Collection

2008 GSW

Authors

Mario Ortiz; Professor Andrea Mammoli; Professor Peter Vorobief

COP increasing with temperature. However, since the solarcollector efficiency decreases with higher temperature, the optimal operating temperature for thesystem as a whole is not necessarily achieved by using the highest temperature to fire theabsorption chiller. We plan to calculate the optimum operating temperature using TRNSYS andverify the results with long-term performance monitoring of the real system. Proceedings of the 2008 ASEE Gulf-Southwest Annual Conference The University of New Mexico - Albuquerque Copyright 2008, c American Society for Engineering Education TRNSYS ModelTRNSYS is

Conference Session

Innovations to Curriculum and Program

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Angela Bielefeldt, University of Colorado at Boulder

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

AC 2008-2289: INCORPORATING ENERGY ISSUES INTO ENVIRONMENTALENGINEERINGAngela Bielefeldt, University of Colorado at Boulder Page 13.729.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 Incorporating Energy Issues into Environmental EngineeringAbstractNo single engineering discipline has integrated renewable and sustainable energy topics intotheir core curriculum. Environmental engineering programs may benefit from includingsustainable energy in their curriculum. Many students in a freshman-level introductoryEnvironmental Engineering (EVEN) course viewed EVEN as a potential major to studyrenewable energy, but many have since indicated that they plan to switch into

Conference Session

ERM Poster Session

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kevin Dahm, Rowan University; Roberta Harvey, Rowan University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

learningconditions compatible with his/her learning style. The process begins by having students takethe Learning Connections Inventory (LCI). Responses to the LCI’s 28 statements about learningpreferences, using a 5-point scale ranging from Always to Never Ever, yield a profile of theextent to which an individual utilizes each of four types of patterned learning processes, listedbelow with some of the key preferences characterizing each pattern: • Sequence (organization, planning, order, structure) • Precision (information, details, knowing for the sake of knowing) • Technical Reasoning (hands-on learning, relevance, self-sufficiency) • Confluence (risk, innovation, alternative views, freedom from rules)All learners are

Conference Session

Innovations to Curriculum and Program

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Angela Bielefeldt, University of Colorado at Boulder

Tagged Divisions

Environmental Engineering

important to recognize cultural differences. Future studies will expand on thiswork by surveying more students and try to combine the quantitative responses to these surveyswith qualitative information that reflects cultural competency.AcknowledgmentsThe authors recognize Marie L. Miville for providing the MGUDS-S survey and scoring guide.This material is partially based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation underDepartment Level Reform Planning Grant No. 0431947. This material is also based on worksupported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. ESI-0227558, which funds the Page 13.345.11Center for the Advancement of

Conference Session

Civil Engineering Teaching Part One

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Bronzini, George Mason University; Michael Casey, George Mason University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

: ________ Interaction of the team with their Water Resources Consultant : ________ Team's success in fulfilling client's requirements: ________ Team's project tracking and comparison with original plan/schedule: ________ Comments: __________________________________________________________SOCIETAL Please evaluate the Societal Impact of the team's work. 5=highlyIMPACT effective/proficient, 1=very ineffective/not proficient Team consideration of sustainability in design, materials, & methods: __________ Team consideration of historical and cultural impact: __________ Comments

Conference Session

Assessment

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Collura, University of New Haven; Samuel Daniels, University of New Haven

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

AC 2008-2439: HOW ACCURATE IS STUDENTS’ SELF-ASSESSMENT OFCOMPUTER SKILLS?Michael Collura, University of New HavenSamuel Daniels, University of New Haven Page 13.671.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 How Accurate is Students’ Self-Assessment of Computer Skills? AbstractSelf-evaluation by students is commonly used as a key element in program and courseassessment plans. Such instruments are intended to provide crucial feedback for programimprovement and thus play a significant role in closing our assessment loop. For many of theprogram outcomes, self-assessment by current students and graduates augments other

Conference Session

Educational Software

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Cameron Wright, University of Wyoming; Michael Morrow, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Mark Allie, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Thad Welch, Boise State University

Tagged Divisions

Computers in Education

, whichprovides exposure to engineering topics to interested and motivated high school sophomores fromaround the state. Only about 100 applicants are accepted each year for this program, now in its22nd year. The students live on the University campus for three weeks and learn about humanities,sciences, and engineering. A sequence of classes/demos is given by the ECE department, whichcovers a broad range of topics in digital systems. We plan to augment several of those lessons byusing the C6713 DSKs with winDSK6 software. In particular, audio special effects and a verybasic introduction to sampling are appropriate for this audience.We also conduct the Engineering Summer Program (ESP) for high school juniors. This program ismuch newer than HSI, is focused

Conference Session

Educating for Results: Tools used in Engineering Technology

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Recayi 'Reg' Pecen; Ayhan Zora; Faruk Yildiz, University of Northern Iowa

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Technology

modeling using Simulink.Another research incorporating the use of multimedia tools into a reverse engineeringcourse has been presented by Madara Ogot3. The main goal of this study was to usemultimedia initiative for the students to learn how to use main tools, and use them inother academic activities beyond the reverse engineering class. Since, a classicmechanical engineering curriculum may not offer instructions of the use of multimediatools in the areas of computer illustration, animation, and image manipulation, thisexperience increased interest of the major students. Besides, instruction on the use ofthese tools was incorporated into a mechanical engineering course at Ruther Universitywhere it was planned to send out follow-up surveys at the

Conference Session

Emerging Issues in Engineering Education Research and Pedagogy

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ann McKenna, Northwestern University; Robert Linsenmeier, Northwestern University; Matthew Glucksberg, Northwestern University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

of the research plan we are presently usingto study CADEX in the context of a senior level biomedical engineering design course.IntroductionSeveral recent reports stress that the competitive advantage of the U.S. lies in its role as a leaderin technological innovation1,2. These reports make statements such as “leadership in innovationis essential to U.S. prosperity and security”3 and “innovation will be the single most importantfactor in determining America’s success through the 21st century”1. These reports send aresounding message that engineering education in the U.S. needs to emphasize and developknowledge and skills that are essential to innovation in a rapidly evolving technological society.From an education standpoint, there are many

Conference Session

Trends in Engineering Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lynette Osborne, The George Washington University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

culture was an unexpected, yet integral,finding of Holland and Eisenhart’s study (1990). They sought to understand why so few womenentered science, mathematics and engineering majors (SME) in college. The researchersconducted a longitudinal ethnographic study at two southern colleges, a predominantly blackuniversity, Bradford, and a predominantly white university, Southern University (bothpseudonyms) to examine why women tended to shy away from majors and occupations that areseen as traditionally male. Holland and Eisenhart studied 23 college women as they traversedthe complexities of undergraduate life. All the women in the sample were identified as highachievers at the inception of the study. About half the women planned to major in fields such

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ronaldo Luna, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Richard Hall, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Michael Hilgers, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Ghulam Bham, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Richard Elgin, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Charles Morris, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Glenn Morrison, Missouri University of Science & Technology

them on top of maps withother civil information, such as roads, houses, and other structures to present the impact of theiranalysis on the public. The undergraduate course where development and implementation of thismodule will take place is CE 234 Water Resources Engineering.Transportation: This module will guide students through the process of evaluating highwaycorridor alternatives and will delve more deeply into the process by visualizing the differentalternatives in much more detail than what is possible without the use of GIS. Students willchoose the “best” alternative and prepare maps using GIS to present their selection to stakeholders such as the State (Missouri) Department of Transportation. At the planning stages of ahighway project

Conference Session

STEM Pipeline: Pre-College to Post-Baccalaureate

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nancy Healy, Georgia Institute of Technology; Lynn Rathbun, Cornell University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

. Project description & faculty/mentor contact info mailed to intern selections by site. April Selection process completed. Housing and travel arranged by site. Faculty & mentors begin discussions w/ interns -- recommend readings and online training. May Sites send interns program guidelines/schedule/expectations & online link to orientation and training. Sites review projects with faculty & mentors, ensures availability of equipment & supplies, reviews research plan & training requirements. Reviews mentor and NNIN REU program expectations. June Interns arrive and undergo

Conference Session

Accreditation and Assessment Concerns in Civil Engineering Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nirmala Gnanapragasam, Seattle University; Katie Kuder, Seattle University; Dragovich Jefferey, Seattle University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

for the examination because they are confident in their ability to pass the FE. Some students may expect their performance in the senior design course to be strong enough to counteract the impact of the 20% grade weighting given to the comprehensive examination. Finally, students may only study for the comprehensive examination if near to when they plan on taking the FE examination. Therefore, some students could prepare only in the fall, whereas others prepare only in the spring. Starting winter 2008, the authors have begun administering a questionnaire to the students to determine student preparedness prior to the comprehensive examination and the FE. The results will be analyzed for future work.Effect of

Conference Session

Mechanics of Materials

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Vince Prantil, Milwaukee School of Engineering; William Howard, East Carolina University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

for the importance of boundary conditions and analyzing a problem with more than one element type or mesh. • Students report a new found skepticism for the results of a single, preliminary finite element analysis.While this makes an admittedly modest dent in the list of finite element mistakes mostcommonly made, we feel it is a good place to start. The philosophy that we shouldaddress the problems that exist in preliminary instruction, is, we feel, well-founded. Tothis end, in a new curriculum revision to be implemented at the Milwaukee School ofEngineering in the fall quarter of 2008, there are plans to introduce a required secondcourse in finite element analysis. With an eye toward preparing students for the types ofanalysis

Conference Session

FPD2 - First-Year Advising and Transition

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lisa Romkey, University of Toronto

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

(upper year student) and us allowed a more informal procedure to understanding material. The smaller sizes encouraged us to ask more questions and discuss the course material until we fully understood.” “Past students were able to provide helpful learning techniques, strategies for learning; learning with peers allowed one to work out complex concepts together, talk about them and share difficulties together to understand them.”However, some students found problems with the method, which will need to be considered forfuture planning and implementation. Some students cited that unprepared classmates impactedthe quality of the study group: “(the study groups) are mainly geared towards students having

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Course Innovation I

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Andrew Thornton, Emerson Climate Technologies; Kyle Shipp, Kettering University; Tony Lin, Kettering University

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

can limit thecoverage of the course materials and thus clearly defined objectives are vital to ensuring thateach group gets the most out of the available time. According to Robert F. Mager, “Clearlydefined objectives can be used to provide students with the means to organize their own time andefforts toward accomplishment of those objectives3.” For this reason, it is important to set theobjectives for the team project early in the process and perform periodic checks to make sure theteam is meeting those objectives. All team members should make and agree on a plan at thebeginning of the project so everyone understands the expected outcomes for the group and whatthey will gain personally from the experience.The best way to measure adherence to

Conference Session

Mentoring

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Canan Bilen-Green, North Dakota State University; Anakaorn Khan, North Dakota State University; David Wells, North Dakota State University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

programming a vehicle they buildwith Legos to follow a path. They also use software on the internet to design a bridge. In one ofthe hands-on activities, girls use a computer to design their own pendants and watch them Page 13.888.5actually being made by a Computer Numerical Control machine in NDSU’s manufacturingprocesses lab. The pendants serve as a reminder to the participants as to what they learned withthe hope that it will have an influence on them in the future as they start making plans for theirown careers. In one of the field trips, the participants tour a local manufacturing company to seehow engineering translates into manufacturing. They

Conference Session

SE Curriculum and Course Management

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Arthur Pyster, Stevens Institute of Technology; Devanandham Henry, Stevens Institute of Technology; Richard Turner, Stevens Institute of Technology; Kahina Lasfer, Stevens Institute of Technology; Lawrence Bernstein, Stevens Institute of Technology; Kristen Baldwin, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, Logistics)

Tagged Divisions

Software Engineering Constituent Committee

Software in the IEEE Computer Society DVP program.Kristen Baldwin, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, Logistics) Kristen Baldwin is the Acting Director, Systems and Software Engineering in the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology (DUSD(A&T)). She is the DoD focal point for all policy, practice, and procedural matters relating to systems and software engineering. Ms. Baldwin was named Deputy Director for Software Engineering and System Assurance in February 2007. Prior to OSD, Ms. Baldwin served as a Science and Technology Advisor in the Army’s Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, and at

Conference Session

The Ever-Changing Course

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gretchen Hein, Michigan Technological University; Jean Kampe, Michigan Technological University; Amber Kemppainen, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

music automatically. From the beginning of the design process to the final construction of the prototype, students considered the environmental impact of this engineering activity. Most of the materials used in the prototype were reclaimed from post-consumer waste streams, and no prefabricated sound making devices or objects were used. Design analysis incorporated life cycle thinking: embodied energy in component materials, virtual water, toxicity, and end-of-life cycle planning (re-use, re- manufacture, and recycling, and design for disassembly). Microbrewing

Conference Session

Integrating Math, Science, and Engineering

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hassan Moore, University of Alabama, Birmingham; Gregg Janowski, University of Alabama, Birmingham; Melinda Lalor, University of Alabama, Birmingham

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

intent of the new course is to implement more project- and inquiry-based study in order tofoster deeper understanding of the fundamental theorems in multivariable calculus anddifferential equations. The new course (see Appendix A for content) was team taught by aProfessor from the Mathematics Department, Dr. Gunter Stolz, and an Assistant Professor fromwithin the School of Engineering, first author of this paper. Both instructors were involved inthe initial planning of the course and all phases in between, along with members from theMathematics Department and the School of Engineering. Thus, there was true collaboration inall aspects of the course. The need for calculus and differential equations reform withinengineering has been noted for quite

Conference Session

Attitudes, Self-Confidence, and Self-Efficacy of Women Engineering Students

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Carmen Villa, Texas A&M University; Carolyn Clark, Texas A&M University; Jennifer Sandlin, Arizona State University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

. Strauss, A. & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory. (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks:Sage.19. Creswell, J. C. (2002). Educational research. Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. NJ: Pearson Education.20. Merriam, S. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco:Jossey- Bass.21. Villa, C. G. (2008). The Impact of Program Experiences on the Retention of Women Engineering Students in Mexico. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.22. Duncan, J. & Zeng Y. (2006). Women: Support factors and persistence in engineering. National Center

Conference Session

ERM Poster Session

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

TK Beam, James Madison University; Olga Pierrakos, James Madison University; Jamie Constantz, James Madison University; Aditya Johri, Virginia Tech; Robin Anderson, James Madison University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

formation. Through this deep representation of professional identity, wefound that exposure to engineering and overall familiarity with the field proved to be one ofthe largest factors effecting retention. Our preliminary findings point to the conclusion thatrecruitment and retention can be improved by increasing the presence of engineering in K-12settings and undergraduate institutions respectively. We suggest directions for future workand discuss our plans to explore the development of the professional identity over time (fromfreshman to senior year) as well as additional levels of identity formation and transformation.IntroductionThe need to protect the competitive ability of the U.S. and maintain its technological edgeagainst challenges such as

Conference Session

Multidisciplinary Curriculum Innovation

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Ciaraldi, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Eben Cobb, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; David Cyganski, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Michael Demetriou; Greg Fischer; Michael Gennert, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Fred Looft, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; William Michalson, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Bradley Miller, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Taskin Padir, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Yiming Rong, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Kenneth Stafford, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Gretar Tryggvason, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; James Van de Ven, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Multidisciplinary Engineering

undecided: 140 WPI 2008 Total entering: 918 Engineering undecided: 167 Table I. Enrollment as reported at the fall of 2007 and 2008 by the WPI Registrars Office.While it is difficult to detect any major effect of the RBE program on the enrollment in the otherengineering programs at WPI, its effect on the overall enrollment has been dramatic. WPI hasrecently embarked on a plan to slightly expand its incoming class size and the intention was toenroll about 800 students in the class of 2012. The institution competes for students with severalwell-known technological universities and usually admits significantly larger class thaneventually enrolls. Nevertheless, the Institution uses relatively well

Conference Session

Design in the ECE Curriculum

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bruce Dunne, Grand Valley State University; Chirag Parikh, Grand Valley State University; Andrew Sterian, Grand Valley State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

; a higher performing microcontroller with more flash memory may be warranted in the future;• need to incorporate accelerometer in future labs; how to best use this device for maze navigation is still under investigation;• our new robot includes capability to include more sensors; one planned sensor is the so-called “whisker” sensor that detects when the robot has made contact with an obstacle; so doing will hopefully help in maze navigation.Bibliography1. “Atmel 8-bit AVR Microcontroller with 32 Kbytes In-System Programmable Flash Datasheet”, revision 7674D–AVR–08/08, August 2008, available at Internet URL http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc7674.pdf .2. Internet URL: http://www.trincoll.edu

Conference Session

New Learning Paradigms I

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Margaret Huyck, Illinois Institute of Technology; Kristin Bryant, Illinois Institute of Technology; Daniel Ferguson, Ohio Northern University

Tagged Divisions

Educational Research and Methods

the teams that had structured writingexercises and teams without it. This study is important to consider because it is a qualitativestudy that was conducted to enhance metacognitive skills. Although the metacognitive skills arequite different than reflective thinking skills, they still rest on the same premises.The Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) Program was developed at PurdueUniversity and resembles [our program]. The EPICS program allows undergraduate engineeringstudents to aid community service agencies with technical assistance. Reflection is integratedinto each milestone the team completes.13 Milestones include (1) developing a semester plan, (2)meeting with project partners, (3) submitting personal goals for the

Conference Session

Measuring Success of Graduate Program Components

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Amanda O'Neill, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Jessica McCormick, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Matthew Steinkamp, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Patricia Fox, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Rachel Meyer, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Steven Brown, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Brandon Medcalf, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Nathaniel Greene, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

feel no guarantee that facultyaren’t given names of students reporting their answers.Teaching and Non-Teaching FactorsWhen students rate faculty it has been shown that both teaching and non-teaching related factorscome in to play. Teaching related factors demonstrated by faculty include thorough knowledgeof the subject, genuine interest in the subject, well-planned and organized class sessions, clearand understandable explanation, using relevant examples, and flexibility and concerns forstudent needs. There are also many non-teaching factors that impact how faculty are rated bystudents. These include class designation, gender, grade expectations, cultural background,major, course level difficulty, student performance, student knowledge

Conference Session

Frontiers in Engineering Management Education

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ertunga Ozelkan, University of North Carolina, Charlotte; Agnes Galambosi, University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Management

. instructors need tocommunicate their expectations clearly. LaPraire and Hinson[5] present a set of guidelines forestablishing the infrastructure needed to develop online learning communities and the types oftraining and support needed to sustain them.As the literature review shows above, online learning can be an effective learning approach butneeds to be carefully planned and adopted to ensure success. It also requires different strategies,preparations and techniques from traditional classrooms. The study presented here complimentsthe previous studies as it answers additional related questions about online learning related to theperception of engineering and engineering management students towards online coursescompared to the traditional on-campus

Conference Session

Retention Tools and Programs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Amber Kemppainen, Michigan Technological University; Amy Hamlin, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

First-Year Programs

interdisciplinary design project that focuseson bringing real-world examples into the classroom. Past students have investigated alternativefuels, autonomous robots, human-hybrid and supermileage concept vehicles, New Orleans floodmanagement plans, microbrewery systems, and vending machines.According to a study completed by Hertel and Hamlin on the incoming student population of fallof 2000 at Michigan Tech, only 40% of students graduated in their originally declared majorwith the majority of these changes occurring during the first or second year. 2 There are severalfactors that contribute to student persistence in their chosen major, one of which is self-efficacy.Women in particular have been shown to be particularly influenced by their efficacy beliefs

Conference Session

Been There, Done That: Advice for NEEs

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Andrew Gerhart, Lawrence Technological University; Philip Gerhart, University of Evansville

Tagged Divisions

New Engineering Educators

, trustworthy information on successes (and failures) of the “other” institution can berelayed to university administrators, where the information can help formulate action plans. Ofcourse this should only occur when the two institutions are not strong competitors for the samestudent population or other resources.Because of the similar interests and background of a parent and child (or a properly matchedmentor and mentee), it is beneficial to become involved with similar professional societies andcommittees. Phil has dedicated many years to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers(ASME) Performance Test Codes (PTC) activity. Consequently, Phil encouraged Andy tovolunteer for an ASME PTC committee. The committee work turned out to be a worthwhile

Conference Session

Think Outside the Box! K-12 Engineering Curriculum

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nichole Au, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Julia Ross, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Taryn Bayles, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

AC 2009-1722: ENGINEERING ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR THE INSPIRESCURRICULUMNichole Au, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Nichole Au graduated Cum Laude in 2008 with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She plans to finish her MS degree in Chemical Engineering also from UMBC in May 2009, after which she will pursue a career in industry.Julia Ross, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Julia Ross is Professor and Chair of the Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Department at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her technical research interests are in the area of cellular engineering. In particular, her work focuses on bacterial