2017-2018 | year in review College of Engineering and Computer Science message from 2017-2018 Advisory Board Chairman: Joe Ferguson, Chairman, Electric Power Board Advisory Board Meeting, August 2018 the dean Steering Committee: Joe Brown Vice President, Engineering and Quality Education, Miller Industries Nick Coussoule Sr. Senior Vice President and CIO, BlueCross BlueShield Greetings from the Beautiful Steven Douglas Vice President, Nuclear Oversight, Tennessee Valley Authority Campus of the University of workforce readiness Patsy Hazelwood Member, TN House of Representatives District 27 Tennessee at Chattanooga Jimmy Lail Vice President, Raines Brothers Inc. Mack McCarley President, PDM Associates Daniel Pack Dean, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Bill Raines President and CEO, The Raines Group Employers Recruit Students on Campus Elaine Swafford Director, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy Ready that elevator speech. Last fall and spring, more than 50 Roger Tuder Past President and CEO, Associated General Contractors employers from across the Chattanooga region participated in the J. David Wade President and CEO, Electric Power Board 1947, under the leadership of President shadowing, team competition, internship, co-op, in Data Analytics program with the Gary W. Rollins College of Engineering and Computer Science Networking Career In Lockmiller, the University of Chattanooga, as it research, entrepreneurial and community service College of Business is in the works to be the next Fairs. Students learned about co-op and internship opportunities as General Membership was called before its merging with the UT System in programs, which you will read about in this review. degree program the college will offer, expected to start well as full-time employment, following graduation. CECS alumni 1969, began offering professional degrees on campus to You will also read about the college welcoming eight in fall of 2019. Rowena Belcher Retired TVA Executive, Community Volunteer Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute also were invited to participate as both employers and potential Larry Buie Regional Director Chattanooga Gas and Chairman, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce meet the needs of industry in Chattanooga, including a new faculty members in mechanical engineering, As you will see in this review, the college has employees. Jeff Cornet Industrial and Economic Development, Oak Ridge National Laboratory major in general engineering. It was not until 1977 that engineering management, computer science, and accomplished much during the past academic year and The events took place at the engineering building, making it the College of Engineering and Computer Science was chemical engineering programs. Our new faculty is ready to accelerate its efforts to reach new heights easy for students to attend in the same building in which they attend Todd Gardenhire Alumnus, Member of TN Legislature representing TN’s 10th District formed. Today, the college offers eight undergraduate, members include a department head for engineering in the coming year. We are proud of our students, staff class and allowing faculty and staff to hear directly from employers Tom Griscom Alumnus, Former Exec. Editor and Publisher of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, three master’s and one PhD program to more than management and technology and a program director and faculty for their accomplishments and are grateful about their workforce needs. Prior to the event, students had the and White House Communications Chief, Founder and Chief Strategist Q Strategies 1,600 students. for chemical engineering. In addition to new faculty, six for the support we received from the alumni, friends of opportunity to attend a workshop in partnership with University Hon. Jon Kinsey Former Chattanooga Mayor, President of Kinsey Probasco Hays In this annual review, you will read about how new staff members joined the college, strengthening the the college and leaders in our community. The progress Career Services covering resumes and interview tips. Tom Kline Alumnus, Retired Exec. with Pfizer Pharma, President of the Kline Health Group the college is continuing to grow in enrollment and capacity of college to outreach, support classroom and we have made from our humble beginnings in 1947 Led by the college’s Student Success Center Director, Julie Mike McGauley Chairman, Fidelity Trust Company expand student success opportunities, applied research laboratory technologies and coordinate college events. would not have been possible without the valuable David, the Career Fair is one component of commitment to students John McNeely Alumnus, Founder and CEO, Sword and Shield Cybersecurity and Data Assurance Company activities and community engagement. Student Two new academic programs started this fall, partnerships we have had with industry, community success in the classrooms, laboratories and beyond the walls of CECS. Bill Stacy Chancellor Emeritus, UT Chattanooga enrollment has increased by more than a third since both created in response to the workforce needs of organizations, local, state and federal governments and In addition to career opportunities, the center coordinates tutoring, 2012, including a 15 percent increase in graduate the region and approved by the Tennessee Higher academic institutions. We continue our path to learn, Jim Vaughn East TN Regional President, SunTrust Bank student advisement, a professional development speaker series and Albert Woodard Alumnus, Founder and Chairman, KaZee, Inc. Healthcare Software and Technology Firm student enrollment during the last academic year. Education Council: Bachelor of Applied Science in discover, grow and engage. I invite you to join us on programs promoting community service and leadership development. The number of internship, co-op and undergraduate Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Bachelor of this amazing journey. research opportunities for our students increased Science in Computer Engineering. The mechatronics measurably, funding for applied research grew to more engineering degree program is one of six in the nation than $4 million last year, and student, staff and faculty and the only one in the Southeast. The computer Gratefully, Enriching the Student Experience...... 4 Editor: Amber Burdsall engagement with the Chattanooga community is engineering degree program was a concentration under Cultivating Excellence in Teaching...... 10 Creative Director: Stephen Rumbaugh vibrant and active. the general engineering degree but is now a full-fledged contents Research...... 16 Art Director: Lynn Newton Students gained valuable technical and life independent program offered by the computer science Outreach and Community Engagement...... 22 Contributing Writers: Laura Bond, experiences through a variety of leadership, job and engineering department. A joint Master of Science Dean Speaker Series...... 24 Susan Cardwell, W. Andrew Clark, Alumni and Partnerships...... 28 Shawn Ryan, Emily Sane utc.edu/cecs College Data...... 35 Photography: Holley Beeland, Angela Foster

2 | utc.edu/cecs 2017-2018 year in review | 3 Boeger was sitting in his in a deep, cold sleep, his work is still Reed 8 a.m. Controls Systems pretty cool. class when an email popped up on his The cryogenic gas plant sits on the screen, telling him he was chosen for a site of a microchip fabrication facility competitive summer internship program. managed by Intel and Micron and runs “I had entirely forgotten I had applied,” 24/7 with several thousand employees. Boeger says. The microchips being made are super- Boeger was one of 30 students sensitive, Boeger says, and the facility nationally named a Society of Chemical requires a constant supply of high-purity student spotlight Industry (SCI) Scholar last year. The hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen, among prestigious program places chemistry and other gases, for the delicate microchip Katie Rouse chemical engineering undergraduates in production. 10-week industrial internships across “Our gas plant runs around the the country. clock, taking air out of the atmosphere, internship Part of the application process asks purifying it and splitting it into nitrogen, applicants to list their top three “dream” oxygen, etc., to be sent down a pipeline to Keeping companies for an internship, if they are the facility,” Boeger said. Tech chosen for the program. Boeger was placed Gaining real-world experience before Cool with a company that made his list, Air he graduates is one of his top goals, Liquide USA. Internationally operated, Air Boeger said. Through the internship, he’s Liquide is “the largest industrial gas supplier getting a crash course in the professional in the world,” Boeger said. world of chemical engineering, rounding Boeger originally learned about the out his previous work in undergraduate Scholars program through an email from research and traditional lab experience. a professional organization he joined last “My passion is in the innovation year, the American Chemical Society. that comes out of this field, from cancer He spent two months in Lehi, and disease research to nanotech to Utah, 40 minutes south of Salt Lake alternative fuels or even to inventing new engineering graduate student as of fall made time to work in the University’s Aquatics City, working in a cryogenic gas plant. ways of brewing coffee. I love the science An 2018, Kathryn “Katie” Rouse already and Recreation Center (ARC) as a trip leader for It sounds like something out of science of it all, and chemical engineers are major has achieved a lot of undergraduate success. Rouse UTC Outdoors. During spring break 2017, she led fiction and, though he isn’t putting people players in these areas.” transferred to CECS from the University of Virginia a group of her fellow students on a backpacking and was a student leader from her first semester at trip to Arizona, with sites including the Grand UTC. Her work with Student Success Director Julie Canyon. David in assisting students reflects her commitment A computer science major, Rouse was involved Student Simar Singh Received 2nd Place Award to helping others and provided an opportunity for in research with Hong Qin, associate professor of Ever wonder about the efficacy of fuzzy electronics Katie to further her leadership skills. computer science and engineering. In 2017, she in space? As a junior, Simar Singh, electrical engineering Rouse was an active member of the Girls in shared her research at the regional conference and university honors student, won second place for his Computer Science Chapter as well as the COMP of the National Institute for Mathematical and submission to the 52nd Annual Conference of the National UTC student organization. She served as a member Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS), held in Knoxville, Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) held in Atlanta. The of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council and was Tennessee. The ninth annual undergraduate topic of Simar’s presentation and poster in the Business, the volunteer coordinator of the College’s peer- research conference provided a platform for Engineering and Computer Science category was, “Efficacy to-peer tutoring program. As the tutoring program innovative undergraduate students to showcase of Fuzzy Electronics in Space.” Founded in 1966, NCHC Coordinator, Rouse recruited and scheduled work in areas combining computer science and is an educational organization designed to support and volunteers from each of the college’s programs to statistical modeling with biological principles. promote undergraduate honors education with resources, training opportunities and tutor students in mathematics, computer science Rouse’s research with Qin addressed the effects collaborative events. Simar’s advisor and university honors thesis director is Daniel and engineering courses. of dietary restrictions on lifespan and genotype- Loveless, assistant professor of electrical engineering. A true “renaissance woman,” Rouse also dependent models.

4 | enriching the student experience 2017-2018 year in review | 5 Hon. William Raines awards dinner delivered the keynote address student experience

The Rocket Mocs BLAST onto the Scene

across the nation competed, with “The idea of studying rocket scoring of each multi-stage rocket propulsion for a class project started Elliott and Grad-School- conducted by a panel of aerospace out as an intimidating feat for our Bound Seniors Win Solid professionals from companies such team,” says design team leader ‘Rockets Best Paper’ as United Launch Alliances, SpaceX William Reynolds. “As inexperienced and Sierra Nevada Corp. undergraduate students, we A technical paper presented by “I couldn’t be happier for them,” learned that we have been given Assistant Professor Trevor Elliott and Elliott said. “They represented UTC the tools to study interdisciplinary graduating seniors Dillon Sluss and Wes annual Spring Awards Dinner in April and department head of computer science and Outstanding Student-Athletes and the College very well against engineering applications and Gibson received international recognition. The was attended by students, faculty, engineering, received the Lifetime Research and well-established competitors and came out of this experience with a “Biglobal Stability of the Swirling scholarship donors and community leaders. More Creative Achievement award and Don Reising, Student-athletes in the College of Engineering and Computer Science were named to the All-Southern Conference aerospace programs.” deep understanding of the field of Majdalani-Fist Mean Flowfield in Solid than 125 awards and scholarships were presented, assistant professor of electrical engineering, received Academic Team: First place in the competition aeronautics and a passion to continue Rocket Motors” was presented in a Solid honoring research accomplishments, academic the Outstanding University Service award. the inaugural “launch” of went to the University of Missouri such work post-graduation.” Rockets Technical Session at the American performance, service to the community • Rashun Freeman, football, engineering management the CECS Rocket Team – and second place was Arizona State Kevin Braziel, the team’s Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics In and outstanding teaching. • Brianna Nelson, cross country, environmental engineering the Rocket Mocs – placed third University. One judge noted that the launch control and recovery systems (AIAA) Propulsion and Energy Forum. Out “The Harder You Work, the in the nation in the University top three contenders were clearly designer, says the competition of all submissions, the paper was chosen as Luckier You Become” was the title of • John Payne, cross country, chemical engineering the 2017 Solid Rockets Best Paper. Elliott Student Rocketry Challenge, a set apart from the other teams and “opened up new opportunities the keynote address delivered by college • Monica San Juan, golf, engineering competition hosted by the world’s final placement came down to a very to learn about rockets, space traveled to Cincinnati, , to accept the advisory board member and retired only independent, fully student- small point margin. exploration and developments award in July 2018. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Raines. • Nathan Watson, cross country, chemical engineering run nonprofit organization for The UTC rocket was built in currently taking place, and even Now UTC alums, Sluss is at Virginia “I hope students took away that they Each semester, the conference honors individual students for space advocacy, Students for the conjunction with a senior-level specific companies who combine Tech pursuing a Ph.D. in aerospace have the potential to succeed by putting engineering and Gibson is a master’s excelling in the classroom as well as in athletic competition. Exploration and Development design course in which the team all these and more into inspiring preparation and opportunity together,” To be eligible for the academic all-conference team, student- student in aerospace engineering at of Space (SEDS). The Rocket developed models, performed careers. “I personally hope that Raines said. athletes must have at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA and are Mocs were mentored by Assistant simulations, constructed prototypes, this incredible experience might Purdue University. Nominees and recipients of required to compete in at least half of their teams’ competitions. Professor of Mechanical Engineering completed test launches and eventually lead me on a path to a university-level awards also were Student-athletes also must have successfully completed at least Trevor Elliott. Forty teams from analyzed post flight data. career in the aerospace industry.” recognized. Joseph Kizza, professor three semesters at their respective institutions.

See more online at utc.edu/CECS-Awards

6 | utc.edu/cecs 2017-2018 year in review | 7 “I think this was a really great experience for First Place at Engineering everyone. There are so many different opportunities at these conferences, and I think every student that went Education Conference in Florida benefited in some fashion. Also, it’s just really fun to UTC students won the freshman/sophomore explore new places with friends from UTC.” design team competition by taking first place at the American Society for Engineering student experience Hiroshi “Chantz” Yanagida Education annual conference at Embry-Riddle Robotics Team Places Fifth at Aeronautical University in Florida. Students also participated in technical and poster SouthEastCon sessions and workshops. Themed “Educating The UTC the Engineer of the Future,” the conference IEEE (Institute promoted discussion and sharing best practices of Electrical in engineering education. and Electronics Engineers) Robotics Team won fifth Third Place at Chem-E-Car place in the robotics hardware Regional Competition competition at the At the 2018 Southern Regional IEEE SouthEastCon Conference of the American Institute of in St. Petersburg, Chemical Engineers, the Mocs Chem-E Car Florida, in April. team took third place in competition to use National Competitions Top Finishes at Mentored by Assistant Professor of Chemical The annual chemical reactions to propel a model car to a Engineering Bradley Harris, students participated finish line without overshooting it. Assistant College of Engineering and Race conference offered in conference presentations and competed in tutorial and Professor Bradley Harris advises and mentors Computer Science students learn beyond Student members of the American Society Chem-E Car, designing and fabricating a car technical sessions the team, whose competition car came within the classroom and engage with the of took two top 10 finishes in powered and stopped by chemical reactions. The and exhibits. 37 centimeters of the finish line. Hosted at community and other universities through the concrete at competition hosted seven-member Mocs Chem-E Car team finished UTC students visited with industry representatives, State University, the conference participation in 14 student organizations. at the in March. Under the 14th in a field of 42 teams. stopped by an on-site career fair and got to know fellow offered a variety of social, educational and Newer organizations at UTC include GiCS guidance of UC Foundation Professor Ignatius Mechanical engineering honors student engineering students from other universities. competitive activities. (Girls in Computer Science) and Rocket Fomunung, the UTC men’s team finished fifth Hiroshi “Chantz” Yanagida placed third in Mocs. Students often compete nationally, and the women’s team finished ninth. The three- the materials science division for his research, showcasing research and team projects. day event involved 26 universities and more “3D Printing an Optically Transparent Part than 1,200 students participating in multiple for Use in Sensors.” Yanagida’s research was competitive events. In addition to the sprint conducted in summer 2017 as part of a National races, students participated in a steel bridge Science Foundation Research Experience for Racing Mocs SAE Baja Team competition, professional paper competition and Undergraduates in partnership with Tennessee creative civil engineering design challenges. Tech University. Also at the Minneapolis Compete Nationally conference, chemical engineering student Olivia The Racing Mocs compete nationally at Students Compete at National George was invited to make a poster presentation events hosted by the Society of Automotive Chemical Engineering on her research, “Targeting and Killing Melanoma Engineers. In Baja SAE, engineering students Cancer Using Photoactivated Nanoparticles.” are tasked with designing and building a Conference UTC chapter president and chemical single-seat, all-terrain sporting vehicle that is In fall 2017, students represented UTC at engineering student Cooper Thome praised the to be a prototype for a reliable, maintainable, the annual meeting of the American Institute four-day opportunity for career networking, social ergonomic, and economic production vehicle of Chemical Engineers in Minneapolis. events and competitions. that serves a recreational user market.

8 | enriching the student experience 2017-2018 year in review | 9 While waiting, Hiestand worked on another solution: writing the book himself. Hiestand and his wife Fran have In 2009, he published a textbook for the been married for more than 50 course and recently submitted a proposal for years and plan their trips around a faculty profile a variation with Louie Elliott, UTC assistant love of the mountains and birding. professor in mechanical engineering. He tells his students to gain as much Jim Hiestand varied experience as they can. Always Looking to Serve “Tools change, but the fundamentals generally don’t,” he said. “Students might join a small company or start- up in Chattanooga and be one of a few engineers getting to work on a broad range of projects.” Hiestand prepares students by encouraging collaboration and using an interactive lecture style. He stayed at UTC because of the University’s commitment to student success and teaching. “UTC values teaching,” Hiestand said. “Smaller class sizes allow me to make sure every student gets it.” Hiestand earned the UTC Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award—given to one professor each year—three times. In addition to teaching, Hiestand re you still looking?” “They had to let somebody go,” Hiestand said, and he was is committed to faculty service, working “A It was 1972 and James “Jim” Hiestand was a recent Cornell the somebody. across the University to promote shared University grad eager to start his teaching career. He remembers the He stayed in Chattanooga and accepted a full-time position with governance and collaboration. He currently specific July evening the call came in because it was the night of the Combustion Engineering but continued teaching as an adjunct faculty serves as the chair of the Engineering and Major League Baseball All-Star game. Three weeks later, Hiestand had member at UTC. Twelve years later, a full-time professorship became Computer Science Scholarship Committee. an interview at UTC on a Friday morning and was offered the job that available, and Hiestand went after it. Hiestand served many years on the have been married for more than 50 years afternoon. The next day, he went apartment-hunting for his family and, “I was in my 40s and didn’t want to turn 60 wishing I had gone Faculty Senate, including several terms as and plan their trips around a love of the the following weekend, they drove to Chattanooga. By Tuesday, he was back to teaching earlier,” he said. “I didn’t realize it when moving to the parliamentarian. While not serving on the mountains and birding (for Fran). The Numerical Methods with VBA advising students. private sector, but those years made me a better teacher.” Senate, he was asked to be parliamentarian. Hiestands have two grown children, a Programming is an introductory Hiestand was the first in his family to go to college. His father For more than 30 years, Hiestand has taught at UTC full-time. His He agreed on one condition: that he be daughter and a son. Every other year, they text that unifies Visual Basic worked in a factory for 49 years, and his parents instilled in him the favorite part of teaching? That moment when the proverbial light bulb allowed to speak at meetings. Senate vacation with their son’s family, including Application (VBA) programming values of education and hard work. comes on for students. leadership gladly agreed. two grandchildren and all four grandparents. and numerical analysis. The book “It was assumed that I would attend college,” Hiestand said. He “I spend plenty of time preparing for class. I don’t ever want a Never a hobbyist, Hiestand spent his Fast forward from that first question includes real-world scenarios to studied aerospace engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in student to ask me a question I don’t know the answer to,” Hiestand said. spare time and energy focused on family and more than 45 years ago, “Are you still help students understand and Troy, New York, before graduate education at Cornell in Ithaca, New Answering questions from students is another favorite part of the job. teaching. Recently, however, he and his wife looking?” and for Hiestand, the answer is retain keep concepts. York. Hiestand completed both master’s and a doctoral degrees at He encourages students to visit his office by keeping the door open – Fran have taken to traveling. still “Yes.” Cornell. He says he wanted to be an educator from the start of college. literally, unless he’s preparing a test. “Now whenever people see me they ask, Looking for ways to serve students, He was one of just seven engineering faculty members at UTC in A course Hiestand teaches once required two textbooks, but “Books ‘Where are you going next?’ ” looking to contribute to campus life and, MORE ON THE WEB 1972. The college was small, and enrollment was lower than expected are so expensive for students,” he said. “I kept waiting for the books to He and Fran recently traveled to most recently, looking for new areas of the utc.edu/Hiestand-book his first year. be combined.” Patagonia, Italy and Switzerland. They globe to explore.

10 | cultivating excellence in teaching 2017-2018 year in review | 11 College of Engineering and BS, Computer Engineering Online Master’s Degree in Engineering The Computer Science launched two Is your smartphone within arm’s reach? The rise of embedded Management Earns National Top 10 new degree programs in fall 2018, the bachelor computing and proliferation of computing systems in everyday life has of applied science in mechatronics engineering led to an increase in the demand for computer engineers. Computer Ranking thechnology and the bachelor of science in engineers design and create systems that encompass both hardware and A master’s degree program in the College of computer engineering. Both programs were software, with the two working together to accomplish a desired function Engineering and Computer Science has been named developed in response to changing industry or produce a marketable product. one of the top 10 in the country. needs and current workforce demands. The UTC’s new bachelor of science in computer engineering is based on The online master’s degree in engineering college is now working in partnership with an academic program that has existed within the college for nearly 20 management is at No. 7 in rankings from Best the UTC Gary W. Rollins College of Business years: Computer engineering as a concentration within an engineering Highly qualified College Reviews, an online higher-education to develop a master’s degree program in program. Over the last two decades, computer engineering has evolved engineering review journal. data analytics. to combine knowledge and skills from the fields of computer science, Best College Reviews chose the UTC program electrical engineering and other engineering disciplines. In recent technologists will for “the university’s overall outstanding reputation, BAS, Mechatronics years, even industries not obviously computing-related have seen an be essential to as well as the engineering program’s comprehensive The mechatronics engineering technology increase in demand for computer engineers due to the rise of embedded manufacturers and the core curriculum, for its faculty’s excellence and the program at UTC will prepare students for jobs computing (computing incorporated in larger systems such as in energy sector as the commitment to providing non-traditional students designing and enhancing robotics and automated automobiles and appliances). with all of the tools that they need to achieve their systems. The program is a direct response to The computer engineering program is unique in its emphasis on education and skill educational and career goals.” the growth of high-tech manufacturing in the embedded systems and the integration of computer hardware and gap widens between “I’m so glad that we were recognized and Chattanooga region, which has expanded the software, with a lesser focus on semiconductors and microelectronics. the expertise of a ranked No. 7 in the nation, which is a great honor need for engineering technologists to manage, Courses explore the interaction of hardware and software at the machine technician and the for our college and university,” said Neslihan Alp, maintain and operate sophisticated equipment level with student projects frequently focusing on this integration. The past associate dean of the College of Engineering and processes beyond the capabilities of a College is committed to continuously adapting the program’s focus to needs of businesses and Computer Science. “This ranking will help us to technician. emphasize skills and knowledge demanded by employers. and industry. move forward and bring much more attention not Developed in partnership with Chattanooga just to our program but to our institution, as well.” State Community College and State MS, Data Analytics The master’s in engineering management Community College, the program will provide In response to the growth of big data and workforce demands, the began in 2000 “when there were not many online a clear pathway for students with engineering College of Engineering and Computer Science and the Gary W. Rollins programs at UTC, even in Tennessee and in the technology associate degrees to then complete College of Business are partnering to develop a master’s degree program in world,” Alp said. “It’s hard work and dedication of bachelor’s degrees in a high-growth field in data analytics. UTC’s collaborative approach involving both business and faculty to make it possible, and I’m really proud of Chattanooga. UTC is working with other computer science will differentiate the graduate program from those at our accomplishment. community colleges that offer associate’s degrees other universities. “In the last 10 years, we were trying to make in mechatronics technology to develop similar The College of Business already offers a certificate program in data our program different and better than other online pathways to a UTC bachelor’s degree. UTC is analytics, and the proposed new program will align existing graduate engineering management master’s programs in the the only institution in the Southeast offering courses—offered for the certificate program in data analytics and nation. We have students from all over the globe a bachelor of applied science in mechatronics computer science and in many states in the U.S. The reason why these engineering technology. courses related to data students choose our program is because of its excellence in teaching Regional business and industry partners analytics—with new reputation and quality.” reported a strong need for mechatronics courses to serve as technologists to fill critical positions and, the core curriculum. New Academic Programs Launch Fall 2018, according to the Center for Automotive Research, Two courses are to Another In Development mechatronics will dominate future employment be developed by the College of Business and three by the College of needs in automobile manufacturing. Graduates Engineering and Computer Science. Students will choose additional of the program have acquired knowledge in the coursework for either a business or computer science concentration. The major concepts, principles and techniques to program is expected to launch in fall 2019, pending approvals from UT pursue managerial-level positions in the field. System Administration and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

12 | utc.edu/cecs 2017-2018 year in review | 13 teaching

Ahad Nasab is New Head of Engineering Management and Eight New Faculty Members new faculty Technology Ahad Nasab joined the College College of Engineering and Computer science from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and of Engineering and Computer Science The Science takes pride in bringing exceptional joined UTC in 1989 as an assistant professor. In his in August as head of the engineering new faculty to UTC. New faculty members this year nine years as department head, Kizza led the growth management and technology department, include a department head and a program director, as of the department in program offering, enrollment and professor and Burkett Miller Chair. well as a visiting professor and a lecturer. and research activities. The department leads the Nasab was at Middle Tennessee State college in research productivity and currently offers University for more than 20 years and an Chemical Engineering Adds a Program Director BS and MS degrees in computer science, a BS degree adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University A new program director was hired to support the in computer engineering, and a Ph.D degree in continued growth of chemical engineering program. computational science. Michael Danquah Hamdy Ibrahim Seong Dae Kim Mohamad Mahtabi Deborah Mudali Ahad Nasab Alexandr Sokolov Mengjun Xie since 2008. Chemical Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Computer Science Engineering Engineering Computer Science In 2013, Nasab founded the Michael Danquah joins UTC with an extensive industry In 1990, Kizza initiated the cyber security and academic experience. Most recently, he was a lead program at UTC with the establishment of the UTC Engineering Engineering Management Engineering and Engineering Management Management and and Engineering mechatronics engineering program Professor and Assistant Professor, & Technology Assistant Professor, Visiting Professor, and Technology Technology Visiting Associate Professor, at MTSU, where he was the program senior process innovation engineer at Agricen Sciences, InfoSec Center, which subsequently received National Program Director; Ph.D from University Associate Professor, Ph.D from Ph.D from University Department Head, Lecturer, Ph.D Ph.D from College director. He advised the more than 300 an Agro-Biotech company in Dallas, Texas, leading Security Agency Recognition and was certified as a Ph.D from Monash of Toledo Ph.D from Texas Mississippi State of Groningen Professor and Burkett candidate at UT of William and Mary students in the mechatronics program, University A&M University University Miller Chair; Ph.D Knoxville mentored faculty, secured NSF scholarship from Georgia Institute grants for freshmen and matched of Technology graduates with jobs in the automation industry. As head of the engineering management and technology department at UTC, Nasab will lead the new mechatronics program. Nasab earned a doctoral degree in new staff mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech in 1987, and he was a research scientist from 1987 to 1991 at the UT Space Spring 2018 Faculty Award’s Dinner; Joseph Kizza pictured third from left. Institute in Tullahoma. His nearly 10 years of industry experience includes serving the development of novel biostimulants in the U.S. He National Center of Excellence in Information Security as vice president of technology at Middle was also a full professor, associate dean and leader of Education. The designation of the center led to the Tennessee Technologies. the bio-process technologies research cluster at Curtin establishment of information security programs (BS Nasab’s research activities are focused University in Australia and Malaysia. and MS concentrations), which have been recognized as the most outstanding programs of their classification Philip Bonfiglio Amber Burdsall Maryam Ghorashi Alanna Hunnicutt Sara Jackson Jason McDowell on engineering education and the use Development Dean’s Office Dean’s Office Student Success Center Student Success Center IT and Laboratories of lasers. He has worked on numerous New Associate Dean in Tennessee. He has published extensively on NSF projects to engage students in Joseph Kizza, former computer science and cryptography, computer ethics, computer networks, lifelong learning and to encourage engineering department head, was appointed as and information security, including ten books. In spring their enthusiasm for engineering and associate dean of the College of Engineering and 2018, he received the UTC Lifetime Research and technology studies and careers. Computer Science. Kizza received a Ph.D in computer Creative Achievement Award.

14 | cultivating excellence in teaching 2017-2018 year in review | 15 2017 Solar Eclipse Sets Stage for Record-Setting Balloon Launch

capture images of the 2017 solar eclipse designed for these temperatures and are generally To in southeast Tennessee from a unique only rated to minus 40 degrees Celsius, at best. perspective, Daniel Loveless and his team Our main computer shut down temporarily launched MOC3, a high-altitude balloon equipped during this period but regained functionality with aerial photography and video systems. when warmed back up by the sun,” Loveless said. Loveless, UC Foundation assistant professor “The custom camera and power system of electrical engineering and his student team, had survived the entire ascent, were able to help from graduate students Matt Joplin and Ryan capture the eclipse (looking at the Earth) and Boggs and UTC alumnus Colin Smith for the four- maintained functionality throughout the flight. I hour balloon flight originating from Soddy Daisy, am very proud of the students’ accomplishments Tennessee. In addition to the balloon’s imaging given a difficult set of constraints. The images capabilities, a power supply fought colder-than- and the massive data set gathered will keep usual temperatures due to the eclipse. everyone busy for quite some time and were well UTC Partners with U.S. Air Force on “The goals of MOC3 were to capture worth the challenge.” $9.8-Million Research Project the totality of the solar eclipse from a unique The electronics system and cameras aboard vantage point and ascend to 110,000 feet, setting the flight were designed by students. The design a new record for UTChattSat’s high-altitude was funded in part by the High Impact Practices balloon program,” Loveless said. “New systems Development Grant program at UTC, which is among several university partners in requires identification of regions of significant local Purdue University that facilitates collaboration across for maintaining power to the electronics and promotes active learning for improving student UTC a $9.8-million project with the U.S. Air heating that are often the greatest source of risk to the our UT campuses for the benefit of Tennessee and its capturing aerial photography and video were success in learning and engagement. Force Research Laboratory. The research is on develop- vehicle surface,” Schmisseur said. “Fortunately, within aerospace and defense industries,” Schmisseur said. “The developed and implemented for the first time.” Students involved in the MOC3 mission ment of materials and structures for reusable hypersonic the UT system we have outstanding capabilities for just federal funding making resources available for this project The new record was achieved with an “open- included: vehicles to travel at speeds greater than five times the such a complex analysis.” is a strategic investment in national security and the air payload rig to cut the mass of the system down Joplin, a second-year graduate student who speed of sound. Schmisseur, lead investigator for UT’s role in the advancement of research in Tennessee.” to approximately 2.2 pounds. This allowed the completed a 10-month internship at SpaceX. He UTC researchers are collaborating with counterparts project, will head a team of 15 faculty researchers from Alexander voiced flight to achieve higher altitudes with less helium,” has been involved with the UTChattSat high- at the University of Tennessee Space Institute, the UTC, UT Knoxville and UTSI, where Schmisseur his support for the “The federal funding Loveless said. altitude balloon program since it began and has University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Purdue University serves as the H.H. Arnold Chair in the Department of project and what it making resources and the University of Dayton Research Institute. Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering. will mean for U.S. The solar eclipse created a unique learning conducted research on space and radiation effects available for this experience for the UTChattSat program. The in electronics under Loveless’ direction since UTC experts and other team members will perform “When we consider the integrated technical aerospace research. mission encountered temperatures as low as attending UTC as an undergraduate. both numerical simulations and experiments to guide capabilities of the three UT campuses involved in this “Congratulations project is a strategic minus 70 degrees Celsius—or minus 94 degrees Boggs, a first-year graduate student, studies materials and structure design performed by the project, we have a lot of intellectual firepower to bring to to the University investment in national bear on this challenging problem,” Schmisseur said. of Tennessee for Fahrenheit. the effects of space and radiation effects in University of Dayton Research Institute. UT researchers security and the “This is significant because typical commercial photonic (optical and electrical) circuits and also will conduct aerodynamic and thermal analysis of the The Tennessee Department of Economic and being one of three electronics systems systems. While an undergraduate, he helped vehicle and environment. Community Development has recognized aerospace universities selected advancement of and virtually no battery design the electronics systems on MOC3, Five times the speed of sound is about 3,800 miles and defense as a significant contributor to Tennessee’s to receive federal research in Tennessee.” technologies are along with undergraduates in the per hour and, at such extreme velocity, intense heat economy, and this hypersonics project is intended to funding to research electrical engineering and computer is generated by the vehicle. Understanding how that foster development of UT system-wide partnerships to and develop hypersonic science departments. heat is transferred to the vehicle by the aerodynamic enhance research and innovation in support of the sector, technology,” Alexander said. “This project, spearheaded Smith is a UTC alum and environment is critical to the vehicle design, according to according to Schmisseur. by the UT Space Institute, will increase our nation’s research assistant to UTC Professor John Schmisseur, professor of mechanical, aerospace and “We are grateful for the critical support of Sen. defense capabilities. Tennessee has played a key role Henry Spratt. He is interested in biomedical engineering at the UT Space Institute. Lamar Alexander, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, and Rep. in scientific research for many decades and, with UT’s studying space applications of micro- and “Understanding the origin and transmission of the Scott DesJarlais in enabling this hypersonics partnership brainpower, our state will continue to play a key role in molecular biology. intense thermal loads generated on a hypersonic vehicle with the University of Dayton Research Institute and the development of our nation’s defense capabilities.”

16 | research 2017-2018 year in review | 17 Pioneering Smart City Technology: Seeing Underground UTC Chosen as Site for New Center for Another Chattanooga Urban Informatics and Progress Project Wins Smart Cities Award The Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) is a new nexus of research and innovation at the University of Tennessee CARTA, Chattanooga’s mass transit at Chattanooga that will engage experts from across the statewide system, also was a Smart City award winner UT system in cross-disciplinary research into solutions to urban for a separate project that involved solar- and regional challenges. The vision for CUIP centers on research assisted charging for electric vehicles. The initiatives related to energy, mobility, healthcare, public safety, and CARTA project was done in collaboration utility that will directly or indirectly benefit local citizens while with Green Commuter Chattanooga, which Dalei Wu developing methods and models for use around the world. CUIP supplies electric vehicles to rent. is housed at UTC as an independent research entity, underscoring The project utilized the creation of Chattanooga’s emergence as an innovation hub. about 20 electric-vehicle charging pods The center will be led by Mina Sartipi, an accomplished across the city that use solar power as part researcher with a distinguished record of scholarship and who is of their energy-storing technology. A fleet uilding up means digging down–literally. Documentation for underground a nationally recognized leader in smart cities research. Sartipi is a of 20 all-electric cars also were provided B infrastructure can be out-of-date or inaccurate, making construction UC Foundation professor in the computer science and engineering as a public car-share system. The project around existing pipes, conduits or other utilities a timely and dangerous department and has led numerous interdisciplinary research was integrated with CARTA, the city’s proposition. A project at UTC in partnership with University of Vermont initiatives as program leader for Urban Science and Technology and electric shuttle, bicycle lanes and public provides a unique solution, one that earned the project recognition among the in her direction of the Smart Communications and Analysis Lab. parking and, in the end, logged more than 50 best Smart City projects in the country. Partnerships are critical to the capacity and efficacy of faculty 55,000 vehicle miles using clean energy and The Underground Infrastructure Sensing project, headed by Dalei Wu, and student research projects. They include collaborations with a reducing emission reductions. assistant professor of computer science in partnership with Dryer Huston, number of renowned research institutions and labs regionally and David Wade, president and CEO of mechanical engineering professor at the University of Vermont, uses nationally, such as the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Oak Ridge EPB, which owns the fiber-optic network equipment such as radar and magnetic sensors to document the location and National Laboratory, US Ignite, MetroLab Network, Vanderbilt critical to both projects, says UTC’s condition of underground water and sewer pipes, electrical conduits, fiber- University and Georgia Tech Research Institute. In addition, through research capabilities are “one of several optic lines and other infrastructure. The data is fed into high-speed computers hosting workshops like the Chattanooga 2018 Deep Learning efforts in which UTC professors are leading at the UTC SimCenter and turned into spreadsheets, graphics and other easy- Conference and visiting scholars and thought leaders, CUIP research that engages local officials and our to-use documents. continues to grow partners across disciplines that serve to elevate community’s outstanding infrastructure City engineers, planners and construction companies can use the data and broaden the research capabilities at UTC and within the greater assets in pioneering new ‘Smart City’ gathered by the sensing project to locate pipes, conduits and other utilities Chattanooga community. technologies.” before digging begins. The technology reduces the danger of damaging critical Cooperation among UTC, EPB and equipment and eliminates the need to excavate entire areas. other organizations in Chattanooga is The project was chosen by Smart Cities Connect Media and Research setting the stage for even more growth in for the Smart 50 Awards. The awards annually recognize global Smart Cities the city’s technology sector, said Christy projects, honoring the most innovative and influential work with current or Gillenwater, president and CEO of the future municipal-scale impact and application. Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are thrilled to know that our project was recognized by this award,” Wu “Working together we can continue to said. “Success with this research will enable cities to manage, maintain and grow position our community as a test bed for their underground infrastructure in manners that improve service, sustainability Mina Sartipi next-generation technologies,” she said. and resilience, while reducing costs, energy consumption and wasted resources.”

18 | research 2017-2018 year in review | 19 Partnering with Local High Schools Toward Eradicating Malaria College of Engineering and Computer Science is on The the cutting edge of applied research to combat malaria, Flying Drones: exploring—among other innovations—the use of drones to test It’s All In Your Head water samples for the larvae of mosquitos, which carry malaria, and to distribute chemicals to kill the larvae. UC Foundation Assistant Professor Daniel Loveless and post- doctoral researcher Zach Ruble partnered with local high school students to investigate ways to mitigate the devastation that malaria wreaks on Africa. Last fall, Baylor School students, led by Mary Loveless, director of the school’s IdeaLab, built prototypes of devices that would attach to drones to carry out specific tasks. The students came to the college to present seven prototypes they constructed. “We simply provided them with desired specifications and operating constraints,” Loveless said. “The students had the freedom to tackle the problems using any approach they saw fit. “All seven prototypes were demonstrated and functional. This is remarkable, especially given the short timeframe the students had Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering to work. They were clearly prepared and put in their best effort.” the future, it may be possible to control multiple The applied research collaboration with the Baylor School Indrones by thought. Collaborate on Project Funded by using drone technology to combat malaria will be used as a model UTC electrical engineering students, graduate Engility Corp. for the college in seeking to expand partnerships with area schools. researchers and faculty already are at work on what has been dubbed the Unmanned A new research project leverages high-performance computing expertise Systems Lab to develop across the college and the UC Foundation’s investment in cutting-edge technology to control all equipment at the UTC SimCenter. aspects of drone operation Four faculty in two academic departments have been awarded a more than Stormwater Management: Challenge Accepted simply through brainwaves. $440,000 grant from Engility Corp. for researching “Heterogeneous High- Visualization in the brain Performance Computing for High-Order Stabilized Finite-elements on Moving In response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s EPA Campus would control the drone. and Deforming Domains.” RainWorks Challenge, a team of interdisciplinary undergraduates developed a The project aims to Effective fall 2017 and encompassing a two-year period, the funding is to campus-wide stormwater management master plan. The plan primarily focused detect patterns in brainwaves investigate the relationships between evolving computer hardware capabilities on retrofitting gray infrastructure with green infrastructure to help mitigate to give abstract commands and increasingly sophisticated and powerful software. pressing stormwater issues on campus. In alignment with Chattanooga’s pollution to multiple drones. In the Computer Science Assistant Professor Craig Tanis is collaborating control efforts and UTC’s sustainability initiatives, the project demonstrated a current setup, brainwaves with Robert Webster and Kidambi Sreenivas, both associate professors of successful retrofitting approach for effective stormwater management in a fully are detected by electrodes mechanical engineering, and with James Newman, professor and head of developed urban environment. attached to a user’s head. The brainwaves are fed into a mechanical engineering. Their research focus is of interest to both the U.S. Under the direction of Jejal Bathi, assistant professor in the civil and chemical laptop computer, which sends a Wi-Fi signal to a second Department of Defense and NASA researchers. The project will involve engineering department, students collaborated with city engineers, the Tennessee computer that, in turn, emits a wireless signal to the research, conference and journal publications to share findings, and practical Department of Environment and Conservation and the UTC Facilities Planning drone. In the second computer is software that actually application recommendations for Engility Corp. Department to gather relevant data through field surveys from public domains. controls the drone. Alongside this research, a separate Engility Corporation is a provider of integrated services to the U.S. The student research team, Green MOCS, included students in civil and study of the use of infrared light to control a swarm of government, including the Department of Defense, intelligence community, chemical engineering along with some from business management, environmental drones is taking place. space communities, and federal civilian agencies, and international customers. science and interior architecture.

20 | research 2017-2018 year in review | 21 Tau Beta Pi officers Cooper Thome and Natalie Burdine coordinated Open House Offers Career Choices to the volunteer effort. “We can remember working to develop projects for entry in our high school science fairs,” said Thome. “It would have been High School Students community service great to have some input from college students about how to get started on a project and how to bring a hypothesis to a reality.” eston Braddock looks around Tau Beta Pi is the national academic honor society for engineering W the everyday world and sees students. In addition to excellence in academics, the society encourages something missing. community outreach and service initiatives. Robots. “About the only thing we have is Roombas,” he said, referencing the Wi- Society of Black Engineers Marks Fi-controlled machine that thumps and Ninth Year for ACT Workshop bumps around the house, sweeping floors Preparing to take the ACT admissions test can be stressful for and vacuuming carpets. high school students. Members of the campus chapter of the National “That, and garage doors.” Association of Black Engineers make it their mission to help lower An interest in designing and those anxiety levels by offering day-long ACT prep courses each fall and working with robots brought Braddock, spring, complete with a pizza lunch and mixer. The group has hosted the a sophomore at Ivy Academy in Soddy workshops for the past nine years. Daisy, to UTC spring 2018 to attend the Open to high school juniors and seniors across the region, the open house in the College of Engineering workshop takes place at the College of Engineering and Computer and Computer Science. He was one Science and includes instruction in test content and test-taking of about 60 high school students from strategies. High school students are welcomed by Dean Daniel Pack and around Chattanooga who attended the Computer Science. given information about the college from Julie David, director of student day-long event in the Engineering, Math “This is a way to allow them to success. and Computer Science building and the discover things on their own,” he said. “It SimCenter. helps them appreciate it more.” Challenging Children and Parents at the and the UT Knoxville College of Architecture to establish a community During the open house, students Sara Sosebee, a junior at Ringgold Students Help the Girls Leadership Academy witnessed demonstrations of the student High School, said she hopes to be an Chattanooga Public Library design studio at the First Baptist Church of Bozentown in Chattanooga. Students invested sweat equity in cleaning, painting and refurbishing Dream Big designed Chem-E Car, which rolled a little architect, so she came to the open house Concrete can, in fact, float. church spaces to create a studio to assist the community with residential more than 30 feet on fuel made from the for a demonstration on civil engineering. That was demonstrated to children and their parents at a workshop design challenges. What do eighth grade girls dream about? At the Chattanooga reaction of several chemicals. They tried “I really like seeing how everything hosted at the Chattanooga Public Library by students in the College of Students worked on a project in partnership with Widow’s Harvest Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA), eighth graders dream big about to control flying drones using cellphones fits together,” she said. Engineering and Computer Science’s chapter of the American Society Ministries, a local organization providing home repairs to widowed excelling in science, technology, engineering and math. Faculty and and computers —the cellphone-driven Daniel Locke, a senior at Soddy Daisy of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Students worked with the college’s concrete women. Past Associate Dean Neslihan Alp and UTC Interior Design students helped inspire those dreams by providing activities in fall ones skittered across the floor or slammed High School, is interested in industrial canoe team to host the hands-on opportunity for participants to work Program Director Dana Moody described the partnership with Widow’s 2017 to introduce young women to STEM fields as college majors and into netting like big mosquitoes, while the engineering because, “It’s optimizing on a variety of projects. Harvest as a great way for students to see how their education equips professional careers. computer-driven ones flew up and around processes, and I really like when things are Students challenged the participants’ traditional thinking about them to help their community. Seventy CGLA students in four classes learned about possibilities the room with little problem. really efficient and streamlined.” construction materials while helping them explore math skills as a key for study and discovery in STEM, and how the college can foster their They also took part in workshops Braddock says he was turned on to solving problems in the real world. According to ASCE chapter Tau Beta Pi Sponsors interest and dreams of making a difference in the world as engineers, for video game computer coding, bridge to robotics after attending a camp last president Andy Lewis, “It was hard to tell who was having the most fun, technologists and computer scientists of the future. CGLA students building and examining the student-made, summer at the Volkswagen plant in the children or their parents. It was a great chance for us to pique their Science Fair Workshop visited the college to learn about programs of study and to tour the off-road Baja car. Chattanooga and watching its robots curiosity and have some fun at the same time.” Members of Tau Beta Pi Chapter spent a Saturday morning in building. Executive Director of CGLA Elaine Stafford thanked UTC and Physically demonstrating how at work. spring 2018 assisting area high school students with science projects. the College “for supporting our school mission to inspire hope in each engineering or computer science can “Just controlling one of those big Improving the Lives of Neighbors in Need The Tau Beta Pi students provided hands-on help in a variety of girl, positively changing the trajectory of her life and empowering her change the world tends to be a more beasts was like, ‘Wow!’” he said. areas, including research, display, construction, and presentation. infinite choices in the future.” effective way of getting students The college hosts a high school open With grant funding provided by the Tennessee Board of The university annually hosts the Chattanooga Regional Science Fair, The College continues to strengthen and expand its partnership excited about the fields than merely house annually. The event includes lab Architectural and Engineering Examiners, engineering management where projects that have earned prizes in local fairs are displayed in the with CGLA through planned classroom visits by members of the student talking to them, said Daniel Pack, tours, hands-on project demonstrations students and faculty partnered with the UTC interior design program University Center. chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and other outreach activities. dean of the College of Engineering and and information about scholarships.

22 | outreach and community engagement 2017-2018 year in review | 23 2017-2018 Speaker Series

Indoor Positioning Advances Exploiting GPS The Implicit Bias and Microaggressions that and WLAN Infrastructures Are Often Targeted at Women in the STEM David Akopian, professor, electrical and computer engineering, Fields and What We Can Do About It speaker series University of Texas at San Antonio Christopher Kilmartin, emeritus professor of psychology, the University of Mary Energy, Water and Climate: Challenges and Opportunities in Africa The Future of Deep Space Human Exploration Vahid Alavian, water and hydropower advisor (former), Paul McConnaughey, associate director, technical, Office of Africa region at The World Bank the Center Director NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

For Engineers, Does Career Advancement From Classroom to Corporation: Adventures Come from Hard Skills or Soft Skills? of a Tech CEO Ryan M. Brewer, associate professor of finance, Indiana John P. McNeely, President/CEO, principal and co-founder of University Sword and Shield Enterprise Security, Inc., and principal and co-founder of Affenix, LLC Crypto-currency Status and Future Perspectives Why Do Some People Advance in Their Career Richard Brooks, professor of electrical and computer Faster Than Others? Second Year for Speaker Series Brings engineering, Scott C. Pierce, executive vice president and chief operating 14 Professionals to Campus officer, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Information Security Careers: Pathfinding on the Digital Battlefield Petal: Rejuvenation of MPI Applications College of Engineering and Computer Science Speaker Series provides Ariadne: Static Analysis Meets Model opportunities for sharing cutting-edge information from noted researchers Shayne Champion, cybersecurity professional The Checking and sharing experiences, expertise and advice from community leaders. As part of the College’s commitment to outreach opportunities for students and faculty, events are Oak Ridge National Lab Capabilities Peter Pirkelbauer, assistant professor, computer science, open to the public, free to attend and hosted on campus. Jeffrey B. Cornett, manager, industrial and economic at Birmingham Assistant Dean Li Yang led the effort to launch the series in 2016 and partnered development, Oak Ridge National Laboratory with Julie David, director of student success, to plan the 2017-2018 series. The 14 Security of Additive Manufacturing: Threats events included topics ranging from additive manufacturing to cybersecurity, from The Science of Additive Manufacturing and and Research Opportunities Clockwise top left: crypto-currency to characteristics of successful business leaders. What the Future Holds Mark Yampolskiy, assistant professor, School of Computing, Jeff Cornett, John McNeely, The 2018-2019 series will be led by Yang, David and the college’s director of Amy M. Elliott, associate research staff, Oak Ridge National University of South Alabama Paul McConnaughey, development Philip Bonfiglio. Laboratory Manufacturing Demonstration Facility Peter Pirkelbauer, “The Distinguished Speaker Series allowed us to host business professionals Amy Elliott, alongside the best researchers from top research institutions, national labs and federal Shayne Champion and government,” said Yang. “This initiative expands the horizons of our students and Security Challenges for the Internet of Things: David Akopian faculty, promotes career readiness, brings collaboration opportunities and inspires A Semantics-Based View innovation at UTC and in Chattanooga, which are important in building our Csilla Farkas, professor, Department of Computer Science and research capacity.” Engineering, University of South Carolina

Above: Christopher Kilmartin

24 | outreach and community engagement 2017-2018 year in review | 25 UTC Hosts National Partnering with Erlanger UTC engineering Engineers Week Kickoff Health System alumnus Tom Kline Outreach and Engagement on Display to Improve Patient Care and speaks during the Can one Chattanooga engineer make a difference? The Chattanooga Engineers Week (E-Week) at National Engineers Week Accessibility kickoff luncheon kickoff took place in the UTC. Engineers from UTC and organizations across the region gathered for a week of for Engineering events to celebrate the work of engineers and computer A new partnership between the College of Week 2018 at UTC scientists and to educate potential students about the Engineering and Computer Science and Erlanger field. Health System focuses on applied research involving At the event, conversations centered on how ttention: Students searching students and surgeons leading to improvements engineers can make a difference. UTC alumnus and A for career ideas, unable to in patient care and accessibility. It is increasingly Principal of Kline Health Group Tom Kline emphasized decide exactly what to do with essential that experts develop healthcare systems that the great potential for engineers to change lives your lives—National Engineers are secure and meet user information needs. The through their work, and that even one seed planted Week is for you, and it happens partnership incorporates new research methods in the with an engineer from Chattanooga could make a each year in spring. areas of usability engineering, data-driven computer world of a difference. “It allows us to recognize and innovations and multidisciplinary project design. “My basic view of life is that engineering has given promote the engineering field to Under the direction of of Jed Mescon, Erlanger me the technical capability to make changes in the way students who, in the future, may vice president of public relations, marketing and our lives are lived. It’s also given me the confidence that become engineers,” said Dean development; Li Yang, assistant dean of the college; engineers, and me as one person, can do it,” Kline said. Daniel Pack. “It’s a venue for us and Julie David, student success center director, the “That we can make changes one small step at a time.” to be able to reach prospects in partnership includes early morning brainstorming Also at the kickoff event, area organizations, high school, middle school and sessions between Erlanger surgeons and UTC including the Society of Women Engineers, others.” engineering and computer science students and Chattanooga Engineers Club and American Society of The 2018 event was packed faculty. with activities to connect with Civil Engineers, presented scholarships to students. Daniel Pack, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Students have the opportunity to job shadow potential students and to recognize the work of Science, far right, looks on while chemical engineering students work surgeons to observe processes, procedures, workflow engineers and computer scientists that impacts quality and other key areas of healthcare delivery and patient in a college lab. of life. access. Initial projects resulting from the collaboration It’s about teaching people, “What we do in society City project, which is researching the possibility of ranged from development of a comprehensive that has to do with solving problems and creating driverless cars and other tools toward efficient traffic highway signage plan for the Chattanooga- and products that enhance and benefit people’s lives,” Pack flow. Hamilton County-area hospitals, to a study of patient said. With TVA, the University is partnering to test ways release procedures with a focus on efficiency, workflow “We’re doing a lot more engagement in the of checking the ‘health’ of electrical transformers and, if and communication, to an engineering review of community and applied research. We bring in problems work is needed, conduct it on-site, a process that could improving kidney surgery procedures to ensure organ of the real world into our research and programs as save millions of dollars. viability and improved patient recovery times. well.” At VW, the College of Engineering and Computer In commenting on his initial efforts with Erlanger The college is working with the city of Science is developing tools through virtual reality and the Tennessee Department of Transportation on Chattanooga, its utility company EPB (Electric Power simulation to help train assembly line workers. the highway signage project, senior civil engineering Board), TVA, Volkswagen, Erlanger and Memorial The number of research awards won by the College major and U.S. Navy Veteran Hospital Corpsman health care systems and other area businesses and of Engineering and Computer Science has increased 56 Damon Jarrod Magourik said, “This is a networking Rob Gagliano with BASF, left, stands with Lyn institutions to promote applied research, improve percent over the past five years, while the number of opportunity like no other. We are pursuing our degrees Potter, accepting scholarship money for Chattanooga efficiency in programs, and develop manufacturing faculty and other researchers in the College awarded not only for the knowledge and skills acquisition, but State Community College, center, and Daniel Pack, ideas. grant montey has grown by 60 percent, “which tells you also for future employment. This opportunity gives us accepts scholarship money for the UTC during the For example, UTC is working with the city of how much applied research activity is going up, led by the chance to work directly with potential employers Engineering Week kickoff luncheon. Chattanooga and its Enterprise Center on the Smart faculty members,” Pack said. “The more, the better.” on real-world problems.”

26 | utc.edu/cecs 2017-2018 year in review | 27 Cybersecurity Leader Credits UTC for Success

John McNeely arrived in Like UTC’s computer science programs, offices in Portland, Nashville, Atlanta and When Chattanooga in August 1986, he Chattanooga’s vast TVA complex was an Balance between Knoxville. had no idea that his interest in computers would take oasis of innovation and offered McNeely For McNeely, brand knowledge is as him on a professional adventure that would put his a professional outlet while he finished his technical knowledge essential to success as business values. company in all 50 states and land him at the helm of a junior and senior years at the University. and core business “We want our people to have a thirst for $60-million annual revenue cybersecurity firm. He was able to work 20 hours a week as a values has proven learning, a need to stay relevant in a fast- This wide-eyed cross-country and track star from computer programmer while taking a full fruitful for McNeely’s moving field,” he said. “Training and education the Tri-Cities area of Upper East Tennessee — one course load. With a busy work schedule and are key, but character is just as important. We mile from the famous Bristol Motor Speedway, to be several challenging semesters of studies, company. value integrity, teamwork, collaborations and, specific — experienced a very different Chattanooga McNeely still found time to earn the M. Rex above all, customer service.” than we know today. Back then, McNeely recalled, Jones Memorial Award for most outstanding computer science student in Balance between technical knowledge and core business values has proven downtown wasn’t nearly as vibrant and practically his senior year. fruitful for McNeely’s company. Its dynamic growth was nationally recognized turned into a ghost town when the American National Following graduation in 1990, McNeely did a two-year stint with Southwest by Inc. 500/5000 for posting a nearly 30 percent annual growth rate every Bank closed each afternoon at 4 p.m. Research Institute in Texas, where he worked on “state-of-the-art” projects year since 2007. Sword and Shield received the 2011 Knoxville Chamber of As a member of UTC’s cross-country and including the Tomahawk Missile System. Commerce Pinnacle Award for Small Business Excellence and has been included track squad, McNeely quickly became familiar with Cutting-edge work in Texas was exciting for McNeely and his bride, the on Cybersecurity Ventures’ “Cybersecurity 500” list of “the world’s hottest and the streets of Chattanooga, and was a first-hand former Sheila Summers of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, but they missed the most innovative cybersecurity companies.” In addition, Sword and Shield is the witness to the city’s burgeoning renaissance. “I ran green hills of home and relocated to Knoxville to get closer to family and old only Tennessee-based company to be recognized in the Managed Security 100, all over downtown and saw the beginning of the big friends. an annual list recognizing providers with cutting-edge approaches to managed transformation,” said McNeely. There, McNeely went to work in Oak Ridge, Tennessee for Martin Marietta services. Even during those uncertain times when Energy Systems, a leading contractor with the U.S. Department of Energy. But this CEO of a fast-growing, high-performing international business can’t Chattanooga seemed stagnant, the UTC College McNeely’s expertise was farmed out to other governmental agencies including forget his educational roots in Chattanooga. of Engineering and Computer Science was home to the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration. “UTC gave me a great opportunity to learn and grow,” McNeely said. cutting-edge innovation. After five years working on various government projects, McNeely got a “I had a number of excellent instructors and professors who I still think of to “Going to UTC offered a lot of opportunity unique opportunity to partner with James Goldston. In July 1997, these two this day and the impact they had on me during my time at UTC. I was inspired for students curious about computers and entrepreneurs converted garage space in Goldston’s home to offices, and Sword and challenged by my professors to have big goals, to work hard at achieving programming. We had great professors who offered and Shield Enterprise Security, Inc. was born. A year later, the duo brought in them, and to always persevere.” one-on-one instruction, which helped me to better Will Henderson, who McNeeley said “was instrumental to the success of the The education he received and the lessons he learned while at UTC taught hone my skills,” said McNeely, whose love of start-up.” him not only to persevere, but how to achieve. That’s no surprise considering the technological development was born his senior year Twenty-one years later, Sword and Shield is an international cybersecurity University’s motto: “Faciemus.” We Shall Achieve. in high school when a math teacher introduced him provider with clients in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. As CEO and principal, “I am grateful for the experiences I had at UTC,” McNeely said. “They to the Apple II computer. McNeely has assembled a skilled team of 65 certified security professionals with prepared me for where I am today.”

28 | alumni and partnerships 2017-2018 year in review | 29 A panel of external experts judged the research projects, 2019 Technology Symposium with awards presented in various categories. Students at all educational levels, educators, business and industry representatives, Building on the success of the inaugural entrepreneurs and the general public attended. symposium, the college is looking to make the 2019 Peter Fuhr kicked off the symposium with a keynote event more integrated with the community by moving tech symposium address. Fuhr is a distinguished scientist at Oak Ridge National it to the Chattanooga Public Library downtown. The Laboratory serving in the capacity as the technology director for event will feature 100+ research projects and guest the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Research Laboratory and speakers. The college plans to invite local middle director of grid security. and high school students to learn about research and The Symposium concluded with an awards presentation for technology at the undergraduate and graduate levels. outstanding research and entrepreneurship. The winners were: Moving the symposium to the heart of innovation district will be a great opportunity for engineering and Undergraduate Research computer science students to showcase their talent Taylor Dearman, Beau Simmons and Timothy Stewart, “Rubens and mix with industry partners. Tube: Demonstration of Acoustic Standing Waves”

Graduate Research Hana Karrar, “Girls to Engineers Network (GEN)”

Freshman Design Stephen Burton, Grant Gronemeier, Lexi Johnson and Andrew Mays, “The Accessible Picnic Table for Open Arms Care” “Trying to master all methods of lie detecting The Student Government Association is considering the space Could an app tell you when Lie to Me: The App is a daunting task for anyone, the team created an application for between Crossroads and Chamberlain Pavilion south of Brock someone is lying? Ali Aldrwish, Zuhair Alelq, Grey Drewery, Amanda George and training people in becoming better at detecting lies. In short, the app Hall for the garden. They are looking for a few hanging solutions Kenneth Pruett, “The Karate Assistant” How about the ability to takes in user input and returns a percentage opinion on whether the and garden layouts to present to the UTC administration to detect fraudulent ads on the subject is lying or not. The app is meant to act as training wheels for initiate the construction of the garden.” Senior Design internet? the user to train them in detecting lies so, in future events, they can Jessica McCaw, Tejashkumar Patel, Joshua Smith and Matthew Would you like to know the detect a lie on the fly.” Freedom Brewing: Preliminary Design of a Microbrewery “Design a brewery with a production size of less than 15,000 Totton, “Implementing a Full Automation with Performance best ways to start your own barrels (465,000 gallons) of beer per year. End goal was to provide Improvement of a Tire Recycling Machine” microbrewery? Using Smartphones and Watches to Detect Falls and Get Help for the Elderly “Develop an application which can a feasible, preliminary design complete with a process flow Maybe you’d like to know accurately detect and assess when the user falls, using machine diagram and batch scheduling chart, an equipment list and design Austin O’Byrne, Ben Meyer, Alay Patel and Derek Snyder, how to help people with learning techniques. If the application running on the cell phone basis and a cost estimate.” “Using Smart Phones and Watches to Detect Falls and Get Help for disabailities learn to ride detects a fall, the application will make a call to a predetermined the Elderly” horses or to paint. telephone number and send a text message displaying the location of Mocs Arcade Retro Video Game “Objective was to reinvent a classic arcade game. ‘Twotris,’ short for ‘Two-player Tetris’ … aims to Russ Bazemore, Jason Cobb, Daniel Witt and Brandon Whitley, Students and faculty the user via a Google maps hyperlink.” shatter the classic image of ‘Tetris,’ take these shards and put them “Upgrading a Locomotive Telemetry Device (LTD)” presented all of these ideas, “Provide an interactive water fountain together in a whole new way.” and more, at the inaugural Beethoven’s Fountain display that allows the user to plug in a music device and have the Student Tech Entrepreneurship Award College of Engineering and fountain ‘play’ a unique display based on the song. Currently, there Horseback Sensory Trail “Reinbow Riders, a program at the Sponsored by CO.LAB, a nonprofit startup accelerator. Computer Science Technology are no water fountains on the market that are in an affordable Tri-State Therapeutic Riding Center, is a therapeutic riding program An award for the research project that best represents the potential Symposium, an innovation price range that will provide a visual display of music being played that teaches individuals with disabilities how to ride. … TSTRC for commercialization. The winning team receives acceptance into event open to the public. in real time.” would like a collection of horseback-accessible sensory activities that one of CO.LAB’s programs, access to its CO.LAB network and Among the projects and their children can see, hear, touch and engage with along a trail outside access to free mentorship through CO.LAB. presenter summaries were: UTC Hammock Garden Hanger “Create a hammock garden of the main rink that will help them practice balance and use their Mina Sartipi, Jose Stovall, Rebekah Thompson and Daniel where students can hang their hammocks and study or socialize. core muscles.” Velasquez, “All-in-One Urban Mobility Mapping” (Graduate Research)

30 | alumni and partnerships 2017-2018 year in review | 31 Jerry Bear tags valves that have been turned off. alumni profile Jerry Bear

Gushing waterfalls, a familiar melody to Jerry Bear, who has down the river, so its rapids were in rare form. It’s worked at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s At the powerhouse, Bear is responsible for leftovers from a day of (TVA) Ocoee Powerhouse No. 3 for the past five years. making sure all the safety mechanisms work properly, Along with generating electricity through its enormous from the ones that protect the equipment in case rain, cascade down the turbine system, the powerhouse is responsible for of catastrophic failure to the steps taken to protect the water flow of about 20 miles of the Ocoee River, technicians when repairs and general maintenance are rocky sides of the Ocoee including sections ridden by thousands of whitewater performed on the equipment. River Gorge overwhelm rafters every summer. On this day, the fire-containment system needs “It really makes the rapids for rafters and kayakers, maintenance, so he’s tagging several valves that control all other sounds. as long as there’s water flowing, but I wouldn’t want to the water that sprays into a device if a fire breaks out. be out in the middle of it when the water stops,” says The red tags are a sign that the valves are turned off Bear, who graduated from UT Chattanooga in 1993 and it’s safe to go inside the machine. with a bachelor’s degree in engineering. After graduating from UTC, Bear worked at a And Bear, who grew up in the Ocoee area and has power plant in Tennga, Georgia, and an iron foundry in a lifelong love of its deep woods and rocky ridges, has a Etowah, Tennessee. He joined TVA in 2008, spending key role to play in each year’s whitewater season. five years at Watts Bar, before coming to the Ocoee In November, part of the 100-year-old wooden River basin. flume, which runs alongside the Ocoee, collapsed. What he learned at UTC comes up frequently in That flume diverted excess water away from the river his job, especially concepts about electricity, water flow and sent it downstream to other powerhouses. Until and other engineering subjects. In his daily work, he the flume was repaired, all excess water flowed straight sees those concepts in real-world applications.

32 | alumni and partnerships 2017-2018 year in review | 33 Students and Faculty Tour VW Robotics Lab Number of Faculty and Staff 2017-2018 Student to Faculty Ratio by the numbers Faculty 54 Volkswagen Group of America they consider internship and post- Staff 22 26:1 has been part of American graduation employment options. culture since the first Beetle The College also has partnerships 2015-2017 Publication Outputs rolled off an assembly line more with area suppliers to VW, including 74 118 97 than six decades ago. With the Gestamp and Yangfeng. 2016 2017 2018 Degrees Awarded 2018 Grad to Undergrad Fall 2017 2008 announcement of the Two CECS student groups Chattanooga manufacturing plant have visited the VW facility to Bachelors 246 and production of vehicles in 2011, take the 90-minute tour of the Masters 54 VW has opened its doors to UTC $32,000,000robotics labs and line-production $5,000,000 $32,000,000 $5,000,000 Total Award Dollars Received 1,800 Total Enrollment engineering and computer science areas. Organized by Aldo McLean, Doctoral 4 $27,000,000 Yearly Average: 1,800 $27,000,000 $4,000,000 students and faculty. As the world’s assistant professor of engineering $4,000,000 1,700 $2,303,250 first and only Platinum LEED- technology management, and junior $22,000,000 $22,000,000 1,700 Undergrad 89% Grad 11%$3,000,000 Certified auto manufacturing facility chemical engineering major Reed $3,000,000 1,600 $17,000,000 and the employer of a workforce of $17,000,000Boeger, the CECS students touring 1,600 1,500 $2,000,000 3,000, the Chattanooga plant is of the plant learned about innovations $2,000,000 $12,000,000 particular interest to engineering $12,000,000in the manufacturing of the VW 1,500 1,400 Male to Female Fall 2017 Student Diversity Fall 2017 College Hosts Teacher Externship Days for Future $1,000,000 and computer science students as Atlas SUV and Passat sedan. $1,000,000 $7,000,000 $7,000,000 1,300 White 71% Ready Institutes of Hamilton County 1,400 (non-Hispanic) 0 0 $2,000,000 It’s the age-old question asked by students, “Will I really use this in my future?” $2,000,000 1,300 1,200 2014 2015 2016 Black, Asian, 2017 29% 2018 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Future Ready Institutes aims to answer this question by giving teachers working 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 American Indian, Dedication of New Labs Hispanic knowledge of the skills needed for career success, so they can develop a curriculum to 1,200 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 better prepare students. The College of Engineering and Computer Male 86% Female 14% The College of Engineering and Computer Science hosted a two-day externship Science dedicated two laboratories to chemical for educators of the Institute of Computer Sciences and Engineering at Red Bank High engineering faculty, who were instrumental degrees offered School. The externship featured hands-on exercises led by faculty and site visits to in expanding research components of the Komatsu and UTC’s SimCenter. program. At ribbon-cutting ceremonies in Julie David, director of student success, kicked off the event with an overview of fall 2017, the former lab 120 became the Jim ENGINEERING COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT AND POST-BACCALAUREATE the college and programs offered for students. Henry Chemical Engineering and Control Bachelor of Science ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS “The teachers and principal who attended the externship had extremely positive • Chemical Engineering (B.S.Ch.E.) Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Science Post-Baccalaureate Certificates System Laboratory, named in honor of • Chemical Engineering: Environmental (B.S.Ch.E.) • Computer Science (B.S.), with • Engineering Technology Management • Computer Science: feedback after day one,” David said. “We discussed the opportunity to bring high school Professor Emeritus Jim Henry. The former students on campus next month for a similar ‘open house’ style visit.” • Civil Engineering (B.S.C.E.) concentrations in (B.S.), with concentrations in Biomedical Informatics lab 119 became the Francis “Frank” J. Jones - Computer Engineering - Construction Management “We are proud to partner with Future Ready Institutes of Hamilton County to • Civil Engineering: Environmental (B.S.C.E.) • Engineering: Chemical Engineering Laboratory, named in memory of the late UC Foundation • Electrical Engineering (B.S.E.E.) - Cyber Security - Engineering Management support the Computer Science and Engineering Institute at Red Bank High School,” Power System Protection Professor Frank Jones. • Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.) - Data Science • Mechatronics Engineering (B.A.S.) Smart Grid said Dean Daniel Pack. “It is a unique opportunity for high school students and we look - Software Systems forward to supporting the program for years to come.” Minor Smart Power Distribution Among speakers at the Jones Master of Science (M.S.) - STEM Education • Construction Management Sustainable Electric Energy Laboratory dedication were two of Jones’ • Engineering: Automotive Systems • Computer Engineering (B.S.) • Engineering Management brothers, Brian and Russ Jones, and • Engineering: Chemical • Engineering Management: Master of Science (M.S.) Construction Management UTC alumna Stephanie Fraley, who was • Engineering: Civil Minor DENSO donated $50,000 • Engineering: Electrical • Computer Science • Engineering Management with Fundamentals of Engineering Management to fund the UTC Society of mentored by Jones. In 2006, Fraley received concentrations in Leadership and Ethics • Engineering: Mechanical Undergraduate Certificates Automotive Engineers Baja a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. - Construction Management Logistics and Supply Chain Management She has since earned a doctoral degree in • Advanced Information Systems Security - Engineering Management Power Systems Management Capstone Design project. Ph.D. Programs • Information Systems Security chemical engineering and biomolecular • Computational Science with concentrations in Project and Technology Management engineering at Johns Hopkins University in - Computational and Applied Mathematics Master of Science (M.S.) Quality Management Baltimore, Maryland. - Computational Engineering • Computer Science with concentrations in - Computer Science - Computer Science - Data Science 34 | alumni and partnerships - Information Security and Assurance 2017-2018 year in review | 35 utc.edu/cecs

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