Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
M.S. - Master of Science in Engineering, Memorial University of Newfoundland
I have taught 41 different courses (at undergraduate and graduate levels) at Embry-Riddle and have created and developed six new graduate courses in Mechanical Engineering. I have always put students first. I interact with students providing guidance and mentorshipand sharing my years of experience as a faculty member, innovator and entrepreneur, to help them succeed in the aerospace field. I have always brought real-worldexperiences into my lectures. This is my teaching’s strong point. I typically have had industry projects while at ERAU and have been able to weave that experience with what I do in my courses. I am very focused on hands-onexperiences for our students. That is why I created a unique minor in CAD/CAM with three new undergraduate courses and six new graduate courses in Manufacturing.
I went out of my way to successfully handle all the engineering aspects of the Engineering Physics program (including leading the ABET 2000 process for the EP program) for two years. The senior Engineering Physics students appreciated my dedication and hard work through a Senior Class Design Award in 1999. I helped to cover Professor Ollerich’s senior-level Systems Dynamics class andvolunteered to teach the Fluid Mechanics coursein 1997.
Over the years, I have helped the Aerospace Engineering Department by teaching several courses, often with short notice. I am a dedicated and committed teacher who maintains high standards and expects the same of my students. This fact was acknowledged by former ERAU PresidentDr. Steven Sliwa, who awarded me the President’s Innovation Award in 1991 and the Faculty Appreciation Award in 1995. When I taught Engineering PhysicsSenior Design several times, our ERAU student team was awarded first place in the 1998 and 1999 AIAA National Team Space Design Competitions.
I have taught more than 60 independent study topic three-credit hour courses for both graduate and undergraduate students. Again, I look back, and I am proud of my record teaching41 different science- and engineering-related coursesover a period of 34 years at Embry-Riddle. I am proud to say that one of my best students, Ms. Monica Fredrickson from the Aerospace Engineeringprogram (currently at Boeing, Seattle) has takenseven different courseswith me during her stay at Embry-Riddle. She also received the Best Undergraduate Student Award at her Convocation. I am proud to see so many of my students have risen to the top in their careers — the ultimate test of student success. A good example is my graduate student Brandon Marcell, who I advised for his M.S. thesis in Aerospace Engineering, who is now the Branch Chief at NASA KSC for the Expendable Launch Vehicles Division.
Areas of Interest: Parameter Estimation; Modeling and Design Optimization; Structures and Structural Dynamics; Fluid-Structure Interaction.
NASA Faculty Fellow: Awarded prestigious NASA Summer Faculty Fellowship (2003, 2004 and 2005).
Professional Awards: Presidents Innovation Award, ݮƵ, 2000.
Senior Design Class Award , ݮƵ, 1999.
AIAA National Team Space Design Competition Award, 1st Place, 1999.
Leadership Award , Living-Learning Program, Housing Board, ERAU, 1999.
AIAA National Team Space Design Competition Award, 3rd Place, 1998.
Presidents Innovation Award, ݮƵ, 1997.
Faculty Appreciation Award, 1994.
Presidents Innovation Award, ݮƵ, 1991
Editor: International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Systems (IJAMS)
Journal Reviewer: International Journal of Solids and Structures, Stanford University.
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Journal.
American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)
Professional Societies: Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Chair, AIAA National Design Committee of SAC.
Member, AIAA National Student Activities Committee (SAC)
Senior Member, Soc. of Naval Arch. and Marine Engineers (SNAME)
Member, Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
Consulting Experience: 18 years of consulting experience on a wide variety of engineering projects with local manufacturing industries. Worked on design/analysis/testing/manufacturing and prototype strain gage testing of engineering products.
Research/Professional Funding:
(i) Investigator, Advanced Aerospace Manufacturing Project, NSF ATE Grant Proposal, $882,509, submitted to National Science Foundation (NSF), Summer 2008. (under review)
(ii) Co-PI, Creating and Fostering an Ethical Climate Based on Sustainability, submitted to NSF, $290,870 (under review)
(iii) P.I., Florida Space Grant Consortium ( FSGC), Comparison of Active and Passive Control of Space Vehicle Antenna Boom, in collaboration with NASA Kennedy Space Center, $24,819, awarded in August 2008.
(iv) P.I., A CFD Approach to Fuel Slosh Parameter Estimation, NASA Grant # NNX08AV55H, $30,000, awarded in August 2008.
(iii) P.I., FSGC Grant, Project FuSSION, a NASA Microgravity project, $3000, February 2008.
(iv) P.I., Mathworks Grant, Project FuSSION, a NASA Microgravity project, $5000, March 2008.
(v) P.I., NASA Grant, Modeling and Parameter Estimation of Lateral Fuel Slosh Parameters, $ 37,317, January 2007.
(vi) P.I., NASA Grant, Modeling and Parameter Estimation of Lateral Fuel Slosh Parameters, $30,000, August 2007.
(vii) PI, Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC), Modeling and Parameter Estimation of Spacecraft Fuel Slosh, in collaboration with NASA Kennedy Space Center, $15,000, December 2006.
(viii) PI, NASA Grant, Simulation Tool for Spacecraft Lateral Fuel Slosh Prediction, $24,000, August 2006.
(ix) P.I., NASA Grant, Optimization Techniques for Determining Modeling Parameters from Test Data for Use in NASA/SwRI Nutation Time Constant Fluid Slosh Model, $24,000, August 2005.
(x) P.I., Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC), Modeling of Fuel Slosh Effects Within Spinning Spacecraft, in collaboration with NASA Kennedy Space Center, $14,789, June 2004.
(xi) Co-P.I., with Dr. Dan Macchiarella, ERAU Seed-Money Grant, $18,997 Establishment of a Reality-X Simulation Lab, January 2005.
(xii) PI, National Science Foundation (NSF) Follow-on Research Grant Characterization and Detachment of Enteromorpha clathrata Biofouling on Lifting Surfaces of Marine Vehicles by Controlled Cavitation at the amount $652,453 for 3 years (2003-2006), submitted to NSF/EPA Partnership Program in collaboration with five research institutions, February 2003.
(xiii) PI, National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Grant, Characterizing Modeling Errors in Isotropic and Composite Plates by Combining Antioptimization with Experiments, at the amount $328,323 for 3 years (2003-2006), submitted to NSF, January 2003.
(xiv) Co-PI with Dr. Dennis Vincenzi of Human Factors Department (ERAU), National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Grant, Modeling of Effects of Augmented Reality (AR) on Human Cognition and Perception through Composite Scenes, at the amount $400,000 for 3 years, to be submitted to NSF, May 2003.
(xv) PI, National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Grant Investigation of the Adhesion of Enteromorpha clathrata and the Consequent Impact on Cavitation and Dynamic Performance Characteristics and Control of Hydrofoil and Underwater Lifting Surfaces at the amount $252,453 for 3 years (1995-1997). Awarded the 3-year follow-on grant (1998-2001) at the amount $304,553 in Fall 1998; Awarded the REU supplement ($5,460) Spring 1999 and Fall 2000.
NSF Final Reports (2002 and 1997); NSF Yearly Report (1998 and 1999).
(xvi) Research Initiation Grant, SME, Augmented Reality Applications to Human Factors in Manufacturing Training Environment , $14,997 for one year, 2001-2002.
(xvii) Research Initiation Grant, FSGC, Effectiveness of Augmented Reality Training Paradigms for Space and Spaceport related Activities , $19,976 for one year, 2001-2002.
(xviii) PI, Diversified Engineering Services, $4,000, Summer 1999.
(xix) Summer project from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Research Institution on Development o Jet Propulsion System for Shallow Water Research Vessel at the amount $2800 (June-July, 1991).
(xx) Southern Regional Educational Board, Travel Grant, at the amount $750.
(xxi) Summer 1992 project from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Research Institution on Modeling and Hydrodynamic Analysis at amount $5500 (April-June, 1992).
(xxii) Awarded $3,000 from ERAU Annual Fund for implementation of CAD/CAM Program.
(xxiii) C-DAM: My efforts led to securing $100,000 as seed money grant toward capital equipment for developing the various activities of C-DAM. Worked on several funded Automation/Design/Research Projects with Industries: John Crane Belfab ($15,550); Florida Production Engineering ($6,000); Aluma Shield Industries ($4,000); Boston Whaler ($10,000).
(xxiv) Society of Automotive Engineers Formulae Race Car Competition Project: Crane Technologies Group sponsored $15,000 toward the project with in-house matching of $5000 from Embry-Riddle.
(xxv) Professional Development Grant (Embry-Riddle):
* $6500 for incorporating Design and Manufacturing Concepts in curriculum [Year 1].
* $5500 for incorporating state-of-the-art concepts in Robotics and Concurrent Eng. and developing working relationships with faculty and C-DAM Industries [Year 2].
* $4500 for training in state-of-the-art skills in Design and Space Systems Engineering.
* $1500 for ABET2000.
(xxvi) "Link Foundation" grant of $9,000 awarded by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution: Simulation of the Flow Characteristics on Hydrofoil Surfaces to support my graduate research assistant during summer 1996.
(xxvii) Donation of 3 Industrial Robots, HOMAC Manufacturing Co, $30,000 each.
Extracurricular Activities:
1. Faculty Advisor, NASA Student Microgravity Program, Spring 2006.
2. Faculty Advisor, Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, ERAU, 2004-present.
3. Faculty Advisor, Students Chapter of Unmanned Vehicles Systems Society, 1996-2001.
4. Faculty Advisor, SAE Formula Race Car Student Team, 2000- 2001.
5. Faculty Advisor, Indo-American Students Association, ERAU, August 1990 - 1994.
6. Faculty Advisor, Society of Physics Students, 1993-1994.
Committees (Served/Serving as):
Promotion & Tenure Committee (College of Engineering)
Scholarly Activities Committee (College of Engineering)
Member, University Research Committee (served as Chair for two years)
Chair, University Planning Committee
Member, M.S.Theses (Aerospace Engineering and Human Factors & Systems Dept.) Committees.
Served in numerous committees at the departmental level.
Short Courses: Aircraft Composite Structures, UCLA, California, Fall 2002.
Aircraft Design and Sizing, UCLA, California, Fall 2001
Aircraft Performance and Design, Mojave, California, Spring 2000.
Payload Processing and Integration, Cocoa Beach, Florida, Spring 1999.
Launch Vehicle and Orbit Mechanics, Pasadena, California, December 8-10, 1997.
Space Systems Design and Engineering, Washington, D.C., September 21 - 23, 1993.
Management of a Technical Person in a Leadership Role, Spring 1995.
Taguchi's Design of Experiments, Quality Engineering and Robust Design Concepts, Detroit, November 10-12, 1996.
Avoiding Conflict and Conflict Resolution, one-day seminar, Jacksonville, February 1997
Training in finite element analysis software INERTIA, Indianapolis, 1991
Training in Computational Fluid Dynamics Software, FLUENT, Summer 1997.
Ground Systems Engineering and Design, Washington, D.C., Spring 1998.
Transition to Supervision, ERAU, September 1998.
Relationship Skills Development, ERAU, September 1998.
How to be a Better Communicator , Career Track Inc. Seminar, June 1998.
NASA Microgravity Program: Involved in advising students in the NASA microgravity projects. Advised four student projects and helped them to successfully fly their microgravity experiments aboard the NASA KC-135 aircraft.
ABET2000: As a Program Chair, I am responsible for the ABET2000 accreditation process for the Engineering Physics Program during academic year 1998-1999.
Post-Doctoral Fellow: Supported a post-doctoral fellow Dr. Michael Schultz at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution on the NSF research project on Biofouling of Hydrofoils .
CONSORTIUM FOR DESIGN, AUTOMATION AND MANUFACTURING (C-DAM):
Executive Director: Established a new University-Industry Partnership called Consortium for Design, Automation and Manufacturing (C-DAM) through a joint partnership between Volusia Manufacturers Association (VMA) and ݮƵ.
C-DAM Publications/Articles: Written several articles on C-DAM University-Industry Partnership in local and national newspapers and magazines.
C-DAM Articles include:
* ASEE Prism Magazine, Editor Vicky Hendley, Nuts and Bolts of Successful University-Industry Partnerships, January 1997.
* Gangadharan, S.N., Manufacturing Matters, Halifax Magazine, Volusia County, Nov Dec 1996.
Student-Industry Projects: Guided/supervised the graduate/undergraduate students and served as a project advisor in the following list of student-industry projects:
(1) "Plant Layout Optimization", Boston Whaler.
(2) "Automation of the Diaphragm Production System", John Crane Belfab.
(3) "Material Handling Analysis of Molds and Hulls", Boston Whaler.
(4) "Design of Pin Guide Wires for Bowling Lanes", Bellair Lanes, Inc.
(5) 'Finite Element Analysis of Composite Boat Hulls", Boston Whaler.
(6) "Pro/ENGINEER's Opportunity Cost and Financial Return", Crane Cams.
(7) "Instrumentation and Testing of Molded Foam", Boston Whaler.
(8) "Material Layout Optimization", Boston Whaler.
(9) 'Automation of the Diaphragm Production System", John Crane Belfab.
(10) "Design of a Robot Painting Facility", Florida Production Engineering.
(11) Productivity Improvement Strategies Through Automation", Aluma Shield Industries.
(12) "Design of a Flexible Pipe Joint Section Assembly Device", Microflex, Inc.
(13) "Design Instrumentation and Testing of Composite Boat Hulls and Manufacturing Processes", Boston Whaler.
(14) "Investigation of the Structural Integrity of a Hydraulic Press", VOTRAN.
(15) "Conceptual design of a Relay Switch for Amtrak Railways", ENTECH Corp.
(16) "Design and Testing of an Automatic Wire Feeding Attachment to a Brazing Machine", CyberTech International.
(17) "Testing of an Automatic Spray Painting System", Florida Production Engineering.
(18) "Plant Layout Optimization for Camshaft Production", Crane Technologies Group.
(19) "Video to AutoCAD", Daytona Plastix.
(19) "Experimentation of Foam Characteristics to Manufacture Small Boat Parts", Boston Whaler.
(21) "Testing of Composite Material Characteristics", Boston Whaler.
(22) "Design and Analysis of Cable Connectors for High Voltage Power Transmission Lines', Homac
Manufacturing Co.
(23) "Windows Environment for Video to AutoCAD", Daytona Plastix.
(24) "Detailed Design of a Relay Switch for Amtrak Railways", En TECH Corp.
(25) "Plant Layout optimization Using MODSIM Software", Crane Cams.
(26) "Testing for Redesign of a Cable Connector Module", Homac Manufacturing Company.
(27) "Conceptual Design of a Robotic Arm for Hazardous Environment", NASA (KSC).
(28) "Finite Element Analysis of Boat Hull Truss Canopy", Boston Whaler.
(29) "Testing of Composite Boat Parts", Boston Whaler.
(30) "Concepts on Shear Tie Foam Methods to Improve Hull Design and Manufacture", Boston Whaler.
(31) "Developing Edge Detecting and Smoothing Algorithms", Daytona Plastics.
(32) "Redesign of a Microswitch Assembly for Amtrak Railways", ENTECH Corp.
(33) "Developing a Relational Database", Boston Whaler.
(34) "Design of a Dispensing Pump Assembly Unit for Medical Applications", Precision Dispenser.
(35) "3D Sculpture: Feasibility Study", Entrepreneur Project.
(36) "Modeling Based on Concurrent Engineering Methodology", Homac Mfg. Co.
(37) "Comparison of Extruded and Casting Rocker Arm Assembly", Crane Technologies Group, Inc.
(38) Quality Improvements in the Diaphragm Bellow Production Process", John Crane Belfab.
(39) "Applying Concurrent Engineering and Design of Experiments to Software Development Process", Environmental Tectonics Inc.
(40) "Quality Loss Analysis and Design of a Hub Cap Assembly", Florida Production Engineering.