‘mechanical engineering’
Grad students will use travel grants to attend world’s largest sports medicine conference
Feb. 5, 2020—Three engineering graduate students whose research focus is biomechanics and assistive technologies will attend the world’s largest sports medicine conference thanks to spring 2020 travel grants from the Vanderbilt Graduate School’s Russell G. Hamilton Graduate Leadership Institute. Maura Eveld, Emily Matijevich and Rachel Teater are mechanical engineering students who work with Karl Zelik, assistant professor...
ME and VADL alumnus makes Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list with solar cell startup
Jan. 30, 2020—Kevin Bush, BE’14, has been named to the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 List, which highlights “600 revolutionaries in 20 industries changing the course—and the face—of business and society.” Bush was selected in the energy sector. In all, five Vanderbilt University alumni were named by Forbes this year; three are engineering grads, and this is the...
Robert Lott, mechanical engineering professor emeritus, dies
Jun. 24, 2019—Professor Emeritus Robert L. Lott Jr., 82, a distinguished mechanical engineering educator at Vanderbilt University, died in June in Nashville, Tennessee. Lott served in almost every administrative role in the Department of Mechanical Engineering during his 36-year career. He was department chair from 1972 to 1980. He was director of undergraduate studies from1986 to 2001....
Pitz is named a fellow of The Combustion Institute
Feb. 26, 2019—Robert W. Pitz, professor of mechanical engineering, has been named a fellow of The Combustion Institute, an international educational and scientific society. He will attend the 38th International Symposium on Combustion in July 2020 in Adelaide, Australia, where he will be recognized along with 36 other fellow honorees from around the world. The institute has...
Engineering firm CEO named board chairman
Feb. 21, 2019—Rob Barrick (BE’74) has been named board chairman and senior principal of Smith Seckman Reid Inc., an employee-owned engineering design and facility consulting firm with 12 offices nationwide. His new post comes after serving 29 years as SSR’s president and CEO. The Nashville-based firm provides design and consulting services for transportation and water infrastructure projects...
Emeritus Professor James Wert was leader in metallurgical engineering
Feb. 12, 2019—James J. Wert, George A. Sloan Professor of Metallurgy and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Emeritus, died Feb. 4, 2019, in Nashville. Wert joined the Vanderbilt engineering faculty in 1961. He developed the Department of Materials Science and served at its chair. Later, he served as chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He retired in...
Nashville’s own ‘Hidden Figure’ and pioneer for African-American and women engineers dies
Jan. 31, 2019—Yvonne Young Clark, 89, was the first woman to receive a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Howard University, the first woman to earn a master’s degree in engineering management from the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering, and the first woman to serve as a faculty member in the College of Engineering and Technology...
Engineering alum is commander of Seabees, Naval Civil Engineer Corps Officers School
Jan. 22, 2019—In a change of command ceremony in Port Hueneme, California, Capt. Christopher M. Kurgan (BE’90) became commanding officer for the Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering and the Naval Civil Engineer Corps Officers School at Naval Base Ventura County. After assuming command in August 2018, Kurgan spoke of his plans to further innovation and the...