Grants – Maine College of Engineering and Computing /mcec The 91±¬ÁĎ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:25:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Exploring Transportation Careers in Maine /mcec/2025/10/08/exploring-transportation-careers-in-maine/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:25:21 +0000 /mcec-new/?p=29571

Friday, September 26th, Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rebecca Bian, hosted Transportation+, an event for 91±¬ÁĎ System (UMS) students exploring Maine’s transportation systems and career opportunities.

The morning session included a field trip to the Maine Department of Transportation headquarters in Augusta, where students met with staff from multiple departments, including Research & Innovation, Regional Programs, Environmental, Highway, Bridge, Traffic, Multimodal, and Mobility Engineering and Analysis. Students also visited the MaineDOT Transportation Management Center for a brief overview of operations. The tour offered insight into the day-to-day work of engineers and planners, as well as career paths, internships, and co-op opportunities.

The lunch session included networking opportunities with MCEC Dean Giovanna Guidoboni in attendance, followed by 10-minute presentations from transportation professionals about their roles in the industry. Topics included applying new techniques for using weather data in engineering projects, Maine’s signal and roadway systems, and advances in resilient and sustainable design. The majority of presenters were 91±¬ÁĎ alumni, and the session gave students practical insights into careers in transportation and infrastructure from both regional and national perspectives.


“This event connects students with transportation professionals in Maine to learn more about their company, institution or agency, ongoing projects, their work and emerging technologies,” Bian said. “I am hoping the deep-dive learning experience can help students meaningfully link what they are learning in a classroom setting with future career opportunities, which motivates them to achieve academic excellence for their own career goals. It is also exciting to find out that student attendees are sharing the same feeling and want to see more events like this in the future.”

  • MCEC students and faculty gather outside for a group photo at Maine DOT Headquarters
  • Students engage in a workshop session with working professionals, learning about career opportunities in engineering and computing.
  • MCEC faculty Rebecca Bian greets members of the MCEC community.
  • Dean Guidoboni talks with students, offering guidance and advice.
  • Students meet with industry representatives at the Transportation+ event.
  • Students explore opportunities with local firms at MCEC.
  • Dean Guidoboni addresses attendees, highlighting MCEC’s student programs and resources.
  • MCEC faculty, Rebecca Bian looks on at a successful event.
  • Students engage in a presentation, learning about career opportunities in engineering and computing
  • Signage highlights the MCEC event, welcoming students and faculty to the session.
  • Dean Guidoboni talks with students, offering guidance and advice.
  • Students converse with peers and faculty.

The trip was funded by UMS TRANSFORMS, including seed grants aimed at exposing students to career and research opportunities in Maine’s transportation sector. Bian acknowledged support from her new colleague, Hao Liu, Assistant Professor of Transportation Engineering, who helped lead the morning portion of the event, and thanked MaineDOT for hosting and sharing their expertise.

91±¬ÁĎ also thanks its partners — Acorn Engineering, Inc. ; ASCE NOAA Task Force ; GoMaine ; HNTB Corporation ; Kleinfelder ; Sargent ; Sebago Technics, Inc. ; Thornton Tomasetti ; and VHB — for sharing their expertise, and to Dr. Bian and UMS TRANSFORMS for supporting the experience.

]]> Nearly $1 million awarded to 21 projects to fuel innovation and growth /mcec/2025/08/27/nearly-1-million-awarded-to-21-projects-to-fuel-innovation-and-growth/ Wed, 27 Aug 2025 14:51:53 +0000 /mcec-new/?p=27756 The Maine College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC) has awarded $880,000 in funding for 21 new proposals aimed at fostering interdisciplinary research, sparking innovation and strengthening the college’s impact across the state. 

The investment, made possible through UMS TRANSFORMS, will support 44 researchers and students spanning engineering and computing programs across the 91±¬ÁĎ System. The awards are designed to increase recruitment and retention, developing programming at the , creating interdisciplinary programs in emerging fields, enhancing research, deepening collaboration among 91±¬ÁĎ System institutions and strengthening partnerships with industry.

“These awards, made possible by the invaluable support of UMS TRANSFORMS and the Harold Alfond Foundation, highlight the incredible breadth of interdisciplinary work at 91±¬ÁĎ,” said Giovanna Guidoboni, Dean of MCEC. “From future transportation systems and advanced manufacturing to building sustainability and immersive virtual reality, this wide-ranging focus ensures we are addressing diverse challenges and preparing our students for cutting-edge careers.”

Developing Graduate and Undergraduate Certificate Program in Ocean Engineering and Maritime Digitalization

  • Amrit Verma, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Andrew Goupee, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
  • Richard Kimball, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
  • Yifeng Zhu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Masoud Rais-Rohani, Department of Mechanical Engineering 

The project aims to create an online undergraduate and graduate certificate program in Ocean Engineering and Maritime Digitalization, with the primary goal of training students and professionals to design, operate, and maintain digitally enhanced maritime systems and ocean infrastructure, including applications of digital twin systems in ocean industries.

Surveying Engineering Technology on campus programming

  • Will Manion, School of Engineering Technology  
  • Rich Vannozzi, School of Engineering Technology

The primary goal of the project is to increase enrollment of traditional on-campus students, and particularly, Maine resident students, in the Surveying Engineering Technology Program.

Game Design and Development: Multi-Campus Academic Program

  • Penny Rheingans, School of Computing and Information Science 
  • Joseph Szakas, 91±¬ÁĎ at Augusta 

This proposal aims to create a new multi-campus Game Design and Development program across the 91±¬ÁĎ System. It will combine the expertise of faculty from various institutions to allow students to complete the program at any participating campus, with funding supporting new course development, remote learning initiatives, and necessary hardware.

Integrating Pre-Engineering Students into their Major

  • Megan Walsh, 91±¬ÁĎ at Machias

The Integrating Pre-engineering Students into Their Major project plans to increase the progression of pre-engineering students at 91±¬ÁĎ’s regional campus, the 91±¬ÁĎ at Machias, into the appropriate engineering program at the 91±¬ÁĎ by housing an engineering graduate student on the UMM campus to mentor undergraduate pre-engineering students.

Maine Community Colleges to 91±¬ÁĎ Pathways in Engineering

  • Masoud Rais-Rohani, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
  • Christopher Mordaunt, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The project’s primary goal is to establish a viable pathway through the Transfer ME program for Maine community college students to pursue an engineering degree at 91±¬ÁĎ.

Summer Bridge: Accelerating Community College Transfers in Engineering Through Online C Programming

  • Yifeng Zhu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The project aims to accelerate community college transfers in engineering by offering a fully asynchronous online C programming course that bridges curricular gaps and ensures timely progression toward graduation

Developing Asynchronous Online Courses for the Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence Certificate

  • Yifeng Zhu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering  
  • Vikas Dhiman, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Xueyu Hou, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

To create four asynchronous online courses for the Engineering Applications of AI certificate that expand statewide access, drive enrollment growth, and equip learners and industry professionals with essential, workforce-ready AI skills.

Energize UMS Campus Life with the Concept of Transportation+

  • Ruijie “Rebecca” Bian, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering 

This project creates an open-forum to engage students in depicting a future picture of on-campus mobility, while connecting UMS students through events and trips to explore future transportation systems and career opportunities in the sector.

Building a Multi-Institutional Community of Practice for Engineering Capstone Project

  • Ashanthi Maxworth, Department of Engineering (USM) 
  • Wilhelm Friess, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
  • Carolyn Arcand, Muskie School of Public Service (USM)

The goal of this project is to develop a multi-institutional community of practice for the engineering capstone project to share knowledge, experience and resources within a collaborative framework.

Expanding the Human-Centered Technology Design Program: Expanding Access, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, and Workforce Readiness

  • Nimesha Ranasinghe, School of Computing and Information Science 
  • Aaron Boothroyd, School of Computing and Information Science

The Human-Centered Technology Design (HCTD) Program expansion aims to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, increase student enrollment and retention, and provide cutting-edge, hands-on learning opportunities in human-centered design across the 91±¬ÁĎ System using the mini GEM facility.

Building Energy Monitor Display for Ferland Hall

  • Justin Lapp, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
  • Nimesha Ranasinghe, School of Computing and Information Science

This project will design, develop, and install a real-time building energy monitoring display in 91±¬ÁĎ’s Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center.

The MCEC Imaginarium

  • Richard Corey, VEMI Lab
  • Ruhammah (Ru) LaGarry, VEMI Lab
  • RJ Perry, VEMI Lab

The MCEC Imaginarium will serve as an immersive portal to the groundbreaking research at the 91±¬ÁĎ System, providing a place for everyone to explore the exciting work happening across our campuses and streamlining collaboration with our industry partners by highlighting areas of active research and development across disciplines.

New CIE Winter Travel Course: Sustainability in the Peruvian Amazon

  • Reed Miller, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | Advanced Structures and Composites Center

A new faculty-led travel course will take undergraduate engineering students to the Peruvian Amazon rainforest to learn hands-on about biodiversity and the conservation challenges posed by increasing infrastructure and development.

MCEC PhD Scholars Fellowship Program

  • Masoud Rais-Rohani, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The goal of this project is to help establish MCEC PhD Scholars Fellowship Program aimed at attracting high quality domestic PhD students to engineering from US institutions outside of Maine.

Expanding Smart Factory Training for Undergraduate and Graduate Education

  • Bradley Denholm, Advanced Manufacturing Center
  • John Belding, Advanced Manufacturing Center

The AMC Bot Loft at 91±¬ÁĎ will expand its Smart Factory training system to double student lab capacity and enhance Industry 4.0 education across undergraduate, graduate, and K-12 programs.

MCEC Global — Pilot Development of Online Graduate Aerospace Engineering Certificate

  • Wilhelm Friess, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
  • Kewei Zu, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The MCEC Global project aims to develop the necessary delivery framework and online course content to offer the Graduate Certificate in Aerospace Engineering in full asynchronous online mode to students in Maine and beyond.

Growing and Strengthening the BME Program via Curricula Modernization and the Development of a Sustainable Eng. Gen-Ed and Project Description

  • Karissa Tilbury, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
  • Lisa Weeks, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
  • Ray Kennard, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
  • Michael Mason, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
  • Andre Khalil, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
  • Dave Neivandt, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
  • Cailtin Howell, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
  • Bob Bowie, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
  • Peter Van Walsum, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

Innovative Biocompatibility Module Gives First-Year Biomedical Engineering Students a Head Start on Industry-Ready Skills.

A Virtual Reality Educational Tool for Understanding PFAS Transport in Soil

  • Jean MacRea, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering 
  • Xiaoxiao Zhao, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • RJ Perry, VEMI Lab
  • Manisha Choudhary, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

Our project aims to develop an interactive virtual reality tool that simulates PFAS transport in soils and to integrate it into STEM curricula to help students visualize and understand these processes, thereby enhancing STEM education across Maine.

Intelligent Manufacturing in Maine (IM2)

  • Justin Willis, Advanced Structures and Composites Center 
  • Roberto Lopez Anido, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering  
  • Keith Berube, School of Engineering Technology

This project intends to develop a Research Learning Experience (RLE) in intelligent manufacturing in Maine, to better expose 91±¬ÁĎ students to the sustainable, data-driven, and interdisciplinary processes present in current and emerging Industry 4.0 smart factories.

The Maine College of Engineering and Computing is a signature initiative of UMS TRANSFORMS, a $320M investment by the Harold Alfond Foundation to drive the innovations and technical workforce critical to advancing Maine’s economy. 

Contact: Taylor Ward, taylor.ward@maine.edu

]]> Dr. Hahmann receives NSF Grant to develop development of novel state-of-the-art tool for tracking PFAS /mcec/2023/10/11/dr-hahmann-receives-nsf-grant-to-develop-development-of-novel-state-of-the-art-tool-for-tracking-pfas/ Wed, 11 Oct 2023 23:05:56 +0000 /scis/?p=6965
The emergence of toxic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in water supplies, farms and the environment is a growing problem nationwide. Despite many researchers and government agencies investigating these “forever chemicals,” there is no tool for combining all of their findings and providing a more comprehensive view of the problem.
91±¬ÁĎ computer scientist Torsten Hahmann is spearheading the development of an interactive digital tool that will allow users to explore and analyze data on sites and sources of PFAS contamination throughout the U.S. This software will help investigators and the general public track existing PFAS hotspots, which in turn can help them identify where to test for new ones and better understand how they travel through the natural and manmade environment.
“There is a ton of data out there and plenty of people are testing, but nobody knows how it all fits together,” Hahmann says. “We are building connections among different pools of data.”
The National Science Foundation awarded $1.5 million for the project, one of 18 nationwide it recently funded with a combined $26.7 million through its Building the Prototype Open Knowledge Network (Proto-OKN) program.
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