[log in to unmask]" alt="@COE newsletter of the UT College of Engineering" width="600" height="205" border="0" style="display:block">

Dr. Mark Dean

Personal computer inventor Mark Dean to join College of Engineering Faculty

Dr. Mark Dean, co-inventor of the personal computer, will join UT’s College of Engineering faculty on September 1, 2013, as the John Fisher Distinguished Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Dean, a 1979 engineering alumnus, is responsible for developing technology that allows us to plug anything into computers—keyboards, mice, monitors, modems, printers, speakers, and scanners—and have the devices and PCs communicate seamlessly. He holds three of the nine original patents on the computer that all PCs are based upon, and more than forty patents overall.

Dean arrives at UT from IBM, where he most recently served as chief technology officer for IBM Middle East and Africa, based in Dubai.
Read more >>

FACULTY NEWS

Dr. Ramki Kalyanaraman

Dr. Gerd Duscher

Professors design solar fiber for contest

Dr. Ramki Kalyanaraman, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE), and Dr. Gerd Duscher, an associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), have collaborated on an entry for the 2013 “Create the Future” sustainable-technology design contest.

The professors’ entry, titled “Solar Textile: Ultra-Light, Low-Cost, Flexible, and High-Efficiency Solar Energy Harvesters,” is a patent-pending design for an ultra-light, high-efficiency solar fiber, with the aim of creating fabric and clothing that would convert light into energy.

The competition includes a vote for a most popular invention concept. Voting closes on September 6, 2013.
Read more >>
Cast a vote in the contest >>

Dr. Michael Berry

Berry discusses data mining in video

WBIR-TV recently interviewed Dr. Michael Berry, a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, concerning issues of data mining and how it affects users' privacy online and on mobile devices.
See the interview video >>

Dr. Lawrence Townsend

Townsend on panel for "Pandora's Promise"

Dr. Lawrence Townsend, Condra Chair Professor and Chancellor's Professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering, participated in a panel discussion following a screening of the nuclear-power documentary "Pandora's Promise" on Saturday, July 20.

About 300 people attended the showing of the film and heard the panel discussion about nuclear energy.
Read more >>

STUDENT NEWS

COE has record-setting freshman class for fall 2013

UT’s College of Engineering is preparing to welcome a record-breaking number of freshman students to campus this fall. A total of 708—an increase of 14 percent from last year’s class and up significantly from the 452 freshmen enrolled in 2006—will begin classes this fall. The college is also seeing a surge in doctoral student enrollment, up 62 percent since 2006; an expansion of the faculty, including the hiring of nine prestigious Governor’s Chairs; an increase in the number of endowed fellowships and professorships; and the construction of two new engineering academic buildings.
Read more >>

Isaac Atuahene

Girish Upreti

ISE students receive travel awards

Isaac Atuahene and Girish Upreti, both graduate students in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), received travel awards to attend and present papers at the Institute of Industrial Engineers ISERC 2013 conference in May, 2013, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Atuahene received the ISERC 2013 National Science Foundation (NSF) Travel Grant Award and also a Graduate Student Senate Travel Award. He is a graduate teaching and research assistant in ISE.

Upreti, a PhD student and graduate research assistant in ISE, received a Graduate Student Senate Travel Award.

Study-abroad class learns about sustainable energy in Ireland

During the last mini-term session in May, 2013, a group of students from the College of Engineering did a three-credit faculty-led study-abroad class on "Sustainable Energy Engineering" in the Republic of Ireland. Ireland is one of the leading countries to have invested greatly in sustainability.

In addition to doing their class work, students learned about Irish history, visited the countryside, historical places, and wind farms. They interacted with the private owners of the wind farms and got the first-hand account of the different technologies used in wind energy generation, economics, and the related social issues.
Read more >>

EVENTS

"Bazinga" building party planned for EECS

Systers is a new group formed to recruit, mentor, and retain women in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at the University of Tennessee. The group will host the "Bazinga!" building party 1:00-5:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 20, on the sixth floor of the Min H. Kao Building.

The party will feature food, robot demos, team games, and prizes including iPad and Xbox items. Computer science, engineering, and math students and anyone interested in learning more about the EECS are encouraged to attend.

Dr. H.M. "Hash" Hashemian donated the seed funding to kick off the group through a $10,000 contribution from his company AMS.
Read more >>

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

Engineering tutors needed

Engineering students can earn extra money and gain valuable experience as tutors for The Thornton Athletics Student Life Center.  The hours are flexible. Graduate Students will start at $11 and hour and undergraduate students will start at $9 an hour.  You must have a 3.00 GPA or better and must be at least a junior. Those interested should email Ashley Wheelis at [log in to unmask].

AT&T has opportunity for engineering grad

AT&T has a job opening for an engineering graduate, particularly in civil or electrical engineering, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The position is Manager of Outside Planning & Design, responsible for the planning, design, and analysis of the outside plant facilities/network in an individual contributor role. The position is listed through August 9 on the Hire-A-Vol site, accessible via students' MyUTK account.
Read more on the AT&T Careers site >>

CISML offers Graduate Assistantship for Masters Program

The Graduate Assistantship for Masters (GRAMS) Program is coordinated by the Center for Intelligence Systems and Machine Learning (CISML). This assistantship program is funded by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the Science Alliance (a UT Center of Excellence).

The program is restricted to master students who are US citizens and who are currently enrolled in full time graduate study at the University of Tennessee. If you are considering graduate study here at UT/EECS, visit the GRAMS website to review the research areas that are currently supported by GRAMS funding.

GRAMS has three primary objectives:

1. To create a vibrant pipeline of outstanding masters level students who will complete their degrees while working to further research in science  and engineering
2. To expose UT students to the large-scale challenge problems faced by ORNL
3. To help offset some of the financial costs required to complete a master degree at UT.

The program is specifically designed to allow MS students who are nearing completion of their degree requirements to conclude their studies while working at ORNL. GRAMS targets students who have completed their primary coursework toward the master degree. The assistantship program offers a competitive stipend and typically provides a tuition waver for up to twelve credit hours of thesis work, independent study, and similar work for academic credit that is conducted at the lab.

If you are awarded a GTA (Graduate Teaching Assistantship with tuition waiver) for ten hours per week, GRAMS can fund an additional ten hours per week (provided you can work at ORNL each week). To apply for an ORNL GRA, complete the ORNL GRAMS Student Form [InteractivePDF] at the bottom of the GRAMS website (cisml.utk.edu/GRAMS) and  submit the form to Julie Knoefel ([log in to unmask]).

Stay up-to-date with Engineering Professional Practice information and events by clicking the “Like” button on the program’s Facebook page, following the program on Twitter, visiting its website at www.coop.utk.edu, or calling 865-974-5323.

Students, please note: If you receive a co-op or internship offer, please contact Engineering Professional Practice for help with paperwork and any preparations you may need – [log in to unmask], 865-974-5323, or 310 Perkins Hall.

Featured co-op student: Rachel Dickson

Our student this week is Rachel Dickson, pictured at right, a chemical engineering major who accepted a co-op at Oak Ridge National Laboratories located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Dickson described the department she worked in and what her main responsibilities were.

“I worked in the Materials and Separations Research group in the Energy and Transportation Division at Oak Ridge National Lab," said Dickson. "I worked directly and independently on a project for my mentor. Most work was carried out in a typical wet chemistry lab setting. My specific task and goals were one integral part of a larger overall project.”

Dickson found her co-op assignment to be a valuable benefit.

“It provided me with real-world, hands-on experience,” she said.

Students may read more about their peers' co-op 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 [log in to unmask] or 865-974-5323.

What else can you do with your major? You can now receive your degree and a secondary education teaching license with VolsTeach. The VolsTeach program is available to Math and Science majors who wish to expand their career options by earning a secondary education teaching license. Given the current economy VolsTeach offers one degree with two career paths which will make you more competitive in the future job market.

VolsTeach provides:

• early and frequent field experiences
• personal guidance by Master Teachers and program advisors
• the opportunity to have paid exclusive internships during regular and summer terms
• a comfortable learning environment that will further enhance your professional skill set

This is your opportunity to be a part of the program. VolsTeach is open to freshmen, sophomores and juniors who are ready to start a journey that will give them a chance to connect with the community. Become a part of this exciting venture by signing up for the Fall Step 1 course now.
Click on the flyer at left for registration information.
For more information contact VolsTeach Coach, Jada Johnson at [log in to unmask] or visit the program's Facebook page, VolsTeach, for current events, and the program's website, http://volsteach.utk.edu.

Career Services News

Attention: Seniors & Graduate Students Graduating in May 2013
Don’t forget to complete the Post-Graduation Survey.

Congratulations from all of us in the UT Career Services Office upon your upcoming graduation! It has been our pleasure to work with many of you, and we wish you the best in your life and new endeavors! In order to keep Career Services’ records up-to-date and provide the best service to you, please take a moment to fill out the Post-Graduation Survey via HIRE-A-VOL.

To complete the survey log in to your Hire-A-Vol student or alumni account:
*Log into MY UTK at http://www.utk.edu and search under Academic Links for the HIRE-A-VOL link
*Under Your Profile on the HIRE-A-VOL Homepage, click on View/Edit your Profile
*Click on Employment & Continued Education

On the survey page, please click on Add An Employment Reporting or View Details under Continued Education and fill out your placement information.** Please be aware that your data is confidential and will not be shared with other departments. This data is collected in an aggregate/anonymous manner and is used for purposes that include salary averages, geographic preference, benchmarking and reporting to ranking organization.

**If you have any difficulties accessing our survey, you may also e-mail your placement data to [log in to unmask]. Please include your name, e-mail address, employment status (Still seeking, Graduate School, Internship/Summer Job, Out of Job Market, Employed), Company or Grad School, Salary/Wage, Location of new job or Grad School.

Fall 2013 Important Recruiting Dates:

Career Services Kick-Off Cookout, 11:00-2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 29, outside Dunford Hall. Stop by for free hotdogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers and more! All provided by our Corporate Sponsors.

Part-Time Job Fair, 2:00-5:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 4, UC Ballroom. Looking for a part-time on-campus or off-campus job? Consider attending this event to learn more about opportunities in the area.

Engineering Career Success Week: September 16th-September 19, TBA-Watch the Career Services website at www.career.utk.edu for a list of scheduled events.

Logistics Fair (for IE and ME majors interested in operations positions), 4:00-6:00 p.m. Monday, September 23, Thompson-Boling Arena.

Fall Job Fair, 2:00-6:00 Tuesday, September 24, Thompson-Boling Arena. Open to all majors, all levels, students and alumni.

Donald Asher’s Applying for Highly Competitive Graduate Schools Presentation, 4:00-5:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, UC Auditorium.

Social Impact Fair, 2:00-5:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 9, UC Ballroom. Find about jobs that make the difference.

For more information, contact April Gonzalez , Career Services Consultant, College of Engineering at [log in to unmask] or 865-974-5435.

Check out www.career.utk.edu for a list of all upcoming events.

The Office of Multicultural Student Life offers these academic services.

Vols Success Seminars: During the Spring semester, in collaboration with the Student Success Center and other campus departments, Vols Success Seminars will be offered to all UT students. This series of workshops is designed to equip all students with the knowledge and resources to be successful, inside and outside of the classroom at the UT. Students can register in advance for each workshop at multicultural.utk.edu or studentsuccess.utk.edu. View the Vols Success Seminars Spring 2013 calendar >>