The College of Engineering has named Renata Engel as its new associate dean of undergraduate studies. Engel, who begins her new role on Aug. 1, takes over from Robert Pangborn. Pangborn left the college to serve as Penn State's vice president and dean for Undergraduate Education in January. Arthur Miller, distinguished professor of civil and environmental engineering, has been serving as the college's interim associate dean for undergraduate studies.

Three Engineering Science and Mechanics faculty have been awarded Johnson and Johnson Innovative Technology Research Seed Grants. The Johnson and Johnson funds were matched by the Huck Institutes, The College of Medicine and the Materials Research Institute. The merit-based awards are presented to PSU faculty for innovative research in the life sciences on a competive basis.

Barbara A. Shaw, Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Elizabeth Sikora, Senior Research Associate in Engineering Science and Mechanics, and Ian Gilchrist, Staff Physician, College of Medicine, for their proposal titled An Engineered Materials Approach to Developing a Bioabsorbing, Drug-Eluting, Bare-Metal Stent from Nanostructured Magnesium Alloys.

Jeff Catchmark, Assistant Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics and the team of Christopher Siedlecki, Associate Professor of Surgery, College of Medicine; Alan Snyder, Professor of Bioengineering, College of Medicine; and Conrad Zapanta, Assistant Professor of Surgery, College of Medicine for their proposal titled Integral Nanotexturing of Non-Planar Biomaterials.

Source: The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences Newsletter, Vol. 16; Spring 2006.

The Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics at the Pennsylvania State University is commemorating its 100th birthday, June 1-2, 2006. The schedule of events will include a picnic, recognition dinner, tours, speakers, and other special events.

At the family picnic on Thursday, alumni may reconnect with fellow classmates, faculty and students. Friday morning’s opening session will highlight the current department and program activities and features a special Guest Speaker, Mason Walsh. Tours of the Nanofab Facility and EES Labs will be given in the afternoon. A Memorabilia Room will be open during the entire event.

The weekend culminates in a Gala Recognition Dinner and celebration, recognizing Distinguished Alumni, Outstanding Engineering Alumni, Alumni Fellows, and the Departments newly named Centennial Fellows. This unique award of Centennial Fellow recognizes a select group of alumni who lead in disciplines and professions in Engineering in this centennial year. The Centennial Fellows provide a benchmark of excellence as the Department enters its second century. They are an exclusive group of alumni representing academia, the corporate and private sectors, and government.