College of Engineering and Computer Science

Environmental Interpretive Center

College of Business

Student Engagement

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Mon, 06/16/2025 - 02:46

51��Ƶ-Dearborn offers more than a career pathway — while on campus, you can also play games, walk nature trails, stargaze and more.

Stephanie and Kenzie Warneck — children of 2006 alums Rachel and Brian Warneck — play a giant Jenga game at last summer's Alumni Picnic. Photo by Sarah Tuxbury

AutoTech 2025: Driving the Future of Mobility

hcookson — Thu, 22 May 2025 14:14:36 +0000

AutoTech 2025: Driving the Future of Mobility hcookson Thu, 05/22/2025 - 10:14

Join the automotive industry's most influential gathering as AutoTech celebrates its milestone 25th anniversary! This transformative three-day event brings together 3,000+ automotive professionals, technology innovators, and industry leaders under one roof.

Event Highlights:

150+ expert speakers across six specialized stages
140 cutting-edge exhibitor displays and live demonstrations
10 award-winning vehicles showcasing tomorrow's technology
Two prestigious industry award ceremonies
Exclusive networking receptions and targeted workshops

Innovation Focus Areas:

Electric vehicle advancement
AI and machine learning integration
Next-generation cybersecurity solutions
Hydrogen technology breakthroughs
Software-defined vehicles
5G connectivity and V2X technology
Advanced UX design

Perfect for automakers, tier-1 suppliers, mobility service providers, tech companies, and startups. Connect with academic talent, government representatives, and industry pioneers while experiencing the latest innovations shaping the automotive future.

Free Expo Passes available, or register for a Conference Pass to unlock all premium content stages.

2025-06-03T00:00:00-0400 to2025-06-05T23:59:59-0400

46100 Grand River Ave
Novi, MI 48374
United States

Off Campus

https://autotechevents.com/home/

Get Your Pass

Career / Networking

Conference / Symposium

A team won a surprise victory at this year’s Senior Design competition

lblouin — Mon, 19 May 2025 12:08:15 +0000

A team won a surprise victory at this year’s Senior Design competition lblouin Mon, 05/19/2025 - 08:08

Of the five seniors on their team, only Micah Hagedorn says he thought they had a shot at the Best in College award — the top honor at the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s annual Senior Design Competition — and that was only after the team earned a nod for the best project from the Mechanical Engineering department. Just weeks earlier, things were not going well for Hagedorn and teammates Nicole Kormos, Rosa Carapia, Kenny Conuel Oralde and Emmet Reamer. Multiple times they’d had shipments of biological materials spoil when the supplier mistakenly shipped them to the Ann Arbor campus. And Carapia spent weeks trying to figure out their not-so-state-of-the-art microscope — at one point resorting to contacting the rep whose business card had been attached to the device who knows when. “It was the last couple weeks and I was, like, ‘Oh my gosh, this isn’t going to happen,’” Carapia says. “I was really thinking, ‘Our presentation was just going to look dumb because there’d be nothing there.’”

The team bumped into quite a few challenges, in part, because their multi-faceted project was one of the more ambitious in the competition. Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Caymen Novak had it on her to-do list for some time to bring an imaging technique known as traction force microscopy to the Dearborn campus for the first time. TFM is used often in mechanobiology to study how cells interact with their microenvironments, and Novak thought it could be very useful for her current work, which is investigating how sex-based differences influence pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease marked by significant scarring and stiffening of lung tissue. “So just to explain it briefly, you have a gel with fluorescent beads in it, and you put cells on it, so the cell interacts with the surface and pulls on it,” Novak explains. “Then, you take some ‘before’ pictures of the cells and the fluorescent beads, then you lift the cells off and take an ‘after’ picture. By measuring the movement of the beads, you can get a representation of the amount of force the cell is exerting on the surface.”

Novak had used this technique in her postdoctoral work at The Ohio State University, but there, she was plugging into an established lab setup. She hadn’t ever personally created the gels or configured the microscope for this type of imaging, and the analysis protocol was a closely guarded secret of the project’s principal investigator. So when Kormos, who’d been working as a student researcher in Novak’s lab, asked Novak if she had any projects for her and her Senior Design teammates, Novak immediately thought of the TFM setup. “I thought, ‘This sounds like a really ambitious Senior Design project. Let’s see how far they get,’” Novak says. Kormos took the idea to her teammates, who all liked the idea. They sketched out a plan for who would do what and got to work.

Because TFM is an established technique, there was actually quite a bit of literature out there to guide them. But it’s hardly a plug-and-play technology. The gels, for example, can’t be purchased off the shelf. You have to buy all the ingredients and make your own gel from scratch, fine tuning the chemistry so you have a medium with the proper stiffness for the kind of cells you want to study. Kormos and Reamer took on that part of the project and ran into several challenges. “You’d think because this has been done before, it would be pretty straightforward, but you follow the recipe, and sometimes your gel just doesn’t form,” Kormos says. “So we had to do some digging and figure out which component was doing what. Then we learned you had to add this component before that one or it wouldn’t work, or you have to dilute something just before you add it. So it took some troubleshooting before we found the proper protocol.” And then there was the unexpected challenge of even getting the materials properly delivered to their lab. Despite specifying the correct Dearborn campus address, Reamer says the distributor shipped their biologically sensitive components — one costing $400 for 50 milligrams — to the Ann Arbor campus not once but twice. When the third shipment finally made it to the lab, it arrived a week late. “I spent a lot of time on customer service,” Reamer says, wryly. “That was probably my biggest contribution to the project.”

After overcoming multiple shipping snafus, Nicole Kormos (left) and Emmet Reamer successfully created the custom gels that are used in traction force microscopy.

Carapia, meanwhile, was wrestling with the lab’s less-than-ideal microscope to see if they could get it to work for TFM. She got some initial guidance from a couple other researchers on campus who also use this particular instrument. She made some initial progress — only to discover that she’d need to integrate a totally different camera-software setup than the one she’d just spent the past few weeks learning. Then, a weeks-long email back-and-forth with the person on that business card ended up in a dead end. In the end, Carapia relied on her engineer’s instincts, rolled up her sleeves and figured out most of it herself.

Rosa Carapia (left) took on the challenge of adapting the lab’s older microscope, with help from teammate Emmet Reamer.

Hagedorn and Oralde tackled the analysis part of the project. Essentially they would have to write and tweak software to properly measure the displacement of the fluorescent beads and then convert those measurements into forces, given the known characteristics of the gel. Hagedorn dug into the published literature and found an open-source algorithm he thought they could work with. “By the end, it was pretty good, but initially, we got a lot of random arrows that were pointing in random directions,” Oralde says. “And we had to tweak variables and figure out what the right contrast was for the images, so the algorithm was tracking points that were relevant and not just random,” Hagedorn adds.

Micah Hagedorn (left) and Kenny Conuel Oralde show off the software they built to measure displacements and calculate corresponding forces that the cells exert.

All the effort finally — and somewhat unexpectedly — paid off. With just a week or so to go until the Senior Design Competition day — and following a 19-hour session in the lab — they got their final set of images to work, measured the displacements and calculated the corresponding forces. The students say they would have loved to have had more time to run a mini-study with their technique, which was their original plan. (They joke it may have been possible had their FedEx packages arrived on time.) But they’re ultimately satisfied with the results. Novak is now digging through their final report to see what her next moves will be. “I’ve still not gotten hands-on with this myself, so I’ll have to see if I can make this process work, or possibly throw it to another Senior Design team to keep working on it,” Novak says.

Regardless, she’s impressed with the team’s hard work and tenacity. “It was interesting to watch them experience the difficulties of research,” Novak says. “They were, like, ‘We were there for hours trying to take these images.’ And I’m, like, ‘Yep, that’s how it works.’ But you have to admire their dedication in forcing this project to work on any level. In research, everything takes three times as long as you predict, often because of silly things, like deliveries going to the wrong address, which are totally beyond your control. And then you have to put way more effort in than you think. So that was a little eye-opening for them. But I’m sure they’ll feel it was worth it because they won everything! It doesn’t get better than that.”

###

Story by Lou Blouin. Photos by Annie Barker.

Awards

Experiential Learning

Undergraduate Research

Mechanical Engineering

Off

Mon, 05/19/2025 - 12:07

Assistant Professor Caymen Novak threw an ambitious project to her Senior Design team. It almost didn’t work out. Until it did.

From left, seniors Kenny Conuel Oralde, Emmet Reamer, Rosa Carapia, Nicole Kormos and Micah Hagedorn took home the top prize at this year’s Senior Design Competition for their work on an imaging technique known as traction force microscopy.

A bond strengthened through love, advocacy and 51��Ƶ-Dearborn

stuxbury — Thu, 08 May 2025 16:10:00 +0000

A bond strengthened through love, advocacy and 51��Ƶ-Dearborn stuxbury Thu, 05/08/2025 - 12:10

Graduate program coordinators Sherry Boyd and Rebekah Awood have each worked in 51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s College of Engineering and Computer Science for decades. They have the same role at the college, but are responsible for different programs. And their offices are, literally, five steps away from each other.

Awood, a 2001 alum who started working at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn in 2005, and Boyd, who started at CECS in 1998, are a good team. They love their students. They travel together. They spend holidays together. And they share a family bond: They are mother and daughter.

“But I don’t call her ‘mom’ at work — that would be a little weird for people who didn’t know that I’m her daughter,” Awood says with a smile. “We are a lot alike. We are both detail-oriented, methodical and practice empathy. Of course we love each other, but we genuinely like each other, too. I am fortunate to have that with my mom.”

For Mother’s Day, Awood took her mom to Sheeba restaurant, which serves Yemeni Mediterranean cuisine — Boyd’s pick. They both had it for the first time at a CECS holiday party a couple years ago. “The food is so good. One of the best things I received from working here is what I have gained from meeting people from different cultures,” Boyd says. “You learn about people, food, places, traditions and celebrations. I came here from a Baptist background and now have a Shiva statue in my office. Through my co-workers and students, I’ve learned so much — I’m always learning something new. It keeps me young. Well, feeling young anyway.”

Awood says CECS graduate students — especially the international students — often see her mom as their mom, too. Boyd has attended a student’s wedding in Morocco. She met an alum’s new baby at Naamkaran, a Hindu baby-naming ceremony. And she listens when they come to her in difficult times — like health scares, domestic violence situations and financial hardships.

“Our job is to keep our students on track for graduation. But what we do here goes beyond academics,” Boyd says. “I have impressed upon all of my students that this is your life — and you need to make the choices for your life. Don’t let life happen to you. You have support and options, even when the situation feels impossible.” Without missing a beat, Awood adds, “We will create a safe space for you. We are here to listen and we also know there are great resources on campus and in the community.”

Sitting at a table in her daughter’s office, Boyd talks about how instrumental supportive people have been in her own journey. “I had a friend who saved my life and saved my children’s lives,” says Boyd, who is a mother of six, with Awood being the oldest. There’s also Jeremy, Rachel, Joanna, Julia and Sarah — in that order. “This wonderful friend listened, she cared and she helped me escape from an abusive relationship,” Boyd says. “We are sitting here today because of her. One person who listens and advocates for you can make all the difference. That was more than 30 years ago. But I live my life with that in mind.”

Through Boyd’s first husband, she was a member of the Independent Fundamental Baptist church. Boyd, who grew up in Dearborn Heights, met and married her ex-husband as a teenager. She moved out of Michigan at his insistence and he slowly separated her from parents, friends and family. They belonged to several IFB churches including the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, which is featured in the 2023 HBO docuseries, “Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals.” Boyd says she and the children were surrounded with messages of racism and sexism, as well as physical abuse. “When I voiced my concerns to church leaders, they told me to pray for him, to stop complaining and being bitter. I was told the worst thing possible for my children was divorce,” Boyd says. “I didn’t know to what extent he was physically abusing the children — he threatened them with more beatings if they told me. When I realized what was going on, I needed to leave. I needed to save my kids.”

Sitting across from her mom, Awood recalls the day their new life began. “It was the summer before I turned 13. My mom woke me and said we were leaving. We snuck away. The abuse from my dad — physical, mental and emotional — was so bad that it’s hard for people to even comprehend when we’ve been through,” says Awood, her eyes welling with tears. “My mom got us away from that.” Awood helped her mom gather her siblings, who were ages infant to 10, and their belongings.

In the early 1990s, Sherry Boyd and her children took a family photo after starting their new life in Michigan.

They left their Indiana home and stayed with the aforementioned friend, who helped them make arrangements to move to Michigan, where Boyd’s parents still lived. In addition to her friend in Indiana, Boyd says Wayne County’s First Step, a domestic violence crisis center and shelter, supported the family by giving them a safe space to reside and assisted them in the transition to living in Michigan. State resources from Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services — which provided some food, child care and shelter costs — gave Boyd the help needed to become independent.

“My mom and I are bonded. Not a trauma bond, but a close supportive one that has been forged by fire,” Awood says. “As an adult, I think how she must have felt as a parent in that situation. We are both very maternal. Family means everything to her and to us.”

After the move, Boyd started school at Schoolcraft Community College. The campus was within walking distance from her new home. “I don’t know if I fully believe in Providence any more, but that worked out in our favor,” she says. “I got an associate’s degree and that really helped me in this new life I was creating for us.” That degree led to a support staff position at an accounting office.

Awood says her mom was vocal about the importance of earning an education: “She told us that we weren’t allowed to get married until we had earned a college degree. She saw how important it was in her own life.” Awood listened. She was admitted to 51��Ƶ-Ann Arbor, but decided to enroll at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn. It was closer to home and she liked the smaller size. “Our campus feels so approachable and welcoming. It felt right and it was — I loved my time here,” says Awood, who did a study abroad trip to Valencia, Spain, worked as a student at the Early Childhood Education Center and has met people from all walks of life. “I was isolated for a large part of my childhood and grew up hearing about the importance of sameness. There was a lot of talk about white supremacy. That didn’t sit well with me even as a child — at what shade of tan, beige or brown do we become different? It didn’t make any sense,” Awood says. “I got to see how wrong those racist teachings were when I was a student here. On campus, so many people from a variety of places and backgrounds came together. We helped each other with our goals. We cared for each other. Diversity is beautiful and it’s what makes us stronger.”

Hearing about her daughter’s positive experiences at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, Boyd started looking for job opportunities at the university. Then one day in 1998 — through a newspaper ad — she found one: A $12-per-hour five-month temporary administration position in the 51��Ƶ-Dearborn Alumni Office. Boyd applied and was hired. “I saw it as a way to get in the door so they could get to know me,” she says.

When that ended, Boyd was hired for a position in CECS — her work home for the past 27 years. First hired in the college’s co-op office, she worked there for about a year and a half. Then she was hired in the Department of Interdisciplinary Programs in 2000 as an administrative assistant. Boyd’s role has evolved over time to her current position as an automotive engineering and data science graduate student coordinator.

After Awood earned her bachelor’s degree in international and Hispanic studies in 2001, she began working at a southwest Detroit nonprofit organization where she helped connect low-income families to child care and other needed resources. She enjoyed the job, but there were concerns about the organization closing due to a lack of state funding.

So just as Awood inspired her mom to look for a job at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn because of her good experience as a student, Awood started to look for a position at the university because of her mom’s positive experience as an employee. Awood was hired as a mechanical engineering graduate student coordinator in 2005. But she didn’t work directly with her mom until 2017, when CECS’ Department of Interdisciplinary Programs — where Boyd worked — was dissolved and one of its programs was absorbed by the mechanical engineering department.

Awood says working at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn has given her more than a great career. She also met her now-husband, Brian, in 2005 through her job. He was a 51��Ƶ-Dearborn information technology staff member.

Sitting in Awood’s office, the two women are surrounded by photos of children — including Awood’s children, Ben and Abby, and her nieces and nephews; thank you cards from students and a picture of a vacation cottage on Lake Huron. They are all reminders of the life they enjoy, the family they have and the memories they continue to build at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn and beyond.

Story by Sarah Tuxbury

Faculty and Staff

Staff Senate

Off

Thu, 05/08/2025 - 16:08

Two CECS colleagues, Sherry Boyd and Rebekah Awood, share a connection that goes beyond working together for 20 years — they are mother and daughter.

Graduate program coordinators Sherry Boyd and Rebekah Awood are mother and daughter in addition to colleagues. Photo by Annie Barker

‘Persistence is what brought us here’

stuxbury — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 17:54:27 +0000

‘Persistence is what brought us here’ stuxbury Sat, 04/26/2025 - 13:54

“Go Blue! Go Dearborn!” pride filled the 51��Ƶ-Dearborn Fieldhouse over the weekend. At the Class of Spring 2025 Commencement, families cheered as the university’s newest alums walked across the stage. Newly conferred graduates held up decorated graduation caps. And young children clapped for their parents.

On Saturday, April 26, 1,056 Dearborn Wolverines celebrated 1,074 earned degrees over three 90-minute ceremonies. Two undergraduate ceremonies took place at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., and a graduate ceremony was held at 5 p.m. — 687 undergraduate, 378 graduate and nine doctoral degrees were awarded.

Graduates spanned generations, with the youngest aged 17 and the oldest nearing 70. When addressing the graduates at the three ceremonies, Chancellor Domenico Grasso applauded the pursuit of knowledge and encouraged students to continue it beyond graduation day. “We do not stop being curious because we grow old, we grow old because we stop being curious,” he said.

Beyond age range, 51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s diversity encompassed many geographic locations and cultural heritages. Reflecting this, undergraduate student speaker Asil Khanafer’s family is from Lebanon. Alum and undergraduate ceremony keynote speaker James Scapa is the son of Greek immigrants who moved to New York City.

Undergraduate keynote speaker James Scapa

Scapa spoke about how he’s descended from Holocaust survivors and grew up in a “humble upbringing” where his parents – who spoke Greek, French, Italian and Judeo-Spanish, but struggled with English – worked hard to make ends meet. A determined risk-taker, Scapa went to Columbia University, worked at Ford Motor Company after graduation, completed his MBA at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn and — a couple years after that graduation — founded his own dream business, Altair, in 1985 with $1500. He recently sold the software and technology company, after 40 years, for $11 billion. Speaking to the undergraduates, Scapa shared how he sets and achieves goals, which include developing a vision and refining it each year, sticking to set values, making decisions through envisioning the future and embracing diversity. “Life is short and much more interesting if you are learning from people who come from different places physically and intellectually,” he said.

Khanafer, who earned a Bachelor of Science in behavioral and biological sciences, focused on not letting disappointment, loss and failures become defining moments. To illustrate that point, she talked about how her father, who grew up in Lebanon, had a prized coin as a boy and dreamed about what he could use it for. But, while holding it, he tripped, dropped it in the street and couldn’t find it despite extensive searching.

Undergraduate student speaker Asil Khanafer

“There will always be moments when we trip, when we lose something valuable, when we feel like we’re searching for something we’ll never find,” said Khanafer, noting that her father is very successful, despite this frustrating moment in his childhood. “But we are not defined by what we lose. We are defined by what we do next.” Reflecting on her years at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, Khanafer said to the graduates, “We didn’t let our failures define us. We kept going — driven by determination, a little bit of luck and countless hours spent on the second floor of the library. Whether we were studying late into the night or just catching our breath after the chaos of first-week parking, we were pushing forward. And today that persistence is what brought us here — to this moment, this achievement and to this new beginning.”

Speaking of new beginnings, there was also an important first at the ceremonies. Regent Carl Meyers — the first U-M regent from 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, who was elected in November 2024 — congratulated the graduating class of his alma mater for the first time. “It feels good to be home . . . I hope you remember the lessons Michigan has instilled in you, including searching for the potential in every opportunity and working to overcome roadblocks that may arise along the way,” said Meyers, a 1979 alum.

At the doctoral and graduate ceremony, student speaker Mohsen Chaaban — who earned his Master of Science in cybersecurity and information assurance — acknowledged the Class of Spring 2025’s resilience. He described students who worked long hours while also going to school, who took care of children when they barely had enough energy for themselves, who battled illnesses, who overcame doubt. “This diploma isn’t just a piece of paper — it’s proof that we kept going. It represents every obstacle we faced, every moment of doubt we conquered, and every time we chose to rise instead of retreat,” he said. “The future is ours to shape. Some of us will write the next great innovation. Some of us will build businesses that change lives. Some of us will become leaders, educators, artists or world-changers. And some of us — let’s be honest — will take a very well-earned nap before figuring out what’s next. And that’s OK, too.”

Doctoral and graduate ceremony student speaker Mohsen Chaaban

Graduate ceremony keynote speaker Timothy Yerdon, a College of Engineering and Computer Science alum, has helped shape an era of innovation as executive leader of SAE Industry Technologies Consortia. Looking back at his decades of work, he offered guidance through a “seven-point manifesto to my future self.” Referencing it, Yerdon encouraged 51��Ƶ-Dearborn graduates to keep up with technological advances, learn from the leaders they encounter, find opportunities in moments of crises and problem-solve.

Graduate ceremony keynote speaker Timothy Yerdon

“Graduates, in this era of rapid technology change, remember this: Your uniquely human capacity to think critically and act decisively remains your ultimate compass and the truest measure of your future success. Chart your course with vigor, intellect and intention. Stay true to your personal values. As you progress in your careers, I hope each of you will compile your own manifesto, from your own experiences, to help those coming behind you find purpose and success,” he said. “Congratulations, Class of 2025.”

See more photos from the big day.

Story by Sarah Tuxbury

Commencement

Student Success

College of Business

Off

Sat, 04/26/2025 - 17:47

51��Ƶ-Dearborn awarded 1,074 degrees during three commencement ceremonies on April 26.

51��Ƶ-Dearborn's newest graduates celebrated at the April 26 commencement ceremonies. Photos by Matthew Stephens/Michigan Photography

Class of Spring 2025: CECS graduate Mahendra Kakad

lblouin — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 13:12:37 +0000

Class of Spring 2025: CECS graduate Mahendra Kakad lblouin Mon, 04/21/2025 - 09:12

Back in his home country of India, 51��Ƶ-Dearborn graduate student Mahendra Kakad already had a good life and a good job. He actually already had a master’s degree and had been working in the automotive industry for eight years as a design engineer, including with a startup that was building electric mopeds as a way to put EVs within reach for more consumers. But a few years ago, Kakad, who describes himself as an “aspirational, self-motivated person,” started to think more strategically about what he wanted the next stage of his career to look like. If he ever wanted to make a bigger impact on a company, say, as a chief technical officer, he knew he’d likely need to complement his advanced technical skills with managerial ones. With two teachers for parents, he says he’s always loved education. And when he learned about the engineering management master’s program at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, which was located in the heart of one of the world’s biggest automotive centers, he thought it was a good bet to help him take that next step.

Engineers have a reputation for being super analytical thinkers, and Kakad definitely used that mindset to shape his new life in the United States. From the outset, he sought out advice from his fellow students who were in the second year of the program to get a sense of what he needed to do to be successful. One of their first recommendations was to get involved in as many things as possible outside of his studies. So he joined student government; he connected with the vibrant Indian Graduate Student Association; he lent his expertise to MASA, the student rocketry team. “I was on campus almost all the time — even Saturdays and Sundays,” he says. “The only time I was really at my apartment was when I was sleeping and eating dinner.” His on-campus presence helped him check another box on his wishlist: getting an on-campus job. One day, at an event, he bumped into John Cristiano, the College of Engineering and Computer Science assistant dean for research development and strategic initiatives, who remarked that Kakad seemed to be “everywhere.” Kakad mentioned that he wanted to work on campus in order to gain some experience, and Cristiano and CECS Dean Ghassan Kridli scooped him up, creating a program assistant position to help him manage corporate relations. “The system is very different in India. So I sort of saw the job as ‘kindergarten’ for me. I could help support myself financially and also get to know what the work culture is like in the United States,” Kakad says.

At this point, Kakad was still just a few months into his studies, but he was already preparing for a future job search. As an international student, he wasn’t authorized to work off campus, even at an internship, until he’d completed 18 credits, something that was still more than six months away. He started working with a recruiter, noting on his resume when he’d be work-eligible, but he generally found employers weren’t planning that far ahead. So, after getting some advice from his classmates and the staff at Career Services, he used the time to continue tweaking his resume to fit American norms. With his years of experience in industry, Kakad thought he’d be an attractive candidate and set himself what seemed like a reasonable goal: get an internship offer by January 2024. But he saw that target come and go, even as students younger and less experienced than him were lining up their internships. It was disappointing, but like a good engineer, he saw the lack of response as motivation to retool his resume.

One day when he was feeling particularly frustrated, he went to the Tesla website and directly applied for “15 or 20 jobs.” In early February 2024, he finally got a bite. Interestingly, it wasn’t for any of the positions he'd applied for, but a hiring manager had seen his resume in the system and reached out directly to ask him about his interest in another job. He spent the next few days methodically prepping for the half-hour interview. He created a Google doc mapping all the key features of the job description onto his own skill set. He got on LinkedIn and learned as much as he could about the hiring manager. He called a couple of his old colleagues back in India to get their advice. The interview went well, and a couple hours later, he got an email stating he’d made it to the next round of interviews. In a few more days, he finally had an offer.

The internship at Tesla was a technical engineering position, similar to the work he’d been doing back in India. But he says it was a great introduction to how an American workplace functions. Americans are often characterized (in contrast with Europeans, presumably) as workaholics who sometimes don’t even exhaust the often meager amount of vacation time their jobs allow. But Kakad says Americans have nothing on people in many Asian countries. In his former position, seven-day work weeks were the expectation and it was hard to ever really turn work off. “For example, in my previous roles, if you’re given an assignment, your manager might come up to you and ask, ‘Have you mailed that guy?’ And if you say ‘yes’ — ‘Have you called that guy?’ If you say ‘yes’ — ‘Have you messaged that guy?’ If you say ‘yes’ — ‘Have you met that guy?’” Kakad says, laughing. Here in the U.S., he was happy to see that people generally took weekends off and that managers gave their employees more agency. Even at Tesla, where he says they “stretch a little bit,” any weekend work is lower-key, and you definitely shouldn’t be bombarding your colleagues with emails and phone calls.

The internship at Tesla went very well. Kakad was the only one in his group who got to travel internationally, and he visited nearly all the Tesla manufacturing facilities in the United States. As it wound down, he started applying for full-time positions within the company. This time, the job search was decidedly less bumpy. “I remember it was Feb. 6 last year that I got the interview call from Tesla for my internship and Feb. 6 this year that I got the offer for my full-time job,” he says. Better still, this new position is more in line with what he was hoping going back to school would lead to. Rather than working as a design engineer, he’ll be working more on the manufacturing side as a supplier industrialization engineer, helping coordinate the production and ensure the quality of components as they pass from the design phase through a complex manufacturing process. He credits his 51��Ƶ-Dearborn professors — particularly Professors Shan Bao and Onur Ulgen and lecturers Roger Klungle and Faisal Khalaf — with preparing him for this new role in which knowledge of quality control processes and systems engineering will be crucial. “The quality of the instructors we have at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn is really next-scale,” he says. “They are working with big companies. They are working with the Department of Defense. And they have years of experience in industry and academia. So it’s been a privilege to get to know them and learn from them.”

Kakad is definitely looking forward to this next chapter, which will involve a move to California. Through the post-completion Optional Practical Training portion of his student visa, which includes a STEM extension, he currently has work authorization through 2028. And he recently got more good news: The application for his H-1B visa, which would allow him to extend his stay in the United States even further, was recently selected in the government’s lottery process and should be active in 2026. But he’s also a little sad to be leaving Dearborn. “When you come to the United States from another country, I think the state where you end up sort of becomes your home away from home,” he says. “I really like Michigan. I’m a nature lover. And I’ve made so many friends here. I’ll miss those days where you’re on campus and you just bump into a professor and have a nice conversation. But my journey at Tesla has also been very good, and as I look ahead, I carry both the values I brought from home and the experiences I’ve gained here. I’m excited to contribute at the intersection of engineering and leadership.”

###

Story by Lou Blouin

Careers or Internships

Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering

Off

Mon, 04/21/2025 - 13:12

The spring master’s graduate used an engineer’s mindset to navigate a tricky job market and land a job at Tesla.

Photo by Annie Barker

Meet the Spring 2025 CECS and CEHHS Medallion winners

lblouin — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:45:24 +0000

Meet the Spring 2025 CECS and CEHHS Medallion winners lblouin Mon, 04/07/2025 - 08:45

This year’s Dean’s Medallion winners from the College of Engineering and Computer Science and College of Education, Health and Human Services are an inspiring bunch — with stories about everything from participating in advanced biomedical research to conquering the unique challenges of returning to college in your 30s as a single parent.

The award recognizing students' academic achievements, leadership and contributions to the community is given to three students in each college, with one student receiving the Chancellor’s Medallion, the university’s top student honor. Here are the Spring 2025 Medallion winners from CECS and CEHHS. You can also meet the awardees from the College of Business and College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, including this year’s Chancellor’s Medallion winner.

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Shams Fatma Ahson

Degree: Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity and information assurance (cybersecurity and privacy concentration), minor in law and society; certificate in practical aspects of computer security (2024)

Awards, Honors and Distinction: 51��Ƶ-Dearborn Difference Maker (2024); James B. Angell Scholar (2023, 2024); William J. Branstrom Freshman Prize; Dean’s List (F21-F24); University Honors (F21-F24), Honors Scholar (2025)

Scholarships: Alan Mulally Leadership in Engineering Scholarship (2023)

Academic Achievements and Internships: Shams has excelled through high-impact academic and professional experiences in cybersecurity, demonstrating technical expertise, leadership and innovation. Shams’ outstanding leadership was recognized with the 2023 Alan Mulally Leadership in Engineering Scholarship, a competitive award honoring students worldwide for exceptional leadership in academic or community settings. Shams conducted research in the Information Systems, Security and Forensics Lab under the supervision of Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Hafiz Malik. She played a pivotal role in implementing an automotive ethernet testbench featuring simulated electronic control units. Shams also led the CanQuest capstone project, where her team developed a mixed-reality cybersecurity game to educate engineers on protecting CAN bus communication. Shams served as a supplemental instruction leader beginning in January 2022, supporting her peers and reinforcing her own mastery of complex cybersecurity concepts. Shams has also been a cybersecurity testing intern at ETAS since May 2023 and served as a product cybersecurity intern at Bosch from May 2022 to May 2023.

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Google Developer Student Club (president); Women in Cybersecurity (chapter president); co-led CECS’ 2025 Engineering Week

As president of the Google Developer Student Club, Shams helped secure over $100,000 in funding for campus hackathons attended by students across Michigan, the Midwest and Canada. As co-lead of Engineering Week, she helped launch several innovative initiatives, including two new engineering games. In Chefgineering, student organizations formed teams to build a common solution using mystery “ingredients.” In the Engineering Escape Room, teams tackled a series of puzzles, such as decoding Morse code signals and reverse-engineering a Caesar cipher, to unlock the key and “escape” the room. “Shams is an expert organizer and an inspirational leader. She is quick to volunteer for community outreach activities, especially those that help make STEAM more accessible to younger students,” observed Professor of Computer and Information Science Bruce Maxim.

Future Plans: Shams’ ultimate career goal is not just to be a CEO within the cybersecurity industry, but to be a great leader who reflects the values, ambitions and spirit of her community.

Hawraa Ismail

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Engineering in computer engineering

Awards, Honors and Distinction: Dean’s Honors List at the Lebanese International University, Lebanon (F22); 51��Ƶ-Dearborn Honors Scholar (2023)

Academic Achievements and Internships: Hawraa has actively contributed to projects spanning safety, technology and education throughout her college years. Such experiences have allowed Hawraa to develop innovative solutions, mentor emerging talent and give back to the community. In her two-semester capstone project, Hawraa led the development of an accident alert system that detects risky driving behaviors and delivers real-time alerts. By integrating multiple sensors with advanced artificial intelligence models, this system significantly enhances driver safety. In the Embedded Systems course, Hawraa engineered a GPS-based speed limit warning system that notifies drivers when they exceed limits in designated zones, further demonstrating her passion for technology-driven safety innovations.

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Peer tutor at the Engineering Learning Center; Michigan Aeronautical Science Association hardware and avionics team member; Eternal Light Organization volunteer

In her role as a peer tutor, Hawraa assisted students with programming, circuit design and problem-solving, boosting their confidence in challenging engineering subjects. “Hawraa has jumped in with both feet to support our students. Hawraa needs no supervision as she is a self-starter and wants to assist where she can. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of the electrical and computer engineering course material and you can hear her passion in her voice,” observed Elizabeth Edenstrom, assistant director of the ELC. With MASA, Hawraa helped develop flight telemetry system software. Her contributions included creating a real-time data monitoring dashboard that automates flight operations and streamlines data processing. Hawraa also served as a student staff member at the university’s Early Childhood Education Center, where she supported classroom activities and helped craft engaging learning experiences for young children.

Future Plans: Hawraa plans to leverage her expertise in embedded systems and artificial intelligence safety applications to develop smart systems that enhance community welfare and drive technological innovation. She envisions pursuing industry roles in embedded security, earning relevant certifications and advancing her graduate studies to further specialize in this field. Ultimately, Hawraa aims to earn a PhD and become a professor, using her experience as a peer tutor at the ELC to inspire and empower students. Her commitment to giving back stems from her gratitude toward 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, an institution that has profoundly shaped her journey and one that she hopes others will also experience.

Nicole Kormos

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Engineering in bioengineering

Awards, Honors and Distinction: Dean’s List (F21-F24); William J. Branstrom Prize; James B. Angell Scholar (2023); University Honors (F21-W23, W24); Honors Scholar (2024) Scholarships: Chancellor’s Scholarship; Honors Scholarship; James and Jeraldine Poe Research Assistantship

Academic Achievements and Internships: Nicole’s academic excellence drive extends beyond the classroom. During her studies, Nicole actively pursued a series of research projects, all aimed at understanding the male predominance observed in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Her research focuses on investigating sex-based differences in the mechanical responses of pulmonary fibroblasts — a challenging endeavor that has led her to achieve significant new results while mastering advanced techniques such as cell culture, qPCR, cell staining and imaging. What began as a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience project at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn following her junior year evolved into an ongoing project supported by the James and Jeraldine Poe Research Assistantship during her senior year. Nicole presented her findings as a poster at both the SURE Showcase and the Biomedical Engineering Society Research Symposium, where her project earned second place. Her promising results are slated for submission for publication at the end of the Winter 2025 semester. “Nicole is an exceptional student whose dedication and work ethic set her apart. As an undergraduate researcher, she not only excels in her own experiments but also goes above and beyond to support and train others, demonstrating leadership beyond her years. She is truly a rock star in every sense, and her future in research is incredibly bright,” observed Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Caymen Novak. Besides her commitment to advancing bioengineering research, Nicole served as a lab assistant for the Biosensors and Instrumentation course, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing research and her field.

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Society of Women Engineers; Biomedical Engineering Society; Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society, Michigan Iota chapter (vice president, media coordinator)

Nicole’s involvement in Tau Beta Pi will be recognized at the chapter’s initiation this semester, where she will be invested into the chapter for her significant contributions as a leader.

Future Plans: Nicole plans to continue her education in the PhD program in materials science and engineering at 51��Ƶ-Ann Arbor. Her dissertation research will be on functional materials and biomaterials. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a career in applied research in the field of application of biomaterials to medical devices and wearable technology.

College of Education, Health and Human Services

Chaymaa Nehme

Degree: Bachelor of Science in health and human services (social work concentration)

Awards, Honors and Distinction: University Honors (W24, F24); Dean’s List (F23-F24)

Academic Achievements and Internships: Chaymaa has demonstrated academic excellence at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, earning a place on the Dean’s List as an honors student every semester since transferring from Henry Ford College in Fall 2023. Passionate about community engagement, she partnered with the Dearborn Public Health Department on a tree equity project through one of her courses, focusing on environmental justice and sustainability. Through this initiative, Chaymaa engaged with the community in meaningful ways, addressing disparities in tree coverage and advocating for greener, healthier neighborhoods. This included taking the initiative to translate all social media posts about the program into Arabic, greatly increasing the outreach of the posts to target communities.

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Seeking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, in addition to her academic achievements, Chaymaa has been actively involved in community service through organizing initiatives, supporting public service programs and by contributing to outreach efforts. These experiences have reinforced her passion for civic engagement and dedication to advocating for inclusive and equitable communities. Chaymaa remains committed to using her skills and knowledge to drive positive social change through social impact and advocacy, integrating psychology, sociology, and health and human services into her work in order to create meaningful change in both individual lives and broader communities. Assistant Professor of Health and Human Services Finn Bell, who taught Chaymaa in two courses, stated, “Chaymaa is consistently one of the most engaged students, who regularly makes connections for how the materials connect to ‘the real world.’ Chaymaa is an exemplar of what it means to be a good academic citizen with noteworthy curiosity and impeccable integrity.”

Future Plans: Chaymaa currently works at a school as part of the administration team. Following graduation, she plans to apply her knowledge and social work skills to support both students and staff. Her goal is to create a positive environment, providing resources and assistance to help students thrive academically and emotionally. She remains passionate about using her social work education and experiences to build a supportive school community and to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those she works with.

Darci O’Neil

Degree: Bachelor of Science in health and human services (public health concentration)

Awards, Honors and Distinction: University Honors (W24, F24); Dean’s List (F23-F24)

Academic Achievements and Internships: Darci has demonstrated academic excellence at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, earning a place on the Dean’s List as an honors student every semester since transferring in Fall 2023 and receiving University Honors in both Winter and Fall 2024. Prior to attending 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, Darci was a student at both Schoolcraft College and Wayne State University. “Before returning to school as a single mom in my 30s, I was a perpetual college dropout and thought that school just wasn’t for me,” Darci said. Initially, she returned with the intention of only completing certification for her pharmacy technician license. Once introduced to the idea of public health, however, she realized that she had a passion for the field. A six-month certification turned into an opportunity to participate in research with cancer patients and she ultimately continued on for her BS. Darci completed a capstone course project and has continued to work with Associate Professor of Health Communication Nick Iannarino on a research project looking at young adult cancer programs and how they address social support needs. Her contributions have included interviewing health care professionals and analyzing data. Health and Human Services Lecturer Timothy Michling, who has taught Darci, stated, “I’ve very much enjoyed working with Darci. She has a combination of intelligence, determination and compassion that will make her a tremendously effective public health professional.”

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Peer mentor with Wolverine Mentor Collective; Public Health Society (treasurer)

Future Plans: Darci is currently seeking a position in the field of epidemiology and plans to gain work experience before seeking a master’s degree. Darci believes that some experience in the field will help her decide whether to seek further education in epidemiology or, possibly, in public health policy.

Assma Ali Said

Degree: Bachelor of Arts in children and families

Awards, Honors and Distinction: University Honors (W24, F24); Dean’s List (F23-F24)

Academic Achievements and Internships: Prior to attending 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, Assma was a student at Henry Ford College and Wayne State University. While studying at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, Assma participated in two internships: M&M Academy Great Start Readiness Program classroom in Fall 2024 and a 51��Ƶ-Dearborn Early Childhood Education Center practicum in Winter 2023.

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Assma volunteers at a local mosque and helps organize events during Ramadan to promote unity, spiritual growth and community support. One such initiative is Girls Night, a women-only event designed to foster a sense of belonging and empowerment, especially for women who face cultural and social challenges. In addition, Assma provides tutoring for preschool students after school, helping them build foundational skills while fostering a love for learning. For the past three years, this role has enabled her to support young children in the community, ensuring they feel seen, heard and encouraged to thrive. She is committed to using her skills and story to uplift others and create lasting change within the Arab and Muslim communities. Assma believes her personal journey has empowered her to create positive change and advocate for those who may feel marginalized or unheard. She strives to create a space where women can come together, share their experiences and find strength in each other.

Future Plans: Following graduation, Assma plans to further her education by pursuing a master’s degree in early childhood education, with the goal of becoming a professor and educator who can make a lasting impact in the field. Her experience as a preschool teacher has ignited a deep passion for shaping young minds and she wants to contribute to the development of innovative educational practices that can be implemented in classrooms across the country.

Awards

Commencement

Student Success

Off

Mon, 04/07/2025 - 12:45

Three students from each college are being recognized with the Dean’s Medallion for their outstanding academic achievements, leadership and contributions to the community.

Spring 2025 Commencement: A guide to the big day

lblouin — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 11:58:30 +0000

Spring 2025 Commencement: A guide to the big day lblouin Wed, 04/02/2025 - 07:58

More than 1,000 graduates will earn degrees at next month’s commencement ceremony on April 26. As in past years, the full day of spring graduation festivities will be split into three ceremonies. Undergraduates from the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters and College of Business kick things off at 9 a.m., followed by undergrads from the College of Education, Health and Human Services and College of Engineering and Computer Science at 1 p.m. The final ceremony for doctoral and graduate students from all four colleges is at 5 p.m.

Here are a few more good-to-knows for the big day.

Speakers

James Scapa, a graduate of Columbia University and an ’83 U-M MBA grad, will be the featured speaker at both undergraduate ceremonies. Scapa is founder, chair and CEO of Altair, a global leader in computational intelligence software and technology. He founded the company in 1985 with two partners when he was just 25 years old. Altair now employs more than 3,000 scientists, engineers and creative thinkers across 28 countries and serves more than 16,000 customers across a broad range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, government and defense, finance, energy, technology, life sciences, architecture and construction. Under Scapa’s leadership, Altair also sponsored the #OnlyForward Scholarship, which awarded $25,000 scholarships to 51��Ƶ-Dearborn students pursuing a four-year degree in computer science or engineering.

Tim Yerdon, an executive leader with SAE Industry Technologies Consortia, will be the featured speaker at the 5 p.m. ceremony for graduate students. Yerdon is an experienced mobility leader with a track record of driving breakthrough technology change through collaboration and innovative thinking. He holds a key role within SAE International, a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the automotive, aerospace and commercial vehicle industries. Prior to SAE, Tim ran the consulting firm Plymouth Technology Advisors, after serving in executive positions with Ford Motor Co. and Visteon Corp. At Ford, he served on the company's dedicated team for electric vehicles, which developed the Mustang Mach-E SUV, F-150 Lightning truck and E-Transit van. He also chairs 51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s CECS Industry Advisory Board.

Asil Khanafer, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in behavioral and biological sciences, with a minor in applied arts, is the student speaker at the two undergraduate ceremonies. During her time at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, Khanafer was president of both the Pre-Professional Health Society and the Lebanese Diaspora Relief Organization, as well as vice president of the National Arab American Medical Association student chapter. In addition, she conducted research on bonobo cognition as a research assistant in Associate Professor of Psychology Francine Dollins’ lab. She also served as a chemistry and psychology supplemental instruction leader and vice chair of the Student Organization Allocation Council. Khanafer plans to pursue a career in veterinary medicine and will continue her studies at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in the fall.

Mohsen Chaaban, who is graduating from 51��Ƶ-Dearborn with a Master of Science in cybersecurity and information assurance, will address his fellow graduate students at the 5 p.m. ceremony. Chaaban earned his bachelor’s at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn in 2023 and currently works as a software controls engineer at General Motors. Throughout his time at the university, he actively engaged in student organizations and mentorship programs. During his undergraduate years, he was a member of Student Organization Account Services, where he helped student organizations with financial services and event planning. He has also been active in community service efforts in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, taking part in initiatives such as toy drives, as well as Easter and Ramadan essential drives.

Commencement stats

This spring, the university is awarding a total of 1,067 degrees to 1,049 graduates. Among undergraduates, the youngest is just 17 years old and the oldest is 68. The average undergraduate GPA is 3.4. Spring graduates represent 26 Michigan counties and 13 states.

Tickets

Each student receives four tickets to their ceremony for guests. Graduating students participating in the ceremony do not need a ticket for themselves. Students can currently pick up tickets at the One Stop, located on the first floor of the Renick University Center, Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Thursday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Students must show their Mcard or government-issued ID (driver's license or passport) and a receipt that they purchased their cap and gown to pick up tickets. All guests at the commencement ceremonies must have a ticket, except for children under 2 who will be sitting on the lap of a guest. Tickets can also be placed at Will Call and picked up the day of the ceremony.

Students should email umd-commencement@umich.edu with the number of tickets they would like held (up to four). All tickets must be claimed (either picked up or Will Call request) by Friday, April 11. Those who don’t need all their tickets can pick up their tickets and give them to friends or classmates who need additional tickets. Students can also return tickets they will not need to the One Stop so other students can claim them. Students are not permitted to sell tickets. More information about extra tickets will be shared on Monday, April 14.

Volunteering

If you are a staff member and would like to volunteer at the ceremonies, please email Campus Event Planner Mandy Earl. Tasks include distributing Will Call tickets, checking in graduates, helping direct the crowd and other activities.

How to watch

If you won't be attending commencement in person, you can still watch online on the university’s YouTube page.

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Still have more questions about Spring 2025 Commencement? Check out the university’s commencement page. Story by Lou Blouin

Commencement

University-wide

College of Business

Off

Wed, 04/02/2025 - 11:58

Meet the commencement speakers and get ceremony details for the April 26 festivities.

This spring, the university is awarding a total of 1,067 degrees to 1,049 graduates. Photo by Michigan Photography

How postdocs help faculty take research to another level

lblouin — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:34:51 +0000

How postdocs help faculty take research to another level lblouin Mon, 03/31/2025 - 12:34

When students complete a doctoral degree, they’re at the top of one of the highest mountains in higher education. But just like undergraduates facing post-graduation anxiety, postdoctoral life can represent a fraught time for recent PhD graduates. For those interested in long-term careers in academia, they’re likely embarking on job searches for highly competitive faculty positions. And if someone wants to work in the private sector, employers in at least some industries seem to balk at hiring highly trained applicants with little industry experience — simply because they generally command higher salaries than those with less-advanced degrees.

Director of Research Development Vessela Vassileva-Clarke
Photo by Julianne Lindsey

But there is another option for recent PhD grads: working as a postdoctoral researcher. As the name suggests, this is a research position at a university, typically lasting one to three years, that someone takes after they finish their PhD. 51��Ƶ-Dearborn Director of Research Development Vessela Vassileva-Clarke says this may be an attractive route for a number of reasons. For example, if a person isn’t quite sure whether they want to go into academia or industry, a postdoc position can simply buy someone a little time to figure it out, while they continue to stay active and build a research portfolio. And for those who are definitely interested in faculty positions, doing a postdoc can help someone burnish their CV if, say, they weren't able to publish as much as they’d liked during their PhD program. In addition, depending on the arrangement between the researcher and their faculty advisor, Vassileva-Clarke says a postdoc position might give someone a chance to log some teaching experience — or even pursue an externally funded grant for a research project that they co-lead with a faculty member. Moreover, a postdoc gives recent PhD grads experiences in other core parts of academic life that they may not have gotten in their doctoral programs, like proposal writing.

51��Ƶ-Dearborn currently has about a dozen postdoctoral researchers working on campus, the vast majority of whom are working with faculty in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Rongheng Li, who finished his PhD at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn under Mechanical Engineering Professor Ben Q. Li in 2019, says the opportunity to do a postdoc actually grew organically out of his doctoral research experience. His research focused on some of the advanced mathematical challenges associated with the use of nanoparticles in photovoltaic systems, which is seen as a promising way of improving output from solar panels. But then one day, toward the end of his PhD program, Li found himself chatting with Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Xuan (Joe) Zhou. The two of them discovered that a lot of the same mathematical methods Li was using in the area of photovoltaics might have interesting applications for battery research, which is Zhou’s specialty. Now, as a postdoc, Li is working on several of Zhou’s funded projects, including one exploring how well used EV batteries perform when used in a grid-tied storage system.

“A lot of my prior work has been very theoretical, so working with Dr. Zhou is giving me a chance to learn in a more experimental setting,” Li says. “I’m learning new instrumentation, and I got to visit the clean room in Ann Arbor, where they are working on a variety of projects. So I think it’s going to be quite valuable for me to get this hands-on experience, including with batteries, which is a technology that’s so important for the future.” Another big payoff for Li: He’s getting to work closely with the research team’s industry partners, which is helping him see how private sector projects are managed and how their teams work. After his postdoc, he thinks he’ll likely be applying for faculty jobs in the United States. But he’s not opposed to a position in the private sector, and he thinks the practical experience he’s logging during his postdoc will make him a more competitive candidate.

Rongheng Li completed his PhD at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn in 2019 and now works as a postdoctoral researcher. Photo by Annie Barker

Gajendra Singh Chawda followed a different path to 51��Ƶ-Dearborn for his postdoc. Chawda finished his PhD in electrical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology in early 2022 and took a postdoctoral research position there after graduation. But he really wanted to get experience at an American university, and when he saw a posting for a postdoctoral research position working with Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Wencong Su, he felt like it would be a great fit. Chawda’s work focuses on the complexities of integrating renewable energy into the electric grid and renewable energy access for economically disadvantaged communities — which happen to be two of Su’s research interests. Currently, Chawda is working on some foundational research on high-frequency AC microgrids — a technology that many researchers and industry experts see as vital for modernizing the electric grid so it can accommodate more renewable energy and battery storage. Chawda says one of the other big perks of the position is that he gets to work as a lecturer — the first time he’s had the opportunity to teach students outside of a lab setting.

Moreover, it’s also been an exciting time for his family. His wife and daughter accompanied him for this adventure in the United States, and Chawda says his daughter loves her school in Dearborn Heights. “She’s always so excited to come home and show me what she’s done at school,” he says. “The American education system is a lot different. In India, I would say it’s more focused on books and, here, students seem to do a lot of activities. For example, she came home the other day and was so proud to show me the house that she built.” Like Li, Chawda says he’s hoping to find a faculty position at an American university after his postdoc and thinks having that experience on his CV will boost his chances of success.

Aside from the professional benefits to postdoctoral researchers, Vassileva-Clarke says there are huge benefits for their faculty supervisors. “The impact is tremendous. Postdoctoral researchers are just so helpful to faculty members because they are already trained and highly skilled, so they can help a faculty member with so many things that are so time consuming, like proposal writing, hands-on research in the lab, or research training and mentoring of students,” Vassileva-Clarke says. “PhD students are super helpful too, but you still have to train them, advise them, and then some of them find out research is not their calling. So a postdoc really extends the bandwidth of the faculty member.”

Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry Christos Constantinides
Photo by Annie Barker

Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry Christos Constantinides can vouch for that. As an early-career faculty member working towards tenure, he was excited to recently land a large grant from the U.S. Department of Energy supporting research that could improve nuclear magnetic resonance-based technologies like MRI. But with a demanding course load teaching organic chemistry to undergraduates, he frankly needs help with the very labor-intensive, advanced chemistry that the DOE-funded project demands. A postdoc was really his only option, since some of the work is too advanced for the undergraduate students he’ll also be hiring for the project, and his department doesn’t have a PhD program he can use to recruit doctoral students.

When he posted the position, Constantinides was surprised to get 65 applicants. He finds that pretty encouraging given that 51��Ƶ-Dearborn just recently earned an R2 designation and he’s still in the process of making his name in the field. But as someone who did a three-year postdoc himself, which he says is a prerequisite to getting a tenure-track position in his discipline, Constantinides gets the logic. “You can go work for a big name at a big university, and if everything goes well, you’ll get your publications and, most importantly, get a letter of recommendation from your mentor. You’re basically going to get a job at that point. But if you don’t get the letter, it can be the kiss of death,” Constantinides says. “That big name — you’re going to see that person maybe one or two hours a week. And, frankly, they don’t need the publications. Me, though? I need the papers. So if you come work with me, you’re going to get more support, more mentorship and hopefully more publications. It’s kind of a gamble either way, but for some people, this postdoc opportunity is going to feel like a good bet.”

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Story by Lou Blouin

Natural Sciences

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Office of Research

Off

Mon, 03/31/2025 - 16:31

Postdoctoral researchers on campus are another sign of 51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s growing research culture. But what exactly do postdocs do, and why can they be a game changer for university research?

Postdoctoral researcher Gajendra Singh Chawda is currently researching high-frequency AC microgrids with Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Wencong Su. Photo by Annie Barker

Fixing the damn . . . waterways

kapalm — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:04:02 +0000

Fixing the damn . . . waterways kapalm Fri, 03/21/2025 - 13:04

Last Friday, one of Michigan’s largest tourist attractions — which also happens to be a tremendous driver of the state and nation’s economy — reopened for business. Every year, the Soo Locks close in mid-January for about 10 weeks so the Army Corps of Engineers can perform maintenance and ensure this gateway to the Great Lakes — in 2024, the locks enabled 68 million tons of raw materials like iron ore, taconite, coal, crude oil, salt, grain to be delivered to ports from Duluth to Buffalo and beyond — functions smoothly during the shipping season. An unexpected closure for maintenance would be devastating, causing costly delays in everything from auto assembly to food processing. Around 500,000 visitors will head to Sault Ste. Marie, in the northeastern Upper Peninsula, between now and next January to watch ships enter the Poe and Macarthur locks, then be slowly lowered to continue toward Lake Michigan or Lake Huron or raised to enter Lake Superior.

The nation’s extensive network of inland locks receives far less attention, but it is equally vital to the U.S. economy, facilitating the movement of 12 billion tons of commodities worth $770 billion each year. And the need to prevent unexpected malfunction is just as great. In 2003, costs from the closure of the main lock chamber, known as a miter gate, at the Greenup Locks in Kentucky resulted in a loss of approximately $41.9 million from delays and alternative shipping costs. While our nation’s system of lakes and rivers functions much as our highways do, with branching arteries ferrying traffic in multiple directions, there are a couple crucial differences. First, when traffic is blocked, there are no surface roads to hop onto. So when goods can’t make it through a waterway, they have to be delivered by different means, like trucks or trains.

Second, shipping lane shutdowns typically last much longer than freeway closures. “You can’t finish the maintenance within one or two days. Sometimes it takes several weeks or several months,” explains Associate Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Zhen Hu. “So we cannot do the maintenance or repair of the locks too frequently. We have to consider the disruption to the supply chain and other transportation, that kind of stuff.”

Armagan Bayram

Currently, lock maintenance scheduling decisions are made based on what might best be described as highly informed guesswork: decision-makers consider the age of the lock, the duration of operation, the results of inspections and other relevant factors — much like you bring your car in for maintenance based on mileage, time of year and whether you hear a strange noise. Using advanced mathematical models and machine learning, Hu and his fellow IMSE Associate Professor Armagan Bayram aim to develop a much more fine-tuned and integrated system to inform lock maintenance schedules. Their work, which will incorporate sensor data from locks along the Ohio River, is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Hu explains it like this: “You have locks in different places along the rivers. On one river, you have maybe 10 locks. The traditional way of predicting failures is just looking at the lock by itself. But using this machine learning model, it allows us to share information across the different locks. If you consider the locks like a patient, when a doctor diagnoses the failures or disease of a patient, they do not only look at that individual, but also consider other similarities among different patients. That can help us to predict failure faster and with higher confidence.”

Data security is especially vital in this project — the monitoring data of the locks, if breached, could compromise national security and have far-reaching economic effects. In the method the researchers will use — known as federated learning — the data remains decentralized rather than stored on a central server, as in more traditional AI-training models, so it is considered highly protected. “This new machine learning approach allows us to preserve the privacy of the data. You do not have to share the data directly,” Hu explains.

A major challenge of the project is that there is a limited amount of data to work with. “Locks typically operate for anywhere from 60 to 90 years and failure is rare,” Hu explains. “Also, a miter gate is not like a car. You have millions of cars, but you don't have that many miter gates. There are only a few hundred in the U.S. This makes it hard to get failure data.” To address this challenge, Hu and Bayram plan to tackle the highly complex task of integrating information from computer simulations with data from real-time, sensor-based observations as they build out their model.

In addition to enabling engineers to set more precise maintenance schedules of individual miter gates, Hu and Bayram’s project aims to analyze the economic impacts on the overall transportation and supply chain networks when one or two locks are shut down. This information could point to the optimal time to take a specific lock out of service, Hu says. “We want to create a framework that will help with making a decision regarding when to perform maintenance, repair or replacement and look at it at a system level, not the individual level. That can reduce unnecessary downtime and reduce the overall system operational costs,” he explains.

”We don’t want to perform the repair too frequently, and we don’t want to perform the repair too late,” Hu adds. In other words, he and Bayram aim to find the sweet spot that will keep both ships and our economy flowing smoothly.

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Story by Kristin Palm

The preliminary results of Hu and Bayram's research were generated through the support of a digital twin project funded by the United States Army Corps of Engineers through University of California San Diego and Hottinger Bruel & Kjaer.

Research