Category Archives: Engineering

Welcome to Dr. Yu-Cheng (Frank) Liu, Asst. Professor in Mechanical Engineering!

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Name:
Yu-Cheng (Frank) Liu
Title: Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering
Department: Computer Science, Engineering, and Physics (CSEP)

Classes I’m teaching:
EGR-350 Fluid Mechanics
EGR-451 Computational Fluid Dynamics

Professional Interests/Activities:
Selected invited seminars:
Y.C. Liu, “Droplet combustion of surrogate and real fuel systems in a low convection condition,” Research Seminar, MOMENTIVE, Richmond Heights, OH, May 14, 2014.
Y.C. Liu, ”Droplet combustion of surrogate and real fuel systems in a low convection condition: ground-based and space-based experiments,” Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas A&M- Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, USA, April 29, 2014.
Y.C. Liu, ”Droplet combustion of surrogate and real fuel systems in a low convection condition,” Research Seminar, The Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, College Station, PA, USA, Feb. 13, 2014.
Y.C. Liu, ”Droplet combustion of surrogate and real fuel systems in a low convection condition: ground-based and space-based experiments,” Research Seminar, Performance Material R&D, Dow Chemical Company, Freeport, TX, USA, Oct. 25, 2013.
Y.C. Liu,”Spherically symmetrical droplet burning: From ground-based surrogate tests to International Space Experiments,” Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, April. 01, 2013.
Y.C. Liu,”Spherically symmetrical droplet burning: From ground-based surrogate tests to International Space Experiments,” Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Mar. 29, 2013.

Selected Conference Presentations:
Y.C. Liu, Y. Xu, M.C. Hicks, C.T. Avedisian, “The effect of support fibers on micro-convection in droplet combustion experiments,” International Symposium on Combustion, San Francisco, CA, Aug. 02-08, 2014.
Y.C. Liu, C.T. Avedisian, K.N. Trenou, J.K. Rah, “Experimental Study of Initial Diameter Effects on Convection-free Droplet Combustion in the Standard Atmosphere for h-Heptane, n-Octant, and n-Decane: International Space Station and Ground-based Experiments,” AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition 2014, National Harbor, Maryland, USA, Jan. 13-17, 2014
Y.C. Liu, Y. Xu, J.K. Rah, K.N. Trenou, C.T. Avedisian, “Droplet combustion dynamics (experiments) of butanol isomers in a reduced gravity environment, 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gravitational and Space Research, Orlando, Florida, USA, Nov. 03-08, 2013.
Y.C. Liu, K.N. Trenou, J. Rah, M.C. Hicks, C.T. Avedisian, “Effect of varying the initial diameter of n-octane and n-decane droplets over a wide range on the spherically symmetric combustion process: International space station and ground-based experiments,” 8th U.S. National Combustion Meeting, Park City, Utah, USA, May 19-22, 2013.

Research Interests:
Liquid combustion and diagnostics, phase change phenomena, renewable energy, image processing and analyzing.

Awards:
Lockheed Martin Student Award for Oral Presentation, 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gravitational and Space Research, New Orleans, Louisiana, Nov. 28 – Dec. 02, 2012.

2nd place in the Enabling Technologies Poster Competition
, 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gravitational and Space Research, New Orleans, Louisiana, Nov. 28 – Dec. 02, 2012.

McManus Design Award

the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, 2010

Fellowship Award
Graduate Division of Chemical Engineering Department, National Taiwan University, 2006

Degree(s)/Education:
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University (2013)
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University (2010)
M.S., Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University (2007)
B.S., Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University (2005)

Memberships:
Combustion Institute
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Society for Gravitational and Space Research

How I fell in love with my field:
Being always interested in energy-related research, I had this opportunity to switch my research field to droplet combustion and do microgravity experiments on earth and aboard the International Space Station. The ideal microgravity droplet flame with a spherical symmetry is a classical problem in textbook, but using this platform to compare surrogate fuels and biofuels with conventional transportation fuels brings new spirits to it. Despite the idealness of the flame, to achieve such a experimental condition is a very challenging task and it requires lots of hands-on engineering design. This is where I found my field interesting and fell in love with it.

What I hope for my time at UM-Flint:
For my time at UM-Flint, I hope that I can bring students new research projects and learning experiences that are more helpful when they go to local and global industries. I believe this would benefit both the community and student’s career development.

Three things you should know about me:
• I play guitar and several percussion instruments.
• Though I enjoy listening to classical music, I also listen to a variety of pop music.
• I enjoy working with students and seeing they learn, grow, and become professional in what they are interested in. That’s why I am here at UM-Flint.

Welcome to Dr. Ming Li, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering!

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Name: Dr. Ming Li
Title: Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Department: CSEP

Dr. Li received her PhD from Florida International University and is interested in Mechatronics. Her research involves Structural Health Monitoring.

She served in the Department of Engineering Technology at Miami University Middletown for four years.

Dr. Li grew up in Qingdao, China, a beautiful coastal city. She has two sisters, one in Virginia, and the other in Boston. She enjoys traveling, reading, and sports. She plays table tennis.

To learn more about Dr. Li and her department, visit the CSEP website.

CAS and DEEP Programs

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The dust is settling from the first rush of back-to-school. Among those who headed to the classroom after the Labor Day holiday were scores of students who attend classes at the Lapeer County ISD Education and Technology Center building in Attica, Mich. Some of these participate in the Dual Enrollment Education Partnerships, or DEEP program, offered by Lapeer County ISD and UM-Flint. This program allows capable and interested high school students to take college-level courses and earn college credits. These credits are applicable to four-year degree programs at UM-Flint, and potentially to other institutions.

In addition to offering extra challenges to high school students, the DEEP program encourages enrollment in college after high school and retention in college courses after the first year. According to a study by the University of Iowa’s College of Education, “dual enrollment students who completed 20 or more credits in the first year of college were 28% (p<.01) more likely to persist through the second year in college than were students who did not complete dual enrollment courses.” A major finding of the study was that participation in dual enrollment “indicated statistically significant impacts upon studets’ academic momentum.” The study also indicated positive trends for dual enrollment students completing their degrees in less than average time.

For the 2014-2015 academic year, Lapeer’s ISD is offering two programs: Pre-Engineering and Medical Careers Acceleration. Each consists of four courses, two in the fall semester and two in the winter semester. Enrollment is limited to 30 students in each of the programs. At the end of this academic year, students who have completed both semesters will have earned 13 college credits.

The Medical Careers Acceleration Program (MCAP) is jointly managed by UM-Flint’s College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) and the School of Health Professions & Studies (SHPS). Courses for Pre-Engineering are managed by the Computer Science, Engineering, and Physics (CSEP) Department of CAS.

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This year’s curriculum for MCAP includes BIO 113: Principles of Biology, HCR 206: Health Sciences Applications, BIO 328: Genetics, and PHL 168: Philosophy of Bioethics. The Pre-Engineering classes are CSC 101: Fluency with Information Technology and Computing, EGR 165: Computer Aided Design, CSC 175: Problem Solving and Programming I, and EGR 102: Introduction to Engineering.

The courses selected for inclusion in the Lapeer ISD DEEP program are considered by faculty to be desirable because they will help students develop a stronger academic foundation in the profession being studied and accustom students to the rigors of college-level work.

The Lapeer ISD DEEP program is just one of several for UM-Flint faculty involvement. Another example is just around the corner from the university at Powers Catholic High School. There, students can participate in two separate 12-credit Humanities Programs. The Senior Humanities Program includes ENG 111: College Rhetoric, COM 210: Introduction to Public Speaking, ENG 112: Critical Writing and Reading, and ARH 112: History of Renaissance to Modern Art. The Junior Humanities Program includes ENG 213: American Ethnic Literature, PHL 202: Intro to Logic, ENG 111: College Rhetoric, and HIS 114: Twentieth Century World History.

Sites also exist within the Lapeer Community Schools, Livingston County Schools, and Utica Community Schools. More DEEP program locations are being considered.

For more information on UM-Flint’s DEEP program, please visit their website.

View a video from one of UM-Flint’s DEEP sites in Davison, Mich:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFF6Kv5hJ1w&feature=youtube_gdata[/youtube]

 

 

CAS Welcomes Over 30 New Faculty for Fall Semester

The College of Arts and Sciences at UM-Flint started the Fall 2014 semester with over 30 new faculty members teaching in its classrooms. New faces will be seen in many departments including CSEP, English, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Earth & Resource Science, Psychology, Political Science, Anthropology, Theatre & Dance, and Foreign Language!

Throughout the semester, CAS will be featuring different new faculty members on our front page and in our blog so other members of the university can get to know them better! Be sure to welcome them to UM-Flint if you see them around!

Following is a list of our new faculty members and their departments:

• Amal Alhosban – Assistant Professor of Computer Science, CSEP
• Mark Allison – Assistant Professor of Computer Science, CSEP
• Emily Feuerherm – Assistant Professor of Linguistics, ENG
• Matthew Fhaner – Assistant Professor of Analytical Chemistry, CMB
• Seung-Jin Lee – Assistant Professor of Sustainability and Mechanical Engineering (ERS 67%, CSEP 33%)
• Ming Li – Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, CSEP
• Yu Cheng (Frank) Liu – Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, CSEP
• Nathaniel Miller – Assistant Professor of Psychology, PSY
• Jeremiah Olson – Assistant Professor of Political Science, POL
• Zahid Syed, CSEP –Assistant Professor of Computer Science, CSEP

• Adam Dill – Adjunct Professor in THE/DAN
• Cindy Liao – Adjunct Professor, PSY
• Dayne Walling – Adjunct Professor, POL

• Russ Cossaboom – Lec III BIO
• Stephanie Gelderloos – Lec III ENG
• Lisa Madden – Lec III PSY
• Jennifer Miller – Lec III BIO
• Roberto Rinaldi – Lec III PSY
• Kristy Watkins – Lec III WGS

• Ishtiague Amin – Lec I CSEP
• Scott Atkinson– Lec I ENG
• Anita Baxter – Lec I BIO
• Jed Digens – Lec I CSEP
• Gisele Farah – Lec I FOR
• Theresa Fedio – Lec I FOR
• Edward Hoort – Lec I MPA
• Nicholas Ginga – Lec I CSEP
• Laurah Klepinger-Mathew – Lec I ANT
• Robin McGuire – Lec I CSEP
• Mary Montie – Adjunct Lec PUB
• Joyce Piert – Lec I MTH
• Laurence Tarini – Lec I CSEP
• Delma Thomas-Jackson – Lec I for CAS

Engineering Students Attend International Conference


On June 15-18, 2014, faculty members of the UM-Flint College of Arts & Sciences Mechanical Engineering Department attended the 121st American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference and Exposition in Indianapolis, Indiana—and they took 15 students with them!

The international conference was large, with around 5,000 attendees, and focused on all disciplines of engineering education. The audience was a varied mix of graduate students, government representatives, industry professionals, and academics. The theme of this year’s conference was “360 Degrees of Engineering Education!”

Dr. Quamrul Mazumder, Program Director for Mechanical Engineering at UM-Flint, believes it was important for the students to attend the conference for both the learning experiences found in such a large environment, and the chance to connect with one another and make industry contacts. One of the students, Morgan Vauter, found great value in being exposed to the variety of ways in which an engineering education could be applicable to future job possibilities. She said the experience has sparked her interest in joining more engineering groups in the future.

Three of the undergrad students were able to present papers at the event. Toufiq Hussain and James Tristan Pung presented “Analysis of Wind Power Generation with Application of Wind Tunnel Attachment” with Dr. Mazumder, and Kawshik Ahmed joined him in presenting “The Effects of Teaching Style and Experience on Student Success in the United States and Bangladesh.” Morgan said she learned a lot from watching them, but was glad she did not have to join in presenting just yet. The entire group gained understanding of the conference environment through their observations, participation in activities and audiences, and through hands-on engineering exhibits.

Dr. Mazumder was able to gather unique insight by asking his students’ opinions on the technology exhibited and pedagogical opinions being offered in conference sessions. Because of their responses, changes have already been made to the course structure of Engineering 102. The class will now have more interactive and experiential activities to complement the lecture base.

The subjects of enriching education and improving the quality of teaching methods are ones about which Dr. Mazumder feels strongly and for which he has gained international recognition. On July 3rd he will attend the Conference on Quality in Higher Education, held at the Independent University of Bangladesh, as their keynote speaker. He will also participate in a roundtable conference with the Daily Star on July 10th, both events are held in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

To learn more about the ASEE and their annual conference, visit their website.

For information on the Mechanical Engineering, please visit their department page.