James Allison received a BS in mechanical engineering (2003) from the University of Utah and an AAS in automotive technology (1998) from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Among the other honors he has received, Allison graduated first in the department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah. He is also a member of Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, the National Dean's List, and he has been elected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
His area of concentration is in design optimization. He is currently looking at the optimization of large systems that require decomposition in either a hierarchical or non-hierarchical manner, and at the effect uncertainty has in the optimization of these systems, with a focus on the relationship of these areas to the automotive sector. His advisor is Donald C. Graham Professor of Engineering Panos Y. Papalambros.
"I've always been interested in design," said Allison. "The ability to design some product, mechanical things in particular, the use of engineering tools to predict how it would perform a priori, and then the extension of these tools to develop even better designs, is what first drew me to engineering years ago. I'm especially interested in how mathematical optimization methods can be incorporated into the design process, enabling manufacturers to design the best product to meet their objectives. I'm also interested in how this incorporation can increase the positive impact that well-designed products can have on our society in terms of improved quality of life, improved efficiency in our economy, and reduced energy consumption or impact on the environment.
"I had an opportunity to work with Professor Papalambros in the Optimal Design
Laboratory. This lab is researching exactly what I'm interested in, and after surveying many mechanical engineering programs, the University of Michigan had the strongest design optimization program. I had opportunity to attend MIT or Stanford, but Michigan was simply a better place to research design optimization," said Allison.
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