• • Ali Faeghinejad,Liam Hawthorne and Babak Hejrati *Biorobotics & Biomechanics Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Department, 91����, 75 Long Road, Orono, ME 04469, USA
    *Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Masoud Rais Rohani

• • Troy Zangle, Brett Ellis and Masoud Rais-Rohani

David Neivandt��

• • by Mahbuba Daizy 1,Yu Zhang 2,Douglas W. Bousfield 1,Ling Li 2,Jinwu Wang 3 andDavid J. Neivandt 1,*
    1 Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, 91����, 5737 Jenness Hall, Orono, ME 04469, USA, 2 School of Forest Resources, 91����, 5755 Nutting Hall, Orono, ME 04469, USA, Forest Products Laboratory, U.S. Forest Service, 1 Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI 53726, USA
    * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Evan Wukcik��

• • Sara Maslaczynska-Salome, Arya Ajeev, Theodore Warfle, Behrokh Shams, Colton Duprey, Evan K. Wujcik

Karissa Tilbury��

• (PREPRINT!!)
  • Jordan N. Miner1, Christopher L. Emmerling1, Joshua D. Hamilton1, Joseph Raite1, Zoe Vittum1, Peter C. Brooks2, Andre Khalil1, Karissa Tilbury1
    1 91����, 2 MaineHealth Institute for Research

Yifeng Zhu

• • Qiang Zou, Yuhui Deng, Yifeng Zhu, Yi Zhou, Jianghe Cai, Shuibing He, and Lina Ge��

Date:��Dec 4, 2025 | Time: 2:00 – 3:30pm | Location:��Ferland Welcome Center

Biography: 

Dr. Raymond Pettit has blended a 20+ year career as an advanced analytic consultant and trainer in business and industry with academic appointments at UCSD, UNH, and Northeastern University. Most recently he was named Director of the Institute for Experiential AI housed at the Roux Institute in Portland, ME.�� Currently, Ray is Chief AI Officer at Neuro-AI Design, where he has created and curated course, curriculum, practicums and workshops on the foundations and principles of AI; AI + Leadership; Practical Applications of AI; and the Statistical Foundations of AI. In addition, he co-created and is co-teaching AI and Marketing at The College of NJ in the winter, 2026 semester.

Ray is a proud alum of the U of Michigan and the U of Illinois, where he received his doctoral degree in 1996.

• ��

Chakraborty Prabhuda:��

Caitlin Howell:��

• • Published on October 9th and included CS undergraduate student Bradan Craig as well as graduate students both Biomedical Engineering.

Kimberly Huguenard

Roberto Lopez Anido

Lauren Ross��

Samuel Davis

• • Sewell, I.D., Verma, A.S. and Goupee, A.J., (2025). Undisturbed wave elevation estimation: Correcting for radiation and diffraction effects in measured data near floating wind turbines. Ocean Engineering, 342(Part 2), 122863

Evan Wujcik��

Caitlin Howell��

• • Wyatt Fessler, 1± Liza R. White, 1,2± Sandro Zier,1 Juan L. Aragones, 3 Laura R. Arriaga, 3 and Caitlin Howell*1,2��

• [1] P. Spicer, K. Huguenard, N. L. Jones, A. Piffer-Braga, D. G. MacDonald, M. M. Whitney, and K. L. Cole, “Nonlinear internal wave mixing observations within the interior of a river plume,” Estuaries and Coasts, vol. 48, Art. no. 149, Jul. 2025. [Online]. Available:
• [2] S. McElman, A. S. Verma, and A. Goupee, “Quantifying tropical-cyclone-generated waves in extreme-value-derived design for offshore wind,” Wind Energy Science, vol. 10, no. 8, pp. 1529–1550, Aug. 2025. [Online]. Available:
• [3] R. Masmoudi, B. G. Frederick, L. Doucette, R. J. Lad, M. P. da Cunha, and C. P. Tripp, “Layer-by-layer approach for obtaining highly oriented kaolin platelets on surfaces,” Langmuir, Article ASAP, 2025. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c01905
• [4] A. E. England, S. D. Collins, M. D. Mason, and R. L. Smith, “Characterization of microreactors for nanoparticle synthesis,” in Proc. 23rd Int. Conf. Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems (Transducers), Orlando, FL, USA, 2025, pp. 779–782. doi: 10.1109/Transducers61432.2025.11110423
• [5] J. L. Colón Quintana, S. Tomlinson, and R. A. Lopez-Anido, “Effect of fiber type on the thermomechanical performance of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites with continuous reinforcement,” J. Compos. Sci., vol. 9, no. 8, p. 450, 2025. doi: 10.3390/jcs9080450
• [6] M. Daizy, Y. Ni, D. W. Bousfield, and D. J. Neivandt, “Development of a soybean wax Pickering emulsion for sustainable hydrophobic modification of paper,” ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng., vol. 13, no. 33, pp. 13614–13627, 2025. doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.5c06102
• [7] M. El Hajam, W. Sun, I. Hafez, C. Howell, and M. Tajvidi, “In situ growth of mycelium in a lignocellulosic scaffold enabled by cellulose nanofibrils for lightweight insulation,” Compos. A Appl. Sci. Manuf., vol. 199, p. 109223, Dec. 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.109223
• [8] W. Baldwin, S. Ghanavati, and M. Wörsdörfer, “Understanding ethical practices in AI: Insights from a cross-role, cross-region survey of AI development teams,” ACM Trans. [Journal Name], vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1–45, Aug. 2025.
• [9] S. Rieger, C.-J. Hsieh, C. Anthony et al., “Paclitaxel neurotoxicity is triggered by epidermal EG5 dependent microtubule fasciculation and X-ROS formation,” Res. Square, preprint, Aug. 20, 2025. [Online]. Available:
• [10] D. Hatinoglu, S. S. S. Lee, M. Choudhary, J. Lee, S. B. Attanayake, K.-Y. Hwang, D. Detellem, M.-H. Phan, J. D. Fortner, and O. G. Apul, “Microwave heating of superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles toward environmental hyperthermia-based applications,” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, vol. 17, no. 35, pp. 49775–49783, 2025. doi: 10.1021/acsami.5c13454

The investment, made possible through UMS TRANSFORMS, will support 44 researchers and students spanning engineering and computing programs across the 91���� 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���� 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����,” 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���� at Augusta 

This proposal aims to create a new multi-campus Game Design and Development program across the 91���� 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���� at Machias

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

Maine Community Colleges to 91���� 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����.

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���� 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����’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���� 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���� 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���� 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

The 107,000-square-foot Ferland building, the newest building on the Orono campus and home to numerous MCEC classes and laboratories, was recognized for its exceptional design excellence by AIA Maine.

“The design and construction of this building has inspired continued investment in our facilities, enabling us to offer world-class, discovery-driven learning,” said MCEC Dean Giovanna Guidoboni. “This design has literally led us to the future of 91����’s engineering and computing programs.”

The jury commended the Ferland EEDC for its comprehensive design quality, highlighting its clear organization within the campus and interior, thoughtful material choices, effective use of natural and artificial lighting to enhance circulation and gathering spaces, and the intelligent integration of the mechanical penthouse into the building’s overall form. “This project is very skillfully conceived and executed in all facets of design,” the jury stated.

A key feature noted by the jury was the Ferland EEDC’s innovative three-dimensional “Main Street” design, which seamlessly integrates labs, collaboration areas, and social hubs. The building also prioritizes energy efficiency, aiming for LEED Silver standards with features like robust heat recovery and optimized daylighting.

As part of the award, Ferland EEDC will be featured in Maine Home and Design Magazine in an upcoming edition.

The $78 Million teaching facility, opened in August 2022, and was made possible through a $50 Million state bond and $25 Million in private support, led by the $10 Million naming gift from E. James Ferland ’64 and Eileen P. Ferland. The Ferland EEDC was designed to support ���Ѳ����Ա�’s world-class engineering and computing programs, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and help address the national shortage of engineers. Its design blends brick, granite, metal panels, and glazing, creating a distinct identity while harmonizing with the surrounding campus architecture.

This facility underscores a broader investment in students, research and facilities. MCEC is a signature initiative of UMS TRANSFORMS, a $320 million investment by the Harold Alfond Foundation to foster innovation and a skilled technical workforce vital to Maine’s economy. With the Harold Alfond Foundation’s continued support, alumni contributions, and other public/private investment, MCEC is actively renovating historic Boardman Hall, constructing the new GEM building, and nearing completion of its Student Success and Advising center and other infrastructure upgrades.

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

The 91���� (91����) has been ranked No. 48 in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 edition of Best Online Master’s in Information Technology Programs. ���Ѳ����Ա�’s School of Computing and Information Sciences has steadily climbed the ranks proving its continued dedication to providing cutting-edge, accessible education.

Information Systems Programs

���Ѳ����Ա�’s Master of Science in Information Systems program focuses on equipping students with the technical, managerial, and policy expertise needed to design and manage computer-based information systems. Designed for students from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds, this program offers flexibility through both in-person and online courses.

In addition to the master’s program, 91���� offers a Graduate Certificate in Information Systems, which requires half the coursework and serves as a stepping stone to the full degree. Online students enjoy the same rigorous curriculum, assignments, and faculty engagement.

Data Science and Engineering Programs

���Ѳ����Ա�’s Data Science and Engineering programs are designed to meet the growing global demand for expertise in managing and analyzing complex datasets using advanced methods from machine learning to cloud computing. These interdisciplinary graduate programs provide a pathway for students from diverse fields to transition into careers in data science and provide pathways for students with non-technical backgrounds.��

The curriculum spans the entire data science lifecycle, from data acquisition to date cleaning, management, analytics to information visualization, with aspects of cyber security, privacy and policy. The curriculum offers a wide-range of specialized courses across different fields to accommodate working professionals, on-campus students, and those seeking to pivot into this in-demand field. ���Ѳ����Ա�’s emphasis on flexibility and innovation enables students to tackle challenges in industries ranging from technology to business, healthcare, spatial data, bioinformatics, education and engineering.

The first day of the competition consisted of a full-day monument hunt where teams were required to locate historical monuments across the entire District of Columbia with limited transportation options. The second day consisted of several complex field exercises and calculations done using high-tech surveying equipment on the Mall near the Washington Monument.

Pictured in the award photo are the six members of the 91���� team including, from left to right: Thatcher Unfried, Owen Tull, Peter Kelton, Max Heck, Thomas Berry, and Morgan Haufler. Rich Vannozzi, Asst. Professor of Surveying Engineering Technology, serves as the team’s advisor and accompanied them to Washington DC for the competition.��

91���� offers both in-person and remote programs for students seeking a degree in Surveying Engineering Technology at the undergraduate and graduate levels. More information can be found on ���Ѳ����Ա�’s website.

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