In the media
A biomedical engineer pivots from human movement to women’s healthopens in new window
As a fellow in the MIT Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Engineering Excellence, Shaniel Bowen explores a topic that has seen little research — women's sexual anatomy and health.
12
Apr
2024
news.mit.edu
Indiana Township couple holds 6 patents for CT scan and MRI equipmentopens in new window
For Chelsea Marsh and Bill Barone, togetherness is more than being married. They savor their bike rides with their children, Nick, 4, and Henry, 2, on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail as well as their extended family get-togethers at Vincent’s of Greentree for pizza night.
But the bulk of their weekdays — a large part of their lives — is devoted to working together as scientists at Bayer, the German multinational biotech and pharmaceutical company. The Fox Chapel couple are among 1,400 Pittsburgh area Bayer employees and they work serving Bayer’s radiology division in Indiana Township. They earned his-and-hers Ph.D.’s in bioengineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015 and 2014 respectively.
02
Apr
2024
www.post-gazette.com
Top Solar Energy Facts and Statistics (2024)opens in new window
Solar energy has become increasingly popular in American households within the last decade. Solar adoption is soaring, with 4.7 million systems operating as of 2023. Thanks to federal and state incentives, the cost of solar panel systems is becoming more accessible to homeowners. In this article, we outline solar energy facts and statistics to spotlight the present and future powered by the most abundant energy source on Earth.
28
Mar
2024
www.thisoldhouse.com
How does learning something new not overwrite what we know?opens in new window
A collaborative working group of neuroscience researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh examine what happens in the brain when it’s presented with learning a new task, but also asked to recall a familiar one.
26
Mar
2024
engineering.cmu.edu
‘Algorithms in the Wild’: Pitt’s new class uses real-world data to impact positive social changeopens in new window
Ever since his postdoc, Amin Rahimian has been interested in the implications of algorithmic economies and the data behind how society operates on a larger scale.
Now, as an assistant professor of industrial engineering at the University of Pittsburgh who recently won a Pitt Cyber Accelerator Grant, the 36-year-old Four Mile Run resident translated that interest into a unique class. Thanks to a collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh and the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center, his students got to create human-centered algorithms to solve real problems in our region.
26
Feb
2024
technical.ly
Can a Veteran Oil Man Clean Up the Railroad Commission’s Mess?opens in new window
Pitt Engineering alumnus Bill Burch is running to raise awareness of groundwater contamination
23
Feb
2024
www.austinchronicle.com
Pittsburgh neglected Fern Hollow Bridge warnings for years, federal investigation finds opens in new window
Kent Harries, an engineering professor and bridge expert at the University of Pittsburgh, said that while the Fern Hollow collapse and the NTSB’s findings could spur reform in how local governments handle bridge maintenance, a lack of resources is still likely to constrain those efforts — leading to deferred maintenance, and ever-increasing issues and costs.
“If I never visited a doctor until I turned 50, I probably wouldn’t be in that good a shape, regardless of the health care I am able to get after age 50,” Harries said. “Fern Hollow is a particularly poignant illustration of what happens when you defer maintenance.”
22
Feb
2024
www.publicsource.org
Brewing course offers students opportunity to craft their own beeropens in new window
Robert Parker, a home beer brewer of 25 years and engineering professor at Pitt, decided he wanted to “do something different” and bring his “passion to work.”
Alongside his colleagues Rob Toplak and Dan Cole, Parker did just that by introducing the course Science, Technology, and Culture of Craft Brewing to the engineering department at Pitt.
21
Feb
2024
pittnews.com
NTSB cites Pittsburgh, state, federal failures in Fern Hollow Bridge collapse opens in new window
Kent Harries, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, said the report was “extremely thorough,” but he wished the board had stressed a broader view on better procedures for all bridge inspections and maintenance.
“This is not unique to this bridge,” he said. “I’m a little bit disappointed we’re not looking more at the bigger picture.”
21
Feb
2024
www.unionprogress.com
State, local and federal officials have changed bridge care since Fern Hollow collapse opens in new window
Kent Harries, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, said more thorough inspection reports are only valuable if agencies have the resources to follow their recommendations.
“Certainly, more detail is better detail, but what good is it if the resources aren’t there to do the work?” he said. “This is the issue. [The U.S.] left things go for a long time. You have to prioritize bridges to take care of the worst ones first.”
19
Feb
2024
www.unionprogress.com
‘Nobody looks good’: Many entities failed before the Fern Hollow Bridge didopens in new window
“This is a good example of what happens when a number of things seem to conspire to go wrong,” said Kent Harries, professor of structural engineering and mechanics at the University of Pittsburgh, who has followed the bridge investigation and reviewed the NTSB documents. “It points out that bridges are a human endeavor that are built by humans, maintained by humans, imperiled by humans, and all the problems that go with that.”
18
Feb
2024
www.unionprogress.com
WVU teams up with two Pittsburgh universities to create an 'Energy Silicon Valley'opens in new window
The school is partnering with the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University on a project funded by a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Together, they’re going to take the expertise that exists around energy in the West Virginia-southwestern Pennsylvania region and help catalyze a larger energy revolution.
09
Feb
2024
www.timeswv.com
$557,000 Boost – Next-Generation Spinal Fusion Goes “Meta”opens in new window
A civil engineer from the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in bridges and infrastructure, is leveraging his knowledge to create innovative materials aimed at improving the treatment, repair, and recovery of spinal injuries. Amir Alavi’s project has garnered a $557,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to test the first “metamaterial” orthopedic implants.
07
Feb
2024
scitechdaily.com
Aurora Sharrard promoted to assistant vice chancellor at Pittopens in new window
She's been the leader in Pitt's sustainability efforts, which include the university's carbon neutrality goal by 2037 and a climate action plan and the Pitt Sustainability Challenge, among other initiatives.
07
Feb
2024
www.bizjournals.com
University of Pittsburgh joins Keystone Space Collaborativeopens in new window
Robert Cunningham, Pitt’s vice chancellor for research infrastructure, Alan George, R&H Mickle endowed chair and professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michael Ramsey, professor of geology and environmental science, and William Wagner, distinguished professor of surgery and professor of chemical engineering and bioengineering, are leading the initiative for the university.
02
Feb
2024
www.bizjournals.com
Pitt has joined the Keystone Space Collaborative to bolster out-of-this-world researchopens in new window
Pitt recently made a move to forge those collaborations by joining the Keystone Space Collaborative with a sponsorship of $20,000. The nonprofit organization supports the growing space industries in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, bringing together representatives from academia, industry, investing and government to meet challenges together.
01
Feb
2024
www.pitt.edu
NETL, Partners Set Sail on Project To Monitor How Oceans Remove Greenhouse Gasopens in new window
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), in collaboration with NETL, will develop buoy-based optical fiber sensors to study how the oceans remove carbon from the air and generate findings that could advance the development of marine-based technologies to reduce atmospheric levels of greenhouse gas.
31
Jan
2024
netl.doe.gov
Big Idea Ventures’ GFRP Fund Acquires Edible Packaging Startup DisSolvesopens in new window
“Our partnership with GFRP will accelerate our efforts, allowing us to implement pilot programs with leading food producers and move towards scaled manufacturing of all-natural dissolvable food packaging,” said DisSolves founder and Pitt ChemE alumnus Jared Raszewski.
30
Jan
2024
thespoon.tech
Computing with the power of lightopens in new window
Nathan Youngblood, principal investigator and assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Pitt's Swanson School of Engineering, received a $552,166 Faculty Early Career Development Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and a $449,240 award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) through its Young Investigator Program (YIP) to continue his pioneering work in phase-change materials and optical computing.
24
Jan
2024
www.spacedaily.com
Univ. of Pittsburgh Professor Receives $2.1MM Grant to Improve Non-Slip Footwear for Food Service Employeesopens in new window
Kurt Beschorner of the University of Pittsburgh is making great strides — literally and figuratively — to prevent slips and falls for food service workers.
23
Jan
2024
totalfood.com
Scientist Earns Early Career Awards to Advance Optical Computingopens in new window
The exponential need for high computing power significantly outstrips the capabilities of present electronic systems; nevertheless, engineers from the University of Pittsburgh are shedding light on potential solutions.
23
Jan
2024
www.azooptics.com
New study finds nanoplastics in water from three common bottled H2O brands opens in new window
When Carla Ng read the study, she said the results were close to what she expected. Ng, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — commonly known as PFAS and “forever chemicals” — said this confirms a lot of what’s already known about storing things in plastic.
22
Jan
2024
americanmilitarynews.com
Pittsburgh Among Best Metro Areas for STEM Professionals opens in new window
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics analysis, STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — professions are expected to grow 10.8% between 2022 and 2032, compared to just 2.3% for all other occupations. In addition, the median annual STEM wage is $97,980, compared to $44,670 for all non-STEM occupations.
17
Jan
2024
wallethub.com
Pitt student balances heart research, academics, hockeyopens in new window
Ben Leslie works in a Pitt heart research lab while maintaining a full academic load.
In his time off? He serves as a captain for the university’s varsity hockey team.
24
Sep
2023
triblive.com
What this Pitt engineering student learned from a summer spent analyzing the power gridopens in new window
Sophomore Isabella Hsia gained a new understanding of how the energy and cybersecurity fields overlap through the interdisciplinary SHURE-Grid program.
12
Sep
2023
technical.ly
Global Connectivity Predicts Reactivityopens in new window
Evan Miu and his colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a method that accurately predicts how metal oxides interact with hydrogen in a reaction important to energy storage and catalysis.
07
Sep
2023
physics.aps.org
University of Pittsburgh and Vesper Complete 68-Acre Solar Project to Power Campusopens in new window
Under a power purchase agreement, for the next two decades, all of Gaucho Solar’s produced energy will go directly to Pitt, effectively meeting 18% of the university’s energy needs
05
Sep
2023
www.energytech.com
Scientists Find Success With New Direct Ocean Carbon Capture Technologyopens in new window
“It took years to pull this off experimentally,” said Katherine Hornbostel, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering. “So it was super rewarding to see when the experimental results finally matched our model[s].”
02
Sep
2023
insideclimatenews.org
Pitt scientists discover wild new method to convert plastic waste into valuable chemicalsopens in new window
“Pyrolysis is relatively low in cost and can generate high-value products, so it presents an appealing, practical solution,” Giannis Mpourmpakis, an associate professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at Pitt, said in a news report about the study published in ScienceDaily.
29
Aug
2023
www.thecooldown.com
Building Blocks create 3D Objects in Fluids on their Ownopens in new window
Chemical engineering researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering have built upon their previous research to overcome the challenge of designing such properly self-aligning structures by using fluid mechanics, chemo-mechanical processes – and a little stickiness.
27
Aug
2023
assignmentpoint.com
Faculty discuss best practices in dealing with student absencesopens in new window
At the Swanson School of Engineering, this was one of the topics of workshops offered pre-semester by the Engineering Education Research Center. Bob Kerestes, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and the director of the Electrical Engineering Undergraduate Program, led the discussion on “Best Practices for Dealing with Student Absences in the Wake of the Pandemic.”
24
Aug
2023
www.utimes.pitt.edu
University of Pittsburgh cuts ribbon at western Pennsylvania solar farmopens in new window
“Our partnership with Vesper on the Gaucho solar array demonstrates Pitt’s commitment to not just purchasing renewable electricity, but purchasing local renewable electricity that has cascading local, economic and environmental benefits,” said Aurora Sharrard, Pitt’s Executive Director of Sustainability.
24
Aug
2023
www.farmanddairy.com
Beyond tomatoes: Four Growers robots begin harvesting cucumbers ahead of start on new funding roundopens in new window
The GR-100 robot from Four Growers, a startup that is based in Turtle Creek, can now harvest cucumbers in addition to select cherry tomato varieties. It's an achievement that comes as CEO and Co-Founder Brandon Contino BSECE prepares the company for a Series A funding raise.
23
Aug
2023
www.bizjournals.com
‘Forever Chemicals’ Are Everywhere. What Are They Doing to Us?opens in new window
Some PFAS molecules resemble the fatty acids we burn for fuel and use as cellular building blocks, says Carla Ng, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. Our cells thus recognize them as beneficial and bring them inside their outer membrane as they do other resources. “The things that PFAS look like,” she says, “are the things our body is used to dealing with as food and parts of ourself.”
16
Aug
2023
www.nytimes.com
Editorial: College students are returning. Let’s encourage them to stay.opens in new window
Two programs at the University of Pittsburgh can serve as models. At the Swanson School of Engineering, for instance, a co-op program pairs students with local businesses for internships, which often lead to first jobs. The program is so popular, there’s a waiting list for area companies looking to join.
11
Aug
2023
www.post-gazette.com
A Scripps News investigation identified more than 14,000 bridges listed in poor condition for at least a decadeopens in new window
"That list, that number, is not going to go down," said Kent Harries, a structural engineering professor at the University of Pittsburgh. "We've been neglecting our infrastructure pretty much since we built it. I'm not certain that it's perceived as critically by the public as it should be."
10
Aug
2023
scrippsnews.com
Engineers put new spin on capturing carbon from the oceansopens in new window
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are devising ways to capture this carbon dioxide using membranes. In two new studies, they present details of experiments and computational studies that show how two types of membrane-based capture devices could remove carbon dioxide from the ocean.
10
Aug
2023
www.anthropocenemagazine.org
New Process Could Advance Plastic Waste Recycling Through Pyrolysisopens in new window
A team of scientists from the University of Pittsburgh have optimized a low-cost process called pyrolysis to chemically recycle waste plastics into high-value chemical products.
07
Aug
2023
www.designnews.com
The Art of Engineeringopens in new window
Engineering Science student Noah French was featured in The Circuit News, a news program founded by the University of Southern California. Noah used his “Junior Design Fundamentals” class, taught by Samuel J. Dickerson, to create a mobile weather station that could be used to detect severe weather events like tornadoes and storms in a target area.
03
Aug
2023
www.youtube.com
Karen Bursic was elected as a fellow of the American Society for Engineering Educationopens in new window
In recognition of her dedication to excellence in engineering education, Karen Bursic, professor of industrial engineering and undergraduate program director, was elected a fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).
03
Aug
2023
www.pitt.edu
Carbon capture technology goes under the wavesopens in new window
One of the major issues the industry faces is the need for land use. The Direct Ocean Capture (D.O.C.) technology put forth by a research team led by Katherine Hornbostel, an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, and Tagbo Niepa, an assistant professor from Pitt’s Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, will remove the land use requirement while still accomplishing the same task.
02
Aug
2023
www.witn.com
Human vs machineopens in new window
"There are two major challenges," says Takashi (TK) Kozai, associate professor of bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, who leads the BIONIC Lab (Bio-Integrating Optoelectric Neural Interface Cybernetics).
02
Aug
2023
medicalxpress.com
Building blocks spontaneously constructed 3D objects in solutionopens in new window
Pitt engineers show self-organization of sticky micron-to-mesoscale 3D structures in confined fluids.
01
Aug
2023
www.techexplorist.com
Using Our Oceans To Fight Climate Changeopens in new window
Katherine Hornbostel is well-versed in the field of carbon capture technologies. She has been actively collaborating with Assistant Professor Tagbo Niepa from Pitt’s Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering to develop innovative ocean carbon capture solutions.
25
Jul
2023
www.technologynetworks.com
Forever Chemicals opens in new window
While water is an obvious pathway for PFAS, they also are in air and soil. Except for people living near military facilities, landfills and other hotspots, more direct PFAS exposure comes from household cleaning products, personal care items, cosmetics, textiles, food packaging, carpet spray, and the like, points out Carla Ng, a University of Pittsburgh associate professor of civil and environmental engineering.
01
Jul
2023
pittsburghquarterly.com
Smart Cuff: A single device to measure multiple cardiac functionsopens in new window
Ramakrishna Mukkamala and Aman Mahajan received a $2,707,906 grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop "Smart Cuff" – a multifunction device that can reliably monitor blood pressure, cardiac output, and ventricular ejection fraction on its own.
26
Jun
2023
www.news-medical.net
Innovation in education: Preparing engineers for cyber attacksopens in new window
Too often, even the current engineering curriculum “largely ignores the threats and possible cyberattacks on engineering systems that are continuously evolving,” says Mai Abdelhakim, faculty member in the Swanson School of Engineering’s electrical and computer engineering department.
22
Jun
2023
www.utimes.pitt.edu
Small town, big helpopens in new window
The ASCE members from the Pittsburgh Section partnered with student members from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as AWWA and EWB-USA volunteers to help make critical improvements to Foxburg, including grading work, curb and gutter, and stormwater infrastructure design.
21
Jun
2023
www.asce.org
AI Safety: New Research Explores Machine Learning Safety Without Conducting Countless Trialsopens in new window
This innovative study introduces a fresh approach to machine learning that prioritizes acquiring safe actions while striking a balance between optimality, encountering hazardous situations, and swiftly identifying unsafe acts.
15
Jun
2023
www.techtimes.com
Engineering safer machine learningopens in new window
"Generally, machine learning looks for the most optimized solution, which can result in more errors along the way. That's problematic when the error could mean crashing into a wall," explained Juan Andres Bazerque, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Swanson School of Engineering, who led the research along with Associate Professor Enrique Mallada at Johns Hopkins University.
15
Jun
2023
www.miragenews.com
Researchers look at why we slip and fall and how to prevent itopens in new window
One team of Pitt researchers is coming closer to understanding the science behind what makes us slip and fall, and how better to prevent it — and we need to pick ourselves up off the floor and take notice.
08
Jun
2023
www.utimes.pitt.edu
Optical memristors set to make impact in computing and AIopens in new window
A project including the University of Pittsburgh, University of Oxford, Heidelberg University, and the University of Maryland has now carried out a review of optical memristors, to explore their potential impact in computing and the challenges that still remain. The study and its findings were published in Nature Photonics.
07
Jun
2023
optics.org
Technique Harnesses Light To Advance Brain-Like Computingopens in new window
Led by Nathan Youngblood, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, the article explores the potential of optical devices which are analogs of electronic memristors.
06
Jun
2023
www.technologynetworks.com
How Imperfections Can Actually Improve Alloys How Imperfectionsopens in new window
Pitt Researchers Publish Method to Make Alloys Both Strong and Ductile By Leveraging Materials’ Defects
02
Jun
2023
plasticstar.io
Pitt graduate programs retain high U.S. News and World Report rankingsopens in new window
The Swanson School of Engineering increased one spot to No. 47, with four specialties (biomedical, chemical, computer and industrial engineering) ranking in the top 50.
25
Apr
2023
www.pitt.edu
Pitt faculty will study circular economies with a $750,000 National Science Foundation grantopens in new window
Eric Beckman and Melissa Bilec, professors in Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering, will be co-principal investigators on a study of circular economies that earned a $750,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant.
02
Mar
2023
www.pitt.edu
So thrifty: Buying, selling secondhand is affordable, sustainable and funopens in new window
“One of the reasons why textiles is so important is when you think of some of the waste streams we have — we have recycling for certain kinds of plastics and glass, many of us have composting opportunities — the textile sector really doesn’t have a dedicated waste stream. Most of the textiles will go to the to the landfill,” according to Melissa Bilec, co-director of Pitt’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation and Covestro Circular Economy Program.
26
Feb
2023
triblive.com
Opinion: East Palestine residents still have cause for concern — even if the government says otherwise opens in new window
Eric Beckman, a co-founder of the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation and a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, explained last week that what occurred in East Palestine amounts to an “uncontrolled chemical reaction.”
“The range of things you can create is really vast … There are a lot of unknowns here,” Beckman told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
24
Feb
2023
www.cnn.com
Some questions answered but still many unknowns following East Palestine Ohio town hall meetingopens in new window
Carla Ng, associate professor of civil engineering, was among the panelists at a meeting designed to answer questions residents have about the how the Norfolk Southern train derailment on Feb. 3 will impact them.
23
Feb
2023
www.salemnews.net
Engineer Feature: Ian Doughertyopens in new window
Ian Dougherty is a mechanical engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District who specializes in mechanical designs, hydraulic systems and large industrial equipment.
He started with the Department of the Army intern program and became a full-time employee for the Pittsburgh District after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, where he studied mechanical engineering.
21
Feb
2023
www.dvidshub.net
High schooler researches endometriosis, a disease that hits close to home opens in new window
Upper St. Clair High School junior Priyasha Itani has always had a knack for science. As a child, she watched Disney’s “Big Hero 6” on repeat, glued to the story of a robotics whiz and his mechanical companion on a mission to avenge his brother’s death.Now, the 16-year-old student is working to better understand the cause of endometriosis through a research internship at the Vascular Bioengineering Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering.
17
Feb
2023
www.post-gazette.com
How Covestro and The University of Pittsburgh are Paving the Way for Innovation in the Circular Economyopens in new window
The Covestro Circular Economy Program is the first US graduate program on circular economy design solutions for global waste. The University of Pittsburgh’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation and Swanson School of Engineering will house the new Covestro Circular Economy Program. The program is designed to create opportunities for the research, education, and innovative advancement of circular economy principles.
17
Feb
2023
gbdmagazine.com
Derailed Ohio Train Carried Toxic Ingredient for “Worst” Kind of Plasticopens in new window
Eric J. Beckman, a University of Pittsburgh chemical engineering professor, said the starting raw materials for PVC are chlorine and ethylene, and both of those chemicals are very energy intensive to produce.
If a company tries to recycle PVC by melting it, “it tends to fall apart at the molecular level,” while generating unwanted byproducts such as hydrochloric acid, Beckman said. Companies that are attempting chemical recycling of plastics using a process such as pyrolysis try to remove any PVC from the waste stream “so as to not muck up their process,” he added. “The way to lessen the use of vinyl chloride is to find alternatives to PVC.”
14
Feb
2023
www.motherjones.com
Bill would encourage ‘advanced recycling’ in Indiana, but how much gets recycled?opens in new window
The bill has a laundry list of different processes that would be considered “advanced recycling.” But a University of Pittsburgh professor questions whether some of these chemical processes should be considered recycling at all.
Professor Eric Beckman researches polymer design. He said it’s not clear how much plastic these companies actually recycle — some of it gets burned as energy to power the plant or simply put into the air.
“Anything that’s burned, all you’re doing is like, ‘I’ve got this carbon, OK — could go in the ground or it could go up in the atmosphere. So that’s not really recycling, it’s still single use,” Beckman said.
09
Feb
2023
indianapublicradio.org
Barber & Pitt Engineering students working on device helping those in wheelchairs with haircutsopens in new window
If you're in a wheelchair, getting your hair cut isn't the most pleasant experience, in large part because the barber often can't adjust the wheelchair seat.
One DuBois barber is working with a team out of Pittsburgh on an invention to resolve that. It's called the Tranquilift 2.0.
05
Feb
2023
wjactv.com
Upper St. Clair student presents at national conferenceopens in new window
Priyasha Itani completed an internship as a research assistant at the Vascular Bioengineering Laboratory (VBL) at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering. There she was able to conduct her research.
03
Feb
2023
thealmanac.net
Material Science and Engineering Student of the Month: Rebecca Vossopens in new window
Rebecca will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Material Science and Engineering in May 2023 from the University of Pittsburgh.
03
Feb
2023
alltogether.swe.org
Mon-Fayette Expressway’s next phase will help test innovative road conceptsopens in new window
Members of the University of Pittsburgh’s Impactful Resilient Infrastructure Science and Engineering consortium, or IRISE, and officials from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission are hoping to try out a few pilot programs that one day could help reduce not just the amount of noise, but also the amount of vehicle emissions.
30
Jan
2023
triblive.com
Local water systems prepare to deal with stricter regulations for 'forever chemicals'opens in new window
Carla Ng, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, said the state’s revised standards will result in substantial reductions of the forever chemicals in local drinking water. She suggested ongoing studies have shown permitted levels have long been too high for PFAS, as well as other potentially dangerous chemicals.
28
Jan
2023
triblive.com
Slippy slopes: Pittsburgh, built on slide-prone riverbanks, could face a deluge of impacts from climate changeopens in new window
University of Pittsburgh researchers are developing a new tool, Cyberwater, to better model climate-related disasters such as landslides, which could help local governments to be better prepared
05
Jan
2023
www.publicsource.org
Pitt students hone engineering (and life) skills in electric boat competition.opens in new window
Engineering students at University of Pittsburgh, until recently, were offered little hands-on experience with electric vehicles of any type. So last year, when then-junior Nick Genco saw an opportunity for a club at Pitt dedicated to racing electric boats in the Promoting Electric Propulsion (PEP) for Small Craft competition held by the American Society of Naval Engineers, he jumped in. That was the summer of 2021. The race was the following May. Plenty of time, right?
15
Dec
2022
www.boatingmag.com
University of Pittsburgh Researchers Use Drones and Digital Models to Study Bridge Reconstructionopens in new window
Alessandro Fascetti and his colleagues are engaging in a National Science Foundation-backed effort to chronicle the reconstruction of the Fern Hollow Bridge. They use drones and lidar to capture data from the bridge, which is then used to create 3-d digital models. Using this information, the researchers hope to gain a deeper understanding of public infrastructure projects and develop best practices.
28
Nov
2022
www.commercialuavnews.com
Pitt’s new $2.5 million partnership with the Pennsylvania Turnpike aims to improve the state’s roadsopens in new window
Picture electrified tractor trailers wirelessly charging their batteries as they cruise through central Pennsylvania. Imagine Pennsylvania Turnpike walls that not only reduce noise pollution but vehicle emission pollutants, too. This and more could soon become reality thanks to a research grant from Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to the University of Pittsburgh.
At its Oct. 4 meeting, the commission approved a $2.5 million agreement with Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering to support four research projects aimed at bettering Pennsylvania’s roads.
18
Oct
2022
www.pitt.edu
Getting it to stick: Designing optimal core-shell MOFs for direct air captureopens in new window
"If materials are good at grabbing carbon dioxide, they're usually good at grabbing multiple gases," explained Katherine Hornbostel, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. "It's really hard to tune these materials to grab carbon dioxide but nothing else, and that's what this research is focused on."
12
Oct
2022
nano-magazine.com
Mon Fayette Expressway to integrate new technology into construction projectopens in new window
ll road 43 stretches for miles to the south, but to the north new things are coming.
“This stuff is on the cutting edge, and the turnpike is right there trying to make these innovations,” said Julie Vandenbossche, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
Out in the trees, 14 miles will be built to connect 43 to the Parkway East in the final piece of the Mon Fayette Expressway. But the turnpike is partnering with researchers at Pitt to add new technology to this construction.
11
Oct
2022
www.wpxi.com
Lagos govt, LASU partner with Pitt to enhance manufacturing opens in new window
The Lagos State Government has assured of its commitment to collaborate with the University of Pittsburgh on implementation of the Manufacturing Assistance Center (MAC).
06
Oct
2022
www.pulse.ng
SWE Industrial Engineering Student Spotlight: Sarai Moratoopens in new window
Sarai studies at the University of Pittsburgh with a minor in bioengineering and a concentration in product development and manufacturing. Read on to learn more about her studies in industrial engineering!
30
Sep
2022
alltogether.swe.org
The Department of Energy is opening a lab to capture CO2 from the air. Will it be in Pittsburgh or Morgantown? opens in new window
“The level of CO2 in the air is so low, it’s hard to test before and after” its run through some new method, explained Katherine Hornbostel, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering.
“You need very fine-tuned equipment to get accurate readings.”
Ms. Hornbostel has been working on carbon capture, including direct air capture, for years, experimenting with different materials and their ability to absorb and release CO2.
22
Sep
2022
www.post-gazette.com
Friction Observed in Real-Time at the Atomic Scale Via Electron Microscopyopens in new window
"Until now, no one has been able to actually see the atomically resolved friction process with a clear-cut interface, so the relationship between the friction mechanisms and the interface hasn't been fully understood," stated Guofeng Wang, professor of mechanical engineering and materials science. "In this study, we were able to actually see the sliding pathway of interface atoms and the dynamic strain and stress evolution on the interface that has only previously been shown by simulations."
21
Sep
2022
www.designnews.com
Design Challengesopens in new window
These challenges are all part of a much bigger project, one initiated in 2019 by Tevis Jacobs, associate professor in the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, who received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to prototype a unit that would help teach engineering concepts to elementary school students. Since first receiving the grant, Jacobs has partnered with Dillaman and Pitt School of Education associate professor Katrina Bartow Jacobs, Falk Lab School’s research coordinator, to implement the project.
12
Sep
2022
falkschool.pitt.edu
Design Challengesopens in new window
A Falk Lab School teacher works with an engineer and a researcher to learn how best to teach engineering concepts to elementary students
12
Sep
2022
falkschool.pitt.edu
This engineering student peddles nostalgia with his vintage Pitt clothing business opens in new window
Think about your priority list when you were a college freshman. Was “care for my new vintage clothing business” on the list? Probably not.
But you aren’t Lucas Connell.
11
Sep
2022
www.post-gazette.com
Klaber's Viewpoint: Putting a human face on the energy debateopens in new window
Gotz Veser, a professor at Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering, points out the downside of an “us versus them” framework — either being for a clean future or for fossil fuels. Hopefully people like these 20 are the front lines for more holistic, collaborative future dialog.
09
Sep
2022
www.bizjournals.com
Chemical Engineering Student Spotlight: Vidhya Thiyagarajanopens in new window
Meet Vidhya, a senior chemical engineering student at the University of Pittsburgh. During her time at college, she has completed internships, co-ops and undergraduate research.
26
Aug
2022
alltogether.swe.org
Editorial: Energy policy requires all hands on deckopens in new window
Götz Veser, professor at the University of Pittsburgh, summed it up: “I see the ‘us versus them’ mindset — ‘you are either for a clean future or for fossil fuels’ — as the greatest obstacle for rapid progress. We need to decarbonize both fast and deep.”
26
Aug
2022
www.bizjournals.com
From tree trunks to polymers, Balazs follows her scientific blissopens in new window
Balazs, distinguished professor of chemical engineering at Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering and adjunct professor in the chemistry department, has enjoyed a flurry of accolades in the past two years that complement an already impressive roster of recognition. On the heels of her election to the National Academy of Sciences, Balazs was named earlier this year to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). The first Pitt and Swanson faculty member to be accepted into both academies, Balazs will be inducted in early October along with 111 new NAE members and 22 international members at its annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
24
Aug
2022
www.utimes.pitt.edu
Covestro's Commitment to a Circular Economyopens in new window
The goal of the partnership with Pitt is to educate the next generation of leaders about mechanisms to fundamentally shift from the “take, make, waste” linear economy to a circular economy where materials are reused and recycled. Students will learn how to mitigate these effects without sacrificing modern advancements made possible through high-tech materials.
22
Aug
2022
www.pghtech.org
Decades in the makingopens in new window
Alcosan is preparing to deal with one of Pittsburgh's most intractable problems — massive stormwater runoff — and deliver cleaner water and rivers. But the tight time frame and scope of work is also a challenge.
28
Jul
2022
www.bizjournals.com
New Research Reveals the First Atomic-Level Visualization of Frictionopens in new window
A new study led by the University of Pittsburgh reveals the atomic-scale friction of a single tungsten asperity, or rougher edge, in real-time, using electron microscopy for the first time to demonstrate atomic motion. The research, conducted by two Swanson School of Engineering groups, was just published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
26
Jul
2022
www.azom.com
New testing facility to accelerate advanced nuclear technologiesopens in new window
The University of Pittsburgh is developing a pool-type materials testing facility to accelerate advanced nuclear technologies.
26
Jul
2022
www.innovationnewsnetwork.com
Engineering programs tackling crucial infrastructure issuesopens in new window
Two Swanson School of Engineering programs that aim to foster University research on such transportation projects as the soundness of bridges, road safety and landslide prevention are now under the direction of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation veteran Joseph J. Szczur.
22
Jul
2022
www.utimes.pitt.edu
McKeesport residents say MAWC water remains contaminatedopens in new window
Carla Ng, an assistant professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, said revised standards set this year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggest most public drinking water will have excessive levels of the chemical present.
20
Jul
2022
triblive.com
Manufacturing Will Be At the Heart of Pittsburgh’s Newest Neighborhoodopens in new window
“We always tell the story of Western Pennsylvania as a story of metal production — and it is — but the reality is that this economy was always built on innovation,” said Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher. “At one time this was the materials science capital of the world. I like to believe we’re not creating a new future but reinventing and strengthening that core ability. As a university, that’s what we’re here for.”
15
Jul
2022
www.pittsburghmagazine.com
University of Pittsburgh names former PennDOT district executive to head innovative road and bridge programs opens in new window
Joe Szczur, a former Pennsylvania Department of Transportation district executive for Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties, will head the Center for Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure and the Impactful Resilient Infrastructure Science and Engineering program.
26
Jun
2022
www.post-gazette.com
Should You Buy Green Cleaners?opens in new window
Eric J. Beckman, PhD, a chemical engineer and co-director emeritus of the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation at the University of Pittsburgh says green can be read by the average consumer and chemist alike as meaning any number of things: made from plants, gentle on skin, biodegradable, concentrated so it requires less water, or energy-efficient. But some of these marketing messages aren’t necessarily true.
25
Jun
2022
www.consumerreports.org
Electric power research partner Jim Fields at Pitt Ohio named HDT 2022 Fleet Innovatoropens in new window
About a decade ago, “out of the blue,” the company that built Pitt’s facility in East Windsor, New Jersey, offered to provide solar panels to generate green electricity for the terminal, taking advantage of a state incentive program. “From there, we really sat down to think about, how can we really take advantage of this strategy on a much grander scale?” So Pitt Ohio started working with the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. “That was where we really started having discussions about the shortfalls and the shortcomings of the grid system, and what’s coming in a few years, to be able to play a longer-term strategy, that would be workable with what is available from the grid — and what’s not going to be available from the grid. So that led us down a different pathway.”
20
Jun
2022
www.truckinginfo.com
Govt Project Seeks to Create Tiny Nuclear Reactors Like Batteriesopens in new window
As the technical lead of the microreactor project at one of the United States government’s preeminent nuclear research labs, Idaho National Lab, alumnus Yasir Arafat BSChE '11 is a nuclear engineer leading development of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Microreactor Applications Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) project at Idaho National Laboratory.
17
Jun
2022
thejewishvoice.com
1 in 3 Pennsylvania drinking water systems exceed new EPA limits for ‘forever chemicals’opens in new window
“It's a little bit of an emergency now that we need to stop using these chemicals because they're so persistent,” noted Carla Ng, Pitt assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering and a recognized expert on PFAS. “I think a lot of water utilities right now with this announcement are scrambling to think: how in the world are we going to get down to those levels when these contaminants are already so pervasive in the environment?”
16
Jun
2022
www.wesa.fm
Method for recycling water used in fracking and drilling developed by University of Pittsburgh engineersopens in new window
"It is of critical importance to develop alternative strategies for the management of produced water that would reduce the overall cost, allow recovery of valuable resources, and reduce the environmental footprint of this industry," explained the researchers. "Right now, the industry is not being presented with financially feasible options. This project proves that those options can and do exist."
16
Jun
2022
insights.globalspec.com
Engineering alumna and PG vice president, Global Sustainability, Diane Kappas BSChE '86 MBA Recognized as ‘Woman of Influence’ by Pittsburgh Business Timesopens in new window
Kappas’ career at the Pittsburgh-based paint, coatings and specialty materials manufacturer began 35 years ago and included 15 years working in various manufacturing roles, including as a plant manager. She also worked in human resources, supply chain management, and in environmental, health and safety roles with the company, and she said all of these roles have helped prepare her to lead PPG’s global sustainability efforts.
23
May
2022
www.bizjournals.com
Engineers Propose How Tungsten Oxide is Used as a Catalyst in Sustainable Chemical Conversionsopens in new window
Engineers use catalysts in a wide range of applications, from food processing to chemical manufacture. Hence, developing effective, environmentally friendly catalysts is a priority. A new study headed by the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering might lead to the development of new, long-lasting catalysts made of tungsten oxide and similar materials.
19
May
2022
www.azom.com
How ALung got on a London medical device manufacturer's radaropens in new window
The acquisition of Pittsburgh-based ALung Technologies Inc. earlier this month by LivaNova didn't come out of nowhere. That's because employees of ALung and TandemLife, an O'Hara Township company LivaNova acquired in 2018, have known each other for years, coming out of the UPMC and University of Pittsburgh life sciences ecosystem.
10
May
2022
www.bizjournals.com
Alumna Kim LaScola Needy BSIE '84 MSIE '87 PhD: Working for diversity and equality in engineeringopens in new window
LaScola grew up in Pittsburgh, where the U.S. Steel Corp. was headquartered. So when they sent an engineering-centric program to her high school, it encouraged students like her who had a penchant for math and science to pursue engineering by providing job shadowing opportunities and more. Now Kim Needy is dean of the University of Arkansas College of Engineering, a position that she has had since November 2020. She is the first female in the role.
08
May
2022
www.arkansasonline.com
Sensor Fastened to Monarchs Butterflies Will Reveal Their Migratory Patternsopens in new window
Inhee Lee, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, is part of a team designing a tracking platform that could be fastened to monarch butterflies to convey data about their location during their three-month migration south.
04
May
2022
www.azosensors.com
The race is on (again) to build out a low-carbon hydrogen economyopens in new window
“Generating hydrogen from natural gas can actually be quite efficient,” said Götz Veser, Nickolas A. DeCecco Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. “Over the next 10 or 20 years, making hydrogen in an efficient way from fossil resources might be the way to reduce (our) carbon footprint faster and lower than with renewable technologies.”
02
May
2022
stateimpact.npr.org
A big idea for better batteriesopens in new window
Chemical engineering PhD students Becca Segel and Priscilla Prem have big aspirations for fighting climate change with batteries. Those plans got supercharged last week when the team won first place in the Randall Family Big Idea Competition, taking home a $25,000 prize and lots of momentum for their company.
25
Apr
2022
www.pitt.edu
Brandon Brewster: A leader who loves the climbopens in new window
Brewster has kept himself busy during his time at Pitt, studying environmental science with minors in environmental engineering and studio arts and certificates in geographic information systems and sustainability.
12
Apr
2022
pittnews.com
AIChE Appoints Swanson School Alumna Darlene S. Schuster MSChE '84 as New CEO and Executive Directoropens in new window
Grant noted Schuster’s strong track record of developing and executing strategies to structure and achieve significant, sustainable growth, which will lead AIChE to its next phase. “Darlene personifies the values and integrity that are essential as the next leader of AIChE. I want to express my special thanks to the search committee for their commitment and hard work in this process,” added Grant.
07
Apr
2022
csengineermag.com
Through the binoculars: Pitt ‘birders’ find friends, passions and funopens in new window
Garrett Sisk, the club’s president and junior majoring in environmental engineering, said his first memories of birdwatching go back to elementary school. His grandmother gave him his very first bird feeder which sparked a passion that has followed him through college and beyond.
05
Apr
2022
pittnews.com
Pitt startup Diamond Kinetics partnering with MLBopens in new window
The partnership will see the MLB gaining an equity stake in the company that develops mobile-based hitting and throwing technology for baseball and softball players. Diamond Kinetics, will also become the new “Trusted Youth Development Platform of Major League Baseball.” The company was co-founded by William "Buddy" Clark, professor of mechanical engineering and materials science.
05
Apr
2022
www.bizjournals.com
ChemE alumna Allison Howard BSChE '95 Creates Bedding to Protect Your Skin and Hairopens in new window
For University of Pittsburgh alumna and McKeesport native Allison Howard, the materials used on our skin and hair while asleep are just as important as the materials used in our waking hours.
Howard launched Nollapelli, an online startup company dedicated to distributing bedding designed to protect skin and hair, in 2019. She says she began familiarizing herself with the bedding industry in 2017 after noticing the effects traditional bedding had on her skin and hair.
04
Apr
2022
www.pittsburghmagazine.com
Tiny Robot Bugs in Development for Medical Reliefopens in new window
When doctors can't easily reach someone -- whether it's in a war zone or a natural disaster -- robot bugs are being designed to come to the rescue.
Ravi Shankar discusses the medical applications for the tiny insect-inspired robots designed by his lab.
30
Mar
2022
www.webmd.com
How a circular economy could fix the supply chainopens in new window
Melissa Bilec is an expert on reuse, and she doesn’t have to look far for an example of it done well: Just nearby is Hot Metal Bridge, a former steel-mill structure that she helped convert into a pedestrian and bicycle bridge.A three-time alumna of Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering (ENGR ’97, ’99G, ’07G), the William Kepler Whiteford professor and co-director of the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation has a history with the University’s sustainability efforts that goes back decades — she even worked with the center as a graduate student.
28
Mar
2022
www.pitt.edu
University of Pittsburgh Releases ‘Pitt Climate Action Plan’opens in new window
The report details three pillars for achieving 2037 goals: energy demand reduction; clean supply via renewable and clean energy investment; and low carbon connections via active, shared and low carbon mobility.
25
Mar
2022
www.bdcnetwork.com
Research makes big leap for insect-inspired robotsopens in new window
Insect-inspired robots that operate in hard-to-reach spaces and inhospitable environments have been developed at the University of Pittsburgh.
07
Mar
2022
www.theengineer.co.uk
Scientists have created robot bugs- have they not watched Black Mirror?opens in new window
Scientists had designed tiny robot bugs that can fit in hard to reach places, journey inhospitable environments, and hopefully not be hacked like in Netflix’s Black Mirror.
Researchers at Swanson School of Engineering in Pennsylvania have created the bugs capable of doing jobs humans can not.
07
Mar
2022
www.joe.co.uk
Pitt’s co-op program gets re-engineeredopens in new window
For students in Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering, learning takes place far beyond Benedum Hall. Whether they gain experience doing fieldwork for a company located on the other side of the country or joining in on meetings with potential future employers in Pittsburgh, the co-op program gives engineers an immersive introduction to their future careers.
02
Mar
2022
pittnews.com
How Covestro and the University of Pittsburgh are Paving the Way for Innovation in the Circular Economyopens in new window
New and exciting work is underway in Pittsburgh. The Covestro Circular Economy Program is the first US graduate program on circular economy design solutions for global waste. The program is designed to create opportunities for the research, education, and innovative advancement of circular economy principles.
17
Feb
2022
gbdmagazine.com
Pitt-Titusville’s manufacturing assistance center continues legacy of excellence opens in new window
The MAC began as part of the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering to provide workforce training to members of the Pittsburgh community without the requirement of college admittance.
Having expanded to Titusville as part of Pitt-Titusville’s Education and Training Hub, the MAC continues to provide advanced, hands-on training for those that qualify.
15
Feb
2022
www.ncnewsonline.com
Turn on the windows to keep warmopens in new window
Nathan Youngblood and colleagues have developed a prototype window with switchable absorption properties, so that it can be set to harvest heat in the winter and reflect it in the summer. Crucially, in a paper in the journal ACS Photonics, they show it does so without becoming visibly darker to those in the house, as the material used is highly selective in the wavelengths of light it absorbs or reflects.
09
Feb
2022
www.thetimes.co.uk
Fern Hollow Bridge collapse — and 175 Allegheny County bridges in poor condition — point to lack of infrastructure investmentopens in new window
“Infrastructure will continue to deteriorate and we need to put in resources to ensure things like this don’t happen,” says University of Pittsburgh engineering professor Kent Harries, citing insufficient funding for bridge maintenance nationwide.
31
Jan
2022
nextpittsburgh.com
University Director of Sustainability Aurora Sharrard says Pitt on track to meet greenhouse gas goalsopens in new window
The University of Pittsburgh’s energy consumption is on track to meet the sustainability goal of a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2037.
27
Jan
2022
www.utimes.pitt.edu
Switchable smart window coating can heat or cool a room opens in new window
“The unique twist on smart windows is that the visible light transmission is pretty much unchanged,” says Nathan Youngblood of the University of Pittsburgh, “so it is energy-saving, aesthetically pleasing, and also provides thermal benefits.”
25
Jan
2022
cen.acs.org
Pitt trustee SaLisa Berrien receives Black Founders Fund award from Google for Startupsopens in new window
Pitt trustee SaLisa Berrien (ENGR ’91) received a $100,000 Black Founders Fund award from Google for Startups. The award will be used to expand her Tampa-based renewable energy services company, COI Energy.
19
Jan
2022
www.pitt.edu
Dean James Martin joins Mayor Gainey’s transition committee for Infrastructure and Environmentopens in new window
New Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey is tapping into the expertise of several Pitt professors as part of his transition. Gainey, the city’s first Black mayor, was inaugurated on Jan. 3.
14
Jan
2022
www.utimes.pitt.edu
These smart windows could one day help heat and cool your house automaticallyopens in new window
Nathan Youngblood, an assistant professor in the engineering department at the University of Pittsburgh, works on reconfigurable or phase-change photonics, taking optical components like lenses or mirrors and making them switch between two states. When working with a startup called Bodle on color-changing technology displays, he and his coresearchers thought, If you can use a thin coating on something like a piece of glass to switch it between two different colors, can you also switch between two different states of reflection for infrared light?
10
Jan
2022
www.fastcompany.com
Windows That Outsmart the Elementsopens in new window
"The major innovation is that these windows can change according to seasonal needs," explained Nathan Youngblood, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Pitt and first author. "They absorb near infrared light from the sun in the winter and turn it into heat for the inside of a building. In the summer months, the sun can be reflected instead of absorbed."
10
Jan
2022
www.printedelectronicsworld.com
Pitt study: World plastics trade accounts for 350M metric tons of carbon dioxideopens in new window
NPR's State Impact Pennsylvania features Vikas Khanna's work modeling the world plastics trade and its environmental impact.
21
Dec
2021
stateimpact.npr.org
Interested in a circular economy job? There's a Ph.D. for thatopens in new window
"One of the reasons why this is so important is because when you look at issues related to climate change, one of the things that we think about is the consumption of all the goods that we as consumers buy on a daily basis. And not only that consumption, but where the waste happens," said Melissa Bilec, co-director at the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation.
08
Dec
2021
www.greenbiz.com
Reshaping the Lifecycle of Plasticopens in new window
“At our current rate of plastic waste generation, increasing waste management capacity will not be sufficient to reach plastic pollution goals alone,” said Vikas Khanna, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering. “There is an urgent need to take actions like limiting global virgin plastic production from fossil fuels and designing products and packaging for recyclability.”
01
Dec
2021
www.technologynetworks.com
Finding the missing piece in global oil life-cycle assessmentopens in new window
ChemEurope reports on Mohammad Masnadi's research, which models the relationship between carbon impacts and market factors in the oil industry.
18
Nov
2021
www.chemeurope.com
ALung Gets FDA De Novo Clearance for Hemolungopens in new window
Pittsburgh-based ALung Technologies Inc. has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its premiere product, the Hemolung Respiratory Assist System, which helps patients with acute respiratory distress. The de novo review determined that the benefits of the medical device, developed out of Pitt, outweighs any risks.
16
Nov
2021
www.bizjournals.com
Pittsburgh-Based Battery Technology Researchers and Manufacturers Look to Grants in Biden’s Infrastructure Billopens in new window
“If there's a crisis in the [battery-production] supply chain, like we are seeing now, we are stuck,” said Prashant N. Kumta, the Edward R. Weidlein Chair Professor. For the U.S. to ensure its own fate in the battery market, researchers and manufacturers will need to make “critical breakthroughs” in several areas, including “dry manufacturing” and energy density, particularly when producing lithium-ion batteries for electric cars.
16
Nov
2021
www.post-gazette.com
Google Black Founder Fund winner SaLisa Berrien BSME '91 expands energy-saving companyopens in new window
Recognized by Jason A. Scott last year as one of 30 U.S. black founders to watch in 2021, Berrien was one of 50 companies to receive a $100,000 Black Founders Fund award from Google for Startups. She participated in Google Startups for Women, which she completed last December, and has raised $2 million-plus in funds.
16
Nov
2021
www.83degreesmedia.com
Which of Pittsburgh’s top innovators won the 2021 Tech 50 Awards?opens in new window
MEMS Alumnus and Optimus Technologies, Inc. co-founder Colin Huwyler BSMechE '15 wins the Pittsburgh Technology Council #Tech50 Innovator of the Year: Solutions Provider – Innovative Tech Award.
10
Nov
2021
nextpittsburgh.com
How an outdoorsy engineer is working to cut transportation pollution around disadvantaged communitiesopens in new window
With transportation the top source of U.S. emissions, Pitt Engineering alumnus Harold Rickenbacker PhD '19 has worked on local air monitoring and teamed with Ikea on electric truck deliveries
04
Nov
2021
www.washingtonpost.com
Does the Brain Learn Like a Computer Learns?opens in new window
A new perspectives piece co-authored by Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh researchers relates machine learning to biological learning, showing that the two approaches aren’t interchangeable, yet can be harnessed to offer valuable insights into how the brain works.
14
Oct
2021
www.technologynetworks.com
Greater Latrobe, Pitt Engineering alumna heads firm helping Air Force soar above maintenance challengesopens in new window
A Greater Latrobe alumna has gained recognition for founding a 100% woman-owned company that is helping the Air Force update its maintenance process.
Milissa Pavlik, a member of the Class of 1993 at GL and Chemical Engineering alumna (BSChE '97), has 25 years of experience in Department of Defense contracting. Drawing upon that background, she founded PavCon in 2012, began working with the Air Force three years later and landed a contract with the military branch in 2018.
11
Oct
2021
triblive.com
Google wants to use AI to time traffic lights more efficientlyopens in new window
Aleksandar Stevanovic, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at University of Pittsburgh, said simulations show AI could smooth traffic flow. But he questioned whether a tech company without traffic engineering expertise ultimately could bring such software to reality.
06
Oct
2021
www.reuters.com
Helping valuable donor milk reach infants in needopens in new window
Over 15 million infants around the world are born prematurely each year and can experience health complications and lengthy hospitalizations as a result of underdevelopment and immature immune systems. But for babies whose mothers may be unable to produce milk due to their baby’s premature birth, or have health conditions or medications that preclude breastfeeding, and a physician recommends breast milk as the preferred choice for those infants’ needs, what are the options? Lisa Maillart and a team of researchers partnered with the largest donor milk bank in the U.S. to help improve their existing systems and processes and realize significant outcomes. Their work will be featured in an upcoming edition of the INFORMS journal Service Science.
23
Sep
2021
pubsonline.informs.org
Global action on harmful PFAS chemicals is long overdueopens in new window
"It is critical to prioritize our efforts so as not to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem," said Dr. Carla Ng, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh and lead author of the study, in a statement. "This paper identifies where focus is needed to effectively minimize environmental and human exposure to PFAS."
15
Sep
2021
www.ehn.org
Pennsylvania vows to regulate PFAS in drinking water—again. But regulations are at least two years awayopens in new window
The lack of PFAS regulations in Pennsylvania is part of a larger problem of inadequate regulations locally, nationally and internationally, according to a paper published Tuesday in Environmental Science and Technology by University of Pittsburgh PFAS scientist Carla Ng.
14
Sep
2021
www.publicsource.org
Swanson School of Engineering continues blood drive series to support shortagesopens in new window
The Swanson School of Engineering hosted its annual blood drive on Tuesday in partnership with Vitalant, a nonprofit blood donation organization that supplies blood to nearly 900 hospitals across the United States.
09
Sep
2021
pittnews.com
You’re Not Alone: Monkeys Choke Under Pressure Tooopens in new window
A team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh have shown for the first time that people are not the only primates that choke under pressure.
02
Sep
2021
www.wired.com
Rare-Earth Free Electric Motoropens in new window
InsideEVs recaps electric vehicle news, leading with the Swanson School of Engineering's project with Powdermet to create motors for electric vehicles that avoid using rare-earth minerals.
24
Aug
2021
insideevs.com
At least one species of primate underperforms when the heat is onopens in new window
A team of scientists recently published a paper suggesting that at least three rhesus monkeys will, in fact, choke under pressure. The authors told Ars that this lapse in performance is almost certainly true of all rhesus monkeys—and quite possibly other primates as well.
23
Aug
2021
arstechnica.com
Monkeys also struggle with tasks when the rewards are higher, study finds opens in new window
Monkeys ‘choke under pressure’ just like humans, according to a study into their performance, and it is more likely when the rewards for their actions are higher.
23
Aug
2021
todayuknews.com
Getting to the truth about e-wasteopens in new window
Research from Chris Wilmer's Hypothetical Materials Lab leads this story in Innovators about e-waste's role in a circular economy.
20
Aug
2021
www.innovatorsmag.com
Researchers Gaze into Space to Envision Future of Regenerative Medicineopens in new window
Researchers from UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh aim to use the ISS U.S. National Laboratory (ISSNL) to conduct biomedical research not possible on Earth and advance space-based biomanufacturing.
17
Aug
2021
inside.upmc.com
A city of wateropens in new window
CEE faculty Melissa Bilec and Kent Harries featured in article about how climate change impacts Pittsburgh’s infrastructure
09
Aug
2021
www.post-gazette.com
MEMS alumna Tamar McPherson among newest crop of state certified computer science educatorsopens in new window
Plum High School math teacher Tamar McPherson recently joined an elite group of educators dedicated to the future of technology-based learning.
She is one of 38 teachers in the state to become certified in computer science grades 7-12 through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The professional development opportunity was made possible through the state’s PAsmart initiative.
06
Aug
2021
triblive.com
Model could help create more energy efficent buildings and citiesopens in new window
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering and the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation used the city of Pittsburgh to create a model to estimate city energy use. The goal is to help policymakers and building companies estimate the energy usage and emissions of a city’s buildings.
03
Aug
2021
electronics360.globalspec.com
Breathe Easyopens in new window
Harold Rickenbacker knows the real value of a breath of fresh air.
He’s a clean air and innovation manager with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in Washington, D.C., one of the world’s leading environmental organizations. Working with EDF+Business, Rickenbacker (ENGR ’19G) manages clean air projects in the United States and abroad and promotes technologies, business models and partnerships needed to reduce pollution and improve health outcomes.
30
Jul
2021
www.pittmag.pitt.edu
New Energy Map Of Commercial Buildings Could Help Pittsburgh Reach Its Sustainability Goalsopens in new window
A model created by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh could help city officials make more effective energy policies and encourage businesses to use less energy. The map includes 3D models of 209 buildings Downtown and in Oakland. Different colors indicate different levels of energy use.
27
Jul
2021
www.wesa.fm
Printing a Better Microgridopens in new window
New research from the University of Pittsburgh shows particle-free silver microgrid outperforms other flexible high-performance transparent electrodes...
20
Jul
2021
www.energy.gov
Study Analyzes Mechanisms Behind Bacterial Resistance to Ag Nanoparticlesopens in new window
Antimicrobials find their use in destroying or slowing down the growth of viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms. They could exist in the form of an additive, as an antibiotic used to treat bodily infections, or as a coating on commercial products that are utilized to prevent germs.
14
Jul
2021
www.azonano.com
No driver? No problem—this is the Indy Autonomous Challengeopens in new window
Pitt Engineering student Nayana Suvarna is part of the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), a competition set for October 23 in which driverless cars will race wheel-to-wheel around IMS at potential speeds of more than 180 mph.
And she doesn't even have a driver's license.
07
Jul
2021
arstechnica.com
Pittsburgh building industry experts stress need for inspections opens in new window
Constructing and maintaining multi-story structures in the Pittsburgh region present some different challenges than conditions in the Miami area, where answers are still being sought for the condominium collapse that has killed at least 18 people. CEE Professor and infrastructure expert Dr. Kent Harries comments on the benefits of older buildings, more frequent inspections, and the bane of salt.
02
Jul
2021
www.post-gazette.com
A New Cooling Strategy for Cities: 'Strategic' Reflective Surfacesopens in new window
Cities are caught in a hot, vicious cycle. Surfaces in a given urban area absorb heat, and that heat causes city dwellers to use more air-conditioning, water, and other resources, which in turns calls for greater resources from power plants and water-treatment facilities. There’s a need to break that energy-intensive cycle, says Sushobhan Sen, a postdoctoral associate from the University of Pittsburgh.
27
Jun
2021
www.techbriefs.com
Pitt receives $1.6 million for nuclear energy researchopens in new window
The U.S. Department of Energy awarded the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering $1.6 million in funding for advanced nuclear energy research and development.
25
Jun
2021
www.bizjournals.com
University of Pittsburgh researchers find a way to cool urban areas for lessopens in new window
While many existing urban surfaces (think concrete, roofing, and pavement) absorb and radiate solar heat, reflective materials, including concrete and coatings, could be designed to reflect between 30% and 50% of sunlight.
25
Jun
2021
www.architectmagazine.com
A Circular Economy for Electronicsopens in new window
New research from the Hypothetical Materials Lab at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering develops a framework to understand the choices a recycler has to make and the role that digital fraud prevention could have in preventing dishonest recycling practices.
23
Jun
2021
www.mbtmag.com
Vanishing yet vital: Western U.S. butterflies in decline opens in new window
“The challenge with us as a society is that anything that we don’t or we cannot measure, it does not get valued and that is the case with insect pollinators,” notes Vikas Khanna, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering.
22
Jun
2021
yaleclimateconnections.org
Young Entrepreneur: Stephen Canton BSBioE '13 MSMed '20 is creating tracking tools for the operating roomopens in new window
"The pro of being a young entrepreneur is just going anywhere to find that knowledge or ask questions. That curiosity. And people are pretty accepting of you asking questions as a young entrepreneur because they know you are trying to fix a problem."
22
Jun
2021
www.bizjournals.com
‘Tic Tac Toe’ MRI technique uncovers sickle cell’s impact on the brainopens in new window
A new magnetic resonance imaging development has uncovered new insights into how sickle cell disease affects the brain.
09
Jun
2021
www.healthimaging.com
Tech & Science Op-Ed: Self-aware metamaterials major advances and cookie-cutter coverageopens in new window
Self-aware materials contain sensors and can detect changes in their surrounds. They’re also self-powering. The University of Pittsburgh’s Intelligent Structural Monitoring and Response Testing (iSMaRT) Lab has released information about its new findings, and they’re fascinating.
It’s almost impossible to quantify the sheer scope of this technology from smart stents to spacecraft, and beyond.
07
Jun
2021
www.digitaljournal.com
California’s Almond Trees Rely on Honey Bees and Wild Pollinators, but a Lack of Good Habitat is Making Their Job Harderopens in new window
“Things that don’t get valued get deteriorated,” said Vikas Khanna, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering.
03
Jun
2021
insideclimatenews.org
'Self-Aware' Sensing Material Powers Itselfopens in new window
The Intelligent Structural Monitoring and Response Testing (iSMaRT) Lab, led by Amir Alavi at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering has designed a new class of self-aware materials. The team's research was recently published in Nano Energy.
03
Jun
2021
www.techbriefs.com
"Game-Changing" Nanomaterials Are Both Generators and Sensors; Here's How They Workopens in new window
The Science Times highlights Amir Alavi's work on self-aware materials in an article about the new class of nano materials.
02
Jun
2021
www.sciencetimes.com
Big BEES-nessopens in new window
A University of Pittsburgh and Penn State University study finds bees and other pollinators play an extremely important role in agriculture.
30
Mar
2021
www.nsf.gov
Pitt student takes interest in astrophotography to new heightsopens in new window
24
Jan
2021
www.post-gazette.com