School of Engineering Embarks on First Hong Kong Student Exchange

cuaengineer
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA FALL 2008 ISSUE
<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> <strong>Embarks</strong> on First Hong Kong Student Exchange

Table <strong>of</strong> Contents
New Faculty and Staff.............................inside front cover
Dean’s Message ...............................................................1
Biomedical <strong>Engineering</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essor
Finds Success Close to Home .....................................2
German Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Finds Constructive Career at CUA ....3
CUA <strong>Engineering</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essors Prime
Recipients <strong>of</strong> $2.7 Million Grant..................................4
Revolutionary Body-Weight Support
System Developed by CUA/NRH ..................................5
CUA Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Earns Prestigious
National Science Foundation Grant.............................6
IRIS Research Center Seminars Cover the Earth............6
Kaman and Burns Awards Granted
To Outstanding <strong>Engineering</strong> Faculty ...........................7
<strong>Engineering</strong> Alum Inducted into
National Academy <strong>of</strong> Sciences....................................8
NASA Administrator Inaugurates
Alumni Wall <strong>of</strong> Fame....................................................8
<strong>School</strong> Establishes First Executive
Development Board......................................................9
2007–2008 Honor Roll <strong>of</strong> Donors...................................10
Robert Burns Receives
2007 <strong>Engineering</strong> Award............................................11
Vietnamese Students Arrive at
CUA for 2+2 Program.................................................11
Exploring Global Educational Opportunities .................12
<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> <strong>Embarks</strong>
On First Hong Kong Exchange...................................13
Visit Brings Closer Collaboration...................................14
U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> Defense
Honors CUA Graduate Student...................................14
Curbing Global Warming Workshop ..............................15
William Readdy Talks <strong>of</strong> Astronaut
<strong>Engineering</strong> Challenges .............................................15
Senior Awarded ASME Scholarship...............................16
Mentos Challenge Piques <strong>Engineering</strong>
Students and Faculty .................................................16
Concrete Canoe: Lessons in Stewardship,
Teamwork, New Beginnings ......................................17
Hovercraft Aids Humanitarian Efforts ...........................18
CUA Continues Partnership with
Clark Construction Group ..........................................19
Biomedical <strong>Engineering</strong> Names
2008–2009 Nagel Scholars........................................19
Engineers without Borders <strong>Embarks</strong> to El Salvador.....20
Faculty Scholarly Activity ..............................................21
Student Awards..............................................................28
Two <strong>Engineering</strong> Doctoral Candidates
Attend Course in Italy .........................inside back cover
Society <strong>of</strong> Women Engineers
Keep Things Going ..............................inside back cover
Congratulations to the
Class <strong>of</strong> 2008.................................................back cover
Ph.D. Dissertations and Advisers .....................back cover
<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>
Administration...............................................back cover
New Faculty and Staff
Jae Choi, Ph.D.
Jae Choi, Ph.D. joins the Department <strong>of</strong> Electrical <strong>Engineering</strong> and
Computer Science in September 2008 as an assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor.
He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in computer science
and engineering from Seoul National University, Korea, in 1992, 1994 and
2001 respectively. He was a research assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor at Georgetown
University Medical Center from 2004 to 2008 and the chief technology
<strong>of</strong>ficer <strong>of</strong> a spin-<strong>of</strong>f company before joining Georgetown. His research interests are visualization,
computer graphics, computer games, image-guided surgery and bioinformatics.
Arash Massoudieh, Ph.D.
Arash Massoudieh, Ph.D., joins the Department <strong>of</strong> Civil <strong>Engineering</strong> as
an assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor in September 2008. He received a B.S. in Civil
<strong>Engineering</strong> from Sharif University <strong>of</strong> Technology in 1997, an M.S.
degree in Civil <strong>Engineering</strong> from University <strong>of</strong> Tehran, Iran, in 2000,
and a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental <strong>Engineering</strong> from University <strong>of</strong>
California at Davis in 2006. He continued his work at UC Davis as a
post-doctoral scholar until August 2008. His research interests are in mathematical and
numerical modeling <strong>of</strong> contaminant transport in aqueous systems.
Afshin Nabili, M.S.
Afshin Nabili, M.S., joins the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> as the laboratory
supervisor, a newly created position in the school. His main duty is the
supervision <strong>of</strong> maintenance, repair and upgrade <strong>of</strong> the teaching and
research laboratories <strong>of</strong> all engineering departments. Nabili came to
CUA as a junior transfer student from Prince George’s Community
College, Md., in September 2005. He went on to earn a bachelor’s
degree in biomedical engineering in May 2007 and master’s degree in biomedical engineering
with a concentration in bio-optics and instrumentation in May 2008. He continues
to work on his Ph.D. with Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Biomedical <strong>Engineering</strong> Jessica Ramella-
Roman, Ph.D.
Mary Kate Zabroske, B.A.
Mary Kate Zabroske, B.A., joined the dean’s <strong>of</strong>fice in February 2008
as the new assistant to the dean for administration. Zabroske received
a bachelor <strong>of</strong> arts in liberal studies from Shippensburg University.
She previously was employed as the sales assistant to the director <strong>of</strong>
business development at Tourism Montreal’s Washington, D.C.,
<strong>of</strong>fice.
Sheila Astacio
Sheila Astacio joined the biomedical engineering department in August.
2007 as assistant to the chair. Astacio has attended classes at Prince
George’s County Community College and is taking online classes for medical
coding, certified by the American Health Information Management
Association. She worked for the United States Department <strong>of</strong> Agriculture’s
“Ag in the Classroom” outreach program and served on special assignment
at U. S. Census headquarters in Suitland, Md., as a decennial computer specialist
during the 2000 census.

Dean’s Message
I write the dean’s message for
this issue <strong>of</strong> CUA Engineer with
great excitement because I
believe that 2007–2008 has
been the most successful year
during my seven-year tenure
as dean and I cannot wait to
report its successes to you. The
school has succeeded in all
aspects, including international
programs, funded research,
enrollment, accreditation and
development. I have highlighted
some <strong>of</strong> our greatest achievements
below:
■ In the fall semester <strong>of</strong> 2007,
63 new undergraduate students
including six transfer students
joined the school. The school
also welcomed 46 new graduate students. At the diploma distribution
ceremony in May 2008, the school granted 38 bachelor’s degrees, 44
master’s degrees and six doctoral degrees. See the back cover for a list
<strong>of</strong> graduates. We expect to receive 86 new freshmen in September
2008, an increase <strong>of</strong> 36 percent from last year. The coming academic
year will see the biggest enrollment <strong>of</strong> freshmen in the last 10 years.
■ The list <strong>of</strong> activities in the faculty section <strong>of</strong> this issue spotlights our faculty’s
achievements in the areas <strong>of</strong> research proposal submission, journal
publication and service to pr<strong>of</strong>essional societies. Most noticeably, the
Office <strong>of</strong> the Director <strong>of</strong> National Intelligence granted the Department <strong>of</strong>
Electrical <strong>Engineering</strong> and Computer Science $2.7 million to develop an
enhanced resolution digital camera based on a fly’s eye. In addition, a
member <strong>of</strong> the mechanical engineering faculty received the prestigious
National Science Foundation CAREER award. The school received a total
<strong>of</strong> about $6 million in new research funding, representing the biggest
amount <strong>of</strong> new research funding in the last seven years, with an average
<strong>of</strong> $2.4 million per year. Two engineering faculty members received the
2008 CUA provost awards for excellence in research and scholarship.
■ Robert Burns, B.M.E. 1951, received the 2007 <strong>Engineering</strong> Distinguished
Alumni Achievement Award. At the annual homecoming luncheon in
October 2007, his son, Matt Burns, B.E.E. 1980, accepted the award on
his behalf.
■ In October 2007, the ABET team visited our school to evaluate the
engineering programs for re-accreditation. Overall the visit was a big
success. The team was satisfied with the activities that the school has
conducted in the last several years for accreditation maintenance. Some
minor weaknesses that were cited by the team at the exit meeting <strong>of</strong> the
visit have been resolved. We submitted an institution response to the
ABET draft statement in January 2008 and expect that we will obtain in
July 2008 full accreditation for all engineering programs for six years.
■ Two new faculty members — an assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> civil engineering, and
an assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> electrical engineering and computer science —
will join our school in September 2008. In February 2008, we welcomed
the new assistant to the dean for administration, Mary Kate Zabroske.
■ The school’s international programs are in full swing. Five CUA engineering
students studied abroad in Hong Kong in the spring semester 2008 at the
Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). That same semester CUA hosted
nine students from PolyU. In September 2007, we welcomed three students
from Vietnam who came to CUA under the 2+2 program established
between CUA and the International University <strong>of</strong> the Vietnam National
University-Ho Chi Minh City (HCMIU).
■ In August 2007, I visited The Catholic University <strong>of</strong> Leuven in Leuven,
Belgium, to explore academic collaboration opportunities. In September
2007, I went to Coimbra, Portugal, to receive a leadership award from
the International Network <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> Education and Research.
While there, I visited the Catholic University <strong>of</strong> Portugal in Lisbon and
signed a memorandum <strong>of</strong> understanding with the engineering school
there, which will serve as a mechanism for both institutions to explore
development <strong>of</strong> research and collaborative education programs.
■ During a 12-day trip in February and March 2008, I visited the Hong Kong
Polytechnic University to discuss the CUA/PolyU student exchange program,
and to meet with the CUA students there. During the trip I also visited
schools <strong>of</strong> engineering <strong>of</strong> two universities in Thailand, the Kasetsart
University in Bangkok and the Burapha University in Chonburi, signing an
MOU with each in which we agreed to explore collaboration in education
and research. Moving on to Vietnam, I visited the International University <strong>of</strong>
Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City to renew an agreement
for 2+2 programs. At the Saigon Technology University, Ho Chi Minh City,
I signed an MOU to explore research and education collaboration. On
the final segment <strong>of</strong> the trip I visited the University <strong>of</strong> Danang where I
discussed potential collaboration between the two institutions.
■ I am happy to announce the establishment <strong>of</strong> the first <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>
Executive Development Board, chaired by Matt Burns, B.E.E 1980. The
board consists <strong>of</strong> nine energetic and enthusiastic alumni. I look forward
to working actively with the members <strong>of</strong> the board.
In conclusion, I am very satisfied with the progress <strong>of</strong> the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>
in the past academic year, especially in research funding efforts, international
programs, engineering accreditation and in the establishment <strong>of</strong> the
development board. I hope you enjoy reading this issue <strong>of</strong> CUA Engineer.
Regards,
Charles Cuong Nguyen
Dean, <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>
nguyen@cua.edu
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Biomedical <strong>Engineering</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essor
Finds Success Close to Home
Faculty Pr<strong>of</strong>ile
Peter Lum has come full circle in his
academic career. A Washington, D.C.,
native, he spent his formative years
within the District’s boundaries: as a
student at Gonzaga High <strong>School</strong> and
then as an undergraduate at the
George Washington University. Now
an associate pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> biomedical
engineering, Lum left the District for
postgraduate work, but returned in
2005 to become an assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor
at CUA.
For Lum, academia wasn’t always
the end goal. After earning his undergraduate
degree from GWU and a
master’s from the California Institute <strong>of</strong>
Technology in mechanical engineering,
Lum worked briefly in the private
sector.
“It was not very rewarding and
there was very little imagination or
creativity required to do the job,” he
says <strong>of</strong> that experience. “A colleague
introduced me to the idea <strong>of</strong> using
my skills as an engineer to solve
problems in biology and medicine.
I decided to go for it and went back
to school to get my Ph.D. in bio
engineering at Berkeley.”
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Peter Lum
Lum describes the switch as a
perfect marriage <strong>of</strong> his previous training in mechanical systems with bioengineering problems in
medicine. He has since focused on researching stroke rehabilitation.
“There are over 750,000 new strokes in the U.S. each year and many <strong>of</strong> these people do not recover
ability to move their arms and legs,” he says. “It was once thought there was no recovery <strong>of</strong> function
beyond three to six months after the stroke but this has been proven to be incorrect. Use <strong>of</strong> robotics
has the potential to fill this need, without greatly increasing the costs <strong>of</strong> health care.”
As part <strong>of</strong> this research, Lum received a $250,000 contract from the U.S. Army Medical Research
and Materiel Command to work on a project to develop a new hand exoskeleton to help retrain hand
function after stroke. The hand exoskeleton could also be used someday as an orthotic to assist grasping in
patients who don’t recover full function.
He also received a $350,000 contract from NIH to develop a telerehabilitation workstation to provide
home therapy to stroke survivors who live in rural areas or cannot travel to the clinic for treatment. A
Department <strong>of</strong> Veterans Affairs Merit Review Award will provide Lum more than $600,000 over the next
four years to research robotic arm therapy for stroke rehabilitation.
Even with this busy research schedule, Lum still finds time to share his insights with CUA’s biomedical
engineering students. “I like the small school feel at CUA,” he says. “The small class size allows me to
get to know all <strong>of</strong> the students, which greatly increases the satisfaction <strong>of</strong> the teaching, and motivates
me to make the classes as interesting as possible. I really like what I am doing now.”
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German Pr<strong>of</strong>essor
Finds Constructive Career at CUA
Faculty Pr<strong>of</strong>ile
As a boy in Germany, Gunnar Lucko’s imagination was inspired by the stories his
grandfather would tell. A civil engineer in post-war Germany’s Rhine Valley, he had a
long career designing bridges and buildings. He would speak <strong>of</strong> how important engineers
were to a society; how it was they who created the structures within which a
civilization could flourish. And when it came time for Lucko to choose his own career
path, he knew exactly what he wanted to do: follow in his grandfather’s footsteps.
After obtaining a degree at Hamburg University <strong>of</strong> Technology, Lucko came to the
United States to attend graduate school at Virginia Tech, earning a Ph.D. in civil engineering
in 2003. He joined the CUA faculty in 2005 as an assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> civil
engineering and oversees the Construction <strong>Engineering</strong> and Management Program.
As a researcher, he specializes in mathematical analysis <strong>of</strong> schedule networks,
construction operations analysis and optimization, equipment economics, and
constructability analysis. The field is a relatively small one, with roughly 150 academics
conducting construction management research, and they are scattered around the
country. Lucko has worked diligently and successfully to cultivate strong relationships
with his long-distance fellow researchers; he regularly exchanges ideas and collaborates
on projects with colleagues based as far away as Israel. He even serves as an
external doctoral adviser to an engineer working on the NASA shuttle in Cape Canaveral,
Fla. His current research work seeks to dynamically forecast construction projects,
simulating operations before they actually take place to look for possible glitches.
“Planning and scheduling <strong>of</strong> construction projects have been interests <strong>of</strong> mine since
I worked on engineering projects [as a student] in Germany,” Lucko says.
In 2007, Lucko was awarded a two-year $67,000 grant from the National Science
Foundation to perform basic research on singularity functions, which had been used
in structural engineering. He discovered that these functions can help solve so-called
linear schedules. At the heart <strong>of</strong> his research lies optimizing the productivity <strong>of</strong> all
construction activities within a project’s time and space constraints. Case study
implementations with several construction companies are validating his new method.
In addition to his research, the assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor is passionate about educating
tomorrow’s engineers. He was a finalist for the Provost’s Award for Excellence in
Teaching in both 2007 and 2008, and was recently awarded the Charles H. Kaman
Award for Teaching Excellence, the highest award within the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>.
Working with the group Engineers Without Borders, Lucko helps direct CUA
students in a field service project in Santa Clara, El Salvador, a remote village <strong>of</strong>
3,000 people accessible only by dirt roads. The project, funded in part by a threeyear,
$42,000 grant from the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators
Alliance, is enabling Lucko and his students to design a new health clinic and help
with providing a water distribution system for the town’s residents. He also mentors
high school students at Bell Multicultural High <strong>School</strong> in Washington, D.C., introducing
them to the construction field.
Away from engineering, Lucko has played the clarinet with a German chamber
orchestra and an American wind ensemble. Music even led him to his wife, who is a
graduate <strong>of</strong> CUA’s <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> Library and Information Science: They met through
practicing music in the CUA music library and married during Thanksgiving <strong>of</strong> 2007.
“I was looking for a university where I could grow and make a contribution in
my field and work in a personable place,” Lucko says, and he has found such an
environment here. “This makes for a fulfilling faculty life, and I’m proud I am carrying
on my grandfather’s pr<strong>of</strong>ession.”
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Gunnar Lucko looks over blueprints in his <strong>of</strong>fice.
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CUA <strong>Engineering</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essors
PRIME RECIPIENTS OF $2.7 MILLION GRANT
Pr<strong>of</strong>essors Scott Mathews and Mark Mirotznik demonstrate their fly’s eye camera.
A team led by Department <strong>of</strong> Electrical <strong>Engineering</strong>
and Computer Science Associate Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Mark
Mirotznik and Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Scott Mathews
has received a $2.7 million grant from the Office
<strong>of</strong> the Director <strong>of</strong> National Intelligence to continue
research on a highly sophisticated digital camera
for intelligence uses, iris recognition to identify
individuals. It will also have a range <strong>of</strong> potential
security and medical applications, including
detection <strong>of</strong> improvised explosive devices and
burn injury assessment.
Mirotznik and Mathews will lead a multidisciplinary,
multi-university team <strong>of</strong> researchers
from Wake Forest University, University <strong>of</strong> New
Mexico and University <strong>of</strong> Minnesota. They will
continue developing an enhanced resolution digital
camera that mimics a fly’s eye view <strong>of</strong> the world.
In what the researchers call “computational
imaging,” 18 smaller camera lenses take sub
images and then a computer combines their
information to produce a single, enhanced image
with an increased resolution.
The researchers have married the fly’s eye
imaging system to a computerized camera system,
known as a Practical Enhanced Resolution
Integrated Optical Digital Imaging Camera and
dubbed PERIODIC. The PERIODIC system resembles
a circuit-board sandwich, with the array <strong>of</strong>
lenses on the front and green circuit boards in
the middle carrying information to a computer.
Mirotznik explains, “The optical sensor and
s<strong>of</strong>tware components work in concert to solve
underlying complex image registration and
reconstruction problems in near real-time and
produce high definition, multi-layer images.”
Mirotznik <strong>of</strong>fers the example <strong>of</strong> a taking a
picture <strong>of</strong> a person in front <strong>of</strong> a brightly lit window.
A conventional camera wouldn’t know how
to adapt to the changes in light, and therefore
would not be able to properly capture most <strong>of</strong>
the details. The fly’s eye camera, however, can
capture even the smallest details in that scene.
The prototype, originally funded by a U.S.
Disruptive Technology Office challenge grant,
greatly improves the resolution and dynamic
range <strong>of</strong> imagery, removes glare, and performs
spectral filtering. This new grant will help fund an
additional 24 months <strong>of</strong> development, paying for
more equipment and graduate student assistants.
The camera is being developed for various
purposes including iris recognition. Existing technology
can scan an iris, which the researchers
liken to a fingerprint, to identify a person. But it
is not advanced enough to scan noncompliant
subjects who may not be at close range and do
not maintain eye contact with the camera for a
length <strong>of</strong> time. This enhanced camera technology
aims to solve that problem, a huge boon for
the intelligence community.
The researchers also see an application <strong>of</strong> the
technology for burn injury assessment. “The
most critical factors determining whether or not
burn patients recover are rapid assessment <strong>of</strong>
the degree <strong>of</strong> burns and quick, appropriate treatment,”
says Mirotznik.
The camera also has potential in identifying
improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, says
Mirotznik. By capturing details far beyond what a
conventional camera could, the PERIODIC could
determine objects that had not been in a location
the previous day or deemed unusual — a potentially
life-saving red flag for soldiers.
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Revolutionary
Body-Weight
Support System
Developed by
CUA/NRH
With most physical therapies, a quick intensive
start leads to better outcomes for the patient.
That’s certainly the case with walking therapies
for people who have traumatic neurological
injuries.
Delivering intensive yet safe therapy to individuals
with significant walking deficits, however,
presents great challenges to even the most
skilled therapists. In the acute stages <strong>of</strong> neurological
injuries such as stroke, spinal cord injury
and traumatic brain injury, individuals <strong>of</strong>ten
exhibit highly unstable walking patterns and poor
endurance, placing them at high risk for falls.
Therapists have had limited technologies
available to allow them to safely train their
patients to perform over-ground walking, particularly
in the early stages <strong>of</strong> recovery. Most overthe-ground
body weight support systems used in
physical therapy settings have many failings:
they lack dynamic body-weight support; are
usable only on smooth, flat surfaces; cannot
navigate obstacles such as stairs or uneven terrain;
and are so heavy that the therapist must
control their movement.
Recognizing these limitations, Joe Hidler,
associate pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> biomedical engineering,
developed the ZeroG dynamic over-ground bodyweight
support system, working with engineers
Ian Black, M.S.B.E., 2004, and Dave Brennan,
M.S.B.E., 1999, and physical therapists in the
Center for Applied Biomechanics and
Rehabilitation Research at the National
Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH). Hidler and his
team have incorporated extensive training features
into the ZeroG system that facilitate early,
intensive gait training in individuals with all levels
<strong>of</strong> gait impairments.
ZeroG consists <strong>of</strong> a revolutionary body-weight
support system that rides along a driven trolley
attached to an overhead rail system. As the
patient ambulates, the trolley automatically
moves forward or back, staying above the
patient. The therapist can set limits on the forward
progression speed <strong>of</strong> their patient, allowing
them to only walk within safe ranges. ZeroG can
also be used for body-weight supported treadmill
training, where the trolley is simply positioned
over the treadmill. At any time, the patient
can step <strong>of</strong>f the treadmill and begin or resume
over-ground gait training.
Because the system is mounted overhead,
people can practice walking on uneven terrain
and steps, and use walking aids such as walkers
or canes. The system also has a user-friendly
cuaengineer
interface, so the therapist can fully control the
system not only at the control station, but also
wirelessly through a pocket PC clipped to their
belt. This allows the therapist to remain at their
patient’s side at all times, encouraging patienttherapist
interaction.
ZeroG’s state-<strong>of</strong>-the-art electronics allows the
s<strong>of</strong>tware to track distance walked, walking speed,
falls prevented, gait symmetry and variability,
and unloading forces within and across sessions.
This allows therapists to track the patient’s
improvements over numerous therapy sessions.
Using ZeroG, individuals with gait impairments
can begin practicing walking early after their
injuries, in a safe, controlled way. The hope is
that by removing the fear <strong>of</strong> falling from patients
— particularly when practicing complicated
obstacles such as stairs — they will not develop
the compensatory strategies that <strong>of</strong>ten persist
into the chronic stages <strong>of</strong> injuries. In addition,
because ZeroG <strong>of</strong>fers the highest level <strong>of</strong> patient
safety, a single therapist can perform one-onone
therapy even with the most severely
impaired patients.
A clinical version <strong>of</strong> ZeroG has been installed
at NRH for therapists to begin using the system
with patients after stroke, spinal cord injury and
traumatic brain injury. In the summer <strong>of</strong> 2008,
the system was installed at Walter Reed Army
hospital to be used by soldiers with amputations
and traumatic brain injury. To follow the progress
<strong>of</strong> the ZeroG development, check out the Web
site at http://cabrr.cua.edu.
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Joe Hidler oversees a demonstration <strong>of</strong> the ZeroG.
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CUA Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Earns Prestigious National Science Foundation Grant
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor John Judge
John Judge, assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> mechanical engineering, has been awarded a National
Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program award to study
vibration <strong>of</strong> collections <strong>of</strong> micromechanical and nanomechanical devices. He is the third
member <strong>of</strong> the engineering school to receive the award in the last two years.
The five-year grant, totaling $409,287, funds detection and study <strong>of</strong> very small differences
between micro- and nano-scale devices that are supposedly identical, and the ways in which
the differences affect the way the larger system that houses those devices vibrates.
Many applications <strong>of</strong> such systems, including filters for electrical signals in cell phones
and collections <strong>of</strong> sensors for detecting biological and chemical agents, depend on vibration
propagating freely across the system. However, small variations among seemingly identical
pieces <strong>of</strong> the larger system can disrupt the way energy disperses and can prevent the systems
from operating as intended.
“This builds on a lot <strong>of</strong> my past research, but it will be great to have the resources to create
some pro<strong>of</strong>-<strong>of</strong>-concept devices and to be able to explore in some new directions as
well,” Judge says <strong>of</strong> the grant.
Judge will construct prototypes <strong>of</strong> micro- and nano-scale systems, some with the variations
among individual components intentionally exaggerated by known amounts, and use
laser vibrometry to measure their vibration. The grant will help fund the construction <strong>of</strong> a
new experimental station at CUA to perform laser vibrometry through a microscope.
The NSF CAREER award seeks to honor young scientists whose activities best integrate
the realms <strong>of</strong> research and education, building the basis for long-term contributions to their
fields. It is considered the foundation’s most prestigious award in early career development.
“Dr. Judge has demonstrated outstanding talent both in the classroom and in his
research, and this award clearly recognizes his work,” said Charles Nguyen, dean <strong>of</strong> engineering.
“He has earned a place among a team <strong>of</strong> cutting-edge scientists, and we are proud
to have him among our junior faculty.”
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Judge served as a 2007–2008 Burns Fellow. The research stipend he received
helped him prepare his proposal to the National Science Foundation.
Judge’s award follows last year’s CAREER grant awardees, Lu Sun, associate pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong>
civil engineering, and Otto Wilson, assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> biomedical engineering.
IRIS Research Center Seminars
Cover The Earth
This year the Interdisciplinary Remote Imaging and
Sensing (IRIS) Research Center took CUA on a
journey to the oceans, polar regions and continental
United States, as three speakers from
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center talked
about the programs they manage and their
research interests.
Ali Tokay, Ph.D <strong>of</strong> University <strong>of</strong> Maryland
Baltimore County gave humble buckets new
stature in his talk about how NASA’s Tropical
Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) ground validation
program keeps track <strong>of</strong> rainfall. Operating
in the Mid-Atlantic region for more than two
years, these mid-latitude coastal ground validation
sites in the United States include 23 tipping
bucket rain gauge stations within 15–200 km <strong>of</strong>
the National Weather Service S-band Doppler
radar located at Wakefield, Va. Tokay also mentioned
the possibility <strong>of</strong> CUA student internships
at NASA.
The second speaker, David Le Vine, Ph.D.,
took the audience from land to sea in his presentation
about NASA’s Aquarius Mission, which
senses sea surface salinity from space. Le Vine
revealed that salinity temperature determine
buoyancy. Satinity, he said, is critical for
understanding density-driven ocean circulation
and its impact on climate.
Markus Thorsten, Ph.D., took the audience to
more remote areas on earth — the South Pole,
including close-up photographs he took <strong>of</strong> penguins.
Thorsten talked about recent drastic
changes in the Arctic Sea ice cover and the significant
media attention it has drawn as part <strong>of</strong>
the discussions on global warming. He discussed
how NASA monitors the polar climate from space
and promised to come back with more pictures
and updates on his research and travels.
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Kaman and Burns Awards Granted to Outstanding <strong>Engineering</strong> Faculty
Each year to honor faculty for the excellence <strong>of</strong>
their research and teaching, the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong>
<strong>Engineering</strong> presents the Kaman Awards and
Burns Faculty Fellowships. For 2007–2008, John
Judge, Ph.D., assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> mechanical
engineering, received the 2008 Kaman Award for
Faculty Excellence in Research, and Gunnar Lucko,
Ph.D., assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> civil engineering
received the 2008 Kaman Award for Faculty
Excellence in Teaching. Ozlem Kilic, Ph.D., assistant
pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> electrical engineering, and Joseph
Vignola, Ph.D., assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> mechanical
engineering, received Burns Fellowships.
■ Judge was honored for his research on sensor
technology, which could help soldiers avoid
the types <strong>of</strong> blasts that have caused brain
injuries in the Iraq war. He also recently
received a CAREER award from the National
Science Foundation, which will support his
research on dynamics <strong>of</strong> microresonator
arrays. Judge is principal investigator or
co-principal investigator on three additional
grants, collaborating with other faculty
members working on detection <strong>of</strong> landmines
and improvised explosives as well as development
<strong>of</strong> sensors mentioned above.
■ Lucko directs the Construction <strong>Engineering</strong>
and Management Program <strong>of</strong> the Department
<strong>of</strong> Civil <strong>Engineering</strong>. In addition to his regular
courses, he has taught “Disaster-Mitigating
Design and Practice for the Developing
World,” which he developed with teaching
grant funding. Lucko’s students consistently
rank him highly on his end-<strong>of</strong>-semester
teaching evaluations. More over, he is well
liked by students. He advises four doctoral
students and directs five master’s theses. He
also serves as faculty adviser for the ASCE
Student Chapter and the Engineers Without
Borders student chapter and is lead mentor in
the ACE Mentor Program for Greater
Washington.
■ Kilic and Vignola were named 2008 Burns
Fellows. To be named a Burns Fellow, faculty
members must submit a proposal outlining
their research plan and be chosen by a
selection committee. This year, the selection
committee received six proposals. Kilic’s
proposal, “Collective Scattering Effects <strong>of</strong>
Plasmonic Nanoparticles,” considers the
medical applications <strong>of</strong> nanoparticles in treating
cancer. She proposes to develop an analytical
model to investigate the potential applications.
■ Vignola’s proposal, “The Effect Of Atmospheric
Turbulence on Performance <strong>of</strong> A Long-Range
Laser Doppler Vibrometer,” proposes to
construct a long-range laser vibrometer to
investigate issues related to the performance
<strong>of</strong> interferometric detection <strong>of</strong> structures that
camouflage improvised explosive devices.
The Kaman Awards for Faculty Excellence are
funded by a generous endowment from Charles
H. Kaman (B.A.E. 1940). The Burns Faculty
Fellowship was established in 2007 by a generous
endowment <strong>of</strong> the Burns family.
(From left) Pr<strong>of</strong>essors Joseph Vignola, Gunnar Lucko and John Judge.
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<strong>Engineering</strong> Alum Inducted into National Academy <strong>of</strong> Sciences
Mario Acuna, Ph.D.
Catholic University engineering alumnus Mario
Acuna has been fascinated by space and the stars
ever since his undergraduate years in his native
Argentina. That fascination led him to a career in
space research and, most recently, induction into
the prestigious National Academy <strong>of</strong> Sciences.
Acuna left Argentina in 1967, frustrated by
military intervention into university research
laboratories, and came to Washington, D.C. He
chose the nation’s capital largely for the area’s
space research opportunities. He then enrolled as
a graduate student in CUA’s then Space Science
program <strong>of</strong> the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>, attracted
by the department’s NASA graduate study program
and the work <strong>of</strong> faculty members C. C. Chang and
Y. C. Whang. He received his Ph.D. from the <strong>School</strong>
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> in 1974.
“Another important element in that decision
was the recognition by CUA <strong>of</strong> graduate work
completed in Argentina,” Acuna says.
He began working at NASA Goddard Space
Flight Center in 1969 and focused on planetary
exploration, including magnetic fields and plasmas.
“The discovery <strong>of</strong> the Jovian ring and the
magnetic fields <strong>of</strong> Mars stand out as major
achievements,” says Acuna <strong>of</strong> his research. He
is now a senior astrophysicist and project scientist
with the International Solar Terrestrial Physics
Program at NASA Goddard.
At the moment, he is working on several
missions, including Juno, a mission to Jupiter to
understand the origins <strong>of</strong> this planet; Messenger,
a mission to Mercury to understand the origin <strong>of</strong>
its magnetic field; and Stereo, a mission to study
the sun and space weather in multiple dimensions.
“Most <strong>of</strong> this research is associated with
experimental magnetic field studies, including
the development <strong>of</strong> specialized instruments for
these missions,” Acuna says. The instruments he
has developed include ion mass and electron
spectrometers to measure the properties <strong>of</strong> the
ambient space plasma.
“Having [these] instruments visit almost all
the planets and objects in the solar system and
carry out fundamental discoveries makes me
feel extremely privileged to contribute to our
knowledge <strong>of</strong> the solar system,” he says.
Acuna’s contributions to the scientific community
led to his selection to the NAS in 2007.
Established in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln, the
NAS is a private organization <strong>of</strong> scientists and
engineers that act as <strong>of</strong>ficial advisers to the federal
government in science or technology.
“It was an unexpected honor,” Acuna says.
“This kind <strong>of</strong> recognition by your peers is incredibly
rewarding and puts the research carried out
for the last 40 years in a special perspective.”
NASA Administrator Inaugurates Alumni Wall <strong>of</strong> Fame
Faced with an abundance <strong>of</strong> accomplished alumni,
the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> has instituted the Wall
<strong>of</strong> Fame, which honors alumni who have reached
the pinnacle <strong>of</strong> their careers. Michael Griffin, Ph.D.,
M.S.E. 1974, administrator <strong>of</strong> NASA, first to be so
honored, was named to the wall on April 12, 2008.
Members <strong>of</strong> the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> Executive
Committee and current external member Marion
Gosney, B.A. 1975, director <strong>of</strong> alumni relations,
selected Griffin. Nominees for the Wall <strong>of</strong> Fame
are evaluated by members <strong>of</strong> the Selection
Committee, comprising faculty and alumni <strong>of</strong> the
<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>, with finalists presented to
the dean, who makes the final decision. The
nominees must be recognized nationally as excelling and at the top <strong>of</strong> their
careers, e.g., president <strong>of</strong> a university as an educator, or CEO <strong>of</strong> a major
company as an engineer, or head <strong>of</strong> a government agency as a government
employee. In addition to having his or her name inscribed on the Wall <strong>of</strong>
Fame, each honoree receives a commemorative plaque. The wall is to be
installed in the Alumni Garden outside Pangborn Hall.
Griffin received a Master <strong>of</strong> Science in <strong>Engineering</strong> degree in aerospace
science in 1974. In March 2005, he was appointed by President George W.
Bush to serve as the administrator <strong>of</strong> NASA. Prior to that appointment,
8 | cuaengineer
Dr. Michael Griffin, NASA Administrator
Griffin served as chief engineer at NASA, deputy
for technology at the Strategic Defense Initiative
Organization, and later as CEO <strong>of</strong> Magellan
Systems, Inc. He has worked in the field <strong>of</strong>
space exploration and research for many years
and was called “a superb choice to lead NASA at
this critical moment,” Griffin is known for his “bold
leadership style, deep passion for space and
rigorous commitment,” as well as for his extensive
experience in the field <strong>of</strong> space exploration and
research. Griffin has been an adjunct pr<strong>of</strong>essor
<strong>of</strong> spacecraft design, applied mathematics and
aeronautics at the University <strong>of</strong> Maryland, Johns
Hopkins University and George Washington University.
He has published numerous technical papers in aerospace science and is
the author <strong>of</strong> the textbook Space Vehicle Design — widely considered an
essential text in the field.
Introducing Griffin, junior mechanical engineering major Kalin Petersen
said, “You are an inspiring example and we are proud to have you as an
esteemed Catholic University alumnus and to congratulate you on being the
first-ever inductee into the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> Wall <strong>of</strong> Fame.” In his
acceptance speech, Griffin expressed joy at receiving this recognition from
his alma mater and pride in being a “true” engineer.

cuaengineer
<strong>School</strong> Establishes
First Executive Development Board
Assembling a broad spectrum <strong>of</strong> talent across many disciplines, the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> has
established a volunteer board to assist Dean Charles C. Nguyen in strategic planning and alumni outreach.
The Executive Development Board held two on-campus meetings and several conference calls
during the last academic year.
“We have recruited an exemplary group <strong>of</strong> alumni to help the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> at this critical
stage,” said Dean Nguyen. “By all measures, the school is experiencing a great deal <strong>of</strong> success. The
board will play a key role in helping us sustain that momentum.”
“The <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> is poised to move to the next level,” said Board Chairman Matthew J.
Burns, B.E.E. 1980. “Dean Nguyen has recruited outstanding faculty who are winning prestigious
grants from the National Science Foundation and other funding agencies. Applications and enrollment
are up. We are implementing a five-year strategic plan. And, more and more alumni are supporting the
school. This is a good time to get involved,” he said.
Every board member made a charitable gift to the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> during the 2007–2008
academic year. In order to provide continuity and experience, they serve a two-year term with the option
to renew for an additional two-year term.
2008–2009 Executive
Development Board
Chair Matthew J. Burns, P.E. (B.E.E. 1980)
President
Burns <strong>Engineering</strong>, Inc.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Joseph L. Carlini (B.M.E. 1984)
Founder and CEO
McKean Defense Group, LLC
Philadelphia, Pa.
Trevor A. D’Souza (B.S.E. 1987)
Managing Director/Partner
Mason Wells Venture Capital
Milwaukee, Wis.
John R. Heisse, Esq. (B.C.E. 1976)
Partner and Chair, Construction and
Government Contracts
Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP
San Francisco, Calif.
Thomas E. Laux (B.S.E. ’76, M.M.E. 1979)
Program Executive Officer
Air ASW, Assault and Special Mission Programs
U.S. Naval Air Systems Command
Patuxent River, Md.
Brien F. Morgan (B.E.E. 1987)
Managing Partner
Detente Group
McLean, Va.
Mark A. Peacock (B.Chem.E. 1983)
Principal
Archstone Consulting
Chicago, Ill.
Vincent N. Sica (B.M.E. 1983)
Vice President, Special Programs
Lockheed Martin
Fairfax, Va.
Barbara C. Wagner (B.S.Arch. 1980)
Senior Vice President
Clark Construction Group – California, LP
Costa Mesa, Calif.
For more information, contact:
Seated (from left): Thomas Laux, Brien Morgan, Dean Nguyen, Matthew Burns. Standing (from right): John Heisse, Barbara
Wagner, Vincent Sica.
Mark Roberts
Director <strong>of</strong> Development
<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>
robertsm@cua.edu
fall2008 | 9

cuaengineer
2007–2008 Honor Roll <strong>of</strong> Donors
The <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> gratefully acknowledges the following alumni and friends for their generosity. This list includes donors who made gifts between
May 1, 2007, and April 30, 2008. We have strived to list everyone correctly. If you find an error or omission, please contact us.
Anonymous
Jonathan J. Aarons, B.S.E. 1982
Adeyemi Adesina, M.S.C.E. 2005
American Electric Power
American Global Association, Inc.
Thomas J. Anessi, B.C.E. 1956
James B. Beckwith, B.S.Chem.E. 1983
J. Neil Birch, M.E.E. 1961, D.Engr. 1966
Mrs. Charles A. Bloedorn
Gregory F. Bock, M.S.E. 1973
John E. Burns, B.E.E. 1985
Matthew J. Burns, B.E.E. 1980
Robert C. Burns, B.M.E. 1951
Ronald Burrell
Courtney B. Burroughs, M.S.E. 1970, Ph.D. 1977
Michael P. Canavan, M.S.E. 1997
Joan R. Carlberg, M.S.E. 1971
Joseph L. Carlini, B.M.E. 1984
John J. Cecilio, M.Chem.E. 1971
James C. Chapman, B.A. 1983
Clark Construction Group, LLC
Donna M. Cookson, M.S.N. 1970
Ronald E. Couchot, M.M. 1978
H. Bruce Cranford, B.S.E. 1968
David L. Danner, Ph.D. 1982
Laura L. Dawson
Rex G. Early, B.A. 1953, B.Arch. 1953
Edward M. Nagel Foundation
ExxonMobil Foundation
Frederick R. Favo, B.Arch.E. 1955
Fidelity Investments Foundation
Ramsey W. Flynn
Jude Eric Franklin, B.E.E. 1965, M.E.E. 1968,
Ph.D. 1980
Lucy Elizabeth Fronheiser, B.M.E. 2002
G.T. McDonald Enterprises, Inc.
Christopher Gagliardi, B.C.E. 1995
Richard W. Galiher, LL.B. 1935, B.A. 1938
Jeffrey E. Giangiuli, M.S.E. 1991
Jeanine M. Gibbons, B.S.E. 1987
Albert A. Grant, B.C.E. 1948
Paul J. Guercio
Michael J. Hackert, B.E.E. 1980
Lawrence J. Hannon, M.M.E. 1979
Stephanie J. Healy
John R. Heisse II, B.C.E. 1976
Constance K. H<strong>of</strong>fman
Rembert F. Jones, M.C.E. 1964, Ph.D. 1973
Ursula Kelnh<strong>of</strong>er
Charles D. Kepple, M.C.E. 1977
John J. Klisch, B.E.E. 1962
Francois J. Koenig, B.E.E. 1976
George F. Korkmas, B.S.Chem.E. 1952
Thomas E. Laux, B.S.E. 1977, M.M.E. 1979
Wah Hing Lee, B.E.E. 1973
Lockheed Martin
Michael Lombardi
Aileen Mary MacDonald, B.S.E. 1979
Joanne Magoulas, M.C.E. 1984
William D. Mark, B.M.E. 1956
Richard W. Martin, B.C.E. 1949
Thomas E. Maslen, B.C.E. 1982
Robert E. Matthews, B.M.E. 1950
Gordon H. McCormick, B.A. 1943
Elizabeth A. McGuire
Gerald S. McKenna, B.C.E. 1949
Edward J. Michuda, B.M.E. 1950
Brien F. Morgan, B.E.E. 1987
Anthony C. Newbauer, B.M.E. 1975
Northrop Grumman Foundation
James G. O’Boyle
Robert E. Oldani, M.S.E. 1997
Sheila C. Palmer, B.M.E. 1990
Estate <strong>of</strong> Thomas W. Pangborn
Ge<strong>of</strong>frey A. Pascoe, B.E.E. 1984
Mark A. Peacock, B.Chem.E. 1983
James W. Pereira, B.C.E. 1951
Frank J. Pruss, B.E.E. 1985
Dorothy E. Przygocki, B.A.E. 1947
Thomas A. Pugliese, B.S.Chem.E. 1964
John H. Quillinan, B.A. 1949
Raytheon Company
Nathan H. Rinehart, M.S.E. 1990
John A. Robbins, B.C.E. 1950
Albert E. Rottini, B.S.Arch. 1981
Nabil S. Saad, M.Chem.E. 1972, Ph.D. 1974
Serafin Y. Samson, B.S.E. 1985
Brian Walter Sheron, Ph.D. 1975
Vincent N. Sica, B.M.E. 1983
Russell A. Smith, M.M.E. 1964, Ph.D. 1969
Steven J. Smith, B.C.E. 1990, M.C.E. 1992
Christopher J. Snodgrass, B.M.E. 2003
J. Michael Suraci, B.S.E.E. 1962
Anthony Taddeo, B.S.E. 1987
Daniel J. Tracy, B.S.E. 1967
Barbara C. Wagner, B.S.Arch. 1980
John Mack Wall, M.S.E. 1982, M.C.E. 1986
Kate Tremper Walser, B.B.E. 1996
Chauncey Edward Warner, B.A. 1951
Robert A. Wilson, M.M.E. 1971
Jonathan Carl Wright, B.E.E. 1981
Addison Yeaman
10 | cuaengineer

cuaengineer
Robert Burns Receives
2007 <strong>Engineering</strong> Award
In honor <strong>of</strong> his outstanding achievements in the
field <strong>of</strong> engineering, Robert (Bob) Burns, B.M.E.
1951, received the 2007 <strong>Engineering</strong> Distinguished
Alumni Award at the October 2007 homecoming
luncheon. Accepting on his behalf was Burns’ son,
Matt Burns, B.E.E. 1980. More than 80 students,
faculty, alumni, administrators and staff were on
hand at the October 2007 homecoming luncheon,
where Dean Nguyen presented the plaque following
brief remarks by Provost James Brennan.
Sixty years ago, in 1947, Robert Burns returned
home from serving in World War II, and enrolled
in engineering classes at CUA on the GI Bill. He
graduated with a Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Mechanical
<strong>Engineering</strong> degree in 1951 and worked for an
engineering firm in Washington, D.C. opening a
branch <strong>of</strong>fice in Philadelphia, where the company
was working on a project for the airport. When
the project was completed, Burns stayed to
start his own firm in Philadelphia: Robert C.
Burns Associates.
Under his leadership, Robert C. Burns Associates
provided mechanical, electrical and plumbing
engineering services. He developed expertise in
airfield lighting systems, for which he gained
international recognition. In 1972 he received an
<strong>Engineering</strong> Achievement Award from the American
Council <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> Companies for the design
<strong>of</strong> an in-pavement airfield lighting system. Today
the firm, now called Burns <strong>Engineering</strong>, Inc. is run
by his sons Matt and John, and continues to thrive.
Burns was a founding member <strong>of</strong> the Consulting
Engineers Council <strong>of</strong> Philadelphia and has taken
the city’s history to heart. As host committee cochairman
for the 1981 ACEC National Convention,
Burns dressed up like Ben Franklin to greet engineers
visiting Philadelphia. He served on the City
<strong>of</strong> Philadelphia’s Electrical Code Advisory Board, as
well as the American Arbitration Association. He is
a member <strong>of</strong> several pr<strong>of</strong>essional organizations,
including the Pennsylvania Society <strong>of</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essional
Engineers, the Illuminating <strong>Engineering</strong> Society;
Matthew Burns, son <strong>of</strong> Robert Burns
and the American Society <strong>of</strong> Heating, Refrigeration
and Air Conditioning. Burns is a pr<strong>of</strong>essional engineer,
registered in Pennsylvania and 23 other
states. He retired in 1991 and currently resides in
Media, Delaware County, Pa., with his wife,
Betty. Mr. and Mrs. Burns have four sons —
three <strong>of</strong> whom are electrical engineers from
CUA — and eight grandchildren.
Vietnamese Students Arrived at CUA for 2+2 Program
The 2+2 program between the CUA <strong>School</strong>
opinion after being at CUA for a year, the
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> and the International
Vietnamese students expressed their happiness
with the size <strong>of</strong> CUA, particularly in
University <strong>of</strong> the Vietnam National
University-Ho Chi Minh City had a good
terms <strong>of</strong> student-faculty interaction, small
start. After the Undergraduate Board <strong>of</strong> the
class size and personal attention. In addition,
CUA Academic Senate approved the proposed
2+2 program in May 2007, an
facilities and engineering curricular that
they were impressed by the laboratory
agreement was <strong>of</strong>ficially signed by the two
emphasize design and experiments versus
institutions. Students who participate in this
the theoretical emphasis <strong>of</strong> the curriculum
2+2 program spend the first two years at
at HCMIU. “The students here at CUA can
HCMIU and the last two years <strong>of</strong> their bachelor’s
degree program at CUA. As a result <strong>of</strong>
pared to my university. They are very helpful
access more easily to pr<strong>of</strong>essors as com-
the agreement, three Vietnamese students
and friendly…The CUA campus is so big
arrived at CUA in September 2007. Despite
and beautiful,” said Thang Hoang. Trang
its modest size, this group <strong>of</strong> students
Dinh added, “The university and the dean’s
From left: Du Le, Trang Dinh, Thang Hoang
made history at the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>
<strong>of</strong>fice really helped us a lot to adapt to the
because it was the first-ever group <strong>of</strong> students
who transferred to CUA together as a group from a foreign institution better. We have a chance to practice by doing many class projects that deal with
new life here. The program at CUA is a lot
thanks to a 2+2 program.
real world problems.” All these positive comments in no way implied that
Du V. Le and Thang Hoang major in biomedical engineering and electrical everything was perfect. The students initially encountered issues adapting to
engineering, respectively, while Trang Dinh studies electrical engineering. life in the United States, registering for courses, transferring credits, and
Despite some initial difficulties with the English language, all transfer students finding <strong>of</strong>f-campus housing. The <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> has conducted a
managed to be on the dean’s list for both semesters <strong>of</strong> the 2007-2008 survey with the transfer students whose feedback will be used to improve
academic year by earning a grade point average <strong>of</strong> over 3.5. Asked for their the 2+2 program to better serve the students coming to CUA in the future.
fall2008 | 11

cuaengineer
Exploring Global
Educational
Opportunities
Continuing to expand international programs <strong>of</strong>
the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>, Dean Nguyen and his
directors <strong>of</strong> international programs visited eight
universities in Europe and Asia during the 2007–
2008 academic year. In August 2007, the dean and
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Frank Pao met with the dean and key
<strong>of</strong>ficials and visited the laboratory facilities <strong>of</strong> the
engineering school <strong>of</strong> The Catholic University <strong>of</strong>
Leuven, Belgium. The next month, during a trip to
Portugal to accept a leadership award from the
International Network <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> Education
and Research in Coimbra, the dean, along with a
CUA delegation, met the vice-rector and dean <strong>of</strong>
engineering <strong>of</strong> The Catholic University <strong>of</strong> Lisbon
and visited their facilities. The two schools signed
a memorandum <strong>of</strong> understanding to explore
collaboration in research and education.
In February 2008, Dean Nguyen, Pao, and
Uyen Nguyen, Ph.D., who was recently appointed
International Director <strong>of</strong> Programs in Asia, visited
Kasetart University in Bangkok, Thailand, and
signed an MOU with the faculty <strong>of</strong> engineering <strong>of</strong>
this university to develop mutual education and
research programs. While in Thailand, the CUA
delegation also visited Burapha University in
Chonburi, meeting with the dean and faculty <strong>of</strong> the
college <strong>of</strong> engineering <strong>of</strong> this university. An MOU
was also signed between the two engineering
schools with goals similar to the one signed with
KU.
After the Thailand trip, Dean Nguyen, Director
Nguyen and Associate Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Binh Tran, Ph.D.,
chair <strong>of</strong> the CUA biomedical engineering
department, visited the International University
<strong>of</strong> the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh
City, where an agreement was signed by the two
institutions to re-energize the existing 2+2
program. Dean Nguyen gave a presentation to the
faculty and students about CUA and the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong>
<strong>Engineering</strong> and explained the application
process <strong>of</strong> the 2+2 program. The CUA delegation
then visited the Saigon Technology University,
signing an MOU with this university. At STU, Dean
Nguyen received an honorary pr<strong>of</strong>essorship. Dean
Nguyen and Director Nguyen then traveled to
Danang, Vietnam, visiting with <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>of</strong> Duy Tan
University and University <strong>of</strong> Danang, with the
probability <strong>of</strong> an MOU to be signed with these
universities in the near future.
12 | cuaengineer
Dean Nguyen received the leadership award at the INEER banquet in Coimbra, Portugal.
Faculty and administrators <strong>of</strong> CUA and Kasetart University at the MOU signing ceremony.
The signing ceremony <strong>of</strong> the MOU between CUA and the Saigon Technology University.

cuaengineer
<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> <strong>Embarks</strong> on First Hong Kong Exchange
Civil engineering student Thomas Lee has wanted
to travel to Asia since he first met a group <strong>of</strong>
Japanese children when he was in the fourth
grade. Lee got his wish in January, when he
flew to Hong Kong as one <strong>of</strong> five CUA students
participating in the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>’s
pioneer study-abroad student exchange.
Lee, along with fellow juniors Kristen Kennedy,
Sarah Luffy, Kathryn Kazior and Emily Growney,
studied last spring at the Hong Kong Polytechnic
University in the first <strong>of</strong> several student-exchange
programs that will link CUA’s engineering school
and foreign universities.
Besides realizing a childhood dream, Lee sees
this as an opportunity to gain experience in the
international engineering world that might set
him apart from other young engineers.
In fact, China is producing more engineers
than the United States and, increasingly, U.S.
engineering firms are outsourcing their work and
<strong>of</strong>fices to China, says engineering Dean Charles
Nguyen, making China a hotbed <strong>of</strong> engineering
activity. China’s ongoing industrial and economic
boom also provides plenty <strong>of</strong> work for engineers.
As part <strong>of</strong> the exchange, nine students from
Hong Kong Polytechnic took courses at CUA for
the spring semester. The CUA students arrived in
Hong Kong on Jan. 9. Students studying at CUA
from Hong Kong Polytechnic arrived on campus
in mid-January.
The exchange with Hong Kong Polytechnic has
been several years in the making, part <strong>of</strong> what
Nguyen sees as a necessary <strong>of</strong>fering for top
American engineering schools. Other exchange
programs are planned with universities in Taiwan,
Vietnam, Malaysia and China. As with Hong Kong
Polytechnic, CUA students in these future programs
will attend an overseas university for a semester
while paying tuition at CUA and earning credit
toward their CUA degrees.
This year’s crop <strong>of</strong> CUA students are biomedical
and civil engineering majors, and their courses
while in Hong Kong focused on the core curricula
<strong>of</strong> those subjects, taught in English.
While students took the same core curricula
<strong>of</strong>fered at CUA, the benefit <strong>of</strong> taking those courses
in China is an opportunity to see, firsthand, how a
country with such an emerging, global engineering
presence frames those subjects.
In preparation for their travels, the five CUA
students spent the fall 2007 semester preparing
to better integrate into Chinese culture by taking
Chinese 101, an introductory course on Chinese
language and culture organized by the engineering
school in collaboration with the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> Arts and
Sciences.
The students stayed in Hong Kong until May,
when the semester ended, with an option to
extend the stay. Many <strong>of</strong> the students traveled in
mainland China during their exchange. Dean
Nguyen visited them in February to observe the
program and see how they were acclimating.
Nguyen says he believes these partnerships
are a two-way street, allowing for the best and
brightest foreign engineers to attend CUA for a
semester — and perhaps return here for graduate
school.
“This study abroad program was established to
make our future graduates fully immersed in what
is, increasingly, a global engineering market,” says
Dean Nguyen.
(From left) Emily Growney, Thomas Lee Jr.,
Kathryn Kazior, Kristen Kennedy, Sarah Luffy
Hong Kong students in Pangborn Hall.
fall2008 | 13

cuaengineer
Visit Brings Closer
Collaboration
A delegation from Taiwan’s Chung Yuan Christian
University visited the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> on Oct.
26, 2007. Led by President Cheng and his wife, the
group included Pr<strong>of</strong>essor S. P. Tung, dean <strong>of</strong> the
College <strong>of</strong> Science; Pr<strong>of</strong>essor S. H. Wang, director
<strong>of</strong> the Center <strong>of</strong> Alumni Services; and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor J.
T. Teng <strong>of</strong> the Department <strong>of</strong> Mechanical <strong>Engineering</strong>.
In 2006, Dean Nguyen worked with Teng, then
dean <strong>of</strong> CYCU’s College <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>, to draft a
memorandum <strong>of</strong> understanding with CYCU, which
fostered collaboration between the two schools.
The CYCU delegation came to CUA to forge a closer
partnership relation between two institutions and
for further discussion <strong>of</strong> collaboration on 4+1
and 1+1 graduate degree programs.
The delegation toured the research and instruction
laboratories at the departments <strong>of</strong> biomedical engineering
and electrical engineering. The group also
met with Provost James Brennan and Very Reverend
David M. O’Connell, C.M., the university president.
The visit concluded with a dinner hosted by
Dean Nguyen and his wife at their home, attended
by the delegation and several engineering faculty.
CYCU president visited with CUA president,
Father O’Connell.
CYCU president and CUA provost Brennan,
during the CUA visit.
U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> Defense Honors
CUA Graduate Student
Rocco Arizzi has been overcoming hurdles since the age <strong>of</strong> 3, when he was diagnosed with
spinal muscular atrophy. Last December, Arizzi was recognized for his many accomplishments in
the face <strong>of</strong> adversity: The Catholic University graduate student and Naval Surface Warfare Center
employee received the Department <strong>of</strong> Defense Outstanding Employee with a Disability Award for
2007 — the only naval employee worldwide to receive that honor.
Arizzi, who is wheelchair bound and has limited use <strong>of</strong> his hands, has been balancing his doctoral
research with a full-time job with the center in Washington, D.C., for the last four years as
he works toward a doctorate in electrical engineering.
“There are a lot <strong>of</strong> ways that people with disabilities can participate in our national defense and
they may not realize it,” Arizzi says. “I hope something like this will, in the future, put into the minds <strong>of</strong>
children with disabilities that they can make a positive impact on their country — without necessarily
being a soldier.”
Arizzi has been raising awareness about spinal muscular atrophy — and the potential for those
afflicted to lead full and active lives — since he was selected as the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s
Goodwill Ambassador for New Jersey at age 4. He became the National Goodwill Ambassador soon after.
At age 16, Arizzi Rocco was one <strong>of</strong> 200 Texas high school students chosen to attend the
Texas Academy <strong>of</strong> Mathematics and Science, a two-year early entry college program, at the
University <strong>of</strong> North Texas. He received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at the
University <strong>of</strong> Texas in San Antonio. And while enrolled in his master’s degree studies at Florida
Atlantic University, Arizzi worked as an adjunct algebra instructor and tutor at a local community
college.
“Rocco’s achievement is truly exceptional and well deserved,” said Mark Mirotznik, associate
pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> electrical engineering and Arizzi’s doctoral adviser. “CUA's Department <strong>of</strong> Electrical
<strong>Engineering</strong> is very fortunate to have a graduate student like him. He is a very gifted engineer, conducting
research on how naval ship designers can learn from nature when designing new electronic
sensing systems. Above all, however, he is simply a great person who inspires everyone around him.”
14 | cuaengineer

cuaengineer
Curbing Global Warming Workshop
Hosted by Center for Environment and Energy
In October 2007, 70 multinational experts from the
United States, China and Africa came to CUA’s campus
for a two-day workshop organized by the new
CUA’s Center for Environment and Energy under
the direction <strong>of</strong> Frank H.P. Pao, Ph.D., pr<strong>of</strong>essor
<strong>of</strong> civil engineering. Participants — pr<strong>of</strong>essors
from Catholic University, Howard University, West
Kentucky University, West Virginia University, 10
experts from universities and institutions in China,
as well as representatives <strong>of</strong> governmental institutions
— addressed the topic <strong>of</strong> how to curb
global warming by carbon sequestration. They
were welcomed to CUA by Provost James Brennan,
Ph.D., and Dean Charles Nguyen, D.Sc.
The workshop focused on technology that
converts CO 2 from the flue gas <strong>of</strong> fossil fuel-fired
power plants into a water-soluble and carboncontaining
fertilizer, which ultimately leaches to
underground aquifers. There it eventually turns
into limestone, a stable form <strong>of</strong> carbon.
Considered an environmental “win-win” as it
removes carbon from the air and provides fertilizer,
this technology will help curb global warming
and benefit both developing countries that rely
heavily on agricultural production as well as
developed countries, says Pao, who co-chaired
the workshop with Jerry Shang, chief scientist for
the Center for Environment & Energy.
Among the financial supporters for the workshop
was America Global Association, Inc. <strong>of</strong> New
York, a trade and culture exchange company working
primarily with the United States and China. A
working group <strong>of</strong> multinational experts identified
at the workshop is undertaking efforts to further
develop this technology in both the United States
and China. A second international workshop will
be organized in the near future to report and
assess the progress <strong>of</strong> this new technology.
William Readdy
Talks <strong>of</strong> Astronaut
<strong>Engineering</strong>
Challenges
William Readdy, managing partner <strong>of</strong> Discovery
Partners International, LLC, visited the CUA
campus to speak with approximately 30
mechanical engineering students in December
2007. Sponsored by ASME, Readdy’s speech on
space flight through the years was informative
and socially engaging — the students shared
conversation and pizza with Readdy prior to the
presentation.
The former astronaut’s firsthand knowledge <strong>of</strong>
NASA and the technological challenges <strong>of</strong> space
flight gave students an insider’s perspective on
life as an astronaut, many <strong>of</strong> the engineering
challenges that are involved in space flight, and
the management <strong>of</strong> the U.S. space program.
Throughout the presentation Readdy took time to
give detailed answers to all <strong>of</strong> the students’
questions.
Readdy, a graduate <strong>of</strong> the United States Naval
Academy with a degree in aeronautical engineering,
earned his wings as a naval aviator. He
went on to become a Navy test pilot, serving as
the project test pilot on several programs. He
logged 7,000 flying hours in more than 60 types
<strong>of</strong> fixed wing aircraft and helicopters and more
than 550 carrier landings. He was selected as an
astronaut by NASA in 1987. He is a veteran pilot
astronaut with three space flights — STS-42
(Jan. 22–30, 1992), STS-51 (Sept. 12–22, 1993)
and STS-79 (Sept. 16–26, 1996) — and has
logged more than 650 hours in space. He subsequently
served as the first manager <strong>of</strong> the Space
Shuttle Program and the associate director <strong>of</strong>
space flight for NASA, overseeing the safe return
to flight after the loss <strong>of</strong> the Columbia.
Attendees <strong>of</strong> the Curbing Global Warming Workshop.
fall2008 | 15

cuaengineer
Senior Awarded
ASME Scholarship
Mentos Challenge
Piques <strong>Engineering</strong> Students and Faculty
Omar Monterrubio, a senior mechanical engineering
major, has received a scholarship for
$1,000 from the Washington, D.C., branch <strong>of</strong> the
American Society <strong>of</strong> Mechanical Engineers.
Monterrubio, who juggles his many campus
community activities with a work-study position in
the Department <strong>of</strong> Mechanical <strong>Engineering</strong>, adds
this scholarship to several others at CUA.
Monterrubio became interested in engineering
while still in high school, gaining early experience
as an intern at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in
Houston, Texas, for two summers, where he
worked with biomedical and electrical engineers.
He graduated from Mount Carmel High <strong>School</strong> in
Houston as valedictorian in 2005. He also received
Mount Carmel’s MVP award for varsity soccer.
At CUA, Monterrubio is the treasurer <strong>of</strong> the
student chapter <strong>of</strong> the American Society <strong>of</strong>
Mechanical Engineers, vice president <strong>of</strong> the Latin
Alliance Club, an extraordinary minister <strong>of</strong> Holy
Communion, a member <strong>of</strong> FOCUS (Filipino
Organization <strong>of</strong> Catholic University Students), and
member <strong>of</strong> the Career Services Student Advisory
Board. He also plays intramural soccer. After
graduation in May 2009, he plans to seek fulltime
employment and then later plans to pursue
a master’s degree in engineering.
Almost every college student who has seen You
Tube can tell you what happens when you drop a
handful <strong>of</strong> Mentos candies into a bottle <strong>of</strong> diet
soda: a spontaneous eruption <strong>of</strong> soda-foam,
shooting out the top <strong>of</strong> the soda bottle. Two years
ago, this rather unassuming bit <strong>of</strong> physics gave
Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Electrical <strong>Engineering</strong>
Scott Mathews, Ph.D., the idea to organize an
engineering competition: The CUA Diet Soda and
Mentos Challenge.
He challenged all the students <strong>of</strong> the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong>
<strong>Engineering</strong> to design and build “nozzles” that
would screw onto a standard two-liter soda bottle,
hold a number <strong>of</strong> Mentos inside, confine the stream
<strong>of</strong> soda to get the “fountain” to shoot up as high as
possible after the Mentos were dropped into the
diet soda. The <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> <strong>of</strong>fered a
cash prize <strong>of</strong> $50 to the student who could produce
the tallest fountain. The event was a huge
success, with about 25 students participating. It
was an excellent example <strong>of</strong> CUA engineering
students learning hands-on engineering.
The event was so successful that Mathews
and the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> decided to do it
again this year. This time, Mathews handed <strong>of</strong>f
most <strong>of</strong> the work to student Patrick Boughan,
president <strong>of</strong> the IEEE student chapter at CUA,
and his fellow chapter members. They bought
dozens <strong>of</strong> bottles <strong>of</strong> diet soda, bulk packages <strong>of</strong>
Mentos, and <strong>of</strong> course lots <strong>of</strong> hamburgers and
hot dogs to entice hungry engineers to participate.
Once again, the event was a great success!
More than 30 students participated, and this
year a few pr<strong>of</strong>essors even tried out some <strong>of</strong>
their own nozzle designs (although they were not
eligible for the $50 cash prize). About 50 people
showed up to watch and eat. Last year’s record
<strong>of</strong> 32 feet was broken, albeit by only one foot!
Mathews and the IEEE Chapter plan to hold the
event every year and may broaden the project to
include a separate challenge for local high school
students.
A CUA student tests his design in the annual Mentos challenge. Students measured their “fountains” against an
oversized ruler.
16 | cuaengineer

Concrete Canoe:
Lessons in
Stewardship,
Teamwork, New
Beginnings
A group <strong>of</strong> CUA engineering students traveled to
West Virginia to compete in the American Society <strong>of</strong>
Civil Engineers’ annual concrete canoe competition.
The Virginia conference was co-hosted by
Fairmont State University and West Virginia
Institute <strong>of</strong> Technology, and it featured competition,
engineering-related sightseeing and teambuilding
events.
The process <strong>of</strong> designing and preparing the
canoe and team for the competition started in
August 2007. The team faced many new challenges
from the beginning. The rules for the concrete
mixture had been significantly changed from
prior years, which required the team to test new
and unconventional aggregates, including air s<strong>of</strong>t
gun pellets. Testing those pellets led to the idea
<strong>of</strong> using recycled plastic cylindrical pellets. This fit
with CUA’s efforts to be good stewards concerned
with the carbon footprint <strong>of</strong> the projects and
with to recycling, reducing and reusing as much
as possible.
As the team aggregate tested the plastic
cylindrical pellets over the academic year, it
found that recycled plastic chips with jagged
edges would better integrate themselves with the
concrete mix. The canoe was then created using
a male Styr<strong>of</strong>oam form and three layers <strong>of</strong> concrete
placed in one day over about a 12-hour period.
With the placement complete, the canoe was cured
inside a humidity tent created by students.
Following the curing, the team took several
weeks to put the finishing touches on the canoe
cuaengineer
and prepare for the trip to West Virginia. In honor
<strong>of</strong> the April visit to campus <strong>of</strong> Pope Benedict XVI,
the canoe was named The Vatican Vessel and
stained an appropriate gold to match the theme <strong>of</strong>
the papal visit.
The competition challenged the students and
carried lessons that could not have been learned
in a traditional setting, bringing them together to
find new solutions when things did not work
according to plan. The team is proud to have
placed third in the oral presentation section <strong>of</strong>
the competition.
fall2008 | 17

cuaengineer
Hovercraft Aids Humanitarian Efforts
CUA students and faculty work together on a project to help in the
global humanitarian landmine crisis
The challenge is daunting: how to help rid the
world <strong>of</strong> landmines left behind after military conflicts.
But a group <strong>of</strong> CUA engineering students
spent their senior year tackling the issue, coming
up with an elegant and relatively low-cost possibility.
Landmines kill and maim civilians in more
than 100 countries, <strong>of</strong>ten decades after a conflict
has passed, and they represent a pr<strong>of</strong>ound
humanitarian crisis. Fourth-year mechanical
engineering students set out to use their senior
project class to design and construct a prototype
robotic hovercraft capable <strong>of</strong> carrying and
powering landmine detection hardware into
minefields. Building on the previous year’s design
project, students devised a fully autonomous
craft so that no operator is put in harm’s way.
The hovercraft concept, which uses a large
fan to create a cushion <strong>of</strong> air that the vehicle
rides on, has several important advantages over
the vehicles with tires that are currently used for
this dangerous yet important work. These
include the inherent nimbleness <strong>of</strong> a craft that
rides on air that allows the vehicle to move from
side to side as easily as it moves forward and
backward and over all manner <strong>of</strong> terrain. In fact
the craft can operate over sand, marshes and
wetlands as well as grassy pastures and never
get stuck. Riding on this cushion <strong>of</strong> air also distributes
the weight on the vehicle and its payload
over the entire footprint <strong>of</strong> the craft, reducing the
ground pressure to about 0.1 psi, far below the
approximate 5 psi pressure required to detonate
the most sensitive mines.
Using rigorous engineering design practices
and state <strong>of</strong> the art s<strong>of</strong>tware, students created a
craft with a deceptively simple structure made <strong>of</strong>
wood, a lawnmower engine, a PC, and other
commonly available components. This inexpensive,
reliable craft is also repairable in the field using
rudimentary tools — important details in the
developing countries where most <strong>of</strong> these landmines
are located.
A gratifying sign <strong>of</strong> the value <strong>of</strong> this project
came when the team won a competitive grant
from the U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> State, Office <strong>of</strong>
Weapons Removal and Abatement, to further
develop their prototype. The students enjoyed
this opportunity to use the sometimes abstract
book skills learned in the classroom to build
something that could serve the world community
on this critically important problem and see that
engineering is ultimately about solving real
problems in the world we live in.
Omar Monterrubio working on the hovercraft.
18 | cuaengineer

cuaengineer
CUA Continues Partnership with Clark
Construction Group
Volunteers, corporate contributions help students and faculty
2008 COMMENCEMENT
The Catholic University <strong>of</strong> America <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> has created the Clark Construction Group, LLC
Fund for Construction Management to recognize our long-standing partnership with one <strong>of</strong> the most
respected contracting firms in the United States. Supported by contributions from the firm, located in
Bethesda, Md., the Clark Fund will support CUA’s <strong>Engineering</strong> Construction Management Program.
“We are extraordinarily grateful to Clark Construction Group for supporting our students,” said
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Poul V. Lade, Ph.D., chair <strong>of</strong> the Department <strong>of</strong> Civil <strong>Engineering</strong>. “Their generosity will allow
us to <strong>of</strong>fer scholarships to some very bright students, and give our students and faculty an opportunity
to attend conferences and visit construction sites.”
Three employees <strong>of</strong> Clark Construction Group have also agreed to serve as alumni-volunteers: John
P. Cooper (B.C.E. 1997), project executive; Lawrence E. Moore II (B.C.E. 1994), director <strong>of</strong> engineering;
and Barbara C. Wagner (B.S.Arch. 1980), senior vice president. The first three scholarship winners are
pictured below.
Angel A. Pena Orozco, master’s student James P. Cooper, master's student E. Phillip Schied, doctoral candidate
Biomedical <strong>Engineering</strong> Names
2008–2009 Nagel Scholars
Each year, through a generous financial gift from the Edward M. Nagel Foundation, CUA’s biomedical
engineering department identifies and recognizes the program’s top students, its Nagel Scholars.
Edward M. Nagel was an entrepreneur and businessman who co-founded the OroweatTM Baking
Company. His immigrant experience, especially during the Great Depression, engendered in Nagel a
strong desire to support hard-working, enterprising students seeking an education. In 1992, he founded
the Edward M. Nagel Foundation to provide scholarships for students. CUA is one <strong>of</strong> only six universities
funded by the foundation throughout the United States. The biomedical engineering department
selects Nagel Scholars based upon demonstrated excellence in the classroom and service, as well as
active involvement in the CUA community and beyond. In addition, these students are chosen for their
potential for entrepreneurial success and leadership in the field <strong>of</strong> biomedical engineering. The
cumulative average GPA <strong>of</strong> this year’s Nagel Scholars is 3.91.
The 2008–2009 Nagel Scholars are Thomas Giuliani (2009), Megan Jamiokowski (2010),
Theresa Murray (2010), Katherine Rucky (2010), Jenna Graham (2011), Andrew Gravunder (2011),
Patrick Noonan (2011), Timothy Mierzwa (2012) and Joseph McAnaney (2012). Each student named
receives a scholarship in the amount <strong>of</strong> $5,000 for each <strong>of</strong> their four years <strong>of</strong> undergraduate study.
fall2008 | 19

cuaengineer
Engineers without Borders <strong>Embarks</strong> to El Salvador
After months <strong>of</strong> preparation, a group from CUA
finally set foot in the small village <strong>of</strong> Santa Clara
in El Salvador in January <strong>of</strong> 2008. The eight
undergraduate students from CUA; Gunnar
Lucko, assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> civil engineering;
civil engineer and CUA alumnus Tim Garland;
and architect Alex Higbee arrived in Santa Clara,
a village <strong>of</strong> approximately 2,100 inhabitants in
the rural eastern part <strong>of</strong> El Salvador, to begin two
projects under the umbrella <strong>of</strong> CUA’s Engineers
Without Borders chapter. The projects are expected
to be completed after several more visits.
The EWB chapter, started in 2005 with guidance
from John Judge, Ph.D., assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong>
mechanical engineering, draws active members
from several engineering departments. The CUA
chapter, collaborating with the local pr<strong>of</strong>essional
chapter <strong>of</strong> this humanitarian organization, is
designing a distribution system for potable water
that will serve 260 households, with an ultimate
capacity <strong>of</strong> 400. Most Santa Clara residents now
supply their drinking water from hand-dug wells,
which have been found to contain various
bacteriological contaminants. Public health
proponents will be trained with support from
George Washington University to augment the
water system with information on hygiene.
For the second project, the group seeks to
develop low-cost structural solutions to improve
earthquake-resistance. The students prepared for
the site inspection in Santa Clara through coursework
in two Disaster-Mitigating Design courses, CE
434 and CE 435, taught by Lucko and Panos
Tsopelas, Ph.D., associate pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> civil
engineering. This project is funded by a grant from
the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators
Alliance. Students and the two instructors have
been working together in a workshop-like learning
environment to design a small building for Santa
Clara that will house the <strong>of</strong>fices <strong>of</strong> the new water
administration and a health clinic. Having studied
the local building techniques and the impact <strong>of</strong>
the 2001 earthquake firsthand helps the students
design a safer and healthier facility appropriate
for the conditions and culture <strong>of</strong> Santa Clara.
The weeklong stay in Santa Clara gave CUA
students plenty <strong>of</strong> time to explore the local topography,
take survey measurements and dig test
trenches to examine the soil. They also built a
prototype household water hookup and greywater
pit with local volunteers. Rounding <strong>of</strong>f the
memorable journey, students interviewed
representatives <strong>of</strong> the National Water Development
Board and the Earth-quake Institute in the capital
city <strong>of</strong> San Salvador.
20 | cuaengineer

Faculty
Grants
■ Brown, J. S., “Identification and Evaluation <strong>of</strong>
Working Fluids for High Temperature Heat
Applications (including replacements for R-
114),” ASHRAE, April 3, 2006–Nov. 1, 2007,
$68,497.
■ Brown, J.S., “Research on Automated Planning
and Programming for Intelligent Systems,
National Institute <strong>of</strong> Standards and Technology,”
April 1, 2006–March 31, 2007, $260,197.
■ Brown, J.S., “Research on Automated Planning
and Programming for Intelligent Systems,”
National Institute <strong>of</strong> Standards and Technology,
April 1, 2007–March 31, 2008, $273,103.
■ Chang, L., “Quantitative Image Analysis <strong>of</strong>
Diffusion Tensor MRI data,” National Institutes <strong>of</strong>
Health (NIH), Sept. 2007–Sept. 2008, $ 40,000.
■ Brennan, Dave (PI), and Hidler, Joseph M.,
(Co-PI), “Telehealth system for cognitivecommunication
treatments,” National Institute
<strong>of</strong> Health, April 2006–March 2008, $341,256.
■ Hidler, Joseph M., “Smart over-ground body
weight support system,” NIDRR
(#H133G050259), Nov. 2005–Oct. 2008,
$448,483.
■ Hidler, Joseph M., (Co-PI), “National Capitol
Area Rehabilitation Research Network (NCAR-
RN),” NIH-NCMRR, Oct. 2005–Sept. 2010,
$517,785 ($3,715,503 total).
■ Hidler, Joseph M., “Zero G: Dynamic Over
Ground Body-Weight Support System,” U.S.
Army Medical Research and Material Command
(USAMRMC), Aug. 2007–Aug. 2008, $241,179.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica (PI), and Hidler,
Joseph M., (Co-PI),”The impact <strong>of</strong> autonomic
dysreflexia on SCI patient skin and its role in
skin ulcer formation,” Christopher and Dana
Reeves Foundation, Aug. 2007–July 2009,
$150,000.
■ Judge, J. A., “Dynamics <strong>of</strong> micro- and
nanomechanical resonator arrays,” National
Science Foundation CAREER Award, May
2008–April 2013, $410,000.
■ Judge, J. A. (PI), and Mathews, S. A. (Co-PI),
“Fabrication and Testing <strong>of</strong> a Blast Concussion
Burst Sensor,” U. S. Army / Office <strong>of</strong> the
Congressionally Directed Medical Research
Programs, June 2008–Nov. 2009, $190,920.
■ Vignola, J. F. (PI) and Judge, J. A. (Co-PI),
“Autonomous Hovercraft Platform for Landmine
Detection Technology,” U.S. Department <strong>of</strong>
State, July 2007–June 2008, $61,777.
■ Vignola, J. F. (PI) and Judge, J. A. (Co-PI),
“Synthetic Aperture Acoustics for Detection <strong>of</strong>
Foam covered IEDs,” U.S. Army Night Vision &
Electronic Sensors Directorate through Alion,
Inc., Sept. 2007– Aug. 2008, $65,000.
■ Kilic, O. “DURIP: Accelerated Reconfigurable
Programming for Hybrid Modeling and
Analysis <strong>of</strong> Complex Systems,” Army Research
Office, May 1, 2007–April 30, 2008, $54000.
■ Kilic, O., “Hardware Accelerated Reconfigurable
Programming for Electromagnetic Simulations
and Optimization <strong>of</strong> Advanced Material Design,”
ONR, April 27, 2007–April 26, 2010,
$230,000.00.
■ Kilic, O., “Enhanced Multi-beam Satellite
Antenna Performance Using Particle Swarm
Optimization,” CUA Grant in Aid, June 2007–
Aug. 2007, $2000.00.
■ Lade, P. V., “Experimental Investigation <strong>of</strong>
Stress Rotation Effects in Soils,” Small Grant
for Exploratory Research (SGER), National
Science Foundation, March 1, 2004–Feb. 28,
2007, $68,023.
■ Lade, P. V., “Instability <strong>of</strong> Geological Materials
under Three-Dimensional Stress Conditions,”
American Chemical Society (The Petroleum
Research Fund), May 1, 2004–Aug. 2008,
$80,000.
■ Lucko, G., “Enabling higher dimensionality <strong>of</strong>
temporal-spatial analysis applied to linear
scheduling <strong>of</strong> construction operations based on
singularity functions in structural engineering.”
National Science Foundation, July 2007–June
2009, $67,571 + $50,000 tuition remission.
■ Lucko, G. (PI), and Tsopelas, P. (Co-PI),
“Teaching structural design, construction
practices, and sustainable technologies for
mitigation <strong>of</strong> natural disaster damages in
coastal and fault areas <strong>of</strong> developing regions,”
National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators
Alliance, July 2006–July 2009, $42,450.
■ Lum, P. S., “Extension <strong>of</strong> the MIME robotic
system for stroke rehabilitation,” Department
<strong>of</strong> Veterans Affairs Merit Review Award, July
2007–June 2011, $612,400.
■ Uswatte (PI), Lum, P. S. (Co-PI), “Home-based
automated therapy <strong>of</strong> arm function after stroke
via tele-rehabilitation,” NIH R01 Award April
2008–March 2012, $1,215,835.
■ Healton (PI), Lum, P. S. (Co-PI), “A Robotic
Exoskeleton for Post-stroke Hand Neuro-rehabilitation,”
U.S. Army Medical Research and
Materiel Command, Nov. 2006–Oct. 2008,
$250,000.
■ Healton (PI), Lum, P. S. (Co-PI), “Neuroscientific
aspects <strong>of</strong> upper extremity amputation,” U.S.
Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
Nov. 2006–Oct. 2008, $200,000.
■ Healton (PI), Lum, P. S. (Co-PI), “Assessment
<strong>of</strong> Motor System Function in the First Days after
Brain Injury,” U.S. Army Medical Research and
Materiel Command Nov. 2006–Oct. 2008,
$200,000.
■ Mathews, Scott A., “Compact Multi-Aperture
Imaging System,” University <strong>of</strong> New Mexico,
2007, $151,890.
■ Mathews, Scott A., (Co-PI), Defense
University Research Instrumentation Project
(DURIP), “Millimeter Wave Characterization
System for Composite Electromagnetic
cuaengineer
Materials,” Office <strong>of</strong> Naval Research (ONR),
2007, $297,000.
■ Mathews, Scott A., (Co-PI), “A Practical
Enhanced-Resolution Integrated Optical-
Digital Imaging Camera (PERIODIC),” Defense
Microelectronics Activity (DMEA), 2007–2009,
$2,699,907.
■ Mathews, Scott A., (Co-PI), “Fabrication and
Testing <strong>of</strong> a Blast Concussion Burst Sensor,”
Congressionally Directed Medical Research
Program (U.S. Army Medical Research
Acquisition Activity June 1, 2008–Nov. 30,
2009, $190,920.00.
■ Mathews, S. A. (Co-PI) and Mirotznik, M. S.
(Co-PI), “Compact Multi-aperture Imaging
Camera,” Disruptive Technology Office <strong>of</strong> the
Director <strong>of</strong> National Intelligence, May 2007 –
Oct. 2007, $112,000.
■ Mirotznik, M. S., “Millimeter Wave
Characterization System for Composite
Electromagnetic Materials,” Office <strong>of</strong> Naval
Research (ONR), Defense University Research
Instrumentation Project (DURIP), April 2007–
May 2008, $297,000.
■ Mirotznik, M. S. (PI), “Electromagnetic Codes
for the Analysis <strong>of</strong> Planar Periodic Structures,”
Navy Surface Warfare Center, Carderock
Division, Oct. 2007–Oct. 2008, $50,000.
■ Mirotznik, M. S. (Co-PI) and Mathews, S. A.
(Co-PI), “A Practical Enhanced-Resolution
Integrated Optical-Digital Imaging Camera
(PERIODIC),” Defense Microelectronics Activity
(DMEA), Dec. 2007–Sept. 2010, $2,699,907.
■ Mirotznik, M. S. (PI), “Design and Modeling <strong>of</strong>
Resonant LWIR Structures,” Army Research
Office (ARO), April 2008–April 2011, $300,000.
■ Mirotznik, M. S. (PI), “Antenna Isolation using
Antireflective Micro-Surface Coatings” Office <strong>of</strong>
Naval Research (ONR), April 2008–April 2010,
$124,534.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica C., “Retinal Oximeter
using Novel Multi-aperture Camera for assessment
<strong>of</strong> early signs <strong>of</strong> Diabetic Retinopathy,”
Coulter Foundation, 2007–2009, $240,000.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica C., and Hidler,
Joseph M., “Skin hypoxia and the formation
<strong>of</strong> skin ulcer in individuals with autonomic
dysreflexia,” Christopher Reeve Foundation.
2007–2009, $140,000.
■ Nguyen, Quan, and Ramella-Roman, Jessica
C.,“Novel Assessment <strong>of</strong> Early Changes in
Diabetic Retinopathy,” NIH-NEI, 2008–2011,
$1,775,811.
■ Regalia, P. A., “Two Problems in Multiuser
Communications over High Occupancy
Channels,” National Science Foundation, Jan.
2007–Dec. 2010, $120,000.
■ Regalia, P. A., “Distributed Estimation in
Wireless Sensor Networks via Expectation
Propagation,” National Science Foundation,
Sept. 2007–Aug. 2010, $194,016.
■ Tran, B. Q. (Co-PI), “Community-based Clinical
eStorefront & In-Home Biomedical Access @
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cuaengineer
Edgewood Terrace,” Agency: Dept <strong>of</strong>
Commerce-TOP/NTIA, Oct. 2004–Sept. 2007,
$679,282.
■ Tran, B.Q., “Evaluation <strong>of</strong> MRI magnetic fields
on implanted medical devices,” Agency: Food
& Drug Administration, Nov. 2007–Dec. 2008,
$86,142.
■ Lucko, G. (PI) and Tsopelas, P. (Co-PI),
“Teaching Structural Design, Construction
Practices, and Sustainable Technologies for
Mitigation <strong>of</strong> Natural Disaster Damages in
Coastal and Fault Areas <strong>of</strong> Developing Regions,”
National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators
Alliance, Aug. 2006–Sept. 2008, $50,000.
■ Wang, Z., “Research <strong>of</strong> Algorithms for Biometric
Data Compression and Verification,” SETECS,
Inc. Dec. 2006–Oct. 2007, $24,000.
■ Wang, Z., “Real-Time, High-Accuracy 3D
Imaging System,” NCIIA, April 2008–Sept.
2009, $14,500.
■ Wilson Jr., O.C., “CAREER: Bone Inspiration in
Research and Education,” National Science
Foundation, March 1, 2007–Feb. 28, 2012,
$450,000.
Presentations and Publications
■ Ahmed, F., “Integrated Fingerprint Verification
method using a composite-signature based
watermarking technique,” Opt. Eng. vol. 46,
087005, Aug. 2007.
■ Ahmed, F., “Intelligent Multimedia for
Information Security,” Invited Speech at the
IEEE International Conference on Computers
and Information Technology, Dhaka,
Bangladesh, Dec. 2007.
■ Ahmed, F., and Ira S. Moskowitz, “Analysis
and Reduction <strong>of</strong> Embedding Error for a semireversible
image authentication watermark,” to
appear in Proc. IASTED International Conference
on Telehealth and Assistive Technologies,
Baltimore, April 2008.
■ Ahmed, F., and Gomes, C., Digital Watermarking
for Digital Rights Management in Handbook <strong>of</strong>
Research on Modern Systems Analysis and
Design Technologies and Applications, 2008
Chapter XXVII, Igi Global.
■ Ahmed, F., and Selvanadin, M. K. B.,
“Fingerprint Reference Verification method
using a Phase-encoding based Watermarking
Technique,” Journal <strong>of</strong> Electronic Imaging, Vol.
17, No. 1, 011010, pp. 1–9, 2008.
■ Moskowitz, I. S.,Lafferty, P. A., and Ahmed, F.,
“Stego Scrubbing — A New Direction for
Image Steganography,” in Proc. 8th Annual
IEEE SMC Information Assurance Workshop
(IAW 2007) United States Military Academy,
West Point, N.Y., pp. 119–126, June 2007.
■ Osicka, T., Freedman, M. T., and Ahmed, F.,
“Characterization <strong>of</strong> Pulmonary Nodules on
Computer Tomography (CT) Scans: sample
size effects on Features Selection and
Classification Performance,” in Proc. SPIE Vol.
22 | cuaengineer
6915, Medical Imaging 2008: Computer Aided
Diagnosis, San Diego, 2008.
■ Brown, J. S., “Evaluation <strong>of</strong> potential R-22
substitute refrigerants using fundamental
thermodynamic parameters,” 22 nd International
Congress <strong>of</strong> Refrigeration, Beijing, China,
August 2007.
■ Brown, J. S., “Evaluation <strong>of</strong> potential R-22
substitute refrigerants using fundamental
thermodynamic parameters,” in Proc. 22 nd
International Congress <strong>of</strong> Refrigeration,
Beijing, China, August 2007.
■ Brown, J. S., “Predicting performance <strong>of</strong> new
refrigerants using the Peng-Robinson equation
<strong>of</strong> state,” International Journal <strong>of</strong> Refrigeration,
Vol. 30, No. 8, pp. 1319–1328, 2007.
■ Brown, J. S., “Preliminary selection <strong>of</strong> R-114
replacement refrigerants using fundamental
thermodynamic parameters,” HVAC&R
Research, Vol. 13, No. 5, pp. 697–709, 2007.
■ Brown, J. S., “Methodology for estimating
thermodynamic parameters and performance
<strong>of</strong> alternative refrigerants,” ASHRAE Winter
Annual Meeting, N.Y., Jan. 2008.
■ Brown, J. S., “Methodology for estimating
thermodynamic parameters and performance
<strong>of</strong> alternative refrigerants,” ASHRAE
Transactions, Vol. 114, No. 1, 2008.
■ Brown, J. S., “Potential R-114 replacement
refrigerants,” ASHRAE Transactions, Vol. 114,
No. 2, 2008.
■ Chang, L. C., Koay, C. G., Deoni, S., and
Pierpaoli, C., “Comparison <strong>of</strong> Linear and Nonlinear
Fitting Methods for Estimating T1 from
SPGR Signals,” ISMRM 15th Scientific Meeting,
Berlin, Germany, May 2007.
■ Chang, L. C., and Pierpaoli, C., “Improving the
Accuracy <strong>of</strong> Diffusion MR Tractography Using
RESTORE,” in Proc. Annual Biomedical
<strong>Engineering</strong> Meeting at Taiwan, Dec. 2007, pp
224–226.
■ Freidlin, R.Z., Ozarslan, E., Komlosh, M. E.,
Chang, L. C., Koay, C. G., Jones, D. K., and
Basser, P. J., “Parsimonious Model Selection
for DTI Tissue Segmentation and Classification:
Study on Simulated and Experimental Data,”
ISMRM 15th Scientific Meeting, Berlin, Germany,
May 2007.
■ Freidlin, R. Z., Özarslan E., Komlosh, M. E.,
Chang, L. C., Koay, C. G., Jones, D. K., and
Basser, P.J., “Parsimonious model selection
for tissue segmentation and classification
applications: A study using simulated and
experimental DTI data,” IEEE Transaction on
Medical Imaging, Vol. 26, Issue 11,
pp.1576–1584, Nov. 2007.
■ Koay, C. G., Chang, L. C., and Basser, P. J.,
“The Cone <strong>of</strong> Uncertainty is Elliptical:
Implications for DTI Tractography,” ISMRM 15th
Scientific Meeting, Berlin, Germany, May 2007.
■ Koay, C. G., Chang, L. C., Pierpaoli, C., and
Basser, P.J., “Diffusion Tensor Representations
and Their Applications to DTI Error Propagation,”
ISMRM 15th Scientific Meeting, Berlin, Germany,
May 2007.
■ Koay, C. G., Chang, L. C., Deoni, S., and
Pierpaoli, C., “An Optimal Framework for T1
Estimation in an SPGR Acquisition,” ISMRM 15th
Scientific Meeting, Berlin, Germany, May 2007.
■ Koay, C. G., Chang, L. C., Pierpaoli, C., and
Basser, P. J., “Error Propagation Framework
for Diffusion Tensor Imaging via Diffusion
Tensor Representations,” IEEE Transaction on
Medical Imaging, Vol. 26, Issue 8,
pp.1017–1034, Aug. 2007.
■ Koay, C. G., Nevo, U., Chang, L. C., Pierpaoli,
C., and Basser, P.J., “The elliptical cone <strong>of</strong>
uncertainty and its normalized measures in
diffusion tensor imaging,” IEEE Transaction on
Medical Imaging (in press).
■ Ozarslan, E., Chang, L. C., Pierpaoli, C., and
Basser, P. J., “Roughness: A reshuffling-variant
differential geometric index for DWI,” ISMRM
15th Scientific Meeting, Berlin, Germany, May
2007.
■ Wu, M., Chang, L. C., Barnett, A. S., Marenco,
S., and Pierpaoli, C., “A Framework for
Evaluating the Performance <strong>of</strong> EPI Distortion
Correction Strategies in Diffusion Tensor MRI,”
ISMRM 15th Scientific Meeting, Berlin,
Germany, May 2007.
■ Waber, D. P., De Moor, C., Forbes, P.W., Almli,
C. R., Botteron, K. N., Leonard, G., Milovan, D.,
Paus, T., Rumsey, J., Chang, L. C., and The
Brain Development Cooperative Group, “The
NIH MRI study <strong>of</strong> normal brain development:
Performance <strong>of</strong> a population-based sample <strong>of</strong>
healthy children aged 6 to 18 years on a
neuropsychological battery,” Journal <strong>of</strong> the
International Neuropsychological Society,
Vol.13, pp.1–18, 2007.
■ Almli, C. R., Rivkin, M. J., McKinstry, R. C.,
Chang, L. C., and The Brain Development
Cooperative Group, “The NIH MRI study <strong>of</strong>
normal brain development (Objective-2):
Newborns, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers,”
NeuroImage, Vol. 35, pp. 308–325, 2007.
■ Black, I., Nichols, D., Pelliccio, M., and Hidler,
J., “Quantification <strong>of</strong> reflex activity in stroke
survivors during an imposed multi-joint leg
extension movement,” Experimental Brain
Research, Vol.183, Issue 2, pp. 271-281, Nov.
2007.
■ Brady, K., Black, I., Brennan, D., and Hidler,
J., “ZeroG: Dynamic over-ground body-weight
support system,” APTA 2008 Combined
Sections Meeting, Feb. 2008.
■ Hidler, J., “21 st -Century Rehabilitation After
Stroke: What Has Six Years <strong>of</strong> Research at
NRH Taught Us,” National Rehabilitation
Hospital, Grand Rounds Series, Nov. 2007.
■ Hidler, J., Carroll, M., and Federovich, E.,
“Strength and coordination in the paretic leg
<strong>of</strong> individuals following acute stroke,” IEEE
Transactions on Neural Systems and
Rehabilitation <strong>Engineering</strong>, Vol.15, Issue 4, pp.
526-534, Dec. 2007.

cuaengineer
■ Hidler, J., “Understanding Lower Extremity
Impairments and Contemporary Treatments
Options for Hemiparetic Stroke Patients,”
University <strong>of</strong> Twente, Netherlands, March 2008.
■ Hidler, J., “New Developments in Lower
Extremity Robotics for Stroke Rehabilitation,”
New York Presbyterian Hospital, Symposium
2008: Advances in Stroke Rehabilitation —
Innovations for Practice, April 2008.
■ Hidler, J., Hamm, L, Lichy, A., and Groah, S.,
“Automating activity-based interventions: the
role <strong>of</strong> robotics,” Journal <strong>of</strong> Rehabilitation
Research and Development Special Issue, (in
press).
■ Hosler-Smythe, C., Brady, K., and Hidler, J.,
“Locomotion therapy in individuals with motor
complete spinal cord injury: effects on health
and well-being,”APTA 2008 Combined Sections
Meeting, Feb. 2008.
■ Lee, S. J., and Hidler, J., “Quantification <strong>of</strong> joint
moment errors associated with inaccurate center
<strong>of</strong> pressures,” Northeast American Society
<strong>of</strong> Biomechanics, College Park, Md., 2007.
■ Lee, S. J., and Hidler, J., “Biomechanics <strong>of</strong>
treadmill versus over-ground walking in
healthy individuals,” J Appl Physiol, Vol.104,
Issue 3, pp. 747–755, 2008.
■ Neckel, N. D., Nichols, D., and Hidler, J.,
“Joint moments exhibited by chronic stroke
subjects while walking with a prescribed
physiological gait pattern,” International
Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics,
Noordwijk, Netherlands, June 2007.
■ Neckel, N. D., Nichols, D., and Hidler, J.,
“Lower limb synergy patterns <strong>of</strong> stroke subjects
while walking in a Lokomat robotic
orthosis,” American Society <strong>of</strong> Biomechanics
Annual Meeting, Aug. 2007.
■ Nichols, D., Neckel, N., and Hidler, J., “Synergy
patterns <strong>of</strong> chronic stroke subjects while
walking in a Lokomat robotic orthosis,” APTA
2008 Combined Sections Meeting, Feb. 2008.
■ Ramella-Roman, J., and Hidler, J., “A fiber
optic probe for measurement <strong>of</strong> an autonomic
dysreflexia event on SCI patients,” SPIE
Symposium on Biomedical Optics (BiOS), San
Jose, Calif., 2008.
■ Ryerson, S., Byl, N., Brown, D., Wong, R., and
Hidler, J., “Altered trunk position sense and
its relation to balance functions in people
post-stroke,” J Neurol Phys Ther., Vol. 32, pp.
14-20, 2008.
■ Schwbowsky, C., Hidler, J., and Lum, P.,
“Greater reliance on impedance control in the
nondominant arm compared with the dominant
arm when adapting to a novel dynamic
environment,” Experimental Brain Research,
Vol.182, Issue 4, pp. 567–577, October 2007.
■ Judge, J. A., Vignola, J. F., and Jarzynski, J.,
“Dissipation from microscale and nanoscale
beam resonators into a surrounding fluid,”
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 92, No. 12,
124102, March 2008.
■ Mathews, S. A., Judge, J., and Ortega, C.,
“A myoelectric interface for video games,” in
Proc. 23rd Southern Biomedical <strong>Engineering</strong>
Conference, Washington, D.C., 2007, published
as Biomedical <strong>Engineering</strong>: Recent
Developments, Wilson, O.C., Tran, B. Q,
Vossoughi, J., eds., Medical and <strong>Engineering</strong>
Publishers, Inc., 2007.
■ O’Malley, P. F., Judge, J. A., and Vignola, J.
F., “Three Dimensional Vibration
Measurements Using a Five-Axis Scanning
Laser Vibrometry System,” in Proc. <strong>of</strong> ASME
2007 International Design <strong>Engineering</strong>
Technical Conferences & Computers and
Information in <strong>Engineering</strong> Conference, Las
Vegas, Nev., 2007.
■ Basiri, A., and Kilic, O., “Interference Analysis
for Cellular Satellite Systems Using a Sub-
Beam Approach,” USNC Int. Union <strong>of</strong> Radio
Scientists (URSI), Boulder, Colo., 2008.
■ Kilic, O., “Comparison <strong>of</strong> Nature-Based
Optimization Methods for Multi-beam Satellite
Antennas,” in Proc. ACES International
Conference, Niagara Falls, Canada, 2008.
■ Kilic, O., “Interference Analysis for Spot Beam
Partitioning in Cellular Satellite Communication
Systems,” in Proc. IEEE International Symposium
on Antennas and Propagation, San Diego, Calif.,
2008.
■ Kilic, O., “Millimeter Wave Dielectric
Measurement <strong>of</strong> Sand for Sand Cloud
Attenuation Estimations,” USNC Int. Union <strong>of</strong>
Radio Scientists (URSI) 2008, Boulder, Colo.,
2008.
■ Kilic, O., “Modeling Electromagnetic Wave
Interactions with Sea Spray,” ACES Journal
Special Issue (submitted 2008).
■ Kilic, O., and Zaghloul, A. I., “Antenna Size
Reduction Using Sub-Beam Concept in
Cellular Satellite Systems,” IEEE Trans.
Aerospace and Electronics Sys. (submitted
2008).
■ Weiss, S., Coburn, K., and Kilic, O., “FEKO
Simulation <strong>of</strong> a Wedge Mounted Four Element
Array Antenna,” ACES Journal Special Issue,
2007.
■ Abelev, A. V., Gutta, S. K., Lade, P. V., and
Yamamuro, J. A., “Modeling Cross-Anisotropy
in Granular Materials,” Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>
Mechanics, ASCE, Vol. 133, No. 8, pp.
919–932, 2007.
■ Lade, P. V., “Experimental Study and Analysis
<strong>of</strong> Creep and Stress Relaxation in Granular
Materials,” Geo-Denver, Denver, Colo., 2007.
■ Lade, P. V., “Factors Affecting Three-Dimensional
Failure in Soils,” Geo<strong>Engineering</strong> Centre,
Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, 2007.
■ Lade, P. V., “Factors Affecting Three-
Dimensional Failure in Soils,” Tenth
International Symposium on Numerical
Models in Geomechanics, NUMOG X, Rhodes,
Greece, 2007.
■ Lade, P. V. “Modeling Failure in Cross-
Anisotropic Frictional Materials,” International
Journal <strong>of</strong> Solids and Structures, Vol. 44, No.
16, pp. 5146–5162, 2007.
■ Lade, P. V., “Overview <strong>of</strong> Constitutive Models
for Soils,” Department <strong>of</strong> Civil <strong>Engineering</strong>,
Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, 2007.
■ Lade, P. V., “Overview <strong>of</strong> Constitutive Models for
Soils,” Institute <strong>of</strong> Geotechnical <strong>Engineering</strong>,
Southeast University, Nanjing, China, 2007.
■ Lade, P. V., “Overview <strong>of</strong> Constitutive Models
for Soils,” College <strong>of</strong> Architecture and Civil
<strong>Engineering</strong>, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou,
China, 2007.
■ Lade, P. V., “Failure Criterion for Cross-
Anisotropic Soils,” Journal <strong>of</strong> Geotechnical
and Geoenvironmental <strong>Engineering</strong>, ASCE, Vol.
134, No. 1, pp. 117–124, 2008.
■ Lade, P. V., Nam, J., and Hong, W. P., “Shear
Banding and Cross-Anisotropic Behavior
Observed in laboratory Sand Tests with Stress
Rotation,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol.
44, pp. 74–84, 2008.
■ Anton, G. A., Lucko, G., and Duzkale, A. K.,
“Optimizing the graphical arrangement <strong>of</strong> network
construction schedules,” in Proc. 2007
Construction Research Congress, Freeport,
Commonwealth <strong>of</strong> the Bahamas, 2007, p. 10.
■ Lucko, G., “Computational analysis <strong>of</strong> linear
and repetitive construction project schedules
with singularity functions,” in Proc. 2007
International Workshop on Computing in Civil
<strong>Engineering</strong>, Pittsburgh, Pa., 2007, pp. 9–17.
■ Lucko, G., Tsopelas, P., Garland, T. J., González
Rugelli, R., Lee, T. M., and Molineaux, J. P.,
“Disaster-mitigating design and practice: A
student-centered program developing sustainable
and earthquake-resistant designs for
residential structures in developing regions,”
in Proc. 2007 ASEE Annual Conference and
Exposition, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2007, p. 13.
■ Lucko, G., “Flexible modeling <strong>of</strong> linear schedules
for integrated mathematical analysis,” in
Proc. 2007 Winter Simulation Conference,
Washington, D.C., 2007, pp. 2159–2167.
■ Lucko, G., “Mathematical analysis <strong>of</strong> linear
schedules,” in Proc. 2007 Construction
Research Congress, Freeport, Commonwealth
<strong>of</strong> the Bahamas, 2007, p.10.
■ Lucko, G., Madden, M. G., and Molineaux, J.
P., “Spatially recursive spreadsheet computations:
Teaching the critical path method <strong>of</strong>
scheduling using two-dimensional function
ranges versus traditional one-dimensional
programming,” in Proc. 2007 ASEE Annual
Conference and Exposition, Honolulu, Hawaii,
2007, p. 13.
■ Lucko, G., Hildreth, J. C., and Vorster, M. C.,
“Statistical considerations and graphical presentation
<strong>of</strong> the residual value <strong>of</strong> heavy construction
equipment,” in Proc. 2007 International
Workshop on Computing in Civil <strong>Engineering</strong>,
Pittsburgh, Pa., 2007, pp. 18–25.
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■ Lucko, G.,Gonzalez, E. C., Sherwin, J. C., Collins,
E. L., Gilmore, B. M., Pisani, D. A., Heisman,
E. A., Smith, A. T., and Murray, T. M., “Engineers
Without Borders — Santa Clara, El Salvador,
assessment trip,” <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>,
Catholic University <strong>of</strong> America, Washington,
D.C., 2008.
■ Lucko, G., “Productivity Scheduling Method
Compared to Linear and Repetitive Project
Scheduling Methods,” Journal <strong>of</strong> Construction
<strong>Engineering</strong> and Management (in press).
■ Shapira, A., Lucko, G., and Schexnayder, C.
J., “Cranes for Building Construction Projects,”
Journal <strong>of</strong> Construction <strong>Engineering</strong> and
Management, 50 th Anniversary Special Issue
(invited paper; peer-reviewed), Vol.133, Issue
9, pp. 690–700, Sept. 2007.
■ Dromerick, A. W., Schabowsky, C. N., Holley,
R. J., Monroe, B., Markotic, A., and Lum, P. S.,
“Effect <strong>of</strong> training on upper extremity prosthetic
limb performance and motor learning:
An n=1 study,” Archives <strong>of</strong> Physical Medicine
and Rehabilitation (in press).
■ Lum, P. S., “Improvements in upper extremity
function with mass-practice therapy,”
American Congress <strong>of</strong> Rehabilitation Medicine
Annual Conference, Washington D.C., 2007.
■ Schabowsky, C. N., Hidler, J. M., and Lum, P.
S., “Greater reliance on impedance control in the
nondominant arm compared with the dominant
arm when adapting to a noveldynamic environment,”
Experimental Brain Research, Vol.
182, Issue 4, pp. 567–577, Oct. 2007.
■ Schabowsky, C. N., Dromerick, A. W., Holley,
R. J., Monroe, B., and Lum, P. S., “Transradial
upper extremity amputees are capable <strong>of</strong>
adapting to a novel dynamic environment,”
Experimental Brain Research (in press).
■ Auyeung, Raymond C. Y., Heungsoo, K.,
Mathews, S. A., and Piqué, A., “Laser Direct-
Write <strong>of</strong> Metallic Nanoparticle Inks,” Journal
<strong>of</strong> Laser Micro/Nanoengineering, Vol. 2, No. 1,
pp. 21–25, 2007.
■ Barnard, R., Gray, B., Pauca, V., Torgersen, T.,
Mirotznik, M. S., Van der Gracht, J., Plemmons,
R., Behrmann, G., Mathews, S. A., and Prasad,
S., “PERIODIC: State-<strong>of</strong>-the-Art Array Imaging
Technology,” in Proc. 2007 ACM Southeast
Conference, March 2007, pp. 544 – 546.
■ Mathews, S. A., Mirotznik, M. S., Good, B. L.,
and Piqué, A., “Rapid prototyping <strong>of</strong> frequency
selective surfaces by laser direct-write,” in
Proc. SPIE, (invited), San Jose, Calif., Jan.
2007, Vol. 6458, pp. 64580R-1–64580R-14.
■ Mathews, S. A., “Microscale Fabrication
Techniques <strong>of</strong> EHD Pumps,” Interagency
Advanced Power Group, Fort Belvoir, Md., April
2007.
■ Mathews, S. A., Judge, J., and Ortega, C.,
“A Myoelectric Interface for Video Games,” in
Proc. Twenty-Third Southern Biomedical
<strong>Engineering</strong> Conference: BIOMEDICAL ENGI-
NEERING Recent Developments, ISBN 1-
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■ Mathews, S. A., “Rapid Prototyping <strong>of</strong> an
Electro-Hydro-Dynamic MicroPump using
Laser MicroFabrication,” Swales Aerospace
Corp., Beltsville Md., June 2007.
■ Mathews, S. A., Chaipar, N. A., Metkus, K., and
Piqué, A., “Manufacturing Microelectronics
Using ‘Lase-and-Place,” Photonics Spectra,
Vol. 41, No. 10, pp. 70–74, October 2007.
■ Mathews, S. A., Auyeung, R. C. Y., and Piqué,
A., “Use <strong>of</strong> Laser Direct-Write in Micro-electronics
Assembly,” Journal <strong>of</strong> Laser Micro/
Nanoengineering, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 103–107,
2007.
■ Piqué, A., Charipar, N. A., Auyeng, R. C. Y., Kim, H.,
and Mathews, S. A., “Assembly and Integration
<strong>of</strong> Thin Bare Die Using Laser Direct-Write,” in
Proc. SPIE, (invited), San Jose, Calif., Jan.
2007, Vol. 6458, pp. 645802-1–645802-10.
■ Ramella-Roman, J. C., and Mathews, S. A.,
“Spectroscopic measurements <strong>of</strong> oxygen saturation
in the retina,” IEEE Journal on Selected
Topics in Quantum Electronics, Vol.13, No. 6,
pp. 1697–1703, Nov.–Dec. 2007.
■ Mavroeidis, G. P., “Friction problems in earthquake
source mechanics,” NSF Workshop on
Friction: A Grand Challenge at the Interface <strong>of</strong>
Solid and Fluid Mechanics, Montreux,
Switzerland, March 13–16, 2008.
■ Mavroeidis, G. P., and Papageorgiou, A. S.,
“Effect <strong>of</strong> fault rupture characteristics on
near-fault strong ground motions,” in Proc.
Fourteenth World Conference on Earthquake
<strong>Engineering</strong> (14WCEE), Beijing, China, Oct.
12–17, 2008.
■ Mavroeidis, G. P., Zhang, B., Dong, G.,
Papageorgiou, A. S., Dutta, U. and Biswas, N.
N., “The Great 1964 Prince William Sound,
Alaska, earthquake (M w =9.2): Estimation <strong>of</strong>
strong ground motion,” in Proc. Fourteenth
World Conference on Earthquake <strong>Engineering</strong>
(14WCEE), Beijing, China, Oct. 12–17, 2008.
■ Curt, P. F., Durbano, J. P., Bodnar, M. R., Shi,
S., and Mirotznik, M. S., “Enhanced
Functionality for Hardware-Based FDTD
Accelerators,” Applied Computational
Electromagnetics Society (ACES) Journal, Vol.
22, No. 1, pp. 39–46, March 2007.
■ Biswas, I., Prather, D. W., Schuetz, C. A, Martin,
R. D., and Mirotznik, M. S., “Sparse aperture
detection and imaging <strong>of</strong> millimeter sources
via optical image-plane interferometry,” in
Proc. SPIE, Electro-Optical Remote Sensing,
Photonic Technologies and Their Applications,
(invited), Florence Italy, Sept. 2007.
■ Mait, J. N., Wikner, D. A, Mirotznik, M. S.,
Behrmann, G. P., and Van der Gracht, J.,
“Extended Depth-<strong>of</strong>-Field Imaging at 94 GHz,”
in Proc. OSA Technical Digest, Conference on
Computational Optical Sensing and Imaging
(COSI), Vancouver Canada, 2007.
■ Martin, R., Schuetz, C., Chen, C., Biswas, I.,
Samluk, J., Stein Jr., E., Mirotznik, M. S., and
Prather, D. W., “Two-dimensional Snapshot
Distributed Aperture Millimeter-Wave Imaging
using Optical Upconversion,” in Proc. SPIE,
Defense and Security, Orlando Fla., Feb. 2008.
■ Mirotznik, M. S., Kilic, O., Mathews, S. A.,
and Good, B., “Design <strong>of</strong> Moth-eye Antireflective
Surfaces at Microwave and Millimeter
Wavelengths,” in Proc. North American Radio
Science Meeting (URSI), Ottawa Canada, July
2007.
■ Mirotznik, M. S., Mathews, S. A., and Creazzo,
T., “Design <strong>of</strong> Diffractive Elements at Millimeter
Wavelengths using Subwavelength Cylindrical
Microstructures,” Microwave and Optical Tech.
Letters, Vol. 49, No. 8, pp. 1880–1884, Aug. 2007.
■ Mirotznik, M. S., Van der Gracht, J., Pustai,
D., and Mathews, S. A., “Design <strong>of</strong> cubicphase
optical elements using sub wavelength
microstructures,” Optics Express, Vol. 16, No.
2, pp. 1250–1259, Jan. 2008.
■ Mirotznik, M. S., Mathews, S. A., Good, B.,
Schuetz, C., Wikner, D., and Mait, J. N.,
“Iterative Design <strong>of</strong> Moth-Eye AR Surfaces at
Millimeter Wave Frequencies,” IEEE Trans on
Antennas and Propagation, Jan. 2008.
■ Smith, J. R., and Mirotznik, M. S., “Estimation <strong>of</strong>
Wave Spectra via Remote RF Forward Scattering
Measurements,” North American Radio Science
Meeting (URSI), Ottawa Canada, July 2007.
■ Prather, D. W., Biswas, I., Schuetz, C. A.,
Martin, R. D., and Mirotznik, M. S., “Multiple
Aperture Imaging <strong>of</strong> Millimeter Sources via
Image-Plane Interferometry,” in Proc. IEEE
International Geoscience and Remote Sensing
Symposium, Barcelona Spain, July 2007.
■ Schuetz, C. A., Martin, R. D., Biswas, I.,
Mirotznik, M. S., and Prather, D. W.,
“Technologies for Distributed Aperture
Millimeter-Wave Radiometric Imaging using
Optical Up-conversion,” in Proc. IEEE
International Geoscience and Remote Sensing
Symposium, Barcelona Spain, July 2007.
■ Namazi, Nader M., “Demodulation <strong>of</strong> FM
Data in Free-Space Optical Communication
Systems using Discrete Wavelet
Transformation,” Optical Society <strong>of</strong> America,
SPIE, San Diego, Calif., July 2007.
■ Namazi, Nader M., and Burris, R.,“Analytical
Approach to the Calculation <strong>of</strong> Probability <strong>of</strong>
Bit Error and Optimum Thresholds in Free-
Space Optical Communication,” Optical
<strong>Engineering</strong>, Vol. 0, No. 46, Feb 2007.
■ Coombe, H. S., and Nieh, S., “Analysis <strong>of</strong> a
Well-Stirred Burner Employing Oxygen-
Enriched Combustion for Thermophotovoltaic
and Thermionic Energy Conversion,”
Combustion Theory and Modeling, (under consideration),
pp. 1–24, 2007.
■ Coombe, H. S., and Nieh, S., “Polymer
Membrane Air Separation Performance for
Portable Oxygen-Enriched Combustion
Applications,” Energy Conversion and
Management, Vol. 48, No. 5, pp. 1499–1505,
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■ Dubois, T.G., and Nieh, S., “Design and
Performance <strong>of</strong> an Experimental 3 kW th
Autothermal Reformer Test Bed for Heavy
Hydrocarbon Fuels,” in Proc. 43 rd Power
Sources Conference at Philadelphia, Dec. 2007.
■ Nieh, S., “Heaven Condemn Chinese
Communist Party and God Bless Taiwan,”
Epoch Times, http://epochtimes.com/
b5/7/5/18/n1714116.htm (in Chinese); article
on invited guest speech <strong>of</strong> S. Nieh at the
Annual Meeting <strong>of</strong> Global Alliance for
Democracy and Peace, Baltimore-D.C.
Chapter (Gaithersburg, Md.) on May 12, 2007.
■ Zhang, J., He, J. B., Zhou, L. X., and Nieh, S.,
“Simulation <strong>of</strong> Swirling Turbulent Heat
Transfer in a Vortex Heat Exchanger,”
Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A, Vol. 48, pp.
607–625, 2005 (notified 2007).
■ Ling, S. C., and Pao, H. P., “On the mechanics
<strong>of</strong> an electron,” Chung Yuan Christian University,
Fu Jen Catholic University, and National
Taiwan University, in Taiwan, May 2007.
■ Ling, S.C., and Pao, H. P., “On the mechanics
<strong>of</strong> an electron,” in Proc. 9 th Asian Symposium
on Visualization, Hong Kong, June 2007.
■ Pao, H. P., “Nonlinear internal waves,” National
Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, May 2007.
■ Pao, H. P., Lee, M. P., and Ling, S. C., “Intense
nonlinear internal waves: numerical modeling,”
in Proc. 9 th Asian Symposium on
Visualization, Hong Kong, June 2007.
■ Boulbry, B., Ramella-Roman, J. C., and
Germer, T. A., “Self-consistent calibration <strong>of</strong> a
spectroellipsometer using a Fresnel rhomb as
a reference sample,” Applied Optics, Vol. 46,
pp. 8533–8541, 2007.
■ Gupta, N., and Ramella-Roman, J. C.,
“Detection <strong>of</strong> blood oxygen level by noninvasive
passive spectral imaging <strong>of</strong> skin,” in
Proc. SPIE — Photonic Therapeutics and
Diagnostics IV, Kollias, Nikiforos, Choi,
Bernard, Zeng, Haishan, Malek, Reza S.,Wong,
Brian J., Ilgner, Justus F. R., Kenton, Gregory
W., Tearney, Guillermo J., Hirschberg, Henry,
and Madsen, Steen J., eds., 68420C, 2008.
■ Kandimalla, H., and Ramella-Roman, J. C.,
“Polarized fluorescence for skin cancer diagnostic
with a multi-aperture camera,” in Proc.
SPIE — Photonic Therapeutics and
Diagnostics IV, Kollias, Nikiforos, Choi,
Bernard, Zeng, Haishan, Malek, Reza S.,
Wong, Brian J., Ilgner, Justus F. R., Kenton,
Gregory W., Tearney, Guillermo J., Hirschberg,
Henry, Madsen, Steen J., eds., 68420J, 2008.
■ Nabili, A., Bardakci, D., Helling, K., Matyas, C.,
Muro, S., and Ramella-Roman, J.C.,
“Calibration <strong>of</strong> a retinal oximeter with a
dynamic eye phantom,” in Proc. SPIE —
Design and Performance Validation <strong>of</strong>
Phantoms Used in Conjunction with Optical
Measurements <strong>of</strong> Tissue, Robert J.
Nordstrom, ed., 68700N, 2008.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica C., “A lensletbased
device for measuring oxygen saturation
in the retina and other biomedical applications,”
The Catholic University <strong>of</strong> America,
Biology Department, 2007.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica C., “Spectroscopic
measurement <strong>of</strong> oxygen saturation in the retina,
Food and Drug Administration,” Modern
Topics in Biomedical Optics, 2007.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica C., “Introduction to
Biomedical Optics,” Johns Hopkins University,
APL, 2008.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica C. , A. Nabili, D.
Bardakci, K. Helling, C. Matyas, and S. Muro,
“Calibration <strong>of</strong> a retinal oximeter with a dynamic
eye phantom,” SPIE-BIOS, San Jose, Calif., 2008.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica C., and Hidler, J.
M., “A fiber optic probe for measurement <strong>of</strong>
an autonomic dysreflexia event on SCI
patients,” SPIE-BIOS, San Jose, Calif., 2008.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica C., and
Kandimalla, H., “Polarized fluorescence for
skin cancer diagnostic with a multi-aperture
camera,” SPIE-BIOS, San Jose, Calif., 2008.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica C., Hidler, J. M.,
and Nabili, A., “Measurement <strong>of</strong> an autonomic
dysreflexia event on SCI patients,” Oregon
Health and Science University, 2008.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica C., and Hidler, J.
M., “A fiber optic probe for measurement <strong>of</strong>
an autonomic dysreflexia event on SCI patients,”
in Proc. SPIE — Optical Fibers and Sensors
for Medical Diagnostics and Treatment
Applications VIII, Israel Gannot, ed., 685202,
2008.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica C., Mathews, S.
A., Kandimalla, H., Nabili, A., Duncan, D. D.,
D’Anna, S. A., Shah, S. M., Nguyen, Q. Q.,
“Measurement <strong>of</strong> oxygen saturation in the
retina with a spectroscopic sensitive multi
aperture camera,” Optics Express (in press).
■ Ramella-Roman Jessica C., and Mathews,
S. A., “Spectroscopic Measurements <strong>of</strong>
Oxygen Saturation in the Retina,” IEEE J. <strong>of</strong>
Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics,
Vol.13, pp. 1697–1703, 2007.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica C., “Monte Carlo
models <strong>of</strong> polarized light into scattering
media,” NATO ASI on Optical Waveguide
Sensing and Imaging, Springler, in Optical
Waveguide Sensing and Imaging, Nato
Science for Peace and Security Series B:
Physics and Biophotonics, 2007.
■ Ramella-Roman, Jessica C., “Polarized light
scattering in skin, hemispherical scattering,”
NATO ASI on Optical Waveguide Sensing and
Imaging, Springler, in Optical Waveguide
Sensing and Imaging, NATO Science for Peace
and Security Series B: Physics and
Biophotonics, 2007.
■ Regalia, P. A., “Gradient Decoding revisited,”
Asilomar Conference on Circuits, Systems and
Computers, Pacific Grove, Calif., Nov. 2007,
pp. 1918–1922.
■ Regalia, P. A., “Cryptographic measures in
information hiding,” IEEE International
Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal
Processing, Las Vegas, Nev., April 2008.
■ Regalia, P. A., “Cryptographic measures in
information hiding,” in Proc. IEEE International
Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal
Processing, Las Vegas, Nev., April 2008.
■ Regalia, P. A., Turbo Equalization in Adaptive
Signal Processing: Next Generation Solutions,
Wiley, N.Y., 2008.
■ Regalia, P. A., and Walsh, J. M.,“Optimality
and Duality <strong>of</strong> the Turbo Decoder,” in Proc. <strong>of</strong>
the IEEE, Vol. 95, pp. 1362–1377, June 2007.
■ Regalia, P. A., and Walsh, J. M., “Belief propagation
distributed estimation in sensor networks:
An optimized energy-accuracy trade<strong>of</strong>f,”
IEEE International Conference on
Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, Las
Vegas, Nev., April 2008.
■ Walsh, J. M., and Regalia, P. A., “Expectation
propagation for distributed estimation in sensor
networks,” IEEE International Workshop on
Signal Processing Advances in Wireless
Communications, Helsinki, Finland, June
2007, pp. 1–5.
■ Sun, L., “A new method for highway and airport
pavement condition assessment,” The
2nd International Conference on Smart
Structure and Health Monitoring, Chongqing &
Nanjing, May, 2007 (Paper ID 143).
■ Sun, L., “Travel time estimation using PQT,”
The 3rd National Conference on Intelligent
Transportation System, Nanjing, China, Dec.
2007.
■ Sun, L., and Luo, F., “Transient wave propagation
in multilayered viscoelastic media
theory, numerical computation and validation,”
Journal <strong>of</strong> Applied Mechanics, ASME,
Vol. 75, No.3, 2008.
■ Sun, L.,Yang, J., and Mahmassani, H., “Travel
time estimation based on piecewise truncated
quadratic speed trajectory,” Transportation
Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Vol. 42,
pp.173–186, 2008.
■ Sun, L., and Gu, W., “Steady state response <strong>of</strong>
multilayered viscoelastic media under a moving
dynamic distributed load,” Journal <strong>of</strong>
Applied Mechanics, ASME (in press).
■ Sun, L., and Luo, F., “Steady-state dynamic
response <strong>of</strong> a Bernoulli-Euler beam on a viscoelastic
foundation subject to a platoon <strong>of</strong>
moving dynamic loads,” Journal <strong>of</strong> Vibration
and Acoustics, ASME (in press).
■ Bertera, E. M., Tran, B. Q., Wuertz, E. M., and
Bonner, A., “A study <strong>of</strong> the receptivity to telecare
technology in a community-based elderly
minority population,” J. Telemed & Telecare,
Vol. 13, pp. 327–332, 2007.
■ Nabili, A., Dinga, R., and Tran, B. Q., “Patient
Imaging Transfer System (PITS): Novel device
for patient transport and transfer in imaging
facilities,” in Biomedical <strong>Engineering</strong>: Recent
Developments, Tran, B. Q., Wilson, O. C.,
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Vossoughi, J., eds., Medical & <strong>Engineering</strong>
Publishers, 2007.
■ Tran, B. Q.,Wilson Jr., O. C., and Vossoughi,
J., Biomedical <strong>Engineering</strong>: Recent
Developments, Medical & <strong>Engineering</strong>
Publishers, Inc., Sunshine, Md., 2007.
■ Tran, B. Q., Buckley, K. M., Wuertz, E., and
Bertera, E., “Clinical eStorefront: Updates and
Lessons Learned,” American Society on
Aging, Washington, D.C., 2008.
■ Bishop, S.S.,Vignola, J. F., Judge, J. A.,
Tsopelas, P., and Kurdila, A. J., “Direct
mechanical landmine excitation with scanning
laser Doppler vibrometer surface measurements”
SPIE, Vol. 6553, Orlando Fla., May 7, 2007.
■ Bishop, S. S., Judge, J. A., Vignola, J. F.,
Smith, C., Chen, T. H., and Tsopelas, P.,
“Dynamic analysis <strong>of</strong> mass loaded highway
guardrails,” DTIC Report, AD Number:
ADB332946, Unclassified Source Code:
076450 (2007).
■ Chen, L., and Tsopelas, P., “Seismic
Performance <strong>of</strong> Shear Walls Utilizing Cellular
Material,” World Forum on Smart Materials
and Smart Structures Technology, Chongqing
& Nanjing, China, May 22–27, 2007.
■ Gdela, K., Pietruszczak, S., Lade, P. V., and
Tsopelas, P., “Experimental verification <strong>of</strong> a
macroscopic fracture criterion for human cortical
bone,” Journal <strong>of</strong> Applied Mechanics,
ASME (in press).
■ Roussis, P., Tsopelas, P., and Constantinou,
M. C., “Dynamic analysis <strong>of</strong> base-isolated
structures under conditions <strong>of</strong> bearing uplift,”
10th World Conference on Seismic Isolation,
Energy Dissipation and Active Vibrations
Control <strong>of</strong> Structures, Istanbul, Turkey, May
28–31, 2007.
■ Ucak, A., and Tsopelas, P., “Response <strong>of</strong>
Seismic Isolated Bridges Including Soil
Structure Interaction Effects,” 4th
International Conference on Earthquake
Geotechnical <strong>Engineering</strong>, Thessaloniki,
Greece, June 25–28, 2007.
■ Ucak, A., Pekcan, G., Xu, D., and Tsopelas, P.,
“Demand Uncertainties on a Seismically
Isolated Multi-span Bridge due to Soil-
Foundation-Structure Interaction,” 10th World
Conference on Seismic Isolation, Energy
Dissipation and Active Vibration Control <strong>of</strong>
Structures, Istanbul, Turkey, May 28–31, 2007.
■ Ucak, A., and Tsopelas, P., “Response <strong>of</strong>
Seismic Isolated Bridges Including Soil
Structure Interaction Effects,” 4th
International Conference on Earthquake
Geotechnical <strong>Engineering</strong>, Thessaloniki,
Greece, June 25–28, 2007.
■ Ucak, A., Pekcan, G., Xu, D., and Tsopelas, P.,
“Demand Uncertainties on a Seismically
Isolated Multi-span Bridge due to Soil-
Foundation-Structure Interaction,” 10th World
Conference on Seismic Isolation, Energy
Dissipation and Active Vibration Control <strong>of</strong>
Structures, Istanbul, Turkey, May 28–31, 2007.
26 | cuaengineer
■ Ucak, A., and Tsopelas, P., “Effect <strong>of</strong> Soil
Structure Interaction in Seismic Isolated
Bridges,” Journal <strong>of</strong> Structural <strong>Engineering</strong>,
ASCE (in press).
■ Ucak, A., and Tsopelas, P., “Stability and
Ductility <strong>of</strong> Thin-Walled Circular Steel Columns
under Cyclic Bidirectional Loading,” Journal <strong>of</strong>
Structural <strong>Engineering</strong>, ASCE, Vol. 134, p. 865,
2008.
■ Bishop, S. S.,Vignola, J. F., Judge, J. A.,
Tsopelas, P., and Kurdila, A. J., “Direct
mechanical landmine excitation with scanning
laser Doppler vibrometer surface measurements”
SPIE, Vol. 6553, Orlando Fla., May 7, 2007.
■ Diggs, E.C., Bilgen, O., Kurdila, A. J.,
Kochersburger, K., Inman, D., and Vignola, J.
F., “Structural characteristics via SLDV for a
class <strong>of</strong> morphing micro-air-vehicles,” in
Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 6561, 65611F,
May 2, 2007.
■ Judge, J. A., Photiadis, D. M.,Vignola, J. F.,
Houston, B. H., and Jarzinski, J., “Attachment
Loss <strong>of</strong> MEMS Resonators in the Limits <strong>of</strong>
Thick and Thin Support Structures,” Journal
<strong>of</strong> Applied Physics, Vol.101, 013521, May
2007.
■ Judge, J. A., Vignola, J. F., and Jarzynski, J.,
“Dissipation from microscale and nanoscale
beam resonators into a surrounding fluid,”
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 92, March 2008.
■ O’Malley, P. A., Judge, J. A., and Vignola, J.
F.,“Three Dimensional Vibration Measurement
Using a Five-Axis Scanning Laser Vibrometry
System,” ASME, Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 4–7,
2007.
■ Prazenica, R. J., Kurdila, A. J., and Vignola, J.
F., “Spatial filtering and proper orthogonal
Decomposition <strong>of</strong> scanning laser Doppler
vibrometry data for the nondestructive evaluation
<strong>of</strong> frescos,” Journal <strong>of</strong> Sound and
Vibration, Vol. 304, pp. 735–751, July 24, 2007.
■ Romano, A. J., Bucaro, J. A., Abraham, P. B.,
and Vignola, J. F., “An Application <strong>of</strong> a Local
Inversion Algorithm for Fault Detection
Utilizing LDV Measurements,” Journal <strong>of</strong> the
Acoustical Society <strong>of</strong> America, Vol. 121, pp.
2667–2672, May 2007.
■ Du, H.,Wang, Z., and Xie, H., “Measurement
<strong>of</strong> full-field large deformations at microscale,”
in Proc. <strong>of</strong> the SEM Annual Congress
and Exposition on Experimental and Applied
Mechanics, Springfield, Mass., 2007.
■ Du, H., and Wang, Z.,“Fast 3-D shape measurement
with high accuracy and low cost,” in
Proc. <strong>of</strong> the Conference on Lasers and
Electro-Optics (CLEO) and the Quantum
Electronics and Laser Science Conference
(QELS), Baltimore, 2007.
■ Du, H., and Wang, Z., “Three-dimensional
shape measurement with an arbitrarily
arranged fringe projection pr<strong>of</strong>ilometry system,”
Optics Letters, Vol. 32, pp.
2438–2440, 2007.
■ Wang, Z., Du, H., and S. Park, “Three-dimensional,
real-time, and high-accuracy inline
monitoring system for roll to roll manufacturing,”
in Proc. <strong>of</strong> the 7th Annual USDC Flexible
Electronics and Displays Conference and
Exhibition, Phoenix, Ariz., 2008.
■ Yoon, S., Han, B., and Wang, Z., “On moisture
diffusion modeling using thermal-moisture
analogy,” ASME Journal <strong>of</strong> Electronic
Packaging, Vol. 129, pp. 421–426, 2007.
■ Gyer, L. S., Kulkarni, P., Bruck, H.,Gupta, S. K.,
and Wilson Jr., O. C., “Replamineform
Inspired Bone Structures (RIBS) Using Multipiece
Molds and Advanced Ceramic
Gelcasting Technology,” Mater Sci Eng C, Vol.
27, Issue 4, pp. 646–653, 2007.
■ Hayman, I., Mehl, P., Kapoor, V., and Wilson
Jr., O. C., “Toxicity <strong>of</strong> BSA-stabilized Silver
Nanoparticles on Immune Circulating Cells,”
Materials Research Society (MRS) Society
Meeting, Boston, Mass., Nov. 2007.
■ Patrick-Boardley, N., Ayres, E., Wilson Jr., O.
C., Mehl, P., Anderson, W. A., and Harris, G.,
“Surface Manipulation <strong>of</strong> Magnetic
Nanoparticles for Controlled Communication/
Interaction with Human Cells,” Materials
Research Society Society Meeting, Boston,
Mass., Nov. 2007.
■ Wilson Jr., O. C., “Nanoscale Hetero-coagulation
and Adsorption Phenomena: Magnetic
Bone Mineral,” ASEE Conference, Oahu,
Hawaii, June 2007.
■ Wilson Jr., O. C., “Bone Inspiration in
Research and Education,” South Dakota
<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> Mines, June 5, 2007.
■ Wilson Jr., O. C., and Agrawal, A., “Inorganic
Liquid Crystals for Biomedical Imaging,”
Materials Science and Technology (MS&T
2008) Conference, Detroit, Mich., Oct. 2007.
■ Wilson Jr., O. C., “Novel Chitosan Scaffolds
for Orthopedic and Cardiac Tissue <strong>Engineering</strong>,”
NASA, Greenbelt, Md., for the National Society
for Black Engineers, Oct. 18, 2007.
■ Wilson Jr., O. C., Mehl, P., Guggsa, A., Patrick-
Boardley, N., Harris, G., and Anderson, W. A.,
“Cancer Therapies Based on Surface Modified
Magnetic Nanoparticles,” Howard University
for BioNano Conference, Nov. 2007.
■ Wilson Jr., O.C., “Bone Inspired
Nanocomposites,” 32nd International
Conference on Advanced Ceramics and
Composites, Daytona Beach, Fla., Jan.
27–Feb. 1, 2008.
■ Wang, Y., Lee, J. J., Lloyd, I. K., Wilson Jr., O.
C., Rosenberg, M., and Thompson, M. P.,
“High Modulus Nanopowder Reinforced
Dimethacrylate Matrix Composites for Dental
Cement Applications,” Journal <strong>of</strong> Biomedical
Materials Research: Part A, Vol. 82A, Issue 3,
pp. 651–657, 2007.
■ Burgess, S. A., Yuan, B., Bouchard, M. B.,
Ratner, D., and Hillman, M., “Simultaneous
Multi-Wavelength Laminar Optical

cuaengineer
Tomography Imaging <strong>of</strong> Dermal Lesions,”
Optical Society <strong>of</strong> America (Biomedical
Optical), St. Petersburg, Fla. March 16–19,
2008.
■ Xu, C.,Yuan, B., and Q. Zhu, “An optimal
probe design for breast imaging using near
infrared diffused light,” Journal <strong>of</strong> Biomedical
Optics (in press).
■ Yuan, B., and Hillman, E., “Feasibility <strong>of</strong> 3-D
Frequency-Domain Fluorescence Lifetime
Imaging based on Laminar Optical
Tomography,” Optical Society <strong>of</strong> America
(Biomedical Optical), St. Petersburg, Fla.,
March 16–19, 2008.
■ Yuan, B., Gamelin, J., and Zhu, Q.,
“Mechanisms <strong>of</strong> the ultrasonic modulation <strong>of</strong>
fluorescence in turbid media,” Optical Society
<strong>of</strong> America (Biomedical Optical), St.
Petersburg, Fla., March 16–19, 2008.
■ Yuan, B., Gamelin, J., and Zhu, Q., “On mechanisms
<strong>of</strong> the ultrasonic modulation <strong>of</strong> fluorescence
in turbid media,” Journal <strong>of</strong> Applied
Physics (submitted).
Activities
■ Ahmed, F., Ph.D., electrical engineering and
computer science, served as the associate
editor <strong>of</strong> the EURASIP Journal on Wireless
Communications and Networking, 2007.
■ Kilic, O., Ph.D., electrical engineering and
computer science, elected to serve as an Ad
COM member for the IEEE Antennas and
Propagation Society, 2007–2010; as the
International Union <strong>of</strong> Radio Scientists (URSI)
Commission a Chair for the U.S. 2008–2011
(has served as vice chair 2005–2008). Chair
<strong>of</strong> the IEEE Constitution and Bylaws Committee
for IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society,
Feb. 2008; member <strong>of</strong> the technical program
committee for IEEE Antennas and Propagation
Society since 2003. Special session organizer
and session chair for the following pr<strong>of</strong>essional
organizations: IEEE Antennas and Propagation
Society, Applied Computational Electromagnetic
Society and International Union <strong>of</strong> Radio
Scientists.
■ Lade, P. V., Ph.D., civil engineering, and
Yamamuro, J.A. “Soil Constitutive Modeling
for Engineers: Fundamentals, Evaluations and
Calibration,” two-day short course presented
for ASCE in San Francisco, Calif., Jan. 25–26,
2007; at the Port Authority <strong>of</strong> New York and
New Jersey, in Newark, N.J., Feb. 5–6, 2007;
in Newark, N.J., Feb. 8–9, 2007; and in
Atlanta, Ga., July 26–27, 2007.
■ Lucko, G., Ph.D., civil engineering, track
coordinator <strong>of</strong> the construction engineering
and project management track at the Winter
Simulation Conference, Washington D.C.,
2007. Track chair <strong>of</strong> the operations, productivity
& workforce issues and the project risks
and safety tracks and as a member <strong>of</strong> the
technical committee at the Construction
Research Congress, Freeport, Commonwealth
<strong>of</strong> the Bahamas, 2007. Assistant specialty
editor <strong>of</strong> the project planning and design specialty
area <strong>of</strong> the Journal <strong>of</strong> Construction
<strong>Engineering</strong> and Management, 2007; member
<strong>of</strong> the 2006 best paper awards committee <strong>of</strong>
the Journal <strong>of</strong> Construction <strong>Engineering</strong> and
Management, 2007; acting specialty editor <strong>of</strong>
the project planning and design specialty area
<strong>of</strong> the Journal <strong>of</strong> Construction <strong>Engineering</strong>
and Management, 2007.
■ Lum, P. S., Ph.D., biomedical engineering, NIH
study section, National Institute <strong>of</strong> Child
Health and Human Development: Function,
Integration and Rehabilitation Sciences
Program, Washington D.C., 2007; U.S.
Department <strong>of</strong> Education, NIDRR Switzer
Research Fellowship review panel,
Washington D.C., 2007. Review committee <strong>of</strong>
the American Society <strong>of</strong> Biomechanics 2007
Annual Conference, Stanford Calif., 2007.
Review committee <strong>of</strong> the IEEE International
Conference on Robotics and Automation,
Pasadena Calif., 2008. Review committee <strong>of</strong>
the “Biomedical aids to the disabled,”
BioCAS2007 conference, Montreal Canada,
2007.
■ Mavroeidis, G. P., Ph.D., civil engineering,
reviewer for the Bulletin <strong>of</strong> the Seismological
Society <strong>of</strong> America, Journal <strong>of</strong> Earthquake
Technology, ISET, and Scientia Iranica.
■ Nguyen, C. C., D.Sc., dean, visited
Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, in Lisbon,
Portugal on Sept. 5, 2008, and signed a memorandum
<strong>of</strong> Understanding for collaboration in
research and education with its engineering
school; Hong Kong in Feb. 2008 to meet with
the key managers <strong>of</strong> the Office <strong>of</strong>
International Programs <strong>of</strong> the Hong Kong
Polytechnic University to discuss the existing
student exchange program between CUA and
PolyU and visit the five CUA engineering students
there; visited the faculty <strong>of</strong> engineering
<strong>of</strong> Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand,
Feb. 2008, signed an MOU to explore collaboration
in research and education. Visited the
faculty <strong>of</strong> engineering <strong>of</strong> Burapha University,
Bangsaen, and Chonburi, Thailand in Feb.
2008 and signed an MOU with this university
for research and education collaboration.
Visited the International University <strong>of</strong> Vietnam
National University-Ho Chi Minh City in Feb.
2008 and signed an agreement for 2+2 programs.
Visited the Saigon Technology
University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in March
2008 and signed an MOU to explore research
and education collaboration between CUA and
STU. Visited with the <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>of</strong> the University
<strong>of</strong> Danang, Danang, Vietnam, in March 2008
and discussed about potential collaboration
between this university and CUA.
■ Nieh, S., Ph.D., mechanical engineering,
organized (with ASME Student Chapter <strong>of</strong>
CUA) a field trip (open to all students/faculty)
to the Chalk Point Power Plant Generating
Station in Nov. 2007. Directed doctoral student
H. Scott Coombe, M.M.E. 2007; dissertation
“Oxygen-Enriched Combustion <strong>of</strong>
Hydrocarbon Fuels.” Invited to speak at U.S.
congressional seminar “Democracy and
Human Rights in Asia,” May 2008 on
“Intensified Persecution <strong>of</strong> Falun Gong
Practice in the Name <strong>of</strong> 2008 Beijing
Olympics.”
■ Pao, H. P., Ph.D., civil engineering, session
chairman at the 9 th Asian Symposium on
Visualization, Hong Kong. Under the sponsorship
<strong>of</strong> the Center for Environment and
Energy, chairman for “2007 International
Workshop on Curbing the Global Warming by
Carbon Sequestration,” held at CUA on Oct.
29-30, 2007. Reviewer for the special volume
“Innovations 2008 World Innovations in
<strong>Engineering</strong> Education and Research,”
published by iNEER. Visited National Taiwan
University, Chung Yuan Christian University, St.
John’s University, Fu Jen Catholic University
and National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan,
May 2007. In Sept. 2007, visited Katholieke
Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, and
Universidade Coimbra and Universidade
Catolica Portuguesa in Portugal with Dean
Nguyen. In February 2008, visited Hong Kong
Polytechnic University in Hong Kong, Kasetart
University and Burapha University in Thailand
with Dean Nguyen.
■ Regalia, P. A., Ph.D., electrical engineering
and computer science, editor-in-chief <strong>of</strong> the
EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications
and Networking, (term completed, Dec. 2007).
Associate editor <strong>of</strong> the IEEE Transactions on
Circuits and Systems I: Fundamental Theory
and Applications, (term completed, Dec.
2007). Editor-in-chief <strong>of</strong> the EURASIP Journal
on Advances in Signal Processing, since Jan.
2008. Editorial Board <strong>of</strong> the IEEE Signal
Processing Magazine, since Jan. 2008.
Editorial Board <strong>of</strong> Signal Processing (Elsevier).
■ Sun, L., Ph.D., civil engineering, reviewer for
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> Mechanics, Journal <strong>of</strong>
Sound and Vibration, Journal <strong>of</strong> Vibration and
Control, Journal <strong>of</strong> Applied Mechanics,
Proceedings <strong>of</strong> Royal Society: Series A,
Journal <strong>of</strong> Transportation Research Board,
and International Journal <strong>of</strong> Numerical and
Analytical Methods in Geomechanics.
Member <strong>of</strong> two proposal review panels for
National Science Foundation.
■ Tran, Binh Q., Ph.D., biomedical engineering,
Department <strong>of</strong> Education’s National Institute
on Disability and Rehabilitation Research’s
Rehabilitation <strong>Engineering</strong> Research Center
grant review panel 2007. Associate editor for
the IEEE Transactions on Information
Technology in Biomedicine. Reviewer for
RESNA’s assistive technology journal.
■ Tsopelas, P., Ph.D., civil engineering, associate
editor for the ASCE Journal <strong>of</strong> Structural
<strong>Engineering</strong>. Reviewer for Journal <strong>of</strong>
fall2008 | 27

cuaengineer
Structural <strong>Engineering</strong> (ASCE), Earthquake
Spectra (EERI), Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>
Mechanics (ASCE), Earthquake <strong>Engineering</strong>
and Structural Dynamics, Scientia Iranica, and
<strong>Engineering</strong> Structure, 2004–present.
■ Vignola, J. F., Ph.D., mechanical engineering,
appointed to the scientific committee <strong>of</strong> the,
Eight International Conference on Vibration
Measurements by Laser Techniques:
Advances and Applications, Ancona, Italy,
June 2008. Secretary for the mechanical
engineering faculty meetings. Chair <strong>of</strong> the
<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> committee on failing
grades.
■ Wang, Z., Ph.D., mechanical engineering,
reappointed secretary <strong>of</strong> the Electronic
Packaging Committee <strong>of</strong> SEM, June 2007.
Reviewer for Optics and Lasers in <strong>Engineering</strong>,
Optics Letters, Experimental Mechanics, and
Optics and Laser Technology, 2007.
■ Yuan, B., Ph.D., biomedical engineering,
reviewer for academic journals such as
Applied Optics, Optics Express, 2007–2008.
Awards and Honors
■ Ahmed, F., Certified Information Systems
Security Pr<strong>of</strong>essional (CISSP), issued by
International Information Systems Security
Certification Consortium, Jan. 2008.
■ Moskowitz, Ira, and Ahmed, F., Edison Patent
Award, Naval Research Laboratory 2007.
■ Judge, J., Provost’s Award for Excellence in
Teaching, Catholic University, May 2007.
■ Judge, J., Burns Junior Faculty Fellowship,
Catholic University <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>, May
2007.
■ Zaghloul, A. I., and Kilic, O., PATENT: “Wideband
modular MEMS phased array,” US
Patent #7,262,744 issued August 2007.
■ Lucko, G., Corporate Cornerstone Award (for
ACE Mentor Team), Bell Multicultural High
<strong>School</strong>, Washington, D.C., 2007.
■ Lucko, G., Finalist for Provost Award for
Excellence in Teaching, Catholic University <strong>of</strong>
America, 2007.
■ Lucko, G., Outstanding Young Alumni Award,
Vecellio Construction <strong>Engineering</strong> and
Management Program, Virginia Tech, 2007
(postponed).
■ Lum, P. S., California American Physical
Therapy Association Research Publication
Award, 2007.
■ Nguyen, C. C., Honorary Pr<strong>of</strong>essorship,
Saigon Technology University, Ho Chi Minh
City, Vietnam, March 2008.
■ Nguyen, C. C., Leadership Award for visionary
leadership in international collaboration from
INEER, International Network <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>
Education and Research, Coimbra, Portugal,
September 2007.
■ Nieh, S., Charles H. Kaman Award for
Excellence in Teaching, <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>,
Catholic University <strong>of</strong> America, 2007.
■ Regalia, P. A., Charles H. Kaman Award for
Excellence in Research, Catholic University,
May 2007.
■ Sun, L., University Provost Award for
Excellence in Research and Scholarship,
Catholic University <strong>of</strong> America, 2007.
Student Awards
■ Nicholas J. Backert, 2009, Construction
Management Association <strong>of</strong> America National
Capital Chapter Scholarship, ($1,500)
■ Alexander W. Bautz, 2010, 2007–2009
Senator’s Club Alumni Scholarship ($3,500
per semester for four semesters)
■ Matthew T. Brady, 2011, civil engineering,
Associated Builders and Contractors
Metropolitan Washington Chapter Scholarship
Fund, 2007; Construction Management
Association <strong>of</strong> America National Capital
Chapter Scholarship, 2007; Construction
Management Association <strong>of</strong> America National
Capital Chapter Scholarship, ($2,000);
Associated Builders and Contractors
Metropolitan Washington Chapter Scholarship
Fund, ($1,500)
■ Erica C. Gonzalez, 2010, civil engineering,
Construction Management Association <strong>of</strong>
America National Capital Chapter,
Scholarship, 2007
■ Andrew R. Kalna, 2010, civil engineering,
Associated Builders and Contractors
Metropolitan Washington Chapter Scholarship
Fund, 2007
■ Michael J. Kuklinski, 2010, civil engineering,
Associated Builders and Contractors
Metropolitan Washington Chapter Scholarship
Fund, 2007; Construction Management
Association <strong>of</strong> America National Capital
Chapter Scholarship, 2007
■ Bryan A. Logsdon, 2008, civil engineering,
Associated Builders and Contractors
Metropolitan Washington Chapter Scholarship
Fund, 2007
■ Kelly A. McDonald, 2009, civil engineering,
Construction Financial Management
Association Scholarship (through Associated
Builders and Contractors Metropolitan
Washington Chapter), 2007; Dennis F.
McCahill Award for Service in Civil
<strong>Engineering</strong>, 2008
■ Hassan Taheri Nejad, graduate student in
civil engineering, Associated Builders and
Contractors Metropolitan Washington Chapter
Scholarship Fund, 2007, M.S.E.
■ Paul de Vuyst, graduate student in civil
engineering, Construction Management
Association <strong>of</strong> America National Capital
Chapter, Scholarship, Civil <strong>Engineering</strong>, 2007
■ Alexander N. Walendziak, 2008, Timothy W.
Kao Award for Academic Excellence in Civil
<strong>Engineering</strong>, 2008
2008 COMMENCEMENT
28 | cuaengineer

Two <strong>Engineering</strong> Doctoral Candidates Attend Course in Italy
Last October, CUA doctoral
candidates Patrick O’Malley
and Teresa Woods participated
in something fairly routine for
graduate students: a seminar
on their area <strong>of</strong> interest, in this
case, laser vibrometry.
The location <strong>of</strong> their two-day
classroom was less routine:
Ancona, Italy.
The pair, who are both
working toward their doctorates
in mechanical engineering,
attended two daylong courses
at the Polytecnic University <strong>of</strong> Patrick O’Malley and Teresa Woods.
Marche in Ancona, thanks to a
grant provided by the European Commission. The seminar that caught their
attention was on vibration measurements, a subject both students studied in
Advanced Topics in Acoustic Vibrations, a graduate class under the direction
<strong>of</strong> Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Mechanical <strong>Engineering</strong> Joe Vignola.
Vignola and his colleague, Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor John Judge, have been working
on detecting structural abnormalities based on vibrations that are detected
by a laser. Vignola has worked with colleagues at the Italian university for
several years, using this process to detect unseen damage to frescoes. He
suggested that Woods and O’Malley apply to the program. The CUA faculty
and their doctoral students are also exploring the use <strong>of</strong> this technology
to detect land mines and improvised explosive devices buried underground.
O’Malley, who graduated from CUA
in 2006 and received his master’s
degree in mechanical engineering from
the university in 2007, has been working
with Judge and Vignola for the past year
to build a research apparatus to take 3-
dimensional vibration measurements in
the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>’s Pangborn
Hall. He was co-author <strong>of</strong> a paper about
their work for the International Design
<strong>Engineering</strong> Technical Conference and
presented it in Las Vegas in September.
“These courses were extremely helpful
for us in continuing to improve our
facility,” O’Malley says, “and gave me a
deeper understanding <strong>of</strong> the various
vibration measurement techniques that exist.”
Woods is already planning to return to Ancona in the summer <strong>of</strong> 2009,
when the Italian university will host a major conference on the subject. She
and O’Malley hope to have a paper accepted based on research they’ll do in
the coming academic year.
Ancona is located on the Adriatic Sea, a few hours drive from Venice,
Florence and Rome. O’Malley, a Buffalo native who took Italian from kindergarten
through eighth grade, took the opportunity to do some translating.
“The trip gave me a good excuse to brush up on my Italian, which is,
unfortunately, something I have neglected for the last few years!”
O’Malley says.
Society <strong>of</strong> Women Engineers Keep Things Going
Md. President Caitlin Matyas, Vice President Deniz Bardakci and Treasurer Kyrie
Jig organized the casino-themed event with the help <strong>of</strong> the other executive
board members and general members. More than 150 students, faculty and
staff attended, enjoying a delicious five-course meal that was followed by
music and dancing. This annual event was again a success and will surely be
continued for years to come.
Thanks to the dedication and hard work <strong>of</strong> its executive board, which led to
greatly increased numbers <strong>of</strong> members, the CUA Student Chapter <strong>of</strong> the Society
<strong>of</strong> Women Engineers (SWE) accomplished many things this school year.
National <strong>Engineering</strong> Week
SWE organized the events involved with the National <strong>Engineering</strong> Week with
student chapters <strong>of</strong> ASCE, ASME, BMES, EWB and IEEE each hosting an
event throughout the week. The week concluded with the 6th Annual
<strong>Engineering</strong> Ball, which was held at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Friendship Heights,
Fund Raising and Networking
Two other new events were organized by SWE during the 2007–2008 school
year. Executive member Samantha Muro organized a fundraiser selling mugs,
which went very well and allowed the organization to decrease costs to
attendees at their events.
The second event was SWE Day, organized by Caitlin Matyas. This was a
networking event for SWE collegiate members in the D.C. area. Students from
the University <strong>of</strong> Maryland, George Mason University and Howard University
were in attendance, along with many CUA SWE members. Held Saturday, April
12, in Pangborn Hall, the day featured speaker April Jones, a member <strong>of</strong>
the Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Women’s Speaker Bureau who presented a talk on women
in leadership roles, and a lunch. After lunch, the students got to know each
other more while playing games and designing and printing their own business
cards. The event was deemed successful by the attendees. The 2007–2008
SWE executive board is very proud to have started this event, which we
hope will become a lasting tradition at CUA.

CUA <strong>Engineering</strong>: Cutting-edge Research Driving Superb Education
<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong>
<strong>Engineering</strong>
Charles C. Nguyen, Dean
202-319-5160
Jeffrey Giangiuli, Director
<strong>Engineering</strong>
Managment Program
202-319-5191
Binh Q. Tran, Chair
Department <strong>of</strong>
Biomedical <strong>Engineering</strong>
202-319-5181
Poul Lade, Chair
Department <strong>of</strong>
Civil <strong>Engineering</strong>
202-319-5163
Philip Regalia, Chair
Department <strong>of</strong>
Electrical <strong>Engineering</strong>
and Computer Science
202-319-5193
Sen Nieh, Chair
Department <strong>of</strong>
Mechanical <strong>Engineering</strong>
202-319-5170
Master <strong>of</strong> Biomedical <strong>Engineering</strong>
Abdulaziz Ahmad Alsomali
Hakan Emre Bardacki
John Ivan<strong>of</strong>f
Haripriya Kandimalla
Michelle Anne Mattera
Caitlin Matyas
Roberto Silva
Kota Takahashi
Master <strong>of</strong> Civil <strong>Engineering</strong>
Dawitt G. Muluneh
Master <strong>of</strong> Electrical <strong>Engineering</strong>
Joseph A. Nguyen
Andrew Nicholas Riel
Michele Ruth Suite
Master <strong>of</strong> Science in Computer Science
Raid Ghrmallah Alzahrani
Nizar Mohammed Bukhari
Angel Castillo-Nieves
Azhandeh Koorosh
David E. Moore
Ellsworth W. White
Master <strong>of</strong> Mechanical <strong>Engineering</strong>
Clinton John Farrell Jr.
Master <strong>of</strong> Science in <strong>Engineering</strong>
Mohammed Alhussein
Khlaed Saad M. Altassan
Eucario Bakale
Christian Ezeji
Carmen Denise Garzone
Congratulations to the Class <strong>of</strong> 2008!
Issam Hourani
Edwin T. Okonkwo
Anupont Thaicharoenporn
Master <strong>of</strong> Science in <strong>Engineering</strong> —
<strong>Engineering</strong> Management
Abdulrahman Rashed Al Sabt
Amr Esam Al Thagafi
Andrew F. Dohse
Thomas Charles Dooley Jr.
Tyler W. Forrest
Jerry R. Gray
Bradley D. Harrison
Robert Wendell Maddan
Lukas C. McMichael
Jeffrey S. Mitchell
George James Morgan IV
Eric Garrett Nelson
Elizabeth Ann Newdeck
Alexander R. Razzook
Anupont Thaicharoenporn
Abdullah Misyar Ibin Tuwalah
Robert Fredrick Zuppert Jr.
Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Biomedical <strong>Engineering</strong>
Deniz Bardacki
Joseph Edward Blanc
David C. Eastwood
Brendan Matthew Gilmore
Kaitlyn Elizabeth Helling
Ronald James Hupczey Jr.
Ke Ma
Caitlin M. Matyas
Jason E. Merkerson
Bradley James Miller
R E A S O N . F A I T H . S E R V I C E .
Samantha Ameila Muro
Cristina Emerita Ortega
Gregory Leverette Powell
Ph.D. Dissertations and Advisers
Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Civil <strong>Engineering</strong>
John Daniel Blades
Michael Robert Geraghty
Joseph Martin Gilfoil
Patrick V. Keenan
Christopher S. Kronenthal
Bryan A Logsdon
Gregory Walter Lyons
Ross J. Mackey
Rachel Nicole Marz
Kelly Anne McDonald
Michael Vernon Michalski
Robert Daniel O’Brien
Robert F. Soler
Jose Domingo Targa
Alexander Noyes Walendziak
Paul T. Yantosh
Daniel R. Zmijewski
Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Electrical <strong>Engineering</strong>
Patrick Andrew Boughan
Brandown Lowell Good
Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Mechanical <strong>Engineering</strong>
William Joseph Breslin
Michael C. Cullen
Patrick Brendan Fry
Matthew Furdyna
Jessica L. Newson
Richard Michael Scenna
Abigail Thornton Wallis
Nathan Daniel Neckel, Dissertation: Quantification <strong>of</strong> Static and Dynamic Muscle Synergy Patterns in the Paretic Leg <strong>of</strong> Stroke Patients. Adviser: Joseph Hidler, Ph.D.
Patricia Lafferty, Dissertation: Texture Measures and the Steganographic Active Warden Model. Adviser: Farid Ahmed, Ph.D.
Teresa Osicka, Dissertation: Wave-let Based Pulmonary Nodules Features Characterization on Computer Tonography (CT) Scans. Adviser: Farid Ahmed, Ph.D.
Hong Yu, Dissertation: A Multiple Access Protocol for Multimedia Transmission over Wireless Asynchronous Transfer Mode Network. Adviser: Mohammed Arozullah, Ph.D.
Feiquan Luo, Dissertation: Dynamic Back Calculation <strong>of</strong> Pavement Properties Using Optimization in Nondestructive Evaluation. Adviser: Lu Sun, Ph.D.
Steven Bishop, Dissertation: Investigation <strong>of</strong> Mechanical Excitation as a Means for Buried Landmine Detection. Adviser: Panos Tsopelas, Ph.D.
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>
Washington, DC 20064
NON PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT 711
WASHINGTON, D.C.