new faculty
ADDING TO A Long Line of LEADERSHIP New faculty members advance Mines’ reputation for excellence
Anne Silverman
Cory Ahrens
Cory Ahrens, an assistant professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, is developing more accurate and faster ways to solve the radiation transport equation — the solutions to which could help researchers better model solar radiation transport through the atmosphere or electron penetration of a cancerous tumor during radiotherapy. “By developing more accurate and efficient ways of solving the radiation transport equation, people can achieve a better understanding of global warming, design more effective radiotherapy cancer treatments and design safer and more efficient nuclear reactors,” Ahrens said. 16 Mines Professor Jörg Drewes
Colorado School of Mines
Anne Silverman, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, specializes in musculoskeletal biomechanics aiming to improve mobility for people with disabilities. “Improving mobility leads to a greater quality of life for the patient as well as greater productivity and reduced medical costs, which helps the overall community,” Silverman said. “As engineers, we have many tools that can largely impact rehabilitation.” Using computer models, Silverman is getting a better understanding of how muscles contribute to movement and balance as well as energy costs and loads on joints. In her lab, she measures the human body’s motion to determine the walking challenges of those who are disabled. “My work to date has focused on people with amputations between the knee and the ankle. To rehabilitate these patients effectively, we need to understand the function a prosthetic device should provide to achieve a given motion, as well as how the body interacts with and adapts to that device,” she said. “This knowledge will result in improved prosthetic designs as well as standardized goals for rehabilitation after amputation.”