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July, 2018

Zelik named Emerging Leader by Chamber, YP Nashville

Jul. 31, 2018—An assistant professor of mechanical engineering has been named an Emerging Leader by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and YP Nashville. Karl Zelik, who joined the School of Engineering faculty in 2014, received the distinction in the Architecture, Engineering & Construction category. He was among 75 finalists in 15 categories. His commitment to STEM...

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Vanderbilt engineers’ smart grid platform joins new Linux Foundation energy project

Jul. 26, 2018—Vanderbilt University is the first academic partner to join a new effort by The Linux Foundation to advance open source innovation in the energy and electricity sectors, contributing both deep expertise and a platform for smart grid applications LF Energy also has support from Europe’s largest transmission power systems provider, a network that represents 43...

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Safe solid-state lithium batteries herald ‘paradigm shift’ in energy storage

Jul. 19, 2018—The race to produce safe, powerful and affordable solid-state lithium batteries is accelerating and recent announcements about game-changing research using a solid non-flammable ceramic electrolyte known as garnet has some in the race calling it revolutionary. “This is a paradigm shift in energy storage,” said Kelsey Hatzell, assistant professor of mechanical engineering. A paper –...

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Alumna steers Acumen to home solar investment in remote global locations

Jul. 16, 2018—A Vanderbilt engineering graduate is leading Acumen’s efforts to provide citizens of developing countries access to energy with low-cost home solar projects. “Around the world, 1.1 billion people live without energy access. One in seven people don’t have access to lights at night,” said Leslie Labruto, BE’11, who is taking skills she honed at the Clinton...

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Doug Schmidt named associate provost for research development and technologies

Jul. 12, 2018—Doug Schmidt (Daniel Dubois/Vanderbilt) Research technology expert and computer scientist Douglas C. Schmidt has been appointed associate provost for research development and technologies by Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Susan R. Wente. Schmidt will work with faculty and leaders across campus to enhance Vanderbilt’s efforts to support and advance research technologies applied by...

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Vanderbilt engineer to participate in NAE’s Frontiers of Engineering symposium

Jul. 11, 2018—A Vanderbilt University engineering professor has been selected to take part in the National Academy of Engineering’s 24th annual U.S. Frontiers of Engineering symposium Sept. 5-7 in Lexington, Mass. Brett Byram, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, is one of 84 engineering researchers chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants – ages 35 to 45...

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The ‘shine’ in gold particles has a new use – finding defects

Jul. 11, 2018—That glint of gold has always captured our eyes, but now the precious metal has a new use – finding defects in 3D printing. Vanderbilt researchers have developed a technique for gold to actually ‘shine’ inside 3D printed parts to highlight any problems. “This is one of the first applications using gold for defect detection....

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Nissan values fresh eyes on assembly plant design challenges

Jul. 10, 2018—For more than five years, Nissan North America has sponsored engineering senior design projects share the goal of improving safety, workflow and efficiency its assembly plant in Smyrna, TN. Mark Larson, the manager for Nissan’s Integrated Factory Automation Engineering, welcomes fresh eyes on a problem each year. “Having folks with no experience in an automotive...

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