FACULTY / STAFF NEWS
Professor Vicki
Bier co-chaired the National Academy of Engineering meeting, “Accident
Precursors: Linking Risk Assessment with Risk Management,” in
Washington, D.C. in July. The two-day gathering featured discussions
about precursor detection and risk assessment, risk management and risk
mitigation, and linking risk assessment with risk management.
Assistant Professor Rob
Carpick and Physics Assistant Professor Mark
Eriksson have received a three-year, $284,000 grant from the Army
Research Office to use polymer templates and piezoelectric-substrate
actuation to guide transportation and separation of large assays of
nanoparticles. Currently, ways to manipulate nanoparticles are limited.
This research could have an effect in the development of nanomanufacturing,
or mechanisms to assemble structures built out of nanoparticles.
Carpick also received a $40,000 subcontract through
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) on a proposal funded by the Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency Defense Sciences Office. He will use
the one-year grant to study the fundamental material, mechanical and
nanotribological properties of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond, a new
material developed at ANL.
The knowledge will be used for developing robust micromachine
devices made out of this new form of diamond that is expected to have
much better properties than silicon, which is the material currently
used for such devices.
The grant is a collaboration between UW-Madison,
ANL, Sandia National Laboratories, and the Aerospace Corporation.
Wisconsin Distinguished Professor of Engineering Physics
Roderic Lakes was an invited participant
at the Wisconsin Economic Summit IV, held in Milwaukee Oct. 27-28. Lakes
was part of a panel on partnerships to link cutting-edge research with
economic development. The panelists included three Wisconsin Distinguished
Professors and three counterparts from industry. Topics discussed included
research of interest to industry and benefits to industry, the state
economy, and the University of Wisconsin System.
Collaborating with researchers from the Trace
R&D Center and the university’s Division
of Information Technology, Professor Gregory
Moses and Researcher Michael
Litzkow have implemented advanced accessibility features in the
eTEACH
multimedia presentation software, developed with sponsorship by the
National Science Foundation and UW-Madison. The features enable blind
students to “view” eTEACH presentations using popular webpage
readers such as Jaws. Webpage-reader compatibility, with previous implementation
of closed captioning, breaks new ground in accessibility of multimedia
web content for people with disabilities. Instructors in the college,
the Department of Computer Sciences, the School of Nursing, and UW-Whitewater’s
MBA Program are using eTEACH to present on-line lectures.
Senior Scientist Kumar
Sridharan has been appointed to the editorial committee of the Journal
of Materials Engineering and Performance for a three-year term and has
been re-appointed to the editorial committee of the journal International
Materials Reviews for an additional three-year term. Both of Sridharan's
terms began in September. Each committee reviews submitted manuscripts,
identifies reviewers, monitors content as it relates to the missions
of the journals, and attends an editorial meeting held during the American
Society for Materials annual meeting.
Assistant Professor Dennis
Whyte has received a Department of Energy Plasma Physics Junior
Faculty Development Program Award. The program supports the research
of exceptionally talented scientists and engineers early in their careers.
The awards are designed to help maintain the vitality of university
plasma physics research and ensure excellence in teaching plasma physics
and related disciplines.
Swandby honored at ENGINEERS' DAY 2003
 s
a registered professional engineer with an MBA and experience
in the nuclear power industry, Mark Swandby is uniquely qualified
to serve as department administrator. Recognizing his dedication
and years of service to the faculty, staff and students of the
Department of Engineering Physics, the college awarded Swandby
its 2003 Bollinger Academic Staff Distinguished Achievement
Award.
His duties are far-reaching, affecting everyone and nearly
everything that comes in contact with the department. In his
own words, he describes the general philosophy of being a department
administrator as supporting the faculty “…so that
they can do what they should be doing—teaching and research—to
serve as a bulwark against the tide of university paperwork.
Try to never say no, to figure out a way to accomplish what
the faculty need, legally, ethically, within whatever rules
and regulations apply to a given situation.”
One of his first responsibilities was that of student advisor.
Having earned his BS in nuclear engineering from the department
in 1972 and worked in the Dresden nuclear power plant of Commonwealth
Edison, he had the perfect background and versatility to serve
as an advisor to both undergraduate and graduate students regarding
curriculum matters, employment in the industry and the field
in general. Swandby’s knowledge earned him the informal
title of “Big Brother” of nuclear engineering undergraduates.
Now he is responsible for preparing and monitoring the department
budget, including resolving funding strategies for faculty salaries
based on factors such as teaching load and research contracts.
He also plays a major role in hiring and supervising departmental
classified staff.
Swandby and his wife have two children. In his free time, he
enjoys curling and serves on numerous committees including the
United States Curling Association and the West Side Swim Club.
He is active in the Midvale Community Lutheran Church.
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