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New study shows road emission policies could save 1.9M lives by 2040

Alexander James Servantez — Thu, 22 May 2025 20:45:25 +0000

New study shows road emission policies could save 1.9M lives by 2040 Alexander Jame… Thu, 05/22/2025 - 14:45

A new global study featuring Professor Daven Henze reveals that implementing smart policies that address road transport emissions can improve health outcomes across more than 180 countries and 13,000 urban areas.

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Tiny robot team could be a gamechanger for safety inspections

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 21 May 2025 15:29:25 +0000

Tiny robot team could be a gamechanger for safety inspections Alexander Jame… Wed, 05/21/2025 - 09:29

Alexander Servantez

One slithers. One crawls. Neither looks like much on their own. But together, they form a super team—one that might just change how we inspect the most complicated machines in the world.

Kaushik Jayaram, an assistant professor in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering at ɫ��ֱ��, is working to build the next generation of robot inspection tools by studying some of nature’s simplest creatures.

This robotic duo is about as odd as it is ingenious: tiny, insect-inspired robots paired with inflatable vine-like robots that grow like plants and curl like snakes. These high-tech helpers can navigate a complex maze of machinery and squeeze through the tightest of spaces—like the guts of a jet engine—to potentially perform non-destructive evaluation faster, cheaper and better than ever before.

The tiny mCLARI robot, developed by Assistant Professor Kaushik Jayaram and his team in the Animal Inspired Movement and Robotics Laboratory.

“If you look at the infrastructure around us, there are a lot of buildings, bridges, dams and machines that have all of these little nooks and crannies,” said Jayaram, who is also affiliated with the BioFrontiers Institute, the Biomedical Engineering Program, the Robotics Program and the Materials Science and Engineering Program. “They need very careful, regular inspection and maintenance, but there’s just no easy, cost-effective way to get in.”

Jayaram said there is also an element of public safety involved. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, nearly 15% of aviation accidents are caused by mechanical malfunction.

In just this year alone, the National Transportation Safety Board has reported 94 aviation accidents, 13 of which have been identified as fatal incidents.

“When it comes to tasks such as flying, where human safety is paramount, we need aircraft technology and machinery to work 100% of the time,” Jayaram said. “Our research is one of the efforts to address these concerns using the advantages of robotics.”

The work, in collaboration with Laura Blumenschein at Purdue University, has drawn interest from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. They’ve awarded the two researchers a three-year, $1.4 million grant to prove these small robots can work together to produce big results.

But as unlikely as this robotic team might seem, Jayaram believes they have the perfect blend of “offense” and “defense” to get these dirty and delicate jobs done.

First on the roster is Jayaram’s mCLARI microrobot. This tiny machine—weighing in at less than a gram—can climb, squeeze through cracks the size of a penny and move with a millimeter precision.

However, due to its small stature, it struggles to carry any extra weight. Large batteries and electronics are incompatible with the little robot, and without them it cannot travel long distances or maneuver tight spaces effectively.

The inflatable vine-like robot, developed by Laura Blumenschein, an assistant professor at Purdue University.

That’s where its vine-like teammate comes in. This robot can inflate like a party favor, allowing it to carry more weight and conform to the environment. In Jayaram’s vision, the inflatable snake can act as mCLARI’s personal Uber driver, negotiating constraints of tight spaces and dropping the tiny robot directly at the site of inspection.

Once in location, Jayaram said the mCLARI robot, fitted with cameras and miniature evaluation sensors, can gather and transmit real-time data for offline analysis. When it’s done, it can hop right back on the snake-like robot and the team can make the winding journey back home, saving hours of evaluation time and thousands of dollars in service costs in the process.

“Each of the robotic systems have their own pros and cons,” said Jayaram. “By combining the strengths of these two robots, we’re overcoming the disadvantages to create a single collaborative system that can give us quick insight into these compact and confined spaces.”

But this tiny squad of robots is capable of much more than just inspection. In fact, Jayaram dreams of a day where his insect and vine-inspired robotic friends can be deployed in a variety of scenarios where being small, agile and adaptive are a premium.

Maybe one day this robotic team can play a vital role in environmental monitoring to detect high-risk wildfire zones and prevent ecological damage. Or maybe they can be used in disaster response situations—like a collapsed building—to help save human lives.

Jayaram said the possibilities are truly endless.

“These small, confined crevices and spaces are actually way more ubiquitous than we originally thought. Even in the medical arena—if we shrink these robots even further, make them shapeshift, and use biocompatible materials, maybe our technology can one day be crawling inside our bodies, detecting and releasing blood clots or taking measurements just like a pill,” Jayaram said. “We get very excited when we think about the future. If we can build systems that can effectively navigate the world and combine them with sensors, we can do a lot.”

Assistant Professor Kaushik Jayaram, in collaboration with Laura Blumenschein, has received a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to develop a tiny robot super team capable of navigating a complex maze of machinery and squeeze through the tightest of spaces—like the guts of a jet engine—to potentially perform non-destructive evaluation faster, cheaper and better than ever before.

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Vance turns her house into lab to study health risks of cleaning products

Alexander James Servantez — Tue, 20 May 2025 19:16:38 +0000

Vance turns her house into lab to study health risks of cleaning products Alexander Jame… Tue, 05/20/2025 - 13:16

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, global spending on household cleaning products have increased by nearly $50 billion. Associate Professor Marina Vance is turning her home into a research laboratory to study and explore the possible implications of the increased product usage on human health.

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We can turn bugs into flying, crawling RoboCops. Does that mean we should?

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 14 May 2025 16:44:44 +0000

We can turn bugs into flying, crawling RoboCops. Does that mean we should? Alexander Jame… Wed, 05/14/2025 - 10:44

Scientists and engineers are modifying animals with mechanical parts to create next-generation biohybrid cyborg animals that can perform difficult and unappealing tasks for humans. But do humans have the right to overlook animal consciousness for personal gain? In this article by Salon, Assistant Professor Nicole Xu blazes this new terrain and explores the ethical considerations behind these biohybrid creatures using her jellyfish case study as an example.

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Burleson earns 2025 Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award

Alexander James Servantez — Tue, 13 May 2025 20:53:08 +0000

Burleson earns 2025 Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award Alexander Jame… Tue, 05/13/2025 - 14:53

Assistant Professor Grace Burleson has earned the Graduate School's 2025 Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award for her outstanding contributions to mentoring individual graduate students and improving the overall climate of graduate education.

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Día de Ciencias inspires future engineers through hands-on STEM activities

Alexander James Servantez — Mon, 12 May 2025 18:59:55 +0000

Día de Ciencias inspires future engineers through hands-on STEM activities Alexander Jame… Mon, 05/12/2025 - 12:59

ɫ��ֱ��’s chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) welcomed Hispanic middle and high school students from across the Denver metro area for the third annual Día de Ciencias this spring semester. SHPE received generous funding support from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering to make this event possible.

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New discovery shows how molecules can mute heat like music

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 07 May 2025 03:00:00 +0000

New discovery shows how molecules can mute heat like music Alexander Jame… Tue, 05/06/2025 - 21:00

Alexander Servantez

Imagine you are playing the guitar—each pluck of a string creates a sound wave that vibrates and interacts with other waves.

Now shrink that idea down to a small single molecule, and instead of sound waves, picture vibrations that carry heat.

Ultra-high vacuum scanning probe setup modified by the Cui Research Group to conduct thermal microscopy experiments.

A team of engineers and materials scientists in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering at ɫ��ֱ�� has recently discovered that these tiny thermal vibrations, otherwise known as phonons, can interfere with each other just like musical notes—either amplifying or canceling each other, depending on how a molecule is "strung" together.

Phonon interference is something that’s never been measured or observed at room temperature on a molecular scale. But this group has developed a new technique that has the power to display these tiny, vibrational secrets.

The breakthrough study was led by Assistant Professor Longji Cui and his team in the Cui Research Group. Their work, funded by the National Science Foundation in collaboration with researchers from Spain (Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Italy (Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici) and the ɫ��ֱ�� Department of Chemistry, was recently published in the journal Nature Materials.

The group says their findings will help researchers around the world gain a better understanding of the physical behaviors of phonons, the dominant energy carriers in all insulating materials. They believe one day, this discovery can revolutionize how heat dissipation is managed in future electronics and materials.

“Interference is a fundamental phenomenon,” said Cui, who is also affiliated with the Materials Science and Engineering Program and the Center for Experiments on Quantum Materials. “If you have the capability to understand interference of heat flow at the smallest level, you can create devices that have never been possible before.”

The world’s strongest set of ears

Cui says molecular phononics, or the study of phonons in a molecule, has been around for quite some time as a primarily theoretical discussion. But you need some pretty strong ears to “listen” to these molecular melodies and vibrations first-hand, and that technology just simply hasn’t existed.

A sneak peek into the ultra-high vacuum scanning probe microscopy setup used to conduct molecular measurements.

That is, until Cui and his team stepped in.

The group designed a thermal sensor smaller than a grain of sand or even a sawdust particle. This little probe is special: it features a record-breaking resolution that allows them to grab a molecule and measure phonon vibration at the smallest level possible.

Using these specially designed miniature thermal sensors, the team studied heat flow through single molecular junctions and found that certain molecular pathways can cause destructive interference—the clashing of phonon vibrations to reduce heat flow.

Sai Yelishala, a PhD student in Cui’s lab and lead author of the study, said this research using their novel scanning thermal probe represents the first observation of destructive phonon interference at room temperature.

In other words, the team has unlocked the ability to manage heat flow at the scale where all materials are born: a molecule.

“Let’s say you have two waves of water in the ocean that are moving towards each other. The waves will eventually crash into each other and create a disturbance in between,” Yelishala said. “That is called destructive interference and that is what we observed in this experiment. Understanding this phenomenon can help us suppress the transport of heat and enhance the performance of materials on an extremely small and unprecedented scale.”

Tiny molecules, vast potential

Developing the world’s strongest set of ears to measure and document never-before-seen phonon behavior is one thing. But just what exactly are these tiny vibrations capable of?

PhD student and lead author of the study Sai Yelishala (right), along with Postdoctoral Associate and second author Yunxuan Zhu (left). Both are members of the Cui Research Group led by Assistant Professor Longji Cui.

“This is only the beginning for molecular phononics,” said Yelishala. “New-age materials and electronics have a long list of concerns when it comes to heat dissipation. Our research will help us study the chemistry, physical behavior and heat management in molecules so that we can address these concerns.”

Take an organic material, like a polymer, as an example. Its low thermal conductivity and susceptibility to temperature changes often poses great risks, such as overheating and degradation.

Maybe one day, with the help of phonon interference research, scientists and engineers can develop a new molecular design. One that turns a polymer into a metal-like material that can harness constructive phonon vibrations to enhance thermal transport.

The technique can even play a large role in areas like thermoelectricity, otherwise known as the use of heat to generate electricity. Reducing heat flow and suppressing thermal transport in this discipline can enhance the efficiency of thermoelectric devices and pave the way for clean energy usage.

The group says this study is just the tip of the iceberg for them, too. Their next projects and collaborations with ɫ��ֱ�� chemists will expand on this phenomenon and use this novel technique to explore other phononic characteristics on a molecular scale.

“Phonons travel virtually in all materials,” Yelishala said. “Therefore we can guide advancements in any natural and artificially made materials at the smallest possible level using our ultra-sensitive probes.”

Assistant Professor Longji Cui and his team in the Cui Research Group have developed a new technique that allows them to measure phonon interference inside of a tiny molecule. They believe one day, this discovery can revolutionize how heat dissipation is managed in future electronics and materials.

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An artistic rendering showing thermal phonon interference in a molecule, otherwise known as "a molecular song."

Interning at Samuel Engineering

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 02 May 2025 21:16:52 +0000

Interning at Samuel Engineering Alexander Jame… Fri, 05/02/2025 - 15:16

Jafar Makrani is a graduate student in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. He interned at Samuel Engineering during spring 2025.

Jafar Makrani, graduate student in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering and intern at Samuel Engineering.

Where did you intern and what was exciting for you about that opportunity?

This spring, I interned at Samuel Engineering, Inc. in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Samuel Engineering is a multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm that offers services in process, mechanical, electrical, civil, and pipeline engineering for oil and gas, power, mining, and chemical sectors. I worked with the Pipeline Services team, supporting and reviewing projects with clients such as Suncor Energy, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, and Tallgrass Energy.

My role focused on reviewing drawings, getting trained on project design tasks, and building custom engineering tools that enhanced workflows. It was a great opportunity to see how engineering decisions are made in real time on complex, safety-critical projects.

What kinds of projects have you had a chance to work on during your internship?

Throughout my internship, I contributed significantly to several pipeline engineering and trenchless technology projects. One of my main contributions was developing a Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Geometry Profile Calculator in Microsoft Excel. Unlike commonly available tools such as Technical Toolbox, our calculator could handle compound bends, providing a more realistic and flexible approach to complex HDD designs.

I also assisted in preparing technical deliverables such as HDD feasibility reports, site-specific bore profiles, bend radius checks, wall thickness calculations, and HDD pullback load analysis. These experiences helped me sharpen both my technical design skills and my ability to present findings clearly to project stakeholders.

Was there a particular challenge you encountered that really pushed you to learn something new?

Before starting my internship, I didn’t have any background or knowledge in pipeline engineering. I had no idea about the amount of technical detail and planning that goes into designing and executing projects like HDD or open-cut installations. It was a completely new world for me, from understanding bore profiles and clash detection to calculating geometric designs and material specifications.

At first, it was overwhelming because there were so many factors to consider that I had never encountered in the classroom. But by asking lots of questions, shadowing experienced engineers, and working on these real projects, I was able to bridge that gap. It pushed me to learn quickly, adapt, and build confidence in an entirely new field of engineering.

How did what you learned look different than the way you learn engineering in class?

In class, engineering problems are usually well-defined. You know the starting point, the assumptions you’re allowed to make, and what a good solution should look like. But during my internship, the real world didn’t come with neatly packaged problems. Every project was filled with uncertainties, incomplete information, and competing priorities.

I learned that engineering in practice is much more about decision-making under uncertainty and balancing technical feasibility with client requirements, budgets, and timelines. It’s less about finding the “perfect” answer and more about finding a good, practical solution that works within constraints. This experience really changed how I think about problem-solving and showed me how important communication, teamwork, and creative thinking are in addition to technical knowledge.

What advice do you have for other students interested in pursuing a similar opportunity?

My biggest advice is to stay curious, proactive, and committed to learning. Even if you’re not directly assigned a particular task, don’t hesitate to ask how you can support ongoing projects or suggest improvements when you see opportunities. Most importantly, chase excellence, not success. If you focus on developing your skills, understanding your field deeply, and consistently delivering high-quality work, success will follow naturally.

I'm proud to share that by maintaining this mindset during my internship, I’m currently in talks for a full-time position at Samuel Engineering even before my internship has officially ended. It was a rewarding reminder that when you strive for excellence and take ownership of your contributions, opportunities will come to you without needing to chase them. Keep pushing yourself to improve a little every day and doors will open when you least expect it.

Jafar Makrani is an graduate student in mechanical engineering. He interned at Samuel Engineering during spring 2025.

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Jayaram nabs prestigious grants to design insect-inspired, shapeshifting robots

Alexander James Servantez — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:57:24 +0000

Jayaram nabs prestigious grants to design insect-inspired, shapeshifting robots Alexander Jame… Tue, 04/29/2025 - 10:57

Assistant Professor Kaushik Jayaram is the recipient of a $650,000 CAREER award from the U.S. National Science Foundation. The funding will help Jayaram make advancements in robots by drawing from what might seem to be an unlikely source: insects and other small creatures.

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Seven mechanical engineering students earn graduating student awards

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 17:40:16 +0000

Seven mechanical engineering students earn graduating student awards Alexander Jame… Wed, 04/23/2025 - 11:40

Alexander Servantez

Seven students from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering have earned graduating student awards from the College of Engineering and Applied Science in 2025.

These awards honor seniors who are nominated by faculty, staff or fellow students for their outstanding contributions.

Each of the seven award winners will be recognized and celebrated at the department's Graduation Recognition Ceremony on Thursday, May 8.

Read below to learn more about these students and their amazing achievements.

Boston Abrams

Abrams is receiving the Academic Engagement Award for his genuine passion for learning. As an ME major with minors in computer science and history, he is constantly seeking opportunities to expand his knowledge beyond traditional coursework and through an interdisciplinary approach. His nominator also says Abrams is an invaluable course assistant who is a "trusted mentor and leader in the classroom."

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

I will be pursuing a master's degree in mechanical engineering here at ɫ��ֱ��. I am excited to use what I have learned in my classes, research and as a course assistant to succeed in the Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's Program (BAM). During my undergraduate journey, I learned a whole host of technical skills, from heat transfer to coding. I think the most important skill that I learned was managing my time and being efficient in the completion of my work.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

My best advice is to get involved. You get to have a period of your life where your main responsibility in life can be learning. This is a great privilege, so make sure you use it. Get involved in clubs and research. This is how you can stand out and build the connections you will need later to get jobs. Don't worry if you don't click with the first project you try—take the time to find a project that you love.

Hale Burke

Burke, a Community Impact Award recipient, has put together an impressive resume of community engagement events and responsibilities during her time at ɫ��ֱ��. She has served as the director of elementary school outreach for the Society of Women Engineers, participated in numerous volunteer events at Centaurus High School, founded the Emergency Painting Improv Comedy Club and worked with the Pre-College Engineering Outreach Program. She has also pushed herself to help her classmates by becoming a learning assistant for Physics 2: Calculus Based Electricity and Magnetism, a course assistant for Fluid Mechanics, and a curriculum development aide for Heat Transfer. Her nominator says she is a "true team player" and an excellent engineer who will positively impact any community she ends up in.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

I will be working at BOA in Denver as an associate test engineer. The resources offered by ɫ��ֱ�� helped me grow both personally and professionally far beyond what I could have imagined four years ago. Becoming involved in research in the Granular Flow Lab, joining the board for the Society of Women Engineers, landing an incredible summer position through the CU Internship for Credit Program, working with the Pre-College Engineering Outreach Program through the ITLL, and getting to know the amazing faculty here have allowed me to develop the skills and mindset I needed to feel confident in taking my next steps.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

Get involved on campus and don't be afraid to reach out for help or advice! Consider every opportunity that comes your way—you'll never know what you'll learn or what connections you'll make. Professors and upperclassmen are almost always happy to help you out, just take the opportunity to ask!

Additionally, take the time to celebrate your accomplishments and reflect on how far you have come. It is so easy to get lost in all of your assignments, projects, and looking to the future. Be kind to yourself—big changes don’t happen overnight. Take pride in what you have done, and what you continue to do!

Airyl Van Dayrit

Airyl is receiving a multitude of awards this spring, including the Community Impact Award, the Culture Impact Award and the Perseverance Award.

Airyl's impact on community and culture starts with his strong commitment and demonstrated effort to create a welcoming community for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) students here at ɫ��ֱ��. As a student leader for Asian Unity, one of the largest AAPI student organizations on campus, he played a key role in developing and bringing back some of the community's signature events, including Passport to Asia. He facilitated collaboration with other student organizations and helped foster an environment built upon relationships and connections. Most importantly, Airyl's work with Asian Unity has helped the AAPI community feel heard and safe on campus.

He is also being recognized for his perseverance and sheer toughness en route to his degree. English is Airyl's second language. He came to the United States at 14 years old and since he's been here, he's had to navigate numerous obstacles. But despite all of this, Airyl's nominators say he is always looking to help others and working hard with a smile on his face. One nominator said they couldn't imagine "a person more deserving of these awards than him."

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

This summer, I will be working as a field engineer for Mortenson, helping construct and commission wind turbines across the border of Washington and Oregon. In the fall, I’ll be continuing my accelerated master’s in mechanical engineering at ɫ��ֱ��, where I hope to deepen my technical foundation in sustainable systems and sharpen my ability to lead in complex, cross-disciplinary environments. In the long term, I plan to pursue an MBA to further expand my leadership and business strategy skillset—ideally at a school where I can bridge clean energy innovation with global impact.

ɫ��ֱ�� and [the college] prepared me for all of this—not just with technical knowledge, but with the confidence to lead, mentor, and advocate for change. I will leave (and return) with a deep gratitude and understanding that engineering isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about serving people, communities, and the foreseeable future.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

My best advice is for anyone who’s simply trying their best, living day by day and taking any chance they get to survive the harsh realities of life filled with uncertainty and insecurity. Be proud of who you are, where you come from, and what you believe in, while also having a curious and open mind. In every challenge, there will be better days and new reasons to keep fighting, so never stop fighting for your people, your sacrifices, your aspirations, your ambitions, and your values.

In a place as vast as ɫ��ֱ��, don’t just search for where you belong, but try and create that space and invite others into it. Help those who feel lost and offer them the safety and support you once needed. And when you’re tired, remember you are human too. Be open to help, just as you strive to uplift others. You are not alone. Your presence is powerful. Let it silence your doubts. And above all, do what makes you happy and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Aaron Kai Groudan

Groudan, a Community Impact Award honoree, is well-known in the college for his strong commitment and genuine care for his peers. He has served as a recitation leader in the Engineering Honors Program, leading students in dialogue relevant to the classroom and curriculum. He has been a standout peer mentor, going above-and-beyond to provide personalized support and cultivating a community of belonging.

Groudan has even shown commitment to other student's wellness, regularly helping fellow students who may feel lonely or disconnected. He has served as a facilitator on a peer-led wellness group that helps engineers tackle the stigmas of the discipline and find effective solutions to dealing with their struggles. His nominator says he is a "kindhearted human who isn't afraid to use his voice to help others."

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

The next steps in my career involve me coming back to ɫ��ֱ�� for a master's degree through the BAM Program. This college and university has helped me prepare for this degree with invigorating and engaging classes that made me want a higher education at this campus.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

My best advice for students is build connections with your classmates and faculty. Opportunities arise in different forms, so try your best to meet them head on when they reveal themselves.

Andrew McCoy

McCoy is receiving the Culture Impact Award for his unwavering dedication to outreach and underrepresented student support. As a long-standing member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, he has consistently encouraged and advocated for access to engineering education. He went beyond the college community, often coordinating K-12 outreach events such as "Dia de Ciencias" to inspire future generations.

McCoy has also served as a mentor in the Engineering GoldShirt program, providing first-year, underrepresented students with crucial support to help them transition into college. His leadership helped create an inclusive environment where young students were empowered to succeed. Many students also say his academic support has helped them achieve their goals in classes, as well. McCoy's nominator says he has a natural ability to connect with others and he has enriched the college community from top to bottom.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

I'm going to continue my research in air quality, while looking for a full-time job. ɫ��ֱ�� helped me prepare by providing resources that allowed me to open doors and opportunities.

Harrison William Gannon

Gannon is being given the Global Engagement Award for his dedication and persistence to engineering impact, not just here at ɫ��ֱ��, but abroad, as well. In 2022, he joined Engineers Without Borders and worked on two major projects aimed at improving infrastructure in Guatemala and Ecuador. On both of these projects, Gannon exemplified global teamwork by serving other communities and learning from his peers. He has a deep appreciation for other cultures that makes him both an incredible teammate, and a true student of engineering, capable of impacting communities across the globe in a variety of ways. His nominator says Gannon "dives deep into these experiences, building lasting connections and bringing them back to ɫ��ֱ��."

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

Next year I will be in New Zealand on a Work Holiday Visa. During this time I will work in agriculture and tourism. ɫ��ֱ�� helped me prepare for this situation by instilling a sense of curiosity to explore the world.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

My advice is to be an active listener who seeks to understand others without judgment. Approach every interaction with kindness, joy, and a genuine interest in other people's lives. The way you treat others defines a meaningful life, and building compassionate relationships creates a powerful legacy.

Shannon Blanco

Blanco is graduating with a dual major in mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering. She is receiving the Research Award for her work as a member of Neu Lab under Professor Corey Neu. Since joining this group in 2022, Blanco has contributed greatly to impact in the fields of biofabrication, 3D bioprinting, and the advancement of knowledge of osteoarthritis. Current solutions for younger patients with osteoarthritis who do not qualify for total knee replacements are primarily anti-inflammatory drugs that don’t restore the afflicted cartilage or bone tissue. There is a need for new treatment options, and her work will help bring these options to life.

She is also being recognized as a key member of an interdisciplinary team. She has co-authored peer-reviewed publications and worked with multiple stakeholders throughout her time at ɫ��ֱ��, including doctors, surgeons and PhD-level scientists. Her nominator says her contributions have been "trusted by all members of the laboratory."

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

After graduating this spring, I will be continuing at ɫ��ֱ�� to pursue my master’s in mechanical engineering through the BAM program. In the future, I hope to work in medical device design or prosthetics. ɫ��ֱ�� has helped prepare me beyond an educational standpoint by providing opportunities to get involved outside of class and make valuable connections.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

Take advantage of the opportunities CU has to offer, whether it's research, clubs, internships, or design projects. Explore different areas, even if you're unsure at first, and don't be afraid to ask for help.

Seven students from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering have earned graduating student awards from the College of Engineering and Applied Science in 2025. These awards honor seniors who are nominated by faculty, staff or fellow students for their outstanding contributions to the college and campus community.

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