C A R N E G I E ME L L O N D E PA RTME N T O F ME C H A N I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G


KaraWins CAREERAward


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ssistant Professor Burak Kara has received the National Science Founda- tion’s (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER)Award,which provides approximately $430,000 in funding over a five-year period.


Kara earned both hisM.S. and Ph.D. from CarnegieMellon University and joined


the staff of the Department ofMechanical Engineering in September 2007.Since then,he has developed the graduate-level course “Artificial Intelligence andMachine Learning for Engineering Design” and founded theVisual Design and Engineering Laboratory.The main objective of his research is to develop new theories and compu- tational methodologies that foster creativity, innovation, and productivity in the early stages of engineering design. Kara will use the NSF grant to develop new methods for sketch-based construc-


tion and interaction with geometric content in creative design environments.His innovative research is aimed at translating designers’ conceptual sketches into 2D and 3D geometric data that can be readily modified, simulated, and optimized through a pen-and-paper like interface.


Faculty News Briefs


Professor Jonathan Cagan was featured in the May issue of Connectionsmagazine,published by theAmerican Society of Engineering Education (ASEE).The article focused on Cagan’s recent work—along withMechE student IanTseng, Psychology Professor Kenneth Kotovsky, and their former graduate student Jarrod Moss—to examine how creativity can be encouraged early in the product design process. In addition,Cagan and Associate Professor Peter Boatwright of theTepper School of Business were featured in the Summer 2009 issue of Teppermagazine for their continued efforts to bring student innova- tions toNavistar’s truck designs. . . . . .


Kara’s innovative design tools are streamlining the product development process by translating sketches into 2D and 3Dmodels.


“By using a familiar pen-like tool, engineers can easily design and analyze complex


engineered systems that are otherwise difficult and time-intensive to represent using traditional computer-aided design technology,” says Kara. Kara’s work will provide greater efficiency in both design exploration and iteration,


which are central to technological innovation.By facilitating form creation,Kara’s pen-and-paper like tool will enable a more fluid integration of stylistic and functional design requirements. Engineers can enhance the aesthetic design of their products, identify and


correct design flaws, and significantly compress the time involved in the overall design process.Kara’s innovative research is expected to make a dramatic impact in such diverse fields as product design, automotive design,pre-surgical planning, and engineering education.•


Assistant Professor Jeremy J.Michalek recently received the DesignAutomationOutstanding Young InvestigatorAward fromtheAmerican Society ofMechanical Engineers (ASME).This award is given to recognize an outstanding young engineer who ismaking noteworthy contribu- tions in the areas of design automation, evalua- tion, and integration. In other news,Michalek has received a grant fromToyota, as well as a Prius plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), to support his research on these energy-efficient alternative vehicles.Ford is also supporting Michalek’s research in assessing infrastructure and design issues for electric vehicles. . . . . .


Fun Fact By winning the prestigious NSF Faculty Early Career DevelopmentAward, Burak Kara is continuing a recent tradition atMechE.SixAssistant Professors hired by the Department recently have won this award,which funds leading- edge research.The six recent CAREER honorees are Professors Shelley Anna,C. Fred Higgs III, Philip LeDuc, Jeremy J.Michalek,O. Burak Ozdoganlar, andMetin Sitti.


The research results of Associate Professor Metin Sitti were recently featured on the cover of AppliedMaterials and Interfaces, along with an article on his gecko-inspired adhesives. In addi- tion, New Scientist recently featured an article on Sitti’s wall-climbing robots.Based on his success- ful research,Sitti has formed his own company, nanoGriptech LLC,which seeks to commercial- ize the adhesive ability of geckoes. In its first nine months, the fledgling company has received $450,000 in funding fromthe Department of Defense and theNational Science Foundation, along withAir ForceResearch Laboratory funds funneled through the PennsylvaniaNanoMateri- als Commercialization Center.The company’s research partners include BayerMaterial Science LLC andMine SafetyAppliances.•


C A R N E G I E M E C H I 17


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