2023 College of Engineering News

Dr. Rob Traver Discusses Seine River Cleanup in ‘Time’ Cover Story In the article, which leads the magazine’s issue for April 10-17, 2023, the director of the Villanova Center for Resilient Water Systems compares the ambitious project to similar discussions in Philadelphia to rid the Delaware River of pollution and make it safe for swimming.
CBE Hosts Inaugural Annual Meeting of Greater Philadelphia Chapter of Chinese Biopharmaceutical Association, USA Held in October at the Connelly Center on campus, the conference had over 350 attendees.
Dr. Rob Traver Receives 2 Awards for Contributions to Water Resources Engineering The professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering was honored with the 2023 Outstanding Research & Innovation Award from the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers and the 2023 Philadelphia Civil Engineer of the Year Award from the Philadelphia Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Two Villanova Engineering Alumni Named to 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 List Shannon Rhodes ’16 CpE, senior director of connected devices for the NBA, was named to Forbes’ Sports list, while Adam Butchy, PhD, ’16 ChE was included on Forbes’ Healthcare list as a co-founder of HEARTio.
Grants Roundup: College of Engineering Receives $1.7 Million in Grants in Q2 The awards, provided by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, will support three projects led by members of the Villanova Engineering faculty.
Postdoc Dieter Bender Receives Early Career Investigator Award from American Heart Association Dr. Bender’s research investigates data from the commonly used pulse oximeter to determine whether the device could indicate the effectiveness of CPR, specifically in children.
Industry Spotlight: Villanova Partners with Boeing for Applied Sustainability Boot Camp Part of Villanova’s Sustainable Enterprise Executive Education & Development (SEED) program, the boot camp taught Boeing executives the critical fundamentals of sustainability and challenged them to better incorporate sustainability principles into their organization’s strategies, business plans and culture.
Villanova Engineers Awarded Major Research Instrumentation Grant by National Science Foundation The three-year, $1.4 million grant will fund the installation and upkeep of a unidirectional sediment-feed tilting flume. The device will serve a wide scope of hydrology research projects and experiments for Villanova researchers as well as national and international partners in academia, water utilities and engineering firms.
Dr. Mojtaba Vaezi Receives Prestigious CAREER grant from National Science Foundation The five-year, $600,000 award will allow the associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering to advance research in managing interference in cellular networks.
Dr. David Jamison Named Fellow of Biomedical Engineering Society The associate dean of Undergraduate Affairs was recognized for “his record of research and teaching excellence in biomedical engineering, and development of a BME minor program at his institution,” according to BMES.
Villanova Engineers Awarded Patent for Low-Cost NovaVent Mechanical Ventilator Initially manufactured as an emergency alternative during the COVID-19 pandemic, this machine will now serve as a high-efficiency, low-cost device suitable for mitigating the global need for medical equipment.
College of Engineering Announces 2023-2033 Strategic Plan Developed with input from across the Villanova Engineering community, the Strategic Plan identifies areas of strength and opportunities for growth as the College furthers its commitment to igniting change for the greater good.
Professor Qianhong Wu Receives Second Patent for Groundbreaking ‘Smart Brain’ Mimicking the human head, Dr. Wu’s “smart brain” enables researchers to measure the motion and deformation of brain matter during impact-induced brain trauma, providing not only a better understanding of brain injuries, including concussions, but also guidance for preventing such injuries.
Chemical Engineering Student Chosen for Fulbright-MITACS Globalink Canada Lauren Iskander, of West Orange, N.J., will be conducting research at Polytechnique Montréal, where she will develop implantable neuromodulation interventions to improve hand movements after paralysis.
Engineering Graduate Jordy Nuñez ’23 CE to Deliver Student Speech at 2023 Commencement A Civil Engineering major from River Vale, N.J., Nuñez was chosen by Villanova’s deans and other administrators after a series of speech competitions this spring. His 8-minute speech will touch on family and faith.
Five Villanova Engineering Students Receive Fulbright Grants for 2023-24 The grants will allow the students to conduct research, study and teach abroad through the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Two other COE students were selected as alternates or semifinalists.
College of Engineering Honors Outstanding Students at Dean’s Awards Dinner Held at Overbrook Golf Club in Villanova, the dinner and ceremony capped off an academic year in which more than 220 Engineering students will receive their bachelor’s degrees, with 142 others receiving their master’s and seven more receiving their doctorates.
Villanova Engineering Celebrates 46th Engineering Alumni Society Awards The Villanova University College of Engineering honored 11 outstanding alumni Thursday, March 30, at the 46th Engineering Alumni Society Awards Dinner. Held at the Inn at Villanova University, the awards recognized alumni for their professional accomplishments, service to society, and commitment to the College and its mission.
COE Community Remembers Longtime VESL Partner Father Wally Kasuboski The Capuchin priest devoted his life to improving the living conditions for residents of rural Panama. To honor his legacy, the College of Engineering is holding a memorial service on campus.
Dr. Alfonso Ortega Named to SEMI-THERM Thermal Hall of Fame March 14th, 2023 The lifetime achievement award, presented during the 39th annual IEEE Semiconductor Thermal Measurement, Modeling and Management Symposium (SEMI-THERM), recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the development and commercialization of thermal management technologies.
NovaCell Conferences NovaCell faculty and graduate students have been busy in 2023 participating in a variety of professional conferences.

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