CCrreeaattiivviittyy

CCoollllaabboorraattiioonnss

CClluusstteerrss

CCoonnnneeccttiioonnss

22000033 AAnnnnuuaall RReeppoorrtt

College of Engineering

CoE AR-03 8/25/03 12:13 PM Page 1

22

OR

EG

ON

STA

TE

UN

IVE

RS

ITY

College of Engineering 2003 Annual Report

IInnffoorrmmaattiioonnUUssaabbiilliittyy

MMuullttii--SSccaalleeMMaatteerriiaallss &&DDeevviicceessLLaarrggee--SSccaallee

EEnneerrggyy SSyysstteemmss

IInntteeggrraatteeddEElleeccttrroonniiccSSyysstteemmss

BBiioollooggiiccaall &&EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaall

SSyysstteemmss

KKiieewwiitt CCeenntteerr ffoorr IInnffrraassttrruuccttuurree && TTrraannssppoorrttaattiioonn

CoE AR-03 8/25/03 12:13 PM Page 2

PPeeooppllee.. IIddeeaass.. IInnnnoovvaattiioonn..

WW hen I was an engineer-ing student, departmen-tal boundaries were

thick and tall and well-defined.Mechanical engineering studentsdidn’t associate much with thestudents over in chemical engi-neering. The heavy tech folks(civil) were on a completelydifferent planet from the hightech folks (electrical).Environmental and bioengineer-ing were in their infancy, andcollaborating with industry wasalmost unheard of.

But here at Oregon StateEngineering, we’re breaking downthose traditional boundariesbecause we’ve learned thatcollaboration creates synergy,excitement, and creativity. And allof that leads to important newdiscoveries:

• Put professors and studentsfrom industrial, chemical,mechanical, and bioengineer-ing on the same team, toss in anational lab, and you givebirth to a brand new technol-ogy poised to transform theeconomic landscape of thePacific Northwest by creatingjobs and new companies (seep. 20).

• Team computer scientists withcivil engineers and you buildthe largest and most-wiredtsunami wave basin in theworld here at Oregon State (seep. 25).

• Bring environmental, chemi-cal, and bioengineers togetherwith plant pathologists andbotanists, and you getmicrobes that clean up toxicwaste and natural coatings formedical implants that savelives (see p. 16).

TThhee CCrreeaattiivvee PPoowweerr ooff CCoollllaabboorraattiioonnDean Ron Adams talks with OSU

Engineering graduate students, from left,

Bertrand Dano, Rebecca Cullion,

Dana Zotolla, and Isabella Gallino.

Opposite page: Bertrand Dano,

Dean Adams, and Rebecca Cullion.

2

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

• Turn chemists and electricalengineers loose in a lab andyou invent the world’s firsttransparent electronics (see p. 23).

The list goes on. And the resultsare the product of unprecedentedlevels of collaboration here at theCollege that span disciplines,departments, and even universi-ties (Oregon’s gridiron archrivalDucks and Beavers are workingtogether in research labs!).

Collaborative business venturesare also the latest industry trend,so our work-ready graduates willbe even better prepared to excelin the team-based environmentsof the business world. Especiallybecause we continue to enhanceour curriculum with what we callLearning Innovations—some sounique that we’re marketing themto other top engineering schools(see p. 30).

We’ve coined a new term for ourteams of faculty, students, andindustry partners who are poolingresources and expertise in order tosolve the world’s problems morequickly. We call them “researchclusters,” and you’ll notice that thisAnnual Report is organized not bytraditional departmental accom-plishments, but around our sixmajor research clusters to date:

•• IInnffoorrmmaattiioonn UUssaabbiilliittyy

•• LLaarrggee--SSccaallee EEnneerrggyy SSyysstteemmss

•• IInntteeggrraatteedd EElleeccttrroonniicc SSyysstteemmss

•• BBiioollooggiiccaall && EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaallSSyysstteemmss

•• MMuullttii--SSccaallee MMaatteerriiaallss && DDeevviicceess ((MMMMDD))

•• KKiieewwiitt CCeenntteerr ffoorr IInnffrraassttrruuccttuurree&& TTrraannssppoorrttaattiioonn

Of course, lots of other innovativeresearch and learning is happen-ing here at the College as wecontinue to build one of thenation’s top 25 engineeringprograms. And we will define newresearch clusters as time goeson—as the extraordinary peoplewho are OSU Engineering con-tinue to collaborate with ourpartners on this journey ofdiscovery and learning, whichultimately creates a better worldfor everyone.

Together, we’re greater than thesum of our parts. Together, we’llgo farther.

Ron AdamsDean of Engineering

3

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

TT hanks to computers andsoftware, the world today isawash in oceans of informa-

tion—seas of tiny ones and zeroesthat bulge databanks by the giga-byte. So much information that asimple internet search turns up somany websites that the user sitsbaffled as to which one to click first.Scientists and engineers, armed withsuper-quick technology, can nowcollect—in a matter of minutes—data that a few years ago would havetaken years to amass.

So how do we make this staggeringamount of information both easilyaccessible and usable?

That is a daunting challenge forcomputer scientists the world over.But the people in OSU’s IInnffoorrmmaattiioonnUUssaabbiilliittyy rreesseeaarrcchh cclluusstteerr arehelping humanity get a handle on allthose little ones and zeroes.Computer science faculty CChheerrrriiPPaannccaakkee,, JJoonn HHeerrlloocckkeerr,, and RRoonnMMeettooyyeerr are doing this by analyzingthe computer habits of millions ofusers, then building software thatdraws on this collective history tohelp future users find and use theinformation they’re after. Their workis impacting everything from thespread of SARS and e-commerce tolibraries and lichens.

IInnffoorrmmaattiioonn UUssaabbiilliittyy

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

4

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

CChheerrrrii PPaannccaakkee::CCoonnnneeccttiinngg tthhee DDoottssDuring the recent SARS outbreak,better information usability couldhave helped researchers analyzethe spread of the disease to morequickly identify its source, thecivet cat. Researchers at OSU’sNorthwest Alliance forComputational Science &Engineering (NACSE), led byprofessor CChheerrrrii PPaannccaakkee, areworking with the people at theProtein Data Bank—the world’slargest publicly accessible biolog-ical database—to make theirinformation more accessible andusable and to integrate it withworldwide data repositories suchas the Atlanta-based Centers forDisease Control, that track thespread of diseases. So next time,we’ll find solutions faster.

“Often all the key information isavailable. But since it’s located intotally different agencies and notconnected in any obvious ways,scientists and physicians can’tlink up the critical pieces,”Pancake says. “We’re developingcyber-linkages to make thisinformation obvious, as soon asthe user asks a related question.”

Pancake’s information usabilityresearch was key in the NationalScience Foundation’s (NSF)selection of OSU as the site forthe world’s largest tsunamiresearch facility (see p. 25). Hergroup’s work is also helpinggovernment agencies like theUSDA Forest Service base theirresource management decisionson scientific data—such as usinglichens as “living sensors” tomonitor air quality.

Pancake was recently appointedas NSF special advisor on howfuture “cyber-infrastructure” canbe engineered to better serve thenation’s scientists and engineers.

Information Innovators: Computer

Science faculty members Cherri Pancake,

Ron Metoyer, and Jon Herlocker are

developing innovative ways to make

information more accessible and usable.

Better access to protein data (projected on

screen in background) could help save

lives during disease outbreaks like SARS.

Information usability is a critical issue for

everything from images in the world’s

largest publicly accessible biological

database (the Protein Data Bank) to

lichens used for air-quality monitoring.

Turning Datainto UsableInformation

5

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

JJoonn HHeerrlloocckkeerr:: FFrroommAAmmaazzoonn..ccoomm ttoo OOSSUU’’ssVVaalllleeyy LLiibbrraarryyBy studying the various pathspeople use to find information onthe internet, professor JJoonnHHeerrlloocckkeerr’s “collaborative filter-ing” software streamlines thesearches performed by otherusers. Before joining OSUEngineering three years ago,Herlocker’s PhD research in thisarea was utilized by AAmmaazzoonn..ccoommso the online retailer couldpersonalize the information itshows each customer, indicatingitems chosen by other peoplewho liked similar books or music.

At OSU, Herlocker is building onhis earlier research and justreleased a free version of acollaborative filtering engine thathelps “anyone using e-commerceobtain Amazon.com-type ofpersonalization,” he says.

AAnn AAttttoorrnneeyy TTuurrnnssEEnnggiinneeeerr

HHow does a petite law schoolgraduate from one of China’s

most prestigious universities windup coming to OSU to pursue an MSdegree in computer science, and inthe process become very involvedwith that uniquely American, rough-and-tumble sport, football?

Sometimes, life’s path unfurls ininteresting ways.

LLaannyyuuee XXuu, who lost her father inan accident when she was three years old andwas raised by her schoolteacher mother, hasalways been interested in computer science.But when she was accepted to study law atone of the five best universities in China—Shanghai’s Fudan University—she couldn’t sayno. After she graduated and passed the barexam, she followed her husband, Jipeng Li, toCorvallis, where he was a PhD student in theOSU School of Electrical Engineering &Computer Science. Holding only an F2 visa, Xu

couldn’t take a job and quickly grew bored at home. “I decided to have myown life,” she says. So she enrolled at OSU to pursue a master’s degree—inthe field she’s always been drawn to: computer science.

Working with professor Ron Metoyer, Xu has helped develop a tangibleinterface training system that football coaches and players can use tocreate and test plays on a virtual football field. The technology behind thesystem can also be used in urban design to interact with and studypedestrian flows and potentially create content for the training ofemergency personnel.

“I’ve come to like football,” Xu says. “I often watch it on TV.” But her dreamis to work in computer animation. “Someday, I’d like to make a greatanimated film,” she says. “Like Ice Age or Monsters, Inc.” This fall, armedwith their graduate degrees, she and her husband head for Boston—just intime for the height of football season.

Catch! Computer Science

graduate student Lanyue

Xu is helping tackle spatial

information research that

will help a wide range of

people do their jobs

better—from coaches and

quarterbacks to firefighters

and architects.

6

Herlocker is also collaboratingwith OSU’s Valley Library (shown,left) to develop an innovative “e-card catalog” that could revolu-tionize the way library patronssearch for information. Instead ofhaving to know the title or author,the patron can type a specificquestion. The computer analyzespast searches for similar informa-tion by other patrons and showsthe results. The more the systemis used, the smarter it becomes.

Herlocker is also developingsoftware called TaskTracer, which,among other things, makespersonal computer informationmore usable by reconfiguring auser’s computer desktop accord-ing to what project they arecurrently working on—no moreshuffling windows each time youmove between projects.

“MMiiccrroossoofftt is very interested inthis one,” Herlocker says.

RRoonn MMeettooyyeerr:: SSuurrffiinnggOOSSUU’’ss TTssuunnaammii WWaavvee LLaabbTo enable researchers andstudents anywhere in the worldto “experience” the new TsunamiWave Basin (see p. 25), RRoonnMMeettooyyeerr is developing a virtualversion of the entire OO.. HH..HHiinnssddaallee WWaavvee RReesseeaarrcchhLLaabboorraattoorryy. Tapping his expertisein 3-D virtual environments,which helped him win almost$500,000 in the form of an NSFCAREER Award earlier this year,Metoyer is using spatial informa-tion to create a 3-D informationaltool for touring the lab anddesigning experiments for thefacility.

“We want people to feel likethey’re inside the wave lab, notjust clicking down a list of fea-tures or viewing web cams,”Metoyer says.

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

“Microsoft is very interested in this one.”

CS professor Jon Herlocker

Tapping his expertise in 3-D virtual environ-

ments, professor Ron Metoyer is making it

possible for people anywhere in the world to

visit the world’s largest—and most wired—

tsunami wave basin (right). . . via cyberspace.

7

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

IIn traditional nuclear powerplants the weakest links arethe pipes, pumps, and moving

parts. Pipes break, moving partsjam, and pumps shut down ifpower supplies fail. Which is whya faculty team in the LLaarrggee--SSccaalleeEEnneerrggyy SSyysstteemmss rreesseeaarrcchh cclluusstteerrhas created a bold new reactordesign that eliminates pipes,pumps, and moving parts byusing passive forces like gravityand natural convection.

The result? A safer, smaller, morestreamlined reactor.

“Because our design is so simple,the reactor is much safer,” saysnuclear engineering professorJJoosséé RReeyyeess, who leads the designteam. “And it’s all containedwithin a single 60-foot cylinder.”

The team’s innovative approachalso enables the reactor to fit on asingle railcar, run for five yearsbetween refueling shutdowns,and be installed for a fraction ofthe cost of building a traditionalnuclear power plant.

“Their timing couldn't be better,"says Dean Ron Adams. "A recentstudy from MIT suggests that athreefold increase in the numberof nuclear reactors worldwidecould help reduce carbon emis-sions globally by up to 25 per-cent.

Reyes’ OSU team, which alsoincludes professors BBrriiaann WWooooddss,QQiiaaoo WWuu, and TToodddd PPaallmmeerr, aswell as partners at the IIddaahhooNNaattiioonnaall EEnnggiinneeeerriinngg LLaabb andNNeexxaanntt//BBeecchhtteell, has applied fora patent and is about to begintesting a prototype for the UU..SS..DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff EEnneerrggyy.

Innovation is the norm in thisresearch cluster, and Reyes is akey innovator on the team. In 10years, he has leveraged an initial$4,000 grant into more than $13million in additional researchfunding—part of the reasonOSU’s Department of NuclearEngineering & Radiation HealthPhysics is currently ranked 13th

LLaarrggee--SSccaallee EEnneerrggyySSyysstteemmss::Enabling Safer, Smarter Energy

OSU researchers are the first to apply

MRI technology commonly found in

hospitals to other industry needs,

enabling them to “see” and study

boiling water inside steel pipes.

By eliminating pipes, pumps, and

moving parts, faculty in the Large-

Scale Energy Systems research

cluster have designed a safer

nuclear reactor (pictured clockwise,

from top: professors José Reyes, Todd

Palmer, Brian Woods, and Qiao Wu).

8

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

9

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

IInnssppiirreedd IInnvveessttiinngg

AAlumnus HHaannkk SScchhuueettttee (ME, 1950) and his wife JJaanniiccee know how togenerate energy. The couple built Sherwood, Oregon-based Wellons,

Inc. into an international leader in energy systems that turn waste woodfrom the lumber industry into electricity.

Now retired, the Schuette’s are generating a different kind of energy at theCollege of Engineering—energy that will illuminate the learning process and,the couple hopes, inspire other benefactors to step forward and throw theirown switches to help power the College’s drive to become one of thenation’s top-25 engineering programs.

The Schuette’s have given OSU a $3 million gift that establishes the firstendowed chair in the Dept. of Nuclear Engineering & Radiation HealthPhysics and ensures that one of OSU’s most successful faculty members willremain at the College.

The HHeennrryy WW.. aanndd JJaanniiccee JJ.. SScchhuueettttee CChhaaiirr has been filled by JJoossééRReeyyeess, a professor who has brought millions of research dollars to OSU andhelped develop an innovative “passive safe” reactor design (see main story).

“Janice and I hope others will be inspired to lend their names to newendowed chairs,” Hank says. “It’s an excellent investment in Oregon Stateand the future.”

in the nation. And Reyes is amajor reason behind a recent $3-million gift to the departmentthat established an endowedchair, now occupied by Reyes (seesidebar). The United Nations hasalso just appointed Reyes asdirector of an InternationalAtomic Energy Agency (IAEA)Coordinated Research Programfor a six-nation study on passivenuclear energy systems. TheVienna-based IAEA is the UnitedNations’ vanguard for interna-tional nuclear safety. Since theIAEA’s announcement, Reyes hasbeen invited as a keynote speakerat international conferences andhas been asked to provide a seriesof lectures at the prestigiousIInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall CCeenntteerr ffoorrTThheeoorreettiiccaall PPhhyyssiiccss in Trieste,Italy. In addition, Reyes is pio-neering ways to use MRI technol-ogy outside the medical field (seep. 11).

Other energy systems research isalso underway at the College.AAnnnneettttee vvoonn JJoouuaannnnee and AAllaannWWaallllaaccee, professors of electricalengineering, are using a NationalScience Foundation grant todesign, implement, and test aprototype energy extractionsystem to tap ocean waves as aclean source of renewable energy.And faculty members led by RRiicckkBBiilllloo, head of the Dept. ofIndustrial & ManufacturingEngineering, are developing waysto produce clean-burning,sustainable biodiesel from plants.

A $3 million gift from

Mechanical Engineering

alumnus Hank Schuette

and his wife Janice

established an endowed

chair in the Dept. of

Nuclear Engineering &

Radiation Health Physics,

occupied by professor

José Reyes.

10

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

SSeeeeiinngg TThhrroouugghh SStteeeell??

PPhD candidate KKeenntt AAbbeell knows a thing or two about bubbles, andcomputer code developers worldwide will soon be lining up to take a

peek at his unique database on bubbly flow. That’s because Abel and OSUfaculty in the LLaarrggee--SSccaallee EEnneerrggyy SSyysstteemmss rreesseeaarrcchh cclluusstteerr will soonhave two new tools for real-time imaging of complex fluid flows: a state-of-the-art neutron tomography system and, interestingly enough, an MRI.That’s right, the OSU research team has discovered a new use for thathuge, magnetic resonance imaging machine housed at most hospitals. Abelwill be using an MRI to obtain 3-D concentrations and velocity profiles fora variety of gas-liquid flows typical of thousands of industrial fluidprocesses that take place in PVC and other non-metallic pipes. For highpressure and high temperature processes occurring in thick steel pipes,Abel will be using powerful neutron beams from OSU’s nuclear reactor toget the 3-D images he needs. The end result will be a one-of-a-kinddatabase that will be used to test and improve a wide range of computa-tional fluid dynamics codes.

“Nobody else is using an MRI to do this,” Abel says. “We’re able to obtainan incredible amount of information on complex flows with the singletouch of a button.”

The College is working with the OSU Colleges of Forestry, VeterinaryMedicine, and others to acquire an MRI on campus. “There’s a ton ofresearch that could be done with an MRI,” Abel says. This includes trackingthe uptake of toxins in plants, and using a special radiochromic gel tocalibrate radiation sources and to better pinpoint radiation treatments incancer patients. “It’s very exciting,” Abel says.

JJooiinn tthhee MMoommeennttuumm!!

BBuilding a top-tier engineeringinstitution takes support from

many people on many levels—fromdonors like HHaannkk && JJaanniiccee SScchhuueettttee,MMaarrttiinn && JJuuddyy KKeelllleeyy, KKeenn && JJooaannAAuussttiinn, and others who have givenlarge gifts, to alumni and friendsscattered around the world who aremaking smaller contributions. Together,we’re building an engineering programthat is helping solve some of theworld’s most complex problems, anddeveloping some of the world’s finestnew engineers. To support our ascent,please contact:

Marnie Noble, Associate Director ofDevelopment for the College ofEngineering, OSU Foundation541-737-9328 or 800-354-7281marnie.noble@oregonstate.edu

And to keep up with all the excitementand energy being generated by ourdrive toward Top-25, subscribe to ourfree, monthly e-newsletter“MOMENTUM! @ OSU Engineering”at: eennggrr..oorreeggoonnssttaattee..eedduu//mmoommeennttuumm..

Kent Abel, who came to

OSU to pursue a PhD in

nuclear engineering,

finds himself at the

cutting edge of

research that’s

discovering industrial

applications for MRI

technology.

11

IInntteeggrraatteedd EElleeccttrroonniiccSSyysstteemmss::

The pull of a powerful analog/mixed-signal research program

Collaborative Teamwork: Graduate students in the Integrated Electronic

Systems research cluster collaborate on analog/mixed-signal design in the

lab and on having some fun on the basketball court. Students pictured are

José Silva, Robert Batten, Patrick Birrer, Hui En Pham, and Brian Owens.

12

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

WW hat do a handful ofoutstanding studentsfrom Canada,

Singapore, Portugal, Switzerland,and Milwaukie, Oregon, have incommon?

They all heard about the reputa-tion of the five-person facultyteam running OSU’s IInntteeggrraatteeddEElleeccttrroonniicc SSyysstteemmss rreesseeaarrcchhcclluusstteerr, and wanted to be part of the cutting-edge researchprogram.

“Dr. GGaabboorr TTeemmeess is knownworldwide,” says JJoosséé SSiillvvaa, whograduated from the InstitutoSuperior Técnico in Lisbon,Portugal, in 1994, then worked forSiemens in Switzerland beforecoming to OSU in 1997 to pursuea PhD with Temes. “His researchin mixed-signal and the quality ofhis work have an internationalreputation.”

In addition to Temes, four otherfaculty members in this researchcluster—TTeerrrrii FFiieezz, KKaarrttiiMMaayyaarraamm, UUnn--KKuu MMoooonn, andHHuuaappiinngg LLiiuu—round out theteam, making it a formidablenational player in analog/mixed-signal research.

Analog/mixed-signal engineer-ing, which is at the heart of thisresearch cluster, is what enablescomputers to analyze and

process “real-world” signals suchas heartbeats, blood sugar levels,music, light, speed, and more.These signals exist in analog formand must be converted to theones and zeroes of digital databefore computers can do any-thing with the information.

“An audio CD is a good exampleof analog and digital,” says RRoobbeerrttBBaatttteenn, a PhD candidate fromCanada who followed Fiez to OSUwhen she left Washington StateUniversity to lead the IntegratedElectronic Systems researchcluster and now also directsOSU’s School of ElectricalEngineering & Computer Science.“The music is stored on the CD asdigital data, but in order for us tohear the music, that digital datamust be converted to analogsignals.”

“OSU has one of the nation’s leading researchprograms on analog and mixed-signal design.”

David Hodges,Dean of EngineeringUniversity of California Berkeley (retired)

13

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

years—proof that word is spread-ing fast about the quality of theprogram.

It was OSU’s reputation for close,collaborative work that attractedMS student PPaattrriicckk BBiirrrreerr to OSUfrom the Burgdorf School ofEngineering in Switzerland. “Ihad heard that the OSU programoffered a more intimate environ-ment for learning and research,”says Birrer, who has also workedat Siemens in Switzerland. “Andthat is definitely the case.”

“As a graduate student here, youhave a lot of flexibility andfreedom,” adds HHuuii EEnn PPhhaamm,who came to OSU fromSingapore to pursue a master’sdegree.

As computers play a larger andlarger role in everyday lives—from deploying airbags to regu-lating pacemakers—and manu-facturers have to pack more andmore functionality inside eachchip, the demand for betteranalog/mixed-signal engineeringgrows. Which is where this OSUresearch cluster comes in.

Within the next few years, theIntegrated Electronic Systemsgroup at OSU intends to be thenation’s No. 1 player in mixed-signal research. Already amongthe top five, this is one of theCollege’s largest research clusters,with five faculty and more than60 graduate students.Applications to the program havequadrupled in the past three

As OSU builds one of the nation’s

top analog/mixed-signal programs,

better integrated circuits will help

diabetics better monitor their blood-

sugar levels, improve performance of

cardiac pacemakers, and more.

“We’ve found OSU’sstaff and students…apleasure to collaboratewith on joint research.They are very aggres-sive in deliveringresults, and ensuringthat those results areaccurate throughrigorous review. Theirover-all program isimpressive.”

Randy Mooney, SeniorPrincipal Engineer, IntelCorp.

14

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

“The overall quality ofthe OSU mixed-signalresearch, faculty, andstudents is first-rate.The people are veryaccessible and person-able, making interac-tion with industry thatmuch more productive.”

Jack Hurt, Director ofFoundry Relations, Tektronix

Batten agrees. “You get to spend alot of time with your professorshere,” he says. “Which is generallynot the case at most top engi-neering schools, especially at themaster’s level.”

Although it takes six monthslonger at OSU than at othermixed-signal programs to earn amaster’s degree, students concur

that the extra time is a small priceto pay for the hands-on researchexperience they gain, which oftentranslates into excellent joboffers.

MS candidate BBrriiaann OOwweennss, whoalso did his undergrad at OSUand comes from the Portland,Oregon, suburb of Milwaukie, hasbeen snatched up by SSaannddiiaaNNaattiioonnaall LLaabbss for a job he’ll startthis fall after finishing his degree.“From what I’ve heard fromstudents in programs at otherschools, their master’s theses aresimilar to what we do for classprojects,” he says. “Here, we getto do it all, from design to fabri-cation.”

This highly hands-on approach iswhat Fiez says gives OSU gradu-ate students an edge when itcomes to helping the world.

“We’re giving students a solidfoundation for a career that willchange the way people can live,”says Fiez. “Building a nationalreputation for research is allabout the students in the pro-gram. Students are the heart andsoul of our research cluster. Theyenable the program to succeed.”

15

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

Faculty in OSU’s

Integrated

Electronic Systems

research cluster

include, from top,

Un-Ku Moon,

Huaping Liu,

Karti Mayaram,

Terri Fiez, and

Gabor Temes.

AA s the saying goes, oftentimes “mother knows best.”

OSU Engineering faculty andstudents in the BBiioollooggiiccaall &&EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaall SSyysstteemmss rreesseeaarrcchhcclluusstteerr are discovering that someof Mother Nature’s smallestorganisms produce big resultswhen it comes to cleaning uphumanity’s toxic messes, devel-oping better implantable medicaldevices, and making nanoscalematerials.

Working with OSU botanists,microbiologists, and plantpathologists, environmentalengineering professor LLeewwSSeemmpprriinnii, who directs theWestern Region HazardousSubstance Research Center atOSU, is using microorganisms to

BBiioollooggiiccaall &&EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaall SSyysstteemmssFollowing Mother Nature’s Lead

From toxic wastecleanup to nanotechnology,microorganisms lend OSUresearchers ahand.

transform highly toxic chlorinatedsolvents like Trichloroethylene(TCE) into inert components.Widely used as an industrialdegreaser and dry cleaning agent,TCE now contaminates vast areasof soil where it was carelesslydumped. In collaboration withStanford University, Semprini andenvironmental engineeringprofessor MMaarrkk DDoollaann havesuccessfully engineered ways toinject contaminated soils withmicrobes and then use DNAtesting to track how the organ-isms do the cleanup.Environmental engineeringprofessors JJaacckk IIssttookk and BBrriiaannWWoooodd are using differentmicrobes to stop the spread ofsub-surface plumes of nuclearwaste.

Busy Bugs: Environmental engineering professor Mark Dolan holds a tube of frozen

microorganisms that OSU Engineering researchers have discovered transform highly toxic

solvents like Trichloroethylene (TCE) to inert components.O

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

16

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

RReesseeaarrcchh bbyy pprrooffeessssoorrss LLeeww

SSeemmpprriinnii,, GGrreegg RRoorrrreerr,, aanndd JJooee

MMccGGuuiirree ((hhoollddiinngg hhiiss nneeww bbaabbyy)) iiss

iimmpprroovviinngg tthhee wwoorrlldd ffoorr tthheeiirr

cchhiillddrreenn aanndd ggeenneerraattiioonnss ttoo ccoommee..

UUssiinngg mmiiccrroooorrggaanniissmmss,, ppeeooppllee iinn

tthhiiss rreesseeaarrcchh cclluusstteerr aarree ddeevveelloopp--

iinngg bbeetttteerr wwaayyss ttoo cclleeaann uupp ttooxxiicc

wwaassttee,, bbuuiilldd nnaannoossttrruuccttuurreess,, aanndd

ssllooww bbaacctteerriiaall aaddhheessiioonn oonn

mmeeddiiccaall iimmppllaannttss..

17

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

Bioengineering researchersMMiicchheellllee BBootthhwweellll and JJooeeMMccGGuuiirree are employing yetanother group of microorganismsto make bioactive surfactantcoatings that decrease infectionand coagulation on implantablemedical devices such as stents,catheters, and endotracheal tubes.

“Bacterial adhesion and infectionat the site of an implant can be anenormous problem followingsurgery or endovascular interven-tion,” McGuire says. “We’redeveloping biologically activematerials that help prevent this.”

Although implants are oftencoated with traditional antibiotics,doing so increases the risk ofproducing resistant strains ofbacteria. So Bothwell and McGuireare using compounds calledlantibiotics, whose unique physi-cal structure prevents resistantstrains of bacteria from develop-ing. “We’re the first to be workingwith lantibiotics at biomaterialinterfaces,” McGuire says.

Collaborating with the OSUCollege of Veterinary Medicineenables Bothwell and McGuire tomove toward their ultimate goal ofdeveloping a method for applyingthese biologically active materialsto implants as the devices arebeing manufactured.

“You can do things at a vetschool that you can’t readily do ata medical school,” McGuire says.“This is an advantage for us hereat OSU.”

Chemical engineering, professorGGrreegg RRoorrrreerr has enlisted a species

of algae to help clean up toxicTNT that is leaking from unex-ploded munitions on the oceanfloor (see sidebar), and hasdiscovered that single-celledmarine organisms called diatomsmight contain the key for produc-ing nanoparticles that the high-tech industry has found compli-cated and costly to produce usingother means.

“We’ve succeeded in gettingdiatoms to take up significantquantities of germanium, asemiconductor material related

to silicon that has optical andelectronic properties with manyhigh-tech applications,” saysRorrer, who also works with CChhiihh--hhuunngg CChhaanngg, a chemical engineer-ing professor with expertise inelectronic materials. “Currently,germanium oxide nanoparticlesare produced by industry at veryhigh temperatures, in a vacuum,using laser beams. We’re using asimple biological process at roomtemperature to make thesenanoparticles inside the diatoms,letting the nanobiochemicalmachinery of the diatom cell do allthe synthetic work. It’s incredible.”

Rorrer’s research in these areas issupported by the NNaattiioonnaall SScciieenncceeFFoouunnddaattiioonn and the OOffffiiccee ooffNNaavvaall RReesseeaarrcchh.

Other players in this researchcluster include professors PPeetteerrNNeellssoonn, RRoobbeerrtt PPeeaattttiiee, DDoorrtthheeWWiillddeennsscchhiilldd, and KKeennWWiilllliiaammssoonn, head of the depart-ments of both ChemicalEngineering and Civil,Construction, & EnvironmentalEngineering. “By putting all ofthese people together in oneresearch cluster, you gain phe-nomenal momentum, cross-fertilization of ideas, and criticalmass,” Williamson says.

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

“By putting all of thesepeople together in oneresearch cluster, you gainphenomenal momentum,cross-fertilization of ideas,and critical mass.”

Ken WilliamsonDepartment Head

18

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

TTrraannssffoorrmmiinngg TTNNTT,,SShhaatttteerriinngg SStteerreeoottyyppeess

AAfter almost three years workingin the fast-paced, high-stakes,

big-salary pharmaceuticals industry,OOccttaavviioo ““TTaavvii”” CCrruuzz--UUrriibbee wokeone morning and decided to throw inthe towel on that career.

Why?

“Family,” says Cruz-Uribe, who at 26is married and the father of twosmall children. “I was making verygood money, but hardly ever seeingmy wife.”

He has no regrets about his decisionto quit work and return to school topursue a PhD, and says he definitelymade the right choice coming toOSU.

“I could have gone to a big-nameschool, but I wanted a more pleasant,relaxed atmosphere,” he says. “Otherschools are so competitive. I didn’twant to fight to be exposed toknowledge. Here, I’m doing cutting-edge research that isn’t happeninganywhere else. It’s happening onlyright here at OSU.”

Cruz-Uribe’s research with chemicalengineering professor Greg Rorrerinvolves using algae to ingest toxicTNT and transform it into inertcomponents. Leaking fromunexploded munitions at weaponstest sites and elsewhere, TNT isdestroying marine ecosystems.

“I’m very glad to be working on thisproject,” says Cruz-Uribe, whoseparents are both medical doctors.“Because it’s helping. We’re using anatural process to engineer realsolutions.”

An avid snowboarder, traveler, andbrewer of beer, Cruz-Uribe is proud ofthe tattoos that cover much of hisback and chest, many representinghis Chinese and Mexican heritage.“I’m part of a new generation ofengineers,” he says. “We’re out tobreak all the stereotypes.”

PhD student Octavio “Tavi” Cruz-Uribe

is helping professor Greg Rorrer use

marine algae (top, right) to clean up

toxic TNT leaking in the Earth’s oceans.

19

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

NNaannoo MMeeeettss MMiiccrroo .. .. .. aanndd aa NNeeww IInndduussttrryy IIss BBoorrnn

20

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

BBig news travels fast.Especially when it’s abouttiny things that could

transform the economic land-scape of an entire region in a verybig way.

During the past year, the researchcluster known as Multi-ScaleMaterials & Devices (MMD) hasbeen gaining momentum at adizzying pace—sometimesmoving so fast and spreading sofar it’s hard to keep up with allthat’s going down.

And what’s helping fuel thisMMD momentum is an unprece-dented level of collaboration andteamwork among industry,government, and academia—including a team made up ofresearch players from Oregon’sgridiron archrivals, OSU Beaversand UO Ducks.

Here’s a brief rundown of what’shappening:

Putting Nano-technology to Work in Micro Devices

Last fall, PPaacciiffiicc NNoorrtthhwweessttNNaattiioonnaall LLaabbss (PNNL) and OSUinked an agreement to co-establish the Corvallis-basedMMiiccrroopprroodduuccttss BBrreeaakktthhrroouugghhIInnssttiittuuttee (MBI), which commer-cializes new products based onMMD technology. This pastsummer, HHeewwlleetttt--PPaacckkaarrdd CCoo.donated a 3-year lease (valued at$2 million) of an underusedbuilding on their Corvalliscampus to temporarily house theMMMMDD SSiiggnnaattuurree RReesseeaarrcchhCCeenntteerr. This new center will beco-directed by OSU’s KKeevviinn DDrroossttand UO’s DDaavvee JJoohhnnssoonn, who willblend OSU’s microtechnologyexpertise with UO’s strengths innanoscience, eventually distrib-uting the center among otherOregon universities, includingPortland State University andOregon Health & SciencesUniversity. In addition to HP, agrowing list of companies havesigned on to help advance MMD:XXeerrooxx, FFEEII, IInntteell, LLSSII LLooggiicc, EESSII,and others.

Oregon Dream Team: OSU

Engineering researchers led by Kevin

Drost (right) are partnering with

University of Oregon nanoscience

researchers led by Dave Johnson

(center) to develop and commercialize

an emerging technology called Multi-

Scale Materials and Devices (MMD).

Hewlett-Packard vice president Steve

Nigro (left) encouraged his company to

donate the lease of an underused

building on its Corvallis campus to

serve as a temporary home of the MMD

Signature Research Center.

Above: Renderings of test cuts in

silicon wafers used in MMD technology

development.

21

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

MMD technology is also grabbingthe attention of a wide range ofother people, from big-cityventure capitalists to ranchers inrural Oregon.

Why? Because in the long run,everyone stands to benefit asOregon becomes known as thebirthplace of a whole new indus-try—one that could rival themicroelectronics boom of theSouth Bay Area.

“This is a significant opportu-nity,” says Drost. “MMD technol-ogy is expected to be a $10 billiondollar industry within a decade,and the Pacific Northwest will bea major beneficiary.”

Officials project that MMDtechnology will attract approxi-mately $300 million in federalfunding, which, based on U.S.Department of Commerceestimates, would result in 10,000new jobs.

Not bad for something so tiny. Sowhat is MMD?

In a nutshell, MMD is aboutcreating products that incorpo-rate nano-technology (technol-ogy at the size of single atoms orsmall molecules) and micro-technology (technology at thesize of a human hair) in order toperform energy, chemical, andbiological processes at dramati-cally reduced size, lower cost,higher efficiency, and with

Lab staff Steve Etringer (left), professor

Brian Paul (center), and graduate student

Christoph Pluess use a laser machining

system from industry partner Electro

Scientific Industries (ESI) to cut tiny

microchannels that are at the core of

OSU’s MMD technology.

22

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

precise control. In other words,MMD enables development oftiny devices that are super-efficient and pack a punch farlarger than the sum of theirminiscule parts. MMD is poisedto do for mechanical deviceswhat the microchip did forcomputers and electronics—make big, slow things small andefficient.

Imagine being able to heatindividual rooms with heaters thesize of Hood River apples, elimi-nating the ductwork that wastesbillions in lost energy each year.

Or a small apparatus at everyfarm that produces sustainable“green” biodiesel from cropsfarmers grow on a few acres oftheir own land, eliminating the agindustry’s dependence on dieseltransported thousands of miles.

Or how about a tiny air condi-tioner that silently taps wasteengine heat to keep your car’sinterior cool while it sits bakingin a parking lot all day?

Development of these devicesand others are driving growth ofthis research cluster, whichincludes 22 faculty and dozens ofgraduate students. Electrical

engineering professor JJoohhnnWWaaggeerr’s breakthrough research intransparent electronics is part ofthis cluster. So is industrial &manufacturing engineeringprofessor BBrriiaann PPaauull’s workfabricating a heat exchanger thesize of a quarter, whose fractalcooling channels were developedby mechanical engineeringprofessor DDeebboorraahh PPeennccee. Andprofessor FFrraannkk CChhaapplleenn fromthe department of

Bioengineering is working on atiny biosensor that issues instantvisual warnings when it detectstoxins. The cluster also includesOSU technicians and lab staff likeSStteevvee EEttrriinnggeerr who is machininga microreactor, and a cadre ofgraduate students like CChhrriissttoopphhPPlluueessss, who came fromSwitzerland to do cutting edgeresearch as a master’s student.

“MMD research here is veryexciting because you get to workwith faculty from so manydifferent disciplines,” Pluess says.“You learn about so many interre-lated fields.”

Which is, after all, what researchclusters are all about—spanningdisciplinary boundaries to gainmomentum. If this past year isany indication of the momentumat which the MMD researchcluster is going to grow, thecoming year might be a fast andwild ride. But together, it’s easierto hold on.

Water is pumped through microchannels etched in a

fractal pattern on a metal plate the size of a quarter. The

fractal pattern, which mimics that found in nature (river

drainages, veins in tree leaves, the circulatory system of

animals), enables much higher rates of heat transfer. A

small stack of these etched plates could one-day power a

super-efficient heat exchanger.

“MMD research here is veryexciting because you get towork with faculty from somany different disciplines.”

Grad student Christoph Pluess

23

OO ne wing of the cavernousmetal building contains asmall ocean—a 730,000-

gallon tank capable of simulatingthe earthquake-triggered tidalwaves known as tsunamis.

At the opposite side of this samebuilding, 26-ft.-long concretebridge girders weighing some fourtons are being bounced up anddown under the weight of a hugehydraulic actuator that is simulat-ing decades of truck traffic drivingacross a bridge.

In a basement lab across campus,an innovative alternative toOregon’s gas tax is being designedusing wireless technology.

All these projects are part of theOSU research cluster called theKKiieewwiitt CCeenntteerr ffoorr IInnffrraassttrruuccttuurree &&TTrraannssppoorrttaattiioonn, directed by profes-sor JJiimm LLuunnddyy. Research here isaimed at making roads, bridges,ships, coastal development, andmore safer for everyone.

TThhee KKiieewwiitt CCeenntteerrffoorr IInnffrraassttrruuccttuurree&& TTrraannssppoorrttaattiioonn

Research by structural engineering

professor Chris Higgins (seated) and

graduate students (from left, Melissa

Robelo, Ae-young Lee, and Tanarat

Potisuk) are helping the Oregon Dept.

of Transportation assess the remaining

capacity and predict the remaining life

of Oregon’s cracked bridges.

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

24

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

SSaaffeerr TTssuunnaammiissFunded by a $4.8 million NSFgrant, the new TTssuunnaammii WWaavveeBBaassiinn at the OO.. HH.. HHiinnssddaallee WWaavveeRReesseeaarrcchh LLaabb (WRL) on campusis the largest—and most wired—in the world. Just completed thissummer, the new facility isalready attracting attention fromaround the globe.

“A lot of top people are alreadywanting to join our programbecause of this project,” saysprofessor HHaarrrryy YYeehh, one of theworld’s premiere tsunamiresearchers who was recruited byOSU last year. Yeh says thatpotential sea level rise caused byglobal warming combined withpopulation pressure on the coastis generating increased coastalhazards, presenting OSU with aunique opportunity to becomethe nation’s No. 1 player incoastal engineering. “We couldhave a tremendous impact in thisarea,” he says.

Ocean engineering professor Dan Cox (left)

directs the O. H. Hinsdale Wave Research

Lab, home of the newly finished Tsunami

Wave Basin, the largest such research facility

in the world. Renowned tsunami expert

Harry Yeh, joined OSU last January and has

already brought more than $1 million in

research funding to the College. (To see the

new basin filled with water, turn to p. 7.)

Helping Builda Safer World

25

Geological records indicate thatundersea earthquakes caused bythe Cascadia Subduction Zone inthe Pacific Ocean occur aboutevery 300 years. The last one hitin 1700, which means now is thetime to improve tsunami warningsystems around the Pacific.Although tsunamis travel at thespeed of a jetliner, it can takebetween 30 minutes and severalhours before the waves reachland, allowing time to orchestrateevacuations.

Since arriving last January, Yehhas already secured more than $1million in new research funding.

Professor DDaann CCooxx, recently hiredto direct the WRL, is also bringingnew research and learninginnovations to OSU. Using athree-year National ScienceFoundation grant, Cox broughteight students from four universi-ties to OSU this summer toparticipate in the new ResearchExperience for Undergraduates

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

(REU) program doing hands-onresearch focused on coastalprocesses and hazard mitigation.Some students worked with OSUcomputer science faculty, helpingensure that researchers anywherein the world will be able toparticipate in real-time experi-ments at the facility.

“This is the only REU program Iknow of specifically focused oncoastal issues,” Cox says. “Ours isunique in that it combines civilengineering, oceanography, andcomputer science. Most otherREU sites are in a single depart-ment.”

Cox recruited Texas A&M gradCChhrriiss SSccootttt to pursue a master’sdegree at OSU and serve asstudent advisor for the REUprogram. “Chris is a professor’sdream graduate student,” Coxsays. “He’s doing outstandingwork.”

Cox is also bringing industrypartners to the WRL, like JJoosshhCCaarrtteerr of Edmonds, Washington-based CCooaasstt aanndd HHaarrbboorrEEnnggiinneeeerriinngg, a companyresearching a better design for aPuget Sound breakwater. “This isdefinitely the most accessiblewave facility we know of,” Cartersays. “It’s incredible.”

Other OSU faculty involved in theTsunami Wave Basin includeMMeerrrriicckk HHaalllleerr, JJoonn HHeerrlloocckkeerr,RRoobb HHoollmmaann, RRoonn MMeettooyyeerr, TTuubbaaOOzzkkaann--HHaalllleerr, CChheerrrrii PPaannccaakkee,and SSoolloommoonn YYiimm..

BBeetttteerr BBrriiddggeessWhen the OOrreeggoonn DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooffTTrraannssppoorrttaattiioonn (ODOT) neededhelp determining the severity ofthe cracks found in more than500 of its bridges, it came to OSUstructural engineering professorsCChhrriiss HHiiggggiinnss, TToomm MMiilllleerr, DDaavviiddRRoossoowwsskkyy, and SSoolloommoonn YYiimm.

Graduate students Ae-young Lee (left)

and Theresa Daniels (right) use OSU’s

new strong floor to assist professor Chris

Higgins with critical bridge research.

Steve Lovejoy (right) balances his full-

time job as a senior engineer at ODOT

with his doctoral studies in mechanical

engineering at OSU, bringing an ideal

mix of experience, expertise, and

education to the bridge research project.

26

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

Utilizing the new strong floorlocated in the WRL, and fundedby a $1.6 million ODOT grant,Higgins is leading a team offaculty and graduate studentstesting the strength of bridgegirders by simulating traffic loadsand other forces. The researchwill help ODOT assess theremaining capacity and predictthe remaining life of the crackedbridges.

“This is an outstanding collabo-rative project that ultimatelybenefits every person in the stateof Oregon,” Higgins says.

TThheerreessaa DDaanniieellss, one of thegraduate students on the bridgeresearch team, came to OSU topursue a master’s degree after a3-year stint in industry doingstructural engineering forKansas-based BBllaacckk && VVeeaattcchh.Daniels, who graduated fromIowa State University and excelsat soccer as well as ceramics,

says, “It’s nice to be doingresearch that will have an incredi-ble impact on the state. Eversince I was five years old I’vewanted to work with bridges. Andnow I am. It’s an incrediblefeeling when the work you aredoing has a direct impact on thestate you live in. It’s very fulfill-ing.” Daniels says she is alsograteful that the research is givingher hands-on experience withheavy equipment, includingforklifts, grinders, and steelcutting tools. “I didn’t get to dothat in my office cubicle at Black& Veatch.”

WWiirreelleessss MMiilleessWhat if states taxed vehicleowners for the miles they driveinstead of the fuel they burn?That’s an idea ODOT is lookinginto, and for research assistancehas turned to OSU’s MMoobbiilleeTTeecchhnnoollooggyy SSoolluuttiioonnssLLaabboorraattoorryy. Industrial & manu-facturing engineering professorsDDaavviidd KKiimm and DDaavviidd PPoorrtteerr aredeveloping and testing prototypesystems capable of electronicallycounting vehicle miles traveled(VMT) and wirelessly incorporat-ing a per-mile user fee into fuelpurchases. If the OSU prototypesprove viable, the proposed VMTfee might one day replace thestate’s gas tax.

Undergrads Luis Bellon (far left), Neil Clayton

(above, center), and Javier Moncada

(above, right) do research as part of the REU

program. Grad student Chris Scott

(above, standing) assists.

“I didn’t get to do that in my office cubicle at Black & Veatch.”

Grad Student Theresa Daniels

27

FFrroommLLiimmaa,, WWiitthh LLoovvee

AA retired chairman of theboard of one of the world’smost successful engineer-

ing firms and his wife travel toPeru to attend a friend’s weddingin Lima. They miss their train nearMachu Picchu and wind up sittingsqueezed onto the steps of the lasttrain of the day, which is packedbeyond capacity with chatteringstudents from an all-girls Catholichigh school in Lima. Several of thestudents insist that the coupletake their seats inside the traincar. Trying out their English, thestudents learn the man is anengineer. One of the youngwomen announces that herdream is to become an engineer,too. Two years later, she’s studyingcomputer engineering at OSU andrefers to the engineering executiveand his wife as her Americangrandparents.

Sometimes,engineers touchlives in ways theynever imagined…and a life is for-ever changed.

This is the true story of how OSUCivil Engineering alumnus JJiimmPPooiirroott, who spent more than 42years with CH2M HILL, and hiswife RRaaeeddaa (also an OSU alum-nus) helped make it possible forPeruvian PPaattrriicciiaa AAbbóónn to studyengineering at Oregon State.

“The girls on the train jokedabout adopting us as theirgrandparents,” Jim says. “Thenext morning we just happenedto see them on the streets ofCusco, and they ran up to us,calling ‘Grandma! Grandpa!’ ”

Jim had given Abón his businesscard, and when he and Raedareturned to the United States,they found two e-mails from herwaiting. “She was the one whotook the initiative to continue thecontact and made it very clearthat she wanted to become anengineer,” Jim says.

The Poirots helped Abón applyfor admission and scholarships atOSU, and sponsored her visaapplication. Everything clickedand she enrolled last fall, fundedby a prestigious Provost’sScholarship and an InternationalCultural Service ProgramScholarship.

“During her first quarter at OSUshe struggled a little, the secondquarter she did better, and thethird she got straight A’s,” Jim saysproudly.

A chance meeting on a train near

Machu Picchu in Peru paved the way

for Patricia Abón to study computer

engineering at OSU, where she also

takes yoga and dance classes.

28

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

Paty, as the Poirot’s fondly callAbón, visits their Roseburg homeduring holidays and schoolbreaks. “And she still calls usGrandma and Grandpa,” Raedasays.

This past summer Abón workedas an intern doing computerengineering for OSU’s newTsunami Wave Basin, part of theresearch cluster called the KiewitCenter for Infrastructure &Transportation (see p. 24). Inaddition to computers, her otherinterests include dance, basket-ball, yoga, Tae Kwon Do, and dogobedience. “I like to developmany areas of my life,” she says.“Not only my career.”

One of this country’s mostrespected engineering leaders,Jim graduated from OSU in 1953and was the 35th employee ofCH2M HILL when he joined thecompany that same year. Hequickly moved up the ranks toultimately serve as chairman ofthe board before his retirement in1995.

Jim first met Raeda in 8th grade,they started dating while atRoseburg High School, andmarried after his junior year atOSU, where Jim was studying

civil engineering and Raedabusiness administration.

Raeda also worked at CH2MHILL, but only for one week.

“Everybody at the company wassick with the flu, so Jim asked meif I could help out,” Raeda says. “Iwas pregnant with our first baby,but I went in and worked Mondaythrough Friday, and had the babyon Saturday!”

Jim has also served as presidentof the AAmmeerriiccaann SSoocciieettyy ooff CCiivviillEEnnggiinneeeerrss, vice president of theParis-based WWoorrlldd FFeeddeerraattiioonn ooffEEnnggiinneeeerriinngg OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonnss, andas a founding board member ofthe WWoorrlldd EEnnggiinneeeerriinnggPPaarrttnneerrsshhiipp ffoorr SSuussttaaiinnaabblleeDDeevveellooppmmeenntt. He is a member ofthe NNaattiioonnaall AAccaaddeemmyy ooffEEnnggiinneeeerrss, and received anhonorary doctorate degree fromOSU this year in recognition ofhis engineering leadership and

involvement in worldwidesustainability initiatives, includ-ing the Earth Charter. In 2000, heparticipated in launching theEarth Charter in The Hague,Netherlands, speaking at theceremony attended by manyenvironmental leaders, includingMikhail Gorbachev.

“Some of my most satisfyingwork has been helping transfersustainable technologies todeveloping countries,” Jim says.

Thanks to their generosity andcompassion—and a chancemeeting on a crowded train—thePoirot’s have helped transfer theirpassion for engineering to Abón,who will help keep her “grandfa-ther’s” passion for engineeringalive, in her native Peru. Sheplans to get a graduate degreebefore returning to Lima, whereshe hopes to “make positivechanges in my country.” Herdream is to found and grow acompany “to help lower theunemployment rate among mypeople,” she says.

At commencement last June, OSU

conferred an honorary doctorate

degree on former CH2M HILL

chairman of the board, Jim

Poirot. His wife Raeda

and Paty helped him

celebrate.

29

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

SShhaakkee IItt UUpp!!Learning Innovations Enhance Teaching

PPart of building a top-25engineering program is

retooling the learning machineryto ensure that students areinspired, motivated, and as“work-ready” as possible by thetime they toss up their mortarboards and enter the job marketas new engineers. The College hasimplemented the followingLearning Innovations as part ofour Top-25 Drive:

RReevvoolluuttiioonnaarryy RRoobboottss —Funded by a grant fromTTeekkttrroonniixx, TekBots™ is an inno-vative platform-for-learning thatoffers students an exciting way toapply classroom theory to real-world devices—robots theyassemble and enhance duringtheir years at the College.

MMoobbiillee WWiirreelleessss LLeeaarrnniinngg —Funded by a grant from theHewlett Foundation, students areusing PDAs and laptop comput-ers in classes where an interactivelearning environment enhancesthe learning process.

WWiinnnniinngg TTeeaammss — The Collegeis building entire courses aroundnational student chapter designcompetitions, which exposestudents to real-world designchallenges . . . and real-worldrewards. Our students are win-ning national titles and prizemoney by designing innovativebridges, boats, automobiles, andmore.

RReeaall RReesseeaarrcchh — Our undergrad-uates don’t have to wait until theyare grad students to try their handat research. We believe there’s nobetter way to learn than by doing.And there’s no better reward thanhelping discover solutions to theworld’s tough challenges.

EEnnttrreepprreenneeuurrss EExxttrraaoorrddiinnaaiirree —Historic Weatherford Hall (above) isbeing renovated to house theAAuussttiinn EEnnttrreepprreenneeuurrsshhiipp PPrrooggrraamm,one of only two programs in thecountry where students who wantto start their own business venturescan live, learn, and dream togetherin a residential setting that kindlesthe entrepreneurial spirit.

Developed at OSU Engineering,

a platform-for-learning called

TekBots™ helps engineering

students May Chan and Daniel

Curiel apply classroom lessons

to a real-world device.

30

Colle

ge o

f Eng

inee

ring

2003

Ann

ual R

epor

tO

RE

GO

N S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y

LLeeaaddeerrsshhiippCCoolllleeggee AAddvviissoorryy BBooaarrddJJaammeess BB.. JJoohhnnssoonn,, Retired—IntelCorporation (Board Chair)

KKaayy EE.. AAllttmmaann,, Chief Financial Officer,Altman Browning and Company

RRoonn DDiillbbeecckk,, Chief Operating Officer andVice President of Engineering, RadiSysCorporation

DDwwaayynnee FFoolleeyy,, Retired—NorthwestNatural Gas/OSU AlumniAssociation/OSU Foundation

JJaammeess AA.. JJoohhnnssoonn,, Vice President, IntelCommunications Group, Intel Corp.

SSuuee LLaasszzlloo,, Manager, Design Services, Portof Portland

LLeeee KKeeaarrnneeyy,, Retired—Peter Kiewit Sons’,Inc.

MMaarrttiinn KKeelllleeyy,, Retired—Peter Kiewit Sons’,Inc.

MMaarrkk AA.. LLaasssswweellll,, Senior Vice President,CH2M HILL

PPaauull LLoorreennzziinnii,, Retired—PacifiCorp

JJeeffff MMaanncchheesstteerr,, Retired—Fort James Corp.

LLaarrrryy GG.. MMaarrttiinn,, Manager, BusinessDevelopment, Allegheny Technologies

JJeeffff PPeeaaccee,, Program Manager, 767 Tanker,Boeing Commercial Airplane Group

JJiimm PPooiirroott,, Retired—CH2M HILL

HHaall PPrriittcchheetttt,, Retired—OSU ConstructionEngineering Management

SSccootttt RR.. SScchhrrooeeddeerr,, Managing Member,The SRS Group, LLC

DDaavviidd SSkkiilllleerrnn,, Executive Vice President &Chief Operating Officer, Proactive MedicalTechnologies, Inc.

MMiillttoonn RR.. SSmmiitthh,, President, SmithInvestments

JJiimm SSttrreeeett,, Retired—Shell Oil Company

JJeeaann WWaattssoonn,, Retired—Chevron

MMiikkee WWeesstt,, Vice President, Technology,Pixelworks

RRoobbeerrtt WWiillssoonn,, Retired—R.C. Wilson Construction

TTeedd WWiillssoonn,, Director of Technology, Imaging &Printing Group, Hewlett-Packard Company

LLaarrrryy MMaarrttiinn,, Wah Chang, MECOP ExecutiveBoard Chair 2002-2003

EEmmeerriittuuss BBooaarrdd MMeemmbbeerrssLLaarrrryy CChhaallffaann,, Zero Waste Alliance

DD..WW.. ““CChhuucckk”” HHaalllliiggaann,, Retired—Bechtel PowerCorp.

EEdd HHuunntt,, Retired—HUNTAIR

RRoobbeerrtt EE.. JJoohhnnssoonn,, Retired—NationalSemiconductor Japan Ltd.

JJaammeess WW.. LLuucckkee,, IBM Corp.

TTeedd MMoolliinnaarrii,, Retired—Praegitzer Industries, Inc.

RRoobbeerrtt LL.. PPoollvvii,, Retired—Bechtel Group, Inc.

TToopp--2255 CCaammppaaiiggnn CCaabbiinneettCCoonnnniiee KKeeaarrnneeyy ’’6655,, LLeeee KKeeaarrnneeyy ’’6633Peter Kiewit Sons’ Inc. (retired)

KKeenn AAuussttiinn ’’5533,, JJooaann AAuussttiinnA-dec Inc.

GGrreegg DDrreewwNETIQ Corporation

JJiimm BB.. JJoohhnnssoonnIntel Corp. (retired)

PPeettee JJoohhnnssoonn ’’5555TEKMAX Inc.

MMaarrttiinn KKeelllleeyy ’’5500Peter Kiewit Sons’ Inc. (retired)

PPaauull LLoorreennzziinnii PPhhDD ’’6699PacifiCorp (retired)

DDuuaannee MMccDDoouuggaallll ’’7744Willamette Industries (retired)

SStteevvee NNiiggrrooHewlett-Packard Company

JJiimm PPooiirroott ’’5533CH2M HILL (retired)

JJuuddyy SSttrreeeett ’’6644,, JJiimm SSttrreeeettShell Oil Company (retired)

CCoolllleeggee LLeeaaddeerrsshhiipp TTeeaammRRoonn AAddaammss,, DDeeaannCollege of Engineering

GGoorrddoonn RReeiissttaaddAssociate Dean

CChhrriiss BBeellllAssociate Dean

LLeeee SScchhrrooeeddeerrInterim Associate Dean

RRooyy RRaatthhjjaaAssistant Dean/Head Advisor

TTeerrrrii FFiieezz,, DDiirreeccttoorrSchool of Electrical Engineering &Computer Science

BBeellllaa BBoossee,, AAssssoocciiaattee DDiirreeccttoorrSchool of Electrical Engineering &Computer Science

CChheerrrrii PPaannccaakkee,, AAssssoocciiaattee DDiirreeccttoorrSchool of Electrical Engineering &Computer Science

JJoohhnn PP.. BBoollttee,, HHeeaaddBioengineering

KKeenn WWiilllliiaammssoonn,, HHeeaaddChemical EngineeringCivil, Construction, & EnvironmentalEngineering

SStteevvee TTeesscchh,, HHeeaaddForest Engineering (ex officio)

RRiicchhaarrdd BBiilllloo,, HHeeaaddIndustrial & Manufacturing Engineering

BBeelliinnddaa KKiinngg,, HHeeaaddMechanical Engineering

AAnnddrreeww KKlleeiinn,, HHeeaaddNuclear Engineering & Radiation HealthPhysics

MMeellaanniiee MMaarrsshhaallllDirector of Development

KKaarreell MMuurrpphhyyAssistant for Administration

31

OR

EG

ON

S

TA

TE

U

NIV

ER

SIT

YCollege of Engineering 2003 A

nnual Report

‘99 ‘03 ‘06 Goal0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Undergraduate Enrollment

Long Range Plan

Top-25 Campaignfundraising to date

‘99 ‘03 ‘06 Goal0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Undergraduate Degrees

‘99 ‘03 ‘06 Goal0

Top New Freshmen

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Public andprivate funds

raised

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

$180 M

‘03 Goal

‘99 ‘03 ‘06 Goal0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Graduate Degrees

‘99 ‘03 ‘06 Goal0

1200

200

400

600

800

1000

Graduate Enrollment

‘99 ‘03 ‘06 Goal0

10

20

30

40

5

60

70

$80 M

Research Expenditures

SSttaattiissttiiccss

32

Engineering GraduatesNumber of Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,138

Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Pass Rate . . . . . . . . 96%(National Average = 82%)

Members of National Academy of Engineering. . . . . . . . . . 18

Rhodes Scholar: Debra Walt Johnson, BS EE 1994

Students(Fall 2002)

Undergraduate Women. . . . . . . . . . 411

Undergraduate Men . . . . . . . . . . . 2683

Master’s Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Master’s Men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330

Doctoral Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Doctoral Men. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3680

Includes:New Freshmen . . . . . . . . . . . . 701Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 523 U.S. Minorities . . . . . . . . . . . . 507 International . . . . . . . . . . . . . 493 Honors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

FacultyTenured and Tenure Track . . . . . . . 123

Non Tenured . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Part-time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Professorships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Fellows of Professional Societies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Members of National Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Octave Levenspiel (Emeritus), NAE 2000

AccreditationAccreditation Board forEngineering and Technology

InternshipsOne-third of our B.S.graduates participate in acooperative experienceinvolving two 6-monthinternships in industry.

Financial InformationTotal Revenue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $41 M

Expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $41 M

Research Expenditures . . . . . . . $20 M

New Grants & Contracts . . . . . . $18 M

Research Centers and Institutes

• Advanced Thermal Hydraulics Research Lab

• Center for Microtechnology-based Energy and Chemical Systems

• Center for Water and Environmental Sustainability

• Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research

• Extension Energy Program

• Motor Systems Resource Facility

• Northwest Alliance for Computational Science and Engineering

• O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Lab/Tsunami Wave Basin

• Oregon Metals Initiative

• Oregon Space Grant Program

• Parallel Tools Consortium

• Radiation Center

• The Kiewit Center for Infrastructure and Transportation

• Western Region Hazardous Substances Research Center

CoE AR-03 8/25/03 12:14 PM Page 33

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITYCollege of Engineering101 Covell HallCorvallis, Oregon 97331-2409Phone: 541.737.3101Fax: 541.737.1805Toll free: 1.877.257.5182Email: info@engr.oregonstate.eduWeb: engr.oregonstate.edu

This publication produced by University Publications,Oregon State University, Corvallis, OregonPhotography: Frank Miller

The College's Annual Report is published each fall. Theprinting cost per copy is approximately $2.50.

MMiissssiioonnDriven by a passion for knowl-edge, the people of OSUEngineering are fully committedto developing extraordinaryengineers, creating powerful newideas from research, and fuelinginnovation that is truly vision-ary—all to build a better futurefor Oregon and the world.

People. Ideas. InnovationOSU College of Engineering

CoE AR-03 8/25/03 12:14 PM Page 34