Utah State Engineer | 2023

The Official Magazine of the College of Engineering at Utah State University | 2023 in Review
GLOBAL
CONNECTIONS
THE INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE AT USU
PROTECTING NUCLEAR ENERGY IN UKRAINE
ISABELLA DAM, 10 YEARS LATER
1

Partners in Flight
USU Engineering Unites with The Leonardo
The College of Engineering is the new title sponsor and official education
partner for FLIGHT: The Next Leg as part of a new partnership designed to
inspire the next generation of engineers and creative problem solvers.
Daniella Rivera is an undergraduate
in mechanical and aerospace
engineering who’s inspiring the next
generation of engineers.
Utah State Engineer is the annual alumni magazine of the
College of Engineering at Utah State University. For questions
or delivery information, please contact office-of-the-dean@usu.edu
©2023, Utah State University
About the Cover:
Utah State University has
solidified several international
partnerships over the past
decade, including education
and research agreements with
organizations in Taiwan, Brazil,
and Egypt. Read about the
international experience on
page 15.
engineering.usu.edu
@usuengineering
Photo: Matt Jensen
Credits:
Managing Editor: Matt Jensen
Editor: Sydney Dahle
Art Director: Finnegan Thornton
Copy Editor: Mackenzie Swirbul
Webmaster: Levi Sanchez
2 3

Table of Contents
30
Frontline Engineers:
Safeguarding Nuclear
Facilities in Ukraine
24
USU-Inspired
Labyrinth Weir
Takes Shape in
Southern California
42
Turning Trash into Treasure:
Bio Engineering Graduate
Embarks into the World of
Chemical Engineering
17
USU Leads International Space
Mission to Shed New Light on
Brazil’s Vexing GPS Problem
34
Working Outside the
Hive: Engineering
Alumni Run Utah-
Based Winery and
Distillery
38
Supporting the Next
Generation of Aerospace
Engineers
22
Water Intelligence:
Connecting the Dots Between
Snowpack and Streamflow in
Mountainous Watersheds
4 5
15
26
29
Collaborations Across the Globe
All Eyes on Us: Professor Searches for AMD Cure
“I am an Engineer & ...” Finding Self in Engineering

Collaborations Across
the Globe
To our Alumni, Donors, and Friends of the
College of Engineering,
Engineering is a universal language across the world.
From Ukraine to Brazil, engineers work to build
bridges and improve water quality. They increase our
energy output and turn waste into useful products. A
love and passion for engineering exceeds the bounds
of language and thought, which is why we in the
college are always working toward more collaboration
and research with partners across the globe.
This year, we built collaborations with institutes
in Brazil, Egypt, and Taiwan. We have founded
partnerships with Hill Air Force Base, Stadler Rail,
and even The Leonardo Museum in Salt Lake City.
Our research centers are making strides in innovative
research areas such as earthquake engineering,
aerospace engineering, environmental engineering,
and sustainable transportation. The NSF-funded
ASPIRE engineering research center was awarded
over two million in funding to act as the headquarters
of Utah’s future in electrical transportation. The
Utah Water Research Laboratory is studying the
Logan River watershed and studying complex water
conservation issues related to the Colorado River.
We are building new spaces for our students and
improving on the ones we already have. Resources for
our students are important and we are always looking
for ways to improve the lives of future engineers.
Part of that mission includes funding for a new
earthquake engineering research center, which will
start construction soon.
College at a Glance
Academic Programs
Enrollment
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
Biological Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Cyber Security Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
1,760
Undergraduates
16%
First-Generation
College Student
2,046
TOTAL COLLEGE
ENROLLMENT
143
Master’s
143
Ph.D.
17%
Female
Enrollment
GRADUATE DEGREES
Aerospace Engineering
Biological Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Composite Materials and Structures
Computer Engineering
Engineering Education
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Space Systems Engineering
Degrees Awarded in 2022-23
271
BACHELOR’S
73
MASTER’S
18
Ph.D.
Our students are earning awards by the dozens,
including fellowships and scholarships from the U.S.
Department of Energy and the American Society
of Mechanical Engineers, publishing in prestigious
journals, and entering medical school.
A special thank you to the generous donors and
business partners who play a key role in supporting
our students and faculty. We look forward to the
achievements this new school year will bring.
Go Aggies!
Jagath Kaluarachchi
Research
9
217
Student Fellows Named as
ENGINEERING
UNDERGRADUATE
RESEARCH SCHOLARS
(Since 2010)
TOP
Research Centers including
the ASPIRE Center for
Electrified Transportation
$40,000,000
IN RESEARCH EXPENDITURES
(2022-2023)
35%
of USU’s Operating
Revenue Comes from
Grants and Contracts
6
in Nuclear Engineering
Research Funding in
Western U.S.
(’09–’22)
(source: Dept. of Energy, Nuclear
Engineering University Program)
Ph.D. | PE | D.WRE | F.ASCE | F.EWRI
Dean, College of Engineering
Utah State University
THAT’S THE HIGHEST OF ANY
UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE
6 7

News
& Events
Engineering Education Professor
Receives Funding from GEAR UP
Initiative
Dr. Marissa Tsugawa, an assistant professor in
the Department of Engineering Education at Utah
State University, received a $75,000 grant from the
nonprofit Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for
Undergraduate Programs, or GEAR UP. Tsugawa will
collaborate with and train high school STEM teachers
to develop their own engineering activities for science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics courses that
involve design and problem solving for students.
New USU Club Introduces
Earthquake Engineering to Students
The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, a new
USU club, is a non-profit organization dedicated to
understanding earthquake risk and increasing earthquake
resilience. Recent earthquakes across the globe are
highlighting a growing need in Utah to address seismic
hazards such as aging infrastructure and increased risk
to population centers. Engineering students at Utah State
University now can be part of the solution.
SheTech Explorer Day
Engineering Ambassadors attended a one-day conference
in Salt Lake City called SheTech to encourage young
girls to join the STEM field. More than 3,000 girls were
in attendance for a day of hands-on activities and
competitions.
Kate Christiansen Named 2023
College of Engineering Valedictorian
Kate Christiansen graduated with an undergraduate
degree in civil engineering with a number of awards and
experiences under her belt, including being named the
2023 Valedictorian. Her graduate research will focus on
strutural engineering and impervious concrete.
REU Students Present STEM
Research
Students from across the country presented plant STEM
research as a part of a 10-week event known as Research
Experience for Undergraduates or REU. The program is
sponsored by the National Science Foundation and hosted
by USU.
Partnership Between USU and
Stadler Brings Battery-Powered
Trains to North America
Utah State University and the ASPIRE Engineering
Research Center will partner with Switzerland-based
Stadler Rail to develop and test a battery-powered
passenger train known as FLIRT. This train will be the first
of its kind in North America. ASPIRE will focus on charging
infrastructure, workforce development, and potential
impact in Utah.
New Cyber Security Engineering
Program First of its Kind at USU
A new cyber security engineering program at USU will
encourage students to look at the safety and reliability of
engineering systems and how they keep data encrypted
and secured. The Utah Legislature awarded $4.5 million
to increase the number of capable students ready for
the workforce in computer science and nursing. New,
experienced faculty will be hired, and the program will
be housed in the Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department.
Just Add Sugar: Research Shows
Common Antioxidant Can Be More
Beneficial Through Glycosylation
Biological Engineering Professor Jixun Zhan and his
graduate students Jie Ren and Caleb Barton published a
comprehensive review article on engineered production
of polyphenolic O-glycosides, which allow polyphenolic
compounds to remain stable and soluble through
microbial fermentation. Their research shows that
polyphenolic compounds, which are commonly found
in fruits and vegetables, can be combined with sugar
molecules to create potential life-saving drugs.
8 9

News
& Events
USU Baja SAE Returns Successful in
Oregon Tournament
Renowned Professor Eli
Yablonovitch Visits USU
Hongjie Wang Wins Prestigious NSF
CAREER Award
Assistant Professor Hongjie Wang received the prestigious
CAREER award from the National Science Foundation for
his work on large-scale electrified transportation. The
$500,000 CAREER grant will allow Wang to continue to
advance the world of DC power distribution for accessible
electrification and increase diversity, equity, and inclusion
in engineering.
Utah State University’s Baja SAE chapter returned to Cache
Valley having achieved their best result in recent history at
this year’s Baja SAE Oregon competition. Their scores put
them in 18th position overall out of 86 teams. Baja SAE,
hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers, consists of
competitions that simulate real-world engineering design
projects and their related challenges.
Lithium Battery Research
Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering Haoran Wang was granted $246,549 by
the National Science Foundation for his research on
harnessing mechanics for the design of lithium batteries.
Wang intends to use mechanics as a new method for
stabilizing the electrochemical process in batteries and
achieving a long cycling life.
Dr. Eli Yablonovitch, a professor emeritus at the University
of California, Berkeley, and father of the photonic bandgap,
presented his research in physics and carbon negative
technology at USU in April. He co-founded several
companies and has received many awards.
New USU Club Welcomes Queer
STEM Students
In 2022, the student organization oSTEM, which stands for
“Out in STEM,” opened its doors following the COVID-19
pandemic. The club provides services and support for
LGBTQIA+ students in science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics.
Students Receive Grant Funding
From Utah NASA Space Grant
Consortium
Three Utah State University engineering students were
awarded $6,200 in funding on behalf of the Utah Space
Grant Consortium for internships this past summer.
Adam Weaver and Payton Taylor spent their summer at
Northrop Grumman working in propulsion systems while
Bryan Gricius assisted in the development of a space
telescope at the Space Dynamics Lab.
ASCE Wins Big at Intermountain
Symposium
The Utah State University Chapter of the American Society
of Civil Engineers won awards in all event categories they
entered after a successful trip to Reno to compete in the
Intermountain Southwest Student Symposium. Students
competed in several events including a concrete canoe
race, a steel bridge competition, construction of a timber
building, and environmental, surveying, and writing
competitions. USU will host the ISWS conference in Spring
2024.
Doctoral Candidate Creates
Technique to Improve AI Energy
Efficiency
Ph.D. candidate Noel Daniel Gundi was the lead
collaborator on research addressing reliability and faults
in artificial intelligence. It focuses on the computer chip
used for artificial intelligence software, such as Google’s
search engines. He had his research published by the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and
the Association for Computing Machinery, a prestigious
publication venue in the electrical and computer
engineering field with a 23 percent selection rate.
10 11

Student Success
Jamen Cannon
Cannon graduated this May with a degree in
biological engineering and is now heading
to medical school to further his dreams of
becoming a doctor. He will pursue a joint
medical degree with an accompanying
master’s in engineering to assist in driving
innovation in the medical device industry.
“I loved my experience in biological
engineering,” Cannon said. “It combined
my love for biology and chemistry with the
engineering mentality of problem solving
and critical thinking. Between my capstone
project and research, there were plenty of
opportunities to get involved in real-world
research and experience.”
Kristine Peterson
Peterson started her final year as an undergraduate in biological
engineering as a published author and as a speaker at the
International We23 Conference this October. She spoke on making
space for disability in engineering. Peterson has been involved in
research since 2017 in a number of categories including tissue
engineering, mechanics of materials, and biomaterials. She was a
co-author for a biomaterials research paper published in 2022.
Crystal Tingle
Tingle is one of 10 students nationwide to win the Society for
Advancement of Material and Process Engineering International
University Student Leadership Experience Award for 2023. She
also recently published research with SAMPE on the benefits of
recycling carbon fiber. The leadership award is given to students
who demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and qualities in
their school, professional work, or community.
Allison Bernhardt
Bernhardt began her full-time career for engineering firm Pratt & Whitney this
summer, working on commercial and military aircraft engines. She graduated with
an undergraduate degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering and served as the
2022-2023 USU College of Engineering Senator. In addition, Bernhardt served on the
Engineering Council and was a member of the Society of Woman Engineers. “I love
getting to help with something as cool as airplane engines while getting to put my
engineering degree to use,” she said. “Getting to learn from people with years of realworld
experience will allow me to improve in my role.”
Chase Paterson
Paterson started her undergraduate degree with a goal in mind
to participate in biomedical research. From that point on, she
had the unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in tissue
engineering and contribute to the retinal research community.
When Paterson graduated, she went straight into a doctoral
program under her mentor, Dr. Elizabeth Vargis. “I love that I am
able to research a topic I feel so passionate about,” Paterson said.
After graduation, Paterson plans on getting a job in the research
and development field of biotechnology to continue searching for
new treatments for disease.
12 13

Collaborations
Across the Globe
The International Engineering Experience at USU
By Sydney Dahle
Sophia Rodrigues Laranja: Brazil
Sophia Rodrigues Laranja is a visiting scholar
from the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica
in Brazil. Utah State University and ITA have a
longstanding partnership where students can
receive degrees from both institutions, so Laranja
came to USU to study under Dr. Charles Swenson.
She is a physicist studying phenomena in the Earth’s
ionosphere and is looking at data stretching back to the
early 2000s. She is originally from Rio De Janeiro and has
loved spending time in Utah hiking and enjoying nature.
Yi-Cheng Chen: Taiwan
Yi-Cheng Chen came to Utah State University
from Taiwan for his master’s degree following
in his brother’s footsteps. Chen’s brother
helped him find the resources he needed as an
international student. His research is on accelerating
computational fluid dynamics simulation, which is being
done in collaboration with Research in Flight. He expects
to finish his degree by 2024. Chen’s favorite memory of
his time at USU is seeing Blackhawk helicopters land on
the quad in front of Old Main Tower.
Mahmoud Ali: Egypt
Mahmoud Ali is a scholarship recipient from the
Center of Excellence for Water at USU funded
by the United States Agency for International
Development. The program provides students the
opportunity to study abroad in the United States
and Ali chose USU. Now that he is back in Egypt, Ali
is working on a small research project on applying the
conventional septic system in small communities around
the country. He graduates in 2024 and hopes to come
back to USU for his master’s degree.
14 15

Global Connections
USU and National Chung Hsing University
Unite Engineering Disciplines
Utah State University and National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan opened the doors for students to earn a doctorate
degree from both institutions.
The program, finalized in May, will allow students to earn two degrees in any of the five main departments of engineering:
electrical, mechanical and aerospace, biological, civil and environmental, and engineering education.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to further the education and research of our students,” said Rose Hu, Associate
Dean of the USU College of Engineering. “National Chung Hsing University is a great university, and we look forward to the
future collaborations this agreement creates.”
With joint efforts from both institutions, this collaboration is expected to lead to remarkable achievements and progress,
contributing significantly to the advancement of engineering education and research on an international scale.
“These achievements show that we are not only developing university features but are
also aggressively enhancing our engineers’ international competitiveness. We believe
cooperation with USU will bring us fruitful benefits.”
– Ming-Der Yang, Dean of the NCHU College of Engineering
In the past, students from NCHU have excelled in their studies at both universities, and USU faculty have already begun
building collaborations through courses and seminars. USU also hosts summer group study opportunities in Taiwan where
students learn about culture and research at NCHU.
NCHU has worked with USU since 2011 and recently formalized an agreement in 2018 to collaborate on work in plants,
soils, environmental, and climate sciences in USU’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences.
USU Leads International Space Mission to Shed
New Light on Brazil’s Vexing GPS Problem
In certain regions of Brazil, don’t be surprised if your GPS
device behaves erratically. For years, researchers have
been scratching their heads, looking for a solution to the
unreliable GPS signals in regions near the Amazon. The
cause? Plasma bubbles in space.
NASA launched a joint U.S.-Brazil satellite in November
2022 with scientific instruments developed by Utah State
University and collaborators. The goal of the mission was to
investigate plasma bubbles that form high in the ionosphere
over the equator.
“The answers to these questions can improve the ability of
researchers to predict the formation of plasma bubbles and
understand the conditions under which density anomalies
develop in the ionosphere,” Swenson said.
Swenson and collaborators plan to use SPORT to apply the
same procedures to other longitudes around the globe that
might be suffering from ionospheric irregularities as well.
Dr. Charles Swenson, a professor of electrical and computer
engineering at USU, has worked with Brazil’s Instituto
Tecnológico de Aeronáutica for years, developing the satellite
and researching answers to why this area of the globe is so
highly affected by the space weather phenomenon.
The Scintillation Prediction Observation Research Task, or
SPORT, is designed to measure the state of the ionosphere,
which lies 50 to 600 miles above the earth’s surface, and to
determine why plasma bubbles sometimes form there.
An agreement signed between USU and National Chung Hsing University will allow students to earn a Ph.D. in any
engineering program offered at both institutions.
When radio waves from GPS satellites travel across plasma
bubbles in the ionosphere, the signals can become distorted.
This distortion is known as scintillation, a problem that
impacts GPS reliability and negatively impacts Brazil’s
military, precision agriculture, and automated landing
systems at the country’s airports.
Former graduate Student Jason Powell solders electrical components
for the SPORT satellite.
16 17

Global Connections
Hill Air Force Base and USU Sign
Historic Agreement
A new agreement between Utah State University and Hill Air Force Base will create enhanced learning opportunities for
students and spur innovative joint research efforts.
The Education Partnership Agreement was signed by former USU President Noelle Cockett and Wayne Ayer, a director of the
Air Force Sustainment Center’s Engineering and Technical Management Directorate in Ogden.
“There are so many opportunities and technologies that exist within the Air Force that
students and faculty can be a part of.”
– Wayne Ayer, Hill Air Force Base
Utah State University engineering professors are working to improve the instructional innovation and curriculum
development aspect of the USAID project.
Arid Lands: USAID Center of Excellence
Brings Egyptian Students to USU
“By meeting with students through mentoring, student design projects, tech talks, tours, and various other engagements, we
can help enhance their understanding of a STEM career and expose them to various ways they can utilize their degree,” Ayer
said.
The agreement creates a more direct partnership between USU and Hill Air Force Base, which allows both parties to more
efficiently engage on future research.
Under the partnership, USU faculty and students will have access to Air Force specialized equipment such as design and
testing software, large scale metal, composite and plastics 3D printing, wind chambers, and testing facilities.
The agreement is scheduled to last for five years.
The United States Agency for International Development funded
a $30 million Center of Excellence for Water that focuses on
curriculum reform, capacity building, commercialization of research,
and technology transfer.
Utah State University engineering professors are working to
improve the instructional innovation and curriculum development
aspect of the project. One such professor is engineering education
professor Kurt Becker who traveled to Africa to work with Egyptian
universities and build engineering education capacity in the areas of
instructional technology and innovative teaching methods.
The project, which started in 2019, will last seven years. Egyptian
faculty and students were funded by the center to study at USU
to assist Egypt in improving and meeting water demands. Egypt
also plans to meet its goal of raising all aspects of higher education
including curriculum, teaching, and research to international
standards by 2030.
The Center of Excellence
for Water in Egypt informs
national and local water policy
information, promotes efficient
water use, and develops innovative
applied research solutions for
water-related issues.
The Center has Three
Academic Pillars:
• Instructional Innovation and
Curriculum Development
• High Quality Applied
Research
• Exchanges, Training, and
Scholarships
Former USU President Noelle Cockett and Wayne Ayer, director of the Air Force Sustainment Center’s Engineering and Technical Management
Directorate in Ogden, signed an educational partnership agreement that gives USU faculty access to Air Force equipment, facilities, and inside knowledge.
18 19

Measure to
Researchers Launch Major Project
for New Water Institute
Manage
ASU Assistant Professor Tianfang Xu,
left, works alongside Patrick Strong
of the Utah Water Research Lab to
measure flow in the Logan River.
Researchers at Utah State University are creating a new
hydrologic information system that will generate important
new insight about the nation’s water resources. The goal is
to develop a set of tools for managing large volumes of data
about water.
“Water data are collected every day all over the country,”
says Jeff Horsburgh, an associate professor jointly appointed
between the Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering and the Utah Water Research Laboratory.
“However, most of us who collect hydrologic data struggle
with the day-to-day management tasks required to collect
and share high-quality data products. We don’t have a
common set of tools or standards for collecting, storing, or
sharing that data, which limits what we can do.”
Horsburgh says one of the most important steps in making
better decisions about water is to create a robust water data
management system. In 2022, USU joined the University
of Alabama and other partners to form the Cooperative
Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology, or CIROH.
The institute will receive up to $360 million in federal
funding over the next four years in partnership with the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As a
founding partner, USU will receive several grants to oversee
CIROH projects.
CIROH: Cooperative Institute for
Research to Operations in Hydrology
CIROH will support four broad themes:
• Water resources prediction capabilities
• Community water resources modeling
• Advancement and augmentation of hydroinformatics
• Application of social, economic, and behavioral science
to water resources prediction
USU Leading Important Water Data Initiatives
It might come as a surprise that the water stores we assume are so carefully measured and divided are not always
precisely accounted for or understood. Sure, there are useful methods for tracking supply and demand like measuring
mountain snowpack and metering residential and agricultural flows. But given the West’s increased focus on water
conservation, experts on the front lines of our water worries say we need to better address a key part of the discussion:
Huge swaths of data about water supply and demand are missing. Utah State University researchers are working to change
that. Dr. Jeff Horsburgh and Dr. Bethany Neilson are leading multiple research initiatives aimed at demonstrating more
effective data collection to better enable the tracking and accounting of water supply and demand.
Associate Professor Jeff Horsburgh will lead USU’s involvement in a new national water institute. He and his colleagues
are developing new cyberinfrastructure tools that will revolutionize how we collect, store, access, and share water data.
Photo: Matt Jensen
20 21

Water Resources
Water Intelligence:
Connecting the Dots Between Snowpack and Streamflow
in Mountainous Watersheds
The Logan River is fed by a combination of surface
water and water stored in underground structures
known as karst hydrology. In the spring, snowmelt
feeds the river; but for the rest of the year, it is primarily
fed by groundwater that enters the river channel via
karst conduits.
The dilemma is that there is no clear understanding
about how varying snowpack levels affect karst
storage and how that storage influences streamflow.
With climate variability and growing demand on
water supplies, experts agree that we need a better
understanding of how karst watersheds feed the rivers
and streams that provide our drinking water and
irrigation supply.
“Snowmelt-driven, karst-fed watersheds are not
well understood because conventional groundwater
modeling techniques do not work in mountainous, karst
terrain,” says Dr. Bethany Neilson, a professor of civil
and environmental engineering and a leading expert on
cold-weather watersheds.
Measuring how much of the river’s total flow originates
as karst storage is not a simple task. Neilson and her
colleagues are working to change that. For nearly a
decade, they have been collecting streamflow data
throughout the Logan River watershed. But streamflow
only tells part of the story. So in the fall of 2022,
they began collecting additional data derived from
chemically analyzing water samples from the Logan
River and its headwaters. Identifying chemical tracers
in the samples allows researchers to predict where the
water comes from and get a rough estimate of how long
it has been in storage.
By combining historical snowpack data and streamflow
data with the new hydro-geological data from the
chemical analyses, the researchers can develop a new
modeling tool that establishes connections between
snowpack variability and the amount of groundwater
and streamflow available for use in the Logan River.
These new modeling tools will help bridge the gap in
our knowledge of karst watersheds and give water
managers tools to make data-informed decisions.
Experts at the Utah Water Research Laboratory are searching for ways to decrease drought
and adapt to water depletion.
Streaming Wars
Historic drought and a chronic overuse of resources
is depleting the flow of the Colorado River. Utah,
along with six other states, depend on the river for
drinking water and daily use. Experts at the Utah
Water Research Laboratory are searching for ways to
decrease drought and adapt to water depletion.
UWRL Director Dr. David Tarboton and his student
Homa Salehabadi published a paper in the Journal of
American Water Resources Association on plausible
severe drought scenarios in the Colorado River
basin. The drought scenarios were updated to reflect
recent years by considering historical flows, treering
constructions, and climate change. The models
indicated that more severe droughts are likely to occur.
“Our generation will be defined by how we adapt,
how we experiment, how we jointly learn, how
we collaborate, how we cope with numerous
uncertainties, and how we pursue goals,” Rosenburg
said. “We want to find more sustainable and equitable
river management. To do this, we are working with
managers, stakeholders, and experts to adapt Colorado
River operations to declining basin flows and reservoir
storage.”
Professor Bethany Neilson is leading an NSF-funded study to better understand the water sources that supply the Logan
River Watershed in Northern Utah. Her research will help define how a changing climate will affect watersheds that
depend on seasonal snowmelt.
“These results indicate a need to rethink Colorado
River management and operation to be prepared for
future droughts,” said Tarboton.
Associate Professor David Rosenberg has also
dedicated years of his career to Colorado River
research. He studies ways to adapt basin depletions
to available water by using models of the Upper and
Lower Basin depletions as well as how to adapt to
low river flows. Rosenberg is also finding new ways
to conserve water used from the Colorado River in
irrigation and everyday life.
Dr. David Tarboton (left) Director, Utah Water Research Laboratory
Dr. David Rosenburg Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental
Engineering
22 23

Water Resources
Isabella Dam 10 Years Later
USU-Inspired Labyrinth Weir Takes Shape in California
By Matt Jensen
How do you maximize the length of a line that fits
inside a confined space? One option is to fold the
line into a zigzag. That’s the idea that started at
the Utah Water Research Laboratory decades ago.
Today, that concept is a concrete reality in Southern
California.
Many dams around the world feature a spillway
structure with a weir, which allows water to
flow out of a reservoir at controlled rates. When
water reaches the top of the weir, it spills over
and flows to the downstream side. But with a
changing climate punctuated by extreme weather,
civil engineers are increasingly concerned about
the ability of conventional weirs to control the
occasional, record-smashing outflow.
“Flow over a weir is proportional to its length.
A longer weir has more flow than a short weir,”
sais Dr. Blake Tullis, a professor of civil and
environmental engineering and an associate vice
president for research at USU. “In the event of a
probable maximum flood, a short weir may be
insufficient for high outflows. If water can’t flow
through a spillway, it will build up in the reservoir
and eventually overtop the dam, which could lead
to a major failure.”
That idea has led to transformational change in
spillway design. At Lake Isabella—about an hour
east of Bakersfield—a 70-year-old service spillway
controls outflow for two earthen dams at the
site. The spillway can discharge about 120,000
cubic feet of water per second, far short of the
estimated half-million required during a maximum
precipitation event. In 2005, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers began an extensive dam safety study
at Isabella, which identified important safety
modification needs. In 2017, construction began on
a new emergency spillway that defies conventional
thinking.
It was Tullis’s father, Paul Tullis, who first wrote
about the concept of a labyrinth weir. Blake Tullis
and his doctorate student at the time, Brian
Crookston, took that original idea and turned it into
reality when they published a formal paper about
arced labyrinth weirs in 2012. Around that same
time, the Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento
District was looking for solutions for Isabella’s new
spillway and turned to the Utah Water Research
Lab for help.
“We shared our paper with them, and that led
to a formal study and the creation of the largest
physical model we had ever built at the lab,” said
Tullis, who also served as lead engineer on the
Isabella model. “Here we are nearly 10 years
later looking at the completed structure. It’s an
engineering marvel. For me, seeing it finished just
confirms that the work we’re doing at the Water
Lab is making real impact all around the world.”
Lake Isabella Dam
• About 40 miles northeast of Bakersfield, California
• Comprised of two earthen dams
• Primary water source for Kern County
• New zigzag-shaped labyrinth weir and emergency
spillway completed in summer 2023
Engineers at the Utah Water Research Laboratory built a 1:45
scale model of the Isabella labyrinth weir in 2014. At the time,
it was the largest physical model ever constructed at the lab.
Dr. Blake Tullis (above) served as lead engineer on
the Isabella model study, which helped inform the
design of the structure and reduce its construction
costs. Tullis visited the dam site during its final stages
of construction in July 2023.
24 25

Engineering Research
NEW MAJOR FUNDING
All Eyes on Us
USU Professor Searches for AMD Cure
Dr. Elizabeth Vargis has spent the last decade researching the human eye
and the diseases that affect it. Subretinal tissue, muscular atrophy, and agerelated
macular degeneration—you name it—she’s seen it all.
Her research focuses on realistic disease modeling. In conventional models,
retinal cells are grown on hard, plastic surfaces, which Vargis says don’t
accurately represent the human eye. She wants to make it easier to model
disease and test treatments by using in-vitro models rather than artificial
substrates.
“The models didn’t look like anything in our body,” she said. “I wanted to
find a better solution.”
Vargis looks at the Bruch’s membrane, a layer in the retina of the eye, to
compare the natural aging process to the effects of age-related macular
degeneration, or AMD, which is a disease that causes photoreceptor loss
and retinal dysfunction in the eye as a person ages. It can be a difficult
topic to research since it requires living cells and the right environment to
study. Recently Vargis, along with two graduate students and a professor
in the USU Biology department, found that hagfish slime proteins make the
perfect in vitro model to study AMD.
Doctoral student Chase Patterson has assisted Vargis in additionally
researching possible cures for AMD. She found that treatments targeting
the protein VEGF slow the disease’s progress, but other proteins such as
Ang-2 and TIMP-1 could be targeted as well.
“We used stencils to control the arrangement of RPE cells in the lab and
found that when the junction proteins were disrupted, the cells secreted
more of the harmful proteins that contributed to AMD,” Patterson said. “We
also observed that the loss of junction proteins reduced the cells’ ability to
support photoreceptors, which are necessary for vision.”
Dr. Elizabeth Vargis
Associate Professor, Biological Engineering
NSF ASPIRE Engineering Research
Center Granted $2.1 Million in
Ongoing Funding
The Utah State Legislature granted the ASPIRE
Engineering Research Center at Utah State University
ongoing funding to serve as Utah’s lead research center
for strategic planning for electrified transportation.
“We need tomorrow’s technologies to do this thing
right,” said Dr. Regan Zane, director of ASPIRE. “Now is
the time to inject innovation into developing the future
vision of our communities and transportation systems.
This will inform critical decisions today on infrastructure
investments to accelerate our path to clean air and a
reduced cost to move people and goods.”
ASPIRE: Utah’s lead research center for
strategic planning for electrified transportation.
• Awarded $2.1 million in ongoing funding by
the State of Utah
• Utah Senate Bill 125, Transportation
Infrastructure Amendments, was passed
earlier this year
• Center will provide annual reports with
actionable goals to policymakers that detail the
vision for electrified transportation systems
USU to Launch Earthquake
Engineering Research Center
A new research center at Utah State University will
help bridge the gap between what we know about the
devastating effects of earthquakes and how to better
design our infrastructure to withstand them.
“Utah is long overdue for a damaging earthquake,” said
Dr. Brady Cox, professor of civil engineering at USU and
a leading earthquake expert. “As we continue to grow in
population and build homes, roads, bridges, buildings,
and utilities, we need to make sure our infrastructure is
designed and constructed to withstand earthquakes with
the overarching goal of minimizing deaths, dollars, and
downtime.”
The Utah Earthquake Engineering Center will
serve all of Utah as a training and research hub
focused on developing Utah-specific seismic
safety solutions.
• Awarded $2.5 million in funding from the
State of Utah
• Research program will focus on simulating
earthquake loads and testing building and
infrastructure components
• Construction expected to take place in 2024
Results showed that the growth of RPE cells was successfully controlled by
the stencil patterns. When RPE cells were not held together correctly, the
cells excreted levels of harmful proteins that could contribute to vision loss.
Targeting those specific proteins for treatment could be a useful strategy
for treating AMD, but more research will be needed to understand the
timeline of their contributions to retinal diseases.
Stencils are used to control the arrangement of RPE cells
in the lab and help maintain healthy vision by transporting
nutrients to the parts of the eye that see and block stray light.
The Utah State Legislature granted the ASPIRE Engineering Research
Center at Utah State University $2.1 million in ongoing funding
to serve as Utah’s lead research center for strategic planning for
electrified transportation.
The Utah Earthquake Engineering Center will serve all of Utah as a
training and research hub focused on developing Utah-specific seismic
safety solutions.
26 27

Engineering Research
Smart Antenna Will Revolutionize
Telecommunications Industry
A new antenna technology developed at Utah State University
will soon be tested by a national wireless provider for a
pilot study that could revolutionize the telecommunications
industry.
Dr. Bedri Cetiner, a professor of electrical engineering,
patented a new antenna called a multifunctional
reconfigurable antenna that can adapt to locate a signal’s
direction and frequency.
Since the Marconi era, conventional antenna equipment
was only capable of broadcasting and receiving signals in
all directions. Cetiner’s design is more efficient because it
sends and receives signals in a particular direction, shape,
and frequency, which saves energy and better utilizes the
electromagnetic spectrum. Improved antenna designs are
critical to keep up with the increasing demands users expect
from their mobile devices.
“Moving from 4G to 5G is not simply a matter of retrofitting
existing technology,” said Cetiner. “5G is an entirely new
paradigm.”
Massachusetts based Verana Networks, a licensee of
Cetiner’s patented antenna, announced plans earlier this
year that Verizon will trial its 5G base stations equipped with
the antenna module in large metro areas.
“5G allows for higher frequency and more bandwidth, which
translates to more data and more users on a network,” said
Cetiner. “We are no longer in the Marconi era, but one of
directive and steerable communication.”
Cetiner says his antenna technology helps reduce delay in
sending and receiving data and creates new opportunities
with applications in education, medicine, and more.
Dr. Bedri Cetiner, a professor of electrical engineering, patented a new
antenna called a multifunctional reconfigurable antenna that can adapt to
locate a signal’s direction and frequency.
I am an Engineer & …
Using Intersectionality to Study Neurodiversity in Engineering
Meet Dr. Marissa Tsugawa, an assistant professor of engineering education proving that there is
more to engineering than just math and science.
Tsugawa’s research, coined “& Research,” focuses on exploring people as a whole as opposed
to their individual characteristics. Everyone has many identities that intersect and interact
in every social, environmental, and cultural context. Tsugawa identifies as a neurodivergent,
biracial, queer engineering education researcher, educator, scientist, engineer, parent, mentor,
colleague, and artist.
“My previous research investigated engineering graduate student motivation and identity,
experiences of women of color in engineering, and virtual communities of practice that
support LGBTQ+ groups in engineering,” Tsugawa stated.
Tsugawa’s main research interest characterizes what it means to be a neurodivergent
student in engineering by identifying neurodivergent strengths and challenges.
Neurodivergent is a term that celebrates, rather than medicalizes, diverse brains that
function outside of societal norms. By using intersectionality, Tsugawa designs research to
highlight neurodivergent engineering students experiences and celebrate their identity.
“I aspire to create and support inclusive and accessible STEM education environments
through methodological activism,” Tsugawa said. “My engineering education research
focuses on the experiences of silenced engineering students and the identity development of
STEM faculty as educators and education researchers.”
Recently, Tsugawa received funding from the National Science Foundation to continue
research in engineering identity and neurodivergence. The project will generate crosssectional
and longitudinal narratives of neurodivergent engineering students, in which
narratives will be generated and shared via social media.
More information about Tsugawa’s research can be found at ampersand-research.com.
Dr. Marissa Tsugawa
Assistant Professor, Engineering Education
Massachusetts based Verana Networks, a licensee of Cetiner’s patented antenna, announced plans earlier this year that Verizon will
trial its 5G base stations equipped with the antenna module in large metro areas.
Tsugawa identifies as a neurodivergent, biracial, queer
engineering education researcher, educator, scientist, engineer,
parent, mentor, colleague, and artist. These identifiers make up
their intersectional identity. Art by Tsugawa.
28 29

Engineering Alumni
Frontline Engineers: Safeguarding
Nuclear Facilities in Ukraine
Robert Olsen always knew he wanted to
work in nuclear engineering. He set himself
down a path to make his way to the top, and
today, he’s made it, working as a Nuclear
Security Officer for the International
Atomic Energy Agency.
Olsen graduated from Utah State University
in 2017 with a degree in environmental
engineering. He invested his time in clubs
and research that would help him attain
his goal of one day working in nuclear
engineering. This led him to join the
American Nuclear Society, which, thanks to
Olsen’s cheerful and upbeat attitude, had
its membership doubled over the course of
one school year.
His dedication and eagerness to work in
nuclear engineering landed him in the
U.S. Navy, where he served as a teacher
in Charleston, North Carolina. Soon after,
Olsen was chosen to fill a first-of-its-kind
position: Nuclear Emergency Response
Officer.
Through his experience working for the
Navy, Olsen was then able to get a job as a
Nuclear Security Officer, and that was his
entry into the IAEA.
“Learning I got the job with the IAEA was
a big deal,” Olsen said. “I was so excited to
realize that everything I had done before
led to this opportunity.”
Some of Olsen’s main responsibilities
include the development of tools and
technical guidance that assist border
crossing officials detect and retrieve
nuclear material that is out of regulatory
control. Most recently, he was selected to
observe the condition of Ukraine’s nuclear
facilities during the ongoing military
conflict with Russia. In this role, Olsen was
deployed to the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant
as well as the infamous Chernobyl Nuclear
Power Plant.
Americans were not originally allowed to
visit Ukraine due to tensions with Russia,
but Olsen was asked to come along because
to his knowledge in the nuclear field and
his fluency in the Russian language. The
IAEA needed to expand their “Continuous
Presence” initiative to ensure nuclear
reactors throughout the country remained
stable.
Although tensions may be high, a nuclear
power plant must remain safe and secure
during a war. One example of this took
place at the onset of the conflict. Olsen
spoke with personnel at a Ukrainian
nuclear facility who had been working with
technicians from Russia. When the war
broke out, neither group could trust the
other and the Russian technicians isolated
themselves in a railcar with their supplies.
As the fighting continued and the food in
the railcar dwindled, Ukrainian employees
at the plant delivered meals and water to
the Russians technicians until safe passage
to the nearest border could be arranged.
In the next three to five years, Olsen expects
to return to the United States with his wife
and three children. He plans to continue
working in the field of nuclear security.
“Your dream job might not exist yet, but
you can make it happen,” Olsen said. “Even
if there’s not a program for what you’re
interested in or specific to your career
passion, that shouldn’t stop you from
pursuing it. Find what you want to do and
work toward making it happen.”
Robert Olsen
IAEA Nuclear Security Officer
BS ’17 Environmental Engineering, Utah State University
MS ’18 Health Physics, Oregon State University
30 31

Engineering Alumni
Engineering Alumna Appointed Presidential
Fellow at Colorado School of Mines
In February, Kate Youmans was named Presidential Fellow
for Diversity, Inclusion, and Access at the Colorado School
of Mines.
As a Presidential Fellow, Youmans will lead the DI&A
team at Mines and collaborate across campus to help
the university achieve its strategic goals around diversity,
inclusion, and access, including the cultivation of a
campus culture that promotes and celebrates inclusion and
achievement, and continues work to attract and retain both
a diverse student body and employee community.
Before joining the Mines community in 2021 as a teaching
associate professor, Youmans worked in the medical
device industry designing surgical instruments and served
as manager of middle school programs for the Office
of Engineering Outreach at MIT. She also served as the
Director of STEM programs at the American International
School of Utah, and Director of Multidisciplinary Design
Programs at Johns Hopkins.
She graduated with her doctoral degree in Engineering
Education in the spring of 2020. Youmans also has a
master’s in science education and a BS in mechanical
engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Leaders
If you had asked USU alum Scott Ackroyd at graduation
where he’d see himself in 20 years, he envisioned a slow,
steady career making a stable economic necessity, like
ink cartridges. Fast forward to today, Ackroyd is the
chief engineer of the Future Fighter Program at Pratt &
Whitney, with 200 employees working under his lead.
Ackroyd left USU with his bachelor’s in mechanical
engineering in 1998. He took a chance on moving to
the East Coast and now holds a master’s in mechanical
engineering from Rensselaer Poly Technic Institute as
well as an MBA from the Kelly School of Business.
In his current role, Ackroyd is responsible for the
development of all aspects of engine design, usage,
and sustainment for future fighter applications, and
overseeing design, building, testing, and operation.
He has served in various international, commercial,
and military roles across Pratt & Whitney and just
celebrated his 25th anniversary with the company.
“Someone saw something in me, and I really enjoyed that
job,” he said. “It introduced me to supporting military
decision-making and helped me find a career path I’d
never thought about.”
Ackroyd’s ability to go with the flow also landed him
a stint in Nagoya, Japan for four years, working with
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. At home in Connecticut, he
enjoys playing basketball, cooking meat on his smoker
and reading historical biographies. He especially likes
books about early American leaders who envisioned
diversity in their team of decision-makers. Even though
Ackroyd now is a leader himself, he continues to watch
and emulate the best traits of everyone he knows.
“Always make sure you’re learning something new, and
don’t be afraid to try. It’s okay to not get it right the first
time,” he said. “Just make sure you keep good people
along with you as you learn and grow.”
“One of the best things I learned at
Utah State is that I’m often not the
smartest person in the room and
that’s okay,” Ackroyd said. “To be
able to identify who might be the
smartest person and see how they
can help me means I don’t have to
do things entirely on my own. You
aren’t a weak leader because you ask
for help.”
Something Ackroyd encourages other
aspiring engineers to do is be open to change. Some of
his most life-changing moments came from spontaneity,
such as when he moved from Connecticut to Dayton,
Ohio. He was offered a job while working on his
doctorate and dropped everything to take it.
Ackroyd is the chief engineer of the Future Fighter
Program at Pratt & Whitney, responsible for developing
the next generation of military aircraft engines, such as
the F135 powerplant.
Kate Youmans
Presidential Fellow for Diversity, Inclusion, and Access
Colorado School of Mines
Ph.D. ’20 Engineering Education, Utah State University
Scott Ackroyd
Chief Engineer of the Future Fighter Program
Pratt & Whitney
BS ’98, Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University
MS ’05 ’06, Mechanical Engineering, Indiana University
32 33

Working Outside the Hive:
Engineering Alumni Run Utah-Based Winery and Distillery
By Sydney Dahle
When Jay and Lori Yahne graduated from Utah State
University, they expected to spend the rest of their
lives as geotechnical engineers. Making wine and
spirits was a hobby of theirs until a simple joke in
passing turned it into a reality.
The Yahnes own Utah’s first brandy distillery
and the smallest commercial still in the state,
appropriately called The Hive Winery and Spirits
Company. They specialize in premium “nongrape”
fruit wines, honey wines, hard apple ciders,
brandies, and specialty spirits.
The company was founded in 2010, after the
downsizing of their engineering firm during the
2008 recession. Prior to the creation of the Hive
Winery, Jay and Lori owned Y Squared Geotechnical
P.C. and were the principal geotechnical engineers.
Jay ran the drilling rig while Lori managed the
soils laboratory. As the years passed and Y Squared
Geotechnical P.C. became a two-person firm, Jay and
Lori decided to turn their hobby into their passion.
“We’ve always loved to create,” Lori said. “Our
products are always expanding through
new ideas and new flavors. Jay and I
never get tired of it.”
In 2016, Y-Squared shut
down, and the couple
were able to pursue
alcohol manufacturing
full time.
“Lori and I loved
being geotechnical
engineers,” Jay
said. “The
problem
solving you
got to do was
wonderful. We
loved field work.”
Our problem-solving abilities as engineers helped
us to learn and adapt to the issues we face in our
current line of work.”
The Hive Winery has a selection of over 100
different products of wines, ciders, brandies, and
whiskies. The two are always coming up with new
products inspired by their experiences and the
people they meet daily.
“We met so many amazing people as geotechnical
engineers, but since we started producing alcohol,
that number has increased tenfold,” Lori said. “There
are so many neat people with so many amazing
stories.”
The biggest message Jay and Lori want to share with
inspiring minds looking to go into engineering is
to understand that becoming an engineer isn’t the
only option. Engineers can pursue a variety of jobs,
including entrepreneurship.
“If you love what you do, you never work a day
in your life,” Jay said. “We love what we did as
geotechnical engineers, and we love what we do
now. I work hard, but I love what I do. Days fly by
and I still get time with my family, and I get time to
appreciate life.”
More about the Hive Winery can be found at their
website, thehivewinery.com.
Jay Yahne
Owner, The Hive Winery
BS ’97 Civil Engineering
MS ’00 Civil and Environmental
Engineering
Lori Yahne
Owner, The Hive Winery
BS ’97 Civil Engineering
BS ’97 Philosophy
Photo: Matt Jensen
34 35

Engineering Giving
College of Engineering
Welcomes New
Development Officer
We’ll Come to You
Development Officers Go the Distance to Meet With Alumni
Portland, OR
Seattle, WA
Utah State University’s College of Engineering welcomes Tony
Ahlstrom as the new development officer. He joined the dean’s office
in January “I coordinate and work with alumni and manage their
philanthropy and donations to the university, specifically for the
College of Engineering,” Ahlstrom said. Ahlstrom graduated from USU
in 2020 with a bachelor’s in communication studies and a minor in
music, although his graduation was much different from usual. Because
of COVID-19, graduation for the class of 2020 was originally postponed
before USU held a separate commencement ceremony in October of
2021. Originally from Bountiful, a city north of Salt Lake, Ahlstrom
worked in the scholarship and financial aid office for the University of
Utah among other odd jobs here and there, such as delivering pizzas
for Dominos or selling printers. Ahlstrom is happy to be back at Utah
State and is excited to start his career. “I love Logan and USU with all
my heart,” Ahlstrom said. “It feels like home to me. I’m so grateful and
humbled to be able to work for a place I love so much.”
Sacramento, CA
San Jose, CA
Boise, ID
St. George, UT
Las Vegas, NV
Los Angeles, CA
Phoenix, AZ
Pocatello, ID
Denver, CO
Albuquerque, NM
Dallas, TX
New York, NY
Washington, D.C.
Atlanta, GA
Tony Ahlstrom
Development Officer
BA ’20 Communication Studies
Our development officers traverse the
country to meet with gracious donors
and alumni.
Houston, TX
Miami, FL
There’s More Than One Way to Give
Contact a Development Officer to discuss your upcoming giving plans. There are many ways to create meaningful giving experiences.
Honoring Legacy
Through Impact
It Pays to be a
Utah State
Engineer
• Create a scholarship endowment that keeps on giving
• Provide a one-time boost to an existing scholarship fund
• Enhance a student club with uniforms or travel funds
• Donate frequent flier miles
• Cover registration costs for a professional conference
• Subsidize travel or housing costs for out-of-state internships
• Support a student travel fund
• Create a paid engineering internship at your company
• Sponsor a senior design capstone project
• Dedicate a student study space in honor of your firm or family legacy
David Kunz
Senior Director of
Development
BS ’00 Public Relations
david.kunz@usu.edu
435-797-8012
Our purpose is to connect you to the College of
Engineering, its initiatives, and its students in ways
that are meaningful to you. Through philanthropy and
engagement, we aim to help you bring about the impact
you wish to make and the future you hope to create.
And remember: Go Aggies!
In the ’22–’23
Academic Year,
295 Scholarships
were awarded totaling
$612,140
36 37

Engineering Alumni
“Utah State has the best
engineering program in the
state, and I dare say one of
the best in the country. We
intend to keep it that way.”
– Nick Alley
Supporting the Next Generation of
Aerospace Engineers
By Sydney Dahle
Over a decade ago, Nick Alley used his Ph.D. in
mechanical and aerospace engineering to create
an aerospace defense technology company called
Area-I, which designed and built unmanned aerial
vehicles for the U.S. military and its allies. Alley
sold his business in 2021, and today he’s using
those profits to invest in the future of aerospace
engineering right here at Utah State.
The sale of Area-I gave Alley more time to spend
with his wife, Laura, and their five children. With
more time on his hands, Alley also decided to
share his experience in the defense and aerospace
field and continue the legacy of his mentor, USU
professor emeritus Warren Phillips.
Phillips’s taught aerodynamics classes, which Alley
took while pursuing his degrees in mechanical and
aerospace engineering. Under Phillips’ guidance,
Alley’s passion for aerodynamics grew as he
participated in the design, building, and flight
testing of several unmanned and manned aircraft,
including a recreation of the iconic 1905 Wright
Flyer, which was sponsored by the Space Dynamics
Lab.
Nick and Laura created an endowed fellowship
in Phillips’s name, dedicated to helping USU
doctoral students engage in important aeronautical
research. Most university research is funded by
outside organizations, which typically specify strict
requirements for the research that they fund. In
contrast, the fellowship funded by the Alleys will
allow faculty and students at USU much more
flexibility to study fundamental topics.
“We are beyond grateful for what Nick and Laura
have given us,” said Dr. Doug Hunsaker, the
professor who will oversee the fellowship program.
“Many of the most significant discoveries come
out of unfunded research, and having a full-time
student with me means we can look at long-term
and big-picture ideas within the field of aerospace.”
Although these days the Alleys focus on family, Nick
knows the future of the USU aerospace engineering
program is safe in Hunsaker’s hands.
“Utah State has the best engineering program
in the state, and I dare say one of the best in the
country.” Alley said. “We intend to keep it that way.”
Photo: Matt Alexandre
Alley would eventually go on to receive his Ph.D. at
USU, with Phillips serving as his major professor.
“Dr. Phillips was a machine,” Alley said. “He entered
the field of aerodynamics late in his teaching
career, and within a few years of being a ‘student’
of the field himself, he had written a textbook and
a flurry of peer-reviewed articles that enabled
a more thorough understanding of aircraft
aerodynamics and flight mechanics. Phillips’
impact on my life and career can’t be overstated.
He was an incredible mentor and he taught me
how to develop aero-software tools and an aircraft
design process that would become the foundation
of Area-I’s success.”
Nick Alley
Founder, Engineer &
Entrepreneur
BS ’01 MS ’03 Ph.D. ’06
Mechanical Engineering
Laura Alley
BS ’06 Family and Human
Development
Nick and Laura Alley have created
an endowed fellowship dedicated to
helping USU doctoral students engage in
fundamental aeronautical research.
38 39

Italian Engineering Meets Aggie Engineering
USU Teams Up with The Leonardo
Fresh Faces
Welcoming our Newest Faculty
The Leonardo Museum in Salt Lake City and the College
of Engineering announced this summer a three-year
partnership designed to inspire a new generation of
engineers and creative problem solvers.
USU’s College of Engineering is now the title sponsor
and official education partner for FLIGHT: The Next Leg,
a signature aerospace exhibit at the downtown STEM
and creativity museum. FLIGHT features full-size aircraft,
flight simulators, and a variety of interactive exhibits.
“Utah State University is a leader in aerospace
engineering,” said Alexandra Hesse, Executive Director
of The Leonardo. “We are honored to join them as active
partners in furthering the educational goals of both
organizations. Through this partnership, we will engage
with the public and inspire young people to pursue
education and career pathways that support Utah’s
growing aviation and aerospace industries.”
“We are thrilled to be
launching this partnership,”
said Dr. Jagath Kaluarachchi,
dean of the college. “The
Leonardo is a beautiful facility
that brings communities
together. Having a dedicated
space in Salt Lake City where we
can communicate engineering
research and our vision for a brighter
future represents an exciting opportunity for USU
Engineering.”
Dr. Erika J. Espinosa-
Ortiz
Assistant Professor
Biological Engineering
Dr. Luguang
Wang
Assistant Professor
Biological Engineering
Changing Roles and Ranks
Dr. Dae Han Sung
Assistant Professor
Mechanical
and Aerospace
Engineering
The partnership enables several unique opportunities for
USU. The College of Engineering will highlight exciting
engineering research through hands-on exhibits. In
addition, a new Engineer in Residence program will place
USU engineering faculty experts and ambassadors at the
museum for K-12 educational programming, special
events, lectures, and workshops.
The College of Engineering at Utah State University is
the new title sponsor and official education partner for
FLIGHT, The Leonardo’s flagship exhibit. It opened in
2016 and has been seen by more than 500,000 people.
Dr. Jixun Zhan
Named Head of
Biological Engineering
Department
Dr. Brian
Crookston
Promoted to Associate
Professor with Tenure
Dr. Belize Lane
Promoted to Associate
Professor with Tenure
Dr. Patrick Singleton
Promoted to Associate
Professor with Tenure
Dr. Alfonso
Torres-Rua
Promoted to Associate
Professor with Tenure
40 41

Turning Trash Into Treasure
Bio Engineering Graduate Embarks into the World of Chemical Engineering
Abiela Meek graduated from Utah State University with a
bachelor’s in biological engineering. She started her Ph.D. in
chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign this fall.
Her interest in biology came from a hobby of making soap
as a child, and even led to the selection of examining the
chemistry and biology of laundry detergent for a high school
project.
Meek is originally from Idaho Falls and met her husband at
Utah State. Her favorite memories all include the clubs she
was a part of, including the USU section of Society of Women
Engineers.
“The people in these groups were all so diverse and extremely
impactful,” she said.
Her research at USU followed the process of growing algae
in wastewater to be turned into biofuel products. She wants
to continue expanding upon her skills in management and
development to create products out of the waste stream and
make a positive impact on the world.
After graduation, Meek will continue using her research to
benefit society by starting a business that takes waste and
manufactures at-scale products for the chemical industry.
Meek’s husband continues to support her and her goals in
her doctorate program. She is thankful for him and everyone
who has offered encouragement to her throughout her
engineering career.
“Engineering is for everyone. You can look like me and still be
a part of a great community,” Meek said. “Your voice matters.”
Abiela Meek graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor’s in biological engineering and started her Ph.D. fall 2023
in chemical and biomolecular engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. (Photo: Matt Jensen)
The Aggie Send Off
One last goodbye to the graduating class of 2023
Accordino, Jake Giovanni
Barentine, Charlie W.
Barton, Caleb Don
van Renselaar, Julissa Naomi
Arnold, Yomar Eli
Barton, Elise Cheryl
Breck, Emma
Brothersen, Emily Anne
Edward, Abby
Fairbourn, Dallin D.
Fox, Alison Dee
Hancock, BoDee B.
Howard, Ceaira Dee
Jardine, Sariah C.
Jeppesen, Peter Folsom
Johnson, Ezra Burton
Kokoshka, Sophia
Lehman, Korban Michael
Martin, Adam Joseph
Matthews, Eric H.
Meek, Abi
Millslanie Ann
Mock, Claudine A.
Nielsen, David Aaron
Oliver, Jessop Larry
Patton, Connor Quin
Peterson, Trent Richard
Phillips, Lexi
Porter, Britton T.
Romney, Corbin Kent
Ruben, Robert William
Saysanavong, Laurent Kham
Siddoway, Ellie D.
Walker, Elizabeth Skye
Wallentine, Tyler Winn
Willets, Tyler
Wintch, Joshua Douglas
Abu Shanab, Israi I. H.
Arnold, Caitlin Roundy
Attaallah, Nour Aldeen
Aveek, Mahmud
Boyer, Sadie
Canham, Haley Anne
Christiansen, Laura Nicole
Cook, Braxton James
Cremin-Thurber, Daniel
Davis, Bradley John
Eberhard, Ryan Carl
Goodrich, Carson Roy
Hansen, Thaddeus Jacob
Hargreaves, Oliver Henry
Hulse, Maren Emalene
Ibrahim, Ibrahim Ahmed
Abdelmotelb
Jorgensen, Kailey
Kennedy, Hayden Bruce
Kesler, Taylor
Koppenhafer, Ty Jarrett
Leon-Tinoco, Yesica D.
Margetts, Kathryn Ann
Masoudiashtiani, Saeid
Rasmussen, Michael
Rind, Moazzam
Sparks, Dakota
Thacker, Annie Page
Achenbach, Parker Jed
Adams, Brig Dean
Alosaimi, Turky Oweed N.
Andersen, John James
Augustine, Squire
Bair, Kyndal
Grace-Ann
Bateman,
Beau
Beard, Bryan
Allen
Bell, Zachary
Wade
Blaylock,
Justin Ellis
Brothersen,
Mariah Kate
Brown, Kevin
Michael
Byrd, Cameron
Christiansen, Kate Elizabeth
Clayson, Parker Scott
De La Mare, Tori
Dean, Bronson R.
DeBernardi, Luke Anthony
DeBernardi, Zane Christopher
Dority, Braedon Neal
Douglas, Jake Troy
Foraker, Jordan Marie
Gaither, Dalton Joseph
Garner, Christopher B.
Goodrich, Carson Roy
Gordon, Robert J.
Harris, Tanner Kunz
Hegemann, Luke A.
Henrichsen, Jacob Leo
Hill, Emilie Ruth
Hokanson, Chandler R.
Huffman, Jeffrey Russell
Jensen, Chance Chancellor
Johnson, Max Gene
Kennington, Jordan Dee
Knight, Joey
Madsen, Chase D.
Megargel, Elijah Mathias
Miller, Brady Sutton
Moulton, Matt Eric
Nelson, Marianne
Noorda, Jason Norman
Olsen, Donald Eugene
Owens, Jaxon Kevin
Palmer, Preston William
Penrod,
Matthew
Wyatt
Provard,
Ken
Michael
Richens,
Ryan D.
Rodabough,
Dallas
Jay
Russell,
Chandler
George
Scott, TC
Slack, Will Stanley
Smith, Cameron Blake
Strong, James Albert
Todd, Camren Brian
Torgersen, Daniel T.
Van Iwaarden, Forrest
Glen
Winsor, Grayson
Woodhouse, Jill
Thome
Wray, Nicholas
W.
Zubeck, Kipp
Stokes
Anderson, Lucas
Samuel
Baird, Brandon
Kyle
Bell,
Zachary
Edwin
Boe,
Jonah
Wilson
Brock,
Josh
David
Clarke, Zach James
Cornwall, Chaz Benjamin
Costley, Austin Daniel
Fan, Xuecong
Fletcher, Adam Blake
Froisland, Isaac Thomas
Goldtooth, Alex Kenneth
Hasan, Rakib
Haws, Case Griffin
Inoue, Shuntaro
Larsen, Josh Burt
Maughan, Brooks Jace
Merritt, Charles Rich
Nakayu, Kenji Brian
Nunez, Roberto Carlos
Passmore, Calvin John
Powell, Jason L.
Richardsonrlin Myketti
Schofield, Jason
Squire, Tyler Ralph
Swasey, Daren Christopher
Teeneti, Chakridhar Reddy
Voigt, Logan Edward
Watson, Orion
Ziegenfelder, Paul
Altice, Bridger Kohl
Antonuccio, Rowan Marc
Beckwith, AJ
Bellos, Andrew Peter
Black, Jonah Hinckley
Brinkerhoff, Nathan J.
Chamberlin, Andrew Solon
Crabb, Tyler Wayne
Crane, Daniel C.
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Dennis, Daniel
Deppe, Conner
Evans, Alexis L.
Free, Steven
Craig
Gerber, Andrew J.
Giles, Porter David
Goodrich, Dakota R.
Hamilton, Ross David
Hart, Grable
Heywood, Tristan Kumen
Huang, Jim
Hyland, James Alan
Jex, Stephen E.
Kwong, Nathan
Lemon, Brandon James
Lennon, Ryan Daniel
Marlowe, Collin Stevenson
Mertens, Garrett Konrad
Gordon
Mortenson, Daniel Clark
Neilson, Erik Reed
Nettesheim, Carter
Ninteman, Jack William
Pipkin, David Lynn
Pollock, Joe
Prouty, Tom Robert
Ravenberg, Jennifer
Raymond, Trey
Redmond, Derek Douglas
Roth, Aaron Douglas
Sabin, Conner
Schiffman, Dallin Troy
Schwanke, Bradan Scott
Skinner, Tucker
Smith, Hunter Wyatt
Smith, Isabel Lynne
Squire, Tyler Ralph
Swasey, Daren Christopher
Taylor, Brendyn Jeffrey
Taylor, Casey Aaron
Taylor, Landon
Jeffrey
Van Oene,
Robert Marc
Waite, Mckay J.
Wilcox, Zach D.
Womack, AJ
Yerke, Dalton James
Zaugg, Ryan Linden
Andrus, Austin James
Sherman, Danny Justin
Sunderland, Grace L.
Al Mestiraihi, Mohammad
Iqbal, Assad
Lehto, Abby Nichole
Osunbunmi, Ibukun Samuel
Babb, Russell Stephen
Black, Ammon Hughes
Bolander, Christian R.
Church, Kyler
Clawson, Jeffrey Scott
Craig, Weston D.
Creager, Corey James
Dixon, Nolan Larry
Elliott, Jack C.
Gamble, Talon Dirk
Jansson, Olli
Kirk, Michael
Kohler, Austin Jacob
Litton, Addison John
Montgomery, Zach Seth
Moon, Quinn Parker
Olsen, Kurt Christian
Randall, Austin James
Sakib, Md Nazmus
Schoenfeld, Justice
Tanoue, Chaz Tadaaki
Taylor, Jeffrey D.
Taylor, Tessie Nudtacha
Tonc, Louis Matthew
Van Brunt, Gaby Rebekah
Ward,
Ryan S.
Woodford,
Nathaniel
Abdo,
Dana J.
Anaya,
Jessica G.
Ball,
Zippy
Beck,
Brooklyn
Nicole
Beeston, Andrew Thomas
Berardi, Matt Philip
Bernhardt, Allison Ruth
Bonney, Ian Fredrick
Bradley, Myles R.
Burrell, Zackary
Canfield, Shane Levi
Catalasan, Larry Awa
Cheney, Brady
Christian
Christensen,
Kelton D.
Coletti, Joey
Anthony
Cox, Steven Ray
Criddle, Hunter
Gene
Darrington,
Annie Jill
Davenport,
Tasche
Marie
Davies,
Joshua
Hansen
Dayhoff,
Dalton Adam
Dearden, Brendan D.
Dickey, Benson J.
Dodge, Timothy
Dupont, Hugo A.
Eldridge, Spencer Michael
Ellefson, Mike David
Ellsworth, Ethan W.
Estrada, Micah Watson
Flake, Matt A.
Ford, Lance Cameron
Foster, Zach Neal
Gardiner, Austin
Gardner, Tyler Charles
Gassman, Ty
Geary, Dallin James
Gerry, Nathan Maxwell
Golding, Trevor
Grandstaff, Reva Jordan
Grogan, Cody
Haarbrink, Parker J.
Hall, Jacob
Hansen, Josh Paul
Hastings, Braden Matthew
Hegemann, Benson Edward
Hernandez Ramiro, Jorge
Alberto
Higdon, Ryan C.
Hill, Logan Tyler
Hoch, Nathan Hunter
Holesinsky, Ammon Jaret
Howard, Carson
Hulet, Ryan Glen
Humble, Daniel Steven
Hurwitz, Joshua James
Johnson, Acea C.
Johnson, Levi Boyd
Jones, Cody D.
Kimball, Spencer David
Kimmel, Elijah William
Kipping, Xavier S.
Kunz, Jordan Matthew
Ladner, Ben Maxwell
Larsen, Eric Bruce
Lea, Maggie A.
Livingston, Jacob Andrew
Loftin, Alexandra M.
Lounsbury, Caleb Joshua
Mathews, Sage Allen
Maxwell, Hannah Larkin
McBride, Cody Matthew
Mcfarland, Alex Jared
Meyer, Abraham C.
Miller, Corey Michael
Morrison, Landon James
Murdock, Sam Sinclair
Nelson, Andrew Russell
O’Crowley, Dan LaFell
Oliekan, Garrett Alexander
Olsen, Tom
Olsen, Wyatt
Osburn, Kylan
Parry, Rhett Teancum
Payne, Thomas Mathew
Petersen, Alan Bruce
Piatt, Tarick Nael
Pierson, Jaydon Roland
Porter, Jacob
Powell, Kogan Leviticus
Quayle, Jacob Michael
Rasmussen, Caleb S.
Richardson, Colby B.
Roberts, Connor Holmes
Robinson, Cody W.
Rosenlund, Topher Jonathan
Rossberg, David Gene
Rossi, Brit John
Seegmiller, Weston R.
Seegrist, Jordan Matthew
Smith, Wyatt James
Sorensen, Jaren Michael
Steeneck, Victoria Cheyenne
Stephens, Cole Howard
Sticht, Ryan J.
Stilson, Alex
Marc
Summers,
Xander Alex
Thompson,
Dylan Michael
Thompson,
Jacob Darrell
Thompson,
Nathan Terry
Thomsen,
Jonathon D.
Todd, Case A.
Trujillo, Chase C.
Valliere, Zach B.
Vance, Chase Adamson
Vaughan, Jake J.
Walker, Kurtis Kearney
Weaver, Adam Steven
Woolfenden, Jack Charles
Wright, Josh Edward Marvin
Zabriskie, Brandon Mitchell

Non-Profit Org
U.S. Postage
PAID
Utah State
University
Office of the Dean
4100 Old Main Hill
Logan, Utah 84322-4100
A Night of Innovation
See you at Senior Design Night
Thursday, May 2, 2024
More Information: engineering.usu.edu/senior-design
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