Release by the American Society of Civil Engineers

Reston, Va. – Jayvon Garth, a fifth-year civil engineering student at Wayne State University (WSU) in Detroit, Mich., was recently named one of 10 New Faces of Civil Engineering – College Edition by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). This recognition program promotes the achievement of young civil engineers by highlighting their academic success, volunteerism, and dedication to making a positive impact on society through their chosen profession.

An eighth grade project, where he had to research degrees that were applicable to his dream job of designing roller coasters, introduced Garth to civil engineering. Enrolling in courses at a community college and career center in Saginaw. Mich., his hometown, during high school and seeing the different fields of civil engineering confirmed his interest in pursuing a career in civil engineering.

Garth’s academic success and interest in science were displayed during high school when he and a group of students finished second place in the NOBCChE (National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists & Chemical Engineers) National Science Bowl. 

At Wayne he serves as vice president of the ASCE student chapter. His professional involvement also includes the American Institute of Steel Construction and the Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society. Garth was also a member of the university’s steel bridge and concrete canoe team prior to 2012.  Since 2012 he has interned with the city of Birmingham, Mich. in its civil engineering department.

“This has been one of the best learning experiences for my career and personal life,” said Garth of the opportunity. “To work alongside my bosses demonstrated to me the level of commitment, integrity, and honor they have for the profession and I am proud to be a part of it.”

Garth is also an active volunteer in Habitat for Humanity, the YES Expo, which engages youth in engineering and science, and assisted with Hurricane Gustav relief efforts in Jackson, Miss. and New Orleans, La. in 2008.

Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 145,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America’s oldest national engineering society. ASCE’s 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, graded America’s cumulative GPA for infrastructure at a D+. The Report Card app for Apple and Android devices includes videos, interactive maps and info-graphics that tell the story behind the grades, as well as key facts for all 50 states. For more information, visit www.asce.org.

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Becky Moylan
Media Relations Specialist
American Society of Civil Engineers
Office: (703)295-6472
Cell: (571)266-9364

DETROIT (Jan. 15, 2014) – Twelve Wayne State University College of Engineering students will participate in Yazaki's North American International Auto Show Program on Industry Days this week.

According to Yazaki, the student liaisons "will spend their day paired with Yazaki engineers to learn hands-on about the industry’s newest vehicles while researching and analyzing future automotive technologies. Together, the teams will work to analyze vehicles and gather information on technology developments, technology trends, and market trends that they come across on the NAIAS showroom including high voltage products, wireless technologies, electronics, instrumentation, monitoring and security technologies, and other emerging automotive trends."

The Wayne State student liaisons – many who have served as interns or co-op students at Yazaki – are:

• Brad Griffith, mechanical engineering
• William Grimshaw, mechanical engineering
• Ron Williford, industrial engineering
• Brittney Brown, chemical engineering
• Iziel Drew, mechanical engineering
• Nathan Tomlinson, mechanical engineering
• Justin Bekker, mechanical engineering
• Alanna Tremble, industrial engineering
• Richard Winfrey, mechanical engineering
• Whitney McClinton, mechanical engineering
• Cristian Nedelcu, electrial and computer engineering

More information is available on Yazaki's website.

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Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students. For more information about engineering at Wayne State University, visit engineering.wayne.edu.

DETROIT (Jan. 16, 2014) – Mengjia Cao, who recently graduated with a master’s in electric-drive vehicle engineering (EVE) from Wayne State University, believes that electrical vehicles are the future of the automotive industry and is doing her part to make this future a reality.

	Cao was highlighted in a recent College of Engineering video. Click on the above image to view the video.

“I have always believed electric/hybrid cars will be the future of transportation,” says Cao. “I am very happy to contribute to this emerging revolution.”

Cao grew up in Chongqing, China and received a bachelor’s in engineering at the Nanjing University of Science and Technology before coming to Wayne State to study electrical-drive vehicle engineering.

“I wrote to Jerry Ku, an associate professor and program director for the electric-drive vehicle engineering program, regarding the curriculum and admission. He greatly encouraged me to apply because the program fit my background and goals,” says Cao. “Not only does Wayne State offer the one-of-a-kind electric-drive vehicle engineering program, but it also participates in the EcoCAR 2 competition.”

Cao joined the EcoCAR 2 team as a technical graduate research assistant, a role in which she was able to apply her specialty in thermal modeling and simulation for hybrid vehicle powertrain. Cao says her involvement in EcoCAR 2 has provided her with valuable modeling and simulation skills on programs such as Matlab/Simulink and CAN.

With the experience and knowledge Cao gained from EcoCAR 2 and the EVE program, she was easily able to find employment; she is already working full time at Chrysler in Auburn Hills as a contract hybrid system engineer.

“Wayne State’s location in Detroit means easier access to internship and job opportunities in the automotive industry. That was another reason I chose Wayne State,” says Cao.

Cao plans to stay in Michigan for now, noting that she is inspired by the spirit of Detroiters and by the automotive opportunities available in the area.

“My goal is to put more hybrid electric and electric vehicles on the road,” says Cao. “My work in hybrid electric vehicle product development allows me to do just that, thanks to my engineering education and experience in EcoCAR 2.”

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Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students. For more information about engineering at Wayne State University, visit engineering.wayne.edu.

DETROIT (Jan. 17, 2014) – Members of Warrior Racing, the Wayne State University Formula SAE (FSAE) team, will have a booth at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) at COBO Center in Detroit. We asked some of the team members for their thoughts on the show and the future of the auto industry.

Adam Niner, mechanical engineering senior What are you most looking forward to seeing at NAIAS this year? I'm looking forward to the new concept cars and Tesla's new models. What excites you most about the future of the automotive industry? Better fuel economy in high-performance vehicles. How did you become interested in automotive engineering or FSAE? I became interested while working with my older cousin on a Formula Baja SAE project. What do you hope to do with your engineering degree from Wayne State? I hope to be able to choose from a wide range of job opportunities with my degree from WSU.
Chris Abbod, electrical engineering junior What are you most looking forward to seeing at NAIAS this year? I am always interested in the new concept cars that come out. I like to see what direction the designers and engineers are taking things. What excites you most about the future of the automotive industry? I am really interested in seeing the advances being made in autonomous vehicles. It seems that the next big push is going in that direction and I would like to be involved. How did you become interested in automotive engineering or FSAE? I had a friend who was part of FSAE, and I decided to join when he told me of all the amazing work that the team does. Employers love the hands-on experience. What do you hope to do with your engineering degree from Wayne State? I hope to get a job that will allow me to be creative and learn as much as I can about electrical and computer engineering. Helping to make progress with autonomous vehicles would be an amazing career opportunity.
Jeff Meng, mechanical engineering graduate student What are you most looking forward to seeing at NAIAS this year? Brand new Chevy heavy duties. I also like being surprised by other new makes and models. What excites you most about the future of the automotive industry? I love reading about electric vehicles and technology, such as drive by wire, brake by wire and steer by wire. How did you become interested in automotive engineering or FSAE? I have always loved cars. Joining Formula was something I wanted to do and I’m glad Wayne had a team to join. What do you hope to do with your engineering degree from Wayne State? I hope to get an engineering job that I love and I can support my future family with.
Kristina Vujic, economics doctoral student What are you most looking forward to seeing at NAIAS this year? I am looking forward to seeing the cars, of course, but I also look forward to seeing the displays of the other Formula teams that will be there. What excites you most about the future of the automotive industry? Advancements in electric vehicles, more fuel efficient cars, and "cleaner" cars. How did you become interested in automotive engineering or FSAE? I joined FSAE as a math/economics undergrad who wanted to do something fun in my free time. When I continued my graduate work, I decided to stay on the team and was elected president. I've always had an interest in cars, and FSAE has fueled my interest into a passion. What do you hope to do with your degree from Wayne State? I am not currently pursuing an engineering degree, but I wish I had for my undergrad degree. As an economics Ph.D. student, I hope I can do research in the field of health economics for either a government agency or in the private sector.
Mohammed Kakli, mechanical engineering senior What are you most looking forward to seeing at NAIAS this year? There are a few concept cars, as well as cars nearing production that will be unveiled at this year’s auto show, such as the new Impreza WRX STI, the next Lexus “F” car, Acura TLX (which will be replacing the current car I am driving), and many others.    What excites you most about the future of the automotive industry? There is a trend that most cars are becoming electric driven. Although that is fun and exciting, I think the best part about the future of the automotive industry is that companies are incorporating different materials and creating different combinations of materials to make lighter, stronger cars. How did you become interested in automotive engineering or FSAE? I have jumped around a few universities before coming back to Wayne State. I became aware of FSAE during my time at Trine University, and when I came back to Michigan it was one of the first things on my list. I have been involved with repairing automobiles and motorcycles since I was 8 years old, and the passion has grown ever since. A racecar powered by a motorcycle that a group young engineers have endless creativity to make — that sounds like home to me. What do you hope to do with your engineering degree from Wayne State? I plan on going into the automotive industry and calibrating engines, which is exactly what FSAE has allowed me to do. I get to work with powerful engine management systems and use the knowledge gained from several of my engineering classes to try and get the most out of an engine.
Richard Collier Le Page, mechanical engineering senior What are you most looking forward to seeing at NAIAS this year? Mostly the new vehicles from the automakers for 2015z. What excites you most about the future of the automotive industry? The new technology being used in these vehicles. How did you become interested in automotive engineering or FSAE? I have been a car guy since I was young, so it was natural for me. What do you hope to do with your engineering degree from Wayne State? Work for one of the Big Three most likely.
Ryan Scott, biomedical engineering senior What are you most looking forward to seeing at the NAIAS this year? The new concept cars and the new types of navigational systems, displays, and vehicle features.   What excites you most about the future of the automotive industry? New advancements in electric-drive vehicles and more powerful cars. How did you become interested in automotive engineering or FSAE? I joined FSAE because I saw it as a great opportunity to design, manufacture, test and get feedback on a part. Working on a team to get a real project done gives you a sort of real-world experience without leaving the school. What do you hope to do with your engineering degree from Wayne State? I hope to continue on for graduate studies in electrical engineering. I am unsure of what industry I want to work in; however, I know that I want to learn more.
# # # Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students. For more information about engineering at Wayne State University, visit engineering.wayne.edu.

DETROIT (Jan. 22, 2014) –  Faculty, staff and students from the Wayne State University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) shared their transportation expertise at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting, held Jan. 12 to 16 in Washington, D.C. Wayne State’s CEE department, led by chair and professor Joseph Hummer, sent four full-time faculty members, one professor emeritus and 12 student/staff members — most of whom spoke on panels or in presentations.

	More images on Flickr

TRB provides leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange. At the meeting, transportation professionals from around the world shared presentations and peer-reviewed technical papers and identified research needs.

In addition to Hummer, Professor Tapan Datta, Associate Professor Timothy Gates, Associate Professor Peter Savolainen and Professor Emeritus Snehemay Khasnabis were also in attendance. Assistant Professor Shawn McElmurry co-authored a paper presented at the meeting, but was not in attendance.

“The strong presence of Wayne State at the TRB Annual Meeting shows that the university’s investment in transportation engineering is paying off,” Hummer says. “The program at Wayne State emphasizes traffic safety, and this fits very well with the theme of TRB. At the meeting, it seemed like every session on safety had a Wayne State presenter. Also, with 13 presentations himself, Dr. Peter Savolainen must have been one of the busiest researchers at the meeting. We have a very productive transportation engineering research group at Wayne State, and that was evident at this year’s TRB meeting.”

According to the TRB website, the meeting attracted more than 12,000 transportation professionals from around the world. It featured nearly 800 sessions and workshops, with more than 30 of those addressing the spotlight theme for 2014: “Celebrating Our Legacy, Anticipating Our Future.”

Experts from Wayne State’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering were featured in the following panels and presentations:

• “City of Detroit Signal Removal Program,” by Michael Schrader, Wayne State University
• “Pedestrian Enforcement Programs on an Urban Commuter Campus,” by Peter Savolainen, Wayne State University
• “Multientity Perspective on Transportation Infrastructure Investment Decision Making,” by Sabyasachee Mishra, University of Memphis; Snehamay Khasnabis, Wayne State University; and Subrat Kumar Swain, Arizona State University
• “An Empirical Analysis of Critical Headway for Drivers Turning Right-On-Red at Signalized Intersections,” by Brendan James Russo and Peter Savolainen, Wayne State University
• “Predicting Driver Action at Signalized Intersections Using Nested Logit Models,” by Timothy Gates, Peter Savolainen, and Honey-Um Maria, Wayne State University
• “Impacts of Automated Red-Light-Running Enforcement Cameras on Driver Behavior,” by Timothy Gates, Peter Savolainen, and Honey-Um Maria, Wayne State University
• “Spatial Analysis of Child Pedestrian and Bicycle Crashes: Development of a Safety Performance Function for Areas Adjacent to K-8 Schools,” by Adam McArthur, Peter Savolainen, and Timothy Gates, Wayne State University
• “A Disaggregate-Level Assessment of Changes to Michigan’s Motorcycle Helmet Use Law on Motorcyclist Injury Outcomes,” by Timothy Barrette, Trevor Kirsch, Peter Savolainen, Brendan Russo, and Timothy Gates, Wayne State University
• “Empirical Models of Demand Levels and Turn-in Rates at Roadside Rest Areas,” by Jonathan Kay, Timothy Gates, Peter Savolainen, Adam McArthur, and Brendan Russo, Wayne State University
• “Examination of Factors Associated with Child Restraint Device Use: Application of Random Effects Model Considering Driver, Vehicle, and Site Characteristics,” by Elizabeth Hacker, Peter Savolainen, and Timothy Gates, Wayne State University
• “Examination of Factors Associated with Safety Belt and Cell Phone Use by Drivers Using a Bivariate Probit Model,” by Brendan Russo, Jonathan Kay, Peter Savolainen, and Timothy Gates, Wayne State University
• “Evidence of Mixed Safety Performance Among Roundabouts Converted from Signalized Intersections,” by Brendan Russo, Amelia Davis, Sterling Frazier, Peter Savolainen, and Timothy Gates, Wayne State University
• “Comparison of Safety Performance of Single- and Multilane Roundabouts,” by Ahmad Fawaz, Peter Savolainen, and Timothy Gates, Wayne State University
• “Potential for Metering to Help Roundabouts Manage Peak-Period Demands in the United States,” by Joseph Hummer, Wayne State University; Joseph S. Milazzo, Regional Transportation Alliance; Bastian Schroeder, and Katayon Salamati, North Carolina State University
• “Comparison of Factors Affecting Injury Severity in Angle Collisions by Fault Status Using Bivariate Ordered Probit Model,” by Brendan Russo, Peter Savolainen, Wayne State University; and William Schneider, University of Akron
• “Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodation on Superstreets,” by Joseph Hummer, Wayne State University; Anne Holzem, Nagui Rouphail, Christopher Cunningham, Sarah Worth O'Brien, Bastian Schroeder, Katy Salamati, and Robert Foyle, North Carolina State University
• “Calibration and Field Validation of Four Double-Crossover Diamond Interchanges in VISSIM Microsimulation,” by Bastian Schroeder and Katayon Salamati, North Carolina State University; Joseph Hummer, Wayne State University
• “A Framework for Suitability Assessment of Non-Traditional Development within the Roadside Right-of-Way,” by Timothy Gates, Peter Savolainen, Adam McArthur, Patrick Andridge, Trevor Kirsch, and Shawn McElmurry, Wayne State University
• “Lane Utilization at Two-Lane Arterial Approaches to Double Crossover Diamond Interchanges,” by Joseph Hummer, Wayne State University; Chunho Yeom, Bastian Schroeder, Christopher Cunningham, Chris Vaughan, and Nagui Rouphail, North Carolina State University

For more information on Wayne State’s CEE department, visit engineering.wayne.edu/cee/. A full TRB Annual Meeting program can be found at http://pressamp.trb.org/aminteractiveprogram/Program.aspx.

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Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students. For more information about engineering at Wayne State University, visit engineering.wayne.edu.

DETROIT (Jan. 29, 2014) – Big data is the key enabler for the next wave of innovation and growth across all sectors, and Wayne State University’s Big Data and Business Analytics Group is ready to help business and information technology executives, decision makers and marketing professionals learn how to use big data to take action, seize new growth opportunities and make their organizations more efficient.

The group—made up of renowned experts dedicated to solving real-life business problems in collaboration with regional industry—will host its Big Data and Business Analytics Symposium: From Analytics to Action on Wednesday, March 26 at Wayne State’s McGregor Memorial Conference Center.

The symposium will focus on pragmatic issues faced while deploying big data strategies to drive business success. It will have a special focus on managing and analyzing the data captured through product development, manufacturing, distribution, marketing, sales and service in a global setting.

“Early adopters have demonstrated the transformative potential of big data, but extracting value from big data is no ordinary task,” says Satyendra Rana, visiting professor and one of the founding directors of Big Data & Business Analytics Group at Wayne State. “Companies have to overcome entrenched cultural barriers and must foster close collaboration among an interdisciplinary team of experts.”

“Big data management and analytics require a slew of advanced concepts, tools and technologies, and the required skills are hard to come by,” says Ratna Babu Chinnam, Wayne State industrial and systems engineering professor and also a founding director of the Big Data & Business Analytics Group. 

According to Chinnam, symposium attendees will learn how to identify big data opportunities, develop business cases and use analytics to drive business success. The symposium also seeks to provide a clear distinction between legacy analytics pervasive in industry and the emerging next generation tools, technologies and processes that will form the foundation for a new wave of innovation and growth.

In addition to Wayne State experts, the symposium will feature keynotes speeches, panel discussions and case studies featuring a number of leading industry experts who have successfully put analytics into action at their respective companies. Confirmed speakers and panelists include:

• Jim Anderson, president and CEO, Urban Science
• Steven Ambrose, vice president and CIO, DTE Energy
• Devavrat Bapat, director of supply chain reliability, Johnson & Johnson 
• Rob Bigini, vice president of operations, Comrise
• Grace Bochenek, chief technology officer, U.S. Army Materiel Command
• Michael Caverreta, technical leader of predictive analytics/data science, Ford Motor Company
• Kevin Cooper, manager of risk analytics, Ford Motor Credit Company
• Bryan Goodman, technical leader of data science and optimization, Ford Motor Company
• Rohit Jain, database chief and distinguished technologist, HP
• Jack Jordan, director of quality initiatives and advanced analytics, Henry Ford Health System
• Arijit Sengupta, CEO, BeyondCore
• Radhika Subramanian, CEO, Emcien
• Kevin VanHowe, director of global financials and EDW, General Motors
• Joseph Vermette, director of enterprise data management, General Motors
• Flavio Vilanustre, vice president of technology architecture and product, LexusNexis
• Heather Woodward-Hagg, director of the Center for Applied Systems Engineering, Veterans Administration

The symposium is open to all business and information technology executives, decision makers, marketing professionals and others interested in learning how to put analytics into action. To register, visit http://specialevents.wayne.edu/2014bigdata/.

More information about the speakers, program, sponsors, lodging and more is available at http://engineering.wayne.edu/big-data-analytics/symposium/index.php.

The Big Data and Business Analytics Group includes more than 30 faculty members and 50+ research students from various university departments who collaborate on big data and business analytics projects. The team is structured by six focus areas that cover the entire big data and analytics life cycle from acquiring big data to extracting business value from it: big data value management, methods and techniques, integration and management, automotive and defense analytics, healthcare analytics, and service analytics. To express interest in collaborating with Wayne State’s Big Data and Business Analytics Group, contact Ratna Chinnam at ratna.chinnam@wayne.edu or 313-577-4846 or any one of the directors of the Big Data & Business Analytics Group.

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Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students. For more information about engineering at Wayne State University, visit engineering.wayne.edu.

Wayne State University’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Ford Motor Company’s Women In Manufacturing (WIM) groups joined together for Wayne State University College of Engineering’s first Speed Mentoring Event on Thursday, Jan. 23.

Eighteen professionals from various organizations who hold careers in engineering in the Detroit area mentored almost 40 Wayne State University students ranging from freshman to Ph.D. level. Nine out of the 18 mentors were from Ford Motor Company. To everyone’s delight, men also attended the event.

The event had a full agenda starting with a tour in the engineering building of the facility’s lab and ending with an intimate Q&A session between the mentors and students.

The speed mentoring sessions were the highlight of the evening. During the sessions, students and mentors had just three minutes to learn as much about each other as possible. Event coordinators Rachel Kast, SWE faculty advisor, and Carmen Gamlin, engineering career services consultant, used this unique forum to help connect students to industry experts who gave insight on internship and career choices, and enabled them to start building their professional networks.

Kast and Gamlin were not intimidated by the overwhelming numbers in attendance. They kept the event fun and entertaining for all by flashing the lights in the room and ringing a bell when the three minutes were up during the speed mentoring rounds.

“This event was wonderful. Engineering students ranging from freshman through Ph.D. met with our guests to learn about their engineering careers and opportunities in the field,” said Gamlin. Kast added, “We are already planning for next year’s speed mentoring event as this was such a success.”

The mentors also had their own perspectives on the event. Dee Skinner, launch and quality manager at the Sterling Axle Plant said, “It was a great opportunity to meet young adults and share my experiences with them. Although it was sponsored by SWE, we were delighted that several men attended as well. This type of event is a great opportunity for everyone.”

Ford was also represented by Michelle Zhang, lead business analyst, who added, “It is great to see such a good turnout from both the volunteer mentors and the engineering students. I am glad I could be there to represent Ford to share my perspective on IT and learnings from my work and life experiences.”

Nimisha Shah, IT representative, simply stated, “The best help we can offer the youth of today is to prepare them for tomorrow.” This sentiment was certainly embraced by both Ford and Wayne State through this wonderful networking event.

Article by Ford Communications Coach Suzanne Cutway, posted originally on Ford website

DETROIT (Feb. 6, 2014) – Talk with a transportation engineer and they’ll likely tell you the exact road, highway or interchange that inspired them down their career path. For Patrick Andridge, a master’s student in Wayne State University’s College of Engineering, it’s the I75/696 interchange in Royal Oak.

	Andridge with Gamlin

“I remember being absolutely fascinated by the interchange when I was a kid. I thought it was the coolest thing, with the way it deals with different conflicts of traffic flow,” says the Lake Orion native.

It’s no wonder then that, after earning a bachelor’s in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Detroit Mercy, Andridge applied to Wayne State’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2012 to earn a graduate degree in transportation engineering. “I wanted something that was transportation-focused to increase my chances of getting a great job,” he says.

It didn’t hurt that Wayne State also happened to be in Detroit. “I’ve always loved this city and appreciate that it has allowed me to experience diverse cultures and institutions. It’s also close to home, which was another big draw.”

While a student, Andridge worked as a graduate research assistant with the university’s Transportation Research Group (TRG) on a wide variety of projects.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work on a wide range of studies with faculty members who are renowned in the transportation field. I’ve gained invaluable knowledge on roadside corridors, green spaces, work zone mobility, the impact of work zones on commuter delay, differential speed limits and so much more. I really believe my courses and my experience working with the TRG have prepared me greatly for my career,” he says.

And he’s not the only one who thinks he’s prepared to hit-the-ground-running.

Opus International Consultants, an international infrastructure consulting group with a transportation office in Novi, Mich., contacted Andridge about a full-time position as a transportation engineer shortly after he — with the help of Wayne State Career Consultant Carmen Gamlin — updated his LinkedIn profile online.

“Patrick has prepared himself to be a great engineer through his academic preparation and research,” Gamlin says. “Helping him document his preparation quickly resulted in an interview. That is exactly what is supposed to happen to WSU College of Engineering talent who market themselves.”

Andridge, who will graduate with his master’s in May 2014, will work on a wide range of tasks in his new position, from road safety audits to transportation asset management and more. “My time at Wayne State has definitely helped me get the job I desired and really start my career. I’m very grateful and look forward to joining the Opus team.”

Who knows, perhaps his work will one day inspire future generations to go into transportation engineering, too.

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Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students. For more information about engineering at Wayne State University, visit engineering.wayne.edu.

DETROIT (Feb. 11, 2014) – Jeffrey Meng, a Wayne State University College of Engineering mechanical engineering master’s student, has his sights set on a career in the automotive industry. He hopes to become a well-equipped engineer who both works with his hands and takes part in the design process.

	Jeffrey Meng

“My dream job would be testing cars to make sure they withstand everything they are meant to,” Meng says. “I would like to evaluate the data and make acquisitions on how to solve problems.”

Thanks to his hard work, involvement in co-curricular activities and a visit to the college’s annual career fair, the Brighton, Mich. native is well on his way to making his dream a reality.

As a result of the fall 2013 career fair, Meng yielded five interviews and two job offers. He accepted a co-op position with Denso, a leading supplier of advanced automotive technology, systems and components for major automakers.

“I will be working with the powertrain engineering team,” Meng said. “I’m thrilled for the opportunity and look forward to contributing to the team.”

According to Marcis Jansons, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and co-faculty advisor for Wayne State’s Formula SAE (FSAE) team, Meng’s FSAE experience and fresh perspective will benefit Denso. 

“Jeff is a model student and a fine representative of current COE graduates,” says Jansons. “Not only has he been taught the theoretical fundamentals found in a classic engineering curriculum, but he has also benefited from intensive experience in co-curricular activities, where he has acquired the important soft skills required for success in today's interconnected global marketplace. Add hands-on skills in fabrication and competence in software design tools to that, and you have an individual of tremendous value to an employer.”

Seconds Meng, “FSAE has taught me many things. From using CAD to designing parts to effectively and efficiently managing a team, I feel much more equipped to positively contribute to my employer’s bottom line. My involvement with FSAE also has provided me with additional motivation in my classes and great friendships that will no doubt last well beyond graduation.”

Meng, who says he’s eager to work and attend school simultaneously, earned his bachelor’s in applied mathematics from Eastern Michigan University. He anticipates graduating from Wayne State with his master’s in 2016.

The Wayne State College of Engineering established its Five Pillars of Student Success to ensure its students gain experience, knowledge and background needed to excel upon graduation. The college is committed to providing students with opportunities for experiential learning through co-ops and internships, hands-on learning, scholarships, and undergraduate research, as well as with opportunities to gain the global perspective that employers love.

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Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students. For more information about engineering at Wayne State University, visit engineering.wayne.edu.

DETROIT (Feb. 14, 2014) – The Wayne State University College of Engineering will celebrate National Engineers Week, occurring Feb. 16-22, 2014, with a number of student-led events and activities.

	A look back at National Engineers Week 2013
	Click here for more photos from  National Engineers Week 2013

“Engineers Week is celebrated nationally and recognizes the important work of engineers,” says Maria Guido, mechanical engineering student and president of the college’s Engineering Student Faculty Board. “We’re excited to have a week full of activities planned and hope that all students, faculty, alumni and friends join us.”

National Engineers Week calls attention to the contributions engineers make to society. It also highlights the importance of promoting STEM disciplines among future generations of students.

The College of Engineering will be celebrating with activities planned throughout the week.

Monday, Feb. 17
Institute of Industrial Engineers Wing Contest
5:30 p.m.
Hall of Fame Conference Room
This event will challenge departments to a chicken wing-eating contest for college bragging rights.

Tuesday, Feb. 18
Tau Beta Pi Meet-the-College Luncheon
Noon to 2 p.m.
Marvin I. Danto Engineering Development Center Lobby and Ford Student Activity Center
This event is designed to help the many members of the College of Engineering community meet one another.

Thursday, Feb. 20
IEEE Battle of the Engineers
8 p.m.
Marvin I. Danto Engineering Development Center Auditorium
This student event features a trivia game composed of math and science questions from engineering prerequisite courses. It divides students into teams based on majors. The winning major will be recognized with a plaque in the Engineering Development Center.

Friday, Feb. 21
AIChE BreweryTour
3 p.m.
Meet at the College of Engineering, Room 1212, at 2 p.m.
The group will take a tour of brewing and cheese-making processes at Detroit’s famous Traffic Jam and Snug on West Canfield Street.

College of Engineering Ice Skating at Campus Martius
5:30 to 9 p.m.
Meet at the College of Engineering, Room 1503
Celebrate the end of Engineer’s Week in Downtown Detroit. $7 admittance and $3 skate rental.

EcoCAR 2 at the Michigan Science Center
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
5020 John R Street, Detroit
Members of Wayne State's EcoCAR 2 team will be on hand during the Michigan Science Center Engineering Week celebration to show visitors how to assemble electric motor kits and build energy efficient vehicles.

Saturday, Feb. 22
FutureSWE
8 a.m. to 3 p.m., College of Engineering, West Entrance
This annual event, hosted by Wayne State’s Society of Women Engineers, aims to introduce STEM programs to middle school and high school students. SWE members introduce students to different engineering disciplines and encourage students to stay in STEM.
Register at http://events.wayne.edu/rsvp/futuresweengineeringday/#rsvp.

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Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students. For more information about engineering at Wayne State University, visit engineering.wayne.edu.

Click here for the article, which first appeared in the Detroit Jewish News.

DETROIT (Feb. 20, 2014) – Michele Grimm, interim director of Wayne State University’s Transfer Student Success Center and associate professor of biomedical engineering, just may be one of Michigan’s most active and successful science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) supporters and advocates.

Grimm — who also serves as biomedical engineering undergraduate program chair and faculty advisor of Wayne State’s Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society, the Biomedical Engineering Society and Formula SAE team — always knew she wanted to pursue a STEM career.

A Michigan native, Grimm spent a majority of her youth at the Waterford Hills racetrack. Her father, Michael Royce, had previously raced cars as an amateur and, along with Grimm’s mother, Suzanne Royce, worked as a scrutineer (or tech inspector) at the local races. They often took their toddler with them to the track.

“The racetrack exposed me to things most kids never encounter,” said Grimm, whose mother is now the chief scrutineer for Formula One and MotoGP in the United States. “It showed me that math, science and engineering could be part of fun activities, not just school. I knew from an early age that I’d go into a STEM career, but leaned toward medicine at first. It wasn’t until I volunteered at a local hospital in high school that I realized I really wanted to go into biomedical engineering instead. It allowed me to work toward solving medical problems, but without the added stress of having a patient’s life depending on my daily decisions.”

For years, Grimm dreamed only of a career in research.

“I focused my efforts on securing a research position in orthopaedic biomechanics or rehabilitation engineering after earning my doctorate in bioengineering in 1994 because I wanted to innovate and improve quality of life. Plus, I really didn’t think I’d be a good teacher,” she says.

Fortunately for countless future students, Grimm’s husband was finishing medical school at the University of Pennsylvania and looking for a family medicine residency program at the time. The convergence of professional opportunities resulted in Grimm relocating back to her home state and accepting a joint research/teaching position in the College of Engineering.

Grimm quickly learned that teaching was a passion.

“I found it was much more natural than I previously thought. I love getting students and prospective students to think about how engineering is used to solve real-world problems. I want them to understand that engineering projects can be used to clean the environment, save lives and create better products. We do projects that help people. Helping students understand and develop their own passion for that is very rewarding,” she says.

In her 20 years at Wayne State, Grimm’s dedication to teaching, STEM promotion and student success has earned her a reputation for developing programs and helming initiatives to meet students’ needs.

She’s been instrumental in developing both the graduate and undergraduate programs in biomedical engineering (in 1998 and 2010, respectively) and founding the BME department, which involved developing the curriculum and recruiting students to these top programs. As associate dean for academic affairs from 2003 to 2010, she spearheaded the development of the College’s Engineering Bridge program for at-risk students, as well the Engineering Honors program to support its top students.  With her racing experience from childhood, Grimm has also ensured that Wayne State is home to a student Formula SAE (FSAE) team.

“I knew what FSAE was and that it would be incredibly beneficial for our students,” Grimm says. “It teaches them teamwork and provides them with real-world engineering problem solving, budgeting and time management experience. We’re in a very auto-centric region, and companies realize what projects like FSAE bring to students. Our students graduate knowing how to be engineers. Many alums credit it for helping them get their first jobs after graduation.”

When she’s not working or traveling for work — she’ll head to Toronto and Nebraska this spring  with FSAE — she can often be found at any number of Wayne State admissions and recruitment events on or off campus, hoping to spread the word on Wayne State’s engineering and computer science programs.

“The thing that sets Wayne State apart is that students here know how to do engineering — every College of Engineering graduate I have ever met. There are so many opportunities for hands-on experiences, internships, co-ops and student competitions. The university grew up in this region, where engineering is an important part of solving the region’s and world’s problems. Students get to take advantage of that real-world experience.”

Grimm is also a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering and serves on its Bioengineering Division Executive Committee, is a member of the Biomedical Engineering Society, and a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

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Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students. For more information about engineering at Wayne State University, visit engineering.wayne.edu.