In the 2024-2025 academic year, MAE faculty continued to pursue excellence, accumulating high honors for teaching, research, and service in areas ranging from modular robotic fleets to language learning models. Accolades included an NSF CAREER award and recognition as a Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year.
Susanta Ghosh Wins NSF CAREER Award for Machine Learning Advances in Materials Design
By Coby-Dillon English
For his research in machine learning-based electron density prediction, MAE researcher Susanta Ghosh has been recognized with one of the National Science Foundation's highest honors.
Ghosh, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Michigan Technological University, has won a $669,490 NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award for his research project "Bayesian Symmetry-Respecting Machine Learning Framework for Predicting Electronic Structures in Materials Design."
Science Foundation's most prestigious award in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education. The honor also recognizes their rising ability to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.
Read the full story about Ghosh's NSF CAREER Award.
Jaclyn Johnson Receives Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award
By Coby-Dillon English
Jaclyn Johnson, teaching professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is one of three recipients of the 2025 Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award. The awards are presented annually by the Michigan Association of State Universities (MASU) to recognize outstanding contributions and dedication to the education of undergraduate students exhibited by the faculty from Michigan's 15 public universities.
"Johnson's dedication is not simply to teaching, but to inspiring those she teaches, and this is the hallmark of an educator that is dedicated to fostering growth—educationally, professionally and personally," said Andrew J. Storer, provost and senior vice president for Jaclyn Johnson Receives Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Awardacademic affairs at Michigan Tech. "Her drive to inspire and foster growth across all aspects of her many and varied educational activities makes her ideally suited for this prestigious award."
Read the full story about Johnson's Distinguished Professor of the Year Award.
New Faculty Spotlights
By Becky Barnard
Chloe He
Chloe He joined the department as an assistant teaching professor in fall 2024. She earned her BA in Environmental and Energy Engineering from Beijing Technological University, her MS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from New Mexico State University, and her PhD in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics from Michigan Tech. She previously worked in the department as a lecturer.
He's research specializes in heat transfer with a particular focus on leveraging chemical surface treatment techniques to enhance thermal performance in experimental settings. After a family member was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, her research expanded to include boundary layer stability analysis over super and hypersonic flow with hopes of improving microfluidic device designs in health applications.
As an instructor, He is looking to expand her involvement in the department and on campus. "While I'm currently teaching courses like Mechanics of Materials, Introductory Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer, and the first mechanical engineering practice course, I have a strong interest in developing aerospacerelated coursework and research," she said. "I also want to continue mentoring students in hands-on and computational research projects and strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations, especially those tied to biomedical applications."
For incoming students, He's advice is to maintain and strengthen their math skills. "Being comfortable with numbers and confident in problem-solving will give students a smoother journey through the fundamentals and into advanced courses," she said. "It's a skill that will pay off across all disciplines in engineering."
Wei Wei
Wei Wei joined the department as an associate professor in fall 2024. She earned her bachelor's degree from East China University of Science and Technology and her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Michigan Tech. Prior to joining MAE, Wei was an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Wichita State University.
Wei's research interests include designing and synthesizing advanced materials, additive manufacturing, renewable energy conversion devices, photocatalytic processes for hydrogen generation, and mechanical properties of composite materials. "The goal is to push the boundaries of what materials can do— whether it's making energy devices more efficient, enhancing durability in extreme environments, or finding innovative ways to manufacture next-generation materials," she said.
Long-term, Wei is working to enhance energy conversion efficiency in order to support the world's growing energy demand and advance sustainable manufacturing practices. "By developing innovative materials and technologies, I aim to contribute to a more efficient and eco-friendly energy landscape while also educating and mentoring future engineers and scientists," she said.
Wei's advice for incoming students is stay curious, ask questions, and seek help when needed. "Take the time to make good friends who will not only be study partners but also a source of encouragement throughout your journey," she said. "Make sure to maintain a healthy balance by setting aside time for activities you enjoy."
Fei Long
Fei Long was named an assistant professor in fall 2024 and has been with the department since 2013 as a research associate and instructor. He received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Shanghai Jiaotong University. Prior to joining MAE, he was a scientist with Burker Nano Surfaces.
Long's current research focuses on the challenges of plastic recycling, including moving from characterization to sorting and purification. He currently works as a researcher in Michigan Tech's solventtargeted recovery and precipitation (STRAP) application, a pilot plant designed to process 20-50 kilograms of plastic waste per hour. "This is a huge teamwork of academic and industrial experts and I believe that STRAP could be a game-changer in the plastic recycling industry," said Long. "I feel fortunate to be part of this team and contribute my expertise."
Focusing on sustainable technologies and advanced manufacturing, Long is hoping to make Michigan Tech a central hub for waste management and recycling for researchers, industry, and students. "I am committed to integrating my research into my teaching to give students exposure to cutting-edge developments in sustainable technologies and material science and to provide opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate research," he said. "I also aim to develop interdisciplinary courses that bridge engineering with other fields like material science and environmental science, focusing on sustainable manufacturing."
Long encourages incoming students to embrace the challenge and think critically about their studies. "Focus on understanding the 'why' behind the concepts, not just memorizing formulas," he said. "Be prepared to work hard and push yourself."
MAE Faculty Honors and Awards
July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025
Our faculty continue to advance the frontiers of mechanical and aerospace engineering, earning prestigious recognition for their groundbreaking research, exceptional teaching, and dedicated service. This past year, their achievements have brought distinction to the department and inspired the next generation of engineers and innovators.
Jung Yun Bae
Jung Yun Bae received a Michigan Tech Institute of Computing and Cybersystems Achievement Award for her outstanding contributions to the ICC's mission. She was recognized for her impactful research on enhancing climate resilience through modular robotic fleets and for serving as an inspiring role model for young women in STEM. In addition, Bae was named a Faculty Fellow at Michigan Tech's Center for Innovation in Sustainability and Resilience, further highlighting her leadership in interdisciplinary research.
Jason Blough
Jason Blough was officially appointed chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and honored with the Enterprise Distinguished Service Award for over 15 years of dedicated service to the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge Enterprise. His pioneering work in snowmobile noise testing laid the groundwork for years of impactful student mentorship through hands-on, experiential learning.
Shawn Brueshaber
Shawn Brueshaber received a Spring 2025 Research Excellence Fund Research Seed Grant from Michigan Tech's Vice President for Research Office. The REF program supports promising early-stage research across campus.
Ana Dyreson
Ana Dyreson was appointed the inaugural associate director of research for the Center for Innovation in Sustainability and Resilience at Michigan Tech. In this role, she will help expand research visibility and foster campuswide collaboration. Dyreson, who leads the Great Lakes Energy Group, conducts impactful research on climate impacts on power systems, with funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the US Department of Energy.
Bill Endres
Bill Endres was selected for the 2025 Deans' Teaching Showcase by College of Engineering Dean Michelle Scherer. Endres was honored for his leadership of the MAE Senior Capstone Design Program, a nationally recognized, industry-sponsored experience that he runs like a business. The program supports 30–40 projects annually and involves 150–200 students, emphasizing teamwork and professional discipline. Scherer called the program "a model of quality and efficacy not only here at Tech, but across the nation."
Brad King
Brad King, the Richard and Elizabeth Henes Endowed Professor in Space Systems, was recognized with an inaugural Enterprise Distinguished Service Award, celebrating over 15 years of dedication to Michigan Tech's Enterprise Program. As the founding advisor of the Aerospace Enterprise, he has mentored generations of students, including those who built the Oculus-ASR nanosatellite that launched with SpaceX in 2019.
Seong-Young Lee
Seong-Young Lee was awarded a threemonth LE STUDIUM Research Professor Fellowship by the Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies in France. His project, titled "Flame Dynamics and Stretching of NH3-Based Fuels Under the Influence of Turbulent Scales," will explore advanced combustion behavior in ammonia-based fuels.
Sriram Malladi
Sriram Malladi and his Vibrations, Intelligent Testing and Active Learning of Structures (VITALS) research group made an impressive mark at the ASME SMASIS 2024 conference, where Malladi was recognized for his dedicated service as Technical Committee chair. His group also received the Conference-Level Best Paper Award.
Jeffrey Naber
Jeffrey Naber, Richard and Elizabeth Henes Professor of Energy Systems, was chosen to lead Michigan Tech's role in a $2.5 million project to develop an advanced medium-duty engine that runs on sustainable natural gas and hydrogen blends. This collaborative effort with John Deere, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the University of Colorado-Boulder aims to develop cleaner fuel alternatives for heavy-duty equipment used in construction and agriculture.
Amitabh Narain
Amitabh Narain was invited to serve as a panelist for "Fundamentals and Applications of Semiconductor Thermal Management" at the ASME Summer Heat Transfer Conference 2025. The panel brought together leading experts from academia and industry to discuss cuttingedge challenges and innovations in thermal management for semiconductor devices and data centers.
Vinh Nguyen
Vinh Nguyen received a Michigan Tech Institute of Computing and Cybersystems Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to the ICC's mission, specifically his work in automation and his leadership of the institute's newly launched Center for Artificial Intelligence. The center aims to push the boundaries of AI research and advance AI education across various domains. Nguyen was also selected as a 2024 ASME Best Reviewer Nominee.
Greg Odegard
Greg Odegard, John O. Hallquist Endowed Chair in Computational Mechanics, led a two-year collaboration with Ingenium Scientific Inc. that resulted in a major expansion of Michigan Tech's SUPERIOR highperformance computing cluster. This enhancement significantly boosts computational resources for nanoscale modeling and simulation research for the US Army and other MTU researchers.
Fernando Ponta and Wayne Weaver
Fernando Ponta and Wayne Weaver co-authored a paper that won Best Paper in the Power Systems and Smart Grid section at IEEE IECON 2024. Their research, funded by a Rapid Seedling Research Grant from Michigan Tech's Institute of Computing and Cybersystems and Great Lakes Research Center, advances fault detection for high-voltage direct current power systems.
Bhisham Sharma
Bhisham Sharma delivered a keynote lecture at the 53rd International Congress & Exposition on Noise Control Engineering in Nantes, France. His talk focused on the application of additive manufacturing for noise control. Additionally, Sharma and his students presented their research project, "AeroFeathers," at the NASA Acoustics Technical Working Group Meeting. The project uses 3D printing to create quieter, bio-inspired airfoils modeled after the silent flight of owls.
Wei Wei
Wei Wei received a Spring 2025 Research Excellence Fund Research Seed Grant from Michigan Tech's Vice President for Research Office. The REF program supports promising early-stage research across campus.
Jeremy Worm
Jeremy Worm is stepping into the role of center director at Michigan Tech's Advanced Power Systems Research Center, or APS Labs, bringing 17 years of experience to his new leadership position.
Shangyan Zou and Wayne Weaver
Shangyan Zou and Wayne Weaver led Team Michigan Tech to win the concept phase of the US Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office's Powering the Blue Economy: Power at Sea Prize. Out of 86 submissions, their team was one of 20 to receive a $10,000 prize and advance to the next phase of the competition.
Michigan Technological University is an R1 public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
