Postdoc program brings PhDs into government research
The Research Associateship Programs support 20 federal agencies and more than 1500 research projects. Physics Today. October 27, 2022.
Magic window uses liquid crystals to project images
A new variation of an ancient device redirects light with liquid crystals rather than surface protrusions. Physics Today. August 2, 2022.
Wet circuits for biology research
Marc Dandin is teaming up with researchers from the department of biological sciences at CMU to create electronics for use in cell research. CMU College of Engineering. May 24, 2022.
Sensing signals in paralyzed muscles
Doug Weber and collaborators at the University of Pittsburgh showed that paralyzed muscles retain connections to the brain through electrical signals, which could be used to control robotic assistive devices. CMU College of Engineering. April 7, 2022.
3D printing giant nanotech models
Caleigh Goodwin-Schoen and Rebecca Taylor are designing more affordable ways to print colorful 3D models of biological nanostructures, like proteins and DNA. CMU College of Engineering. March 18, 2022.
Low Power Encrypted Computing Solutions
McKenzie van der Hagen, a Ph.D. student of electrical and computer engineering and her advisor, Associate Professor Brandon Lucia, have developed new algorithms and hardware designs that make encrypted offloading feasible, even for low-resource clients. CMU Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. March 3, 2022.
In two recently published papers, Assistant Professor Vanessa Chen and her Ph.D. students Yuyi Shen and Jiachen Xu explored using variations from the manufacturing process for more robust security in IoT devices. CMU Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. February 9, 2022.
Physicists turn to TikTok for science communication
The platform’s short, fun videos have helped scientists find new nonscientist audiences around the world. Physics Today. January 5, 2022.
Participating in research can have a profound effect on a student’s future career. It allows them to gain high-level experiences and technical skills in their field. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering helps students find research projects with their student project tracker. CMU College of Engineering. January 3, 2022.
Automating engineering’s ideal manager
A recent paper by a collaboration of CMU mechanical engineering and psychology researchers explored the use of artificial intelligence as a process manager for human design teams. CMU College of Engineering. November 23, 2021.
CMKL University is a collaboration between CMU and King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang in Thailand. Current CMKL Ph.D. students share their paths to the program and reflect on what they are enjoying about the experience. CMU Thailand. October 5, 2021.
New Books & Media. Physics Today printed magazine. September 2021.
Solid and liquid responses of a non-Newtonian fluid
Backscatter. Physics Today printed magazine. September 2021.
Unexpected carbon-13 found in exoplanet’s atmosphere
The planet’s distance from its star likely allowed high amounts of the isotope to subsist in carbon monoxide ice. Physics Today. August 18, 2021.
The 2021 International Physics Olympiad goes virtual
All five US students received gold medals at the competition, which was originally going to be held in Lithuania. Physics Today. July 29, 2021.
Jerk causes energy loss on the loop-the-loop
High-speed video analysis helps researchers characterize a ball’s motion in the iconic demonstration. Physics Today. July 23, 2021.
The first atomic bomb test created a quasicrystal
The 1945 explosion created a material composed of a unique combination of elements. Physics Today. July 8, 2021.
Daily sodium layers appear in Boulder’s sky
The regularly occurring phenomenon could serve as a new probe of atmospheric dynamics. Physics Today. June 25, 2021.
Tito Babatunde and her advisors Rebecca Taylor and Jon Cagan are combining their expertise to optimize designs for DNA origami nanostructures. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. May 26, 2021.
NSF CAREER grants awarded to engineering faculty
Four engineering faculty received NSF CAREER awards to support their education and research goals. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. May 11, 2021.
Aaron Johnson’s Robomechanics Lab is looking to nature for robotic tail designs that make orientation tasks easier for moving robots. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. April 16, 2021.
Alireza Chamanzar created an algorithm to locate regions of neural silence using an EEG, a widely accessible device that measures brain activity. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. April 1, 2021.
CMU alumnus creates “Dynamic” COVID solution
Alumnus Jeff Mullen (ECE ’00, Tepper ’09) and his company, Dynamics Inc., have created an innovative way to inactivate coronavirus in the air. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. January 22, 2021.
A team of CMU mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering researchers are using AI to optimize battery electrolyte designs, and they found new electrolytes that researchers hadn’t thought of. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. December 18, 2020.
Researchers observe the fastest organisms in nature—Dracula ants, froghoppers, and spore-ejecting fungi—to investigate spring-powered latch mechanisms for robotics. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. December 4, 2020.
These 3D printed circuits are self-healing, re-writable, and energy-harvesting, thanks to liquid metal. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. December 1, 2020. Read “Making mechanical skin” on Phys.org, where it was also posted.
Big Security for Little Devices
As more and more devices are connected to the internet, malicious software—also known as malware—has more potential victims than ever. Unfortunately, not every smart device has the protections necessary for keeping their data safe. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. November 10, 2020.
CMU student is first Black recipient of AGMA’s scholarship
Master’s student David Ajoku has been awarded the American Gear Manufacturing Association Foundation’s scholarship—making him the first Black student to receive it. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. November 3, 2020.
Order up! AI finds the right material
Amir Barati Farimani has improved an algorithm to predict a material’s properties. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. October 30, 2020. Read “Order up! AI finds the right material” on Phys.org, where it was also posted.
Intelligent, automatic contact tracing
CMU ECE alumnus Patrick Lazik and his team at Yodel Labs have developed a system that creates contact networks to contain COVID-19. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. October 16, 2020
Low-cost sensors to fight air pollution
CMU researchers are teaming up with an interdisciplinary, international network of scientists, decision-makers, city administrators, citizen groups, the private sector, and other local stakeholders in co-developing new methods and practices for real-time air quality data collection, data sharing, and solutions for air quality improvements. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. October 6, 2020.
Recognizing AI’s misinformation
What does cybersecurity have to do with human recognition of false data? A lot, says Conrad Tucker, who teamed up with Challenger Center and RAND to study the link between the two. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. October 2, 2020.
Predictive placentas: Using AI to protect mothers’ future pregnancies
In partnership with UPMC, Carnegie Mellon researchers developed a machine learning approach for examining placenta samples to determine if mothers are at risk for complications in future pregnancies. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. September 4, 2020.
Sea slugs to provide clues in understanding the brain
As the co-principal investigator on a National Science Foundation Next Generation Networks for Neuroscience project, Victoria Webster-Wood will investigate the impact of neuromodulators on muscle actuation and modeling biological motor control in engineering frameworks. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. August 27, 2020.
The infrastructure problem of COVID-19
Infrastructure affects the way we move around our environments, so differences in infrastructure could have a profound impact on the spread of coronavirus. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. August 24, 2020.
A team of Carnegie Mellon researchers found that Pittsburgh’s air pollution levels decreased during the stay-at-home order—but the overall impact remains small. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. August 9, 2020.
The electric future of autonomous vehicles
A team of CMU Engineering researchers has shown that autonomous vehicles can be electric—despite the decreased driving range. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. June 29, 2020.
Johnson received NSF CAREER award
Aaron Johnson has been awarded a CAREER award by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. June 26, 2020.
Zhang receives NSF funding for brain research
The biomechanics of the brain—that is, the physics of how the brain responds—is not largely understood. That being said, research shows that biomechanics of the brain is linked to brain development, disease, and damage. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering. June 23, 2020.
Molding masks against coronavirus
Kenji Shimada and Erica Martelly team up for the America Makes Fit to Face Challenge, creating one of the top two designs in the competition. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. June 16, 2020.
Brandon Lucia created a battery-less remote image sensor—and taught it time management. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. June 8, 2020.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ have named Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering’s Jonathan Cagan the recipient of the Ruth and Joel Spira Outstanding Design Educator Award. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering. June 2, 2020.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is proud of all our students for their perseverance and remarkable resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we recognize those students who have earned additional distinctions. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering. June 1, 2020.
Like many young engineers, second-year ECE major Vivian Beaudoin is drawn to the versatility of technology, especially computers. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. May 18. 2020.
Solid-ion conductors for safer batteries
Lithium metal is one of the most promising candidates for next generation battery anodes due to its exceptionally high specific capacity. However, its widespread use is hindered by a challenging obstacle: dendrites. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering. May 12, 2020. Read “Solid-ion conductors for safer batteries” on Phys.org, where it was also posted.
Metamaterials, which are engineered to have properties not found in nature, have long been developed and studied because of their unique features and exciting applications. However, the physics behind their thermal emission properties have remained unclear to researchers—until now. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering. May 5, 2020. Read “A new law for metamaterials” on Phys.org, where it was also posted.
Yağan receives emergency NSF grant to help fight COVID-19
Osman Yağan seeks to understand the spread of coronavirus and how public health measures can reduce that spread. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. April 30, 2020.
Recognizing Speech Recognition
Speech-to-text translation has come a long way, but anyone with a smartphone capable of the feature knows it still has some way to go. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. April 30, 2020.
Ashley Van Slyke: Reshaping how we reach others
Growing up, Ashley Van Slyke was used to helping people in her community, frequently volunteering with her family and church. Her main problem was figuring out how to do that professionally. The Pitt News. April 10, 2020.
Engineering faculty win Carnegie Science Awards
Carmel Majidi and Ryan Sullivan have won Carnegie Science Awards from the Carnegie Science Center for their incredible contributions to science. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. March 23, 2020.
Engineering faculty receive CAREER awards
Four College of Engineering faculty members have been awarded CAREER awards by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. February 28, 2020.
Facebook group helps eliminate on-campus food waste
There is no greater joy than stumbling upon free food on campus. But for those who’d prefer a heads up, the Pitt FoodShare Facebook group is the place to look. The Pitt News. February 18, 2020.
Pitt students reach new heights with NASA
While many college students spend their summer waiting tables, two teams of Pitt students will be at Cape Canaveral watching experiments they designed fly to the International Space Station. The Pitt News. February 17, 2020.
The am-Bi-guity in being bisexual
While most people have heard of the term “bisexual,” they won’t all give the same definition. The Pitt News. Mary Rose O’Donnell contributed reporting. February 13, 2020.
Quantifying transportation relationships
Sean Qian studied the relationship between Uber and public transportation, proving it can vary by time of day and location. Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering. February 3, 2020.
Science Scoop: New, more effective tuberculosis vaccine developed
The origins of vaccines go back to the turn of the 19th century, but a Pitt researcher is putting a new spin on the old model of giving vaccines to patients. The Pitt News. February 2, 2020.
Jazz Studies: The rest is history
More than 300 students sign up for History of Jazz every semester, which was voted “Best Class” in The Pitt News’ “Best Of” survey this year. The course offers an introduction to the bulk of the history, theory and instrumental classes in Pitt’s Jazz Studies program. The Pitt News. January 30, 2020.
Reading the signs: Swanson students create ASL-to-text translator
When Christopher Pasquinelli, a fifth-year computer engineering major, spent a summer interning at PNC, he worked alongside students who were either deaf or hard of hearing. He started thinking about the challenges faced by his fellow interns and how common they must be for people who are deaf across America. The Pitt News. November 21, 2019.
One year later, community continues to heal after Tree of Life attack
In remembrance of the victims of the 2018 massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue, more than 2,000 people traveled Sunday evening to the gathering at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall for a community event involving speeches, prayers and music. The Pitt News. Co-authored with Sarah Berg. October 28, 2019.
Student CEO presses forward with tooth-cleaning gum
Emily Siegel has always had an entrepreneurial streak when it came to sweet things. The Pitt News. October 25, 2019.
Academic calendar and religious, cultural traditions conflict for some
Most Christian students don’t run into problems scheduling celebrations on major religious holidays — the school calendar is built with a break for Christmas, and Easter falls on a Sunday each year. But students of other religions sometimes find a conflict between their academic calendars and their religious ones. The Pitt News. October 20, 2019.
Creating an intersectional conversation around mental health
In an effort to make the conversation around mental illness more inclusive, a group of about 20 met in the William Pitt Union’s Kurtzman Room Monday night for a roundtable to discuss mental health and intersectionality. The Pitt News. October 15, 2019.
Pitt to fully implement new advising platform by 2022
Navigating university advising can be overwhelming. Pathways, Pitt’s new advising platform navigated through a smartphone app, hopes to address that. The Pitt News. September 24, 2019.
Georgetown law professor talks Constitution at annual lecture
Pitt Law invited Victoria Nourse, the Ralph V. Whitworth Professor of Law at Georgetown University, to serve as its speaker for the annual Constitution Day lecture. The Pitt News. September 18, 2019.
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