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Energy Monitoring Innovations Put Shwetak Patel in Media Spotlight

photo, Shwetak Patel next to his own picture on cover of Seattle Business magazine

Shwetak Patel, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science and engineering, has been all over the media for his home energy monitoring technology and for using electrical wiring as a wireless antenna system. He made the cover of Seattle Business as one of its top innovators for 2010 and also won the TechFlash Newsmaker of the Year Award, besting Paul Allen, Steve Ballmer, Jeff Bezos, and other noted business leaders.

2011 NSF CAREER Award First-Round Winners

So far this year, three junior faculty have won coveted National Science Foundation CAREER Awards. The grants typically provide funding of $400,000 to $500,000 over four to five years.

Antonino Ferrante, assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics, specializes in computational fluid mechanics, primarily focused on turbulent flows relevant to such areas as aerodynamics, propulsion, and natural phenomena.

James Fogarty, assistant professor of computer science and engineering, explores human-computer interaction, user interface software and technology, and the obstacles to widespread adoption of ubiquitous sensing and intelligent computing technologies.

Archis Ghate, assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering, applies mathematical techniques to problems in operations management, economics, and medical treatment planning.

Sloan Fellowship Honors

Three faculty are among the 118 early career scientists in the US and Canada to receive the prestigious Sloan Research Fellowships awarded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The grants provide $50,000 over two years to pursue whatever lines of inquiry most interest the researchers.

Anup Rao, assistant professor of computer science and engineering, focuses his work on theoretical computer science, which he defines as "the mathematical study of the costs associated with manipulating information." While this is pure research, applications might include cryptog-raphy, error detection, or speeding up Internet traffic.

Georg Seelig, assistant professor of computer science and engineering and electrical engineering, studies how cells process information using complex biochemical networks, and how they can be engineered by using DNA and RNA molecules to program cellular behavior.

Paul Wiggins, assistant professor of bioengineering and physics, studies biological systems at the microscopic scale. For example, he looks at the forces involved when chromosomes separate to divide the DNA, or how the physical forces on a single-celled bacteria's nucleus affect its behavior.

Bioengineering Undergrads Receive Goldwater Scholarships

Juniors Ben Dulken and Cameron Turtle are among 300 students nationwide to receive this prestigious award. Dulken conducts research in Dr. Suzie Pun’s lab and hopes to pursue an MD/PhD in biomolecular engineering. Turtle studies the mechanisms of cardiac function in Dr. Michael Regnier's lab. He plans to pursue a PhD in bioengineering and a career in medical research.

Class of 1961: It's your 50-year reunion!

Save the date: Friday, October 28, 2011
Celebrate with engineering classmates.
In addition to university reunion plans, the college is planning
a luncheon and lab tours for alumni.

High Honors Bestowed Upon Two Bioengineering Luminaries

Buddy Ratner, professor of bioengineering and chemical engineering, has won the 2011 Pierre Galleti Award, the highest honor bestowed by the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. The institute of more than 50,000 biomedical engineers conveys this honor for contributions to public awareness of medical and biological engineering and promotion of the national interest in science, engineering, and education.

Yongmin Kim, professor of bioengineering and electrical engineering, received the 2010 Distinguished Service Award at the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society conference in Buenos Aires. He was honored for outstanding contributions to education, the profession, and leadership in EMBS. Kim is an expert in medical imaging and next-generation ultrasound, and directs the Image Computing Systems Laboratory at the UW.

photo, Joe Sutter with 747 model

Joe Sutter's Initials Soar in New 747

Boeing's largest passenger jet ever, the intercontinental 747-8, carries the initials of legendary Boeing engineer Joe Sutter (BSAA '43), who led development of the original 747 model. The 747-8 made its first flight on March 20. The company inscribed Sutter’s initials in the jet as a tribute to the "father of the 747."

Sutter maintains close ties to Boeing as an influential leader among a group of retired executives whom Boeing leaders consult with on new plane development.

Sutter was honored last July with the first Flightglobal Lifetime Achievement Award, given by Flight International magazine at the Farnborough air show outside London.