Mads Almassalkhi, Electrical Engineering

In 2003, the National Academy of Engineering named the electric grid the greatest engineering achievement of the 20th century. But rising demands are pushing our electric infrastructure to its limit, as evidenced by increasingly widespread blackouts. Mads Almassalkhi, a new faculty member in electrical engineering, works to develop practical feedback algorithms to improve the grid’s resiliency.

“We are currently investigating distributing the algorithms to better reflect market and physical conditions of the actual transmission system and looking to partner with industry and government agencies to bring our work to practice,” he reports.

Almassalkhi’s work can’t come too soon. At least 50 percent of the power-engineering workforce is expected to retire in the next five to ten years.

“UVM is in a great position to supply the next generation of power engineers, and I hope for my courses to motivate our students to go on to successful careers within the large umbrella that is power systems,” he says. 

Appala Raju Badireddy, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Future engineers who want to learn about water – all about water – have come to the right place. Appala Raju Badireddy’s courses focus on mechanistic understanding of fundamental processes related to water supply, quality, and reuse, leveraging the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, material science, membrane science, engineering, and nanotechnology to improve existing technologies or develop sustainable, low-cost, energy-efficient approaches. His students will learn to apply important fundamental concepts and principles to design efficient treatment or remediation systems, building their data analysis and interpretation skills at the same time.

Badireddy, an assistant professor of environmental engineering, says he hopes his courses generate healthy discussion on environmental topics and get students interested in careers in environmental engineering research.

“When students are able to talk about environmental issues with open-mindedness, using the proper language and terminology, backed by critical thinking and problem-solving skills,” he says, “then I believe I will have achieved my goals as a teacher.”

Kevin Beard, Statistics

Kevin Beard, newly on board this fall as a lecturer in the statistics program, brings 13 years experience teaching high school statistics including AP classes. That follows 12 years working in the accounting software field for companies as varied as Ford and Westinghouse down to two-person start-ups. Originally from Connecticut, Beard has a B.A. in Economics and an MBA in international finance from the University of Connecticut.

Because statistics are “useful and practical,” Beard says he never hears students asking why they need to learn the subject. “Everyone should have a basic understanding of stats,” he adds. “I can honestly say that teaching has been my favorite occupation. I can’t see doing anything else.”

Patrick Lee, Mechanical Engineering

They are lightweight, multifunctional materials with a million uses: we used to call them “space-age” polymers. Mechanical engineering assistant professor Patrick Lee studies fabrication and processing of “multiphase nano— structured smart and lightweight polymeric and hybrid materials with synergistic properties” that can be used to make everything from cars to medical devices to food packaging.

His work informs ongoing trends in renewable energy, sustainability, clean water, health, smart infrastructure and construction. And beginning this fall, he’ll introduce engineering undergraduates to some of the same topics through a course on advanced manufacturing processes.

“My goal is to prepare students for manufacturing industries as well as for graduate research programs in advanced manufacturing areas,” says Lee, who joined CEMS after working as a research scientist at Dow Chemical. “I am excited to meet bright young future engineers and scientists at UVM!”

Huijie Lu, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Research rarely gets much more important to everyday life than when it focuses on our water supply. Assistant professor Huijie Lu’s goal is to encourage students to take what they learn in the classroom and create applications that will broaden the design and control of biological treatment, with the aim of improving energy and resource sustainability.

Work in her lab will tap microbiology, ecology and systems biology to investigate the structure and function of microbial communities. She says she’s excited to teach environmental engineering courses with brand new curriculum, getting students prepared to take on undergraduate research challenges.

“One of my teaching goals as an engineering professor is to make good connections between the teaching materials and real-world applications,” Lu says. “I plan to achieve this by teaching students more applied knowledge and skills, as well as some cutting-edge topics where active research is happening.”

Jennie Stephens, co-appointment with CEMS and the Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources

Jennie Stephens’ research is inspired by what she calls an “inevitable” shift: the movement away from fossil fuels toward renewable sources of energy. The associate professor, who holds a joint position between the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences and the university’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, notes that her research investigates how political, social and cultural factors are influencing energy system changes.

“We know this transition is occurring,” she notes. “We just don’t yet know how fast and in what ways this transition will occur. I find it exciting to research how this transition is happening in different places.”

Stephens, who is the university’s first Blittersdorf Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy and previously served as an associate professor of environmental science and policy at Clark University, says her goal is to encourage students to consider the social issues surrounding sustainability challenges facing the world.

“Students are intrigued and excited to engage on issues of energy, climate change and sustainability,” she notes. ”Integrating these issues into their education is critical for them to be prepared to contribute and engage in a rapidly changing world.”