Fairfield School of Engineering Update

SCHOOL OF

ENGINEERING

U P DAT E FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2021

THE FUTURE OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE | SPRING 2021 i

Welcome Dean Andres Leonardo Carrano, PhD

T

You took on your new role as dean of Fairfield’s School of Engineering in the midst of a pandemic. What was your first semester at Fairfield like?

Actually, I accepted this job before the pandemic really started. So, essentially, I had to throw away my initial plans and ideas and adapt to the change — something we often teach our students to do, by the way.

Nothing from my technical education prepared me to lead our School of Engineering from a virtual platform: running multiple teams of people (most of whom I had not met) through online meetings is a bit like flying solo… and by instruments! So, I had to go back to our primary objectives ­— the creation and dissemination of knowledge — and probe our fundamental value proposition as a school.

Since the pandemic, we have been engaged in reimagining how to conduct our research and teaching activities — things we have done the exact same way for decades — with different, innovative methods. So, in a way, we’ve embraced the paradigm disruption and used the circumstances to examine our fundamental purpose.

What attracted you to Fairfield University?

Undoubtedly, the framework of Ignatian education that guides Jesuit universities presented me with a new purpose. I have a deep appreciation for the “whole person” (cura personalis) formation, head-and-heart and intellect-and-emotion, that our institutions strive to provide. I believe that students graduating from Jesuit engineering schools are powerful agents of change because — in addition to a solid, ethics-grounded engineering education — they display excellent communication skills, and well-rounded knowledge in the humanities and languages. More importantly, a Jesuit-educated engineer possesses an ingrained understanding of the larger issues – for example, poverty, socioeconomic inequities, climate change, environmental racism, et cetera, and is able to use their engineering tool kit to create effective solutions and effect change in those areas. continued on page 2

ii S PR IN G 2 02 1 | SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE

Mismatched DNA and mismatch repair (MMR) protein interactions research

Contents

Illustration by Ella Maru Studio

his fall, Fairfield University welcomed Andres Carrano, PhD, as dean of the School of Engineering and professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Prior to coming to Fairfield, Dean Carrano held positions at Auburn University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Georgia Southern University, and Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in Venezuela.

“I believe that students graduating from Jesuit engineering schools are powerful agents of change.”

ON THE COVER:

SCHOOL OF

ENGINEERING

U P DAT E Andres Leonardo Carrano, PhD Dean Harvey Hoffman, EdD Associate Dean Uma Balaji, PhD Chair, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering Shahrokh Etemad, PhD Chair, Mechanical Engineering Adrian Rusu, PhD Chair, Computer Science and Engineering Philip Maroney Director of Development Sara Colabella ’08, MA’11 Integrated Marketing Manager Nancy (Gelston) Dobos ’91 Designer Send Inquiries to: School of Engineering Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road Fairfield, CT 06824-5195 203-254-4147 fairfield.edu/soe Follow us on social media: FairfieldUniversitySOE @fairfieldengineering

3 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

The Future of Biomedical Engineering

A Research Center Grows in Bannow Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Fairfield’s School of Engineering Making an Impact

Innovation & Inspiration Meet Fairfield’s New Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering: John Drazan, PhD Student Achievements

School of Engineering Advisory Board

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE | SPRING 2021 1

T

Welcome Dean Carrano, PhD continued from inside cover What makes Fairfield’s engineering programs stand out?

A little-known fact is that, out of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, only 10 institutions offer a full-fledged engineering program — so we already are a part of a select group. Our program is young and old at the same time: it started as the Bridgeport Engineering Institute in 1924, an evening school for working men and women in the area that merged with Fairfield University in 1994. I like to think that we are still in the formative stages of our school but it is evident that our rich industrial roots and history — blended into our current Jesuit identity — have resulted in a very unique (and still evolving) school character. This might very well be our main differentiator in our journey from good to great.

This year, the biomedical engineering program was renamed and the curriculum was updated. What are some of the new changes to the program?

The name change [from bioengineering] to biomedical engineering was meant to provide a stronger identity to our current program — one that is better aligned with the strong industry presence in this sector. Two thirds of the graduates from this program are either employed at a biotech/pharmaceutical company or are actively pursuing a graduate degree in the health sciences.

What excites me the most is the program’s potential for growth and improved gender diversity. Biomedical engineering is a rapidly growing field with increasingly high demand for engineers (the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in the last 10-year period has doubled) and consistently ranks second among the top engineering degrees awarded to women.

Recently, you were appointed to the Advancement Council at the Burke Neurological Institute. Can you tell me a little about that?

What student internship/recruitment opportunities do you anticipate from your connection with the Burke Institute?

The Burke Neurological Institute is a leading research organization affiliated with Weill Cornell Medicine and dedicated to finding cures for chronic neurological diseases. Its location in White Plains, New York is close enough that we anticipate research internship opportunities for our undergraduate students in S biomedical, electrical, and mechanical engineering in the near future. l

2 S PR IN G 2 02 1 | SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE

THE FUTURE OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

he future is bright for Fairfield students interested in biomedical engineering. In addition to the program’s alignment with the University’s Jesuit mission of developing women and men for others, successful biomedical engineers graduate with strong skills in analytical thinking, creativity, communication, working collaboratively, math, and problem-solving.

“The study of biomedical engineering spans the academic disciplines of physiology, biology, biochemistry, informatics, data science, biomechanics, biomaterials, and engineering design, among others,” said School of Engineering Dean Andres Carrano, PhD. “Biomedical engineers apply a diverse skillset to create solutions to continuing worldwide health issues, accelerate efficiency, and expand options as to how patients are treated. Often these paths result in the lowering of the cost of patient care while improving the quality of life.”

Located in the middle of a thriving life-science corridor in the Northeast, the University is well-positioned for students interested in securing internships — and full-time employment after graduation — at a variety of biomedical companies.

The expanded focus of curriculum offerings includes medical devices, biosensors, imaging, materials, and computational bioengineering. “The field is rapidly changing and we are adding new content and projects that will keep students up-to-date with the latest developments,” noted Susan Freudzon, PhD, biomedical engineering professor of the practice.

The School is in the process of developing a 4+1 bachelor-to-master’s program in biomedical engineering, which will allow students to pursue a master’s degree in an accelerated format. Students enrolled in the 4+1 program will have multiple opportunities to become involved with faculty research and projects to broaden their learning experiences.

Opening in spring 2022, a new state-of-the-art innovation space for biomedical engineering students will feature a creative studio, a maker space, and research labs where faculty and students will perform research and pursue innovations together. Additionally, the department has acquired new cutting-edge research equipment including two bioprinters, an electrospinning device that generates nano-sized fibers, and advanced microscopes.

ith enrollment in Fairfield’s biomedical engineering program rapidly growing, the School of Engineering is hiring new faculty members, expanding course offerings, increasing research opportunities, and planning for a new innovation space.

The research interests of new faculty members range from molecular modeling and bioelectronics, to analysis of blood flow in the cortex of the brain, to expertise in biomedical signal processing and biomaterials.

or students interested in an international experience, the University’s study abroad program, Global Fairfield, boasts a biomedical engineering study track at the National University of Ireland in Galway, Ireland. The program features learning opportunities that optimize the international setting and bring an elevated global understanding to the undergraduate experience. Global Fairfield also offers a 4+1 biomedical engineering program that allows students to complete their master’s degree in Galway.

“Our partnership with the National University of Ireland is very strategic because it is located in an important biomedical hub in Europe,” said Dr. Carrano. “Our partnership continues to grow with increasing interest S from our students.” l

W

LEFT: With enrollment rapidly growing, the School of

Engineering is hiring new faculty members, expanding course offerings, increasing research opportunities, and planning for a new innovation space.

Photo by Fairfield University Media Center

F

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE | SPRING 2021 3

A Research Center Grows in Bannow In the Bannow Science Center, research is ongoing that may have implications in the treatment of colorectal cancer, heart failure, and Alzheimer’s disease.

At the center of this quest for medical breakthroughs is assistant professor of biomedical engineering Isaac Macwan, PhD, whose efforts are enhanced by the use of cutting-edge technology and the active involvement of his engineering faculty members and students. “We all work together for a common goal,” said Dr. Macwan, “and that is looking at the health industry and seeing how we can help people in terms of disease prevention and treatment, and quality of life in general.”

4 S PRIN G 2 02 1 | SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE

P

owerful analytical devices called biosensors are key to this research. In a Bannow lab, faculty and students develop biosensors using techniques such as electrospinning, which synthesizes nanometer-size fibers to fabricate a highly porous, flexible biosensor material used to detect a particular molecule, protein, or other biological material.

One of the biosensors being developed is for detection of a hereditary condition called Lynch Syndrome.

Although treatable, this disease is hard to diagnose and increases a person’s risk of several cancers including terminal colorectal cancer.

Dr. Macwan explained, “Whenever a cell divides, there is a group of repair proteins that make sure the DNA of the divided cell is all good and not mismatched anywhere.”

But, he noted, in some people, there is a deficiency of such repair proteins, and down the line, this leads to mutations which can then lead to Lynch Syndrome.

Employing molecular dynamics simulations based on biophysics and biochemistry, Dr. Macwan and his fellow researchers try to understand the interactions of these mismatched DNA and repair proteins.

I

n research related to heart function, Dr. Macwan and his colleagues are studying the use of Graphene Oxide (GO) as a therapeutic strategy against heart failure. More specifically, they are looking at the

molecular interactions of Graphene Oxide (GO) with Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase (NDPK).

“In a normal healthy human heart,” Dr. Macwan said, “NDPK plays a vital role in the synthesis of a molecule called cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) that regulates the beating of the heart and hence the pumping of blood.”

However, NDPK enzymes must bind with “good” G proteins, which are the molecular switches that transmit signals inside the cells, in order to initiate the synthesis of cAMP. When they instead bind with structurally inferior G proteins, the synthesis of cAMP is inhibited, leading to cardiac arrest.

“We are introducing Graphene Oxide to inhibit the interactions between NDPK and the inferior G proteins,” explained Dr. Macwan. Ultimately, he and his colleagues are looking at why the inhibition of cAMP leads to cardiac arrest.

T

he interaction between GO and Amyloid Beta (AB) proteins is also being studied in the Bannow lab, to better understand the plaque formation in the brain that leads to memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease.

The body typically clears these AB proteins, but as people age, the proteins can group and anchor or get attached to pathways for the neurons. Over a period of

time, plaque forms and gives rise to random structures that stop communication between neurons.

“When neurons can’t communicate, people lose their memory,” Dr. Macwan explained. He and his fellow researchers are experimenting with GO as a way to disintegrate and disperse the plaque formation of the Amyloid Beta Proteins.

“It’s very early, in the preliminary stage, but very promising,” he noted.

By learning skills such as how to use Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) software and writing scientific papers, biomedical engineering majors like Jenna Madigan ’22 have enhanced their research experience by learning how to model, simulate, and examine molecular systems. “[Dr. Macwan’s] confidence in us as researchers is inspiring and like him, I hope to work on groundbreaking projects during my career,” said Madigan who is minoring in S mathematics and health studies. l LEFT: Dr. Isaac Macwan’s ongoing research may have implications in the treatment of colorectal cancer, heart failure, and Alzheimer’s disease.

ABOVE FROM LEFT: Bannow’s labs are equipped with

cutting-edge technology; a data rendering for an ongoing research project; Students participate in faculty-led research opportunities.

Photos by Fairfield University Media Center SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE | SPRING 2021 5

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION AT FAIRFIELD’S SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

P

rofessor Douglas Lyon, PhD, PE believes in the importance of having a viable prototype – in addition to a business plan – when pitching a startup idea to potential investors. “A working prototype removes some of the execution risk and exponentially adds value to a new venture,” he explained.

One of the places Dr. Lyon turns to when helping graduate students enrolled in his “Engineering Entrepreneurship” class to fund the creation of prototypes for their business ideas is CTNext, which describes itself as “a quasi-public subsidiary of Connecticut Innovations” that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship within the Nutmeg State.

Since CTNext began its Higher Education Innovation and Entrepreneurship Grant Program in 2018, Dr. Lyon has been awarded several grants to help School of Engineering students create prototypes and launch their entrepreneurial projects.

Whether pitching a business plan in a startup competition or bringing a new product to the marketplace, Dr. Lyon stressed that judges and investors like to see prototypes, “because in addition to removing execution risk from the endeavor, it shows commitment on behalf of the team.” Many of the new products developed in his course have gone on to become Kickstarter campaigns.

6 S PRIN G 2 02 1 | SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE

With a focus on the commercialization of innovation, Dr. Lyon said his “Engineering Entrepreneurship” course teaches engineers not just to be employable, but “trains them to be employers.” The class offers mentorship, a collaborative environment, and a hands-on experiential forum for students to navigate both the successes and failures of starting an earlystage company.

In addition to his course, Dr. Lyons is the president of the Inventors Association of Connecticut, a non-profit organization that helps Connecticut inventors and entrepreneurs navigate commercial success for their inventions. Members of the association include inventors, entrepreneurs, executives, consultants, engineers, marketers, venture capitalists, designers, and attorneys.

Prior to the pandemic, the association hosted lectures regularly on campus featuring speakers from the industry. Since the start of Covid-19, Dr. Lyons has shifted the lectures to a virtual platform, allowing the association to bring in speakers from across the country. This year’s presentations will welcome Linda Lerner from Halloran Farkas Kittila LLP; Kim Lisa Taylor, Esq. from Syndication Attorneys, PLLC; Becca Brown, inventor of SoleMates™; and Bill Erickson, who will present “The DeFi Revolution - Reprogramming Money and S Finance.” l

Douglas Lyon, PhD, PE

“A working prototype removes some of the execution risk and exponentially adds value to a new venture.”

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE | SPRING 2021 7

JENNA MADIGAN ’22:

MAKING AN IMPACT

I

n keeping with the mission of Fairfield University’s Jesuit values, specifically the concept of men and women for others, the School of Engineering inspires students to become leaders of integrity within the industry.

Through their comprehensive curriculum, students are given opportunities to conduct innovative, in-depth research with faculty mentors. This hallmark of a solid educational experience offers students a chance to put their academic skills to the test, explore their passions, and make a difference.

When biomedical engineering major Jenna Madigan ’22 learned of the DNA research project being conducted by professor of electrical and biomedical engineering Isaac Macwan, PhD, she knew she wanted to participate in the study. “After reading literature on the topic,” she said, “I knew this concept had the potential to give special results and to hopefully help those suffering from Lynch Syndrome.”

Madigan first became interested in the biomedical engineering field as a high school student taking advanced placement courses in biology and mathematics. It was in those courses where she saw the potential to effect change. “Biomedical engineering became my path in high school. It’s a way to impact many people, from a backseat role, through the creation of new medical devices,” she explained.

The current junior chose Fairfield for its intimate class size, renowned faculty, and career connections. She noted that the small class sizes allow her to connect and create a

8 S PRIN G 2 02 1 | SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE

bond with her classmates while also getting to know and work with professors on research studies.

Under the guidance of Dr. Macwan, Madigan’s current project, “Interactions Between Mismatch Repair Protein, MutS, and 50 bp Mismatched DNA,” examines the process of DNA repair, specifically a protein called MutSbeta that recognizes mismatches. Madigan explained that though DNA replication is extremely accurate, it will make an incorrect match about every 100,000 bases. MutSbeta recognizes this mismatch and initiates the rest of the process to remove, refill, and reseal the gap in the strand.

“The scope of our research project impacts more than just the letter sequence of DNA. The deficiency of the protein we are studying gives rise to Lynch Syndrome, which causes colorectal cancer,” said Madigan. “With our knowledge about the function of this protein, we hope to be able to possibly identify the lack of MutSbeta in humans and therefore acknowledge the precursor to colorectal cancer earlier for proper treatment and medical care.”

Madigan and her research team are in the process of preparing to present their work virtually at the 2021 American Chemical Society meeting in April. She noted, “Attending this conference will allow us to share our findings while connecting with the community of scientists also making discoveries in our field.”

For Madigan, her research at Fairfield with Dr. Macwan is just the first step in what she hopes will be a lifetime of learning. “I am fascinated with the growing field of biotechnology and I want to continue to learn and evolve S with the field.” l

Jenna Madigan ’22

“ Biomedical engineering became my path in high school. It’s a way to impact many people, from a backseat role, through the creation of new medical devices.”

RIGHT: Jenna Madigan’s research under the guidance of Dr. Macwan examines the process of DNA repair.

She will be presenting her research at the American Chemical Society virtual conference.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE | SPRING 2021 9

Innovation & Inspiration

in Student Design Projects In the project-based “Medical Device Design” course taught

by Susan Freudzon, PhD, biomedical engineering professor of the practice, senior biomedical engineering students are guided through important stages of the medical device product lifecycle, from generating project ideas to designing a medical device prototype.

MEGHAN STEVENS ’21

Portable Wheelchair Ramp A common challenge faced by wheelchair users is the lack of ramps at building entryways. To address this issue of accessibility, Meghan Stevens ’21 designed a lightweight, affordable, portable wheelchair ramp that features a handle, grooves on the ramp for added user-safety, and hinges to allow the user to fold the ramp for storage.

“When wheelchair users travel outside their home or apartment, they often encounter issues passing over curbs or have difficulty entering a building with steps,” Stevens noted.

10 S PR IN G 2 02 1 | SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE

TODD RICHARDS ’21

ANNE NEBBIA ’21

FERRIS MAKHLOUF ’21

Reusable Face Shield Design

Anti-fogging Device for Mask and Eyeglass Wearers

Wearable Vital Sign Technology

When engineering student Todd Richards ’21 spoke with nursing students at Fairfield’s Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies, he heard stories of how they had to reuse their face shields over the course of several months during the pandemic. After researching user needs, material options, and competitor products, Richards used CAD modeling to design a face shield with a head strap similar to a head lamp and a detachable shield.

“The shield itself would be removable for cleaning or replacement if necessary, and the same would go for the padding that rests on the inner band of the face shield,” Todd explained.

Since the start of the pandemic, eyeglass wearers have experienced a singular challenge — fogged glasses due to condensation from breathing. To combat this issue, Anne Nebbia ’21 developed an anti-fogging device designed as a reusable rubber-coated magnetic piece that clips directly to a mask. The flexible clip blocks condensation and prevents air from escaping towards the glasses, ultimately preventing glasses from fogging.

“Due to Covid-19,” Nebbia said, “everyone is wearing masks in public places and glasses wearers are starting to understand the frustration that healthcare professionals have been dealing with for years.”

In the wake of the pandemic, there has been a wave of new health-related technology to address illness prevention, but Ferris Makhlouf ’21 noticed there wasn’t a device to record a person’s daily health information and analyze it. Makhlouf set out to design a wearable vital sign technology that pairs with a user’s phone to record and store daily health vitals, similar to an Apple watch.

“A new aspect of this wearable technology design was to have all data uploaded into an app with an integrated Cloud,” said Makhlouf. “The data of all users could be collected and a mass amount of information could connect to a healthcare service that detects patterns and learns new things about the public’s vitals.”

NICOLE TYC ’21

SALENA HINGORANI ’21

MultiPaci: A One-and-Done Multi-Tool for Infant Care

Fingerprint Scanner for Medical Data Transfer

After speaking with pharmacists and parents, Nicole Tyc ’21 set out to create an accessible and affordable way to deliver medicine in a pacifier device rather than via current products on the market, such as syringes. Her project, Multipaci, is an easyto-use 3-in-1 pacifier that allows parents to take their child’s temperature and administer medications; plus it converts into a teether.

Of her simple and affordable prototype, Tyc noted, “The MultiPaci is designed to be safe and easy to clean, with the ability to provide accurate temperature readings and dispense medicine. Plus, it needed to be attractive to infants and small children to promote use.”

After several interviews, Salena Hingorani ’21 discovered that nurses have to manually input telemetry data for a patient. To address this issue, she designed a fingerprint scanner that automatically uploads medical data to the Epic program.

“This would be done using Python, which codes the keystrokes so it would enter the data seamlessly. This would save nurses from having to input data manually into the charting program themselves, making their patient interactions more efficient,” Hingorani explained.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE | SPRING 2021 11

SLAM DUNK THROUGH STEM SERVICE

also a great preparation for medical school.

What type of equipment will students be using in the biomedical lab?

We’re still building out the lab, but we will have a motion capture system to measure human movement, a mobile ultrasound system to study tissue structure in the musculoskeletal system, and we’ll be building several custom devices to measure muscle structure and function.

One of the challenges of human subject research is the difficulty in studying large groups of people, so we end up doing “convenience sampling” (using other students in experiments, for example). At UPenn, I designed and deployed low-cost, mobile measurement devices to collect human biomechanical data within orthopedic clinics to understand patient recovery. At Fairfield, I plan to deploy these tools in the surrounding community to collect biomechanical data in locations convenient to the local community rather than researchers.

Meet Fairfield’s New Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering: John Drazan, PhD Currently an NIH Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award postdoctoral fellow in the University of Pennsylvania’s Human Motion Lab, John Drazen, PhD’s research focuses on building mobile biomechanical devices to study how changes in muscle structure following injury or training impacts function.

Among his many accolades is the 2020 Early Career Award for Public Engagement from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in recognition of his work to inspire a new generation of students to engage in STEM through sports, and “Best Research Paper” at the MIT-Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. Dr. Drazan will join the School of Engineering in fall 2021.

You describe yourself as an interdisciplinary biomedical engineer. Can you explain?

The cool thing about biomedical engineering is that we’re not united by a specific disciplinary approach. We are united by the application of engineering to human health.

The field includes biomechanics, device design, and systemic application of engineering principles to improve human health through any means necessary.

My specialty is biomechanics; in other words, understanding how people move, what impacts that movement, and how that impacts human health.

You’ve engaged students in sports mechanics as a way to introduce them to the field of biomechanics. Can you talk about this?

Science is simply the process of asking and answering 12 S PR IN G 2 02 1 | SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE

questions you find interesting, and many kids are interested in sports. Sports analytics can provide a tangible application of math and statistics, allowing students to gather data, analyze it, and link it directly to their own performance.

For the past decade, I’ve served as the STEM director of 4th Family Inc., a grassroots non-profit based out of Albany, N.Y. We found that students who are not traditionally engaged in STEM are motivated to use STEM concepts as a tool for basketball training. Our afterschool program has grown to a national one partnering with professional sports organizations such as the NBA Summer League. In the past eight years, we have worked with over 10,000 students to deliver STEM education through sports biomechanics.

You spent a year teaching at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, the country’s first degree-granting, historically Black college.

How did this inform your teaching?

I always emphasize undergraduate involvement in technical research, especially among students belonging to underrepresented minority groups. I’m also a huge proponent of service learning. One of the first conversations I have with students is to ask, “What is your WHY?” They have different motivations. I get to tie what I’m doing to their motivations, and when you dig deep enough students inevitably say they want to help people.

What are you looking forward to at Fairfield University?

Service learning allows you to tap into that desire and use it to motivate students. At Lincoln, my students created lessons on anatomy and physiology for 60 urban high school students, emphasizing Lincoln alumni who distinguished themselves in the sciences.

What opportunities are open to graduates with an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering?

The sky’s the limit. Biomedical engineering is a beautiful preparation for any number of careers related to human health. Biomedical engineering is simply a way to apply engineering principles to solving any problem in human health. A graduate might work with different firms making orthopedic implants or biomedical devices, or in biomanufacturing or vaccine development, for example. It’s

It’s obvious that Fairfield really values service and public engagement, and that fits nicely with my values as a researcher and educator. I’m also a fan of a liberal arts education. It was beneficial to me as an undergraduate at SUNY Geneseo, and I believe it’s what prepared me to identify which medical problems to tackle and to communicate my findings to a range of audiences.

Joining Fairfield University is an opportunity to train a new generation of biomedical engineers who not only perform correct analyses, but who use these skills to positively S impact those most marginalized in our society. l

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING FAST FACTS

13:1 Undergraduate student-to-professor ratio

$68,499

100%

Placement Rate* six months after graduation

Median starting salary* for Fairfield University SOE graduates

*Based on respondents to Class of 2020 survey

A SAMPLING OF COMPANIES THAT HIRE FAIRFIELD SOE GRADUATES

ABOVE LEFT: Dr. Drazan served as the STEM director

of non-profit 4th Family Inc. where he delivered STEM education through sports biomechanics to students.

Photo by 4th Family Inc. SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE | SPRING 2021 13

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS B.S. in Biomedical Engineering B.S. in Computer Science B.S. in Electrical Engineering B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETIES 3D Printing Club American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Engineering Student Society (ESS) Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Tau Beta Phi (Engineering Honor Society)

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHT

Reaching for the Stars When Nicholas Jensen ’21 signed up for his core religious studies course focusing on Ignatian spirituality, he had no idea it would change his life. But that is exactly what happened. as a software engineer and writing adInspired to consider his calling, the vanced algorithms.

School of Engineering undergraduate For his next assignment, Jensen thought about his childhood bedroom worked on a magnetic separation projwith its photos of astronauts on the ect that expanded his computer and walls, his dream of working in space, mechanical engineering skills. His and stories shared by an uncle who diligent efforts led to a third project, worked at an aerospace firm. for which he joined a subgroup within “My Jesuit spiritual advisor encourthe magnetic separation project to deaged me to find my talents and move velop new robotics systems and work toward the things that I love,” said on his own patents.

Jensen, a computer engineering major Jensen credits his comprehensive from Mount Sinai, N.Y. “Space is one Fairfield education with providing a of them. It pushed me to look for a great foundation for his NASA internNASA internship.”

Nicholas Jenson ’21 at the Kennedy Space Center ships. “I took interdisciplinary courses,” Encouraged by engineering faculty he noted. “Physics, computer networks, mechanical engineering — members, Jensen went on to land three internship projects with the not just computer science courses.”

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), over a School of Engineering Associate Dean Harvey Hoffman, EdD, 12-month period spanning from January 2020 to January 2021. pointed out that Jensen’s internship projects offered an amazing opHis endeavors will help to inform work on future spacecraft misportunity to work with researchers and engage in real-life challenging sions in NASA’s Artemis program. “It’s cool to be one of the first work. “Nicholas, like all NASA interns, was challenged to think outStags to kind of leave a footprint on Mars or the moon,” said Jensen, side the box, take initiative, develop innovative ideas, and deliver rewho finished his undergraduate engineering studies in January with sults,” Dr. Hoffman said. “NASA management was so impressed with minors in computer science and mathematics. his ideas that they offered to patent a design that he came up with.”

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the nation, NASA internJensen looks back fondly on his days as a young kid building ships for some college students understandably ended. But Jensen rocket models and dreaming of working in space. “That’s where got to be in the first group to intern for NASA remotely at home. it all began,” he said. “It’s cool to think all these years later, I got to His first assignment was with the NASA Neil A. Armstrong Flight S work for NASA on some really amazing stuff.” l Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base in California, working

14 S PR IN G 2 02 1 | SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

GRADUATE PROGRAMS Data Science Electrical and Computer Engineering Management of Technology

2020-21 Bridgeport Engineering Institute Scholarship

Jacob Cassidy ’22

Nwachukwu Ibekwe ’22 Jenna Madigan ’22 Bibek Timalsina ’22

Alexander Freedman ’22

Martha Rogers Bridgeport Engineering Institute Scholarship

Rohindraj Kumaramangalam Kandasamy ’22

Chloe Stokinger ’22

J. Gerard Phelan Scholarship Khalela Stevens ’21

Xiaojia Chen ’22 Alexander DeGeorge ’22 Stephen Gosselin ’23 Ricky Jagroo ’22 Kostiantyn Kaldaras ’22

Fall 2020 NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium Awardees

Aina March Razakamanantsoa EE’22

Mechanical Engineering

Chloe Stokinger BE’22

Stephanie Brij-Raj ’21

Software Engineering

Bibek Timalsina CS’22

Samuel Dorman ’21

Aarushi Vijay CS’22

Cole Hansen ’21

Aaron White ME’21

Ohsafa Isaiah Harding ’21

Neha Yadav MOT’21

Michael Kayal ’21 Alan Kristie ’21

Thanh Le ’22

Robert Merlino ’21

Samantha Lloyds ’22

Phuc Nguyen ’21

Daniel Mansilla ’22

Giles Ruck ’21

Nicholas McNamara ’21

Thiago Silva ’21

Casey Mott ’22

Paul duToit ’21

Emmanuel Noi ’22

Maxwell Vazquez ’21

Teresa Nguyen ’22

Cristian Zuniga ’21

Prathna Pel ’21

Chizimuzo Chibuko ’22 Brian Feeney ’22 Shaun Ormiston ’22

2020-21 Bernadette and John Porter Scholarship Shamrock Barrera ’22 George Bellos ’22 Rian Boutin ’22 Lam Bui ’22 Yoshua Carrera ’22

Hardiman Scholars Fund Aaron Banson ’21

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS Cybersecurity Data Science and Big Data Technology

Louis Benoit ’21 Andrew Caplan ’21 Adrian Gallant ’21

Network Technology

Cesar Gavilano ’21

Web and Mobile Application Development

Andre Hernandez ’21 Michael Kayal ’21 Logan Pensa ’21

Aarushi Vijay ’22

2020-21 Inductees to Tau Beta Phi, Fairfield’s Engineering Honor Society

Tianyu Yang ’22

Rian Boutin CS’22

Aina March Razakamanantsoa ’22

Alexis Zaveruha Bridgeport Engineering Institute Scholarship

Cybersecurity

Andrew Caplan CS’21

Fairfield County Instrument Society of America Scholarship

Jacob Cassidy EE’22

Christopher Lafky ’22

Ky Duyen Le BE’22

Ky Duyen Le ’22

Christian Hakim CS’21

Kristen Oliger ’22

Salena Hingorani EE’21

Nwachukwu Ibekwe ME’22

Society of American Military Engineers Scholarship

Julia Kiefer ME’21

Anne Nebbia ’21

Jenna Madigan BE’22

Anthony Chiappetta MOT’21

Guillem Perez I Petrenas ’22 Robert Merlino ’21 Khalela Stevens ’21 Maxwell Vazquez ’21 Cristian Zuniga ’21

Chizimuzo Chibuko BE’22

Thanh Le CS’22 Mark Mozdzer MOT’21

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE | SPRING 2021 15

CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY BOARD

Robert Sobolewski ’70

W

hen Robert (Bob) Sobolewski ’70 attended Fairfield University, he was inspired by Fairfield’s emphasis on what he calls “the Fairfield philosophy” — helping others and giving back to the community. It was that Fairfield philosophy and his experience within the manufacturing field that inspired Sobolewski to support educational programs involving STEM. Twenty-five years ago, Sobolewski began his volunteer work with the non-profit organization FIRST Robotics (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), which inspires students to pursue STEM careers.

In 2014, he joined the organization’s national executive advisory board. “By the time I retired this fall,” said Sobolewski “we were a global organization and many of our sponsors were also Fortune 50 companies.”

In 2012, Sobolewski launched his own non-profit, called ingenuityNE, to support FIRST regional and chapter programs in New England. “When we started the program, we inherited 5,000 students mostly in high school and some in elementary school. When I turned it over to the next generation this past fall, we had over 13,000 students in the program and 2,000 volunteers. It is something I am very proud of.”

Sobolewski retired from his role as president & CEO of ebm-papst, Inc., a privately held German manufacturing company, in 2015, before forming Bob Sobolewski Consulting LLC, through which he shares valuable insights with business leaders and their management teams.

A 1970 Fairfield alumnus, Sobolewski has been offering his volunteer services to his alma mater since 2009.

As current chair of the Executive Advisory Board for Fairfield’s School of Engineering, he is encouraged by the success the University has had since his time as a student and he hopes to work alongside Dean Andres Carrano, PhD, to expand the national reputation of Fairfield’s engineering programs and grow the Executive Advisory Board.

On his continued involvement with the University he says, “I always thought that the School of Engineering was a hidden gem. Being engaged with the University allows you to meet other people who have the same goals and ideas. You learn from them, exchange ideas, and develop friendships. You can have an effect just by S participating.” l

2020-21 ADVISORY BOARD CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Robert Sobolewski ’70 President and CEO of Bob Sobolewski Consulting Jean-Paul Boillot, P. Eng., M.Sc., IWE CEO, Servo-Robot, Inc. Michael J. Buckenmeyer ’11, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow, National Cancer Institute John E. Butala Vice President of Technology, O’Keefe Controls Co. Alicia J. Carroll, Esq. Associate Attorney, Locke Lord LLP Frank J. Fanzilli Senior Advisor, Credit Suisse Melissa Fensterstock Co-Founder & CEO, Landsdowne Labs Michael J. Harnett, PhD President & Chief Executive Officer, RBC Bearings John LaViola Vice President of Business Development, Hologic, Inc. Timothy O’Neil Senior Director for Advanced Technology Programs, ASML

VISION

PURPOSE

The School of Engineering will be a recognized leader in modern, experiential-based engineering education and known for innovative, applied research that, together, fosters a student-centered and researchfocused educational experience that prepares graduates for successful and rewarding careers in service to others.

We believe a strong, experientially based curriculum, supported by faculty with an applied research focus will lead to: • Enhanced academic reputation.

• Increased scholarship (i.e., scholarship of application, scholarship of teaching and learning).

• Students, imbued with the serviceto-humanity character of the engineering profession, prepared to meet the future challenges of a rapidly evolving, technology-based society.

MISSION The School of Engineering is dedicated to: (1) providing transformative educational experiences that prepare our graduates for successful careers; (2) advancing engineering knowledge through applied research; and, (3) supporting the University’s mission of whole-person development (cura personalis) by inculcating into our students the service-to-humanity character of the engineering profession.

Ronald M. Rossetti ’95, PE, PMP Manager, Electric Capital Projects, Avangrid

VALUES “Our Ethics in Action” • Excellence in all we do • Engagement at every level • Innovation across all disciplines • Character as a foundation of Leadership • Diversity and Inclusion in all things • Service to Humanity as a lifelong goal

Ronald M. Salvatore ’64 Chairman, Accurate Lock & Hardware Deacon Patrick Toole Episcopal Delegate of Administration & Secretary of the Curia, Diocese of Bridgeport LEFT: Students engage in a lab experience.

Photos by Fairfield University Media Center 16 S PR IN G 2 02 1 | SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE | SPRING 2021 iii

1073 North Benson Road Fairfield, Connecticut 06824-5195

F O L LOW FA I R F I E L D U N I V E R S I T Y O N S O C I A L M E D I A

iv S PR IN G 2 02 1 | SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING UPDATE