Departmental News
01.29.2010
Rob Story is to receive ETD Award
Rob Story (MS OE, 2009; BS OE,2007) has been named a recipient of the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools ETD Award for his Master's thesis “Application of Lyapunov Exponents to Strange Attractors and Intact & Damaged Ship Stability” which he successfully defended April 29, 2009. His thesis involved novel application of techniques of nonlinear time series analysis to ship motions prediction and code validation; this research included computational, analytical, and experimental components. Beginning in his junior year of college, Rob showed himself to be an exceptional undergraduate researcher,and thus his success as a graduate student researcher is no surprise to those who know him. The award will be conferred at the 2010 Conference of Southern Graduate Schools Annual Meeting February 25-28, 2010 in Savannah, Georgia.
Rob is currently employed by Fulcrum Corporation working as a Naval Engineer providing technical and programmatic support to the Office of Naval Research.
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01.28.2010
Annual Aerospace Day at Virginia General Assemble
The Virginia Tech Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering is participating in the 5th Annual AeroSpace Day at the Virginia General Assembly,February 3 and 4, 2010 ,to increase awareness of how vital NASA and the aerospace industry are to the economic well-being and future of the Commonwealth.
2010_AeroSpace_Day_Fact_Sheet_final
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11.20.2009
Three Faculty Positions in AOE Department
Position #1 Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Propulsion
FACULTY POSITION IN AEROSPACE PROPULSION , Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech requests applications and nominations for a tenure-track faculty position in Aerospace Propulsion. One or more positions will be filled. Candidates are sought with expertise and a record of achievement in the area of aerospace propulsion. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to participate in a large, multi-disciplinary interaction with Rolls Royce spanning several departments at Virginia Tech. Exceptional candidates with a high level of accomplishment may be considered for an Endowed Professorship.
Applicants must hold an earned doctorate in Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field, and will be expected to develop a significant externally funded research program. Responsibilities will include teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels, directing graduate students, and establishing a research program.
Virginia Tech, the land-grant university of the Commonwealth, is located in Blacksburg, adjacent to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. The University has a total student enrollment of 26,000, with approximately 7,500 students in the College of Engineering. Additional information about the department can be found at aoe.vt.edu Additional information about Blacksburg,Virginia can be found at bev.net Information on resources for prospective faculty can be found at Provost.vt.edu
Review of applications will begin on February 1st, 2010 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested persons should apply on the internet at jobs.vt.edu (posting number 090586) along with a cover letter, current curriculum vita and the names and addresses of three references. All inquiries can be sent to: Prof. Joseph Schetz ptiger@vt.edu, Chair, AOE Aerospace Propulsion Faculty Search Committee, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Tech, 215 Randolph Hall 0203, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
Virginia is the recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to increase the participation of women in academic science and engineering careers.
Virginia Tech has a strong commitment to the principle of diversity and, in that spirit, seeks a broad spectrum of candidates including women, minorities, and people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities desiring accommodations in the application process should notify Mrs. Wanda Foushee at (540) 231-9057.
Position # 2: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor of Spacecraft Dynamics & Control
Faculty Position in Spacecraft Dynamics and Control
Aerospace and Ocean Engineering
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering requests applications for a tenure-track faculty position in areas related to Ocean Energy info including, but not limited to, astrodynamics, attitude dynamics and control, and space systems engineering. AOE faculty members are active in a number of interdisciplinary research centers and groups, including the Center for Space Science & Engineering Research space.vt.edu and the Virginia Center for Autonomous Systems unmanned.vt.edu. Faculty in Virginia Tech's AOE department have access to Virginia Tech's extensive computational resources, including System X, and world-class experimental facilities to support combined attitude and orbital motion simulation and control, vacuum chamber testing, high-speed flow measurements, advanced materials characterization, and other activities related to spacecraft systems.
Applicants must hold an earned doctorate in aerospace engineering or a closely related field, and will be expected to develop a significant, externally funded research program. While it is expected that this position will be filled at the assistant professor rank, persons nationally recognized for their work in the field may be considered for a more senior position. Responsibilities will include teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, directing graduate students, and establishing a successful research program.
Virginia Tech, the land-grant university of the Commonwealth, is located in Blacksburg, adjacent to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. The University has a total student enrollment of 26,000, with approximately 7,500 students in the College of Engineering. Additional information about the department can be found at aoe.vt.edu Additional information about Blacksburg,Virginia can be found at bev.net Information on resources for prospective faculty can be found at provost.vt.edu
Review of applications will begin on January 18, 2010 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested persons should apply on the internet at jobs.vt.edu (posting number 090616). Applications must include a cover letter,current curriculum vita, and the names and addresses of three references. Inquiries can be sent to:
Prof. Craig Woolsey cwoolsey@vt.edu, AOE Spacecraft D&C Faculty Search Committee Chair, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering (Mail Code 0203), 215 Randolph Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
Virginia Tech is the recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to increase the participation of women in academic science and
engineering careers.
Virginia Tech has a strong commitment to the principle of diversity and, in that spirit, seeks a broad spectrum of candidates including women, minorities, and people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities desiring accommodations in the application process should notify Mrs. Wanda Foushee at (540) 231-9057.
Position #3 Assistant Professor, Associate Professor Ocean Engineering
Faculty Position in Ocean Engineering Energy and Power Systems
Aerospace and Ocean Engineering
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering requests applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Ocean Engineering Energy and Power Systems. Areas of specific interest for the department include, but are not limited to: ship power and propulsion systems, ship energy conservation, ship power distribution and survivability, novel ocean energy concepts and systems, small ocean vehicle power and energy systems, and marine engineering. The AOE faculty is active in a number of interdisciplinary research centers and groups, including the Virginia Center for Autonomous Systems unmanned.vt.edu In addition to the extensive computational resources available, the AOE department is home to world-class experimental facilities including a 98 ft long tow tank, high-speed and low-speed wind tunnels and extensive flow diagnostic instrumentation.
Applicants must hold an earned doctorate in Ocean Engineering, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field, and will be expected to develop a significant externally funded research program. While it is expected that this position will be filled at the assistant professor rank, persons nationally recognized for their work in the field may be considered for a more senior position. Responsibilities will include establishing an internationally recognized research program, directing graduate students, and teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level in our Ocean Engineering program. Courses to be taught may include Marine Engineering, Resistance and Propulsion, and new courses specific to the faculty candidate's expertise.
Virginia Tech, the land-grant university of the Commonwealth, is located in Blacksburg, adjacent to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. The University has a total student enrollment of 26,000, with approximately 7,500 students in the College of Engineering. Additional information about the department can be found at aoe.vt.edu Additional information about Blacksburg,Virginia can be found at bev.net. Information on resources for prospective faculty can be found at provost.vt.edu
Review of applications will begin on February 1st, 2010 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested persons should apply on the internet at jobs.vt.edu (posting number 090598). Applications must include a cover letter,current curriculum vita, and the names and addresses of three references. Inquiries can be sent to:
Prof. Alan Brown albrown5@vt.edu, AOE Ocean Energy Faculty Search Committee Chair, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering (Mail Code 0203), 215 Randolph Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
Virginia Tech is the recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to increase the participation of women in academic science and
engineering careers.
Virginia Tech has a strong commitment to the principle of diversity and, in that spirit, seeks a broad spectrum of candidates including women, minorities, and people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities desiring accommodations in the application process should notify Mrs. Wanda Foushee at (540) 231-9057.
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11.02.2009
Scholarship Opportunity
The Science, Mathematics, And Research for Transformation (SMART) scholarship-for-service Program fully funds undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide range of technical areas, including all fields of engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, and Mathematics.
The application web page is at www.asee.org/SMART. The application deadline is December 15, 2009 for the 2010 school year. SMART provides:
· Full Tuition – to any accredited U.S. University
· A very generous stipend while in school
- $25,000 for undergraduates
- $36,000 for masters candidates
- $38,000 to $41,000 for doctoral candidates
· Book allowance – $1,000
· Health Insurance
· Paid Summer internships
· All required student fees
· Travel fees for internships
Summer internships at Labs are required. In return for fully funding their education, students are required work as a civilian employee at a Service (Army, Navy, Air Force) or DoD Agency (NSA, DIA, DARPA, etc.) laboratory for a period equal to the time the program paid for their school. Students must be U.S. Citizens, able to obtain a DoD Security Clearance, and be willing to work in a defense laboratory upon graduation.
There will be approximately 300 new awards this year. A list of SMART fellows from previous years is listed by University at:
http://www.asee.org/fellowships/smart/schools/scholar%5Fdirectory/list%5Fby%5Fschool/
While Virginia Tech is one of the top schools in terms of SMART recipients, I think we can greatly increase the number of your students supported in this program. I would appreciate your help in disseminating this information to your students, faculty, undergraduate advisors, and graduate coordinators, and by encouraging your best students to apply for this tremendous opportunity.
Please direct your interested students to: http://www.asee.org/fellowships/smart
There are links to the application portal and other program related information. Additional applicant and SMART related questions can be answered via:
Email: smart@asee.org
Phone: (202) 331-3544
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10.19.2009
Industry magazine ranks Virginia Tech No. 1 to recruit for aerospace defense workers
The 2009 ranking is a first for the College of Engineering in Aviation Week annual Workforce Study of Aviation and Defense Industries. In recent years Virginia Tech ranked either No. 2 (2007) or No. 3 (2008) behind Penn State, Purdue University and University of Illinois. This year Virginia Tech outranks Penn State, Purdue and California Polytechnic University each tied for second place.
“Organizations provided a list of the top five schools from which they recruit; the rationale for ranking rests on three core themes: the reputation and ranking of the university; the performance of alumni from that institution within the organization; proximity of institution to the organization/job ,” according to Aviation Week's study.
Although the study has a focus on Virginia Tech's aerospace and ocean engineering department, it encompasses all College of Engineering programs, said Chris Hall, who heads the aerospace and ocean unit. “I think it speaks well of the entire college ,” he said.
The aerospace and ocean engineering department has roughly 450 undergraduate students as of October. The College of Engineering , as a whole, boasts approximately 6,000 undergraduate students.
The Virginia Tech College of Engineering is internationally recognized for its excellence in 14 engineering disciplines and computer science. The college's 6,000 undergraduates benefit from an innovative curriculum that provides a “hands-on , minds-on” approach to engineering education, complementing classroom instruction with two unique design-and-build facilities and a strong Cooperative Education Program. With more than 50 research centers and numerous laboratories , the college offers its 2,000 graduate students opportunities in advanced fields of study such as biomedical engineering , state-of-the-art microelectronics and nanotechnology. Virginia Tech, the most comprehensive university in Virginia, is dedicated to quality, innovation , and results to the commonwealth , the nation , and the world.
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10.13.2009
AOE Graduate Program Coordinator Rachel Hall Smith Honored
Rachel was recently awarded a certificate from Virginia Tech for completing the Certified Administrative Professional Certification. The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) offers the certification exams, which are based on knowledge of office systems, technology, office administration, and management, and the knowledge of the application of principles of good human relations and communications. Mrs. Smith also received the ranking of 2008 – 2009 Member of Excellence within the IAAP. She is one of only five New River Valley IAAP Chapter members who achieved this designation.
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10.08.2009
Adam Cowling is the 2009 recipient of the AIAA Abe M. Zarem Award for Distinguished Achievement in Astronautics.
Adam Cowling, a recent master's graduate of Virginia Tech's Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, is the 2009 recipient of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Abe M. Zarem Award for Distinguished Achievement in Astronautics.
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09.04.2009
Dr. Leigh McCue receives-Weil Receives Prestigious ONR Presidential Award
Dr. Leigh McCue, Assistant Professor of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering recently received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). The PECASE Award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers. The awards are conferred annually at the White House following recommendations from participating agencies.
Read more at the following link:
http://www.eng.vt.edu/news/article.php?niid=1793
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06.03.2009
Eight AOE Graduate and Undergraduate Students Awarded Virginia Space Grant Consortium Fellowships/Scholarships
Eight AOE graduate and undergraduate students were awarded Virginia Space Grant Consortium Fellowships and Scholarships for the upcoming 2009-2010 academic year. The graduate students receiving Fellowships are Joshua Ellis, Kimberly Oyerly, and Christopher Rock. Undergraduates receiving Scholarships are Michael Creaven, Steven Day, Michelle Perez, Robert Robertson, and Skylar Stephens. The students will be involved in projects ranging from space vehicle design and control, to high speed aircraft propulsion and fluid dynamics, to biomechanics and nanomaterials. Kimberly Oyerly will be working with Dr. Sultan in studying formation flying of spacecraft. Joshua Ellis and Michelle Perez will be working with Dr. Hall on the dynamics of tethered spacecraft and on satellite constellation performance, respectively. Robert Robertson will be working with Dr. Shinpaugh on characterizing the effects of magnetic fields on spacecraft attitude determination. Christopher Rock will be studying scramjets with Dr. Schetz, and Michael Creaven will study sonic boom mitigation with Dr. Simpson. Steven Day will be working with Dr. Philen on a biomechanics project for assisted neck motion under high g-forces, while Skylar Stephens will study the thermal conductivity of nanocomposites with Dr. Seidel.
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06.02.2009
Wesley Slemp wins second place in AIAA HRS Young Professional Paper Competition
Wesley Slemp, a National Defense Science and Engineering Fellow and Doctoral student in the department, received 1^st runner up for the Hampton Roads section, AIAA Young Professional Paper Completion for his paper entitled “Interlaminar Stresses by Sinc Method Based on Interpolation of the Highest Derivative.” Efficient calculation of interlaminar stresses in composites and hybrid material systems, especially when subjected to impact loads, is crucial for their aerospace applications. The paper was published in the December 2008 issue of the /AIAA Journal/. Each year, the Young Professionals Committee of the AIAA Hampton Roads Section holds a paper competition to recognize outstanding on-the-job technical accomplishments of its young members. To be eligible, the first-authored paper must have been either published or accepted for publication in an archival and refereed publication in the past 6 years and originally submitted while the first author was an AIAA member under the age of 35. Wesley is an alumnus of the department.
The research was guided by Dr. Rakesh K. Kapania, the Mitchell Professor of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering.
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05.04.2009
Chris Roy was recently named an Engineering Faculty Fellow
Chris Roy, Associate Professor in the Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, was recently named an Engineering Faculty Fellow by Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. The award carries a $5000 account for three years to be used for supporting his research. Professor Roy, an expert in the areas of verification and validation for scientific computing and computational fluid dynamics, received a Department of Energy Early Career award in 2005, and in 2006 he earned a DOE Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.
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05.04.2009
Michael Philen receives Certificate of Teaching Excellence
Michael Philen, Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace and
Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech, recently received a Certificate of
Teaching Excellence from Virginia Tech's College of Engineering.
Professor Philen teaches Vehicle Vibration and Control and Applied
Numerical Methods and manages the Aerospace Structures and Materials
Laboratory. On one of his evaluations, the student wrote, “Philen Rocks!”
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04.29.2009
AOE Sophomore, Rosa Avalos, receives a Virginia Tech Diversity Program Fellowship
Rosa Avalos received the fellowship from the Virginia Tech Diversity Program for the Summer 2009. She will be working with a team of three faculty members and two post-doctoral fellows in the Multidisciplinary Analysis and Design Center for Advanced Vehicle on the design of an aircraft with a Truss-Braced Wing. The research; being led by Dr. Joseph A. Schetz, is being conducted in response to a challenge given by the Chief Scientist at NASA Langley Research Center, Dr. Dennis Bushnell, to significantly increase the lift to drag ratio for future transport aircraft. Rosa, working with Dr. Rakesh K. Kapania and Dr. Manav Bhatia, a post-doctoral fellow in the department, will be helping with developing the structural model for the truss-supported wing using the finite element method. The structural model will be used for shape and size optimization, and aeroelastic studies.
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04.24.2009
AOE Sophomore receives a fellowship through the Virginia Tech Diversity Program
AOE Sophomore, Greg Annisette is awarded a fellowship through the
Virginia Tech Diversity Summer Program. The fellowship will enable his
undergraduate research on launch and recovery. His specific project
seeks to advance the state of the art in using energy-based methods to
predict quiescent periods for safe launch and recovery of an autonomous
sea surface vehicle, and the methodology is analogous to historical work
done for launch and recovery of helicopters from ships.
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04.23.2009
AOE Alumna, Laura Freeman, named 2009 Graduate School Woman of the Year
Laura Freeman, AE 05, is a PhD candidate in the Department of Statistics. In addition to this recognition as Graduate Woman of the Year, she has held the Amelia Earhart Fellowship, is President-Elect of the Graduate Student Assembly, and has been awarded a Virginia Space Grant Consortium Graduate Research Fellowship for her work on analyzing reliability data, with application to aircraft engines.
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04.14.2009
Adam Cowling wins award at the AIAA Regional Student conference
Adam Cowling, a VT/NIA graduate student in Aerospace Engineering, won second place in the Graduate division at the AIAA Regional Student conference. The conference for the mid-atlantic region was held this year at Old Dominion University on 3-4 April 2009. Adam won for his research paper titled Pitch-Control Predictor-Corrector and Neural Network Ascent Guidance. The research was advised by Mr. Jeffrey S. Robinson at NASA Langley Research Center. Adam is working towards his Masters degree from VT AOE via NIAs distance learning program.
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04.14.2009
Undergraduate Students win award at the AIAA Regional Student conference
Logan Thomas, Craig Sossi, and Lawrence Hale, undergraduate students in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, won third place in the Undergraduate Team division at the AIAA Regional Student conference. The conference for the mid-atlantic region was held this year at Old Dominion University on 3-4 April 2009. The team won for their research paper titled Reliability in Unmanned Aerial Systems. The research was advised by Drs. Marchman and Woolsey from the AOE department.
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03.10.2009
Research Scientist Position
A Research Scientist Position is available in the Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech, Structures Laboratory, under the supervision of Dr. Rakesh K. Kapania.
The research scientist will conduct original research in the areas including, but not limited to, 1) Analysis and Design of unitized structures; 2) study aeroelasticity of damaged wings; 3) Aeroelastic Analysis of Membrane Wings. The successful candidate may also be assigned to assist graduate and undergraduate students with research as needed. Over the tenure of the appointment the research scientist will assist the supervisor in developing and sustaining new projects in areas including those listed above. The aforementioned research will be conducted primarily in the laboratory facilities of the Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The research scientist will participate in writing proposals to federal agencies such as NASA, ONR, NSF, AFOSR, and DARPA, project reports for funded research, and disclosures on intellectual properties arising from research activities, and explore commercial potential of research outputs. The research scientist may serve as a principal investigator and is expected to disseminate results from research efforts through peer-reviewed journal publications and conference presentations.
The position requires a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering with a minimum of 5 years of experience in areas such as computational structural mechanics, fracture mechanics, meshless methods, damage mechanics, impact response, and optimization. Skill in computer programming, especially, parallel processing, is highly desirable. The candidate should have demonstrated creativity, independence, high motivation, and good communication skills. Strong work habits and the ability to work independently as well as within a research group are required. The candidate should have demonstrated experience in developing and conducting original research, and the versatility to work in various research areas.
Persons with lower experience may be considered at a rank of Post-Doc associate.
Salary Range: 65000-75000, with benefits
Work Location: VA Tech campus, Blacksburg, VA
Terms: Special Research Faculty Rank of Senior Scientist, Restricted, CY, one-year appointment, renewable based on availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
Virginia Tech, the land-grant university of the Commonwealth, is located in Blacksburg, adjacent to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. The University has a total student enrollment of 29,000, with approximately 7,250 students in the College of Engineering. Additional information about the department can be found at http://www.aoe.vt.edu. Additional information about Blacksburg, Virginia can be found at http://www.bev.net.
Review of applications and nominations will begin on March 17st, 2009 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested persons should apply on the Internet at http://jobs.vt.edu (posting number 090071) along with a cover letter, current curriculum vita and the names and addresses of three references. All nominations and inquiries can be sent via email to:
Prof. Rakesh Kapania, rkapania@vt.edu.
Virginia Tech is the recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to increase the participation of women in academic science and engineering careers.
Virginia Tech has a strong commitment to the principle of diversity and, in that spirit, seeks a broad spectrum of candidates including women, minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities desiring accommodations in the application process should notify Mrs. Wanda Foushee at (540) 231-9057.
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