New Doctoral Program

Faculty Members Recognized

Monitor Tornado Alley

University Distinguished Professor

CSU This Fall

CSU Honors Class of 2007

In May over 4,500 students graduated from CSU. Diplomas were awarded to approximately 3,900 undergraduate baccalaureate degree candidates and 753 graduate degree candidates, including 130 professional doctorates of veterinary medicine degree candidates and 122 doctoral candidates.

Dr. Leigh Neumayer (engineering science, '81) professor of surgery at University of Utah, spoke at the College of Engineering commencement ceremony on Friday, May 11. She is a member of the American Board of Surgery and the executive committee of the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons.

Sitting before her were over 200 engineering students. Of the graduating class, the greater part majored in mechanical engineering, followed by civil and environmental engineering, computer and electrical engineering, chemical and biological engineering, and engineering science, respectively.

For most of this graduating class, the transition from student to engineering professional will be a smooth one. USA Today recently reported that employers plan to hire nearly 20% more new college graduates during the current academic year than in 2006, according to a spring 2007 job outlook from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Of those surveyed, 60% plan to hire more grads this year than during the 2005-06 school year.

Graduates in most demand are engineers, business majors, and those in computer-related fields.

For more information, read the USA Today article.

New Doctoral Program in Biomedical Engineering Offered

Beginning in Fall 2007, CSU students may attend classes for a new doctoral program in bioengineering through the new School of Biomedical Engineering - the first of its kind in the state.

The School of Biomedical Engineering will involve more than 50 faculty members in four colleges: the College of Applied Human Sciences, the College of Engineering, the College of Natural Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Bioengineering is defined by the National Institutes of Health as the integration of physical, chemical, or mathematical sciences and engineering principles for the study of biology, medicine, behavior, or health. The program will train students in the development of innovative products to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and also to help improve overall health and patient rehabilitation.

"The new School and new research master's and doctoral degrees will help us attract the best students and faculty in biomedical engineering. The new degrees will greatly enhance our research programs in these areas, which will translate to economic growth for Colorado and improved health and wellness for the citizens of Colorado and the world," states Susan James, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of the School of Biomedical Engineering.

In addition to the doctoral degrees, the School, which will be based in the College of Engineering, will offer the Master's of Engineering degree and Interdisciplinary Studies Certificate in Biomedical Engineering.

(back to top)

COE Students Monitor "Tornado Alley" Weather

Researchers from the College of Engineering are conducting weather pattern radar tests in Oklahoma's "tornado alley" in order to improve early warning systems for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, possibly saving thousands of lives each year.

Even though the radars are in or near Chickasha, Lawton, Cyril, and Rush Springs, Oklahoma, Colorado State faculty and students monitor the radars 24 hours a day, seven days a week from computers in the College of Engineering.

The project consists of three test beds: the first in Oklahoma's tornado alley, the second in Houston to monitor and predict floods more accurately, and the third in Puerto Rico to improve monitoring of floods produced by thunderstorms and hurricanes over complex terrain. The test bed in Houston will also strive to improve the monitoring of air pollution and air transport of chemicals.

"These new radar networks look down low," said V. "Chandra" Chandrasekar, Colorado State electrical and computer engineering professor, who is leading the spring experiment on behalf of the multi-agency partnership. "The goal is that national and international agencies will adopt this new low-cost technology. Ultimately, weather forecasters will be able to use the network to direct resources to regions where threats exist. That's when we'll know we've been successful."

The radar system is the result of a multidisciplinary collaborative effort among Colorado State, University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Puerto Rico.

Chandrasekar is the leader of the remote sensing stage of the project and also the deputy director in charge of research programs.

To learn more about the project, visit the CSU website.

(back to top)

Rocca Named University Distinguished Professor

President Larry Edward Penley recently honored Dr. Jorge Rocca, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at CSU, for his outstanding accomplishments in research and scholarship at the annual Celebrate Colorado State Luncheon.

"These fine individuals join a small, prestigious group of University Distinguished Professors because of outstanding accomplishments in their respective field," Penley said. "The quality of our research and teaching is driven by the talent of our faculty."

In Rocca's acceptance remarks, he acknowledged that his success would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of his students and researchers.

Rocca is a world leader in the development of compact X-ray lasers and its applications. He serves as director of the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology, which is based at Colorado State but is a collaborative effort with the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of California at Berkeley. Most recently, Rocca and his team of counterparts at Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory created the world's highest spatial resolution extreme ultraviolet tabletop microscope, which can see objects more than 1,000 times smaller the the diameter of a human hair.

Rocca was one of four CSU professors to receive the award. To obtain this honor, faculty members are nominated through an extensive review process and must be approved by the current University Distinguished Professors.

(back to top)

Come "Home" to CSU This Fall

Even though the summer season has just begun, Homecoming 2007 planning is underway.

Making a trip to Fort Collins over CSU's Homecoming/Family Weekend, October 4 - 7, 2007, will provide a special opportunity to reconnect with classmates, roommates, and friends from your college days. It is also an opportunity to visit with students and faculty, tour the research labs and campus, and enjoy the beautiful Fort Collins area.

During this time, the College of Engineering will host several activities for engineering alumni and their families to enjoy, both on and off campus.

Additionally, CSU will host numerous university-wide events throughout the weekend.

(back to top)