Kansas State University

MANHATTAN — The Kansas State University College of Engineering Steel Ring Honor Society has inducted 22 new members for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Steel Ring is an honorary comprised of seniors in the College of Engineering. Membership is based on leadership, scholarship and engagement. New members are selected by current members of Steel Ring following a written application and personal interview process.

One of the group’s primary tasks each year is planning and organizing the College of Engineering Open House in the spring semester. During the recent 2018 Open House, inductees shadowed current members to learn the roles and responsibilities of the organization for the annual event.

Faculty adviser for the group is Craig Wanklyn, assistant dean for recruitment in the College of Engineering.

The following are the new members of Steel Ring:

Kristen Graves, architectural engineering, Andover; Collyn Fouard, biological and agricultural engineering, Brookville; Bailey Herzberg, architectural engineering, Chanute; Mackenzy Meis, chemical engineering, Cimarron; Evan Morrical, biological and agricultural engineering, Culver.

From Greater Kansas City: Tori Thomas, biological and agricultural engineering, Lenexa; Zach Stanley, industrial engineering, Overland Park; and Cody Deas, electrical engineering, Tim McCormick, electrical engineering, Mary Pat Siebert, computer science, and Jessica Stanton, biological and agricultural engineering, all from Shawnee.

Jordan Disberger, electrical engineering, and Lindsey Hageman, industrial engineering, both from Manhattan; Sarah Plum, chemical engineering, Sabetha; Bailey Waters, civil engineering, Salina; Jose Ramos, architectural engineering, Syracuse; Chase Brokke, industrial engineering, and Aubrey Busenitz, civil engineering, both from Topeka; Ethan Hammond, mechanical engineering, Wakefield; and Gabi Biby, mechanical engineering, Wichita.

From out of state: Megan Niblock, chemical engineering, Fergus Falls, Minnesota; and Sarah Peterson, industrial engineering, Houston, Texas.

MANHATTAN — Tackling lung cancer with development of a minimally invasive treatment option is the goal of researchers from the Kansas State University colleges of Engineering and Veterinary Medicine, along with industry partner, Broncus Medical, San Jose, California.

The project, funded by a $1,321,648 grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute, is expected to lead to a bronchoscopic microwave ablation system for treating lung tumors.

Punit Prakash, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, is principal investigator for the five-year study “Bronchoscope-Guided Microwave Ablation of Early-Stage Lung Tumors,” awarded under the NIH Academic-Industrial Partnerships to Translate and Validate in Vivo Cancer Imaging Systems program.

“We will develop flexible, microwave ablation devices with precise control of microwave radiation that can be delivered to lung tumors via a bronchoscope,” Prakash said. “These devices will be integrated with a computerized image-guidance, navigation and treatment planning platform to guide physicians in the optimal approach for treating the targeted tumors while preserving healthy tissue.

“We will evaluate the technical feasibility and safety of the proposed technique for treating lung tumors in a pilot clinical study,” he said.

Kansas State University co-investigators on the project are from the College of Veterinary Medicine: Warren Beard and David Biller, both professors of clinical sciences, and Chanran Ganta, clinical assistant professor in diagnostic medicine and pathobiology.

Yixun Liu, principal imaging research and development engineer with Broncus Medical — a commercial-stage company that delivers navigation, and diagnostic and therapeutic technologies to treat patients with lung disease — represents the industry partnership on the project.

This project will support an interdisciplinary team of faculty, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students conducting cutting-edge research on microwave technology for therapeutic applications and their translation to the clinical setting.

This grant builds upon an earlier project from 2016-17 between Broncus Medical and the electrical and computer engineering department. Prakash was also the principal investigator. Technology products in that study led to novel bronchoscopic deliveries of microwave energy for treating lung tumors, resulting in patent filings by the Kansas State University Research Foundation. The research foundation and the Kansas State University Institute for Commercialization are working with Broncus Medical to develop strategies to further protect and commercialize the intellectual property resulting from the previous project and this new grant.

ECE Senior Nick Mannoni receives IEEE Power & Energy Society Scholarship Plus Initiative scholarship.

2017-18 PES Scholar Recipients

Two hundred and thirty (210) PES Scholarship recipients were selected from the 548 individuals who applied for the scholarship. These undergraduate students are majoring in electrical engineering, are high achievers with strong GPAs with distinctive extracurricular commitments and are committed to exploring the power and energy field. These scholarships are made possible due to the generous donations of individuals and corporations to the IEEE Power & Energy Society Scholarship Fund of the IEEE Foundation.

https://www.ieee-pes.org/2017-18-ieee-pes-scholarship-plus-initiative-recipients-announced

October 19-20  Eleven members of the  ECE Advisory Council participated in their annual fall semester meeting in association with advisory council meetings held throughout the College of Engineering.  Two primary topics were at the forefront for this year’s meeting:  budget and research funding. Continue reading “Advisory Council Visits” →

ECE hosted the annual “WELCOME BACK PICNIC” Aug 28th.  Students had the opportunity to gather in the atrium of Engineering Hall and share food with their classmates and professors. Click on read more to see photos from our event.  Continue reading “ECE Annual Picnic” →

ECE hosted the annual banquet at the KSU alumni center Oct 20.  Students groups presented overviews on club activities and awards were presented to outstanding members of the department for their contributions during the past year.  Continue reading to see photos from the event. Continue reading “Annual Banquet” →

Brian Petr, 24, computer support technician and Army Specialist in Jacksonville, Florida, died unexpectedly on November 3, 2017. Continue reading “Recent ECE graduate passes away suddenly” →

Steve Warren, ECE, presented an invited seminar Oct.10 at the University of North Florida College of Computing, Engineering and Construction. He also met with local high school administrators to discuss technology to aid children with disabilities.

Due to substantial increases in college tuition, students today experience major financial challenges compared to previous years. Mark and Brenda Brown wanted to ease some of these trials for students earning a higher education.

“The financial challenges students face today are far greater than they were when we both attended college in the 1980’s,” Mark said. “It would be a terrible loss for any student not to have the opportunity to pursue their dreams and utilize their talents.”

Mark graduated from Kansas State University in 1982 with a degree in electrical engineering, while Brenda graduated from University of Missouri – Kansas City in 1988 with a degree in finance. Currently, Mark is a member of K-State’s department of electrical and computer engineering (ECE) advisory council. Mark said pursuing electrical engineering was one of his best life-decisions.

“Earning my electrical engineering degree at an institution with hard-working values common to the Midwest has allowed me to pursue career opportunities I never thought possible,” Mark said. “Through our gift giving, involvement with the ECE Advisory Council, Alumni Association and Board of Trustees, we have met other members of the K-State family and created the greatest of friendships.”

Mark and Brenda aspired to help students complete their education and reach career goals, while giving back to the department that significantly impacted Mark’s life. Mark and Brenda established multiple funds supporting students and faculty in the department of electrical and computer engineering.

“We wanted to pay back to the institution that afforded us those opportunities and pay forward to others in the Kansas State University family who will follow,” Mark said.

Mark and Brenda were inspired to create a professorship, scholarship and excellence fund after witnessing the impact of the Brown Family Scholarship, which was established in 2012 by Mark, Brenda, Mark’s brother, Mike, and his wife, Pam. The scholarship is awarded to students in Chase County where Mark and Mike grew up.

“We hope these scholarships will provide a small relief to those students in pursuit of their own dreams and successes,” Mark said. “The successes we have enjoyed in our lives were made possible through our joint talents, hard work and strong values of growing up in rural Kansas.”

Mark initially wanted to pursue a degree in computer science until his brother, Mike, K-State graduate in chemical engineering, exposed him to the field of engineering. Mark chose his career path after recognizing the close association between computers and electrical engineering, which share similarities with digital design and microprocessors. Mark specialized in the field of embedded computing.

“The opportunities available today and in the future in the field of embedded computing, particularly around internet of things and industrial internet of things is incredible,” Mark said. “With this professorship, we hope to establish a center of excellence in embedded computer engineering, such that companies hiring embedded computer engineers will consider Kansas State University ECE students as one of their top choices in recruitment.”

Mark and Brenda hope to encourage students to succeed, but also want them to enjoy their college experience. Creating these funds will allow students and faculty at K-State to realize greater opportunities while earning essential support.

“What is occurring campus wide is truly inspiring and a tribute to the collective effort of the students, faculty and staff,” Mark said. “We feel blessed to have the opportunity to establish these gifts to ensure the success of K-State, now and in the future, and the generations of students who will follow.”

http://inspire.k-state.edu/your-support-in-action/campaign-news/Brown.html

ECE welcomed guest lecturer Professor Shaidehpour to speak on Smart Cities for Global Sustainability Sept 14, 2017

Continue reading “Distinguished Lecture Series” →