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Leadership Clemson to Host Area Businesses in Spelling Bee
Monday, July 23, 2007The First Annual Clemson Area Spelling Bee will be held July 24 at 7 p.m. in the Tillman Hall Auditorium on the Clemson University campus. Proceeds from the bee will benefit Helping Hands of Clemson, a nonprofit emergency shelter for abused and neglected children. Door prizes from area businesses will be given away throughout the evening. The event is hosted by the Leadership Clemson Class of 2007 in partnership with The Daily Messenger/Journal and the College of Business and Behavioral Science at Clemson University. A number of Clemson University faculty, staff and students have signed on to support the event. Prior to the spelling bee, the Clemson Area Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Tillman Hall Lobby. During this networking event, the Leadership Clemson Class of 2007 will be hosting a silent auction with proceeds going to Helping Hands, and members of Clemson Corps will be offering tours of the historic Military Heritage Plaza surrounding Tillman Hall. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students (with I.D.). The public can purchase tickets at Allen's Creations (400 College Ave. in Clemson) or by calling Meredith McTigue at (864) 656-3747. Tickets will also be available at the door. For more information on the First Annual Clemson Area Spelling Bee, contact Amanda Brock via email at brock4@clemson.edu or by phone at (864) 656-5970. About Leadership Clemson Clemson University participants in the Leadership Clemson Class of 2007 include Dana Anderson (Alumni Relations), Amanda Brock (College of Business and Behavioral Science), Meredith McTigue (College of Business and Behavioral Science), Lisa Powers (Student Affairs) and Geary Robinson (Parking Services).
Leadership Clemson is a leadership development program open to Clemson area citizens. The program encourages individual involvement in leadership roles within the community. Whether you are an existing leader, an emerging leader, or even a newcomer to the city, this program will provide you with a bird's-eye view of what our community is facing. You will also better understand how our community works, be provided with the tools necessary to continue to find ways to enhance our community, and build your leadership skills.
History Division of NASA Seeks Graduate Interns
Monday, July 23, 2007The NASA History Division is seeking graduate students for fall 2007 internships. The History Division maintains archival materials to answer research questions from NASA personnel, journalists, scholars, students at all levels, and others from around the world. The Division also edits and publishes several books and monographs each year and maintains a large number of Web sites on NASA history. Students of all majors are welcome to apply. While detailed prior knowledge of the aeronautics and space fields is not necessary, a keen interest and some basic familiarity with these topics are needed. Strong research, writing, and editing skills are essential. Experience with computers, especially HTML formatting, is a plus. Intern projects are flexible. Typical projects include handling a wide variety of information requests, editing historical manuscripts, doing research and writing biographical sketches, updating and creating Web pages, and identifying and captioning photos. The deadline for fall applications is Aug. 15, 2007. For more information, visit: http://history.nasa.gov/interncall.htm If you have any questions about the program, please contact Ted Bateman, bateman@clemson.edu, who has volunteered to talk with interested individuals from Clemson.
Doctoral Candidate Awarded NSF Grant
Wednesday, July 11, 2007Doctoral candidate Gabe Rivera has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to support a symposium that he is organizing for the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in San Antonio, Texas on January 2-6, 2008. The symposium, originally proposed by Mr. Rivera and his advisor, Dr. Rick Blob (Biological Sciences), was chosen by the society from a number of submitted symposia topics. This symposium entitled 'Going with the Flow: Ecomorphological Variation across Aquatic Flow Regimes' will feature 11 invited speakers in the field of functional morphology. Papers from this symposium will be published in the journal Integrative and Comparative Biology.
Translational Bioengineering Research Center planned in Greenville
Friday, July 06, 2007Clemson's board of trustees today reaffirmed the creation of a bioengineering
facility to develop medical technology that will help people live longer and
more comfortably. The Translational Bioengineering Research Center will be located in a
building under construction at the Greenville Hospital System's Patewood Campus.
As many as 50 Clemson scientists and engineers will work with GHS doctors,
nurses and business researchers at the center to develop new medical
technology. Clemson, the Greenville Hospital System and the Orthopedic Research
Foundation of the Carolinas, representing the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic of the
Carolinas, are the core partners in the center. Several corporate partners have
initially invested more than $5 million in the project. They are Smith and
Nephew, a United Kingdom company; Ziehm Imaging, a German-based company; Agfa
Healthcare of Greenville; and Virturad of Phoenix, Ariz. The University will lease space for 15 years at the center to develop
orthopedic and cardiovascular devices, enhance methods of rehabilitation and
performance and analyze trauma data. The center also will house incubator space
for spin-off companies. The trustees approved an agreement for Clemson to pay the maintenance costs
for the center, which it will get from research grants and contracts. The
University has requested $3.5 million from the Research University
Infrastructure Act to upfit the facility. The request has been approved by the
Joint Bond Review Committee but still requires final approval by the Budget and
Control Board. For information about Clemson's graduate program in Bioengineering, visit www.ces.clemson.edu/bio/grad/grad-degrees.html
or contact Dr. Robert Latour at 864-656-5552 or latourr@clemson.edu.
Earn a Master's Degree with Peace Corps Service
Friday, July 06, 2007
The Graduate School is pleased to announce that our students can now take
part in the Peace Corps Master's International (PCMI) program. The PCMI program
is a cooperative effort between Clemson University and the Peace Corps in which
PCMI students complete approximately one year of intensive on-campus study in
one of three major programs, then serve for 27 months in the Peace Corps in an
assignment related to the student's academic program. The Master's International Program provides a tremendous opportunity for
Americans to serve while gaining graduate-level credit,' said Peace Corps
Director Ron Tschetter. 'We are pleased to begin our partnership with Clemson
University, a university with a proud tradition of volunteerism.' The program's intended audience is comprised of recent college graduates who
have a strong desire to pursue an international career but would like additional
academic training before going abroad and students who have graduated from
college, have been in the workforce some time and now wish to obtain a master's
degree and work overseas. Students pursuing advanced degrees in agricultural education, agriculture and
applied economics, and forestry resources are eligible to participate in this
program and have access to many benefits, including the following: 'Our Master's International Program is a cornerstone graduate program that
will enhance our connections, presence and reputation in the international
arena,' said William Molnar, Clemson's program director. 'The Master's
International program gives internationally minded students the academic and
practical experience to meet the global challenges of today and tomorrow.' 'Service to others has long been part of our culture at Clemson and we see
this partnership with the Peace Corps as a doorway to opportunities for our
students and for the people they serve,' Clemson President James F. Barker said.
'As this world grows smaller, it seems our role in it grows larger.' See Peace Corps Master's
International Programs for more detail and how to apply.
LaBerge elected to head Society for Biomaterials
Monday, July 02, 2007
Clemson bioengineering professor and department chairwoman Martine LaBerge
has been elected president of the leading professional society in the
biomaterials/bioengineering field, the Society for Biomaterials (SFB), which
comprises more than 1,000 members from academics, industry, government and
clinics. As SFB president, LaBerge supervises and controls the business and affairs of
the corporation and chairs the meetings committee and the board of
directors. “It is a great honor to lead the SFB. Clemson University has played a pivotal
role in the establishment of the society. I am proud to carry the torch that my
predecessors have passed to me,” she said. LaBerge joined the Clemson faculty in 1990 and has served as head of
bioengineering since 2004. Her research expertise is focused on the evaluation
and characterization of natural and artificial surfaces used in the design of
implants for orthopedic and vascular applications. Her laboratory addresses
fundamental lubrication and wear problems encountered with artificial models.
Current research projects include the investigation of the wear performance of
total knee joint replacements, total knee joint design, dynamic contact
mechanics and surface design for lubrication improvement. A fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering,
she also is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the
American Society for Engineering Education, the Biomedical Engineering Society
and the Orthopedic Research Society. The Clemson University President’s
Commission on the Status of Women presented her with its 2001 Outstanding Woman
Faculty award, recognizing her as an exceptional teacher, mentor and role model
for all students, especially potential women engineers. She holds a bachelor's degree in biological sciences/physiology from the
University of Montreal and bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical
engineering/biomedical engineering from the University of Montreal/Ecole
Polytechnique of Montreal. She received her PhD in biomedical engineering from
the University of Montreal and completed post-doctorate work in civil and
mechanical engineering at the University of Waterloo. For more information about Clemson University’s bioengineering graduate
program, visit www.ces.clemson.edu/bio/grad/grad-degrees.html
or contact Dr. Robert Latour at latourr@clemson.edu.
Creager to Head Chemistry Department
Monday, July 02, 2007
After a nationwide search, Clemson’s College of Engineering and Science found
its new chemistry department chairman in the ranks of current faculty. Stephen
Creager, professor of analytical chemistry, has been named to the post. His
appointment is effective Aug. 15. Creager has been a member of the Clemson faculty since 1995, and served as
Associate Dean of the Graduate School from 2005 to 2007. He earned a bachelor's
degree (1982) in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D.
(1987) in analytical chemistry from the University of North Carolina. He was a
National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas,
1987-89, and taught at Indiana University for six years before coming to
Clemson. His research interests focus on electrochemical science and technology.
Current work involves studies of new materials for electrochemical energy
storage devices such as rechargeable lithium ion batteries and
proton-exchange-membrane hydrogen fuel cells. This research is particularly
relevant to the national focus on developing new ways of using energy,
especially for transportation. He also studies how charges move on the
nanoscale, which is applicable to the emerging field of molecular electronics
where individual molecules serve as active elements in devices such as logic
circuits, memory cells and chemical sensors. Creager is vice chairman of the Electrochemistry Gordon Research Conference
for 2008, and is chairman-elect for the conference in 2009. He is also a board
member for the Society for Electroanalytical Chemistry. He received the 2003 College of Engineering and Science Award for Faculty
Excellence in the Sciences. The award recognizes the science faculty member who
demonstrated the highest level of research achievement during the preceding
year. In 2004, he was one of a three-person team to receive the Crystal Flame
Innovation Award, presented at FuelCellSouth 2004, recognizing a large body of
Clemson work related to fluorinated materials for fuel cells. “We are very fortunate that professor Creager is leading the chemistry
department,” College of Engineering and Science Dean Esin Gulari said. “He
understands that furthering research and developing technologies such as
photonics, advanced materials engineering, biotechnology, nutraceuticals and
nanotechnology hinge upon the advancement of the discipline of chemistry.” “It’s an exciting time to be in a leadership position in chemistry,” Creager
said. “Chemistry is a fundamental science that serves as a foundation to
bioengineering, materials science, physics, nanotechnology and a host of other
disciplines. We have tremendous opportunity for collaboration, which I think is
the future for technical and scientific education.” For more information about Clemson University’s chemistry graduate program,
visit http://chemistry.clemson.edu/graduate
or contact Dr. Steve Stuart at ss@clemson.edu.
Clemson Co-founds Automotive Research Alliance
Sunday, July 01, 2007Clemson University and six of the Southeast's other most prominent universities, along with the National Transportation Research Center Inc. (NTRCI), the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Wednesday launched the Automotive Research Alliance (ARA). Ritchey said ARA will benefit the automotive industry by: 'Southeastern states rely on the automotive industry, both OEMs and suppliers, for so many of their manufacturing jobs today,' said Dr. Dana C. Christensen, Associate Director for Energy and Engineering Sciences at ORNL. Clemson is a leading innovator in the automotive research. In addition to offering graduate degrees in automotive engineering, Clemson is home to the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) and to several endowed chairs in the field, made possible by the South Carolina's legislature's Research Centers of Economic Excellence Endowed Chairs initiative. For more information about graduate programs in automotive engineering, see www.ces.clemson.edu/me/automotive. For more information about CU-ICAR, visit www.clemson.edu/autoresearch.
The ARA will provide a broad range of research resources to automotive manufacturers and suppliers, including technology and manufacturing solutions as well as academic and training programs.
'We want to position the alliance as a preferred source of industry-specific expertise, research, intellectual property and academic programs for the U.S. automotive industry,' said Ben Ritchey, acting president of NTRCI, which will serve as the umbrella organization for the ARA.
The co-founding Southeastern universities are Auburn, Clemson, Mississippi State, Alabama at Tuscaloosa, Alabama at Birmingham, Kentucky and Tennessee. All of the schools are leading research institutes and all are located in states with major automotive manufacturing and supply facilities.
NTRCI, a not-for-profit research corporation affiliated with the National Transportation Research Center in East Tennessee, will function as that clearinghouse, Ritchey said.
Grad Student Named Diversity Leader
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Darris Means, a graduate student in the counselor education or student
affairs program, was selected to receive the Diversity Leadership Award from the
Richard Riley Institute at the third annual Update Diversity Leadership Awards
Dinner on Tuesday, May 8, 2007. Means' research to date has focused on racial
and social segregation and he is interested in empowering young people who face
The Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards Dinner was presented by the Riley
Institute at Furman University and was hosted by the Spartanburg, Greenville,
and Anderson chambers of commerce. Local leaders in promoting diversity were
recognized at the dinner in six different categories ranging from individual
high school student through business leaders. Means won his award as
'Outstanding College Student.' To learn more about these awards, visit the Rile
Institute's website at www.furman.edu/riley/. To learn more about the counselor education graduate program and other
graduate programs in Clemson's Eugene T. Moore School of education visit http://www.hehd.clemson.edu/schoolofed/graduate.htm
Clemson and Sun Microsystems Boost Computational Research for Transportation Industry
Sunday, July 01, 2007Clemson University is helping the United States transportation sector shift to a higher gear with the opening of its Computational Center for Mobility Systems (CU-CCMS), a technology anchor of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) campus in Greenville, SC. Powered by a high-performance computing (HPC) system from Sun Microsystems, CU-CCMS will be a comprehensive, world-class computational center that encompasses a wide range of disciplines under one roof. CU-CCMS executive director, Dr. James H. Leylek, an internationally recognized expert in computational modeling and advanced methods development, said the center will offer one-stop shopping for clients in mobility industries that include automotive manufacturers and their suppliers, the aerospace industry, motorsports teams, heavy trucks, shipbuilders, aviation and gas turbine companies. 'This center will reduce both the time and money that it takes to get an aerodynamically sound vehicle or an optimized engine into the marketplace,' Leylek said. 'Manufacturers can simulate multiple design options simultaneously by running computations overnight and build the final product only once, instead of the more traditional build-and-test cycles, which drive up cost and time.' The ultimate goal of CU-CCMS is to help its clients reduce the overall design-cycle-time of their products. The Sun Microsystems HPC at the heart of CU-CCMS is designed to help the center's technical staff handle all phases of multiple, large-scale simulations simultaneously. The system comprises grid computing, servers, storage, archive sub-systems and a dedicated high-speed InfiniBand fabric from Voltaire. In addition to its impressive throughput of more than 11 teraflops, this powerful engineering problem-solving system is well-balanced in both CPU usage and RAM, making it especially well-suited for dealing with computations encountered in vehicle aerodynamics and structural analysis programs. Leylek says computations that traditionally required many weeks of around-the-clock processor time can now be completed in just a matter of hours using Sun's complete range of servers; software, including the Solaris 10 Operating System; services; and systems. He adds the center will provide a complete resolution center for just about any problem that can be computed, predicted and simulated in the transportation industry. CU-CCMS will enable engineers to conduct a large number of 'what if'-type computational simulations that will result in ideas getting into products, and products making it to the marketplace, ahead of competition and at a reduced cost. The CU-CCMS start-up is funded through a $17 million alliance between 'We are delighted to support Clemson in the opening of a world-class automotive research facility in CU-CCMS technical staff will be located at temporary headquarters within the CU-ICAR is a new model for economic development in The Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering Center (CGEC), scheduled to open later this year, is the academic component of CU-ICAR, with the nation's only master's and doctoral degree programs in automotive engineering. CU-ICAR is located in the Interstate 85 corridor, midway between
Graduate School Certified as TOEFL Test Administration Site
Monday, June 25, 2007The Graduate School at Clemson University announced today that it has reached an agreement with Educational Testing Services (ETS) to offer the internet-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) at Clemson University. "Becoming an approved ETS certified test administration site is an important step in internationalizing Clemson's campus," said Bruce Rafert, dean of the Graduate School. The Graduate School is leading the way toward a truly international campus with initiatives like this one and others such as the International Ambassadors Program (www.grad.clemson.edu/ambassadors_intro.php). "We're looking forward to the opportunity this certification affords us to compete globally for the best students - both graduate and undergraduate," said Rafert. Graduate applications at Clemson have increased by 49 percent in the past two years. ETS administers more than 50 million tests each year, including the TOEFL, in more than 180 countries. More than 6,000 institutions and agencies in 110 countries rely on TOEFL scores to select students with the English skills needed to succeed in their educational programs. The test will be offered on the Clemson campus. For more information about ETS or the TOEFL iBT, please contact Tristam Aldridge at 864-656-2561 or saldrid@clemson.edu.
NASA fellowship goes to Clemson Physics Student.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Bethany Johns, second-year doctoral student in physics, was
honored by recently being selected for a 2007 NASA Graduate Student Researcher
Program (GRSP) fellowship. Bethany's research covers the mystery of the positron
annihilation emission from the galactic bulge with a focus on supernovae as the
cause for the emission. In response to her award, Bethany stated, 'I was completed
shocked. The award is very prestigious, and I had already received the South
Carolina Space Grant; I wasn't expecting to be accepted. The money the
fellowship provides will allow me to focus on my research. In addition,
the fellowship requires an internship with the NASA center I applied to, Goddard
Space Flight Center, which adds another dimension of opportunity to my
research.' For more information about the NASA Graduate Student Researcher
Program, visit http://fellowships.hq.nasa.gov/gsrp/nav.
To find out more about Clemson's graduate program in physics,
visit http://physicsnt.clemson.edu/?main=p_grad&sub=programs
or contact Dr. Mark Leising at lmark@clemson.edu.
The GSRP awards fellowships for graduate
study leading to advanced degrees in the science, mathematics and engineering
fields specifically related to NASA research and development. This 12-month
award includes a $30,000 grant to Clemson-renewable for up to three years-and a
required internship at the NASA Center affiliated with the NASA-sponsored
research.
Guiseppi-Elie Named Guest Editor of NanoBiotechnology
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Anthony Guiseppi-Elie, Dow Chemical Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular
Engineering, has been named guest editor for NanoBiotechnology, a journal
dedicated to science and engineering at the intersection of nanotechnology,
molecular biology and biomedical sciences. For more information about Clemson's graduate program in biochemistry and
molecular biology, visit: www.clemson.edu/genbiochem/gradprograms.html
Guiseppi-Elie will serve as
guest editor for the special issue titled 'Frontiers in BioCompatibility.' This
special issue will explore the emerging roles of bioactive, responsive,
biologically inspired materials by design, biomimicry and nano-topography in
addressing long-term implant biocompatibility.
'Biocompatibility has been
a grand challenge problem for several decades,' said Guiseppi-Elie. 'Recent
attention reflects a shift in thinking regarding strategies to mitigate the
inflammatory response. This is reflected in a movement away from bio-benign
materials to bioactive designs. This special issue of NanoBiotechnolgy seeks to
document the current state of the science and engineering regarding
biocompatibility.'
Guiseppi-Elie is a founding member of the editorial
board of NanoBiotechnology. He also serves on the editorial advisory boards of
the Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, which is dedicated to
fundamentals of science and engineering materials used in biology and medicine,
and Your World, a journal of biotechnology developed for high school
students.
Along with teaching bioengineering, he serves as director of
the Clemson University Center for Bioelectronics, Biosensors and Biochips.
Leaving No Families Outside during Child Abuse Prevention Month
Monday, April 16, 2007April was Child Abuse Prevention Month and Strong Communities, an initiative of IFNL, wanted all families to be included so that no family was left outside. 'Leaving No Families Outside' was the Strong Communities theme for April, 2007. The goal of Strong Communities is to encourage all segments of the community to embrace families with young children to form a community that is so strong, it won't allow any young families to remain outside. As neighbors come together in activities that allow them to get to know one another's children, families are supported and children are safer. The Strong Communities website lists activities for families to get to know one another, launch of a book about a small town, Fountain Inn, authored by residents celebrating Fountain Inn as a strong community and information on Blue Ribbon Sabbath. Original article located at: http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/ifnl/archive/headlines.html
Article Based on Graduate's Thesis Becomes Required Reading
Wednesday, February 07, 2007MAPC graduates’ theses and projects often yield important ideas that can benefit the profession. Kathy (Pringle) Jeep, 2005 MAPC graduate, took steps to get her ideas out to the profession by publishing an article based on her thesis. The article, co-authored with her committee chair, Dr. Sean Williams, appeared in the August 2005 issue of Technical Communication, the peer-reviewed journal of the Society of Technical Communication. Titled “The Future is the Past: Has Technical Communication Arrived as a Profession?”, Kathy and Sean’s article has now been listed as required reading for MA students in technical writing at the University of Central Florida. This honor is recognition that the article contains important information for the profession. STC members can access the article through the publications section of the STC website at www.stc.org.
National Science Foundation Names Clemson As Research Site
Friday, October 20, 2006The National Science Foundation has selected Clemson University as a research site for the Center for Engineering Logistics and Distribution (CELDi), an Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC). The selection has the potential to affect the flow of raw materials, scheduling production and distributing finished goods for everything from Homeland Security and disaster preparedness to automobile production and distribution.
As a CELDi university, Clemson receives at least $1 million over a three-year period through industry projects and matching contributions. Last year, the total value of the research shared among members was $2 million. Clemson industrial engineering professor Bill Ferrell, director of the research site, said this is attractive to corporations, such as Lockheed Martin, that have partnered with Clemson. Lockheed Martin’s Supply Chain Programs director Tom Goudreau agreed.
“Having Clemson University selected as a CELDi research site is a great opportunity for the logistics community as a whole to benefit from the tremendous services they offer. Clemson is helping to shape the future of logistics, and any model where industry and academia can partner ultimately results in strategic benefits for all involved,” said Goudreau.
“This is a tremendous vote of confidence in Clemson by the National Science Foundation as well as a valued industry partner, Lockheed Martin,” said Clemson President Jim Barker.
The research site is a component of a broader plan that includes an endowed chair in supply chain optimization and logistics. The Research Centers for Economic Excellence program, created by the South Carolina legislature, has approved $2 million for the chair at Clemson, and efforts are under way to secure matching funds.
As a research site, Clemson joins eight universities nationwide in developing integrated solutions to logistics and supply chain problems. The work will enhance the United States’ competitive edge in the world by producing and delivering products into the marketplace more quickly and efficiently. For example, in 1990, IBM reportedly reduced its U.S. spare parts inventory investment half a billion dollars by addressing stocking levels that use an integrated logistics approach.
Ferrell said Clemson will bring unique expertise in modeling and analysis to the group.
“This is an elite group of universities and industries that think beyond the traditional approaches to logistics. CELDi is a good fit for Clemson because none of the universities has sufficient resources to address all logistics problems, but we can each have world-class expertise in certain areas that when put together is impressive,” he said.
“Just like automobile companies and their suppliers have the opportunity to work with Clemson on vehicle design issues through CU-ICAR, their supply chain logistics and planning issues can now come through CELDi.
“We’re also currently seeking partners in the Homeland Security and disaster preparedness arena to address logistics that are so important to national and personal security.”
CELDi is based on sharing research among members so industry partners can work with Fortune 500 companies in manufacturing, maintenance, distribution, transportation and information technology.
Industrial engineering research at Clemson is rooted in industry needs.
“Our programs apply rigorous principles to real problems to assist industrial partners in remaining competitive. This research is vital for economic development,” said Anand Gramopadhye, industrial engineering department chairman. “For instance, we worked on a solution for one client that was faced with many possible strategies for moving products from production facilities to retail outlets, but had no quantitative way to determine the combination that was best for them in terms of customer service and cost.”
Clemson’s vice president for research and economic development, Chris Przirembel, said scholarly research within the context of real applications is invaluable.
“Our industrial engineering department has been solving real world problems for some time. With this partnership, we now have the opportunity to increase our research capacity while partnering with major universities and corporations to help solve global logistical issues,” he said. “This is an extremely effective integration of resources from academia and industry.”
Other universities participating include the University of Arkansas, University of Oklahoma, University of Louisville, University of Nebraska, Oklahoma State University, Lehigh University, University of Florida and Texas Tech University.
One other NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) exists in South Carolina –– the Center for Fuel Cells at University of South Carolina in Columbia.
Testing, Research Equipment Puts Clemson Automotive Engineering Graduate Program In A Class By Itself
Wednesday, September 27, 2006Major automotive testing and research equipment, valued at nearly $10 million, for the automotive engineering graduate program in Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) gives students and faculty access to a unique world-class laboratory. Several companies that are worldwide leaders in their respective specialties made in-kind gifts totaling $2.3 million to make the equipment purchase possible.
The equipment includes an MTS seven-post shaker unit with a Weiss climate chamber, an FEV engine dynamometer, a RENK Test Systems chassis dynamometer and a state-of-the-art coordinate measuring machine from Carl Zeiss IMT Corporation and J&H Machine Tool. Tom Kurfess, the BMW Chair in Manufacturing at Clemson and director of the Carroll A. Campbell Graduate Engineering Center, which will house the automotive engineering program when the building is complete next year, said these tools make a testing and diagnostic platform like no other. 'I don't know of another university in the country - maybe in the world - that has this combination of equipment under one roof,' he said. 'Clemson students and faculty are fortunate indeed. We are very excited.' The equipment manufacturers are the newest supporters of the automotive industry to join the CU-ICAR team that includes BMW, Michelin, Timken and SAE. MTS Systems Corporation, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn., has more than four decades of ground vehicle testing expertise, providing full-vehicle, system and component-level testing solutions for a broad spectrum of vehicle development applications. Additional information on the company is available at www.mts.com. Germany-based Weiss is a major producer of standard testing chambers and systems for environmental simulation worldwide. The product range comprises temperature and climate testing systems as well as test systems for simulated exposure to weather, temperature shock, corrosion and for long-time testing in various test chamber volumes. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.wut.com. FEV is an independent engine and powertrain systems research, design and development company with facilities worldwide. FEV's Test Systems group from Auburn Hills, Mich., which specializes in the design and fabrication of engine test facilities and equipment, will provide an advanced, containerized engine test cell for use in gasoline and diesel engine research and development. Additional information is available at www.fev.com. RENK Test Systems, with headquarters in Augsburg, Germany, along with their U.S. operation, RENK LABECO Test Systems Corporation in Mooresville, Ind., design and build turnkey test systems for research/development, production and quality assurance. Their activities focus on automotive, railway and aerospace industries. The company's web site is www.renk.biz. Headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany, Carl Zeiss Industrial Measuring Technology (IMT) is a member of the Carl Zeiss Group. It is the global leader in CNC coordinate measuring machines and complete, multi-dimensional metrology solutions for a wide variety of industrial sectors. Carl Zeiss is a globally leading international group of companies in the optical and opto-electronic industries. The company offers a spectrum of leading-edge solutions and products for semiconductor and optoelectronic technology, life sciences and health care, eye care and industrial applications. More information is available at www.zeiss.com/imt. J&H Machine Tools, Inc., based in Charlotte, N.C., is a machine tool distributor providing the manufacturing community with high-quality machine tools for metal removal and precision inspection. The company's web site is www.jhtools.com. CU-ICAR equipment consultant George Trask, who coordinated the purchase, praised the companies for their generosity and for what their involvement means to CU-ICAR. 'These names are recognized throughout the automotive industry for their quality and commitment to excellence,' he said. 'Their combined support of CU-ICAR will be of great benefit to our students, and it also serves as a message to other potential industry partners that this program has the support of industry leaders.' Unique funding support Just as the equipment is unique, so is the funding process that made it possible. South Carolina legislation provides state funds to match private dollars for higher education research infrastructure. In this case, the equipment manufacturers donated a portion of the cost, which Clemson was able to utilize as matching funds. 'This innovative legislation - the South Carolina Research Infrastructure Bond Act - leverages and enhances private support for higher education,' Kurfess said. 'Through the generosity of the manufacturers and the vision of the South Carolina legislation, we are able to provide our research teams with about $9.6 million worth of equipment for approximately $5 million. That is true investment in education. 'We have been very gratified by the response of the automotive industry to CU-ICAR, and we anticipate that as we tell the story of this outstanding public-private partnership that focuses on both education and economic development, there will be other companies who will want to join the CU-ICAR team. They will be most welcome,' Kurfess added. Similar legislation, the South Carolina Research Centers of Economic Excellence endowed chairs program, also provides state education lottery funds to match private funding to attract top-flight faculty. The CU-ICAR graduate program has four such chairs, including Kurfess. The Campbell Graduate Engineering Center is the focal point for academic research and technology transfer in support of the automotive industry and offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in automotive engineering with emphasis in systems integration. Facilities for full-scale vehicle and component testing are integral to the program. Clemson University Vice President for Research and Economic Development Chris Przirembel noted that the potential for the presence of the engine test cell equipment in the CGEC has already contributed to the Timken Company announcing a relocation of its power train group to the CU-ICAR campus, bringing high-paying new jobs to the Upstate. This equipment and these facilities will also bring automotive suppliers and motor sports companies to the CU-ICAR campus for testing and research purposes. 'This unique laboratory is very impressive,' Przirembel said. 'Students conversant with this technology will be invaluable to the industry.'
