deans-report-2026

DEAN’S REPORT 2025-26

CONTENTS Dean Mario Eden Director, Communications and Marketing Austin Phillips Editor Dustin Duncan Contributors Olivia Ballard Nick Bowman Adam Cletzer Jeremy Henderson Bethany Giles Allison Killingsworth Joe McAdory Manager, Creative Services Danny Doyle Contributor Greg Key Web Manager Tyler Patterson Videography/Photography Marcus Kluttz John Sluis 2025-2026 Dean’s Report The Dean’s Report is published annually by Auburn University’s Office of Engineering Communications and Marketing.

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Department Highlights 28 29 30

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Engineering Communications and Marketing 1210 Shelby Center Auburn, AL 36849 334-844-2444

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©2026 Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Auburn University.

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Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.

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SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Dean’s Message College Leadership Fellows in the College of Engineering By the Numbers New Leadership Hall of Fame Expansion Embodying the Mission

Aerospace Associate professor to track orbits in cislunar space Biosystems Repurposing poultry processing water for hydroponic use Chemical Assistant professor earns $875K DOE Early Career award to advance membrane-based lithium separation research Civil and Environmental AUTRI to study smart tire technology for highway safety Computer Science and Software Assistant professor exposes vulnerability in AI-powered security cameras, offers new defenses in development Electrical and Computer Associate professor successfully tests 3D printer in series of parabolic flights Industrial and Systems ICAMS to launch statewide satellite model to expand advanced manufacturing access across Alabama Materials Auburn materials engineers make high-profile breakthrough in nanophotonics Mechanical DARPA awards NCAME up to $2.8M for transformative AM qualification research

Faculty Highlights Student Highlights Student Features Ensuring Engineering’s Future Student Support Research Centers Research Projects

DEAN’S MESSAGE As we close another academic year, I am proud of the momentum across the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and grateful for the students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners who continue to move this college forward.

This year’s Dean’s Report reflects a college growing not only in size and reputation, but also in purpose.

Across our classrooms, laboratories, research centers and partnerships, Auburn Engineering continues to advance its mission to provide the best studentcentered engineering experience in America while delivering research that strengthens communities, supports industry and improves quality of life.

One of the clearest examples of that mission is the historic $30 million commitment from Samuel Ginn and the Ginn Family Foundation to establish the Ginn Scholars Program. This gift — the largest single commitment to scholarships in Auburn University history — will expand access for talented students from Alabama and provide the financial, academic and personal support needed to help them succeed.

Nearly 25 years after Dr. Ginn’s transformational gift named our college, this new investment again affirms his belief in Auburn Engineering and in the students who will shape our future.

We are also investing in the spaces where students learn, create and collaborate. The Analytical, Innovation and Manufacturing Laboratory will strengthen Auburn’s leadership in advanced manufacturing while expanding the Design and Innovation Center, already known as the nation’s largest student-run makerspace. This project will give students access to high-end analytical, electronics manufacturing and prototyping tools while connecting student creativity with faculty research and industry needs.

Our future is also deeply connected to Huntsville, where Auburn continues to expand its applied research presence in one of the nation’s most important centers for aerospace, defense, national security and advanced technology. Through the Auburn University Applied Research Institute, the hiring of new leaders and continued partnerships across north Alabama, Auburn Engineering is helping connect university expertise with the state’s growing research and innovation economy.

That same commitment to research with real-world impact is evident along Alabama’s coast. This year, Auburn Engineering broke ground on the Auburn University Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station in Orange Beach, creating a permanent hub for work focused on water quality, marine health, coastal resilience and the natural systems that are vital to Alabama and the broader Gulf region.

I hope you enjoy this look at the people, programs and partnerships that made this year so meaningful. Thank you for your continued support of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and for the many ways you help us prepare the next generation of engineers.

War Eagle!

Mario R. Eden

OUR VISION To be the best student-centered engineering experience in America!

A leader in research and service that improves the quality of life and fosters economic growth.

A community of faculty, staff and students that exemplifies excellence and innovation.

DEAN’S REPORT 2025-26

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LEADERSHIP

AUBURN ALUMNI ENGINEERING COUNCIL 2026-27 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Larry Monroe Chair Pam Boyd Vice Chair/Treasurer

Mario Eden Dean

Allan David Associate Dean for Research

Maria Auad Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Faculty Development

Gerald Pouncey Past Chair Brad Christopher Second Past Chair Steven Speaks Academics and Student Experience Ashley Robinett Advancement

Dean Hendrix Janet Moore Associate Dean for Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies Student Services and Program Assessment

Brian Thurow Aerospace Engineering Chair

Jeff Stone Capital Campaign Beverly Banister Cultivating the Auburn Creed Mike Swinson Government Affairs Kenneth Kelly Nominating

Oladiran Fasina Biosystems Engineering Department Head

Selen Cremaschi Chemical Engineering Chair

David Timm Civil and Environmental Engineering Chair

Casey Robinson-Troutman Public Relations Mark Miller Research Maury Gaston State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame

Hari Narayanan Computer Science and Software Engineering Chair

Mark Nelms Electrical and Computer Engineering Chair

Gregory Harris Industrial and Systems Engineering Chair

Emily Traylor Young Alumni Council Liaison Brad Corson At Large Metrick Houser At Large Keith Jones At Large

George Flowers Mechanical Engineering Chair

K-Rob Thomas At Large

FELLOWS IN THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AEROSPACE Imon Chakraborty AIAA John Cochran (Ret.) AIAA Roy Hartfield ASME Joe Majdalani AIAA BIOSYSTEMS William Batchelor ASABE Oladiran Fasina ASABE Steve Taylor ASABE CHEMICAL Harry Cullinan (Ret.) TAPPI Virginia Davis AIChE Mario Eden AIChE Thomas Hanley AIChE Elizabeth Lipke AIMBE; AAAS Joseph Shaeiwitz AIChE; ASEE Bruce Tatarchuk NAI Zhihua Jiang TAPPI

CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL Robert Barnes ACI Xing Fang ASCE; EWRI Andrzej Nowak ASCE; ACI; PPCI; IABSE Anton Schindler ACI; ASCE David Timm ASCE Rod Turochy ITE Matthew Yarnold ASCE Huaguo Zhou ITE COMPUTER SCIENCE AND SOFTWARE Daniela Marghitu SDPS Xiao Qin ALDP Levent Yilmaz SCS ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER Prathima Agrawal IEEE Vishwani Agrawal IEEE

Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Society of India (ASI) Alabama Academy of Sciences (AAS) American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) American Concrete Institute (ACI) American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) American Nuclear Society (ANS) American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) American Welding Society (AWS) ASM International Electrochemical Society (ECS) Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI)

Charlie Gross (Ret.) IEEE Mark Halpin IEEE John Hung IEEE Dick Jaeger (Ret.) IEEE Hulya Kirkici IEEE Shiwen Mao IEEE Mark Nelms IEEE Adit Singh IEEE Jitendra Tugnait IEEE Dan Wilamowski IEEE John Wu (Ret.) IEEE Dave Irwin (Ret.) IEEE; NAI INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS LuAnn Carpenter (Ret.) IISE John Evans SMTA Sean Gallagher (Ret.) AIHA; HFES Chan Park IISE

Jeff Smith (Ret.) IISE Alice Smith (Ret.) IISE; IEEE; INFORMS Rob Thomas (Ret.) AIHA MECHANICAL Mehmet Arik NAI Bryan A. Chin (Ret.) ASM International; ANS; AWS; ECS Malcolm Crocker (Ret.) ASI; ASA George Flowers ASME Rob Jackson ASME Jay Khodadadi AIAA; ASME Pradeep Lall AAS; ASME; NextFlex P. K. Raju (Ret.) ASME; ASI; IEI Subhash Sinha (Ret.) ASME; AIAA Jeffrey Suhling ASME Hareesh Tippur SEM; ASME

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) Institute for Operations Research and Management Science (INFORMS) Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Institution of Engineers, India (IEI) International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) National Academy of Inventors (NAI) NextFlex Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PPCI) SEC Academic Leadership Development Program (ALDP) Society for Design and Process Science (SDPS) Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) Society for Modeling and Simulation International (SCS) Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA) Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI)

DEAN’S REPORT 2025-26

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BY THE NUMBERS 1

U.S. News & World Report rankings |

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American Society for Engineering Education

GRADUATE

UNDERGRADUATE

NATIONAL RANKINGS

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SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

RD

undergraduate program among public universities1

TH

undergraduate enrollment among public universities2

TH

number of engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded among public universities2

ST

undergraduate degrees awarded to women among public universities2

ND

graduate program among public universities1

TH

graduate online program among all engineering colleges1

TH

best online program for veterans among public universities1

ENROLLMENT 19% of AU

19% of AU

19% of AU

5,614

1,185

6,799

engineering undergraduate students

engineering graduate students

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

BY PROGRAM

engineering student body

GRADUATE STUDENTS BY PROGRAM Chart does not include graduate non-degree.

MASTER’S

Aerospace................................................... 762 Biosystems.................................................. 152 Chemical.....................................................460 Civil and Environmental............................ 675

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50

DOCTORAL

Aerospace Artificial Intelligence

15 14

35

Biosystems

14

83

Chemical

70

73

Civil and Environmental

64

120

Computer Science and Software

Computer Science and Software.............944 Electrical and Computer...........................609 Industrial and Systems............................. 478 Materials........................................................52 Mechanical.............................................. 1,445 Pre-engineering............................................37

female students

23% 14%

underrepresented students 1

1

Includes African American, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students or students of two or more races, per the National Science Foundation.

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Cybersecurity

17

Data

48

91

Electrical and Computer

20

Master of Engineering

65

Engineering Management

43

79

Industrial and Systems

19

21

Materials

65

83

Mechanical

3

5

Polymer and Fiber

DEAN’S REPORT 2025-26

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NEW STUDENT SNAPSHOT

1,259 202 30.1 first-time students

transfer students

incoming freshman average ACT

4.18

average high school GPA

GRADUATE SNAPSHOT

518 640 259

ENROLLMENT Undergraduate Graduate 4,963

2016

899

5,282

2017

976

5,559

2018

942

5,579

2019

1,003

5,386

2020

1,116

5,153

2021

1,176

5,068

2022

1,150

5,214

2023

1,117

5,614

2024

1,184

5,614

2025

1,185

master’s

doctoral

online graduate students

24% female students

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RESEARCH EXPENDITURES

(in millions)

$58.3

$61.7

$62.6

$64.3

$65.6

$72.9

$78.2

$86.0

$87.3

$117.7 $130.9

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2025 RESEARCH SNAPSHOT

STRATEGIC RESEARCH AREAS

$

Cybersecurity and Intelligent Systems

62.5 MILLION in external research awards, contracts and grants

Advanced Manufacturing and Materials

Resilient Infrastructure and Transportation Energy and Environment Biomedical and Health Systems Engineering Space and Space Systems

FACULTY SNAPSHOT

181

tenured/tenure-track faculty

45

non-tenure-track teaching/research faculty

21

postdoctoral researchers/fellows DEAN’S REPORT 2025-26

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HIGH PROFILE RESEARCH AREAS

Funding awarded in 2025 Applied Research

$17,688,500

Transportation and Resilient Infrastructure

$11,469,700

Cybersecurity and Intelligent Systems

$5,796,000

Advanced and Additive Manufacturing

$4,900,000

Advanced Communications and Electronics

$3,475,000

Advance Navigation Position and Timing

$2,542,000

Biomedical and Health Systems Engineering

$1,927,150

NOTABLE RESEARCH AWARDS 2025 U.S. Department of War Missile Defense Agency Radiation Hardened Microelectronics Testing Facility

Melanie Baker (Auburn University’s Applied Research Institute)

Alabama Department of Transportation

Accelerated performance testing on the 2024 NCAT Pavement Test Track with MnROAD research partnership

$10,250,000 $10,250,000

Nathan Moore (National Center for Asphalt Technology)

U.S. Department of Energy

Model regional operations center to enhance the cyber security of the US electricity sector Frank Cilluffo and James Goosby (McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security)

Advanced Technology International

Lightweight, advanced manufacturing of metallic, polymer, and composite structures for aviation and missile weapon systems Nima Shamsaei and Shaui Shao (mechanical engineering)

Advanced Technology International

Manufacturing technology stitching maturation Brock Birdsong (Applied Research Center)

Advanced Technology International PB-free solder performance and reliability Sa’d Hamasha, Jeff Suhling and Haneen Ali (industrial and systems engineering)

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$10,000,000 $8,901,958 $6,228,000 $3,945,000

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS AND DEGREES AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

» Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering » Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering » Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING

» Bachelor of Biosystems Engineering » Bachelor of Biosystems Engineering Ecological Engineering Option

» Bachelor of Biosystems Engineering Forest Engineering Option

» Bachelor of Biosystems Engineering Bioprocess Engineering Option

» Master of Science in Biosystems Engineering » Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

» Bachelor of Chemical Engineering » Master of Science in Chemical Engineering » Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

» » » »

Bachelor of Civil Engineering Master of Science in Civil Engineering Master of Civil Engineering

ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

» » » »

Bachelor of Electrical Engineering Bachelor of Computer Engineering Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering

INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

» Bachelor of Industrial and Systems Engineering

» Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering » Master of Industrial and Systems Engineering » Master of Engineering Management » Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering MATERIALS ENGINEERING

» Bachelor of Materials Engineering » Master of Science in Materials Engineering » Ph.D. in Materials Engineering MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

» Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering » Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering » Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering

Ph.D. in Civil Engineering INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMS

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

» » » »

Bachelor of Computer Science Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Bachelor of Software Engineering

Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence Engineering

» Master of Science in Computer Science and

» Master of Engineering » Master of Science in Polymer and Fiber Engineering

» Master of Science in Data Science and Engineering – Interdisciplinary

» Ph.D. in Polymer and Fiber Engineering » Ph.D. in Earth System Science – Interdisciplinary

Software Engineering

» Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering » Ph.D. in Computer Science and Software Engineering DEAN’S REPORT 2025-26

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NEW LEADERSHIP COLLARI named EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT

BY NICK BOWMAN

Ed Collari was named executive director of development for the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering on Nov. 1.

He joined the college in 2022 as a development officer and was promoted to senior major gifts officer.

As executive director, he succeeds Jon Wilson, now senior director of advancement for the Harbert College of Business.

“We’re so thankful to Jon for leading our advancement team to another record-setting year at the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering,” said Mario Eden, dean of engineering. “We have the utmost confidence that Ed will help take the college to new heights. His record as a development officer is excellent, and his experience building teams will be essential to meet the college’s ambitious goals for the future.”

As executive director, Collari leads the college’s fundraising efforts and manages its development officers and coordinators.

Serving as a coach and mentor, Collari is responsible for working with his team to execute the college’s strategic plans for stewardship and engagement.

The executive director works with the dean to ensure the college’s fundraising goals are met, and he also serves as a major gift fundraiser.

Prior to joining the college, Collari served for seven years as the president and CEO of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce.

There, he raised more than $1.2 million for the organization’s capital campaign, defined and executed a new strategic plan and laid the groundwork to form the award-winning Lake Martin Tourism Association. Collari has additional private sector experience in management,

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marketing, sales and sports broadcasting.

“Having the chance to lead the advancement team at the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Collari said. “It’s a testament to the college that it has so many impressive alumni — being able to work with them and our excellent group of development officers and coordinators represents the pinnacle of my career.”

Margaret Arnold, university associate vice president of philanthropy, said Collari has the skills and experience the college needs for the future.

“Ed understands that what makes the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering so special — and so important to Auburn — is its fiercely dedicated alumni, faculty and students,” Arnold said. “I have no doubt that he and his team will continue to exceed our high expectations for the college.”

AUBURN UNIVERSITY hires DEREK TOURNEAR AS INAUGURAL DIRECTOR OF SPACE INNOVATION

BY AUSTIN PHILLIPS

Auburn University is expanding its leadership in space and defense with the hiring of Derek Tournear, former director of the Space Development Agency (SDA), as its inaugural director of space innovation.

The position, based in the university’s Washington, D.C., office, reports to Jonathan Pettus, executive director of Auburn’s Applied Research Institute in Huntsville.

Tournear’s appointment was effective Sept. 8.

“We are thrilled to add someone to our team with the pedigree and background of Derek Tournear,” said Auburn University President Chris Roberts. “It is exciting to have his expertise and knowledge base leading us in this new position.”

Tournear was named as the inaugural director of the Space Development Agency when it was established in March 2019.

The SDA is recognized as the Department of War’s constructive disruptor for space acquisition, delivering much-needed space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding and operation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

During his tenure, Tournear grew the agency from 15 employees to more than 350 in four years, expanded its budget from $20 million to $4.5 billion.

“This is a home run hire for Auburn,” said Steve Taylor, Auburn University senior vice president for research and economic development. “Derek will play a critical role for Auburn, particularly with our space and defense partners, as the state of Alabama assumes an even more important role in securing our nation.”

Tournear previously served as director of space and intelligence research and development at Harris Corporation (now L3Harris Technologies). He also held program management roles with the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, the Defense

Advanced Research Projects Agency and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

“Derek is a welcome addition to our Applied Research Institute,” said Mario Eden, dean of engineering. “He brings a depth of experience and is a familiar and trusted face to many of our strategic partners and friends in the space and defense industries.”

Tournear earned a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a doctorate in physics from Stanford University. His honors include multiple Department of War awards, including the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service.

Additionally, Tournear is the recipient of a 2021 Space News Award, 2021 Theodore Roosevelt Government Leadership Award, 2021 Wash 100 Award, as well as the 2022 Aviation Week Laureate.

“It is an honor and a privilege to join the Auburn Family in this exciting new role,” Tournear said. “Auburn has a national reputation for being a leading institution for research and instruction in the space and defense fields, and I am humbled to be a part of it.”

DEAN’S REPORT 2025-26

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HALL OF FAME The State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame inducted seven individuals — including three Auburn University alumni, one Auburn University staff member and one corporation during a ceremony Feb. 28 at the Bryant Center in Tuscaloosa.

BY AUSTIN PHILLIPS Class of 2026 inductees associated with the university included Keith Jones, ’84 chemical engineering and ’86 electrical engineering; Jonathan Pettus, executive director of the Auburn University Applied Research Institute; Barry Pike, ’83 and ’85 chemical engineering; and Lloyd Pitts, ’83 civil engineering. Integrated Solutions for Systems Inc. (IS4S), a company headquartered in Huntsville with satellite offices in Auburn and Opelika, was selected in the corporation category.

Beyond global reach, Jones has remained deeply rooted in Alabama. Prism Systems employs a multidisciplinary team of engineers in the state of Alabama and maintains offices in Mobile, McIntosh and Chatom, in addition to Los Angeles, Orlando, Beijing and Shanghai. He also remains an active supporter of the next generation of engineers from the state of Alabama, serving on the Auburn Alumni Engineering Council, the University of South Alabama’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board and establishing a scholarship within Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

Keith Jones ’84 and ’86 / Chemical Engineering and Electrical Engineering Keith Jones earned bachelor’s degrees from Auburn in chemical engineering and electrical engineering in 1984 and 1986, respectively. After graduating and beginning his career in the pulp and paper industry, he returned to Alabama to serve as vice president of EPOS Corporation in Auburn, developing software to analyze and classify incoming intercontinental ballistic missile targets for a federal defense system using laser radars. The highsecurity project, requiring secret clearance, laid the technical foundation for Jones’ work in mission-critical systems and advanced controls.

Jonathan Pettus / Executive Director (AUARI) Jonathan Pettus earned bachelor’s degrees in computer science and mathematics from the University of North Alabama in 1987 and a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1995. He joined NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in 1991 as a computer engineer, beginning a 27-year career that culminated in his appointment as associate director. During his NASA tenure, Pettus progressed from designing center-wide computing environments to directing the Office of the Chief Information Officer and ultimately serving as NASA’s agency chief information officer in Washington, D.C., overseeing more than $1.4 billion in information technology assets enabling human spaceflight and scientific missions. He also served as a member of the United States Federal CIO (Chief Information Officers) Council.

In 1989, Jones founded Prism Systems in Mobile with a vision of building a company centered on custom automation and control software. Under his leadership, Prism grew from a startup into a globally recognized engineering firm delivering bespoke systems across industrial automation, telecommunications, transportation and themed entertainment. The company’s software guides complex manufacturing processes and powers

As CIO and later associate director, Pettus led enterprise transformations that reshaped NASA’s IT architecture, financial management systems and communications networks. He directed the integration of NASA’s enterprise financial systems, consolidated management across agency networks and guided strategy for space transportation, propulsion and space systems programs.

His leadership earned the Distinguished Presidential

CLASS OF 2026

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major attractions at amusement park destinations worldwide. Prism has been credited with 17 THEAs for its software development on some of the entertainment industry’s best rides and venues. Prism has completed projects in more than 45 countries and counts 19 Fortune 50 companies among its customers, bringing Alabama engineering to an international stage.

SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Class of 2026 inductees associated with the university included (L-R) Lloyd Pitts, ’83 civil engineering; Jonathan Pettus, executive director of the Auburn University Applied Research Institute; Keith Jones, ’84 chemical engineering and ’86 electrical engineering; Barry Pike, ’83 and ’85 chemical engineering; and Glenn Rolader, president, CEO and co-founder of Integrated Solutions for Systems Inc. (IS4S), a company headquartered in Huntsville with satellite offices in Auburn and Opelika, which was selected in the corporation category.

Rank Award and the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award, along with multiple NASA medals for outstanding leadership and exceptional service, reflecting his role in modernizing the digital backbone of America’s space exploration mission.

After federal service, Pettus joined Dynetics, later part of Leidos, as senior vice president of aerospace, defense and civil, overseeing more than $500 million in annual revenue and 1,000 employees. Under his leadership, the organization advanced hypersonic systems, autonomous aviation, national security and civil space systems and cybersecurity solutions. In 2025, he was named executive director of the Auburn University Applied Research Institute in Huntsville, where he now leads applied research initiatives in aerospace, defense, national security and biotechnology.

Barry Pike ’83 and ’85 / Chemical Engineering Barry Pike earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from Auburn University in 1983 and 1985, respectively, and began a civil service career with the U.S. Army in 1985 as a project engineer with the Space and Missile Defense Command. Over the next 35 years, the Hartselle native rose through successive

leadership roles within the Army’s missile enterprise, serving in the Army National Missile Defense Ground Based Elements Program Office before becoming chief of staff, deputy program executive officer and, ultimately, program executive officer for Missiles and Space at Redstone Arsenal. Selected for the Senior Executive Service in 2010, Pike led organizations responsible for the development, production, fielding and sustainment of the Army’s missile and space systems, overseeing multibillion-dollar portfolios and thousands of engineers and acquisition professionals.

Pike guided the Army’s missile programs through sustained combat operations and global instability.

Under his leadership, advanced air and missile defense interceptors, shoulder-fired anti-armor weapons and long-range precision missile systems were developed, fielded and sustained for U.S. forces and allied nations.

He secured funding, structured acquisition strategies and strengthened the industrial base to ensure adequate missile stockpiles during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He worked with Department of Defense leaders and industry partners to increase production.

DEAN’S REPORT 2025-26

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Pike later served as director of weapons development and integration in the Army’s Aviation and Missile Center, overseeing research and advanced technology development for next-generation systems. He received the Army’s highest civilian honors, including the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service. He now owns and operates a consulting business for defense industry clients.

Lloyd Pitts ’83 / Civil Engineering Lloyd Pitts earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Auburn University in 1983 and began his career with Mobile-based Volkert, Inc., launching what became a 43-year tenure with the firm. Spanning four decades, he progressed from staff engineer to senior structural engineer, leading the design and inspection of hundreds of bridges and transportation structures across Alabama and the Southeast. Early in his career, Pitts contributed to the Cochrane–Africatown Bridge, Alabama’s only cable-stayed bridge, designing girder approach spans and foundations. He later played central roles in the expansion of Interstate 565 in Huntsville and the fourlevel interchange tying Interstate 22 to Interstate 65 in Birmingham, then the largest project in Alabama Department of Transportation history.

Pitts’ most consequential leadership role came as senior structural engineer for the Interstate 59/20 central business district reconstruction in Birmingham, a $1 billion project replacing 1.25 miles of elevated bridges along the state’s most heavily traveled corridor. The effort required a full interstate shutdown for 14 months and incorporated 172 spans and more than 2,300 precast concrete segments. Pitts led the structural design, coordinating replacements, widenings and new construction while managing foundation engineering and construction phasing. The corridor reopened ahead of schedule and stands as a benchmark for accelerated bridge construction.

Pitts expanded his impact to coastal and port infrastructure. After Hurricane Katrina, he led the Little Bay Peninsula restoration project, designing a wave attenuation system that stabilized shoreline and restored marine habitat. At the Port of Mobile, he has supported connector roadways, stabilization efforts and structural planning critical to the port’s growth. A licensed professional engineer in multiple states and a certified

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SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

bridge inspector, Pitts leads structural efforts on the Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway projects.

IS4S Integrated Solutions for Systems Inc. (IS4S) was founded by engineers who set out to build an employee-owned company grounded in technical excellence and ethical practice. Headquartered in Huntsville, the firm steadily expanded its footprint across Alabama, establishing offices in Auburn and Opelika, operations at Redstone Arsenal and a 3,400-acre test range in north Alabama.

What began as a small business focused on systems engineering and software development has grown into a multidisciplinary engineering company with deep roots in the state’s aerospace and defense sectors.

Over time, IS4S broadened its expertise to include additive manufacturing, computational physics and open systems architectures, taking on increasingly complex design agent roles for the U.S. Air Force and other federal defense partners. The company has played a leading role in developing modular, software-defined positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems, including work on the Resilient-Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System and the PNT Software-Defined User Equipment program.

Its engineers have also advanced next-generation communications systems, electronic integration and modernized weapon system components, pushing the boundaries of adaptable, open-architecture design.

In recent years, IS4S has paired technical growth with strategic investment in Alabama’s future. A $2.1 million expansion in rural Marion County established a new research and development center alongside its test range, creating high-paying engineering jobs and expanding the state’s defense testing capacity.

Now employing more than 400 employee-owners, the company continues to support hundreds of government and commercial customers while reinforcing Alabama’s position as a national leader in aerospace, advanced manufacturing and defense innovation.

The Hall of Fame is overseen by engineering colleges and schools at Auburn University, Alabama A&M University, the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, Tuskegee University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Alabama in Huntsville and the University of South Alabama.

The Gavin Engineering Research Laboratory, formerly known as the Textile Building, was renovated into a state-of-the-art research facility in 2018. The $18 million project was made possible thanks to a gift of $10.5 million made by Charles E. Gavin III and his late wife, Carol Ann.

DEAN’S REPORT 2024-25

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EXPANSION AUBURN ENGINEERING breaks ground ON COASTAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH STATION

BY DUSTIN DUNCAN

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering broke ground in July 2025 on the Auburn University Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station, a partnership with the city of Orange Beach.

The 21,000-square-foot facility, located at 4775 Walker Ave., will span two stories and offer direct access to the Gulf Coast. Designed with collaboration and research in mind, the station will include laboratories, offices, large meeting rooms and outdoor gathering areas on both levels — all oriented toward scenic views of Terry Cove. It will serve as a permanent hub for studying Gulf Coast environments and communities while supporting partnerships with other institutions in the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium.

Auburn University President Chris Roberts said the station represents the fruition of the university’s 2035 strategic plan.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be part of this community and this region of our state,” he said. “I look forward to the partnerships, the discoveries and the impact to come.”

Roberts said Auburn aims to build partnerships where its strengths are complemented by those of universities, organizations, research centers and other collaborators.

“Orange Beach is now part of that network and I’m truly grateful,” he said.

The Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station will focus on three primary research areas: protecting and restoring water quality and quantity, conserving habitat and living resources and enhancing the sustainability and resilience of coastal communities.

Mario Eden, dean of engineering, said that when the RESTORE Act created new federal investment

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SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

opportunities, Auburn saw a chance to meet a long-term regional need in a meaningful and lasting way.

He said the station will support research into water quality, marine health and how human activity — from urban development to chemical runoff — impacts natural systems “The point is: this isn’t just academic work,” Eden said.

“It’s about finding real solutions to protect our coastal communities, strengthen economic resilience and preserve the natural resources that make this region so important to the state of Alabama. Auburn University is proud to be part of that future.”

In addition to research, Auburn Engineering plans to use the facility to engage residents and visitors through outreach and continuing education programs that build awareness of the region’s natural, historical, cultural and environmental resources.

With the creation of this facility, Auburn Engineering and its partners will conduct fundamental and applied research to address challenges facing Alabama’s coast and the broader northern Gulf region. The station will directly support the goals outlined in the 2016 Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Comprehensive Plan.

AUBURN UNIVERSITY SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING’S NAMESAKE AND FAMILY commit $30 MILLION TO SCHOLARSHIPS

BY AUSTIN PHILLIPS AND BETHANY GILES

The namesake of Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and the Ginn Family Foundation committed $30 million to the college to establish a new scholarship program, marking the largest single commitment to scholarships in Auburn University history.

The Ginn Scholarship Program is designed to provide up to 40 scholarship awards annually, covering tuition, fees, room and board for up to five years.

To qualify for this merit-based scholarship, Ginn Scholars must demonstrate need, graduate from a Title I high school in the state of Alabama and be admitted into the College of Engineering. Candidates must also have exercised leadership skills in school community activities and have values that align with those espoused in the Auburn Creed.

“When I was accepted into Auburn, the affordability issue was front and center, but a college education was important to my parents,” Ginn said. “Once at Auburn, I participated in ROTC, waited tables and worked in a clothing store just to get by. But I was never ashamed of that. In fact, it instilled that ‘hard work’ mentality that is grounded in the Auburn Creed. My hope is that this program will lessen the financial burden of a higher education and help families in our state. There are so many students with strong family value systems, and they deserve an opportunity to focus on their studies instead of focusing on their financial situation.”

The program is designed to provide financial and transitional assistance to incoming freshmen, along with the student support services needed to navigate the curriculum. Ginn Scholars will be provided dedicated space to study, collaborate and grow academically and personally. They will also attend lectures on personal finance and other subjects designed to support future success. These efforts help build a bond among the Ginn Scholars and develop

personal relationships that last a lifetime.

Members of the Ginn Scholars Program will complete a first-year seminar to learn about the student support services and resources available to them. This seminar will allow scholars to meet and connect early in their academic journeys.

In 2001, Ginn’s commitment of $25 million to the college was the single-largest gift to a higher education institution earmarked for academics in the state’s history. As a result, the college was named as the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering in his honor. This gift also served as the impetus behind the establishment of a wireless engineering program, the first of its kind in the nation.

“Twenty-five years ago, Dr. Ginn made an investment in Auburn Engineering that has propelled us to levels of achievement and excellence that previously we could only have dreamed of,” said Mario Eden, dean of engineering. “This new investment in the Ginn Scholars Program will provide access to hundreds of students from the state, further cementing our mission as a land-grant institution. The Ginn Scholars Program will continue our objective to be one of the top engineering colleges in the nation.”

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AUBURN TO construct WORLD-CLASS ENGINEERING LAB, EXPAND NATION’S LARGEST STUDENT-RUN MAKERSPACE

BY JEREMY HENDERSON

The largest student-run makerspace in the country is getting even larger.

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering began construction May 2026 on a world-class laboratory designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, creativity and industry-relevant research in advanced manufacturing while also expanding the Design and Innovation Center, commonly known as the makerspace.

Geared for high-tech electronics manufacturing, materials testing and advanced manufacturing, the Analytical, Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Laboratory will occupy 16,000 unfinished square feet within the plinth beneath the Gavin Garden green space connecting the Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center and the Gavin Engineering Research Laboratory.

In addition, nearly 40% of the facility will be set aside to boost the total footprint of the Design and Innovation Center from 12,000 square feet to more than 19,000 square feet.

A new terraced entrance to the Brown-Kopel Center plinth will be constructed off the Ginn Concourse to enhance access and bring in natural light.

“This project is another demonstration of our commitment to provide the best student-centered engineering experience in America,” said Mario Eden, dean of engineering.

“Engineering students will have access to even more state-of-the-art resources, as well as areas specifically designed and designated to foster idea conceptualization and development,” he added.

Resources facilitating professional-grade electronics manufacturing include an Inline Production PCB Assembly Line allowing students to build and test electronics at an industrial scale, and a high-mix assembly system capable of placing tiny components with extreme precision.

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In addition, the lab will feature a suite of powerful imaging tools typically found only in high-level research facilities. An MX1 X-Ray system will enable inspection of the internal integrity of manufactured electronics without damaging them. Cutting-edge microscopy will be supported by scanning electron microscopes, a transmission electron microscope and an ion beam microscope.

New makerspace resources include high-tech prototyping tools such as Trotec laser cutters and approximately 40 additional 3D printers. The expansion also allows for integrated design resources such as AR/ VR stations, large-format printers and a crafting station equipped with embroidery machines, heat presses and vinyl cutters.

It’s almost enough to make software engineering senior Matthew Clegg, who manages the makerspace’s student leaders, or “maker assistants,” want to stick around for a few more years.

“The makerspace has been absolutely instrumental for me as a student, and I’m definitely not alone,” Clegg said.

Rendering of the planned Analytical, Innovation and Manufacturing Laboratory, a 16,000-square-foot facility beneath Gavin Garden that will expand Auburn Engineering’s Design and Innovation Center to more than 19,000 square feet. The project will add advanced manufacturing, electronics production, analytical imaging and prototyping resources, along with a new terraced entrance to the Brown-Kopel Center plinth.

“We’re seeing more and more students working on class projects and making use of nearly all the machines.”

The makerspace currently boasts over 3,000 active users and supports the curriculum of 16 classes, ranging from Structural Analysis to Computer-Aided Design. Its unique operational model allows students to take nearly total ownership of the space’s day-to-day logistics.

“Having as much control over our own unique areas, and so many resources, is incredible, and the community that we’ve developed here is, in my opinion, unparalleled,” said Clegg, who also heads training on makerspace’s laser cutters. “This expansion will enable us to keep up with the ever-increasing volume.”

Bob Ashurst, professor of chemical engineering and the Design and Innovation Lab’s faculty director, agreed.

“The addition will obviously enhance the culture of innovation the students have built, but we’re also

providing them with the high-end analytical and manufacturing tools they’ll encounter,” Ashurst said. “That offers a kind of hands-on education you can’t get from a textbook. And with the additional 7,000 square feet for the Design and Innovation Center, I think it’s safe to call Auburn’s not just the largest student-run makerspace, but one of the best on-campus environments of its kind in the country — maybe the best.”

The project will be financed by the State of Alabama’s FY23 Supplemental Budget supporting higher-ed initiatives in manufacturing and innovation.

“Like with the recent renovation of the Montgomery Advanced Manufacturing Laboratories in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the AIM Laboratory and the expanded Design and Innovation Center will help continue to align the best student-centered engineering experience in the country with Auburn’s comprehensive push into advanced manufacturing,” said Allan David, associate dean of research.

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EMBODYING THE MISSION

TEACHING

BY OLIVIA BALLARD

AUBURN ENGINEERING FACULTY TURN TEACHING INTO A PLATFORM FOR CREATIVITY, MENTORSHIP AND IMPACT

Xiao Qin, professor and director of graduate programs in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, and Michael Zabala, Auburn Alumni Engineering Council associate professor, exemplify leadership in teaching and mentorship within the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

Development Fellowship cohort.

Qin, who has supervised 36 doctoral students as well as master’s and undergraduate researchers, has been teaching at Auburn since 2007.

“It has been incredibly rewarding to mentor Auburn Engineering students who go on to achieve national honors and prestigious careers,” Qin said. “Seeing the lightbulb moment when a student finally grasps a complex mathematical model because it was presented through a memorable performance is why I find this profession so fulfilling.”

“I was drawn to Auburn for the opportunity to educate Alabama’s brightest students and provide them with a world-class learning experience,” Qin said. “The exceptional quality of our students and the supportive environment for instructional growth are what stand out to me.”

At the 19th annual Auburn University Faculty Awards ceremony, Qin was recognized for his dedication to student success with the Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching.

He was also among four Auburn faculty members selected for the 2025-26 SEC Academic Leadership

Qin said the classroom is a stage for creativity. Through interactive performances and “magic shows,” he brings energy that encourages students to engage more deeply with their studies.

Zabala completed his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering at Auburn in 2007 and returned to the university in 2016 to introduce a new biomechanics area of study.

Zabala serves as the director of the Auburn University Biomechanical Engineering Lab, or the AUBE Lab. There, he founded XO Armor Technologies Inc. in 2019, serving as chairman and chief research officer. XO

uses the Renaissance as a framework for exploring figures such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo while connecting biomechanics, musical instruments, sculpture and architecture to engineering principles.

In 2019, Zabala was recognized for his excellence and dedication to teaching with the Fred H. Pumphrey Teaching Award, the merit Walker Teaching Award for Excellence and the Mark A. Spencer Creative Mentorship Award. In 2025, he won the superior Walker Teaching Award for Excellence, the highest honor for instruction in the College of Engineering.

Armor Technologies specializes in 3D-printed injury care, a technique he brings to the classroom and research labs, giving students firsthand exposure to cutting-edge engineering applications.

Zabala’s teaching also extends beyond the Auburn campus. Since 2019, he has led Engineering in the Arts, a study abroad program in Florence, Italy, that introduces engineering concepts through art, architecture and music. The program, later expanded into a condensed continuing education opportunity for alumni and others,

“Education is empowering,” Zabala said. “It equips students to understand the world more deeply and to engage meaningfully. I am inspired daily by watching our students grow, both academically and professionally, as they prepare to serve society and represent Auburn.”

Above all else, Qin and Zabala demonstrate a strong commitment to their students through teaching, mentorship and leadership.

“What stands out to me most about being a professor at Auburn is the unity of the Auburn Family,” Zabala said.

“There is a shared commitment among students, alumni, faculty and staff to support one another and prioritize the student experience.”

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OUTREACH

BY DUSTIN DUNCAN

AUBURN ENGINEERING PARTNERS WITH CITY OF AUBURN TO IMPROVE STORMWATER AT CITY PARK

Auburn engineers are making an impact in their own backyard with a stormwater project at Hickory Dickory Park — a public playground on the north side of Auburn — to protect and improve water quality.

The effort, a partnership between Auburn University and the city of Auburn, is funded by an Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) grant.

The project will stabilize streambanks, redirect runoff and apply proven stormwater practices — improvements designed to protect local waterways and enhance residents’ quality of life.

Michael Perez, director of the Auburn University Stormwater Research Facility, said the work addresses long-standing issues in Auburn’s streams and creeks.

“Many of our waterways are impaired,” Perez said.

“Parkerson Mill Creek, which runs through campus, is impaired for pathogens. The tributary that runs through Hickory Dickory drains to the Sougahatchee Creek, which later flows to the Tallapoosa River, and that system has its own impairments.”

The project centers on stabilizing the streambank through Hickory Dickory Park, where years of stormwater surges had carved steep, unstable banks.

“Our first goal was to stabilize the stream by cutting back the vertical walls, widening the flood plain and reducing erosion,” Perez said. “That helps keep sediment from washing downstream.”

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Perez said the stormwater facility has spent years developing and testing stormwater management practices and has a reputation for practical, researchbased work.

“Now we get to take what we’ve studied at the Stormwater Research Facility and put it into practice,” he said.

The Hickory Dickory Park project is part of a larger stormwater initiative supported through the ADEM grant.

The AU stormwater group and the city of Auburn are hosting rain-barrel workshops where participants receive free barrels and learn how to use them for irrigation in their gardens.

“Collecting rainwater reduces runoff, it prevents pollutants from entering streams and saves money and conserves resources,” Perez said. “We’re also teaching people how to maintain the barrels and raising awareness about stormwater management in our local community.”

The second part of the project redirects stormwater runoff from the park and parking lots. Auburn researchers installed stabilized channels and three bioretention cells to capture water before it reaches the stream.

Other elements include installing 50 pet waste stations around town to encourage pet waste pickup and reduce contamination into water bodies.

“By collecting and treating it first, we can slowly release it over time instead of letting it cause more erosion,” Perez said.

“This is about improving our water quality, protecting our streams and giving people the tools to make a difference,” Perez said.

SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

RESEARCH

BY JOE MCADORY

COLLEGE LAUNCHES NOVEL INTERNET TOOL DESIGNED TO FOSTER RESEARCH COLLABORATION ACROSS MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES

A dedicated team of faculty, staff and students within the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering has developed AUSME, a powerful online platform designed to accelerate interdisciplinary research by connecting experts across fields.

AUSME (Auburn University Subject Matter Experts) is an artificial intelligence-powered, searchable tool that helps researchers discover collaborators, build partnerships and pursue complex, cross-disciplinary work.

Cybersecurity Engineering and McCrary Eminent Chair Professor.

AUSME compiles publicly available research data, including publication records, citation metrics and collaboration networks, into interactive faculty profiles.

Users can search by keyword, filter by department or topic and identify potential collaborators based on shared research interests.

The AUSME development team included Auburn Engineering Research Data & AI Development Coordinator Mostafa Rahgouy, who served as an AUSME AI developer, frontend and backend specialist; frontend specialist Soundarya Korlapati, a senior research engineer at the Auburn RFID Lab; Tyler Patterson, Manager of Digital Strategy and Operations; Emily Maddox, manager of Salesforce and data administration; Kelley Terry, director of research program development and grants; Shannon Price, director of network services.

Designed for students, faculty and external partners, the platform expands access to Auburn’s research expertise and helps surface connections that might otherwise go unnoticed.

“This team didn’t just create a database — they built an engine for discovery,” said Gerry Dozier, director of the Auburn University Center for Artificial Intelligence and

Additional features in development include AI-generated research summaries, enhanced data visualizations and expanded search capabilities.

“The team who built AUSME understand research,” said Allan David, associate dean for research. “AUSME helps surface the kind of partnerships that drive innovation — when experts from different disciplines connect around shared challenges.”

DEAN’S REPORT 2025-26

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Elizabeth Lipke, the George E. & Dorothy Stafford Uthlaut Professor of Chemical Engineering, develops cardiac and cancer tissues that help researchers study disease, test drugs and advance future therapies.

In the Lipke Lab, she examines a fresh sample with graduate student Kwaghtaver Desongu.

AEROSPACE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR TO TRACK ORBITS IN CISLUNAR SPACE

BY DUSTIN DUNCAN

Davide Guzzetti Associate Professor Ginn Faculty Achievement Fellow 334-844-5277 guzzetti@auburn.edu

It might look like empty space, but the vast stretch between Earth and the Moon is becoming increasingly crowded, and Davide Guzzetti aims to make sense of it.

The work is backed by a three-year grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Guzzetti, an associate professor of aerospace engineering, is leading a project to understand how spacecraft move through cislunar space and develop better methods for tracking them.

The award supports research that could reshape how scientists and defense agencies describe, detect and predict orbital motion in one of the solar system’s

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most complex regions. Guzzetti is partnering with Firas Khasawneh, an assistant professor at Michigan State University, to build mathematical tools capable of mapping orbital paths that defy traditional models.

“Most of what we know about orbits comes from studying objects close to Earth, where there’s only one main source of gravity,” Guzzetti said. “Once you move into cislunar space, both Earth’s and the Moon’s gravity act together. You can’t separate them, and that makes everything much harder to predict and describe.”

Guzzetti said orbital paths near Earth are neat ellipses and parabolas calculated with a single equation. But where Earth’s and the Moon’s gravities compete, those paths twist into far less predictable shapes. His team is building computer models to describe these complex orbits, combining physics and advanced mathematics to represent how spacecraft actually move.

“What we’re really asking is, what does an orbit in cislunar space look like?” Guzzetti said. “And how do we describe that shape in a way that helps us understand what’s happening out there?”

BIOSYSTEMS REPURPOSING POULTRY PROCESSING WATER FOR HYDROPONIC USE

BY ADAM CLETZER

Brendan Higgins Associate Professor 334-844-2317 dac0098@auburn.edu

The work centers on a filtration system, combining biological treatment using algae and beneficial bacteria, fine filtration and ultraviolet disinfection to reduce pathogens and antimicrobial risks.

“We are using relatively simple, low-cost systems to treat the water,” said Brendan Higgins, associate professor of biosystems engineering.

An estimated 62 billion gallons of nutrient-rich poultry processing wastewater are produced each year — a byproduct that is typically treated and discharged.

Auburn University researchers have demonstrated a new method to safely reuse that water to grow hydroponic crops, offering a potential breakthrough in water conservation and agricultural efficiency.

By eliminating pathogens such as salmonella, the team used treated wastewater from a poultry processing plant to grow romaine lettuce safe for human consumption. The work focuses on nutrient cycling and food safety in controlled-environment agriculture.

The system was tested over 200 days using wastewater sourced from a regional processing plant. Researchers intentionally introduced pathogens to stress-test the system, demonstrating its ability to maintain food safety standards under demanding conditions.

Unlike prior studies that relied on small-scale or simulated systems, the team used real wastewater at scale, improving the applicability of the results.

While additional research is needed before widespread adoption, the approach offers a promising strategy for reducing environmental impact and expanding sustainable water use in agriculture.

DEAN’S REPORT 2025-26

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CHEMICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR EARNS $875K DOE EARLY CAREER AWARD TO ADVANCE MEMBRANE-BASED LITHIUM SEPARATION RESEARCH

BY JOE MCADORY Cassandra Porter Assistant Professor Ginn Faculty Achievement Fellow 334-844-2041 cjp0084@auburn.edu

Can lithium and other critical materials be selectively extracted from chemically complex water solutions without relying on slow, energy intensive methods?

materials from water, Porter’s work could help lower the cost and improve the reliability of materials that power batteries, electronics and energy storage systems.

“When we talk about separating charged species like ions, the first question you have to ask is how are they different from each other,” Porter said.

“Then you leverage that difference. Ions are similar in size and often have similar charges, so what you can exploit becomes very limited,” she added.

Her project aims to push past those limits.

Yes, and Cassandra Porter, assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, has the membranes to prove it.

Porter was granted a five-year, $875,000 U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Award for her project that will explore how membrane chemistry and operating conditions control ion selectivity under real world conditions.

By making it easier to separate lithium and other critical

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“This research can evolve into looking at other charged species we can recover, such as uranium, copper, gold and yttrium,” she said. “It’s about securing energy pathways that are sustainable and recycling materials, because the planet is not unlimited in its resources.

“You can come up with all sorts of energy solutions, but you need to make them transportable. That’s what batteries do. They let you store energy and take it wherever it’s needed,” she added.

CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AUTRI TO STUDY SMART TIRE TECHNOLOGY FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY

BY DUSTIN DUNCAN

Larry Rilett Director, Auburn University Transportation Research Institute 334-844-8306 lrr0023@auburn.edu

Commercial trucks are involved in about 13% of all fatal crashes on U.S. roads, despite accounting for only about 5% of registered vehicles, according to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Tire failure remains a persistent and costly safety concern, linked to roughly 6% of truck crashes involving critical vehicle failures and often creating hazardous roadway debris.

Auburn University’s Transportation Research Institute (AUTRI) received $1.9 million from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to study if Radio Frequency Identification technology can help identify dangerous tire conditions before a blowout occurs.

Funded through the agency’s High Priority–

Commercial Motor Vehicle program, the project will test battery-free sensors embedded in commercial truck tires.

“When a truck tire fails at highway speed, it can create a dangerous situation for everyone nearby,” said Laurence Rilett, AUTRI director and principal investigator. “We’re evaluating whether there’s a reliable, low-cost way to identify tire problems earlier.”

The research team, which includes David Bevly, the Bill and Lana McNair Distinguished Professor of mechanical engineering and Shiwen Mao, the Professor and Earle C. Williams Eminent Scholar Chair of electrical and computer engineering, as co-principal investigators, will evaluate the technology across three real-world scenarios: handheld inspections when trucks are parked, data collection as vehicles pass fixed readers and continuous on-vehicle monitoring while in motion.

Testing will occur in Auburn laboratories and on instrumented vehicles at the National Center for Asphalt Technology Test Track.

DEAN’S REPORT 2025-26

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COMPUTER SCIENCE AND SOFTWARE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR EXPOSES VULNERABILITY IN AI-POWERED SECURITY CAMERAS, OFFERS NEW DEFENSES IN DEVELOPMENT

BY JOE MCADORY Yazhou Tu Assistant Professor 334-844-6301 yzt0065@auburn.edu

As millions of Americans rely on AI-powered security cameras to protect their homes, new research from Auburn Engineering reveals a critical vulnerability: inexpensive laser pointers can disable the devices and bypass their security features.

Led by Yazhou Tu, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, the research team found that smart doorbells can be defeated by low-cost laser attacks.

“Cybersecurity nowadays extends farther than computers, websites or servers,” said graduate student Eftakhar Ahmed Arnob. “We must also consider cyber-physical systems, including smart homes and

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autonomous technologies.”

The vulnerability stems from a design flaw in the cameras’ optical systems. When a laser is directed at the lens, light reflects internally, creating distortions that confuse AI detection systems.

As a result, the cameras fail to recognize motion or people — and do not alert homeowners that their view is being blocked.

Tu’s team is developing defenses based on adversarial optical physics rather than traditional deep learning models. The approach identifies abnormal light patterns caused by laser interference, eliminating the need to train systems on every possible attack scenario.

“We don’t have a silver bullet to make real-world systems absolutely secure,” Tu said.

Researchers are continuing to collect data and working with manufacturers to implement both short- and longterm solutions, including software updates, algorithm improvements and potential hardware changes.

ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SUCCESSFULLY TESTS 3D PRINTER IN SERIES OF PARABOLIC FLIGHTS

BY JOE MCADORY Masoud Mahjouri-Samani

Patel and research engineer Colton Bevel.

Godbold Associate Professor 334-844-1826 mzm0185@auburn.edu

Aboard a modified Boeing 727, the team completed about 30 parabolic arcs, each providing roughly 20 seconds of microgravity.

The test points to a future where astronauts can manufacture electronics on demand, reducing reliance on Earth-based supply chains during long missions.

Masoud Mahjouri-Samani, the Godbold Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, successfully tested a compact nanoparticle 3D printer during NASA-sponsored parabolic flights simulating microgravity.

Conducted near Salina, Kansas, the test marked the airborne debut of LASED (Laser Ablation and Sintering Enabled Deposition), a low-power system designed to fabricate circuits, sensors and antennas in space. The project is supported by an $870,000 NASA grant.

“This was a one-shot win. From the very first parabola, the machine printed beautifully,” said Mahjouri-Samani, who conducted the flights with graduate student Aarsh

“In space, you want to print what you need, when you need it,” Mahjouri-Samani said. “We can design and build circuits on site.”

The printer measures about 24 inches per side and consumes less than 500 watts, integrating nanoparticle generation, material delivery and sintering into a fully automated system capable of producing complex structures in seconds.

Engineered to withstand significant G-forces, the device exceeded expectations in flight, producing prints equal to — and in some cases better than — those created on Earth.

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INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ICAMS TO LAUNCH STATEWIDE SATELLITE MODEL TO EXPAND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING ACCESS ACROSS ALABAMA

BY DUSTIN DUNCAN Greg Harris Director, Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems 334-844-1407 gah0015@auburn.edu

Auburn Engineering’s Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS) is expanding its mission to bring advanced manufacturing technologies closer to small- and medium-sized manufacturers across Alabama.

On Auburn’s campus, ICAMS operates as a demonstration and research facility where connected machines stream live data, sensors detect equipment issues before failure and engineers model production systems virtually. But, as director Greg Harris notes, demonstration alone is no longer enough.

“We can inform companies,” Harris said. “But that’s not the same as touching them.”

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That reality drives a new $8.3 million proposal to expand ICAMS’ reach through a “satellite ICAMS” model embedded within the Alabama Community College System. Rather than building new facilities, the plan equips existing programs with sensor packages and connected systems, allowing local manufacturers to see advanced technologies in action close to home.

“A manufacturer isn’t going to shut down operations for a multi-day trip to Auburn,” said Greg Purdy, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering and principal investigator. “But they may visit a community college 20 minutes away.”

The model also creates a feedback loop: data generated in community college labs will flow back to ICAMS, where researchers can develop predictive models and decision-support tools.

The proposal emphasizes workforce development and practical adoption, including expanded Industry 4.0 curriculum, internship pathways and training that helps workers integrate new technologies into existing operations.

MATERIALS AUBURN MATERIALS ENGINEERS MAKE HIGH-PROFILE BREAKTHROUGH IN NANOPHOTONICS

BY JEREMY HENDERSON Siyuan Dai McWane Associate Professor Ginn Faculty Achievement Fellow 334-844-4818 szd0085@auburn.edu

wave into another, allowing researchers to direct how light moves through materials only a few atoms thick.

“Our work shows, for the first time, that we can intentionally convert one wave into another, creating new ways to route and process light on extremely small scales,” Dai said.

Auburn Engineering researchers are advancing the emerging field of nanophotonics by discovering a new way to control light at the nanoscale — a breakthrough that could support next-generation optical and quantum technologies.

Previously, different nanoscale light waves behaved independently, limiting their usefulness. Dai’s team discovered that these step-like edges can act as precise converters, scattering light in ways that change its behavior. Using advanced infrared imaging, the researchers observed these transformations at resolutions as small as 10 nanometers.

Supported by the National Science Foundation, a team led by Siyuan Dai, the McWane Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has developed a method to manipulate polaritons — quasiparticles that combine light and matter — within ultra-thin materials.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, demonstrate new control over light–matter interactions and provide a foundation for applications in optical circuits, sensing technologies and quantum systems.

The approach uses van der Waals terraces, or nanoscale step structures, to convert one type of light

“It was exciting to directly image how these light waves change when they encounter the step structures,” said doctoral candidate Byung-Il Noh. DEAN’S REPORT 2025-26

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MECHANICAL DARPA AWARDS NCAME UP TO $2.8M FOR TRANSFORMATIVE AM QUALIFICATION RESEARCH

BY JEREMY HENDERSON Shuai Shao McWane Professor 334-844-4867 szs0244@auburn.edu

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is backing Auburn Engineering’s National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence (NCAME) to help transform how metal parts are qualified for use.

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predicts the performance and lifespan of each part at the point of production.

“We are supporting this DARPA initiative with NCAME’s advanced non-destructive evaluation capabilities,” said Shuai Shao, associate director for research and innovation and the McWane Associate Professor of mechanical engineering. “These methods allow us to detect and characterize defects with the precision needed to link manufacturing processes to performance.”

Through a program known as SURGE (Structures Uniquely Resolved to Guarantee Endurance), DARPA awarded NCAME up to $2.8 million over four years to support efforts for accelerating and reducing costs of certifying additively manufactured metal components.

NCAME’s work focuses on understanding how microstructural features and defects influence durability, particularly fatigue and fracture behavior, said director Nima Shamsaei. The effort also includes development of probabilistic models to account for variability in additive manufacturing, improving confidence in performance predictions.

Qualifying a part requires tuning a specific machine to repeatedly produce identical results — a process that can take years and cost millions. SURGE seeks to replace that model with a data-driven approach that

“Distributed, on-demand production has always been the promise of additive manufacturing,” Shamsaei said.

“Through SURGE, we’re helping to make that promise a practical reality.”

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FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS Sabit Adanur, professor of mechanical engineering, was elected to the Editorial Advisory Board of Textile Science and Research Journal (Estonia) in September 2025.

Gregory Harris, chair of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and director of ICAMS, is serving on the awards committee for the Society of Manufacturing Engineering.

Symone Alexander, assistant professor of chemical engineering, was selected to participate in the National Academy of Engineering’s China–America Frontiers of Engineering Symposium.

Pan He, assistant professor of computer science and software engineering, was appointed associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Image Processing and area chair for the Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, two leading publications and conferences in the field.

Hunter Burch, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, was elected secretary of Commission G: Ionospheric Radio and Propagation of the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Radio Science in January.

Lorenzo Cremaschi, the Burt professor of mechanical engineering, was recognized as an American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers Fellow for “having attained distinction in the arts and sciences of heating, refrigeration, air conditioning or ventilation and having made substantial contributions to these arts and sciences.”

Virginia Davis, the Daniel F. and Josephine Breeden professor of chemical engineering, was honored with the university’s Creative Research Scholarship Award in the Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Engineering and Agriculture category.

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Zhihua Jiang, the Auburn Pulp and Paper Foundation associate professor of chemical engineering, was elected to the 2026 Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Fellows Class. He also received an additional one-year $119,392 project from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for his project titled “Utilization of Soybean Hulls in Animal Feed Binder Applications.” The project received initial funding of $562,425 from USDA-ARS in 2020, and following its successful completion in 2024, USDA-ARS has continued to support it annually.

Bosen Lian, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, was recognized as an outstanding associate editor in 2025 for IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems.

Elizabeth Lipke, the George E. & Dorothy Stafford Uthlaut professor, was elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science Class of 2025 Fellows. Her citation reads, “For seminal contributions

to cardiovascular and cancer tissue engineering, including biomaterial design to support vascular reendothelialization, advancing engineered cardiac tissue and cardiomyocyte biomanufacturing, and in vitro recapitulation of the tumor microenvironment.”

Shiwen Mao, professor and Earle C. Williams Eminent Scholar Chair and director of the Wireless Engineering Research and Education Center, received the Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Computing, Networking and Communications, coauthored a paper that won a Best Student Paper Award at the AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence Workshop on Machine Learning for Wireless Communications, published the book “Positioning and Sensing Over Wireless Networks”, was appointed director of magazines and vice chair of the Publications Council of the IEEE Communications Society for 2026–27, and was named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher.

Jillian Maxcy-Brown, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, received the Best PolicyOriented Paper Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Environmental & Water Resources Institute for research on statewide wastewater affordability.

Panagiotis Mistriotis, associate professor of chemical engineering, was recognized as an Association of the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies Foundation Scholar, one of only seven scholars to receive this recognition in 2025. He is also the principal investigator of a one-year, $77,000 American Heart Association award titled “Interplay of Mechanical and Angiotensin II Signaling in Smooth Muscle Dysfunction in Hypertension.”

Saravanan Ramiah Shanmugam, assistant research professor of biosystems engineering, has been awarded a $591,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) as principal investigator.

The project, titled “Upcycling Nutrients from Poultry Slaughterhouse Solid Wastes into Black Soldier Fly Larvae Feed Rich in Antimicrobial Peptides,” focuses on developing sustainable methods to repurpose agricultural waste into high-value feed products.

Missie Smith, assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering, has been appointed associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics and selected by the International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR) as the 2026 Scientific and Technical Papers Chair.

David Timm, the Elton & Lois G. Huff Eminent Scholar Chair and chair of civil and environmental engineering, was elected president of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, with his term running from March 2026 to March 2027.

Fan Yin, assistant director and research professor at the National Center for Asphalt Technology, received the 2026 Outstanding Academic Member Award from the Academy of Pavement Science and Engineering and was appointed to the Transportation Research Board’s Standing Committee on Asphalt Pavement Materials.

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STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS Tori Phillips, a graduate student in chemical engineering, won first place at Auburn University’s 12th Graduate Engineering Research Showcase for her poster, “Modeling Hydraulic Redistribution Using Transparent Soil.” Her research uses transparent soil experiments to study how deep-rooted plants redistribute water through soil, with applications in agriculture and stormwater management.

Ayuba Akinpelu and Francis Mekunye, graduate students in chemical engineering, earned Merck’s 2025 Next Gen Leaders in Chemistry awards, a national honor recognizing outstanding research contributions from emerging scientists. Their work focuses on advancing biotechnology and nanomaterials, with potential applications in health care, electronics and other emerging technologies.

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Eirik Mulder

Eirik Mulder, a senior in aerospace engineering and computer science, earned the Astronaut Scholarship and the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, two of the nation’s most prestigious honors for undergraduate STEM researchers. His work focuses on astrodynamics and spacecraft trajectory design, supporting advanced research in spaceflight and orbital mechanics.

Stanton Freeman

Katherine Clemmons, Chris Raj and Ayden Kemp, aerospace engineering graduates, won first place at NASA’s 2025 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) Competition for their project, “DEMETER.” The concept explores sustainable life-support systems for Mars, including using plants to recycle air, water and nutrients for long-duration space missions.

Stanton Freeman, a graduate student in civil engineering, earned the 2025–26 Tribute to the Founders Fellowship from the American Concrete Institute, a national award recognizing outstanding research in concrete materials. His work focuses on developing improved methods to measure concrete shrinkage, helping advance the performance and durability of modern infrastructure.

Praveen Ayyanathan and Austin Miranda, aerospace engineering students, earned top honors from the Greater Huntsville Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, with Ayyanathan named Graduate Student of the Year and Miranda Undergraduate Student of the Year. The awards recognize outstanding academic achievement and research contributions in aerospace engineering.

Vivian Usha, a graduate research assistant in biosystems engineering, received the Rockey Fellowship from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research, a national award supporting leaders in agricultural sustainability. Her research focuses on developing biochar that captures phosphorus from wastewater and repurposes it as a slow-release fertilizer, improving water quality and soil health.

Brock Huner and Lili Rahimikhameneh, graduate students in civil and environmental engineering, earned national recognition in the United States Society on Dams’ Kim de Rubertis Student Scholarship competition, placing second and third, respectively.

Their research focuses on modeling dam overtopping and erosion processes to improve the safety and resilience of dams and levees.

SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Olaniyi Afolayan, a doctoral student in civil and environmental engineering, was named a 2025 Trailblazers in Engineering Fellow, a national honor recognizing emerging leaders addressing critical engineering challenges. His research focuses on internal erosion and soil piping in slopes, advancing infrastructure resilience and environmental sustainability.

Thomas Lester, Liam Heary and Harrison Ranier were named to the Birmingham Business Journal’s Inno Under 25 list, recognizing the state’s top young innovators and entrepreneurs. Their work spans startup development and product innovation, highlighting emerging leadership across engineering and business.

the Year by the Alabama Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, a statewide honor recognizing leadership and advocacy. Despite vision loss, he has excelled in cybersecurity research and professional development.

Catherine Franco, a junior in electrical engineering, and Eirik Mulder, a senior in aerospace engineering and computer science, were named 2025 Distinguished Undergraduates by the Universities Space Research Association, marking Auburn’s first recipients of the national award. Each received a $5,000 scholarship recognizing exceptional achievement in STEM research and leadership.

Marrin Morris, a junior in biosystems engineering, was named Auburn Engineering’s 2025 Frank Vandegrift Coop Student of the Year, an honor recognizing outstanding achievement in cooperative education. She earned the award for her work with the Montgomery Water Works & Sanitary Sewer Board, gaining hands-on experience in water and wastewater engineering.

From left, Gavin Lewis, Will Reynolds, Joshua Soberano and Anna Kate Boles

Anna Kate Boles, Gavin Lewis and Will Reynolds, engineering seniors, won first place at Booz Allen Hamilton’s national Summer Games internship competition. Competing against more than 140 interns nationwide, their team developed a retrofit system to make older drones autonomous, earning a patent opportunity and full-time job offers.

Keanna Tennyson, a graduate student in computer science and software engineering (CSSE), received the Auburn Student Veteran General Annual Fellowship, becoming the first CSSE graduate student to earn the award. An Air Force veteran, Tennyson conducts research with the Auburn University Transportation Research Institute to develop software tools that improve transportation safety.

Aidan Anderson, a senior in computer science and software engineering, was named 2025 Student of

Taimoor Hassan, a graduate student in computer science and software engineering, developed Qalb, the world’s largest language model built exclusively for Urdu, spoken by more than 230 million people worldwide. The model generates fluent, context-aware responses and expands access to advanced AI tools for underserved language communities.

Mason Matrazzo

Mason Matrazzo, a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, won the Ernest K. Smith Student Paper Competition at the National Radio Science Meeting, becoming Auburn’s first recipient of the award.

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AEROSPACE ENGINEERS DEVELOPING HYBRID-ELECTRIC AUTONOMOUS AIRCRAFT TO CUT AVIATION EMISSIONS

BY DUSTIN DUNCAN Aerospace engineering doctoral students Stefanus Harris Putra, Bikash Kunwar, Rajan Bhandari and Cole McCormick are helping develop a hybrid-electric cargo aircraft that could significantly reduce fuel use and emissions in regional air transport.

Working with Rune Aero and supported by NASA, a team in Auburn’s Vehicle Systems, Dynamics and Design Laboratory (VSDDL) is designing, building and testing an autonomous aircraft for the growing air cargo market. The project is part of a broader push to make aviation more efficient and sustainable.

Led by aerospace engineering associate professor Imon Chakraborty, Auburn’s role spans the full development pipeline — from simulation and control system design to construction and flight testing of a subscale prototype.

In the project’s first phase, the team designed and built the prototype, laying the groundwork for continued development.

“Our team at Auburn has been involved since the beginning,” Chakraborty said. “Now in Phase II, we’re optimizing the hybrid-electric propulsion system, building new test capabilities and preparing for hybridelectric flight demonstrations.”

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Auburn researchers also collaborate closely with Rune Aero on aircraft design and validation, sharing responsibility for planning, development and testing.

“This is a true partnership,” Chakraborty said. “At Auburn, we’re not only running simulations — we’re also building and testing the aircraft.”

Graduate students play a central role in the work, contributing to propulsion design, simulation, manufacturing and flight testing.

Their efforts support dissertation research while providing experience on federally funded, industryrelevant projects.

Over the next two years, the team will refine the propulsion system and advance toward hybrid-electric flight demonstrations, with the goal of validating the technology as a scalable solution for cargo aircraft.

Over the next two years, the team will refine propulsion systems and work toward hybrid-electric flight demonstrations to validate the technology as a scalable solution for future cargo aircraft.

“The goal is to validate the technology and show it’s ready for broader application,” Chakraborty said.

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT: AEROSPACE STUDENTS BEST IN THE U.S. IN SOLAR SYSTEM TRAJECTORY COMPETITION

BY OLIVIA BALLARD Auburn Engineering students led all U.S. teams at NASA’s Global Trajectory Optimization Competition, ranking No. 1 nationally and No. 10 overall among 101 teams from around the world.

solve the problem,” Mulder said. “Dividing into teams to tackle separate challenges allowed us to identify our best approaches, and then we narrowed down our technique and iterated from there.”

Joe Ivarson, Eirik Mulder and Nick Nurre, all in aerospace engineering, and Luis Manuel Postigo, in computer science and software engineering and aerospace engineering, worked with other engineers to identify an optimal route through a solar system.

The competition spanned four weeks with a live leaderboard. Competitors were given the problem statement, along with planet, asteroid and comet data and submission formats to guide them.

Computer Science and Software Engineering graduate students Jeremy Wang, Pedro Vasconcelos and Joe Lin also provided programming support and ideas in the early stages of the competition.

According to Mulder, the challenge was to create a long-term tour of the fictional celestial system Altaira, in which the spacecraft must collect as much science as possible by visiting planets and asteroids within a limited time frame.

He said one of the toughest parts was balancing each aspect of the challenge and getting a clear picture with so many moving pieces.

“A major part of the challenge was identifying and sorting through all the possible ways we could try to

“We started with solving trajectories to the planets, collecting as much data as we could first, and then we moved on to asteroids and comets,” Nurre said.

“Waiting for everyone to submit their final results was nerve-racking, but it was all worth it once it was over, and we were still 10th overall. It was even more exciting finding out we were first in the U.S.” The problem was designed to mirror real-world systems and challenge teams to develop techniques applicable beyond the competition, Ivarson said.

“Having the resources and coursework from Auburn provided us with the preparation needed to effectively approach the problem,” he said. “The problems are modeled after real state-of-the-art mission challenges, and we were able to apply our lab experience and collaborate to develop solutions.”

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THE BEST STUDENT-CENTERED ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE IN AMERICA

Why do students choose Auburn Engineering?

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Opportunities abound for students to gain experience in Auburn Engineering’s many cutting-edge research facilities. Students are able to conduct undergraduate research while collaboratively working with faculty, graduate students and fellow undergraduate students.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS Student organizations offer a variety of fun and educational opportunities — from student chapters of professional groups and honor societies to student competition teams and campus-wide organizations such as band, intramural sports and student government.

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in Bolivia and Guatemala meet basic human needs.

The Biomechanics and Engineering in the Arts program in Italy teaches the biomechanical roots of ballet, the symphony, opera and even painting by exploring the engineering influence of Renaissance artists.

SUPPORT FOR WOMEN IN ENGINEERING The college supports the advancement and success of female engineers in a variety of ways. The Society of Women Engineers and Alpha Omega Epsilon are organizations that empower women to succeed and advance in the field by offering speakers and networking opportunities at monthly meetings. In addition, the college’s 100+ Women Strong program seeks to recruit, retain and reward female engineering students.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND CORPORATE RELATIONS From résumé enrichment to assistance with interviewing skills, negotiating a job offer and everything in between, the Office of Career Development and Corporate Relations is staffed with career professionals ready to help students gain real engineering work experience before graduation and beyond.

FUTURE ENGINEERS CLUB The Future Auburn Engineers Club is a free program for K–8th grade students designed to build excitement for engineering at an early age. Club members enjoy monthly hands-on activities to try at home, special gifts and Auburn swag throughout the year, and a summer activity book packed with engineering challenges

ENGINEERING GLOBAL PROGRAMS Auburn Engineering offers a wide range of facultyled global programs, exchange programs and service learning such as Engineers Without Borders, providing meaningful opportunities to students wanting to use their engineering skills to help developing communities

K-12 OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES From hands-on activities and summer camps to E-Day, the college’s annual engineering open house, the Office of Recruitment, Outreach and Scholarship employs exciting and engaging programming year round that exposes K-12 students to the world of engineering.

SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

ENSURING ENGINEERING’S FUTURE The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering is committed to providing the best student-centered engineering experience in America. Our donors are central to this mission. These alumni, friends of the college and corporate partners provide essential academic and programmatic support that elevates our college. Scholarships, fellowships, professorships, laboratories, classrooms, programs — every part of the work we do here is touched by the support of our donors.

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP TEAM The Strategic Leadership Team exists to help move the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering’s highest-level strategic priorities forward. Since it was established, the team has contributed more than $200 million to propel these priorities.

12%

of all funds raised were spendable

LARGEST AREAS OF SUPPORT Scholarships: The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering provided more than $6.5 million in engineering scholarships in the 2025-26 academic year, supporting a total of 1,697 students.

77.3% of funds received went to scholarships — a total of $31.2 million raised toward the total endowment.

Programmatic: The college raised $8.45 million for programmatic support. These funds are mostly unrestricted Funds for Excellence, which allow the dean and department chairs to meet priority goals for the college.

88%

of all funds raised were endowed

WHAT OUR DONORS ARE SUPPORTING STUDENTS / $32.1 million PROGRAMS / $8.45 million FACULTY / $493,704 FACILITIES / $88,750

In fiscal year 2025

1,604 DONORS 4,747 GIFTS $40 MILLION DEAN’S REPORT 2025-26

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RESEARCH CENTERS HUMAN SYSTEMS INTEGRATION CENTER REBRANDS TO REFLECT PEOPLE-CENTERED RESEARCH

BY DUSTIN DUNCAN “This gives us a common language,” Schall said. “When people hear ‘human systems integration,’ they understand that the work is about people, systems and how the two come together.”

Schall said human systems integration is a peoplecentered approach to understanding, designing and improving complex systems. The field examines how humans interact with technology, work environments and organizational structures, with the goal of improving performance, safety and overall effectiveness. He said the term better reflects the center’s interdisciplinary expertise and the practical challenges it addresses.

Auburn Engineering’s Human Systems Integration Center has adopted a new name that more clearly reflects the scope of its research, education and outreach while preserving its longstanding mission and programs.

Formerly the Center for Occupational Safety, Ergonomics and Injury Prevention, the center — housed within the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering — adopted the new name to better communicate its work to broader audiences, according to Mark Schall, the center’s director.

“We’re not changing what we do,” said Schall, the Daniel F. & Josephine Breeden professor of industrial and systems engineering. “We’re changing how we describe it. The work has always focused on people and how they interact with systems, and this name captures that focus more accurately.”

Schall added that the updated name also helps communicate the center’s work more clearly to external audiences, including industry partners and federal agencies, many of whom may be unfamiliar with more specialized terminology.

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“At its core, this is about keeping the human at the center,” Schall said. “Whether we’re working in occupational health, human factors or broader systems research, we’re studying how people function within those systems and how those systems can be designed to better support them.”

The rebrand also aligns closely with the department, reflecting how industrial and systems engineers approach complex challenges by integrating technical, organizational and human considerations.

“This is closely aligned with how our department thinks about engineering problems,” Schall said. “Human systems integration describes that intersection in a way that feels natural and accurate.”

While the name has changed, Schall emphasized that the center’s educational programs, research focus and partnerships remain the same.

Students enrolled in existing programs will experience no changes to curriculum or training, and ongoing research and outreach efforts will continue as usual.

“Our programs are still operating as they always have,” Schall said. “Our role in occupational health and safety education and research remains unchanged, and those areas remain an important part of who we are.”

NEXTFLEX PARTNERS WITH AUBURN ENGINEERING FOR NEW REGIONAL HYBRID ELECTRONICS NODE

BY JEREMY HENDERSON Auburn Engineering is expanding its leadership in harsh-environment electronics with the establishment of a new statewide hub focused on advanced electronics packaging and manufacturing.

In partnership with NextFlex and the state of Alabama, Auburn will lead the Alabama Node, a regional center designed to accelerate research, technology transition and workforce development in flexible hybrid electronics.

The initiative aims to strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness while providing companies across Alabama with access to advanced facilities, equipment and expertise.

Flexible hybrid electronics combine traditional semiconductor components with flexible materials, enabling systems that are lighter, more adaptable and capable of operating in extreme conditions such as aerospace, automotive and defense environments.

The Alabama Node will support adoption of hybrid electronics design, development and manufacturing, while expanding workforce programs such as FlexFactor and FlexFactor Pro. The goal is to lower barriers for companies — particularly small- and medium-sized manufacturers — to integrate advanced electronics into their products and processes.

The initiative builds on Auburn’s more than 25-year

legacy in electronics packaging research and was announced during the NextFlex Workshop on Automotive and Aerospace Flexible Hybrid Electronics, held at the Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus in Huntsville.

Federal, state and local leaders attended, highlighting the importance of advanced electronics manufacturing to the region and the nation.

“The establishment of the NextFlex Alabama Node at Auburn represents a major milestone in our long-standing commitment to advancing electronics manufacturing and innovation,” said Steve Taylor, senior vice president for research and economic development.

Pradeep Lall, the MacFarlane Distinguished Professor in mechanical engineering and director of Auburn’s Electronics Packaging Research Institute, will lead the Alabama Node.

“Hybrid electronics are transforming industries like automotive and aerospace, enabling lighter, more efficient and more reliable systems,” Lall said. “Through the Alabama Node, Auburn will help drive the innovations that make those technologies possible while training the workforce to sustain U.S. manufacturing leadership.”

NextFlex Executive Director Dan Gamota said Auburn’s leadership expands the institute’s national network across the Southeast.

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR ASPHALT TECHNOLOGY CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF TEST TRACK RESEARCH INNOVATION

BY ALLISON KILLINGSWORTH The National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn Engineering is celebrating 25 years of its worldrenowned Test Track and laboratory facilities — resources that have transformed asphalt pavement research.

Opened in 2000, the 1.7-mile Test Track and NCAT’s lab and administrative facilities in Auburn’s South Technology Park have provided the foundation for sponsor-driven research that continues to shape how roads are designed, built and maintained across the country.

Developed in partnership with the Alabama Department of Transportation, the Test Track offers a full-scale, controlled environment where public agencies and private companies can evaluate materials and pavement designs under accelerated loading. Since trucks first rolled onto the track in September 2000, nine research cycles have examined major topics including Superpave mix validation, open-graded friction courses, pavement structural design, cold recycling, cracking resistance and pavement preservation.

Each sponsor funds one or more test sections, which are subjected to more than 10 million equivalent single-axle loads over a three-year cycle. The resulting performance data provides agencies with a reliable basis for updating specifications, selecting materials and improving longterm pavement performance.

“The NCAT Test Track has provided the Tennessee Department of Transportation with a powerful tool for making informed, data-driven decisions in our pavement program,” said Heather Purdy, director of TDOT’s Materials and Tests Division. “The research investments TDOT has made at the Track have delivered a substantial return, positively shaping our program.”

TDOT has participated in every research cycle since the track opened, supporting efforts such as balanced mix design evaluations and thick-thin lift studies. The Virginia Department of Transportation has similarly applied findings from its test sections to advance pavement recycling techniques and inform reconstruction and widening projects across its interstate system.

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Beyond individual studies, the track has helped reduce risk across the asphalt industry. By generating realworld performance data, NCAT enables agencies and contractors to adopt new materials and technologies with greater confidence, accelerating implementation and improving outcomes nationwide.

The Test Track’s impact is reinforced by NCAT’s 40,000-square-foot AASHTO-accredited laboratory, which supports performance testing under realistic aging and loading conditions. The facility, developed through a partnership involving Auburn, the National Asphalt Pavement Association’s Research and Education Foundation and the city of Auburn, expanded access to advanced testing capabilities and technical expertise.

Together, the Test Track and laboratory have established NCAT as a national hub for applied pavement research, supported by more than 30 sponsoring organizations and

a team of more than 60 researchers, engineers, staff and drivers. This collaborative model has produced a quartercentury of practical, implementable research that has directly improved roadway performance across the United States.

“The Test Track and our labs have shown what’s possible when research and real-world needs come together,” said NCAT Director Randy West. “For 25 years, our sponsors and staff have helped turn innovation into practice, and we are confident the next 25 will bring even greater advances for the asphalt community and the traveling public.”

Test Track construction began in 1999 with a thick asphalt base and permeable foundation, and early planning efforts — including guidance from former Test Track Associate Director Buzz Powell in 2000 — helped shape the layout still in use today.

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AUBURN TOPS OFF NEW APPLIED RESEARCH INSTITUTE ADDITION IN HUNTSVILLE

BY JEREMY HENDERSON Auburn’s strategic Rocket City research initiatives just keep on rolling.

In July 2025, Turner Construction Company hosted university administrators and city of Huntsville officials at a topping off ceremony for the new 50,000-squarefoot addition to the Auburn University Applied Research Institute (AUARI) in Cummings Research Park.

Located at 905 Mark C. Smith Dr, less than a mile from AUARI’s current campus on Voyager Way, the new facility is a joint venture between Auburn University and the City of Huntsville’s Industrial Development Board. The expansion is backed by a recent $11.4 million Department of Defense contract and will establish the nation’s only university-led radiation hardening test facility.

“This is truly a great day for Auburn,” Steve Taylor, senior vice president for research and economic development told attendees. “We recognized the need for a much more significant presence in Huntsville. This new applied research lab is a critical step in fulfilling our mission to support defense and aerospace partners like the Missile Defense Agency, the Space Development Agency, DEVCOM Aviation and Missile Center and, of course, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.”

In addition to providing rapid prototyping, the facility will focus on radiation hardening — the process of ensuring the durability of microelectronics in the intense radiation environments of space. Equipped with a multi-milliondollar cyclotron, the lab will simulate space radiation to test and evaluate vital defense systems for the Missile Defense Agency.

“Our new capacity to conduct this level of testing is not just important for Auburn or Huntsville — it’s essential for the future of national defense,” Taylor said. “We are proud to partner with the Missile Defense Agency to meet this need, and we’re deeply grateful to the City of Huntsville for being an outstanding partner in this journey.”

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle echoed Taylor’s sentiments.

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“Today is about partnerships,” Battle said. “This is how we (Huntsville) have gotten to where we are. We partner with industry, with research institutions. Your success is our success. This project represents the kind of forwardthinking collaboration that keeps Huntsville growing and leading.”

AUARI executive director Jonathan Pettus expects the new facility to open in August.

“Radiation-hardened testing is absolutely essential to ensuring that the technologies we rely on for national defense can survive and operate in some of the harshest environments imaginable,” Pettus said. “Unfortunately, testing capabilities along those lines are in critically short supply. This facility will not only fill a vital national capability gap, but it will also help accelerate innovation by giving defense and aerospace agencies a trusted, university-led partner right here in Huntsville.”

AUBURN ENGINEERS CONSTRUCT FLOATING GOLF GREEN AT UNIQUE LOCAL VENUE

BY JEREMY HENDERSON Thanks to a team of Auburn engineers, it’s no longer “Have you been to Botanic yet?” It’s “Have you seen the floating chipping green at Botanic yet?”

Design and construction of the custom-built installation provided a unique learning opportunity for students and faculty from multiple disciplines curious about the complexities of engineering, buoyancy and sustainable energy. The green has been anchored in the pond on the distinctive restaurant and gathering space’s 12-acre Opelika property since November.

While floating chipping greens are slowly gaining popularity nationwide as social, so-called “off-course” golf amenities, no team member had actually seen one up close — let alone built one.

“This was a real-world engineering problem with no instruction manual,” said Chad Rose, assistant professor of mechanical engineering. “We had to think about waterproofing, solar power, anchoring, electronics and durability all at once. That’s an invaluable for students because it mirrors what happens in industry.”

Dubbed “Botanic Island,” the fully self-contained system features waterproof sensors, analog electronics and feedback mechanisms that register successful shots — all designed to withstand constant exposure to water and the elements.

Oh, and to play the “War Eagle” fight song for a hole-inone.

Christian Brodbeck, director of engineering research operations, says the project’s design constraints pushed the team to think outside the box.

“Nothing about this project was square or simple,” Brodbeck said. “We wanted it to look natural, with curves and topography, but everything also had to survive in the water long-term. Every step revealed challenges we hadn’t anticipated, and that’s where the learning really happened.”

Engineering associate Mal Jenkins led much of the green’s fabrication and assembly.

Jenkins worked closely with students and Lake Martinbased industry partner JSC Docks, which donated the dock framework and provided technical guidance.

“This took months of steady effort, from sourcing materials to shaping the green and finally installing it in the pond,” Jenkins said. “Seeing it float and function was pretty satisfying.”

Early conceptual sketches and layout guidance were provided by the team’s resident golfer, Jerrod Windham, an associate professor in Auburn’s School of Industrial and Graphic Design, who helped shape the green’s form, orientation and visual appeal.

Tom Hill, who recently retired from his role as principal research engineer at Auburn’s National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence, was also instrumental in Botanic Island’s design. Hill developed the requisite CAD drawings, scaling the 8th hole of the Auburn University Club’s golf course as the model for the green’s natural kidney bean shape.

“It’s a great example of taking complex theoretical problems and solving them in ways that benefit our community,” says Mario Eden, dean of engineering. “It’s one thing to design a circuit in a dry lab. It’s another to build a self-sustaining system that has to live in a pond.

We’re always looking for ways to bridge the classroom and the real world. I’d say this is one of the cooler ones I’ve seen.”

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