University of Michigan Mechanical Engineering: 1994-1995 Annual Report

New Faculty
A Focus on Present Need, Future Growth
Energetic and enterprising, new faculty bring new ideas, new skills to MEAM

The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics has undergone enormous change over the last several years. Nowhere is this more evident than in the area of faculty development. Historically, the department has averaged about 55 faculty; but by 1989, retirement, professional advancement, and other factors had reduced this number to 41. Recognizing the need to infuse new blood and new disciplines into its faculty mix, the department began a wide-ranging talent search. The results have been nothing short of remarkable.

Since 1990, the Department has added 20 new faculty members„18 within the last three years alone. With the beginning of the 1995Ü1996 academic year, the number of MEAM faculty is once again at its historical level of full complement.
Through a fortuitous convergence of diligence, aggressive recruiting, and plain good luck, the department has been able to re-staff itself with an outstanding assemblage of world-class educator/researchers who have a wide spectrum of experiences and fast-growing research programs. As is evident from the profiles on the following pages, they come from a variety of backgrounds, representing cross-over academic disciplines as divergent as astrophysics, chemical engineering, computer science, materials design and engineering, naval architecture, electrical engineering, precision manufacturing, process control„and virtually every traditional mechanical engineering discipline as well.
Similarly, their research investigations encompass microelectrical mechanical systems, metallurgy, computer software design, automotive design and engineering, machining processes, biomedical engineering and many others. Yet, as diverse as our new faculty are, it can be said that they share several critical traits, among them: a history of exemplary personal achievement; a proven aptitude for innovation, creative thinking and risk-taking; a knack for transforming leading-edge research into commercial applications; and the capacity to either lead or collaborate on research teams, including projects outside their own disciplines. They are an excellent complement to our existing strengths in core MEAM curricula.

Equally important, they bring to the Department a demonstrated commitment to teaching„the type of commitment that generates a lifelong passion for learning and intellectual achievement. These are precisely the qualities we want to nurture in every MEAM student because they are necessary for leadership in the worlds of higher education, research and industry.
In keeping with one of the DepartmentÍs expressed strategic goals, namely to be recognized as the undisputed leader in automotive and manufacturing engineering across all engineering disciplines, nearly one-fourth of our new faculty were recruited specifically for their strengths in the fields of automotive dynamics and control systems, design, manufacturing processes, machining systems and thermal fluid applications related to materials processing. But in fact, every one of our new faculty is involved in landmark research, and has amassed advanced academic training in areas that can be tapped to strengthen our already strong presence in the automotive and manufacturing sector.
The synergy and cross-fertilization of ideas generated by such a unique collection of intelligent, multitalented individuals will keep MEAM at the forefront of engineering education, and greatly enhance the DepartmentÍs value as a leading research and applications resource in all areas of scientific endeavor including, but certainly not limited to, the automotive and related manufacturing industries.
The fact that MEAM has been able to attract such extraordinary talent is a tribute to the tenacity and vision of our veteran faculty members who carried out the search process. It is also a credit to the DepartmentÍs reputation as a magnet organization where excellence is recognized, where initiative is given free rein, and where opportunities for personal and professional growth are almost unlimited



Since 1990, the Department has added 20 new faculty members„18 within the last three years alone. With the beginning of the 1995Ü1996 academic year, the number of MEAM faculty is once again at its historical level of full complement. Through a fortuitous convergence of diligence, aggressive recruiting, and plain good luck, the department has been able to re-staff itself with an outstanding assemblage of world-class educator/researchers who have a wide spectrum of experiences and fast-growing research programs. As is evident from the profiles on the following pages, they come from a variety of backgrounds, representing cross-over academic disciplines as divergent as astrophysics, chemical engineering, computer science, materials design and engineering, naval architecture, electrical engineering, precision manufacturing, process control„and virtually every traditional mechanical engineering discipline as well. Similarly, their research investigations encompass microelectrical mechanical systems, metallurgy, computer software design, automotive design and engineering, machining processes, biomedical engineering and many others. Yet, as diverse as our new faculty are, it can be said that they share several critical traits, among them: a history of exemplary personal achievement; a proven aptitude for innovation, creative thinking and risk-taking; a knack for transforming leading-edge research into commercial applications; and the capacity to either lead or collaborate on research teams, including projects outside their own disciplines. They are an excellent complement to our existing strengths in core MEAM curricula.
Equally important, they bring to the Department a demonstrated commitment to teaching„the type of commitment that generates a lifelong passion for learning and intellectual achievement. These are precisely the qualities we want to nurture in every MEAM student because they are necessary for leadership in the worlds of higher education, research and industry. In keeping with one of the DepartmentÍs expressed strategic goals, namely to be recognized as the undisputed leader in automotive and manufacturing engineering across all engineering disciplines, nearly one-fourth of our new faculty were recruited specifically for their strengths in the fields of automotive dynamics and control systems, design, manufacturing processes, machining systems and thermal fluid applications related to materials processing. But in fact, every one of our new faculty is involved in landmark research, and has amassed advanced academic training in areas that can be tapped to strengthen our already strong presence in the automotive and manufacturing sector. The synergy and cross-fertilization of ideas generated by such a unique collection of intelligent, multitalented individuals will keep MEAM at the forefront of engineering education, and greatly enhance the DepartmentÍs value as a leading research and applications resource in all areas of scientific endeavor including, but certainly not limited to, the automotive and related manufacturing industries. The fact that MEAM has been able to attract such extraordinary talent is a tribute to the tenacity and vision of our veteran faculty members who carried out the search process. It is also a credit to the DepartmentÍs reputation as a magnet organization where excellence is recognized, where initiative is given free rein, and where opportunities for personal and professional growth are almost unlimited