Undergraduates – Maine College of Engineering and Computing /mcec The 91±¬ÁĎ Tue, 19 May 2026 20:22:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Francis Crowe Society Honors Excellence at 26th Annual Induction Ceremony /mcec/2026/05/18/francis-crowe-society-honors-excellence-at-26th-annual-induction-ceremony/ Mon, 18 May 2026 17:42:49 +0000 /mcec/?p=37028 The 26th annual Francis Crowe Society Induction Ceremony highlighted a broad range of alumni, faculty, students and leaders whose achievements reflect excellence across engineering, computing, education and industry. The event brought together the Maine College of Engineering and Computing community to recognize professional impact at every stage of the field.

This year’s Distinguished Engineers and Dean’s Distinguished Members represent leadership across academia, research, and industry. Emily A. Haddad was recognized for her extensive leadership in higher education, overseeing academic programs, faculty, and student success initiatives that support thousands of students and a broad general education curriculum across the university. She has also played a crucial role in supporting UMS TRANSFORMS and the early development and momentum of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC), helping shape system-level academic innovation and cross-campus collaboration.

Ahmed Aboelezz was honored for his research and teaching in UAV systems, aerodynamics, and bio-inspired flight, supported by extensive externally funded research and a strong commitment to student mentorship. In addition, Aboelezz has demonstrated his commitment to making his research accessible through extensive K–12 outreach and engagement, including student rocket launch activities designed to spark interest in engineering and inspire the next generation of students.

Distinguished engineering alumni and leaders honored this year included Ross Bryant ’98, president and CEO of Fluid Imaging Technologies, recognized for leadership in analytical instrumentation and life sciences innovation; Christopher Gordon ’85, president of Wynn Development for Wynn Resorts, honored for global leadership in large-scale real estate and infrastructure development; Ben Townsend ’08, co-president and owner of Colby Company Engineering, recognized for multidisciplinary engineering consulting leadership; and Robert Monahan ’86, CEO and co-founder of UPPAbaby, honored for engineering-driven innovation in consumer product design and global brand development.

Student recognition highlighted outstanding academic achievement, research and leadership across the college.

Top graduating and outstanding students included Ella Boxall, outstanding graduating student in civil engineering, recognized for work in water resources engineering, sustainability and environmental resilience; Isabelle Irani, 91±¬ÁĎ co-salutatorian in biomedical engineering, recognized for excellence in academics, Division I athletics and research in sustainable biomaterials in the Neivandt Lab; and Karun Varghese, outstanding graduating international student in electrical engineering, recognized for work in robotics, autonomous systems and research across multiple 91±¬ÁĎ laboratories, as well as leadership and global engagement.

Additional MCEC outstanding students by unit were also recognized, including Wyatt Fessler (biomedical engineering), Kenzie Karpinski (chemical engineering), Ella Boxall (civil and environmental engineering), Chris Persinger (electrical engineering), Karun Varghese (computer engineering), Brianna Gannett (computer science), Benjamin Schmidt (engineering physics), Kat Gross (mechanical engineering) and Katie Fletcher (new media).

The Francis J. Hovey Award recipients were also honored for academic excellence and distinction, including Wyatt Fessler (biomedical engineering), Jacob Levesque (chemical engineering), Joe Thorpe (civil and environmental engineering), Brianna Gannett (computer science), Samuel Bach (electrical and computer engineering) and Benjamin Schmidt (engineering physics).

All eligible students in attendance were formally inducted into the Francis Crowe Society, joining a professional community of engineering and computing graduates committed to lifelong learning, service and impact in their fields.

Together, the ceremony reflects the mission of the Francis Crowe Society: to recognize excellence across all stages of the engineering and computing profession and to celebrate the lasting contributions of 91±¬ÁĎ students, alumni and faculty to society.

]]> Electronics for Extreme Environments: 91±¬ÁĎ Pushes Sensors Beyond Limits /mcec/2025/11/12/electronics-for-extreme-environments-umaine-pushes-sensors-beyond-limits/ Wed, 12 Nov 2025 18:53:00 +0000 /mcec-new/?p=30406

ORONO, Maine — Imagine sensors that don’t just survive extreme heat — they turn it into power. 91±¬ÁĎ engineers have built a simple wireless circuit that can operate from room temperature to more than 550 degrees Fahrenheit, opening the door to rugged, self-powered monitoring systems in environments such as jet engines, oil wells and spacecraft.

In a breakthrough with sweeping industrial implications, 91±¬ÁĎ researchers designed a minimalist oscillator that enables sensors to  transmit critical data wirelessly in environments where people, and conventional electronics, cannot survive.

“This work is important because of the potential applications, especially in terms of industrial safety. Not only does constant monitoring in industrial applications allow for more efficient operation with minimal production time loss, but it maximizes safety for human operators by removing the possibility of a surprise failure” said lead author Jude Zanoni, an electrical engineering graduate student and lead author on the study. “By using commercial components, we also demonstrated a potential avenue for cheap development of this technology.”

The research contributes to solving a decades-old problem: how to keep electronics stable in extreme heat without complex biasing, bulky power supplies or fragile components. Traditional silicon devices fail well below 300 degrees, forcing industry to rely on expensive, short-lived or wired systems in high-temperature operations. 91±¬ÁĎ’s solution is different — a single-supply oscillator built with one silicon carbide transistor, delivering more than 12 dBm of output power to extend detection range and reliability.

“This is about building electronics that don’t just survive the heat, they could make it useful,” Zanoni. “The circuit produces the same amount of power as a pair of Bluetooth earbuds — but it keeps working at more than 570 degrees Fahrenheit.”

By reducing parts and stabilizing operation under uniform high-temperature testing, the 91±¬ÁĎ circuit produced up to nine times the power of previous designs at room temperature and nearly doubled at nearly 500 degrees. In practical terms, that’s like turning a walkie-talkie that only works across your yard into one that can reach across your neighborhood. At extreme heat, it still boosts detection range by about 50 percent, meaning problems can be spotted earlier and from farther away. Because the design can be paired with thermoelectric generators, these sensors could power themselves from the very heat they monitor, which eliminates the need for batteries or wires and makes them easier to deploy in remote or dangerous places.

Zanoni, originally from Lubec, Maine, came to 91±¬ÁĎ where he participated in a Research Experience for Undergraduates program introducing him to this research. He continued on to complete his undergraduate Honor’s Thesis on this topic and will continue to study  high temperature, harsh environment sensing in pursuit of a PhD at 91±¬ÁĎ. 

The research, demonstrating robust modeling and successful fabrication under realistic harsh-environment testing, was recently published in IEEE Access under the title “”

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

]]> 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.

]]> Back on Track: 91±¬ÁĎ’s Black Bear Racing Makes Triumphant Return to National SAE Competition /mcec/2025/07/31/back-on-track-umaines-black-bear-racing-makes-triumphant-return-to-national-sae-competition/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 13:35:32 +0000 /mcec-new/?p=27166

The 91±¬ÁĎ Formula SAE team, Black Bear Racing (BBR), recently returned to national competition at the Michigan International Speedway. It marked their first appearance in Detroit since 2013. While the team did not compete in dynamic events, they persevered through rigorous technical inspections that drew praise from judges and seasoned competitors.

Upon arriving at Michigan International Speedway, the Black Bear Racing (BBR) team immediately set to work preparing their car. They successfully navigated the initial technical inspection, a demanding process involving over 100 checks, a notable achievement for a “rookie” team that impressed judges and competitors alike. While subsequent challenges, including a tilt test and a full day spent on noise restriction modifications, demonstrated the team’s adaptability, they ultimately ran out of time to complete the final brake test, preventing them from participating in dynamic driving events. Despite this, the team’s spirits remained high. No other rookie team passed all four technical inspections, and even some experienced teams fell short, underscoring BBR’s significant accomplishment. The team gained invaluable technical and managerial knowledge, benefiting from advice offered by judges and other teams.

Looking Ahead to the 2026 Racing Season

The 2025 season represented a rebuilding effort for Black Bear Racing. With limited resources, the team incorporated components from the 2013 car into their new design. Their success in bringing a running, driving car to the international competition is a feat many first-year teams, and some second-year teams, do not achieve. Judges praised the quality of 91±¬ÁĎ’s car, noting its polish compared to other first-year entries they had seen.

Energized by their Michigan experience, BBR is highly motivated for the The team plans a complete redesign of the formula car, aiming to integrate new technologies and ideas prevalent in the SAE International world. Their goal is clear: return to Michigan and improve upon this year’s performance putting 91±¬ÁĎ in the national spotlight.

Support Black Bear Racing’s Journey

The 91±¬ÁĎ Formula SAE team is dedicated to providing hands-on experience in design, manufacturing, and project management. Their journey is made possible through the support of individuals and organizations. If you’re interested in helping Black Bear Racing achieve their 2026 goals and beyond, , helping the team acquire materials, tools, and resources needed to build a competitive vehicle. Contact Seth Dixon, Black Bear Racing President at seth.dixon@maine.edu to learn more about sponsorship or material donations.

]]> 2025 Francis Crowe Induction Honors graduates and distinguished engineers /mcec/2025/05/20/2025-francis-crowe-induction-honors-graduates-and-distinguished-engineers/ Tue, 20 May 2025 20:16:59 +0000 /mcec-new/?p=24110 May 11, 2025 | College of Engineering & Computing

The 2025 Francis Crowe Society Induction Ceremony took place on Sunday, May 11, celebrating the accomplishments of some of the 91±¬ÁĎ’s most distinguished engineering alumni and over 250 graduating students. Named after Francis Trenholm Crowe, 91±¬ÁĎ Class of 1905 and chief engineer of the Hoover Dam, this annual tradition recognizes graduates who have made significant contributions to the engineering profession through research, industry, and education.

Crowe, known for his pioneering work on major water infrastructure projects in the American West, serves as an enduring symbol of 91±¬ÁĎ’s legacy in engineering excellence. His career was shaped by an early lecture he attended while at 91±¬ÁĎ and later led him to innovate dam construction techniques that are still influential today.

The ceremony was hosted by Giovanna Guidoboni, Dean of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing. The Pledge and Preamble was delivered by Mohamad T. Musavi, Associate Dean, and the Fundamentals of Engineering Cord Presentation was given by Brent M. Bridges, PE, Chair of the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers.

2025 Distinguished Engineer Inductees

Kevin Libby – Electrical Engineering
A native of Farmington, Maine, Kevin Libby earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from 91±¬ÁĎ in 1986 and an M.S. in Computer Engineering from UMass Lowell in 1992. Currently a Distinguished Engineer at NVIDIA Corp., Kevin has led innovations in Static Timing Analysis and design methodology for over two decades. He also serves on 91±¬ÁĎ’s Electrical and Computer Engineering visiting committee and is preparing for retirement while pursuing his interest in vintage pinball machines.

Larry Foster – Mechanical Engineering
Larry Foster brings 38 years of aerospace engineering experience, focusing on composites and structural innovation. His work spans elite organizations like Pratt & Whitney and Wisk Aero. He has 13 patents and has significantly influenced both academic and industrial practices. Larry serves on 91±¬ÁĎ’s Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board and is passionate about mentoring and next-generation flight systems.

Carrie Enos – Chemical Engineering (B.S. 1999)
As President of the 91±¬ÁĎ Pulp and Paper Foundation since 2014, Carrie Enos has expanded employer partnerships and scholarship opportunities. A former business unit manager at Verso Paper, Carrie is a recognized leader and mentor in the pulp and paper industry. She serves on the Board of Directors for TAPPI and continues to champion student success.

Julia O’Neill – Chemical Engineering (B.S. 1981)
With over 30 years of experience in pharmaceuticals and chemicals, Julia O’Neill has made her mark as a statistician and chemical engineer. She played a vital role in Moderna’s Spikevax vaccine development and was named a Fellow of the American Society for Quality. Julia’s interdisciplinary expertise has helped bring life-changing medicines to market.

Matthew Tonello – Civil & Environmental Engineering (B.S. 1994)
Matthew Tonello leads Consigli Construction’s Northern New England operations and has overseen major 91±¬ÁĎ infrastructure projects including the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center. With dual graduate degrees in structural engineering and real estate development, he continues to shape Maine’s built environment and serves on multiple advisory and nonprofit boards.

Outstanding Graduating Students

Zachary Hopp – Mechanical Engineering
From Maple Grove, Minnesota, Zach is the Outstanding Graduating Student in the College. A member of the Men’s Swimming and Diving Team, he has completed multiple internships and contributed to research on sustainable packaging. His work exemplifies the application of engineering in real-world challenges. Zachary was also the inaugural Prashanth Chandrasekar Excellence Award recipient, recognized as the first Chandrasekar Scholar.

Siddhartha Bajracharya – Electrical Engineering
Originally from Kathmandu, Nepal, Siddhartha is recognized as the Outstanding Graduating International Student. His passion for embedded systems was cultivated through national ballooning research collaborations. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in computer engineering at 91±¬ÁĎ.

The Francis Crowe Induction Ceremony remains a hallmark event celebrating the enduring impact of 91±¬ÁĎ engineers. With honorees whose work spans global innovation, community development, and academic mentorship, this year’s celebration reaffirms the 91±¬ÁĎ’s commitment to excellence in engineering education. As new graduates and seasoned professionals stood together to recite the engineering pledge, the spirit of integrity, service, and innovation that defined Francis Crowe continues to inspire future generations. In addition to the distinguished alumni, over 250 undergraduate graduating seniors were also inducted into the Francis Crowe Society, highlighting the depth and promise of 91±¬ÁĎ’s engineering legacy.

]]> Seeking CS Undergrad for Employment with Maine eDNA /mcec/2021/04/28/seeking-cs-undergrad-for-employment-with-maine-edna/ Wed, 28 Apr 2021 21:46:04 +0000 /scis/?p=6432 We are seeking an undergraduate student employee to join the Maine-eDNA team, a large NSF EPSCoR funded project (/edna/). One goal of the project is to build an integrated data repository of environmental DNA (eDNA), which is DNA obtained from fresh and marine water samples and subjected to high throughput sequencing.

As part of the Maine-eDNA team, undergraduate employees will gain hands-on research experience and other professional skills to advance their careers. The student will work with 91±¬ÁĎ Coordinated Operating Research Entities (CORE) environmental DNA (eDNA) Laboratory and the eDNA Data Management Team to facilitate parsing sequencing metadata files for subsequent upload to the Maine-eDNA deployment of MyTardis (, ).

MyTardis is a multi-user data management web application built on the Django web framework for scientific instruments. The student will contribute to an Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) pipeline of DNA sequencing results to ingest into MyTardis.

The student will contribute to the existing data parser () to extract and post outputs from an Illumina MiSeq Sequencer to MyTardis via an Application Programming Interface (). Additional parsing tasks may also be adapted from the MyTardis NGS Ingestor (). The student will work closely with the eDNA Data Management team to assess needs and create a Graphic User Interface (e.g., ) for the parser.

The applicant should have a desire to learn and work through problems. Coding will be required and there will be an end of project technical report and presentation open to eDNA colleagues.

The position is full-time (40 hours per week at $12.30 per hour) during May through August, with the option to continue working part-time during the academic year.

Required

  • Programming experience (Python)

Desired

  • Familiarity with GitHub and collaborative coding practices (branch, pull, push, etc)
  • Familiarity with Databases with respect to web application design
  • Familiarity with Linux environments (CentOS, Ubuntu)
]]> Seeking CS or New Media Undergrad for Employment with Maine eDNA /mcec/2021/04/28/seeking-cs-or-new-media-undergrad-for-employment-with-maine-edna/ Wed, 28 Apr 2021 21:41:20 +0000 /scis/?p=6429 We are seeking an undergraduate student employee to join the Maine-eDNA team, a large NSF EPSCoR funded project (/edna/). One goal of the project is to build an integrated data repository of environmental DNA (eDNA), which is DNA obtained from fresh and marine water samples and subjected to high throughput sequencing. eDNA samples need to be stored at very low (-80C) temperatures in special freezers. Given the growing repository of stored samples we are seeking a creative student with proficient coding skills to help with design and creation of a Freezer Mapping application that will support fast and accurate location, management and retrieval of samples.

Freezer Mapping Project (This project may be accomplished remotely)

Junior or Senior in CS or New Media

As part of the Maine-eDNA team, the student will gain hands-on research experience and other professional skills to advance their career. The student will work with the 91±¬ÁĎ Coordinated Operating Research Entities (CORE) environmental DNA (eDNA) Laboratory and the eDNA Data Management Team to facilitate the development of a web application for the management and tracking of eDNA samples.

The 91±¬ÁĎ eDNA laboratory offers Next-Generation Sequencing, Digital Droplet PCR, and quantitative PCR. As these samples need to be stored within -80°C lab freezers to preserve the DNA, fast and efficient tracking of sample attributes such as each sample’s remaining eDNA volume and location in the freezer is vital. The student will work closely with the eDNA laboratory to assess needs and produce a database web application built in the .

The applicant should have a desire to learn and work through problems. Coding will be required and there will be an end of project technical report and presentation open to eDNA colleagues.

The position is full-time (40 hours per week at $12.30 per hour) during May through August, with the option to continue working part-time during the academic year.

Required

  • Programming experience (Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS)
  • Familiarity with GitHub and collaborative coding practices
  • Familiarity with Databases with respect to web application design
  • Familiarity with Linux environments (CentOS, Ubuntu)

Desired

  • Familiarity with Django Framework

Applicants must be a Maine resident or, if not a Maine resident, attending a university or college in Maine.

To apply, please send the following application materials to Maine EPSCoR at maine.epscor@maine.edu: (1) Cover letter explaining interest and qualifications for this position, (2) current resume or CV, (3) a copy of unofficial academic transcript, and (4) a list of the names and contact information of three references of anyone familiar with your work performance including teachers. Applications are being accepted immediately until positions are filled.

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