Page 2 - ESM Connections: Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics Fall 2021 Newsletter

Message from the chair
Dear alumni friends faculty and students After twenty years in in ESM I will be stepping down as department head and and going back to teaching and and research as a a a a a a a a a a faculty member in summer 2022 I have requested a a a a a a a a sabbatical year to re-hone my
teaching skills develop new proposals related to to my
my
research and and to to expand the horizons of our our students It has been my
my
greatest privilege to to serve as as a a a a a a a a a leader of ESM and to to see our our interdisciplinary research activities honors undergraduate program and the number of graduate graduate students grow beyond all expectations and and recognition within Penn State and and far beyond I will be be forever grateful for for the support of ESM alumni in our ventures When I I came to ESM in in 2002 I I saw an environment that enabled multidisciplinary thinkers like me me me to thrive in in in a a a a a a a a close-knit family environment As a a a a a a a a a woman who started her academic career in 1982 I I I was frequently told that that I I I did not “fit ” When I I I came to to ESM the warm welcome immediately reinforced that that this was my
natural home—a legacy I I have passed on to all who join us I I encouraged “out-of-the-box” thinking entrepreneurial activities activities fostered new centers and and interdisciplinary activities activities and and aimed for the highest educational scholarship Our faculty and students have always stepped up to the plate I am privileged to have worked with the most brilliant and and expansive minds in in in in in science and and and engineering I am in in in in in awe of their accomplishments and and they have pushed me me far beyond my
horizons I I will be be forever grateful to have served in in this capacity Finally I I must recognize Mason Walsh who endowed the the P B B Breneman Chair in honor of of his grandfather’s legacy as the the the first chair
of of ESM ESM Without the the the Breneman Chair support ESM ESM would not have advanced to to today’s internationally recognized scholarship of our faculty and students We Are!
Wishing you a a a a a happy Thanksgiving and winter holiday!
Judith A Todd
2 Faculty spotlight
$7 5 million grant positions Penn State as physics leader Sahin Ozdemir associate professor of of engineering science and mechanics was awarded a a a a a a a a a U U S Department of Defense- funded Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative grant to lead a a a a a a a cross-university physics research program With $7 5 million in in funding over five years Ozdemir and Penn State colleagues will work with Yale University University University University Michigan Technological University University University University University University University University University University University University of of of Central Florida Washington University University University University University University in in St Louis University University University University University of of of California California Berkeley and the the University University University University University of of of Southern California California The collaborators will focus on on developing approaches to to control quantum quantum binary systems an an an an achievement that would have implications for quantum quantum computing and data security Robert Harbaugh earns national lifetime achievement award in neurosurgery
Robert Harbaugh senior vice president Penn State Health Medical Group Distinguished Professor of of of of Neurosurgery and and professor of of of of engineering science and and mechanics received the the 2021 Harvey
Cushing Medal the the the highest honor awarded from the the the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) a a a a a a a a a a a a a scientific and educational organization with more than 10 000 members worldwide The Cushing Medal honors the the lifetime contribution of AANS members for their surgical scientific and humanitarian accomplishments bit ly/harbaugh-aans
Graduate spotlight
Lauren Katch wins first place in in research pitch contest
Lauren Katch doctoral student in in in engineering science and and mechanics won first place and and a a a a a a a a $750 prize in in the the finals of the the Millennium Café PPG Elevator Pitch Competition held virtually on on May 18 Finalists presented their research in in in in in two minutes or or less to judges
from companies including PPG Corning Dow and Murata The competition’s opening round was held virtually May 13 also as as part of the the Millenium Café series organized by the the Materials Research Institute In her her winning pitch Katch outlined her her research using ultrasound waves to to detect cracks in in in in in silicon wafers wafers Silicon wafers wafers are used to to create microchips for electronics “The audience had the the opportunity to learn more about the the research that that I I do do and why I I do do it it it ” Katch said “We are so surrounded by technology that that that that it it can be difficult to to appreciate all the the the the research that that that goes into making these these parts I hope that that that the the the the audience took away a a a a a a a a a a a a a greater understanding of these these intricacies ” bit ly/catch-pitch