Honors &amp; Awards /mechanical/ en Borden, Rentschler inducted into the AIMBE College of Fellows /mechanical/borden-rentschler-aimbe-college-fellows <span>Borden, Rentschler inducted into the AIMBE College of Fellows</span> <span><span>Alexander Jame…</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-03-31T13:24:59-06:00" title="Monday, March 31, 2025 - 13:24">Mon, 03/31/2025 - 13:24</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-03/the%20marks%20closer%20AIMBE.png?h=d441db82&amp;itok=70bi8UIK" width="1200" height="800" alt="Mark Borden (left) Mark Rentschler (right)"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/14"> All News </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/339"> Faculty </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/20"> Honors &amp; Awards </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/622"> homepage news </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/631" hreflang="en">Faculty</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">Homepage News</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/423" hreflang="en">Mark A. Borden</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/437" hreflang="en">Mark Rentschler</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Professors Mark Borden and Mark Rentschler have been inducted into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows. The program is among the highest professional distinctions given to medical and biological engineers, representing the top 2% of these engineers around the world.</div> <script> window.location.href = `/bme/borden-rentschler-aimbe-college-fellows`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 31 Mar 2025 19:24:59 +0000 Alexander James Servantez 4405 at /mechanical Ҵýƽ startup Mesa Quantum earns two major grants to improve navigation infrastructure /mechanical/cu-boulder-startup-mesa-quantum <span>Ҵýƽ startup Mesa Quantum earns two major grants to improve navigation infrastructure</span> <span><span>Alexander Jame…</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-03-21T10:45:19-06:00" title="Friday, March 21, 2025 - 10:45">Fri, 03/21/2025 - 10:45</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-03/mesa-quantum.png?h=8282117c&amp;itok=7FqalUjN" width="1200" height="800" alt="Mesa Quantum team group picture"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/14"> All News </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/369"> Entrepreneurship </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/20"> Honors &amp; Awards </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/333"> Research </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/622"> homepage news </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/631" hreflang="en">Faculty</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">Homepage News</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/523" hreflang="en">Svenja Knappe</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>For over 20 years, Associate Research Professor Svenja Knappe has focused on developing miniaturized quantum sensors and systems. Now the technology is helping Ҵýƽ spinout Mesa Quantum commercialize chip-scale quantum solutions that can transform our navigation infrastructure.</div> <script> window.location.href = `/venturepartners/2025/03/10/internal-news/alum-sristy-agrawal-leads-cu-boulder-startup-mesa-quantum-success`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 21 Mar 2025 16:45:19 +0000 Alexander James Servantez 4400 at /mechanical Mukherjee, Vance named 2025 RIO Faculty Fellows /mechanical/mukherjee-vance-2025-rio-faculty-fellows <span>Mukherjee, Vance named 2025 RIO Faculty Fellows</span> <span><span>Alexander Jame…</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-03-13T09:53:41-06:00" title="Thursday, March 13, 2025 - 09:53">Thu, 03/13/2025 - 09:53</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-03/facultyfellows-2025-cohort.jpeg.avif_.png?h=97480331&amp;itok=19fxwTib" width="1200" height="800" alt="The 2025 Rio Faculty Fellows at their annual retreat"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/14"> All News </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/339"> Faculty </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/20"> Honors &amp; Awards </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/622"> homepage news </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/443" hreflang="en">Debanjan Mukherjee</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/631" hreflang="en">Faculty</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">Homepage News</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/215" hreflang="en">Marina Vance</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Assistant Professor Debanjan Mukherjee and Associate Professor Marina Vance have both been selected as 2025 RIO Faculty Fellows. The program supports faculty in achieving their research and innovation goals and promotes collaboration through tailored training, experiential learning and leadership development opportunities.</div> <script> window.location.href = `/researchinnovation/2025/03/07/new-rio-faculty-fellows-cohort-continues-legacy-leadership-development-across-campus`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:53:41 +0000 Alexander James Servantez 4396 at /mechanical Xiao earns prestigious membership in the National Academy of Inventors /mechanical/xiao-national-academy-inventors-membership <span>Xiao earns prestigious membership in the National Academy of Inventors</span> <span><span>Alexander Jame…</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-03-12T13:16:42-06:00" title="Wednesday, March 12, 2025 - 13:16">Wed, 03/12/2025 - 13:16</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-image/jianliangxiao.jpg?h=6c83441f&amp;itok=T5N6AZbL" width="1200" height="800" alt="Jianliang Xiao"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/14"> All News </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/339"> Faculty </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/20"> Honors &amp; Awards </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/180"> Mechanics of Materials </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/50"> Micro/Nanoscale </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/622"> homepage news </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/631" hreflang="en">Faculty</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">Homepage News</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/457" hreflang="en">Jianliang Xiao</a> </div> <span>Alexander Servantez</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p dir="ltr"><a href="/mechanical/jianliang-xiao" rel="nofollow"><span>Jianliang Xiao</span></a><span> is a “mechanics of materials” expert launching innovations in soft materials and flexible electronics. His work recently earned him an exclusive spot amongst some of the most successful academic inventors in the world.</span></p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-right ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"> <div class="align-center image_style-large_image_style"> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/article-image/jianliangxiao.jpg?itok=bU7KbmfH" width="1500" height="1500" alt="Jianliang Xiao"> </div> </div> <p>Jianliang Xiao, associate professor of mechanical engineering and senior member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).</p></div></div></div><p dir="ltr"><span>Xiao, an associate professor in the&nbsp;</span><a href="/mechanical" rel="nofollow"><span>Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering</span></a><span>, has been&nbsp;</span><a href="https://academyofinventors.org/nai-announces-2025-class-of-senior-members/" rel="nofollow"><span>selected as a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI)</span></a><span>. The program recognizes rising innovators who have had success securing patents, licensing and commercialization for developed technologies that showcase real impact on the welfare of society.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“I am extremely excited and honored to join this group of incredible innovators as a senior member,” said Xiao, who is also affiliated with the&nbsp;</span><a href="/mse/" rel="nofollow"><span>Materials Science and Engineering Program</span></a><span> at Ҵýƽ. “Thank you to the students in my research group for their contributions. We see this not just as recognition, but as stimulation. It encourages us to work harder and make an even greater impact on society in the future.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The induction comes on the heels of two recent patents that Xiao and his team in the&nbsp;</span><a href="/lab/xiao" rel="nofollow"><span>Xiao Research Group</span></a><span> have received. The first is a smart and comfortable in-ear device that can detect signals from the brain and facial area to help diagnose sleep disorders.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The second is a series of wearable electronic systems also designed for health monitoring purposes. Not only can they be worn, but they can also be recycled.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>According to the World Health Organization, a record 62 million tons of electronic waste was produced globally in just 2022 alone. Xiao says this technology has the power to drastically reduce this number and make way for a cleaner global footprint.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Our work is focused on a combination of smart materials and flexible electronics,” Xiao said. “Not only do we have patents for these technologies, but startup companies are working to commercialize them so that, hopefully in a few years, they can make a real impact on people’s lives.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Xiao and his group will continue to fuel their inventive spirit. The team of inventors are actively seeking collaborations with other experts in various disciplines, including healthcare.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>But despite his achievement, Xiao remains steady on one principle: it takes a vast ecosystem to have innovative and entrepreneurial success.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Thank you to the people at the&nbsp;</span><a href="/researchinnovation/" rel="nofollow"><span>Research and Innovation Office</span></a><span> and the&nbsp;</span><a href="/venturepartners/" rel="nofollow"><span>Venture Partners at Ҵýƽ</span></a><span>,” said Xiao. “They have offered tremendous support during my journey and nomination.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>This year’s cohort of NAI inductees is the largest since the program’s inception in 2018. Comprised of 162 emerging inventors from institutions across the nation, the collective group is named on over 1,200 U.S. patents.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The 2025 class of senior members will be officially celebrated during the Senior Member Induction Ceremony at NAI’s 14th annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia, from June 23-26.</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Associate Professor Jianliang Xiao is a “mechanics of materials” expert launching innovations in soft materials and flexible electronics who has been selected as a senior member in the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). The program recognizes rising innovators who have had success securing patents, licensing and commercialization for developed technologies that showcase real impact on the welfare of society.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Wed, 12 Mar 2025 19:16:42 +0000 Alexander James Servantez 4392 at /mechanical Two undergraduate students receive prestigious aerospace fellowship /mechanical/students-receive-prestigious-aerospace-fellowship <span>Two undergraduate students receive prestigious aerospace fellowship</span> <span><span>Alexander Jame…</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-03-07T13:26:37-07:00" title="Friday, March 7, 2025 - 13:26">Fri, 03/07/2025 - 13:26</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-03/ME%20students_2.png?h=687b31c1&amp;itok=rzC2p8_o" width="1200" height="800" alt="Asaiah Gifford (left) and Caleb Woldemichael (right)"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/14"> All News </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/20"> Honors &amp; Awards </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/353"> Undergraduate Students </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/622"> homepage news </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/637" hreflang="en">Education</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">Homepage News</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/646" hreflang="en">Undergraduate News</a> </div> <span>Alexander Servantez</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p dir="ltr"><span>Two undergraduate students in the&nbsp;</span><a href="/mechanical/" rel="nofollow"><span>Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering</span></a><span> have solidified themselves amongst the future leaders of aerospace.</span></p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-right ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"> <div class="align-center image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-03/IMG_5251%5B88%5D.png?itok=ur0MM52H" width="750" height="563" alt="Caleb Woldemichael at Lockheed Martin"> </div> </div> <p>First-year mechanical engineering student and 2025 Patti Grace Smith Fellow Caleb Woldemichael at Lockheed Martin.</p></div></div></div><p dir="ltr"><span>Third-year student&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.pgsfellowship.org/asaiah-gifford" rel="nofollow"><span>Asaiah Gifford</span></a><span> and first-year student&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.pgsfellowship.org/caleb-woldemichael" rel="nofollow"><span>Caleb Woldemichael</span></a><span> were selected as Patti Grace Smith Fellows. The prestigious program is designed to help accelerate the careers of high-achieving Black students across the nation–a population that statistically remains underrepresented throughout the aerospace industry.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>This year’s class of fellows featured 176 top-rated students from twenty-four different universities. Recipients of the award receive networking opportunities across the industry, personalized mentorship, a valuable summer internship at one of America’s leading aerospace companies and their share of nearly $500,000 in total scholarships.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“I’m honored to be a Patti Grace Smith Fellow,” said Woldemichael. “Breaking into aerospace can feel impossible and I definitely know what it’s like to be the only person of color in a room full of STEM students. This fellowship gives us a chance to get technical, hands-on experience and connect with other successful fellows throughout the industry.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The Patti Grace Fellowship selection process is often described as one of the most rigorous in the country. Multiple rounds of screening and interviews with the nation’s most sought after aerospace employers ensures the candidates exhibit extraordinary professional aptitude and proven leadership qualities.&nbsp;</span></p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-left ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"> <div class="align-center image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-03/IMG_3502%5B65%5D.png?itok=qm4eoNGB" width="750" height="1000" alt="Asian Gifford during SPUR presentation"> </div> </div> <p>Third-year mechanical engineering student Asaiah Gifford during a Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) presentation.</p></div></div></div><p dir="ltr"><span>The program’s applicant pool nearly doubled this year, as well, creating an even more competitive landscape than ever before. But Gifford believes the difficulty is what made the process memorable and inspiring.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“During one of my interviews I spoke with one of the fellows from a past class,” she said. “I was able to ask her a few questions about the fellowship and the difference it can make in the industry. She explained the hardships of being a Black engineer and shared how the program helped her push forward. Hearing that really just excited me and helped me have fun with this whole process.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>In 1963, Patti Grace Smith was a plaintiff in a landmark Supreme Court case that integrated public schools in Alabama. She would later go on to have an illustrious aerospace career, leading the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation and earning the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award, one of the highest honors awarded to aerospace professionals.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Her perseverance helped break barriers and usher in a new era of educational inclusivity, a legacy that today’s fellows are looking to uphold.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“There have been times where I’ve wondered if I’m good enough. I know what it’s like and I’m only a freshman, so I know I will face more difficulties,” said Woldemichael. “I hope future engineers can see this fellowship and push past this lack of representation, too.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“This fellowship has taught me that being multifaceted is not a hindrance,” Gifford added. “A lot of people in engineering tend to prioritize only technical expertise, but the person matters, too. The Patti Grace Fellowship cares about how engineering impacts people, and I hope to expand on that going forward.”</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Two undergraduate students, third-year Asaiah Gifford and first-year Caleb Woldemichael, were selected as Patti Grace Smith Fellows. The prestigious program is designed to help accelerate the careers of high-achieving Black students across the nation–a population that statistically remains underrepresented throughout the aerospace industry.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-03/ME%20students_0.png?itok=Bh_X4XF4" width="1500" height="938" alt="Asaiah Gifford (left) Caleb Woldemichael (right)"> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 07 Mar 2025 20:26:37 +0000 Alexander James Servantez 4391 at /mechanical CU Engineering announces inaugural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows /mechanical/inaugural-innovation-entrepreneurship-fellows <span>CU Engineering announces inaugural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows</span> <span><span>Alexander Jame…</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-02-14T09:24:06-07:00" title="Friday, February 14, 2025 - 09:24">Fri, 02/14/2025 - 09:24</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-02/Max%20Saffer-Meng%20and%20Anthony%20Straub.jpeg?h=f1d00164&amp;itok=lzSgo-g8" width="1200" height="800" alt="Max Saffer-Meng and Anthony Straub "> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/14"> All News </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/369"> Entrepreneurship </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/339"> Faculty </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/341"> Graduate Students </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/20"> Honors &amp; Awards </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/622"> homepage news </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/631" hreflang="en">Faculty</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/672" hreflang="en">Grace McFassel</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">Homepage News</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/429" hreflang="en">Kaushik Jayaram</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/612" hreflang="en">Longji Cui</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/423" hreflang="en">Mark A. Borden</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/632" hreflang="en">Students</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/673" hreflang="en">Yunxuan Zhu</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>CU Engineering has named the inaugural recipients of its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows program, which supports faculty, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students in bringing research to market. The fellows, selected for their work in fields like robotics, biomedical devices and advanced materials, receive funding, mentorship and entrepreneurial support to accelerate commercialization.</div> <script> window.location.href = `/engineering/innovation-and-entrepreneurship-fellows`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:24:06 +0000 Alexander James Servantez 4383 at /mechanical Rentschler, Aspero Medical awarded $4.5M for endoscopy advancement /mechanical/rentschler-aspero-awarded-45m-endoscopy-advancement <span>Rentschler, Aspero Medical awarded $4.5M for endoscopy advancement</span> <span><span>Alexander Jame…</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-02-11T13:48:48-07:00" title="Tuesday, February 11, 2025 - 13:48">Tue, 02/11/2025 - 13:48</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-02/2025_2_3_Mark_Rentschler_Endoscopy_Devices_PC0046.JPG?h=cca4e07f&amp;itok=cDJlUsqf" width="1200" height="800" alt="Mark Rentschler holding current, past Aspero Medical devices"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/14"> All News </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/110"> Biomedical </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/369"> Entrepreneurship </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/339"> Faculty </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/20"> Honors &amp; Awards </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/106"> Robotics and Systems Design </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/622"> homepage news </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/631" hreflang="en">Faculty</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">Homepage News</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/437" hreflang="en">Mark Rentschler</a> </div> <span>Alexander Servantez</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p dir="ltr"><span>It’s been six years since the launch of startup company&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.asperomedical.com/" rel="nofollow"><span>Aspero Medical</span></a><span>, co-founded by&nbsp;</span><a href="/mechanical/mark-rentschler" rel="nofollow"><span>Professor Mark Rentschler</span></a><span> of the&nbsp;</span><a href="/mechanical" rel="nofollow"><span>Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering</span></a><span>. The company has seen great success, including the development of a medical device designed to enable more efficient procedures in the small bowel region.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Today, with the help of a $4.5 million award through the Anschutz Acceleration Initiative (AAI), Rentschler and his colleagues are working to bring two new products to the market that will transform these types of procedures even further.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“We brought our first product out on the market in 2024,” said Rentschler, also a faculty member in&nbsp;</span><a href="/bme/" rel="nofollow"><span>biomedical engineering (BME)</span></a><span> and&nbsp;</span><a href="/program/robotics/" rel="nofollow"><span>robotics</span></a><span>. “We are planning to bring a second and third product to the market in 12-18 months, and we are extremely excited to get these devices in the hands of interventional endoscopists.”</span></p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-right ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"> <div class="align-center image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-02/2025_2_3_Mark_Rentschler_Endoscopy_Devices_PC0025.JPG?itok=xXZSKIr6" width="750" height="500" alt="Mark Rentschler holding an Aspero Medical medical device"> </div> </div> <p>Professor Mark Rentschler holding Aspero Medical's patented Ancora-SB balloon overtube.</p></div></div></div><p dir="ltr"><span>In 2023, Aspero received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)&nbsp;</span><a href="/bme/2023/09/11/rentschlers-startup-company-improves-endoscopy-procedures-patented-balloon-technology" rel="nofollow"><span>to market and sell the Ancora-SB device</span></a><span>. The product is used during endoscopy procedures to diagnose and treat small bowel diseases.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>According to Rentschler, operating within the small intestine can be time consuming and technically challenging. Equipped with a patented micro-textured balloon, the Ancora-SB overtube is designed to provide more traction and anchoring consistency than smooth latex or smooth silicone balloon overtube competitors.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Balloon overtubes for small bowel procedures have been around for about a decade,” said Rentschler. “We’re not looking to change the small bowel enteroscopy procedure, but instead improve balloon anchoring performance during these procedures in the small bowel.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Ancora-SB has allowed Aspero to prove their worth in hospitals. Their next products expand on this concept, of course, with additional features that can facilitate a less invasive interventional procedure than traditional open surgery.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The next generation balloon overtube will be used to remove cancerous lesions in the large bowel region. It features an extra working channel that allows for an additional tool to be utilized alongside the visualization scope. This offers physicians more control, access, and stabilization when maneuvering through the colon and performing advanced interventional procedures.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Conceptually, these devices will enable triangulated surgery with two tools and centralized visualization so that physicians can more efficiently perform surgery from inside the lumen,” Rentschler said. “Instead of historically invasive procedures, where the patient is cut open, and the cancerous bowel region is removed, we’re assisting physicians as they remove the cancer from the inside of the lumen during an outpatient procedure.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“It's much less invasive, with potentially tremendous cost savings, and numerous benefits for the patient.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Aspero’s third product will be another balloon overtube, this time with a working channel that enables minimally invasive cancer removal in the esophagus and stomach regions of the gastrointestinal tract.&nbsp;</span></p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-left ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"> <div class="align-center image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-02/2025_2_3_Mark_Rentschler_Endoscopy_Devices_PC0044.JPG?itok=3VghBVhb" width="750" height="501" alt="Mark Rentschler holding current, past Aspero Medical devices"> </div> </div> <p>Rentschler showcasing all three of the medical devices in Aspero Medical's multi-product platform, including their two new highly anticipated devices.</p></div></div></div><p dir="ltr"><span>Rentschler and his team say the two upcoming devices have the potential to replace a large, and growing, number of today’s conventional surgical procedures in the gastrointestinal region by enhancing safety and efficiency while reducing patient recovery time. Moving procedures from inpatient surgery to outpatient endoscopy can generate potential cost savings of up to 50 percent or more.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Everyone knows this is the direction we need to go. Clinical outcomes from these types of procedures are incredibly strong, but the techniques and devices aren’t widely available yet,” said Rentschler. “We are creating products that help physicians and patients feel safe and comfortable without overcomplicating things. The paradigm is rapidly shifting, and we endeavor to push endoscopy forward.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The company is currently finalizing the design of the second product. It’s about six months further along in development than the third product, but Rentschler says they are looking to have both devices FDA cleared by the end of 2026.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>When all three devices hit the market, Aspero will look to market a portfolio of products, rather than a single tool. But further innovation is on the horizon, this time incorporating the Ancora balloon technology with a robotic element.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Ancora is a multi-product platform focusing on the small bowel, large bowel, stomach and esophageal regions,” Rentschler said. “Our next potential venture will be in flexible robots. We’ll continue with our balloon overtubes, but as anchoring platforms to be used with flexible robotic endoscopy systems.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Until then, Rentschler and company are full steam ahead on these next products. The $4.5 million AAI grant is being offered over a four year span, but they anticipate spending that money much sooner so they can get the devices out on the market and begin positively impacting patients and physicians everywhere.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>But that’s not their only goal. With a lot of Colorado involved in the company’s revolutionizing technology, Rentschler hopes to also tell another story.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“I started Aspero Medical with Dr. Steven Edmundowicz at CU Anschutz. We’ve received a number of grants from the state of Colorado and everyone involved is invested in our vision,” said Rentschler. “We believe that a rising tide raises all boats, and when we think of Aspero, we want it to be a successful Colorado story.”</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Six years ago, Professor Mark Rentschler helped launch startup company Aspero Medical to develop a medical device used during endoscopy procedures. Today, with the help of a $4.5 million grant through the Anschutz Acceleration Initiative, Rentschler and his team are bringing two new medical devices to the market that have the potential to transform surgeries in the gastrointestinal region even further.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-02/2025_2_3_Mark_Rentschler_Endoscopy_Devices_PC0041.JPG?itok=ExchfaT1" width="1500" height="1000" alt="Mark Rentschler holding current, past Aspero Medical devices"> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 11 Feb 2025 20:48:48 +0000 Alexander James Servantez 4382 at /mechanical PhD student wins national award for fluids research in stroke therapy /mechanical/phd-student-wins-national-award-fluids-research-stroke-therapy <span>PhD student wins national award for fluids research in stroke therapy</span> <span><span>Alexander Jame…</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-01-17T13:43:07-07:00" title="Friday, January 17, 2025 - 13:43">Fri, 01/17/2025 - 13:43</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-01/Screenshot%202025-01-14%20150555_1.png?h=2f70a673&amp;itok=QSQFx882" width="1200" height="800" alt="Nick Rovito accepting the ASME Young Engineer Paper Competition Award"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/14"> All News </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/110"> Biomedical </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/30"> Graduate Student Research </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/341"> Graduate Students </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/20"> Honors &amp; Awards </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/108"> Thermo Fluid Sciences </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/622"> homepage news </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/443" hreflang="en">Debanjan Mukherjee</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">Homepage News</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/668" hreflang="en">Nick Rovito</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/632" hreflang="en">Students</a> </div> <span>Alexander Servantez</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p dir="ltr"><span>Nick Rovito, a first-year PhD student in the&nbsp;</span><a href="/mechanical/" rel="nofollow"><span>Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering</span></a><span>, was living on top of the world.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>After submitting a technical publication to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Fluids Engineering Division, he was named one of five finalists for the Young Engineer Paper Competition and was invited to present his research at the International Mechanical Engineering Congress &amp; Exposition (IMECE) conference in Portland, Oregon.</span></p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-right ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"> <div class="align-center image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-01/Nick-Profile-02.JPG?itok=e4lAJiOM" width="750" height="500" alt="Nick Rovito"> </div> </div> <p>Nick Rovito, first-year PhD student and winner of the American Society of Mechanical Engineer's Young Engineer Paper Competition.</p></div></div></div><p dir="ltr"><span>Rovito’s award-winning research article is titled “</span><a href="https://imece.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/236/sessiongallery/17945/application/143625" rel="nofollow"><span>In Silico Analysis of Flow-Mediated Drug Transport For Thrombolytic Therapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke</span></a><span>.” The piece featured a multi-physics model coupling fluid dynamics, drug transport and reactions that emulates the clot-dissolving process in stroke treatment.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Simply being recognized amongst the other finalists at such a prestigious gathering was already the honor of a lifetime, he said. With over 1,600 research leaders across nearly 20 technical tracks, the IMECE conference features one of the largest and most diverse conference communities that ASME has to offer. It’s often touted as the largest mechanical engineering conference in the country.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>But when presentations had concluded and the judges were done deliberating, Rovito wasn’t just a finalist. He was the winner.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>As a graduate research assistant in the&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.flowphysicslab.com/" rel="nofollow"><span>FLOWLab</span></a><span>, led by&nbsp;</span><a href="/mechanical/debanjan-mukherjee" rel="nofollow"><span>Assistant Professor Debanjan Mukherjee</span></a><span> at the&nbsp;</span><a href="/" rel="nofollow"><span>University of Colorado Boulder</span></a><span>, Rovito conducts computational fluid dynamics research analyzing the mechanisms of thrombolysis in the blood vessels of the brain. This primary mode of stroke therapy involves administering medication to help restore blood flow by dissolving blood clots that may be causing a stroke.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“The FLOWLab is very multidisciplinary,” Rovito said. “We study stroke and medicine by analyzing fluid motion and transport through the cardiovascular system. Recognizing this allows us to apply principles of mechanical engineering to an otherwise medically focused field.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>His work aims to answer two questions: why do stroke treatments fail, and how can we increase their efficacy in the future?</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“When you have a stroke, there’s an artery in your brain that is being blocked by a blood clot. Tissue plasminogen activator is the only drug approved by the FDA to treat this, but nearly 50 percent of patients don’t actually see the clot fully dissolve,” Rovito said. “A stroke left untreated could spell permanent disability or death, so we want to study the fluid mechanics within the vascular structure and see exactly how that drug is being delivered to the blood clot.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Thrombolysis is known to present other dangerous issues, as well. Tissue plasminogen activator is categorized as an anticoagulant or a blood thinner. The drug’s job is to interfere with the clotting process and prevent blood clots from forming or growing.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>However, the drug is not capable of targeting specific blood clots. It will dissolve any blood clot, including those that are not causing the stroke. Rovito says this can lead to severe bleeding if the drug goes elsewhere in the brain, or if it is overused.</span></p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-left ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-01/1000009814.jpg?itok=ginqxEk6" width="1500" height="1500" alt="Debanjan Mukherjee (left) and Nick Rovito (right)."> </div> <p>Assistant Professor Debanjan Mukherjee (left) and Nick Rovito (right). Rovito is a graduate research assistant in the FLOWLab, led by Mukherjee.</p></div></div></div><p dir="ltr"><span>“Around twenty percent of the patients who receive this drug experience major bleeding whether the stroke treatment is successful or not,” he said. “Understanding drug delivery from a flow physics standpoint helps us understand what the drug is doing when it’s administered so we can potentially mitigate those issues in the future.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“I felt confident about my work,” Rovito said. “But I was just happy to be there. Everybody’s work was phenomenal. Any of the finalists could have won. So when the results came out, I was thrilled.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Mukherjee, a co-author of the publication, had no doubt that Rovito’s work had what it took to win.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Drug delivery investigation is at the core of our research group, and a lot of the strides we’ve made in modeling and simulation tools have been because of Nick’s efforts,” said Mukherjee, also a faculty member in&nbsp;</span><a href="/bme/" rel="nofollow"><span>biomedical engineering (BME)</span></a><span> at Ҵýƽ. “This is a very complicated problem, and his research is novel. The fact that he was able to win this award three semesters into his PhD pursuit speaks to his great ability to accomplish these technical tasks.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Rovito hopes to continue improving this model and solving problems related to the clinical challenges of today. Their next steps in this project related to stroke therapy will be in collaboration with the neurology team at the&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.cuanschutz.edu/" rel="nofollow"><span>University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus</span></a><span>, a frequent collaborator with the FLOWLab.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Beyond his research, Rovito also hopes to translate his technical skills into a long-term teaching career.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“One of my passions is teaching and scientific communication,” he said. “Ҵýƽ is a great place for me to continue my technical work and develop as an educator.”</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>First-year PhD student Nick Rovito has been named the winner of the Young Engineer Paper Competition at this year's International Mechanical Engineering Congress &amp; Exposition (IMECE) held by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. His novel research aims to answer two questions: why do stroke treatments fail, and how can we increase their efficacy in the future?</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-01/Screenshot%202025-01-14%20150555_1.png?itok=x3ufV5Uf" width="1500" height="913" alt="Nick Rovito accepting the ASME Young Engineer Paper Competition Award"> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> <div>PhD student Nick Rovito (middle right) accepting the Young Engineer Paper Competition Award during the International Mechanical Engineering Congress &amp; Exposition (IMECE) conference in Portland, Oregon.</div> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 20:43:07 +0000 Alexander James Servantez 4372 at /mechanical Celebrating the 80th birthday of former ME professor Roop L. Mahajan /mechanical/celebrating-80th-birthday-former-me-professor-roop-l-mahajan <span>Celebrating the 80th birthday of former ME professor Roop L. Mahajan</span> <span><span>Alexander Jame…</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-01-08T16:07:26-07:00" title="Wednesday, January 8, 2025 - 16:07">Wed, 01/08/2025 - 16:07</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-01/ROOP_0.png?h=f91d452a&amp;itok=BI259U-5" width="1200" height="800" alt="Roop Mahajan, former mechanical engineering professor at Ҵýƽ"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/14"> All News </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/20"> Honors &amp; Awards </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/622"> homepage news </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/631" hreflang="en">Faculty</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">Homepage News</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/667" hreflang="en">Roop Mahajan</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>The mechanical engineering community is celebrating the 80th birthday of former Ҵýƽ Professor Roop. L Mahajan. With over 60 years of service in the engineering profession, Mahajan's remarkable career embodies research excellence and educational impact. He served as a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Ҵýƽ for 15 years from 1991-2006. He also served as the Interim Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science from 2001-2002.</div> <script> window.location.href = `https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/heattransfer/article/147/4/040301/1209940/On-Professor-Roop-Mahajan-s-80th-Birthday`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Wed, 08 Jan 2025 23:07:26 +0000 Alexander James Servantez 4360 at /mechanical Graduating student Aria Mundy receives the CEAS 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Award /mechanical/graduating-student-aria-mundy-receives-ceas-2024-outstanding-undergraduate-award <span>Graduating student Aria Mundy receives the CEAS 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Award</span> <span><span>Alexander Jame…</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-12-17T14:53:39-07:00" title="Tuesday, December 17, 2024 - 14:53">Tue, 12/17/2024 - 14:53</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2024-12/SGRE_Wind_Turbine.jpg?h=8fe4b97f&amp;itok=2BVy1RhH" width="1200" height="800" alt="Aria Mundy on a wind turbine"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/14"> All News </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/365"> Education </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/393"> Graduation </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/20"> Honors &amp; Awards </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/367"> Outreach </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/405"> Outstanding Student Award </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/371"> Professional Development </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/353"> Undergraduate Students </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/622"> homepage news </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/666" hreflang="en">Aria Mundy</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/637" hreflang="en">Education</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/385" hreflang="en">Global</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">Homepage News</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/646" hreflang="en">Undergraduate News</a> </div> <span>Alexander Servantez</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p dir="ltr"><span>Aria Mundy, a dual-major mechanical engineering and applied mathematics student graduating this fall, has been selected to receive the&nbsp;</span><a href="/engineering/academics/graduation/graduating-student-awards#:~:text=This%20award%20recognizes%20the%20best,requirements%20during%20a%20calendar%20year." rel="nofollow"><span>Ҵýƽ College of Engineering and Applied Science 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Award</span></a><span>.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The award is given to an undergraduate student who maximized their educational experience in a holistic way, with accomplishments across several areas.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Mundy is the fourth ME student to win the award since 1994.&nbsp;</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><h2><span>A home-grown love for engineering</span></h2><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-right ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"> <div class="align-center image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2024-12/Headshot.png?itok=04ZqHARi" width="750" height="500" alt="Aria Mundy"> </div> </div> <p>Aria Mundy, recipient of the CEAS 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Award.</p></div></div></div><p dir="ltr"><span>Born and raised in the Boulder area, Mundy always dreamed of studying engineering at the&nbsp;</span><a href="/" rel="nofollow"><span>University of Colorado Boulder</span></a><span>. She loved math, she loved science and with encouragement from her early educators, she learned the importance of women in engineering.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“I was one of just a few girls in my physics class during high school,” Mundy said. “One of my teachers encouraged me to pursue a career in STEM and inspired me to explore engineering.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Mundy started her undergraduate journey in the&nbsp;</span><a href="/aerospace/" rel="nofollow"><span>Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences</span></a><span> at Ҵýƽ. But after her freshman year, she decided to explore different areas of study in the college, eventually settling on the&nbsp;</span><a href="/mechanical/" rel="nofollow"><span>Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering</span></a><span>.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“The awesome part about ME is how versatile it is,” she said. “I’ve held some different internships across different industries. It’s been awesome to jump around and get exposure to many exciting areas.”</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><h2><span>Success in-and-out of the classroom</span></h2><p dir="ltr"><span>During her time at Ҵýƽ, Mundy demonstrated a talent for academic success. She was awarded a scholarship by the&nbsp;</span><a href="/engineering/bold" rel="nofollow"><span>BOLD Center</span></a><span> and was a part of the&nbsp;</span><a href="/scholarships/esteemed-scholars" rel="nofollow"><span>Ҵýƽ Esteemed Scholars Program</span></a><span> and&nbsp;</span><a href="https://cuengineeringhonors.com/" rel="nofollow"><span>CU Engineering Honors program</span></a><span>. In her sophomore year, she was accepted into the&nbsp;</span><a href="/engineering/kiewit-scholars" rel="nofollow"><span>Kiewit Design-Build Scholars Program</span></a><span>.</span></p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-left ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"> <div class="align-center image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2024-12/Cycling_Nationals_Finish.jpg?itok=JE9X0LtB" width="750" height="477" alt="Aria Mundy at the finish line of a cycling competition"> </div> </div> <p>Aria Mundy crossing the finish line at the USA Cycling Collegiate National Championships.</p></div></div></div><p dir="ltr"><span>Mundy also exhibited success outside of the classroom. She has been a part of the CU Cycling and Triathlon Teams all throughout her college career, holding leadership positions on both teams. In the&nbsp;</span><a href="https://legacy.usacycling.org/results/index.php?year=2024&amp;id=11790" rel="nofollow"><span>2024 USA Cycling Collegiate National Championships</span></a><span>, Mundy brought four national championships back to Boulder, taking first in the Women’s Club Team Time Trial, Road Race, Criterium, and Omnium events.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Success has found Mundy as a member of the&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.cuwindteam.com/" rel="nofollow"><span>Ҵýƽ Wind Team</span></a><span>, as well. In 2023 and 2024, the squad took home two top-3 finishes in the&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/collegiatewindcompetition/past-collegiate-wind-competitions" rel="nofollow"><span>Collegiate Wind Competition</span></a><span>.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Being a part of the different scholarship programs helped expand my opportunities and community,” Mundy said. “As for athletics, being a part of sports has always been my escape whenever I feel overwhelmed in class.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“It’s been amazing to find some success at races. But at the end of the day, it’s really just about being a part of such a great community and finding balance alongside academics.”</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><h2><span>Creating an inclusive culture</span></h2><p dir="ltr"><span>Mundy attributes her success in multiple arenas to the support of peers and mentors who took her under their wings.</span></p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-right ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"> <div class="align-center image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2024-12/Paonia_Science_Experiment.jpg?itok=oUqidPOL" width="750" height="563" alt="Aria Mundy teaching middle school students"> </div> </div> <p>Aria Mundy guiding middle school students through a science experiment.&nbsp;</p></div></div></div><p dir="ltr"><span>“When I was a freshman, stepping into sports felt intimidating at times. Cycling has few women and engineering has long been male-dominated,” she said. “But I’ll never forget the women who went out of their way to make me feel included. As I grew older, I felt the responsibility to create that same sense of belonging for others, too.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>In many ways, Mundy was on the front lines fighting for diversity and gender parity in engineering. As a member of Ҵýƽ&nbsp;</span><a href="https://cuboulderswe.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow"><span>Society of Women Engineers (SWE)</span></a><span>, she helped organize local workshops encouraging young women to explore STEM career opportunities.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>She also participated in the&nbsp;</span><a href="/mechanical/project-based-learning-pbl-rural-schools" rel="nofollow"><span>Project-Based Learning in Rural Schools Soil Quality Inquiry Program (SQIQ)</span></a><span>. This experience took her to Paonia, Colorado where she partnered with Paonia K-8 to guide young students through soil-quality experiments, fostering their curiosity about science and research.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Ҵýƽ is a very welcoming place for women and underrepresented students,” Mundy said. "I strive to share my excitement and enthusiasm for engineering and community, showing others that they have a support system and can succeed in this environment.”</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><h2><span>Making a broader impact</span></h2><p dir="ltr"><span>A strong love for engineering and outreach opened the door for Mundy to make an impact beyond the Ҵýƽ campus, too.</span></p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-left ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"> <div class="align-center image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2024-12/NIST_Internship.JPG?itok=GKNfFcf2" width="750" height="563" alt="Aria Mundy"> </div> </div> <p>Aria Mundy during her time at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).&nbsp;</p></div></div></div><p dir="ltr"><span>In summer 2022, Mundy traveled to Rwanda as a member of the&nbsp;</span><a href="/ewb/" rel="nofollow"><span>CU Engineers Without Borders (EWB)</span></a><span>. She worked with her peers to design and implement a rainwater catchment system. She said it was “a true embodiment of what it means to be an engineer.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“This project was a powerful reminder of how engineering can bring people together to create solutions that make a lasting difference,” Mundy said.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>She also completed internships at companies in various engineering industries such as Tendeg, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, NIST, Specialized Bicycle Components and LASP. Mundy’s award nominator says she has contributed to new ideas and technologies at each company.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“My philosophy has been to try as many different things as possible,” Mundy said. “I’m truly grateful to receive this award, and for Ҵýƽ support in providing so many avenues for me to learn and grow.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“If I had more time, I would love to keep exploring new things. I’m sad my journey is coming to a close, but I’m excited for what comes next.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The Outstanding Undergraduate Award will be presented to Mundy at the&nbsp;</span><a href="/engineering/academics/graduation/fall-2024-engineering-graduation-ceremony" rel="nofollow"><span>College of Engineering and Applied Science Graduation Ceremony</span></a><span> on Dec. 19. Mundy is considering pursuing a master’s in mechanical engineering while exploring full-time opportunities.&nbsp;</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Aria Mundy, a dual-major mechanical engineering and applied mathematics student graduating this fall has been selected to receive the Ҵýƽ College of Engineering and Applied Science 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Award. Mundy has displayed a vast level of achievement during her time on campus in areas such as academics, outreach, professional development and inclusion.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2024-12/Rwanda_Community_Day.jpeg?itok=vXGPfoAf" width="1500" height="845" alt="Aria Mundy in Rwanda"> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> <div>Aria Mundy during her time in Rwanda as a member of the CU Engineers Without Borders (EWB).</div> Tue, 17 Dec 2024 21:53:39 +0000 Alexander James Servantez 4359 at /mechanical