Research Experience for Undergraduates Advisors

Research Experience for Undergraduates Advisors
The PI, Dr. Subha Kumpaty, Mechanical Engineering, has an extensive background in undergraduate research in his 22year teaching career. He has enabled numerous papers in the field of mechanical engineering to be authored by
undergraduates, and has been actively using his research expertise in heat transfer, additive manufacturing and
numerical modeling. He has served as the PI on several grants from the Department of Energy, National Science
Foundation and Ford Motor Company. He served as the PI for the NSF-IRES Site grant and regularly serves on NSF GRFP
panels. He has served both as an academic advisor and research mentor to several students. He was awarded the 2006
Karl O. Werwath Research Award, the highest honor for contribution to applied research at MSOE. He is a recipient of
2011 Oscar Werwath Distinguished Teacher Award. Dr. Kumpaty has served as an external examiner on several
Masters and Ph.D. theses at various institutions both in India and South Africa.
Dr. Jeff LaMack, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, teaches biomedical engineering courses at
MSOE. His doctorate is in biomedical engineering from Duke University and he conducts collaborative research at the
Blood Research Institute. He has been advising REU students since summer 2009 and has become a valuable asset to
the program. He advises junior and senior biomed students on projects extending his research in microscopic image
processing and adaptation of medical imaging data to create geometries for computational fluid mechanics studies in
conjunction with the MCW.
Dr. Vipin Paliwal, Chemistry, teaches biochemistry and organic chemistry at MSOE. Before joining MSOE, Dr.
Paliwal was a full-time faculty scientist at Yale University for 13 years where he conducted research in molecular
immunology that resulted in numerous publications in national and international journals. He served as co-PI for a
Biomedical Technology Alliance grant, Methods to identify chemotherapeutic lead inhibitors for PATs. Dr. Paliwal is an
active advisor in the REU program. Dr. Paliwal’s recent research involved Engineering and testing of Anti-cancer drug
delivery nanodevices.
Dr. Luis Rodriguez, Mechanical Engineering, is our newest addition as an REU advisor in 2014. He is an expert in
controls and has advised one REU participant on the development of kinetic/kinematic models for the design of a
pneumatic actuated quadruped agile walking robot. His desire is to use robotics to enhance our daily lives, especially to
help the elderly. He finds the opportunities AM provides for such service robotics fascinating and brings fresh insight
and enthusiasm to the REU program.
Dr. Faisal Shaik, Physics and Chemistry, is our newest addition as an REU advisor in 2014. He teaches in the
biomolecualr engineering and has expertise in micro to nano-scale science. He has advised one REU participant on the
cold atmospheric plasma characterization. He is fascinated with the application of AM to day-to-day health and
environmental applications and brings fresh insight and excitement to the REU program.
Dr. Marsha Watson, Vice-Provost of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation, National Louis University, a
seasoned leader in assessment, is well-known in the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools representing its
Higher Learning Commission in assessment of teaching and learning, diversity issues and continuous improvement. She
has been a valuable contributor as an External Evaluator in reviewing the current REU program. She attends the final
oral presentations each year and provides annual evaluation with suggestions for improvement as appropriate.
Ms. Betty Albrecht, Coordinator/Counselor in MSOE's Student Support Services, works with minority students,
low-income, first generation college students and students with disabilities. Ms. Albrecht was awarded the 1997
Johanna Seelhorst Werwath Distinguished Staff Award for service to students, faculty, staff and the public. She is a key
person in recruitment of underrepresented populations and ensuring that appropriate accommodations are made for
students with disabilities. She is involved in week-to-week counseling for the REU participants.

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