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The department is pleased to announce that a new Academic Operations Coordinator has been hired, Nicolas (Nick) Lenk. Nick will be stepping into the role previously held by Elizabeth Diener, and his first day will be Thursday, July 24, 2025.

Nick brings a wealth of experience in education, student services, and academic operations across both K–12 and higher education. Most recently, he taught physics and astronomy at Front Range Community College, and he holds a PhD in Education Leadership and Policy from Wayne State University. Nick has a deep passion for science education and student engagement, and we are excited to welcome him to the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Please join us in welcoming Nick to the team!

Stop by for coffee, cookies and a chance to take a quick break and connect with colleagues every Wednesday morning throughout the summer at 9:30 a.m. in the ME Community Room (ECME 139).

The Committee for Equity in Mechanical Engineering (CEME) invites you to come cheer on the Doctor Dingers, our inaugural PhD softball team, at their final game of the summer! The team will play on field 2 of the East Mapleton Ball Fields on Thursday, July 17, from 6 to 7 p.m.

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The final Teaching Lunch this summer will be held on July 23 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in ECNT 312. Agenda will be sent in advance of each meeting with topics for discussion.

The final Research Lunch this summer will be held on August 6 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in ECNT 312. Agenda will be sent in advance of each meeting with topics for discussion.

The ME graduate program team is seeking nominations for college-level fellowships that ME PhD students who have been admitted for the fall 2025 semester may qualify for. The details about specific fellowships are as follows:

Fellowship 1: Ryland Family Graduate Fellowship

• Summary:ÌýTo provide support for graduateÌýfellowshipsÌýin theÌýCollegeÌýof Engineering and Applied Science at the É«½ä³ÉÈËÖ±²¥.ÌýRecipients shall be full-time, first-year PhD candidates.ÌýThe recipient shall be pursuing research in a group whose focus is in the general area of renewable & sustainable energy. Some examples include: solar thermal reactors for hydrogen production; biorefining; energy efficient building systems & "green" building materials; solar & wind energy conversion; catalytic processes for energy conversion & fuel cells; energy related materials; & energy efficient power & electronics.
  • Award:Ìý$20,000 total ($10,000 Fall 2025, $10,000 Spring 2026)
  • Eligibility:ÌýFirst-year PhD student in CEAS
• Nomination package
  • Student CV/resume
  • 1-page research description by student
  • Letter of support from advisor or department leader
• Limit: 1 nominee per department.

Fellowship 2: PEO Fellowship

• Summary: TheÌýcollegeÌýhas once again been asked to submit nominations for the annual P.E.O. Scholars Award. ÌýP.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) is a philanthropic organization founded in 1869 to celebrate the advancement of women; educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans, and stewardship of CotteyÌýCollege; and motivate women to achieve their highest aspirations.ÌýÌýA national award ofÌý$20,000, supportingÌýfemale U.S. or Canadian citizensÌýwho are withinÌýtwo years of completing their doctoral degreeÌýas of August 1, 2026. We would like each department or program to nominate 1-2 female students for consideration this year.ÌýThe nominees will be submitted to the PEO committee, and they will then review and select their top candidate(s) for nomination to the national committee for the award.
• Desired qualifications:
  • GPA 3.8+
  • Leadership & character
  • Volunteer work, honor societies
  • Publications (preferred but not required)
• The nomination packet to the local chapter should include:
  • Vita of the student (must include phone #, address, email & GPA).
  • Letter from the student about her work and the value of this scholarship to her.Ìý The letter should be written such that others who are not familiar with her field of research can understand the gist of the research.
  • Nomination letter from chair or advisor, addressing the academic status and accomplishments of the student’s work.
• Limit: Each program may nominate up to 2 candidates.

If you have questions or would like to nominate a student, please reach out to (anna.guy@colorado.edu). The deadline to send nomination documents is Monday, July 21 at 5 pm MT. In the case of multiple nominations for the fellowships, the ME graduate program team will review the nominations and select the final nominee for the department.