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August, 2022

School of Engineering: Photos from the first week of classes

Aug. 30, 2022—On Monday, August 22, Dean Philippe Fauchet welcomed new undergraduates at the Engineering Dean’s Convocation. Wednesday, August 24th marked the first day of classes. See photo highlights from the first week of the 2022 fall semester. See photos from Founder’s Walk here. See photos from Vanderbilt Move-In here.

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Vanderbilt research shows how a gel that “melts” at cold temperatures can be used to start chemical reactions

Aug. 29, 2022—A new study by Vanderbilt researchers demonstrates the ability to initiate chemical reactions by cooling materials instead of heating them— a counterintuitive process that could open new vistas for applications ranging from monitoring shipping conditions to developing smart clothing that guards against dangerously low temperatures. The paper, published in August by the journal RSC Advances,...

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Vanderbilt professor to use portion of $2.3 million grant on robot technology to help patients avoid invasive colectomies

Aug. 25, 2022—Robert J. Webster III, Richard A. Schroeder Professor of Mechanical Engineering and associate professor of medicine and urology at Vanderbilt University, is part of a collaborative team that has received a more than $2.3 million grant to further develop technology that seeks to prevent patients from having invasive colectomies by using steerable robot-like instruments. Under his...

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7 Questions with Bob Higgins, President and CEO of Barge Design Solutions

Aug. 22, 2022—As a child, Bob Higgins, BE’97, says he constantly asked his father the question: Why? While an intern with Barge Design Solutions, Higgins thought about the possibility of one day leading the design firm and pondered: Why not? Today, he is the president and CEO of Barge going on 13 years. He is also a member of...

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VUSE professor receives distinguished fellowship for leadership in engineering education, entrepreneurship

Aug. 22, 2022—Justin Baba, a research associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University, is being recognized for his leadership in engineering education and entrepreneurship with an esteemed fellowship. Baba is among 21 individuals from 16 higher education institutions across the country to be named a 2022 Engineering Unleashed Fellow by the Kern Entrepreneurial...

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Frank L. Parker was a global pioneer in nuclear waste remediation, environmental sustainability

Aug. 18, 2022—International nuclear waste management pioneer and member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, Frank L. Parker, 96, died Aug. 10, 2022, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was named Distinguished Professor of Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, Emeritus, and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Emeritus, in 2011 after a 43-year career at Vanderbilt University. Parker...

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Vanderbilt, 101st Airborne collaborate on development of exoskeleton for soldier use in inaugural Pathfinder Project

Aug. 17, 2022—A team of Vanderbilt engineers have completed a collaborative project with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell to design and test a first-of-its-kind exoskeleton that supports U.S. Army soldiers participating in sustainment and logistics operations. The exoskeleton—the Soldier Assistive Bionic Exosuit for Resupply, or SABER—is being prepared for manufacturing and commercialization by HeroWear and...

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Eminent chemical engineering professor Peter Cummings retires from Vanderbilt

Aug. 17, 2022—After a 20-year career of research, service and mentorship at the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering, Peter Cummings retired Aug. 15, 2022, and relocated to Edinburgh, Scotland, with his family. Cummings is a globally recognized expert in molecular modeling and simulations, and he has been pivotal in the acceptance of molecular modeling and simulation as...

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