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MAE Department Celebrates Graduates’ Accomplishments

Hope Daley and professors Daniel Whisler and Jalal Torabzadeh

CSULB Mechanical and Aerospace students on Monday gathered with faculty and advisers for a celebration before their graduation. “This is a milestone,” said MAE Chair Jalal Torabzadeh. “It was not easy for some of you. The road was rough, but you have shown you can overcome challenges.”

Said Hilal, CEO of Applied Medical, who received the Distinguished Alumni Award, advised graduates to search for a sense of belonging and purpose. “You’re about to go onto the next chapter. But corporations may be thinking of you as the workforce, not the think force or the innovate force.” Continue reading “MAE Department Celebrates Graduates’ Accomplishments”

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Creativity and Innovation on Display with MAE Senior Design Projects

Ever wish your skateboard had brakes or your bike could charge your phone? Several CSULB engineering students had those wishes too. But instead of just wishing, they turned those ideas into a reality.

On Monday, 22 groups of mechanical engineering students demonstrated their Senior Design Projects at the Engineering Innovation Expo in the University Student Union. Heavy on green and renewable energy, the projects were the results of two semesters of work—including plenty of late nights and weekends. Continue reading “Creativity and Innovation on Display with MAE Senior Design Projects”

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MAE Team Preps Remote-Controlled ‘Nutcracker Box’ for Its Stage Debut

MAE faculty, staff, and student team

Each year, Long Beach Ballet Artistic Director David Wilcox tries to add some new crowd pleaser to his production of “The Nutcracker”—be it a flying sleigh, a white stallion, on-stage pyrotechnics, or a tree growing before your eyes.

This year, for the company’s 35th annual production of the popular Christmas classic, the extra pizzazz will be supplied by a box created by a team of students led by Long Beach State Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Chris Beyer.

But it’s not just any old box. This 7-foot cube is remote-controlled, produces clouds of steam, and is mechanized to let the Nutcracker prince pop from the top at just the right moment. Continue reading “MAE Team Preps Remote-Controlled ‘Nutcracker Box’ for Its Stage Debut”

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MAE’s Rodolfo Amezcua 2017 Outstanding Graduate

2017 Outstanding Grtaduate
Rodolfo Amezcua, left, with MAE Assistant Professor David Stout.

Rodolfo Amezcua didn’t set out to major in engineering. It became an obvious option, however, when he realized he was good at math and not at all interested in writing.

He also didn’t expect to pursue a PhD right after undergraduate studies. But now the mechanical engineering major will begin graduate studies in control systems at University of Southern California in the fall. USC will fully fund his first two years of study, and a Ford Graduate Fellowship fill fund three more years of study. Continue reading “MAE’s Rodolfo Amezcua 2017 Outstanding Graduate”

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CSULB Innovators Inducted into NAI

Cal State Long Beach counts many inventors among its faculty. Scattered throughout the university’s eight colleges,  they have few opportunities to cross paths. But with establishment of a National Academy of Inventors chapter, that has now changed.

On Thursday, nearly two dozen inventors from the colleges of the Arts, Engineering, and Natural Sciences & Mathematics were inducted into the newly created chapter, which will meet once each semester.

The chapter has been championed by Simon Kim, CSULB associate vice president of research and sponsored programs, and College of Engineering Dean Forouzan Golshani, holder of nearly a dozen patents. Continue reading “CSULB Innovators Inducted into NAI”

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Army Provides MAE’s Yan Li with $800,000 for Materials Research

Li-Yan-picture
Yan Li, CSULB assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been awarded a nearly $800,000 grant from the U.S. Army Research Lab to fund research leading to development of stronger, tougher materials.

It’s not difficult to create materials that are tough, or can handle much deformation before fracturing. But creating materials that have both attributes is another matter.

“Achieving high strength and high toughness in materials—this is a big challenge,” said Yan Li, CSULB assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering.

A nearly $800,000 grant Li has been awarded from the U.S. Army Research Lab will fund research leading to development of stronger, tougher materials. First-year funding of $200,000 will go toward the purchase of a very important piece of equipment—a powerful digital image camera. Continue reading “Army Provides MAE’s Yan Li with $800,000 for Materials Research”

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8 Faculty Join College of Engineering

New Faculty snapshotThe CSULB College of Engineering has hired seven new tenure-track faculty, expanding expertise into technologies such as optoelectronic devices, the Internet of Things, Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), thermal fluids, visual data sensing, and therapeutic systems to promote healing. In addition, Bill Wolfe, Faculty Emeritus in Ohio State University’s Civil, Environmental, and Geodesic Engineering Department, will spearhead growth of a new engineering specialty as temporary CSULB Beavers Endowed Chair in Heavy Civil Engineering. Continue reading “8 Faculty Join College of Engineering”

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MAE CELEBRATES ITS CLASS OF 2016

The Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department celebrated its Class of 2016 at an awards ceremony and reception Monday.

“Congratulations, you made it,” Chair Jalal Torabzadeh told the nearly 100 students in attendance. “You have come a long way. This is a milestone. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate and be proud of your accomplishments.”

Dean Forouzan Golshani said what graduates must do next is figure out their passion. “Find what makes your life meaningful. I hope you find whatever it takes to fulfill your aspirations.”

Patrick Goggin, VP of 747/767/777 Engineering at Boeing and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council, received the Outstanding Alumni Award for his contributions to the MAE Department. Continue reading “MAE CELEBRATES ITS CLASS OF 2016”

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Mechanical Engineering Students Show Off Design Projects

me students design project snapFrom an operational hovercraft to a 3D-printed dog prosthetic to a grill that texts you when your food is cooked, the student projects shown off during the CSULB Mechanical Engineering Department’s 2015-16 Senior Design Project Exhibition demonstrated both creativity and technical understanding.

More than 100 students were enrolled in the Senior Design class, a two-semester capstone course that emphasizes the theory and practice of modern design and manufacturing. During the first semester, students focus on concept design and embodiment design, while the second semester is dedicated to project implementation. Continue reading “Mechanical Engineering Students Show Off Design Projects”

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Roger Schwecke Leads CSULB Gas Co. Research Program

California State University Long Beach’s research partnership with the Southern California Gas Co. is the proverbial win-win. The utility suggests topics and provides financial support, CSULB engineering students conduct research, and at the end of the year, Southern California Gas Co. receives answers to pressing questions. Students, meanwhile, gain valuable experience and a shot at a job with the  nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility.Gas Co. Research Program

The 3-year-old CSULB program is led by Rodger R. Schwecke, the Gas Co.’s Vice President of Customer Solutions. Schwecke, a 1983 B.S. in chemical engineering graduate, oversees major customer-related activities for SoCalGas, including account executives, customer communications and eservices. He is also responsible for customer programs promoting energy efficiency, sustainability, low-income assistance and the development of new emerging technologies, including clean transportation, distributed energy, in-home services and biofuels. Continue reading “Roger Schwecke Leads CSULB Gas Co. Research Program”