The Fall 2023 issue of Engineering West Virginia Magazine is finally here, and we couldn’t be more excited to share with you all what’s been happening here at Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. This issue’s feature, “Fostering Innovation in the Heart of Appalachia,” highlights the remarkable work and partnerships that are taking place at the Lane Innovation Hub. Learn more about our remarkable international winning student competition groups, how our faculty actively speak to legislators on behalf of their research, student accomplishments and the latest videos from our college. Enjoy!
Read Dean Mago's message for the fall issueThe West Virginia University robotics team, based at the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, is the best in the world.
Read More : WVU robotics team wins international Mars rover challengeOver the next three years, researchers with the Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions will try to gain a robust understanding of where and why leaks of methane and other gases happen and their effects on local air quality and global climate.
A model for predicting the levels of oxygen in water, developed by researcher Omar Abdul-Aziz, gives citizen scientists nationwide a tool for taking action on stream pollution.
Recently published research by WVU engineers marks a big step forward in improving durability and performance of the solid oxide fuel cells that power plants can use to generate electricity.
Engineers are taking a major step into “bioelectronic medicine,” a cutting-edge approach that uses electric current as a treatment for pain and disease, with the development of MouseFlex. The device will facilitate research into a technique called “vagus nerve stimulation” or VNS.
Small and medium-sized businesses have access to free pollution prevention and productivity improvement consulting thanks to grant support enabling industrial engineers to leverage their expertise on behalf of local enterprises.
The upcoming launch of the SMARTER center in the Statler College will direct $1.5 million in federal funding toward the development of mobility solutions for transportation challenges faced by rural residents.
The Industrial Assessment Center in the Department of Industrial Management Systems Engineering has received funding from the Department of Energy to partner with Lehigh University to establish and support the Mid Atlantic Regional Industrial Assessment Center of Excellence.
West Virginia University, the state’s flagship, land-grant R1 institution, reported a record $231 million in externally supported expenditures, which are mainly designated for research, for fiscal year 2023.
WVU researchers are looking to protect space — and elements of everyday life on Earth — from debris down to the size of paint flakes barreling through space at speeds of more than 15,000 miles per hour.
The inaccessible waters under ocean ice contain information critical to understanding the impact of climate change, and Xi Yu, mechanical and aerospace engineer said she believes multiple marine robots, carried and coordinated by an intelligent mothership, can reach those depths and communicate what they learn.
A world-renowned expert on infrastructure and engineering construction, Hota GangaRao spoke to the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this year on the benefits of manufacturing composite materials, which are cost-effective alternatives to traditional building materials. GangaRao gladly accepts invitations to Capitol Hill and this wasn’t his first time testifying before Congress.
Learn more about GangaRao's history with policymakers.Four WVU faculty members — John “Michael” Ruppert, Megan Midcap, Emily Murphy and Cerasela Zoica Dinu — have been recognized for their exceptional teaching and service to the University, students and community.
Read More : WVU faculty honored with 2023 teaching and service awardsEach year, at the direction of the Office of the Provost, the Academic Advising Council selects honorees for the Nicholas Evans Awards for Advising Excellence in recognition of outstanding advising and mentoring provided by faculty and professional advisers at WVU.
Read More : Faculty, staff honored for excellence in advisingPedro Mago, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the Statler College, announced the winners of the College’s outstanding teaching, advising, research and staff awards for the 2022-2023 academic year on March 2023.
Read More : Teaching, advising, research and staff awards announced at WVU’s Statler CollegeDuring the 2023-24 academic year, six Honors College Faculty Fellows will help WVU students grow their knowledge in areas of climate change and the environment, communication, youth development and collective violence.
Read More : Six faculty named to Honors College Faculty Fellows programFollowing a rigorous application process, the Office of the Provost has selected five new WVU faculty members as recipients of the 2023-25 Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship Applied Faculty Fellowship, a multi-disciplinary initiative to bolster the culture of entrepreneurship and innovation at WVU.
Read More : WVU faculty chosen for seventh IDEA Fellows cohortA Statler College researcher has received an award from the U.S. Department of Energy for his contributions to developing hydrogen production technologies.
Read More : Liu honored by Energy Department for hydrogen production technologiesPedro Mago, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the Statler College, has announced the two recipients of the College’s Thriving Women Program grants, intended to empower female faculty and staff to advance in their professional careers through individual or community transformation.
Read More : Statler College announces 2023 Thriving Women Program recipientsJason Gross, chair and associate professor for the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the Statler College was selected for The State Journal‘s 2023 Generation Next: 40 Under 40 award.
Read More : Statler College Professor Jason Gross selected for Generation Next: 40 Under 40Two assistant professors in the Statler College have been named J. Wayne and Kathy Richards Faculty Fellows in Engineering.
Read More : Sanyal, Szczecinski named Richards Faculty Fellows in engineeringPedro Mago, Glen H. Hiner Dean and the Statler College Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, announced the recipients of the College’s Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award. The awards were distributed to the recipients in conjunction with WVU’s annual Diversity Week celebration.
Read More : Statler college announces 2023 Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion award recipientsWhen academic institutions across the globe work together, not only do a wide range of diverse projects take shape, but long-lasting relationships are forged and valuable experiences take place.
Read More : Sosa selected for prestigious international exchange programThe Statler College is more than just buildings, classrooms and labs. We are an ecosystem
of diverse perspectives, ideas and voices. Together we solve the problems of tomorrow,
today. Let’s climb higher.
For the first time, WVU’s Statler College hosted the VEX Robotics Competition in February 2023. The event was sponsored by the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
To empower West Virginia educators and their students in STEM disciplines, the Statler College hosted 13 teachers from Boone, Berkeley and Monongalia counties in the inaugural Engineering Boot Camp for K-5 teachers in August 2023.
The Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering recently launched a new Industrial Engineering Senior Leaders Panel series.
A professor from WVU is on a mission to discover a solution to one of NASA’s greatest challenges - creating battery powered planes and spaceships.
Lian-Shin “Lance” Lin, professor of civil and environmental engineering in the Statler College, has been named chair of the Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, effective August 2023.
WVU students will partner with the ecotourism destination of Monteverde, Costa Rica, to address its stressed sewage problem, which includes undersized and aging septic tanks and untreated water from sinks and washing machines.
A four-year Army ROTC National Scholar beginning medical school in the fall, a Fulbright Scholar eager to work as a teaching assistant in Bulgaria and an aspiring teacher who has reached out across the state to help combat stereotypes about Appalachian dialects are among the graduating seniors receiving the Order of Augusta, the most prestigious WVU student award.
A team of students from the Statler College were announced as winners of the 16th annual West Virginia Business Plan Competition. The team was awarded $40,000 for their business Brite, a software-as-a-service platform that gives professors and administrators real-time data insights into student feedback, classroom learning and engagement, all while assisting students on their academic journey.
Read More : Statler College students win West Virginia Business Plan CompetitionSix WVU graduate students from around the world and the U.S. will be able to focus on their research first as they work to finish their degrees with support from WVU Foundation scholarships.
Read More : Six WVU graduate students receive prestigious scholarships allowing them to pursue their passionsEmpathy, hope and a drive to find solutions that will change their communities and the world for the better characterize the new cohort of Bucklew Scholars beginning their journeys at WVU focused on building a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Read More : Promising young leaders in West Virginia vie for WVU Foundation ScholarshipA record number of WVU students have earned Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships to participate in transformative study abroad programs.
Read More : Record number of WVU students receive Gilman Scholarships to study abroadThree WVU students and one alumna are joining an elite group of researchers from across the United States as recipients of National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships.
Read More : WVU students, alumna awarded prestigious NSF graduate fellowshipsTwo WVU students are taking steps to become more well-rounded global citizens while preparing for future careers in the federal government and learning a new language.
Read More : Two WVU students earn Boren Scholarships to study abroadFive students, each deeply passionate about their education and research, are receiving funding from the Ruby Scholars Graduate Fellows program to aid in their future academic endeavors at WVU.
Read More : WVU names 2023 class of Ruby FellowsTen students with a shared goal of bettering the Mountain State have been awarded the Hazel Ruby McQuain Graduate Scholarship to help them continue graduate study in their chosen fields.
Read More : Hazel Ruby McQuain Graduate Scholarship honors 10 students striving to better West VirginiaWe take immense pride in our students, and we've had the pleasure of hearing from many of them regarding their most recent accomplishments. We are thrilled to share their stories and celebrate their life changing experiences. Way to go!
The Mine Rescue Team from WVU’s Statler College were crowned champions of the 2023 Intercollegiate Mine Emergency Rescue Development. The event was held on February 2023 in Idaho Springs, Colorado.
Read More : WVU team sweeps international mine rescue competitionOur incredible alumni pave the way for current students every day. Here are some of those success stories and news about noteworthy alums in the Statler community.
Learn more about our alumniAt the end of the first year of the EcoCAR EV Challenge, the team from WVU finished second overall in the four-year competition that was held from May 2023, in Orlando, Florida. The team accumulated ten competition awards in total, receiving more than $18,000 in prize money.
Read More : WVU finishes second in EcoCAR EV Challenge Year One competitionHear from WVU alumna Emily Calandrelli as she inspires bright young minds from around the state and beyond to ignite their creative minds and put on their inventor caps for the Statler College Engineering Challenge Camps.
The team of mining engineering students from WVU researched and recommended a plan of action to recover the maximum amount of resources from a full-scale surface and underground limestone deposit, receiving top placement for the fourth time.
Read More : Mining engineering students win National Competition for the fourth timeThe Statler College takes great pride in fostering a vibrant community where students
are celebrated and actively engaged. Our commitment to meaningful interactions
allows us to cultivate a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone
feels a sense of belonging.
A WVU alumni couple is celebrating the University’s life-changing impact on their family with a planned gift to benefit athletics, education, health care and disability services.
Read More : Alumni couple’s planned gift pays tribute to WVU family impact
The overwhelming support on the 6th annual Day of Giving generated 280 gifts, and collectively raised $955,835 to support our faculty and students. These gifts allow the college to further their mission to build a brighter future for all. Our progress would not be possible without strong support and generosity of our alumni, donors and friends. Together we can make a significant difference in our College, WVU and beyond.
The Statler College recently announced the addition and dedication of two labs in the Advanced Engineering Research Building and Engineering Research Building, both on the Evansdale Campus at WVU, that will benefit engineering and computer science students.
Read More : Statler College unveils two labs to increase experiential and collaborative learning opportunities for studentsA $4 million gift to WVU from Antero Resources and Antero Midstream is expanding educational opportunities at the Statler College to help train the next generation of petroleum and natural gas engineers.
Read More : Training the next generation: Antero’s $4M gift to WVU aids energy educationFuture geologists and engineers studying at WVU are using the same advanced software as oil and natural gas professionals thanks to an in-kind gift from Petroleum Experts Limited worth nearly $6.4 million.
Read More : Petex software gift boosts geology and engineering programs at WVUStudents from the Statler College have established a scholarship fund in honor of Denny Ayres, who passed away unexpectedly on December 2022, after a brief illness.
Read More : Scholarship established in honor of engineering student Denny AyresThe Statler College recently created the Microgravity Research Team Alumni Scholarship in honor of Professor Emeritus, John Kuhlman. Prominent alumni of the College spearheaded the creation of the new fund to support the next generation of aerospace leaders from WVU.
Read More : Statler College establishes Microgravity Research Team Alumni Scholarship in Honor of Dr. John KuhlmanAssociate professor, Qingqing Huang with the Statler College at WVU has been named to a distinguished professorship, effective July 2023.
Read More : Huang named to distinguished professorship