University of Iowa Department of Mechanical Engineering

12/19/2024

Happy Thursday! Let's end this semester with a new intern spotlight. 🎉

Meet Basil Saeed - an ME undergraduate who interned at GE Vernova in Houston, Texas. Over the summer, Basil experienced a lot as an Applications and Project Mechanical Engineering intern. Swipe through the slides to learn more about his interesting experiences!

12/06/2024

Happy Friday! Let's end this week with a new intern spotlight. 🎉

Meet Brooke Scanlon - an ME undergraduate who interned at NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. Over the summer, Brooke experienced a lot as an intern. Swipe through the slides to learn more about her interesting experiences!

12/03/2024

Join us this Thursday for another Graduate Seminar featuring Shobhan Roy! As a graduate student at the University of Iowa, Shobhan will be discussing the use, dangers, and sensitivities of energetic materials. Through his findings, he aims to help designers enhance the safety and performance of these materials.

We're excited to see our students hear from him!

11/19/2024

Join us this Thursday for another Graduate Seminar featuring Max Hammond! As a graduate student at the University of Iowa, Max will be discussing the field of soft robotics and the suitable architecture needed to aid in their autonomy as well as their expanding capabilities.

We're excited for our students to hear from him!

11/13/2024

Join us this Thursday for another Graduate Seminar featuring Camilla Tabasso! As a graduate student at the University of Iowa, Camilla will be discussing the benefits and challenges of coordinated control algorithms that can allow unmanned vehicles to perform autonomous tasks.

We're excited for our students to hear from her!

11/05/2024

Join us this Thursday for another Graduate Seminar featuring Rachel Humann! As an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, Rachel will be discussing the importance of lower-limb powered prostheses and current limitations of them. In addition, she will introduce new methods that can be applied more efficiently and generally than current methods.

We're excited for our students to hear from her!

11/04/2024

Recently, Professor Karim Abdel-Malek and Associate Professor Aislinn Conrad partnered together to invent a camera that uses AI and physics to detect real-time abuse of vulnerable individuals.

The AI behind the camera starts working when there is a jarring act that will lead to violence. It will immediately start recording and, if it determines that there is violence, it will send an alert to caregivers so they can quickly respond.

Having secured a patent for the technology, the professors are working hard to secure funding for research and, hopefully, mitigate future abuse.

For more information, check out this article by the College of Engineering!

https://engineering.uiowa.edu/news-all/2024/10/iowa-professors-developing-ai-camera-detect-physical-abuse

11/01/2024

Happy Friday! Let's end this week with a new intern spotlight. 🎉

Meet Maleek McDowell - an ME undergraduate who interned at E91 Engineering. Over the summer, Maleek experienced a lot as a Design Engineering Intern. Swipe through the slides to learn more about his interesting experiences!

10/30/2024

10/30/2024

Join us this Thursday for another Graduate Seminar featuring Galen Ng! As a PhD candidate in the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering department at the University of Michigan, Galen will be speaking about developments that could optimize the design of marine appendages. In addition, he'll discuss challenges concerning these designs.

We're excited for our students to hear from him!

10/25/2024

Happy Friday! Check out what ME alum Abby Hayes has been up to since graduating from Iowa!

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"I graduated from the University of Iowa in May of 2023 with a BSE in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, I began working full-time at Design Engineers in Cedar Rapids, IA where I help design mechanical systems for various markets such as K-12 schools, higher education buildings, and healthcare buildings. Over the last year and a half I have worked on designing HVAC, plumbing, and fire suppression systems for various projects (new buildings as well as renovations) and have followed these projects through the construction phase. One of my favorite projects so far has been the new UI Health Sciences Academic Building currently being constructed on Iowa’s campus. It’s great to have been a part of designing a new building that will positively impact students and staff at Iowa!

During my time at Iowa I was involved in the Society of Women Engineers, Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, and intramural sports. These organizations helped me to develop great connections and to gain confidence in myself as a woman in engineering. I also enjoyed the variety of classes that Iowa offered as well as the professors who went above and beyond to make sure students understood the course material.

One piece of advice I would offer students is to get involved in activities both inside and outside of the College of Engineering! It’s important to balance school work with things that you are passionate about and interested in. The slogan “be an engineer and something more” has stuck with me since graduation and I encourage you to explore as many opportunities as you can while at Iowa. Go Hawks!"

10/24/2024

Last week, Professor Deema Totah's collaboration with the dance department and Professor Stephanie Miracle culminated at the annual Dance Gala. With robots created by high school senior Jinann Abudagga, this project aimed to explore what dancers and robots can reveal about how bodies feel, think, and connect with the world through movement.

For more information, check out this article by the College of Engineering!

Faculty, students, and staff at the University of Iowa College of Engineering and the Department of Dance created an interpretive performance involving dancers and robots that culminated at Dance Gala 2024: Agile at Hancher Auditorium.