Meet the Professor: Dr. Yi Liang

Yi Liang, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering, has conducted research at the University of Arkansas since 2007. She earned a bachelor’s of science and master’s of science from China Agricultural University in Beijing.

Intro to Engineering
Liang’s college experience led her to engineering. She began with a love for math and science, which turned to interest in civil engineering structures and architecture. “During my undergraduate (studies), I combined livestock design, animal structure into an interest in environment control for animals.”

Liang’s experience in wastewater treatment led her to working on indoor air quality and the mitigation or reduction in air emission from animal housing.

Engineering Influences
Liang credits the success of her career in part to her Post-doctorate mentor, who was an influential researcher in her education. “My mentor was a professional, dedicated person who was both detail oriented and a big picture person,” she said. “He has vision, research that will help the sustainability of the industry.”

University of Arkansas Experience
Liang main career responsibilities have always been extension and research, which she has continued at the University of Arkansas. When a course is offered in her realm of research, she steps up as a professor as well.

“I serve farmers, growers and people who live in rural areas to improve the quality of life,” she said. Liang works for the division of agriculture and teaches local farmers and growers how to use different technologies and develop practical solutions. For example, Liang worked with a wheat scientist to develop ways to bring
in pesticides.

“We’re solution-oriented,” said Liang about her work. She is constantly directing herself by asking, “Does it work? Is it the right solution? How can we meet regulations and still be efficient?” and continually comes to more efficient solutions based on climate, environment and other factors.

While at her research post in Canada, Liang focused on nitrogen loss in the composting waste treatment technology, using a heating process with the livestock compost to reduce air emissions by killing pathogens. Now, she says, the University of Arkansas is using a similar technique for food waste.

Research
Liang’s agricultural research is investigative. She’s trained to always bring in new findings, ideas and technology, as well as find new applications for existing technology for climate, animal species and irrigation. Her solutions are valued by the local Tyson Foods Company.

A major concern for Tyson, the second largest poultry producer, is that “the process of raising chickens is very prone to ammonia pollution,” she said. “We created a low-cost ammonia sensor, developed an in-house sensor and compared a reference-sensor, which was older and not low-cost or robust.”

Liang said they are still figuring out the basic parameters for the sensor and searching for gaps in the system.

Her latest research focuses on the use of surface wetting, the use of water nozzles to distribute little flecks of water that are small enough to bring the body temperature down without being annoyingly noticeable.

The practice is typically used for cattle, but she hopes to adapt the technology for use on chickens, and even on people.

“In Arizona, where it is hot for most of the year, restaurants were trying to figure out how to bring people onto their patios,” she said, explaining that surface wetting was the ideal solution.

Surface wetting allows cattle to maintain milk production. “Heat affects milk production…they can’t eat well, so they can’t make milk,” she said. The use of surface wetting for chickens is generally not accepted, because the popular belief is that the feathers provide too much protection from the water. “People say it would never work to cool them,” but Liang believes otherwise. Her experiments on chickens are commercial trials, where success is measured by how much the chickens eat.

Off the clock
When Liang isn’t in the lab or communicating with farmers about how to improve their crops, she likes to read and listen to classical and country music. She loves the outdoors, but doesn’t have time to enjoy it. When she gets the chance, she goes for a walk or some sightseeing.

A Few of My Thankful Things

There are so many reasons I should be thankful. Below are just a few of the many people that make my life more enjoyable. I look forward to and cherish the predictability and comfort that some always meet me in the same place at the same time, and the thirst and curiosity that others never meet me in the same place twice. My time with you all is the best.

Einstein bagel and coffee morning dates with Christina. Emails from my favorite South African friend. Lunches with Joan. Phone calls from Denver. Messages from my friends in New Mexico. Over-the-cubicle-chats with my coworkers. Coloring with Stiles. Dinners with Jennifer. Book reviews from Jacob. Patio chats with my neighbors.

The people who sells books on Amazon for a penny. Who even are you?

The fuzzy kitty that keeps my windowsill warm and greets me at the door.

A job that I actually enjoy and coworkers that make the day seem short.

The Barnes & Noble employees that haven’t kicked me out, even though they know very well that I’ve been reading entire books in the cafe for months now, bringing the profit margin down by a hair.

My nephews who keep me laughing with their weird sense of humor, their versatility (football player and in the band), one who is building me a website, and the youngest who continually surprises me, learning new things every day and growing entirely too fast.

UA EWB Gets a Makeover

EWB-USA student chapters are feeling a lot of tension between their respective universities and the national organization. The students aren’t getting any less passionate about their work, so they are turning their energy and resources to other means.

The University of Arkansas chapter will proceed with activities, functioning under EWB guidelines. Their current project in Belize, however, will be completed under the heading of another group called Arkansas Engineers Abroad because the project wasn’t sanctioned by EWB.

AEA is an independent group that branched off from the University of Arkansas Engineers Without Borders in October to finish social work in the community of More Tomorrow, where they have collaborated with villagers and improved quality of life through engineering projects for more than two years now. The UA chapter felt free to do this partially because so many other student groups are doing the same. OKEWB is one such group, who also separated from USA-EWB and teamed up with the EWB professional chapter of Oklahoma.

“EWB is losing chapters and incentive isn’t high,” said Ben Marts, EWB international project chair. “AEA is a single-project organization that will do whatever it takes to finish up our projects in More Tomorrow. We’re contracting the work on the water tower that we’re building, digging pipes, and we hope to be down there during construction.”

EWB National recognized the UA-EWB group as an official chapter in May, but the University of Arkansas also has to sign papers attesting to the same- which they have yet to complete.The pressure on the group is to finish the Belize project, which is not sanctioned by EWB national, before becoming an official national chapter.

Each EWB project requires an extensive series of paperwork, calls, emails and other communications with EWB officers and community leaders of the assisted city. Each design is approved by a professional engineer and members must take a precursory trip to begin assessment and planning.

In some cases, Marts and his superiors find the extra trips and extra cost unnecessary. For instance, the current Belize project began with contacts that had been made by engineering professor Thomas Soerens, who took his summer classes there regularly.

“Hiring a local engineering firm would be cheaper than sending paperwork through EWB,” Marts said. “To become a national chapter…both EWB and the University of Arkansas have to agree.” The university insists that the student organization covers insurance for their international excursions, but USA-EWB considers that the responsibility of the university.

If things take longer to wrap up in Belize than originally considered, or the University of Arkansas declines the paperwork for nationals, Marts believes the AEA could be the solution, the easier way for Arkansan engineers to reach out and help other people.

“Perhaps more professional and student chapters should be combined,” he said. “You get the best of both worlds, with the knowledge and expertise of older engineers and the passion and strong sense of responsibility of the younger engineers.”

Wake Up

Maybe it's that I'm naturally goal-oriented, but lately I've felt suffocated by my schedule. I work at least 40 hours a week, of course, but in the evenings and on the weekends, I write for other publications, run several miles and read a certain amount of magazines, newspapers, fiction novels and consume other media- there is a lot of NPR to listen to, it turns out.

As much as I enjoy my job and enjoy having the time to stay on top of my reading and current events, I am still an artist. I need those nights of staying up late to write a song, or just staying up late so that everyday isn't exactly the same.

Alarm clocks should be helpful suggestions, not dictators.

A friend of mine recently returned from South Korea and brought along a refreshing perspective- let it go. Allow for things to happen. Stop trying so hard, and things, all the important things will happen.

So lately, I've given myself leeway. I sit and color, yes, coloring books. I've returned to some of the stress-relievers I formed during my time at Ouachita- coloring, charcoal, playing piano frequently, listening to music intensely.

This weekend, I rolled up my sleeves and did several large, poster-board-sized finger paintings and did some sewing by hand (see green pillow above), and for once it was just nice to be. To feel as if I had woken up from the foggy haze of routine and consciously thought about how I was spending my time.

I believe in black holes. I believe that as the universe empties into nothingness, past and future will smack together in the last swirl around the drain. Cutting For Stone, Abraham Verghese

These are some of the moments that things come together for me- when a past version of me catches up with my present self and hopefully, I'm more balanced because of it, made better by it.

Meet the Professor: Dr. Kaiming Ye

Dr. Kaiming Ye, associate professor of biomedical engineering, began teaching at the University of Arkansas in 2004. He earned a bachelor’s of science, master’s of science and a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Shanghai.

Intro to engineering
Ye didn't forsee becoming a biomedical engineer. He began as a nuclear physicist. Originally from China, he took interest-based tests there and made one of the highest scores possible, which gave him the freedom to study anywhere and anything he wanted.

Upon entering the workforce, he was drawn to the petroleum industry, and enjoyed it. “I liked industry very much…it’s rewarding because you see the product actually work,” he said. But soon, Ye turned to the field of medicine. “Molecular biology became important at the time…to the quality of life and the impact of DNA technology, DNA modified genetics and how to practice medicine,” he said.

Engineering Influences
Ye’s first research endeavor was a bio-fermentation project. “Working with Penicillin, we designed a bio-reactor fermentation system that was 300 tons, four-stories high,” he said. “As an on-site engineer, I participated in vitamin C design bioreactor control system. This research experience was a crucial because it brought his career to where it is today.

Ye never chose a scientific role model or tried to emulate any of his advisors; a quality that he says has driven and molded him. “I’m self-determined,” he said. “I convinced myself that I could be a chemical, biomedical engineer by doing that first research project.” And that was all the direction he needed.

University of Arkansas
Ye became a part of the University of Arkansas because he was excited about the opportunity to be a part of a budding biological engineering program.

In addition to teaching and researching, Ye advises several students and spoke very highly of them. “They work very hard, are very intelligent, very active, very involved in classroom discussion, smart…” he said. “When I ask hard questions, they answer quickly. It’s encouraging.”

“Communicating with them is rewarding. They make a difference.”

Research
Ye is working on a number of biomedical research projects at the moment. His main research focuses on turning a Beta Cell differentiation into a bio-function cell treatment to improve the glucose sensor, which he spent a couple of years developing and improving.

“Diabetes patients are constantly monitoring glucose levels because they have no beta cells in the pancreas that can fend off disease,” he said. This dependence is a severe impediment, in many ways because everyday tasks are made difficult by the disease when, perhaps, they don’t have to be. “These patients cannot go to the beach, they have holes in them everywhere (from monitoring,)” he said.

Ye’s research could lead to the end of diabetes. By recreating beta cells and transplanting them into patients’ bodies, the cells could create insulin in the body and eliminate the disease. If this is successful, it could bring hope to similar treatments for other diseases.

Off the Clock
When Ye isn’t conducting research or advising students, he spends a lot of time watching sci-fi movies and other genres, a habit he developed to counter the hours of consecutive problem-solving. “I like to go hiking and also like to travel a lot on holidays,” he said.

Meet the Professor: Dr. Christa Hestekin

Dr. Christa Hestekin, assistant professor of chemical engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas since Fall 2006. Hestekin earned a bachelor's of science in chemical engineering from the University of Kentucky and a doctorate in chemical engineering from Northwestern University.

Intro to Engineering
Christa entered college with no idea what her major should be, so she consulted a professor. After discussing her interest in medical school, the professor advised her to consider engineering as a way to accomplish her goals.

As an undergraduate, Hestekin was a researcher and completed an internship. She tried different things to figure out what she liked best before pursuing it, and discovered that she preferred research, more than industry.

Influences
Christa’s first impression of engineering came from her dad, who was a civil engineer. “I couldn’t get passionate about bridges,” she said lightheartedly, “but I liked the logical side of the brain that you had to use to be an engineer.” Her appreciation of math and science, paired with encouragement from her first chemical engineering professor, Dr. Bhattacharyya, kept her on the track to become a chemical engineer.

University of Arkansas
Christa and her husband, Jamie Hestekin, accepted positions in the chemical engineering department and were drawn to the strength of the Honors College and the emphasis on undergraduate research. Hestekin’s research assistants are sometimes as young as college sophomores, and she’s delighted that University of Arkansas students begin research early and stay with the same lab for years at a time.

She also seems to enjoy the challenge of teaching. “Students will ask you about a concept in ways you never thought,” she said. “Being a teacher makes you learn all the things you know in different ways.”

Research
Hestekin researches biomedical and environmental matters. Her biomedical research seeks to detect genetic alterations that lead to disease, such as identifying early protein aggregation or DNA mutations. Her solution is to screen patients as early as possible and identify the appropriate treatment.

In her environmental research, she creates improved biofuels, particularly from algae. “It’s my job to figure out whether algae has oil to make better biodiesel or carbohydrates for bioethanol,” Hestekin said. Her work may give insight into different processing techniques and shed light on the use of wild algae, as well as farm-grown algae.

Off the Clock
Hestekin is a black belt in martial arts. She likes to sing on occasion, accompanied by her husband, who plays the piano. She is an avid video game player, and is on a God of War kick right now.

Meet the Professor: Dr. Kevin Hall

Dr. Kevin Hall, professor and department head of the Civil Engineering Department, has taught at the University of Arkansas since 1993. Hall earned his B.S. and M.S. of civil engineering from the University of Arkansas, and a Ph.D. of civil engineering from the University of Illinois.

Intro to Engineering
Hall was one of the many children inspired by the space program, and for a long time, he wanted to be an aerospace engineer, making it his goal to fly the shuttle.

Civil engineering won him over when, as a child, he read a non-fiction book based on two civil engineers and spurred the fascination while playing on construction sites in Memphis. Hall spent his junior high and high school years in Jonesboro, Ark., and his search for a college led him to the University of Arkansas because it was relatively near home and he was interested in their Civil Engineering Program.

Influential Engineers
Hall found that Marshall Thompson, a professor at University of Illinois, and Dr. Bob Elliott, a former University of Arkansas professor and civil engineering department head, to be helpful guiding forces in his career. After completing a B.S., Hall went to work in industry for a time, but it was Elliott who recruited him for graduate school at the University of Arkansas.

“Some say that my biases on certain (civil engineering) matters have definitely been influenced by them,” he said.

University of Arkansas experience
Hall returned to the University of Arkansas, after completing his Ph.D., because it’s home to him. He loves that the faculty members make students a priority, always interacting with them. “We’re a large enough university to provide students with the best experience and small enough for professors to know each student personally.”

“I can’t imagine not being here,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to do what I’m doing anywhere else.”

Research
Hall does applied research on civil engineering materials, such as pavement and asphalt. “I take solutions (that other people develop) and make them work,” he said. The need for this kind of research stems from the need for a geographical, regional application. For example, thickness and material of pavement has been the same since the 1960s. “Now that there is a new process at the national level, and we’re trying to figure out how to apply it to Arkansas,” he said.

In the past, Hall developed similar applications when asphalt changed in the 90s. The process of making asphalt hadn’t changed in 60 years, so he refined, adapted the process to materials used in Arkansas.

Students
“I want my students to understand professionalism, and I encourage them to get their Professional Engineer license and conduct themselves as professionals,” Hall said. He prides himself in being very real in his teaching approach.

Hall advises ASCE and Chi Epsilon, officially, and tries to make it to as many of the engineering RSO meetings as possible.

Off the Clock
Hall stays busy during his non-office hours. He reads a lot, and even built his house around his personal library. He particularly likes Sci-Fi and thriller books, on medical, terror and legal issues. Clancy, Harry Potter and the Hunger Games are among his most enjoyed books. He enjoys the outdoors, doing yardwork and golfing, and loves to travel.

Meet the Professor: Dr. Min Zou

Dr. Min Zou, the Twenty-First Century Endowed Chair and associate professor of mechanical engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas since 2003. She earned a B.S. and M.S. of aerospace engineering from the Northwestern Polytechnical University in China and a M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Intro to Engineering
Zou’s first experience with engineering was learning from her dad, who was a materials engineer in aerospace engineering. She was fascinated by various aircraft designs when she was young. She chose to study at Northwestern Polytechnical University, reputable for Aircraft Engineering.

University of Arkansas experience
Prior to accepting the position at the UofA, Zou worked for an R&D division of a computer hard drive company, Seagate Technology, where she learned how a high-tech company operates. “In high tech industry, competition is very stiff and it was very fast-paced,” she said.

After several years in the industry, she was ready to return to academia to teach, mentor, and enjoy the broader range of research and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Students
More than anything, Zou would like students to remember that “engineering is a large area of interesting disciplines…and your interests may change once you’re out of school.” Its breadth and adaptability is why she believes engineering is such a great choice. “You will work with all different disciplines,” she said. “Mechanical engineering has research all over.”

Research
Zou developed an active research program in the interdisciplinary areas of nano-surface-engineering, nanotribology and nanomechanics. Zou’s research focuses on developing novel techniques for fabricating nano-engineered-surfaces (NESs) and understanding the tribological, mechanical and wetting behavior of the NESs. The technologies developed by Zou’s group can be used in a variety of applications, including tribological, superhydrophobic, superhydrophilic, biomedical and photovoltaic. The University of Arkansas has filed two utility patents based on her research. Zou also secured approximately $2 million research funds from various government agencies, including the prestigious CAREER award from the National Science Foundation.


Off the Clock
When she’s not in the classroom or lab, Zou loves to spend time with family. Together, they go to Chinese School on Sundays, where her daughter learns Chinese, her husband teaches a children’s Chinese martial arts class, and she practices Chinese dance with several other people. “Most people don’t know this, but there are 56 nationalities in China, so there are many types of dances,” she said. “That’s really what I do most.”

Meet the Professor: Dr. Micah Hale

Dr. Micah Hale, associate professor of civil engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas since 2002. He earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Oklahoma.

Intro to Engineering
Hale enjoyed math and science, so after ruling out architecture, chemical engineering and a pre-medical route, he chose civil engineering with an emphasis in environmental engineering. He was excited about its future job potential, and felt that environmental was where he needed to be. An opportunity to do structures-related research arose for him in graduate school, further sealing the deal.

From the beginning, Hale thought he’d like to be a teacher, and enjoyed campus atmosphere. While in graduate school, he was a research assistant, and taught a class.

Influences
“There are bits and pieces of my past professors that I took away, admired some of the things they did, how they taught,” he said. “I also made note of what I didn’t like, but they all taught me something.” These admirable traits were varying. “Some of them were like MacGyver, where they could make something out of duct tape and a ball of twine, and some were good communicators.”

University of Arkansas Experience
Hale feels that fate or a higher power led him to being a professor at the University of Arkansas. His research interests narrowed job prospects, so he knew the likelihood of returning to the northwest Arkansas/Oklahoma area was slim.

The University of Arkansas already had a professor in his area of research, and schools in Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina expressed interest in Hale. Fortunately for him, the UA professor was promoted to Associate Dean, creating an opening for a concrete/civil materials professor.

Once Hale started working for the University of Arkansas, he noticed that “the students were bright, very hard working, and receptive.”

Research
Hale is a structural engineer, so his research areas are primarily with concrete structures. “The infrastructure is only getting older, so it needs to be replaced or rehabilitated,” he said. “We study the use and application of new and improved concrete materials.” Hale also reassesses current design codes to get the most beneficial use out of materials.

The processes and materials are constantly changing, but some design codes are still being used from the 1960s. “Do they behave and perform the same way (as they did back then) or is there something we can do?”

Off the Clock
Hale spends most of his free time riding bikes with his kids, or toting them around in wagons. He and his wife have three kids under the age of four and have one baby on the way.

Computer Scientists + Computer Engineers = openHACK

You are invited to join a new group of computer scientists and computer engineers at the University of Arkansas, who will meet regularly to work on hacking, coding and teach new programs outside of the classroom. No experience with the systems is necessary, and group activity of “openHACK” will be decided democratically.

“If you’re going to go far in this business, you have to do it all the time,” said Addam Hardy, creator of openHACK. He feels that learning outside the classroom is more beneficial for students, and wants to provide a more creative, free environment for computing students to teach themselves and each other. “We’ll have straight-up introductions to this software, you don’t have to know anything about these systems to join,” he said. What he’s recognizing is that “you take a class and you don’t think you can do it…but we want to take the intimidation out of what you’re learning.

openHACK will focus on a few areas that will appeal more to computer science folk, such as NOSQL data systems i.e MongoDB (also Cloud storage/Map/Reduce); Ruby on Rails (building a blog engine/building a twitter clone); an introduction to Source Control, Git and GitHub; Behavior/Test Driven Design (BDD/TDD) and iOS Development.

The areas that will appeal more to the computer engineering students are an Introduction to Arduino Microcontroller and XBOX Kinect Hacking.

What do you have to do to join? Get in touch with Addam Hardy at addam.hardy@gmail.com, via twitter at @addamh, or http://github.com/addamh. Hardy’s experience at socialvolt and with other computing jobs inspired him to form a group for a creative computing outlet. He hopes to have 20 people interested before officially kicking off meetings, so stay in touch!

photo credit xkcd (http://xkcd.com/722/)

The Chorale of Contentment

This week I'm reading Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese, which is about the medical staff of a mission hospital in Ethiopia. Last night, this passage resounded with me for its elegant narration of finding peace in your life-

"There were other noises she became attuned to in her new-mother state. The thwack of wet cloth on the washing stone. The clothesline sagging with diapers (banners to fecundity) and raising a flapping alarm before a rain squall, sending Almaz and Rosina racing outside. The glass-harp notes of feeding bottles clinking together in the boiling water. Rosina's singing, her constant chatter. Almaz clanging pots and pans...these sounds were the chorale of Hema's contentment."

The main character in the paragraph, Hema, is a very independent woman who had previously focused on nothing other than her career as a doctor. Through a strange set of circumstances, she suddenly becomes obligated to adopt a set of twins that she helped deliver.

In that paragraph, she begins to discover the difference in the loving care that she gives her patients and the loving care of a mother. She embraces that role, makes peace with it.

--

I've lived by myself for a little more than four months now, and the family-like percussion of a household- a baby's coos, wails, adorable laughter; a mother's chiding, multiple sets of music or media playing at the same time, friends on the balcony- has changed, leaving space to notice different noises.

The dryer tumbling clothes softly is an escape of the hassle and anxiety of laundromats. The microwave ding bringing me a steaming hot chocolate, the last rumble of thunder just before the rain starts, a ringing phone connecting you to one of the people you wish most to talk to, and a quiet mind that isn't cluttered with worry for where the next meal is coming. These are a few of my sounds, my chorale of contentment.

photo credit: waI:ti

Meet the Professor: Dr. Wejinya

Dr. Uchechukwu C. Wejinya, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas since Fall 2008. He earned a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State Univeristy.

Intro to Engineering
Wejinya grew up in Nigeria, and originally wanted to be a medical doctor, but his first observation of a surgery changed that. He was still interested in math and science, so his dad suggested that engineering would be a good fit for him, since it is an application of math. From there, he said, “Engineering became a passion of mine.”

Wejinya tutored students since he was a boy, and lectured for his professor as a graduate student.

Influential Researcher
Wejinya’s main scientific influences were his Ph.D. advisor, who particularly loved his research and his job, and another one of his mentors, Dr. Percy Pierre. “He helped a lot of people achieve their dreams in science and engineering, he made me who I am today,” he said. “Professor Pierre is well accomplished. He was recently elected to the National Academic Engineering.”

University of Arkansas experience
Wejinya visited the University of Arkansas to explore the possibility of teaching here, after meeting Steve Tung, UA mechanical engineering professor, at an IEEE conference in Hong Kong in 2007. The two lectured on the same topic, so they spent time networking at the conference.

At the time, Wejinya was doing Post-Doctoral work, and although he had multiple job offers, none of them were the right fit.

During his visit to the Fayetteville campus, he met the Dean, Provost and various faculty members. “The department head was very accommodating,” he said. “I decided to accept because I wasn’t going to be a number; I saw that I was wanted here.” He saw opportunities for growth in the department, for personal and professional success, and wanted to be a part of that.

Research
Dr. Wejinya is passionate about nanotechnology, an interest that began during his grad school experience. Now, he pursues two areas of research- macrobiotic systems and nanotechnology.

In macrobiotic systems, essentially large robots, he wants to continually improve them, make them more intelligent. Within nanotechnology, where researchers work with small things, he focuses on materials properties, mechanical, physical and electrical properties.

A few other UA researchers are doing similar work, but Wejinya said he’s looking for different applications for the research. For example, with technologies such as a cell phone, biosensors and medical devices, it is his job to think of the effects of any possible extreme conditions: temperature, the effect of humidity, and more. “You don’t want these (devices made with nanomaterials)to fail at extreme temperatures,” he said. “If you’re in the middle of the desert and your car breaks down, you would be relying on a cell phone exposed to extreme heat.”

Working to ensure the reliability of these devices “is my bread and butter,” he said.

Other projects
He is involved with the African Students Organization, and is forming a Robotics and Automation Society, with plans for activation in early 2013. The group will complement the University of Arkansas labs and summer programs that already focus on robotics projects. His vision is to “make a formal multi-disciplinary team, where computer science, intelligence is central to the group.”

Off the Clock
In his free time, Wejinya spends a lot of time on the Fayetteville trails. He likes to run and bike, because it keeps him focused.

Meet the Professor: Dr. Vasundara Varadan

Dr. Vasundara Varadan has taught at the University of Arkansas since 2005. She earned a B.S. and PhD in Physics. Prior to accepting this teaching position, Varadan was Director of the Electrical Engineering and Communications systems Division at the NSF and distinguished professor at the Pennsylvania State University, where she taught for 22 years.

Education
Varadan grew up in India, and earned her education during a time when engineering was a non-traditional path for women, but that didn’t make it a challenge for her. “My sisters had degrees in Physics and Business, so it was very much up to me what I wanted to do, we were not restricted in that way,” she said.

The Road to Engineering
Although Varadan may not have set out to become an engineer, she certainly seems very pleased with the outcome. “Engineers make the world a better place to live,” she said. “It’s a noble profession…a good group to belong to.”

Her first job was a Post-Doctoral position at Cornell University, where she transitioned from physics into working as a materials engineer. For a time, she was an assistant professor of engineering at Ohio State, before accepting her position at Penn State.

University of Arkansas Experience
Varadan came to the U of A because she wanted the chance to really build something. The condition of her labs at Penn State and U of A faculty persistency lead her to visit the Ozark campus. Once she met with John White, distinguished professor of industrial engineering and Chancellor Emeritus, she said, “He blew me away. His vision and great plan for a steep slope up is what brought me here.”

She has been proud to work with such bright students, and is grateful to the Chancellor’s and Governor’s scholarships that brought them here.

Research & Projects
Varadan was one of three Arkansas researchers who were awarded a joint funding of $25 million from NSF’s EPSCoR for projects from 2010-2015. Her project, named GREEN, aims to reduce the thickness of solar cells and reduce its cost, while incorporating a state-wide educational program that will involve several schools (K-12) and five different Arkansas universities: the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, UALR, UA Pine Bluff, UA Fort Smith, and Philander Smith College.

The Green Mobile is a large bus housing a solar energy lab that produces energy for experiments from solar panels on its roof, and will bring the GREEN program directly to students in grades K-12 and Arkansas communities. “It’s designed to introduce (young) students to solar energy by weaving this knowledge into the curriculum,” Vardan said.

Off the Clock
Varadan likes to travel, read, garden, and spend time with her two young grandchildren. She reads a little bit of fiction, but mostly non-fiction books on world affairs, history, economics, and medicine.

The Bicycle Diaries

On Christmas day of 2000, my parents gave 11-year-old me a beautiful, brick-red, beach cruiser bicycle. Lovely in all its vintage style glory, it faithfully toted me to neighbors’ houses for afternoon chats over fried cornbread. Steadily, it lifted me to the community cemetery- my childhood place to reflect.

It was great for recreational riding. In Fayetteville, it was my companion for breezy afternoons on the sunny, leafy trail.

Eventually, I began challenging myself athletically and the lack of gears became a problem.

I’ve often fantasized about being the cute, eco-conscious working woman who cycled to work and the farmer’s market, valiantly balancing a successful career and leaving a small environmental footprint- recycling everything, using energy efficient appliances, fixtures and whatnot.

But one thing at a time, yeah?

For starters, I purchased this awesome sleek, racing style 24 speed roadbike from a friend of mine, and last week, I decided to cycle to work each day.

I didn’t think I was capable- mainly because of the all the stupid hills in this town. So I planned for the worst: get up early, pack work clothes, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

If all else failed, I could walk to work. It’s only five miles, how bad could it be?

Sunday, Day 1 Fayetteville to West Fork
24 miles roundtrip
My first “long” ride has me a little bit nervous, so I pack a small bag with portable air pump, sunscreen, water, other supplies, and set out early, thinking the hills will slow me down.

The weather was just chilly enough to appreciate my black workout clothes and the warming sun. I struggled up a few hills- mostly the ones that look small but ARE NOT. The larger ones at least prepare you mentally for it…geez.

I arrive to West Fork early, pleasantly surprised, and take a break at their riverside park and spend some time with my cute baby nephew, who lives nearby.

The return trip was pretty simple, probably more coasting, but it gave me time to enjoy the breeze and some tunes from my iPod. Nouveau road trip. Now, I had the confidence to make the shorter trip, from home to office.

Monday, Day 2
13 miles
First day to work, I got up refreshed and took a brisk ride to campus, making a mental note to find winter gear. Staying active can only warm you up so much. Huh.

Four stoplights, two stop signs and several exhaust clouds later, I arrived at the office only 25 minutes later. This could actually save me time…strange.

In the evening, after biking home, I took a chance and biked up the bigger hill to the Mission/Crossover intersection. Yes, it killed me. And yes, of course I rewarded myself with La Huerta queso. Don’t mind if I do.

Tuesday, Day 3
8 miles
Getting in the hang of things, I arrived at work on time, not pushing myself to get out the door as early as yesterday. The hill by Fayetteville Public Library never fails to kicks my but every morning, but I’m making it. Also, I’ve fully appreciated that Clubhaus has showers, hair dryer, for more pleasant transition from ride to office.

In the evenings, I start to go to bed earlier. Exhausted.

Wednesday, Day 4
8 miles
Riding time has dwindled to 20 minutes (one-way), and I’m starting to enjoy the scenery. Huntsville road takes me past a beautiful, green valley that leads to the Boston mountains, and these tiny little stone cottages dot the landscape. I look forward to going past the old, three-story home that has a quaint little park bench underneath a lone tree in the pasture.

Menial details of the riding, like where I can float past or avoid traffic easier through a short stretch of sidewalk, become more clear, routine. You begin to think of things differently. Any time you rent a movie, check out a book, go grocery shopping, it becomes more of a conscious effort: how can I get all of my errands done without returning home in the middle of it? How can I get there on the least hill-y route, and what timeframe has the least amount of traffic?

Thursday, Day 5
12 miles
Clubhaus workers start to keep tabs on my mileage, stopping to chat about different models of bikes. I guess the weird thing about having a job you enjoy like that is having to spend 8 hours a day thinking about it, but not actually getting to exercise, cycle, run, do yoga, etc.

Today brought an interview of a professor at the Engineering Research Center, so I picked up a few extra miles. It was a little frustrating, to choose between wearing professional clothes and getting there later or wearing biking clothes, being on time, but our professors are easy going, and this one in particular just appreciated that I wouldn’t automatically hop in a car to get anywhere.

The ERC didn’t have any visible bike racks, which surprised me at first. These are the people who are making newer and better biofuels, thinner solar panels, etc. I suppose they can simply make fuel more efficient, instead of nixing the use of it altogether. (Turns out they have a bike rack in the back, and students tend to take an hourly shuttle from campus out to the center.)

Friday, Day 6
24 miles
Biking to work feels completely routine, but carrying a change of clothing is still kind of annoying. So today, I wore a professional-style dress, but some leggings too, for the ride. After work, I went cycling on the city trail with a friend. It was nice to get out of the trail of exhaust and appreciate the stream, trees, the under-the-road tunnels, the right-of-way, and it is, of course, always fun to have a riding partner.

That evening, with my goal completed, all I wanted to do was sit down and eat.

Next, I’ve decided to analyze weekly cost difference in buying gas for a car, or more food while cycling to work.

While taking off my helmet and shoes, I think of the people I met this week because of the bike, the bored teenagers that slow down and cheer you on, the janitors who find it quirky that a cubicle worker doesn't drive to work, the guy who nearly took me out in the turning lane, and the random lady who stopped to chat about bikes in general and how ambitious you must be (flattering, but untrue). Then, about how much better I feel from all the extra exercise, sleep and water.

And somehow, I think, barring any financial and environmental reasons, it’s still worth it.

New in Town: UA Biomedical Engineering Society

The recently formed local chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society met Wednesday to develop group events and plans based on what students are looking for. Leading the chapter this year are Abby Washispack as President; Jimmy Vo as Vice President; Katelin Cherry as Secretary and Saumil Shah as Treasurer.

Let’s get started!
“We’re here to build community between biological engineering students, faculty, and professionals,” said BMES President Abby Washispack. “This is an opportunity for students to get involved in activities that will further their biomedical engineering careers.

Benefits of becoming a national BMES member are BME internship opportunities, annual meeting discounts, career services and an online job board. To join, sign up at BMES.org, annual dues are $30. Once you’ve done so, please email Abby (awashispack@gmail.com) your username. The UA chapter needs this information, so they can be recognized as an official chapter.

Events
BMES will be represented at the RSO Fair in the Arkansas Union from 12-3p.m., Friday, September 30.

A BMES Faculty Seminar will take place at 1:30 p.m. on October 7, location to be announced.

A few of the speakers the group plans to host are Vance Clement, BSIE ’92 Director of Upstream Marketing for MAKO Surgical Corp.; the BME faculty and a contact from Cardinal Health, which is number 17 on the Forbes 500 list.

Walks, stream restoration and the Springdale High School Lego (semi-national) Competition are other event possibilities.

Officers plan for meetings to be less academic and more centered on career-building.

Dr. Zarahoff explains…
This is an easy way to enable your budding biomedical engineering career. The fees are minimal and well worth it, especially for being a national organization.
There are two reasons you should join BMES: for yourself and for the University of Arkansas.

In terms of personal benefits, it is great for your career. The national website, accessible to members only, has a very extensive list of internship opportunities, and during the screening process for full-time positions, BMES is something that could catch an employer’s eye.

If you’re a freshman and haven’t had a chance to distinguish the difference between biological engineering and biomedical engineering, the Biomedical Engineering FEP lecture is November 7.

Contact us
UofA Biomedical Engineering Society has a group on LinkedIn. The website and Facebook group are in the works, but once they are running, members can keep in touch with BE alumni easily. You can email BMES officers at bmes@uark.edu.

Razorback Engineers Find Employment

Engineering EXPO brought more than 60 employers representing both large, international corporations, and small, local businesses to the University of Arkansas September 15 and 22, to conduct interviews and network with Razorback engineers.

Walmart, Sam's Club, the United States Navy, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Pepsico, and Georgia-Pacific are just a few of the larger businesses that arrived.

During the week, the corporations teamed up with registered student organizations, such as ASCE and AiCHE, to give students context for company goals and positions open.

Students often attend the EXPO as freshmen and sophomores, landing co-op and internship opportunities that put them on a track for success.

By senior year, a number of engineering upperclassmen have completed two or more internships, and typically have multiple offers for full-time employment.

Students can prepare for the professional event by attending the Annual Mock Interview Event, hosted in the Industrial Engineering Department. The Career Development Center offers a variety of interview and professional dress preparation opportunities, as well.

SWE Creates Tall Agenda for School Year

The University of Arkansas Society of Women Engineers, a group designed for professional development and social activity for women engineers, met last week to discuss the new school year agenda. In the past, SWE hosted events in conjunction with the Girl Scouts, Make a Difference Day, The Boys & Girls Club, and Race for the Cure. The group doesn’t require national membership, but highly encourages it, so that members can add the society to their professional resume. Fees are $20 for the entire year, which ends in July.

2011-12 Events
Members discussed the good experiences of the previous year, and encouraged new members to participate, emphasizing the minimal time and activity commitment. “During the Race for the Cure, you don’t have to run,” said President Jana Hindman. “You can volunteer to hand out t-shirts and other materials, or you can walk the race.”

This year, the group will focus more on Professional Development, including a possible repeat of the previous Alumni Panel, an informal networking dinner between industry specialists and UA engineering students.

The girls expressed an interest in another “What Not To Wear” event, focusing on styles, trends and traditions of professional/business dress for women.

SWE plans to work with the campus Volunteer Action Center, especially during the Make a Difference Day on October 29. “It’s a morning of work, which is not a big commitment, and they give you food,” Hindman said. “This year, we’re going to make water filters.”

Currently…
The first fundraiser of the year is a T-shirt selling campaign. The shirts display the word “engineer” spelled wrong twice and crossed out each time, with “I’m good at math,” as the final line of text. They are sold in green and purple. Contact Jana Hindman (jhindman@uark.edu) or other SWE members if you’re interested in buying one.

A Scull Creek Stream Cleanup will take place at noon on October 9.

The SWE National Conference will take place October 13-15 in Chicago. Only officers attend without cost, but members are encouraged to attend, with a fee of $100 (or $125 if registering on site, not online). Among the biggest attraction to the conference is the career fair, which typically attracts more than 200 valuable, well-known employers.

The Women in Engineering group will team up with SWE for a free networking event on October 25. The groups will meet at Gator Golf event at 6 p.m., and have Jimmy Johns for dinner. Those attending can meet in the Bell Engineering parking lot to carpool.

Resources
SWE President, Jana Hindman emphasized the benefits of using the National SWE website. “It’s a great place for professional development, where you can network with other ladies- people you will work with,” she said. “You can also apply for scholarships there, which are due February 15 this year.” Other SWE members warned that the scholarship application forms take a lot of time to fill out, so members should not wait until the last minute if they’re interested in it.

Keep in Mind
SWE officers are looking for more fundraiser ideas, so stay in touch, voice your opinions and attend meetings when you can. Members are hoping to begin math tutoring for the boys club, and take various field trips to engineering job-related corporations.

EWB Gears Up for a Busy Year

The University of Arkansas chapter of Engineers Without Borders has a lot on their proverbial plate this year! Members met last week to discuss the following year of fundraising, international projects, conferences, and local service opportunities.

About EWB
Engineers Without Borders is a non-profit organization that uses engineering skills to improve quality of life in communities around the world. Their projects range from building water towers in other countries to cleaning creek areas in Washington county. Where they see a need, they step up to help.

“EWB is the touchy, feely side of engineering, if there is one,” said EWB President Jenny Doyle.

2011-2012 Events
This year, UA EWB hopes to establish the student chapter as a long-lasting, effective group in Northwest Arkansas. Members attend two conferences each school year. The national conference will take place in November, and officers strongly encourage students to attend. There, they can take advantage of networking and engineering workshops that help the group projects to go more smoothly.

“At the international conference you get a broader perspective and a chance to see what other universities doing,” Doyle said. “Some are working with women’s organizations and other non-profit organizations."

The group has successfully completed international trips and projects in the past, but this year they plan to adopt an official EWB-USA approved international project.

“We’ll also continue work on our local projects, such as Make a Difference Day (October 29); Regional Conference is November 11-13 and the International Conference will take place in Las Vegas during Spring Break, March 22-25,” Doyle said. “We’re also looking for members to man the booth at the RSO information fair on September 30.”

Join us!
The group is looking for fundraisers, resources and contacts. Members are not required to be engineers because they are looking for all skill sets.

To become an official, national member, visit the national website to pay membership dues (discounted for students). The chapter will meet every other Wednesday at 6 p.m., locations will vary, so they will be posted on Facebook.

Next EWB trip Dec 17-23
Goals for the next international project in Belize are to build a water tower for the community, dig a well, dig trenches and run pipes, continue water quality testing and conduct health surveys. For this reason, members are encouraged to recruit nursing students and other health majors.

Residents “still have to pump their water by hand,” said International Project Chair, Ben Marts. “We eventually want to get running water into homes.”

How Safe it is to Feel Safe

Inspired by City & Colour's Day Old Hate and Thought Catalog's "Things You Need When You're Sad," I've formed a short list of my favorite, most comforting things.

The drawer
One of the most important rules of comfort I learned from my sister. Have an entire drawer stuffed full of pajamas and other worn-down materials. This way, the need for comfort is resolved quickly. No more searching for that lavender shirt you bought while sixteen, washed extensively like the smooth rocks at the bottom of river basins, material worn so thin that it tears each time you put it on. Guys seem to point out that women are always touching fabric while shopping. That’s right, we are. At the end of the day, we want something that makes us feel good all over, especially if our job/friends/etc hasn’t.

Latest James Bond movie
Is in my DVD player at all times, reserved for my worst days. It’s a cheap trick, watching an on-screen crush. And no, I don’t happen to know in which chapter Daniel Craig steps slowly out of the ocean.

“Same time, same place”
There’s something inherently comforting about meeting a reliable friend so frequently that you don’t bother with changing your environment. This works for you both, and it will always be a priority.

Pumpkin Spice Chai
If your idea of a good weekend night is crashing through the new John Grisham at Arsaga’s instead of wearing a glitter top and slamming shots with rowdy friends, then spice chai is the way to go. For trifecta, add the chilled air of the first day of autumn and an old, well-worn beige cardigan.

Weathered Books
Love the ancient musty smell of old books, and the feel of well-read books…the ones with the broken spine, the dog-earred pages, which have are covered in coffee stains. I once knew someone who would read books so carefully, not even opening it up all the way. Once finished with it, you'd never knew anyone had read it—which is great if they borrowed your paperback. But as for my books, I like to remember that week that I got to know Zee, Elspeth, Martin or whoever. I like returning to my favorite pages, feeling as if I’ve been welcomed back, not approaching the unfamiliar.

Reruns and/or Watching the Same Movies Over & Over
Somewhere along the way, I developed this habit of watching a movie (typically an okaaay movie, nothing that I’d be able to justify to anyone) many, many times. Somedays, home means wearing fuzzy slippers and knowing that George will screw something up and Kramer will profit from it. Other days, it's knowing that there is someone (Monica) who has worse OCD than me and that Chandler always has worse days than me.

What are some of your most comforting things?

Meet the Professor: Dr. Ed Clausen

Dr. Ed Clausen, professor of chemical engineering and associate department head, began teaching at the University of Arkansas in 1981, following his time as an assistant professor at Tennessee Tech University.

Inroduction to engineering
A number of people, family, teachers and advisors, influenced his decision to become an engineer. As a sophomore in high school, he knew what career he wanted to pursue.

“By that time, I was pretty sure I would be an engineer,” he said. “My uncle was a mechanical engineer and my brother-in-law was an electrical engineer.” His dad also expressed an interest and approval in the profession.

“I didn’t sit down and talk with them about it…it just seemed like something I would want to do.”

Clausen’s high school math and physics teacher attended the University of Missouri-Rolla, where Clausen would later earn his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate. “He had studied electrical engineering and that was all he talked about,” he said. “So I put this together,” all the positive experiences of engineering that surrounded him, to which he added a growing interest in chemistry.

Influential Engineer
Although many people impacted Clausen’s career, “my influential mentor was probably my grad advisor, Jim Gaddy,” he said.

“He was the professor that I conducted research with…the one that convinced me to get my Ph.D., and the one that convinced me, after four years (of teaching at Tennessee Tech,) to come to the U of A,” Clausen said.

University of Arkansas Experience
Clausen has taught at the University of Arkansas for thirty years, which gives him a unique vantage point as a professor.

“The thing about teaching in the same place for a long time is that it never bothered me to teach students so much younger than me,” he said. “It never bothered me to teach second generation students. What bothered me was when some of my students began retiring.”

Clausen enjoys the freedom and connectivity that the University of Arkansas offers as a research institution.

“My teaching experience at Tennessee Tech was vastly different from teaching at the University of Arkansas,” he said. “I taught at Tennessee Tech for four years, which has a huge emphasis on turning out undergraduates, but little focus on research.”

During the summer, Clausen participates in outreach projects that expose younger students to science, engineering and math through hands-on activities. In one of these programs, he works directly with middle school, junior high and high school students. “These programs are a lot of fun and are different from university classroom instruction,” he said.

“When the students are interested too, it’s neat.”

Off the Clock
“I watch a lot of sports,” he said. “Everything Razorbacks, of course; I cheer for anyone playing the University of Texas; in baseball, the Cardinals and in football, anyone playing the Dallas Cowboys.”

Meet the Professor: Dr. Sreekala Bajwa

Dr. Sreekala Gopalapillai Bajwa, professor of biological engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas since 2001. She earned a doctorate in agricultural engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Influence
Bajwa grew up in India, where education was a cultural priority. In some way, she always expected to become a doctor or an engineer, which began with her love for math and science. Among the most influential people in her career was a middle school math teacher. “I don’t know how he did it, but he made it look simple,” she said. The teacher helped her make the connection between mere interest and a career, showing her that she demonstrated talent for it, and pushing her to do her best.

Both of Bajwa’s sisters are in math and science, and they both influenced and inspired her. “One of my sisters says that math may be the king of science, but without physics, math would have no application,” she said. “That really stuck with me.”

University of Arkansas experience
Bajwa chose the University of Arkansas because she wanted to raise her family in a smaller town. “My husband was working in Chicago when I started here, but I didn’t want to raise a family in Chicago,” she said. They also came here because they saw an opportunity for growth, with several new faculty members and a strong vision.

Upon her arrival to the University of Arkansas, Bajwa sensed a need for research in biocomposite materials, and made it a focus of hers. “I use waste stream from agricultural processing operations such as cotton ginning as fillers in thermoplastic composites. These composites typically contain 50 percent or more plant fibers,” she said.

The resulting composite materials can be used as replacement for wood in non-structural building applications where the materials will be exposed to extreme conditions, such as decking, landscaping products, window and door components, and flooring. This takes the waste out of the environment and embeds it into a completely recyclable product.

She also conducts research on mitigation of air pollutants emitted from chicken houses. “The research in this area has big consequences because the state has a big poultry industry,” she said.

Bajwa says she is happy in her current line of work. “The thing I’m especially proud of here is how many undergraduates are involved in the lab,” she said. “I have 5-10 working in my lab, and some have published their work. These students are very focused, and know what they want to do with their education.”

Off the Clock
Bajwa spends her non-working hours with her family, who like to bike and walk the trails together, and spend time at the local library. “The time outside of the office, my time with my family is number one.”

Meet the Professor: Dr. Julie Carrier

Dr. Julie Carrier, professor of biological engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas since 2000, following her time at the University of Saskatchewan.

Education

Carrier earned a bachelor’s of science in agricultural engineering; a master’s of science and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from McGill University in Quebec, Canada.

“I was interested in systems, and I liked the thoroughness of engineering,” she said.

Like many students, Carrier explored a few areas of study before settling on the best fit. She began as an engineering major, switched to landscape architecture, but returned to engineering swiftly, valuing the black-and-white results, the concrete data of it.

No matter what, “I made sure always to do the best at whatever I was doing,” she said, to ensure that she would have more opportunities.

Carrier pursued research interests in biochemistry, a great background for biological engineering.

“In the early 1980s, it was really novel to double engineering with biochemistry work…but I enjoyed it, so I did it.”

It wasn’t until later that she came to the world of biological engineering, when doing doctoral work on fermentation and plant tissue culture while interfacing with biologists and engineers.

A Transformation

The dynamic of earning an engineering education significantly improved since Carrier’s college years in the early 80s. That female students were a rarity of engineering programs was a gross understatement. In a 180 member class, Carrier was one of only two female students.

“It was a different time for women engineers back then. It was not a traditional path for a woman’s education,” she said.

As the campus coordinator for the Society of Women Engineers, Carrier has had the privilege of creating a comfortable learning atmosphere, which has brought many women into successful careers.

“It’s important for girls to be in this field of sustainability and engineering. They have a lot to contribute and it’s a great job for a female,” she said.

Sustainability research has expanded significantly giving her a unique perspective, having seen earlier proposed solutions to environmental conflicts.

“One of my professors said the solution to pollution is dilution. Just add more water to it, and the pollution will go away,” she said, in a manner of disbelief.

“Now, we have more (environmental) problems than ever. There are many more people on earth, so there is a tighter use of land, a competition for resources, globalization, and we have to make the most out of what we have. These are complex problems.”

Problems, she says, that biological engineers are working to find solutions for.

Influential engineer

Carrier was strongly influenced by her grandpa. “He was a mechanical engineer at a textile mill,” she said. “He designed a lot and impacted the company so much at that when he retired, they had to hire three engineers to replace him.”

In addition to being an exemplar engineer, Carrier’s grandfather “made me pass my dynamics course,” she said, chuckling.

University of Arkansas experience

Carrier, like Marty Matlock, Lalit Verma and Scott Osborn who followed later, came to the University of Arkansas upon the promise of a true biological engineering program, which was under the supervision of Dr. Carl Griffis and Dr. Walker at the time.

After the hurdle of moving a family of five from Canada to America, Carrier became a valued researcher and integral part of the innovative biological engineering department.

Research

Carrier works with Charles “Chuck” West, professor of environmental sciences and Ed Clausen, professor of chemical engineering.

“In our labs, we take plants and release their sugars, which are then used to produce biofuels and other bioproducts,” she said. “We try to release the sugars as delicately as possible so that inhibitors to other steps of the process are not created.”

Off the Clock

When Carrier is not working at the biological and agricultural labs, teaching, or advising students, she likes to walk her dogs, spend time with her family and go skiing as often as possible.

“I love to spend time with my family,” she said. “I also love to ski. I grew up in Canada and was a ski racer from the age of 12-19. I ski as often as I can, which is difficult to do when you’re living in Arkansas.”

Meet the Professor: Dr. Jamie Hestekin

Jamie Hestekin, professor of chemical engineering, began teaching at the University of Arkansas in August of 2006.

Education
An interest in the environmental matters steered Hestekin to the world of engineering.

“Back then, the issue was greenhouse gases…and I wanted to make a difference in the world,” so engineering was the best channel for that career path, he said. “Since then, much of my research has been environment related.”

Influential researcher
Hestekin’s first impression of a successful engineer was a family friend.

“My dad’s business partner was a civil engineer that was bright and personable,” he said, which sparked his interest in the topic.

Hestekin earned his bachelor’s of science in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota in Duluth and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Kentucky.

“My PhD advisor was a major influence. He was very good to students, students came first all the time.”

Now that he’s the professor, Hestekin tries to emulate his advisor’s teaching style.
“I like it better when my students are recognized, more than when I’m recognized,” he said.

University of Arkansas experience
“When we came to visit, we liked it,” he said. “They were doing lots of things here.
“The Honors College was doing a great job of getting undergraduates in the lab. And we thought, ‘that’s where it’s at.’”

In college, Hestekin gained perspective on national scientific research standards and found the University of Arkansas a respectable competitor.

“The students here are good, they are driven,” Hestekin said. So far, he has enjoyed his time as teacher, especially because he agrees with the philosophy: “Teach First.” He is an active researcher, but manages the balance as a teacher that truly cares about the quality of education and quality of life that his students have.

At the University of Arkansas, “our department provides practical knowledge, great problem solving skills and our project building—I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.

“The building of projects is challenging, and we do it well.”

Research
Jamie Hestekin’s research has gained a unique amount of attention in 2011, when he and an undergraduate team of chemical engineering researchers began converting algae to butanol and won the PBS Planet Forward competition “Innovator of the Year.” From June 2011-June 2012, PBS will track the progress of his research through the creation of videos and other web content available to the public.

“The experience with PBS Planet Forward has brought some interesting connections,” Hestekin said. “We get people that want to make butanol in their backyard, without using our equipment.”

Instead of seeming frustrated by this, he welcomes the challenge, because the nature of a research team is to solve complex problems.

The nationally-publicized project has brought an almost unwanted amount of attention upon Hestekin.

“We tried to get the group to pass as the Innovator of the Year, but they said the innovator must be a single person,” he said.

But overall the publicity has been good, bringing them in touch with more potential undergraduate researchers, and generating a publication of the social media impact on the research project, based on the massive response in the contest.

“Before (Planet Forward), if you googled my name, maybe 10 hits about research would pop up. Now, it’s 500-600, or more,” Hestekin said.

The next step in his research is to streamline the cost of the more expensive parts for the butanol conversion. “We want to get it competitive in the process. The idea is to get the cost reduced to the same as ethanol and replace ethanol within ten years.”

Off the clock
In his free time, Hestekin takes care of his two-year-old daughter, plays tennis with his students, travels extensively and plays the piano.

“I enjoy playing piano, and thought of making a career of it once,” he said. “My daughter likes to play the piano when I’m playing. She (dictates) the songs that I play, because she has her favorites.”

Jamie and his wife Christa, who is also a chemical engineering professor at the University of Arkansas, like to hang out with students. They play tennis with them, travel together and host parties for them.

PBS Planet Forward campaign keeps him travelling, but that hasn’t slowed the frequency of other trips.

“We love to travel. The last non-Planet Forward trip we took was to Europe, in Venice and Barcelona,” he said. “I do a lot of traveling for Planet Forward, and the last trips we took with students were to Hawaii and Singapore.”

For more information about Hestekin’s research, follow the University of Arkansas College of Engineering on Facebook or planetforward.org, for regular links to research videos on the algae-to-butanol project, like these:

http://planetforward.org/productions/innovator-update-jamie-hestekin/

http://planetforward.org/members/jhestekin/profile/

http://planetforward.org/productions/innovator-jamie-hestekin/

Links to his publications can be found on his research website, http://comp.uark.edu/~jhesteki

Meet the Professor: Dr. Lalit Verma

Dr. Lalit Verma, biological and agricultural engineering department head, has served at the University of Arkansas since 2000, following his time as department head at Louisiana State University.

Education
Originally from India, Verma chose engineering as his major before entering college, when agricultural engineering was a new discipline.

“There was a great need for engineers in India. Other engineering fields were mature, established and you had to compete for jobs, but this was new and it was in high demand.

"At the time, India was not self-sustaining for food production, preservation or storage. We needed to be more efficient, and have less waste.”

He saw it as a quick window to building a career and a chance to contribute to India’s national growth.

Verma earned his bachelor’s of science in Agricultural Engineering from the J.N. Agricultural University in India; his master’s of science in Agricultural Engineering from Montana State University and his Ph.D. of Engineering from the University of Nebraska.

Influential Researchers
While an undergraduate, Verma developed particular respect for the Post-harvest Technology Program that was in collaboration with both his university and the University of Illinois, and hoped to continue improving the storage and preservation of grains and other protein sources, through an USAID initiative in Asia.

In this program, he worked towards establishing biological and agricultural engineering programs.

Vision
“In the future, we want to be able to diagnose a disease without taking a blood sample, customize health plans to include preventative health care, and take fewer, less invasive tests,” Verma said.

Among the research efforts is the hope for preemptive diagnosis, the ability to detect likely disease as early as birth through DNA analysis.

“We will be able to accurately predict or pre-diagnose diseases such as diabetes, the tendency to be overweight, and more,” he said. “We study diagnosis and treatment, and the more cost-effective medical routes.”

University of Arkansas Experience
When Dr. Verma arrived on the University of Arkansas campus, “there was a need, an interest for the transformation of the department from traditional, production engineering to biology-based engineering.”

“It was an opportunity to address agricultural, ecological and biomedical engineering,” he said. “It’s been exciting to be able to transform biological engineering curriculum and start ideas for faculty research, which is well funded by the NIH, NSF, USDA, EPA and more.”

Biological engineering at the University of Arkansas
“This department stands out because the subject is vastly different from other engineering focuses,” he said. “Other engineers deal with bridges and buildings, which aren’t going to change. We work with living things,” Verma said, emphasizing the increased pace of learning.

“Living things-and biological engineering- are constantly changing and evolving. It’s breathing.”

Such a complex ever-changing subject requires a duel role of students.

“A biological engineer is two professionals in one: an engineer and a life scientist,” Verma said.

That makes an extensive range of study for biological engineers: humans, plants, animals, our environment, and even the ocean.

The Biological Engineering slogan is “Healthy Planet, Healthy People.”

“ We work with cells, microorganisms, solving problems-- that can be anything,” he said. “For example, human chemical makeup changes a few times a second. We have to develop solutions, medicines and techniques that will continue to help, even during such constant change.”

Verma’s vision for the department required an expansion of focus in matters of ecological engineering, such as biotechnology and nanotechnology on food production, the interaction of nutrition and health, and the environment.

Two continual challenges for biological engineers are food safety and bioremediation.

“We deal with bioremediation, such as the BP oil spill, the effects on wildlife, ocean life…biological engineers figure out how to remediate,” he said. “The ocean is living and changing.”

Other department goals are to “detect dangerous pollutants in environment, detect toxins in produce without breaking them open,” Verma said.

In creating a biomedical engineering program, he hopes his engineering students will bring down the costliness of healthcare, design technology to more effectively target the disease and both develop various biomaterials and improve synthetic material for better joints.

The department of biological engineering exists to create the ground-breaking solutions that have long been needed, he explained.

Students at UofA
“What makes the students at the University of Arkansas stand out are their senior design projects and social contributions,” Verma said. “These design projects have real world implications. The students are going on to face challenges, bringing solutions like the Artificial Limb Drive for Haiti and the innovation winners of the WERC Environmental Design Competition, and Dr. Matlock’s project on low impact housing.”

“Students here want to make a difference, to make a contribution.”

Meet the Professor: Dr. Brian Haggard

Brian Haggard, associate professor of biological engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas since 2006, when he received the opportunity to teach while working on his masters in environmental science. Haggard has taught biological engineering design studio and his interest in environmental science grew while he working on watersheds and studying water quality.

“I came to this type of work when I was working with watersheds, water quality, so my interest turned to ecological hydrology,” he said.

How I got into engineering
Haggard began his college career as a student athlete seeking a degree in engineering before setting his sights on bioengineering. Once he got involved with environmental consulting, he earned a master’s in environmental science and a doctorate in engineering.

Shortly after graduating, Haggard started working for the Federal Government USGS, Department of Agriculture, as a Hydrologist.

University of Arkansas experience
When I came to the University of Arkansas, “I was working on my masters in 1997. It felt like home, so I took the opportunity,” he said. “The USDA, that I was working for beforehand, was in Fayetteville.

“For someone in this field, the location is premiere: the outdoors, the community tie to the water, locations like Devils Den, Beaver Lake and surrounding streams” are all beneficial for this type of study.

Although Haggard always had a love of the outdoors, he was in the majority of students that had difficulty making the connection between the classroom and physical, outdoor projects. A college mentor, Emily Stanley, bridged this gap and inspired him to experience engineering first-hand by getting out of the lab.
She helped change his perspective of engineering.

“Emily Stanley is a limnologist at the Center of Limnology, University of Wisconsin, and she was on my PhD committee,” he said. “She taught me how to write, how to think. She taught me to get out, to get in the water.”

As a teacher, Haggard mirrors Stanley by encouraging his students to do one simple thing to become a better engineer. “Our department encourages students to get out and get a feel for it. Drive to it and see it,” he said. “It helps with understanding.”

As before, students are still most comfortable in the classroom and in the lab.
“When I was teaching a class on stream flow, I gave them an assignment involving multiple points of a creek and they had to figure out why it was higher and flowed more quickly at certain points,” he said. “Once I started grading the assignment, I realized that no one drove out to the creek, which was not far from campus.”

Research
Haggard is Director of the Arkansas Water Resource Center. To learn more about their projects and staff, visit http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/.

“At the Arkansas Water Resource Center, our main focus water. We take samples from 20 sites in Northwest Arkansas to create long-term databases by monitoring water quality change over time,” he said.

This center is working on a number of water quality projects at the moment. One project monitors the White River, which drains into Beaver Lake, pulling water from a different source into our local water supply.

Another AWRC endeavor focuses on the discharge in the Illinois River Basin, estimating the total maximum daily load, or TMDL, of pollutants into the stream. “Here, we create a load estimate in kilograms of nitrogen, sediment and phosphorous.”

At the Arkansas Water Resource Center, “We partner with Oklahoma State University, which has a gravel alluvium, (that enables) quick transport for phosphorous.”
Currently, the largest, all-inclusive project at the center is a multi-organization endeavor for evaluating Arkansas Natural Resources.

“This is involving Arkansas Game & Fish commission, who are studying the fish of the area in this case; the University of Central Arkansas, whose researchers are studying the invertebrates and then our Biological Engineering Department researchers are studying the habitat,” he said.

For the University of Arkansas, that means “studying the effect of drills on streams in places like the south fork of the Little Red River—scenic areas,” as well as a region where streams and rivers cross multiple states (the Three Kings River that flows from Arkansas to Missouri) and Fayetteville Shale areas.

“The center has been collecting water samples in streams draining multiple trans-boundary watersheds, and then getting those analyzed in its fee–based lab,” Haggard said. “Several specific studies on water quality have also been completed looking at the effects of municipal effluent discharges, hydrology and land use changes on water quality.”

Meet the Professor: Dr. Jin-Woo Kim

Dr. Jin-Woo Kim, associate professor of biological engineering, has taught at the University of Arkansas since 2001.

Kim earned his bachelor’s of science in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Seoul National University in Korea; his masters of science in Biology from the University of Wisconsin; a second bachelor’s of science in Microbiology from the University of Iowa; his doctorate in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from Texas A & M and two years Post Doc in Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Iowa.

“My time at Texas A &M gave me a critical opportunity to learn to be a researcher, which is what I like to do,” Kim said.

For his complete, comprehensive education, he said, “I thank my parents because they believed in me, spoiled me by giving me the opportunity.” A challenging task, he said, because his parents “did not have tons of money.”

My education
Kim entered the world of science because “it had more options than other fields, science has a practical sense of application and basic.”

After earning a bachelor’s of science in Chemical Engineering, and a Masters in Biology, he realized the background of Microbiology “would be logical way to go forward for a career.” So Kim returned to college to earn a bachelor’s in Microbiology.

“I just liked biology, but people told me ‘you’re crazy for getting a second bachelor’s engineering degree,” he said. “That’s why I earned my PhD from Texas A & M, I finally found what I like to do.”

University of Arkansas Experience
Kim was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Iowa, but the University of Arkansas was where he officially began his first full-time teaching job.

Kim was attracted to the unique engineering community at the University of Arkansas because “the number of faculty was small,” he said. “When I got here, it was less established, less traditional and I enjoyed the cultural aspect to bioengineering.”

Dr. Lalit Verma, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department Head, began his work at the University of Arkansas in 2000, just a year before Dr. Kim joined.

“Dr. Verma transformed the vision and the leadership here. That’s what triggered my decision,” he said. “I wanted to be a doctor people would work with, and have lots of opportunity, but I didn’t have industry experience.”

In his extensive educational experience, Kim said that the level of student involvement is higher at the University of Arkansas than at other universities.

“We have more to offer than in the lab,” he said. “My research students that I attract are not just in teacher-student relationship, they’re more family-like relationships. They engage more (people?) than me in lecture.

“That doesn’t happen in larger schools.”

Even in universities of roughly the same size, such as the University of Iowa, Kim had a different faculty-student interaction.

Role Model
Among the people that inspired Kim the most was a Graduate Advisor from the University of Wisconsin. “Without them, I couldn’t do what I like now,” he said.

When Kim began as a research-specific instructor at the University of Arkansas, he paired with another faculty member, for research purposes. Russell Deaton, a computer science professor, has worked with Kim on DNA Computing Nanotechnology for the past 10 years.

“I don’t think what I am without him,” Kim said. “He is my mentor, my friend, as well as colleague.”

An instructor at UAMS medical school, Vladimir Zharov, also changed Kim’s educational path.

“I met him in a meeting when we were working together. He introduced me to laser-based diagnosis and treatment,” he said. Kim and Zharov jointly published two nature papers last year.

“Research is an exciting field and we fit together in what we’re doing,” Kim said. “We’re productive. We make a good team because we have complimenting techniques- I run experiments, he handles the theoretical and modeling side, providing each other with information.

“Personally, I admire him. I’m happy to know him,” he said.

Current research
Dr. Kim’s research interests are in BioNanotechnology. “Merging bio-technology and nano-technology is crucial,” he said. “We’re building a structure from small model, using surf assembly to enable it for a specific function.”

He works with bio- and nonbio-interfacing, hybrid material, which includes DNA computing and DNA based technology, or pictures of DNA.

“When working with DNA technology and nanotechnology that merge, it gives control,” which is the number, location, orientation, direction and dimension (1D, 2D, 3D) of his data. “This allows me to make what I like to make with Deaton. We’ve had quite a bit of progress and a paper is to come” about the defined DNA particle.

Kim is actively involved with IEEE and has chaired conferences in biology and medicine. For the IEEE International Conference on Nano-Molecular Medicine and Engineering, “I was in that division last year as program chair and will serve as General Co-Chair for the conference this year,” he said.

In Kim’s research, he uses the techniques of controlling electrical properties and biomedical research from other fields, such as physics, electrical engineering and versatile platform, which provide many applications.

The researchers use instruments that increase the temperature of “bad cells” to produce a photo-thermal reaction. This is similar to melanoma treatment, where the patient’s skin is cauterized- destroyed with a hot instrument, an electrical current, or a caustic substance, a process commonly thought of “burning, freezing or scraping” skin off, but Kim says his technology is much improved and a lot less invasive.

Through Near-Infrared Technology, “We can change the intensity of the Infrared rays for a direct response to shape and size of the structure, controlling optical property,” he said. “Our biotissue is near transparent. That property is used for medical diagnosis.”

When shooting with infrared rays, “Our tissue cells don’t register it and it doesn’t damage normal cells. Only the bad cells show up,” he said. “This non-invasive imaging is particle interfacing, a more efficient way to detect and treat tumors. From this, many, many good things will happen.”

When he’s not in the lab or classroom, Kim uses his time hike, go to the lake or the park.

For more information about his research, visit his website for links to his research publications.