Krista Haslag, a senior on the Missouri S&T volleyball team, knows a thing or two about competing. The 6-foot-1 senior from Linn, Missouri, racked up 18 kills over the weekend to become the university’s all-time leader in career kills with 1,257. (Erin Bekebrede, who played for the Miners from 2008-2011, held the previous record of 1,243 kills).
Hitting the sweet spot
While some undergraduate students peer through microscopes or write computer programs for their research projects, senior Arielle Bodine made the world of professional golf her laboratory. The applied math and economics double major recently took an eagle-eyed look at the factors that led Phil Mickelson and 46 other top professional golfers to pick up valuable endorsements. Her research was part of the Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience at Missouri S&T.
“Professional golfers make a significant portion of their yearly earnings from sources that are not tournament purses,” says Bodine. “In fact, many golfers make more money from endorsements and off-course appearances than they do from golfing in tournaments.”
Bodine, of St. Charles, Missouri, credits Dr. Michael Davis, associate professor of economics and an expert in sports economics, with opening the door for her to tackle a research project.
“I was taking his Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory class and he asked me if I had ever done an OURE project,” she says. “I thought it would be cool but had never pursued it. Now I’m absolutely glad I did.” [Read more…]
What you should know about the Nest Home
It’s that time of season again. There’s a crispness in the air, pumpkin is in everything, and Missouri S&T’s Solar House Design Team is promoting sustainable living.
The team just shipped its Nest Home, named for its nature-driven approach, to the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in Irvine, California. And while team members may not build a new house every autumn, you can bet that at this time of year since 2001 they have either been preparing a house for the competition or devising plans for a future Solar Decathlon entry.
Vote for the Nest Home to win the People’s Choice Award.
Testing it out
In today’s job market, practical work experience gives new graduates the edge they need to land the most sought-after positions. If that’s the case, senior Tim Victor should have no problem landing his dream job when he graduates from Missouri S&T. The mechanical engineering major from Manchester, Missouri, just completed a hydraulic development internship with Caterpillar’s Product Development & Global Technology Division in Peoria, Illinois. It was the third opportunity he’s had as a student to gain on-the-job experience.
A typical day for Victor starts with checking a rigorous endurance test of a hydraulic control valve to see if a shutdown occurred overnight. It’s a responsibility that puts the fluid dynamics and control theory he learned in class into practice.
“If I had a shutdown, I go through the data collected and discover the reason,” he says. “I use this data to hypothesize the location of a possible leak or malfunction in the valve being tested and use my resources to have the leak fixed or instrumentation replaced.” [Read more…]
Having a blast at summer camp
Who needs the campfires and bugs that traditional summer camps offer when you can learn how to detonate dynamite instead? [Read more…]
A larger-than-life way to give thanks
This month saw the launch of our 2014 Thankful Miners Project, an experiment that gave the Miner community an opportunity to reflect, appreciate and express their gratitude. Standing 4 feet tall, the 3-D S&T logo provided a canvas for more than 500 students, faculty and staff members to share their thankfulness. From parental support and caring faculty, to teammates and roommates, Miners found ways to share their gratefulness for things big and small.
We’re thankful for the ingenuity and creativity shown by all members of the Miner family – our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends. We’re especially grateful to S&T’s Rock Mechanics and Explosives Research Center and the Student Design and Experiential Learning Center for their efforts to make the 3-D logo possible.
While we’re on the subject of gratitude, we invite you to join in. Tell us what you’re thankful for this season and you could see your tweet, photo or comment included here. To share your expressions of gratitude with us, use the #ThankfulMiners hashtag on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Remaking America
Over the past decade, many of the world’s top corporations and industries have called on Missouri S&T researchers to improve existing manufacturing processes and develop new approaches and materials.
“We’re always looking for ways to create new capabilities, improve performance and increase productivity,” says Ming Leu, the Keith and Pat Bailey Missouri Distinguished Professor of Integrated Product Manufacturing at Missouri S&T.
Introducing advanced manufacturing processes is important to the nation’s long-term, sustainable economic growth. U.S. manufacturing accounts for 12 percent of gross domestic product, 70 percent of private R&D spending and 86 percent of exports.
The above video provides more information about the Advanced Manufacturing signature area.
“To me, the hybrid aspect of traditional manufacturing and additive manufacturing is the future for the U.S. to remain competitive,” says Jagannathan Sarangapani, the William A. Rutledge-Emerson Electric Co. Distinguished Professor in Electrical Engineering at Missouri S&T. “This aspect requires skill sets from researchers in a variety of disciplines.”
One of S&T’s four signature areas for teaching and research, Advanced Manufacturing has strengths in the emerging fields of additive manufacturing; energy manufacturing; micro- and nano-scale manufacturing; network-centric and cloud manufacturing; advanced materials for manufacturing; and intelligent, sensor-enabled manufacturing.
For example, S&T researchers are working to create “smart parts” by embedding sensors and communication circuits that allow goods to be tracked throughout the supply chain.
“Recording the chain of custody from the point of manufacture of all of the product’s components to the point the customer receives it is helpful when products are recalled,” Sarangapani says. “It also can be used to help stop counterfeit, a rising problem worldwide.”
In the advanced manufacturing area, S&T also has particular strengths in additive manufacturing, composites manufacturing and metal casting. In addition, its micro- and nano-manufacturing program has seen rapid growth in recent years.
“By building components one layer at a time using data from CAD models, additive manufacturing has the potential to fabricate 3-D components with novel material compositions with properties and functionalities that would otherwise be very difficult to create conventionally,” Leu says. “In this area, S&T researchers have developed unique processes for making functionally gradient materials, a new concept for creating composites of continuously varying materials.
Missouri S&T’s expertise in advanced manufacturing has been nationally recognized, which has opened up many collaborative opportunities. Most recently, S&T was one of 23 universities selected to join with industry, governmental agencies and other organizations to form the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute, a new national innovative manufacturing institute based in Chicago. S&T is also a member of America Makes — National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, an organization focused on helping the country grow capabilities and strength in 3-D printing.
“During the Henry Ford era, manufacturing was focused on mass production — just making enough quantity so the price could be reduced,” Leu says. “Then came mass customization, where smaller quantities with more variety were offered. Now we’re at the personalization era where parts are designed and fabricated for the individuals. The goal is to make a one-of-a-kind product at or near the same price as the mass production.”
Advancing manufacturing
By developing tailored materials and fabrication methods, S&T researchers are paving the way for a number of manufacturing processes. Here are a few examples:
Greg Hilmas, Curators’ Professor of ceramic engineering, and Robert Landers, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, demonstrated the additive manufacturing of a 3-D part by grading two ceramic materials, alumina and zirconia, which have different properties.
Umit Koylu, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, is using selective laser sintering to create bipolar plates of different flow field designs for PEM fuel cells, a key issue for improving fuel cell performance.
K. Chandrashekhara, Curators’ Professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, is using fused deposition modeling to manufacture sparse-build molds and dies to save material and cost for composites manufacturing and hydroforming.
Frank Liou, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, and Joe Newkirk, associate professor of materials science and engineering, are working with Boeing and GKN Aerospace to repair worn components and to make components with gradients of two different metals.
Suzanna Long, associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering, is working to ensure that the nation’s supply network is efficiently and seamlessly connected — from raw materials to finished products. She says it’s critical for the health and vitality of the U.S. and world economy.
Story by Mindy Limback. Video by Terry Barner. Photo by Sam O’Keefe.
Getting down to business
Coming into Missouri S&T, Elizabeth Mulina of O’Fallon, Mo., knew she wanted to work in a business field after she graduated. With an interest in the psychology of marketing, Mulina says she’s looking forward to eventually working in international business and technology. And that’s one reason she decided to come to Missouri S&T. [Read more…]
Saying good riddance to soggy buns
The solution to the soggy bun epidemic may be the brainchild of Missouri S&T freshman Tyler Richards and his friend, Jonathan Thompson. And it all started as an assignment for their high school Project Lead the Way capstone course, Engineering Development and Design. That’s when the Liberty, Mo., teens decided to tackle a common problem – how to keep water from running out of the ketchup bottle when it’s squeezed. [Read more…]
Meet the Class of 2018
This week marks the arrival of Missouri S&T’s incoming Class of 2018. The majority of this first-year class calls Missouri home, although the 1,300-plus members also hail from 32 other states, the District of Columbia and five foreign countries. Nearly one-in-four of them will be first in their family to attend college.
Not surprisingly, the Class of 2018 is no stranger to STEM fields. Roughly 36 percent were involved with Project Lead The Way and 21 percent were involved with FIRST Robotics in high school.
We asked a few members of the Class of 2018 what was on their mind as they entered college. Here’s what they had to say:
What are you most looking forward to as an incoming freshman?
“The college life – living in the dorms and meeting new people.” – John Scott, Bryant, Ark.
“Meeting new people and getting opportunities to do engineering projects.” – Michael Alexander, Blue Springs, Mo.
“Not being in high school. That makes me happy!” – Leslie Bixler, Grain Valley, Mo.
Why did you choose Missouri S&T?
“Because it’s a great engineering school. I grew up hearing about it.” – Jason Buckingham, Cedar Hill, Mo.
“It was the best choice financially and academically.” – Abdullah Khan, St. Louis
“I came to Missouri S&T because it had my major – ceramic engineering. I like the chemistry of it.” – Evan Musterman, Troy, Mo.
“It seemed like a really good school, and I was willing to go out of state for it. On top of it, it’s cheap.” – William Kyle, Irving, Texas
What student organizations are you planning to join and why?
“I’d like to join a design team and find something like rock climbing.” – Logan Moore, Collinsville, Ill.
“I plan to join NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers).” – Kyla James, St. Louis
“I want to join the Spelunking Club.” – Simin Wu, Springfield Mo.
“I’m going to join the Cycling Club. It’s been a hobby of mine since I moved to Rolla.” – James Logiudice, Rolla, Mo.
Which degree do you hope to pursue and why?
“Chemical engineering. I find it very interesting.” – Katie Dundon, Arnold, Mo.
“Mechanical engineering. I like building stuff and it’s one of the most diverse engineering degrees.” – Madeleine O’Neill, Manchester, Conn.
“Biological sciences. I want to get MD Ph.D. and do research.” – Jenna Oldman, St. Louis
“Nuclear engineering. I like calculus!” – Whitney Vermillion, Marshfield, Mo.
Where learning meets experience
Andrea Wolfe from Waterloo, Illinois, is putting her education to work this summer as part of Boeing’s Test & Evaluation Team. It’s the third opportunity she’s had to gain real-world work experience while she’s still a Missouri S&T student.
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