For the week of Jan. 21, 2011

@COE is published on a weekly basis. The next edition will be sent out on Friday, Jan. 28.

Please send your submissions for @COE to Julie Stansberry in the Engineering Communications Office at [log in to unmask] by noon on Thursdays.

Outreach News

Study Abroad Fellowship Deadlines Approaching

Students who wish to apply for College Of Engineering study abroad fellowships for Summer 2011 programs -- the deadline is Feb. 4, 2011. For Fall 2011 programs, the deadline is March 4, 2011. Details of the application procedure are available here. When applying for financial assistance with Summer 2011 UT faculty-led programs, applicants can substitute a brief resume instead of the “copy of all application materials” requested in the application procedure.

Engineering Professional Practice Student Feature

Featured student: Daniel Knecht

Daniel Knecht is a mechanical engineering major who spent the Fall 2010 semester on his first co-op rotation with BAE Systems Ordnance Systems in Kingsport, Tenn. During the term, he wrote the following about his experience:

“I worked with the mechanical engineering department at BAE Systems OSI. From the start, I was given very important process engineering work overviewing the mechanical design of specific field equipment. Many of my tasks included CAD work, in which I had zero experience prior to the co-op. I am now proficient with 3D design.

“Other projects I was given included redesigning the entire drawing search software database for the engineering department – graphic and procedural modifications. I learned how to read drawings, create drawings and model 3d components for manufacturing and machine design. My training included a complete SolidWorks Tutorial, which I went through at my own pace.”

New technical skills learned on the job included: SolidWorks CAD – parts, assemblies, mates; MicroStation – reading and creating drawings; SolidWorks – simulation, FEA, ROM, engineering specs; Kronos intranet navigation; and Microsoft applications – Project, Outlook, Excel and Word.

By participating in company meetings, Knecht said he learned that “some are very motivational, while others are aimed at productivity and execution. It is very important to have specific tasks for people and make sure they know exactly what is expected of them, and by when!”

Of a challenge he had to overcome, Knecht said: “I had to design a new motor and agitator assembly knowing nothing about vane motors or air-gear motors prior to starting the project. I used the expertise of my coworkers to teach me each step of the way the elements that I knew very little to nothing about. After several weeks of trial and error and asking for help, I am now an expert at lab kettle assemblies. I even was able to identify errors in the assemblies they used in the field. This was a fantastic learning opportunity that made me not only familiar with CAD, but also an expert on identifying hazards, understanding machine design, and becoming familiar with many engineering standards and jargon.

“I had, at many points, very little supervision and clearly defined objectives making this a very self-motivated job. I did, however, get to work at my own pace, though seeking help was largely up to me. I learned (a tremendous amount) from three months at this assignment in what it takes to be a successful professional engineer.”

Knecht offers the following advice to other students considering this employer: “They want someone who is creative, very personable and outgoing, organized, not afraid to go after what they want and pester people when they do not follow through. Show your interest in engineering and computers; be someone who is curious about everything and excited to learn. Being productive and offering new (outside the box) ideas that work will get you far with this company.

“It’s more important to get along with your coworkers than to be a genius at your job. Shoot to fit in, don’t try to impress other people, and certainly never fight or treat anyone unfairly.”

The most valuable benefit Knecht said he received by accepting the co-op: “Besides the money, the CAD skills that I gained give me a huge step up for my professional career over anything I would have learned in college alone. 3D Design is a very important skill to have, and I feel like this job has given me invaluable skills in this area. Understanding the work environment has also given me an edge on what will be expected of me in the workforce – and it is not as daunting as I anticipated.”

Students may read more about their peers’ co-op/internship experiences by logging into their Engineering Professional Practice profile via www.coop.utk.edu, clicking “Resource Library” (on the left margin) and selecting “Students at Work – In Their Own Words.”

For information on engineering co-op and internships, contact Engineering Professional Practice at [log in to unmask] or 865-974-5323.

Student News

Scholarship Applications Due

Attention: It's time once again to fill out your scholarship application.

Scholarship applications are due Feb. 1, 2011, to 115 Student Services Building. Please make sure you have a biography and resume with your application. Applications can be found here. And please write neatly!

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Society of Women Engineers Scholarships

The 2011-2012 academic year upperclass application for SWE Scholarships opened Dec. 1 for sophomores and above. Sophomores can apply through Feb. 15. Freshmen can create a profile now, but their application will not be available until March.

For more information, visit the SWE Scholarship page.

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Research Exhibition News

The University of Tennessee’s 15th Annual Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement will be held March 30-31, 2011, in the University Center Ballroom. The event highlights research and creative projects completed by UTK students in collaboration with a faculty mentor.

Cash awards will be presented in each division. The standard award is $200 plus any division match or supplement. Top awardees could receive as much as $650.

Winners may submit their projects to the Office of Research to be considered for the summer internships.

The Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement is sponsored by the University of Tennessee’s Office of Research; it is supported by the Office of the Chancellor.

Application forms due: Feb. 11, 2011
Abstracts due: March 4, 2011

Further information is available at http://research.utk.edu/undergrad/. Contact Jane Taylor at [log in to unmask] or 974-0437.

Faculty News

Workshop for Faculty, Lecturers and Graduate Teaching Assistants

Please join us for our first workshop of the semester on Feb. 7 in the Black Cultural Center Multi-Purpose Room. The workshop, entitled, "How Can You Tell If the Light Goes On? Designing a Classroom Assessment Strategy," will be highly interactive and will offer training in multiple techniques to assess student learning and course instruction.

 RSVP to [log in to unmask].

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UT Prepares for Faculty Appreciation Week

Faculty Appreciation Week is being planned for Feb. 14-18, 2011. In preparation, the Office of Communications and Marketing is collecting stories about great UT faculty members. Do you work with someone who is an extraordinary teacher? Do you know a dedicated researcher whose work should be recognized? Do you have a colleague who deserves a special pat on the back? Send your stories to [log in to unmask].

News for Faculty, Students and Researchers

University of Tennessee MATLAB Day

Please join MathWorks for a free MATLAB seminar on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011 in the University Center Room 235 (Shiloh Room).

Agenda
Presenter: Jiro Doke, Ph.D., Senior Application Engineer
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Session 1: Designing and Modeling a Multi-Domain Physical System in MATLAB and
Simulink - Ball Tracking Case Study

The purpose of this session is to demonstrate how MATLAB and Simulink can be used to design and model an electrically driven mechanical system. The concepts you will learn in this session can be applied to image processing, computer vision, robotics, control design and embedded systems applications. We will develop an object tracking algorithm in MATLAB and then use Simulink to design and model the mechanical and electrical components of the motor. We will also show how to design and automatically tune the controller to optimize system performance.

Highlights include:

Developing an Algorithm in MATLAB
Case study: Data/image acquisition and analysis
-Accessing data (from files or hardware)
-Analyzing and visualizing data in MATLAB
-Publishing and deploying the results

Modeling and Controlling a Physical System in Simulink
Case study: Modeling an object tracking mechanism
-Realizing the MATLAB algorithm for real-world use
-Designing a controller and simulating a dynamic system
-Performing feedback control design and optimization
-Automatically generating code for prototyping

1 – 3 p.m.
Session 2: Advanced Graphics and Visualization Techniques with MATLAB
This session will focus on visualizing data, viewing images, and manipulating graphics in MATLAB. We will explore techniques for customizing graphical displays, generating animations, and creating publication quality graphics. We will present approaches to working with and displaying large data sets and images, and will discuss data importing, block-processing and re-sampling. Finally, we will investigate the visualization of higher-dimension data, with a focus on volumetric slicing and vector fields.

Highlights include:

-Introduction to Handle Graphics
-Creating Animation
-Customizing Graphics
-Analysis of Large Data and Imagery
-Techniques for Higher- Dimension Visualization

Register for these seminars at www.mathworks.com/seminars/utn0211.

Special Graduate Seminar

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Guest Speaker: Dr. Mingjun Zhang, Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, UT Knoxville
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 1:25 p.m. – 2:30 p.m
612 Dougherty Engineering Building

Naturally Occurring Nanomaterials: Bio-inspiration and Applications

Abstract: This talk begins by asking a fundamental engineering question: “How can we learn from biological systems in nature at nano-scale for engineering innovation and applications?” The talk will conclude by proposing two open questions: “Can bio-inspiration be an engineering science subject?” “How much can this emerging approach contribute to your research?”

Nature often does the great things that are far beyond current human capabilities and imagination. The beauty is that there are always fundamental principles underneath complex system behaviors. Learning from biological systems in nature, especially at the nano-scale, is and will continue to inspire and guide many emerging approaches to research in materials, molecular and cellular engineering, systems theory, and engineering design methodology.

Majority of the talk will focus on case studies conducted in our Nano Bio-systems and Bio-mimetics lab. We will use nanomaterials produced by plants (ivy, sundew, Chinese yams) and animals (marine mussels, barnacles and sandcastle worms) as examples to illustrate key concepts. Principles and methodology learned from nature will become increasingly important for technology innovation in general. More importantly, bio-inspiration may lead to future discovery of fundamental physical, chemical and biological principles that are important to both our lives, and engineered green systems for future beings.

Biography: Mingjun received his Doctor of Science degree in Systems Science and Mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis, and his Ph.D. in Industrial Automation from Zhejiang University, P.R. China. He also holds an M.S. degree in Bioengineering, and an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. His B.S. degree is in Mechanical Engineering from Zhejiang University, P.R. China. He is interested in discovery-driven bio-inspired research for engineering innovation. His goal is to learn nature’s design principles of biological systems at micro/nano-scale for innovation in nanobiotechnology, bio-materials, bio-robotics and bio-energy.

Career Services Announcements

Graduate Student Workshops: CVs and Resumes
Tuesday, Jan. 25

Career Services – 108 Dunford Hall
Curriculum Vitae for Academia- 4 p.m.
Resumes for Industry- 5 p.m.

These workshops for master's and Ph.D. students will cover techniques, formatting and strategies for writing your CV specifically for academic positions or your resume for industry positions. Attend one or both sessions.
[log in to unmask]
http://career.utk.edu

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Summer Job and Internship Fair
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2-6 p.m., UC Ballroom

If you are looking for a summer job and/or internship, this is the perfect venue. Keep in mind that internships are available year-round...not just during the summer. Sample employers include:

• Amazon
• Bechtel Corporation
• Belden
• Burlington Northern Santa Fe
• Frito-Lay
• General Dynamics Bath Iron Works
• Johnson & Johnson
• Reckitt Benckiser
• Royal Mouldings
• Shaw Industries
• TVA
• Unilever
• Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
• And More!

For a complete list of registered employers, please log onto www.career.utk.edu and click on the link to the Summer Job and Internship Fair under Upcoming Events.

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4th Annual Dining Etiquette Workshop for Engineers
Tuesday, Feb. 15, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

This event is open to College of Engineering juniors and seniors. Registration begins at 5 p.m. at the University Center Hermitage Room. This workshop is essential for those who wish to brush up on their dining etiquette. Space is limited to 50 participants, so be sure to register for the workshop before Feb. 11. Log into your Hire-A-Vol account and look for the event under “Attend Events." If you have any questions, contact Career Services at 974-5435 or www.career.utk.edu. This event is co-hosted by Career Services, Theta Tau and AlChE. It is sponsored by DENSO Manufacturing, Eaton Corporation, Eastman Chemical and TRANE corporation.

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ConAgra Foods Employer Information Session
Wednesday, Feb. 2, 6:30-8 p.m., University Center Shiloh Room

ConAgra Foods is one of the leading food product companies in the United States. Their products can be found in the cupboards of 97 percent of the American population. Learn more about their culture, corporate mission, diversity efforts and mechanical engineering and industrial engineering opportunities at this special information session.

This event is co-sponsored by Career Services, ASME, NSBE and Pi Tau Sigma.

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Students who need an appointment to review their resume, discuss their job search or who have any career-related questions are encouraged to contact the College of Engineering Career Consultant, April Gonzalez at 865-974-5435 or via e-mail at [log in to unmask].

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For more information, visit the Career Services Web site.

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If you have submissions for @COE, the college's electronic newsletter, please send them to Julie Stansberry at [log in to unmask] by noon on Thursdays.