Northern Illinois University
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

Developing, processing, evaluating and simulating value-added processing operations for low-value biofuels byproducts.

Researcher: Robert Tatara, Ph.D.

Funded by: US Department of Agriculture

Determining the microstructure and mechanical properties that can be achieved with titanium powder, for use in direct energy deposition.

Researcher: Federico Sciammarella, Ph.D.

Funded by: Cristal Metals

Researcher: Andrew Otieno, Ph.D.

Funded by: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Providing testing services related to the forming capabilities of various thin metals.

Researcher: Jenn-Terng Gau, Ph.D.

Funded by: General Motors Co.

Providing testing services related to the properties of titanium sheets.

Researcher: Jenn-Terng Gau, Ph.D.

Funded by: General Motors Co.

Demonstrating LAM effectiveness and the basic characteristics of silicon nitride.

Researcher: Federico Sciammarella, Ph.D.

Funded by: Namiki Precision Jewel Co. Ltd.

Providing an experimental and numerical solution to meet the challenges described in NIST's "Roadmap Workshop on Measurement Science for Metal-Based Additive Manufacturing," ensuring the adoption of additive manufacturing to manufacturing industries.

Researcher: Federico Sciammarella, Ph.D.

Funded by: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Technology Administration, Department of Commerce

Researcher: Jenn-Terng Gau, Ph.D.

Funded by: National Science Foundation

Fabricating the Case Western thermal fatigue dunk test geometry via the LENS process.

Researcher: Federico Sciammarella, Ph.D.

Funded by: Ohio State University

Providing testing services related to PVD process parameters.

Researcher: Jenn-Terng Gau, Ph.D.

Funded by: General Motors Co.

Fabricating validation samples using laser-engineered net shaping processes.

Researcher: Federico Sciammarella, Ph.D.

Funded by: Northwestern University

Developing a mid- to long-term strategy and long-term R&D funding opportunities.

Researcher: Federico Sciammarella, Ph.D.

Funded by: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, National Laser Centre (South Africa)

Developed a low-cost micromilling machine using state-of-the-art hardware and software to create 3D parts with accuracies of 2 to 3 microns. The project also uses dimensional metrology techniques to ensure needed manufacturing accuracy.

Researcher: Cliff Mirman, Ph.D.

Funded by: U.S. Army TACOM (subproject within larger grant)

Evaluating muscle activity and joint net torque in hand, shoulder and lower back during patient transfer using different engineering controls to determine the most effective patient handling device.

Researcher: Jaejin Hwang, Ph.D.

Funded by: NIOSH, Patient Positioning Systems, NIU

Developing technology to generate a quiet environment for newborns inside incubators and decrease the risk of health impairment and disability.

Researcher: Lichuan Liu, Ph.D.

Funded by: Gerber Foundation

Designing and creating a collapsible intraocular instrument that can cut the lens capsule and corneal endothelium in a controlled and reproducible manner.

Researcher: Federico Sciammarella, Ph.D.

Funded by: University of Illinois at Chicago

Agreement governs all future research projects conducted by NIU faculty and funded by Simmons Bedding Co.

Researcher: Lichuan Liu, Ph.D.

Funded by: Simmons Bedding Co.

Reviewing nutritional product formulas and formula production.

Researcher: William Mills, Ph.D.

Funded by: PetAg

Investigating the feasibility from a theoretical standpoint of using microwave imaging for bone density scans.

Researcher: Veysel Demir, Ph.D.

Funded by: Polar Technology Development Centre Ind. Trade Inc.

Significantly reducing the noise level inside infant incubators using an active noise reduction approach.

Researcher: Lichuan Liu, Ph.D.

Funded by: Invictus Medical Inc.

Using advanced data and sensor techniques to remove rock overburden from jacketed paleontological samples, freeing researchers from difficult manual labor.

Researchers: Michael Haji-Sheikh, Ph.D.
Virginia Naples, Ph.D.

Designing an RFID reader for handheld devices that can be used for UHF RFID applications.

Researcher: Veysel Demir, Ph.D.

Funded by: Qimtek

Developing Matlab models of digital power converters with varying magnetic loads, designing digital regulators, evaluating the performance of digital power converters under static and dynamic conditions.

Researcher: Liping Guo, Ph.D.

Funded by: Argonne National Laboratory

Producing wafers of photodiodes using established processes.

Researcher: Michael Haji-Sheikh, Ph.D.

Funded by: Voxtel Inc.

Improving client's ability to perform circuit design for lightning induced transient for pin injection susceptibility.

Researcher: Donald Zinger, Ph.D.

Funded by: UTC Aerospace Systems

Developing an environment through synergistic blending of emerging Internet technology, software, computer interfacing, cutting-edge user interface, effective pedagogical design, and assessment and evaluation schemes to create a laboratory course within an undergraduate electrical engineering technology program.

Researcher: Abul Azad, Ph.D.

Funded by: National Science Foundation

Designing a microchip with arrays of heaters and temperature sensors.

Researcher: Ibrahim Abdel-Motaleb, Ph.D.

Funded by: Tezzaron Semiconductor Corp.

Producing wafers of photodiodes using established processes.

Researcher: Michael Haji-Sheikh, Ph.D.

Funded by: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Designing and developing a universal Internet-based remote laboratory environment.

Researcher: Abul Azad, Ph.D.

Funded by: National Science Foundation

Expanding the renewable energy component in the existing engineering technology curriculum.

Researcher: Liping Guo, Ph.D.

Funded by: P&G Foundation

Increasing the number of college graduates with renewable energy and power systems knowledge and skills.

Researcher: Liping Guo, Ph.D.

Funded by: Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation

Helping small and medium-sized companies identify and implement ways to reduce their energy use, boost their productivity and achieve measurable energy savings.

Researcher: Kevin Martin, Ph.D.

Funded by: Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center

Technical consulting and project development for the launch of a a technology development and investment firm that will improve the model for developing and advancing early-stage technological innovations into marketable products.

Researcher: David Schroeder, Ph.D.

Funded by: Argonne National Laboratory

Studying the interfacial regions within the lithium metal based electrochemical cell.

Researcher: David Schroeder, Ph.D.

Funded by: Argonne National Laboratory

Develop an interactive virtual laboratory for a power generation system, create innovative teaching materials using the virtual laboratory and a prototype platform and engage college students in mentoring high school students on renewable energy technologies.

Researchers: Liping Guo, Ph.D.
Andrew Otieno, Ph.D.

Funded by: National Science Foundation

Performing energy audits of businesses, municipal units and other organizations in the Rochelle, Illinois, area.

Researcher: Kevin Martin, Ph.D.

Funded by: City of Rochelle

Building a sufficient work force for the future by increasing the number of college graduates with renewable energy and power engineering knowledge and skills.

Researcher: Liping Guo, Ph.D.

Funded by: National Science Foundation

Research projects related to energy, environment, ethics and economic issues related to climate change and a sustainable energy future.

Researchers:Cliff Mirman, Ph.D.
Nicholas Pohlman, Ph.D.
David Changnon, Ph.D.
Lisa Freeman, Ph.D.
Jason Hanna, Ph.D.
Narayan Hosmane, Ph.D.
Douglas Klumpp, Ph.D.
Ross Powell, Ph.D.
Lesley Rigg, Ph.D.
Reed Scherer, Ph.D.
Zhili Xiao, Ph.D.
Tao Xu, Ph.D.

Funded by: National Science Foundation

Supporting the nonaqueous flow battery and MV interface program within the Joint Center for Electrochemical Research.

Researcher: David Schroeder, Ph.D.

Funded by: Argonne National Laboratory

Providing EHSS analyses and instruction to employees at small companies in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Researcher: Theodore Hogan, Ph.D.

Funded by: Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center

Developing, processing, evaluating and simulating value-added processing operations for low-value biofuels byproducts.

Researcher: Robert Tatara, Ph.D.

Funded by: US Department of Agriculture

Investigating the environmental factors at the Moore Glass facility and identifying those that may be sensitizers.

Researcher: Theodore Hogan, Ph.D.

Funded by: Moore Glass Co.

Researcher: Andrew Otieno, Ph.D.

Funded by: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Research projects related to energy, environment, ethics and economic issues related to climate change and a sustainable energy future.

Researchers: Cliff Mirman, Ph.D.
Nicholas Pohlman, Ph.D.
David Changnon, Ph.D.
Lisa Freeman, Ph.D.
Jason Hanna, Ph.D.
Narayan Hosmane, Ph.D.
Douglas Klumpp, Ph.D.
Ross Powell, Ph.D.
Lesley Rigg, Ph.D.
Reed Scherer, Ph.D.
Zhili Xiao, Ph.D.
Tao Xu, Ph.D.

Funded by: National Science Foundation

Using advanced data and sensor techniques to remove rock overburden from jacketed paleontological samples, freeing researchers from difficult manual labor.

Researchers: Michael Haji-Sheikh, Ph.D.
Virginia Naples, Ph.D.

Quantifying social behavior in animal groups using information-theoritic methods.

Researcher: Sachit Butail, Ph.D.

Funded by: New York University

Synergistically blending Internet technology, software, computer interface, graphical user interface, pedagogical design, and assessment and evaluation schemes to offer a laboratory course in an undergraduate electrical engineering technology program.

Researcher: Abul Azad, Ph.D.

Funded by: The National Science Foundation

Designing and developing a universal Internet-based remote laboratory environment.

Researcher: Abul Azad, Ph.D.

Funded by: The National Science Foundation

Progressing theoretical understanding and experimental development of "ultra-cold" relativistic electron beams at the fundamental limit via field emission from structured nanomaterials and subsequent efficient acceleration.

Researchers: Venumadhav Korampally, Ph.D.
Swapan Chattopadhyay, Ph.D.

Funded by: The National Science Foundation

Supporting activities in Argonne National Laboratory's Process Technology Research Section.

Researcher: Ibrahim Abdel-Motaleb, Ph.D.

Funded by: Argonne National Laboratory

Building a new experiment to improve the accuracy of measuring the magnetic moment of the muon particle.

Researcher: Nicholas Pohlman, Ph.D.

Funded by: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Developing sensor upgrades and precision placement within an extreme vacuum to improve electron detection and muons decay during precession around a circular magnetic field.

Researcher: Nicholas Pohlman, Ph.D.

Funded by: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Devising an integrated high-current electron source that can be mounted in close proximity to a superconducting radiofrequency resonator, possibly leading to the development of a compact MW-class electron accelerator.

Researchers: Venumadhav Korampally, Ph.D.
Iman Salehinia, Ph.D.
Philippe Piot, Ph.D.

Funded by: US Department of Energy

Assisting in development of the Muon Beamstop, SiPM characterization and design of the Upstream Extinction Monitor.

Researchers: Nicholas Pohlman, Ph.D.
Vishnu Zutshi, Ph.D.

Funded by: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Discovering physics beyond the standard model through the precision measurement of the properties of standard model particles.

Researchers: Nicholas Pohlman, Ph.D.
Michael Eads, Ph.D.

Funded by: US Department of Energy

Helping small and medium-sized companies identify and implement ways to reduce energy use, boost productivity and achieve measureable energy savings.

Researcher: Kevin Martin, Ph.D.

Funded by: Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center

Reviewing the chemicals in up to 10 mixtures provided by client to customers to classify the mixture hazard information on Safety Data Sheets as required by OSHA.

Researcher: Theodore Hogan, Ph.D.

Funded by: Ideal Industries Inc.

Researchers: Omar Ghrayeb, Ph.D.
Christine Nguyen, Ph.D.

Funded by: Visiting Nurse Association of Fox Valley

Research and develop policies for patient transport at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, including scheduling of elevators and volunteers to assist with transportation.

Researcher: Christine Nguyen, Ph.D.

Funded by: Northwestern University

Provide a graduate student with hands-on experience studying and improving upon the client's method of lean healthcare.

Researcher: Shi-Jie "Gary" Chen, Ph.D.

Funded by: CGH Medical Center

Implement a company-wide organization program based on lean manufacturing principles. Organize workstations, departments and assembly lines to reduce wasted time and effort.

Researcher: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.
Omar Ghrayeb, Ph.D.

Funded by: Elgin Industries

Observe client's cabinet assembly area and implement lean principles to eliminate waste and improve throughput.

Researcher: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.

Funded by: Quality Fabricators Inc.

Improving process efficiency for client's insert assembly process for replacement products used in scanners for the healthcare industry.

Researcher: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.

Funded by: Dunlee, a division of Phillips Health

Researcher: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.

Funded by: Six Sigma

Using lean process improvement techniques to identify waste, reduce work in progress and total cycle time and balance the assembly process.

Researcher: Shi-Jie "Gary" Chen, Ph.D.

Funded by: Caterpillar Inc.

Supporting efficiency in operations and packaging within client's product engineering division.

Researcher: Nicholas Pohlman, Ph.D.

Funded by: Suncast Corporation

Creating standard work procedures for machines and processes at the new client facility, ensuring it can safely and effectively begin to operate at full capacity by 2020.

Researcher: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.

Funded by: Woodward Inc.

Researcher: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.

Funded by: CST Storage

Analyze client's paint lines and make recommendations for improvement.

Researchers: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.
Shanthi Muthuswami, Ph.D.

Funded by: Caterpillar Inc.

Model different areas of client's facility to identify factors affecting total cycle time and work-in-process inventory.

Researcher: Reinaldo Moraga, Ph.D.

Funded by: Caterpillar Inc.

Implementing a pull system for client's post-paint operations.

Researcher: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.

Funded by: Justrite Manufacturing Co.

Help client streamline material storage and movement while designing a layout for new production line.

Researcher: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.

Funded by: WestRock

Optimize material handling at client's facility.

Researcher: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.

Funded by: Image Industries Inc.

Optimizing process flow at client's facility.

Researcher: Shanthi Muthuswamy, Ph.D.

Funded by: DuKane Precast Inc.

Analyzing process flow and making recommendations for improvement.

Researcher: Shanthi Muthuswamy, Ph.D.

Funded by: RTM and Associates

Recommend improvements to optimize the freight process at a company that handles large installations of pipes and hardware involved in water treatment.

Researcher: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.

Funded by: Chalmers Street Consulting 

Analyze paint shop flow area and recommend improvements to increase throughput while lowering costs.

Researcher: Shi-Jie "Gary" Chen, Ph.D.

Funded by: Mi-Jack Products Inc.

Model different areas related to client's powertrain machining process to identify factors affecting total cycle time, lead times and work-in-process inventory.

Researcher: Reinaldo Moraga, Ph.D.

Funded by: Caterpillar Inc.

Conduct time studies, balance the line and reduce process inefficiencies for client's K-series wheel loader assembly lines.

Researchers: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.
Shanthi Muthuswamy, Ph.D.

Funded by: Caterpillar Inc.

Evaluate the biomechanical stress on the body while using a French door refrigerator to identify how users typically interact with different types of handles and the optimal height and type of handle.

Researcher: Jaejin Hwang, Ph.D.

Funded by: Samsung

Develop a quality management system to help client obtain ISO 13485 certification.

Researcher: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.

Funded by: Medikmark Inc.

Enhance inspector reliability for quality inspectors responsible for welding, QCI and PDI departments at client's facility.

Researcher: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.

Funded by: Caterpillar Inc.

Establish a quality management system structured around ISO 13485 requirements for quality management systems related to the design and manufacture of medical devices.

Researcher: Purushothaman Damodaran, Ph.D.

Funded by: Tek-Pak Inc.

Creating an innovative, affordable and effective online Six Sigma training system for small and mid-sized Illinois manufacturing firms.

Researchers: Shanthi Muthuswamy, Ph.D.
Shun Takai, Ph.D.

Funded by: Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center

Expanding the renewable energy component in the current engineering technology curriculum.

Researcher: Liping Guo, Ph.D.

Funded by: P&G Foundation

Increasing the number of college graduates with knowledge and skills in renewable energy and power systems.

Researcher: Liping Guo, Ph.D.

Funded by: Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation

Developing a repository of teaching materials regarding uncertainties commonly encountered in engineering.

Researcher: Shun Takai, Ph.D.

Funded by: National Science Foundation (through Missouri University of Science and Technology)

U.S. and Finnish investigators are leveraging their funded work in measurement of game-based learning to take radically different approaches to the measurement of STEM learning.

Researcher: Brianno Coller, Ph.D.

Funded by: TERC

Evaluating the feasibility of a national chain of Tinkering Lab retail locations where children can build exciting science and "maker" projects using 21st century fabrication tools.

Researcher: Brianno Coller, Ph.D.

Funded by: The National Science Foundation

Develop an interactive virtual laboratory for a power generation system, create innovative teaching materials using the virtual laboratory and a prototype platform and engage college students in mentoring high school students on renewable energy technologies.

Researchers: Liping Guo, Ph.D.
Andrew Otieno, Ph.D.

Funded by: The National Science Foundation

Synergistically blending Internet technology, software, computer interface, graphical user interface, pedagogical design, and assessment and evaluation schemes to offer a laboratory course in an undergraduate electrical engineering technology program.

Researcher: Abul Azad, Ph.D.

Funded by: The National Science Foundation

Dr. Coller has built a video game learning environment in which he has measured higher levels of student learning and student engagement. This project will test whether other engineering educators can produce similar results with the game and whether the game is a viable and attractive tool for educators.

Researcher: Brianno Coller, Ph.D.

Funded by: The National Science Foundation

Researcher: Jenn-Terng Gau, Ph.D.

Funded by: The National Science Foundation

Researcher: Andrew Otieno, Ph.D.

Funded by: Illinois Math and Science Partnership

Organizing a conference session to discuss development and delivery of an integrated power electronics curriculum, from components to systems.

Researcher: Ibrahim Abdel-Motaleb, Ph.D.

Funded by: The National Science Foundation

Increasing the number of college graduates entering the workforce with knowledge and skills in renewable energy.

Researcher: Liping Guo, Ph.D.

Funded by: The National Science Foundation

Researching the role of gender in science and engineering.

Researcher: Suma Rajashankar, Ph.D.

Funded by: The National Science Foundation

Researcher: Andrew Otieno, Ph.D.

Funded by: Verizon Foundation 

Develop a complete model for undergraduate programs in manufacturing engineering, electrical engineering technology and energy and environmental technology programs in Malaysia.

Researchers: Cliff Mirman, Ph.D.
Omar Ghrayeb, Ph.D.

Funded by: University of Malaysia, Pahang