclear reactor operations program received high praise when the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's regional administrator called the PULSTAR reactor "one of the best non-power reactors in the country." Dr. Charles Mayo, associate professor of nuclear engineering, is the director of the Nuclear Reactor Program at NC State.

The university's original reactor, the Raleigh Research Reactor, was the first reactor in the world devoted to education and research for peaceful purposes. In 1986, the American Nuclear Society designated it a "Nuclear Historic Landmark".

September 11, 1997

Koch Tapped for National Panel

Dr. Carl C. Koch, professor of materials science and engineering, has been selected to serve on the World Technology Evaluation Center Panel on Nanoparticle and Nanostructure Technology. Koch is one of eight experts tapped from universities and industry in the United States.

Supported by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Institutes of Health, the panel was created to assess the status and trends in technology and applications research and development in the United States compared to other nations. In addition, the panelists will work to identify areas for future research and development, to develop an international community of nanoparticle and nanostructure researchers and to foster international collaboration.

September 4, 1997

NC State Engineering Alumnus Receives Top Dissertation Award

Paul Stanfield, an NC State industrial engineering alumnus, has met with much success in his pursuit of a career in engineering. His most recent accomplishments include receiving the Doctoral Dissertation Award from the Institute of Industrial Engineers and a promotion at work--to president of ABCO Automation, Inc.

With his dissertation award, Stanfield has the distinct honor of having received all three of the top graduate student honors offered by the Institute of Industrial Engineers. He received the Gilbreth Memorial Fellowship in 1993 for scholarship among industrial engineering undergraduates. And in 1994, he received the Graduate Research Award for best master's degree thesis for the 1992-93 academic year.

Stanfield's success has carried over to his career. In March, he was named president of ABCO Automation, Inc. The engineering company, based in Brown Summit, N.C., near Greensboro, was founded by another NC State engineering alumnus, Graham Ricks.

Ricks started ABCO Automation in 1977, and the company has grown from a small operation to one that now boasts $8 million in sales for 1996 with products in 34 states and 18 countries. His success was recognized by the Greensboro business community in 1996 when he was named Small Business Person of the Year.

This year, ABCO Automation is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The company employees over 80 people, 17 of whom are NC State engineering graduates.

"I benefitted greatly from the program in industrial engineering," says Stanfield. "And the students produced by the College of Engineering are very strong."

Stanfield received his bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering in 1987, his master's degree in industrial engineering and operations research in 1993, and his doctoral degree in industrial engineering in 1995. Ricks received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1971.

September 3, 1997

Director of Minority Programs Promoted to Assistant Dean

Dr. Tony L. Mitchell, professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of minority programs for the College of Engineering, has been promoted to assistant dean for engineering student services. Dr. Sarah A. Rajala, associate dean for academic affairs in the college, announced the promotion at the annual Fall Faculty Meeting held Sept. 3. The promotion was effective July 1.

Mitchell's responsibilities as assistant dean will include coordination of the 2+2/3+2 program and administration of scholarships, tutorial and writing assistance programs, dual degree programs, study abroad, scholars program and cooperative education program. He also will continue to oversee minority engineering programs.

While Director of Minority Programs, Mitchell increased the number of scholarships available to attract top minority students and implemented programs to increase minority retention.