3E-Engineering, Excellence, Edwardsville
Close
Close
The electrical engineering program at SIUE began 50 years ago with just two faculty members and eight graduates. Since then, 29 faculty members, including nine current faculty, have accrued more than 500 years of collective instruction and research experience at SIUE. The program has graduated more than 2,600 electrical engineers since its humble beginning in 1972, and their collective accomplishments continue to inspire the next generation of SIUE electrical engineering students.
In 1972, SIUE recognized the need to support local industry with civil engineers. Over the past 50 years, this vision has evolved into a civil engineering program that has seen tremendous growth in enrollment and research endeavors. The Department of Civil Engineering now includes specializations in environmental/water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, and transportation engineering. The Department’s cooperative PhD program with Southern Illinois University Carbondale was established in 2007.
The Department of Civil Engineering celebrated 50 years of civil engineering excellence on November 5 in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom. Faculty, students, alumni and industry partners gathered to reminisce about the past 50 years, learn about the accomplishments of alumni and current students, and network with industry leaders.
“The Department of Civil Engineering celebrates 50 years of educating the designers of society’s infrastructure. Every time you turn on the faucet, enter a building, or drive on a road, civil engineers have impacted your life. Our celebration reflects on the past and insights into the design of our future communities.”
Ryan Fries, PhD,
Professor and Chair, Department of Civil Engineering
Event Gold Sponsors
When Istanbul native Simay Akdemir had the opportunity to spend two years studying in the U.S. through SIUE’s Dual Diploma Program with Istanbul Technical University (ITU), she jumped at the chance. Akdemir attended ITU for her freshman and junior years and spent her sophomore and senior years at SIUE. The May 2022 graduate now holds two bachelor’s degrees in industrial engineering, one from each university.
“Being an industrial engineer has been my biggest dream since high school, and I am proud to have achieved this dream under the umbrella of SIUE and ITU,” said Akdemir. “With the support of my professors in the School of Engineering, I developed my ability to detect and analyze problems to find a logical solution for them.”
Akdemir’s coursework was bolstered by her experience working at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at SIUE with Jie Dong, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry. She oversaw and enhanced the experimental industrial processes in the research center.
“I really enjoyed working with Simay,” said Dong. “She is a student who can really think while doing a research project and can utilize what she learned in class in real life work.”
As an SIUE student, Akdemir benefited from the support of mentors, both on campus and in the community. She took part in the highly-selective St. Louis Regional Business Council Mentor Network Program and was active in professional organizations such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and IEEE Women in Engineering.
According to Akdemir, she was also able to discover more about the entrepreneurial spirit in the U.S. after receiving the Grady Family Foundation Entrepreneurship Scholarship in 2022, which was named after civil engineering alumnus Edward Grady ’72.
Today, Akdemir is an onboarding engineer at Logiwa Technology based in Chicago. Thanks to her experience at SIUE, she is prepared for the demands of the job.
“I chose SIUE to pursue my studies diligently while gaining some unique life experiences,” said Akdemir. “The day I got my industrial engineering degree, I felt confident the knowledge I gained in the SIUE School of Engineering prepared me for a rewarding engineering career.”
Consistency, determination and striving to achieve are some of the attributes that make one a serial winner. Such is the story of Cristian Rodrigo Tolava Torrico, a second-year graduate student in the Department of Civil Engineering.
Tolava is the recipient of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Foundation’s W. Gene Corley Memorial Scholarship. Named after a recognized industry leader, the scholarship is awarded to graduate students with an interest in forensic engineering and the behavior and design of concrete structures.
“This recognition became an extraordinary component of my life and keeps me moving forward,” said Tolava. “I certainly have more to accomplish and more to learn.”
Tolava has previously earned several accolades at the regional level, including the ACI Missouri Chapter Scholarship and his designation as the Concrete Council of St. Louis and the ACI Missouri Chapter’s 2022 student honoree deemed most deserving and best able to utilize knowledge of concrete construction in their career.
Tolava enjoys the opportunity to develop research that comes with the privilege of establishing connections with different companies and collaborating with department colleagues. His current research involves investigating the use of multiple dosages of a high-performance concrete mix strengthened with carbon and steel fibers in different gradations of lengths and quantities.
John Cabage PhD, chair and associate professor in the Department of Construction and one of Tolava’s mentors, noted, “Tolava ranks in the best graduate assistants I have ever had. He has a strong work ethic, and his research is cutting edge in the field. He is deserving of all of these recognitions.”
While describing the uniqueness of Tolava’s research strength, Cabage noted that his home country of Bolivia faces a costly steel import process to build more earthquake-resistant structures. Tolava is working to reduce the amount of steel used and create a way to absorb more energy during an earthquake.
“This level of research sets Tolava apart,” said Cabage. “He is on the verge of groundbreaking research.”
The SIUE School of Engineering participates in a collaborative program with the College of Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) to offer a doctorate in engineering science. SIUE is designated as an approved residence center; coursework completed at SIUE is applicable toward SIUC's residency requirements.
Graduates of the program have accepted roles in a variety of industries, including higher education. We caught up with three recent graduates to ask about their experiences.
“During my six years of graduate school at SIUE, I enrolled in over 30 courses across multiple disciplines, including mathematics and mechanical, electrical and computer engineering. This prepared me with a solid background in mathematical modeling, design and implementation, allowing me to almost seamlessly enter a new research field in robotics after graduation.
It would not be possible without the generous financial support from my department and my advisor, Albert C.J. Luo. Dr. Luo made me discover the joy of doing research and exploring unknowns. For many students in our group, Dr. Luo is like a father, who teaches us not only how to do research, but also how to work with people, and, of course, how to talk and enjoy jokes.”
“The most valuable aspect of the cooperative PhD program was experiencing the benefit of being in a big school and a small one simultaneously. A big school offers you a bigger department and diverse faculty members with different viewpoints and research opportunities. Also, more courses are offered, which help students to find appropriate courses to prepare for their research.
And, in small schools, you have the opportunity to build a good relationship with the faculty members, and you have the chance to prove yourself and your abilities. And faculty members spend more time helping you. I would like to gratefully thank Dr. Fengxia Wang, as she always kindly supported me and provided me with lots of freedom and valuable suggestions, which helped me to develop both my research and myself.”
“I was admitted into the cooperative PhD program with a teaching assistantship. As a result, I taught pretty much every fall and spring semester I was enrolled in class or research. All of the professors I worked with guided me and taught me their ways of teaching. I eventually was able to develop my own teaching style which incorporated and hybridized much of their styles to the classes I am teaching now. It goes without saying that the concepts taught to me during my time at SIUE helped me develop the material I need to teach my current classes.
One particular faculty member to whom I owe my success is Dr. Soondo Kweon. His support, guidance, encouragement and constant advice helped me get to the position I am in now.”
As a member of SIUE’s Immersive, Meaningful Practices for Accountable Campus Transformation (IMPACT) Academy, John Matta, PhD, was inspired to consider how computer science could contribute to a more diverse and equitable society. Now Matta aims to develop a software solution to help researchers conduct respondent-driven sampling (RDS), a survey technique to collect data on hard-to-reach populations.
His project, “Developing an Open-Source Mobile App to Improve Participation of Underserved Populations in Respondent-Driven Sampling Surveys,” is a continuation of his current research interests, which involve using computer science to study social and medical problems.
Matta, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, and his research team will conduct user tests and focus groups to inform the creation of an RDS survey app where the needs of low-income respondents with low-power devices are given special consideration. According to Matta, moving RDS surveys from computers to more accessible smartphones and tablets will expand the range of populations being reached, leading to improved public health data.
“Currently, RDS is lacking a go-to software solution that aids distribution and management of a survey,” he explained. “An open-source app for participant use paired with a website for survey management will provide a low cost, effective and innovative solution that will have benefits for both researchers and survey recruits.”
“The overall research goal is to use computer science to empower minorities and the underserved,” Matta added. “RDS surveys are a tool used by many researchers to gain information about hard-to-reach populations. Developing a custom RDS tool is a first step toward continuing research involving collecting and analyzing social and medical data concerning those populations.”
By connecting to underserved and disadvantaged populations who do not have access to current computers or smart phone devices, Matta’s research will make a significant impact to improve both understanding of and response to the needs of these populations.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion are currently important topics in computer science. Dr. Matta’s research is early in the field to focus on that area and is likely to be well-received,” said School of Engineering Dean Cem Karacal, PhD. “Hopefully his research will lead to a time when it is standard practice to put diversity considerations first when designing software and algorithms.”
John Cabage, PhD
Chair/Associate Professor
Department of Construction
Research areas: construction materials, sustainability
Ralph Tayeh, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Construction
Research areas: building information modeling, virtual design and construction, virtual augmented reality, generative design, manufacturing in construction
Dali Ismail, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science
Research areas: Internet of Things, low-power wide-area networks, wireless sensor networks, real-time and embedded systems
Pictured below from left to right: John Cabage, PhD; Ralph Tayeh, PhD; Dali Ismail, PhD.
School of Engineering students have already begun benefitting from two state-of-the-art robotic arms donated by H-J Family of Companies and Amsted Rail, respectively. The School’s mechatronics and robotics engineering program is one of only a few such programs in the U.S. with a focus on automation and robotics. It develops engineers who have the interdisciplinary knowledge necessary to oversee the design and development of intelligent devices from start to finish.
Both robotic arms are housed in the School’s new Enterprise Holdings Foundation robotics lab and provide students with industry-level experience from which they will benefit upon graduation.
“Supporting the new lab not only supports SIUE and the students learning about robotics, but also the future of engineering and manufacturing, which ultimately supports the H-J Family of Companies,” said Jim Shekelton, H-J founder and owner.
Amsted Rail’s Tyler Thorpe and John Weidner, both SIUE alumni, understand the value of hands-on skills training in preparing students for future endeavors in automation and were excited to contribute to the learning experiences of SIUE students.
“I used this robot as a co-op with Amsted Rail while finishing my mechatronics and robotics degree at SIUE,” said Thorpe. “Combining learning in the classrooms at SIUE with the hands-on experience of working with this robot prepared me for the challenges I face with automation in my career.”
“We have been teaching our students how to control robots using theoretical models and small-scale educational robots,” said Jagath Gunasekera, PhD, lab manager and instructor in the Departments of Industrial and Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. “These generous donations will help our students be more prepared for industrial jobs and highly sought after by companies after graduating.”
Dennis Araujo
Member/Project Executive, Contegra Construction Company, LLC
Department of Construction Advisory Board
“As a highly ranked ACCE accredited program, the Department of Construction has a proven track record of excellence, due in large part to the experienced and knowledgeable faculty and staff. As with any project, workplace or job site, quality begins with the individuals involved.
The Department of Construction utilizes a solid curriculum that integrates engineering and business courses to provide a well-rounded education for students, preparing them to immediately move into the workforce upon graduation. By cultivating and maintaining a close working relationship with the local industry, the Department leverages input to ensure the program is current and applicable to the needs of the marketplace.
I serve on the Department of Construction Advisory Board in the hopes of providing meaningful support to the University, the School of Engineering and our local construction industry. I have been fortunate to find success in this field and firmly believe in giving back to ensure others can find success as well.”
Ryan Freeman, BS Mechanical Engineering ’01
President, PayneCrest Electric
School of Engineering Advisory Board
“I serve on the School of Engineering Advisory Board to partner with faculty and staff to increase demand for SIUE engineering graduates. The School of Engineering produces excellent students, and increasing the awareness of that in the business community will only enhance the program. I am grateful to be a part of the growth of the School and the University as a whole.
SIUE and the School of Engineering provide a great education in a variety of in-demand disciplines for an affordable price. Campus life has continued to grow since I graduated in 2001 and the facilities are incredible. The extracurricular activities available in engineering, like the solar car and baja teams, provide a variety of ways to get engaged beyond the classroom.
The School of Engineering provides top talent for industry employers in the region. The partnership between the two provides students with opportunities to stay in the area after graduation and feeds the local economy.”
Atique Malik
President, AIControl
Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering IPAC
“I am the chair of the Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering IPAC. We meet at least quarterly to look into ways that we can improve the link between industry and the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering to a mutual advantage.
The School of Engineering is in a good position to reach out and help local industries recruit its graduates and to help guide its professors into research that is locally relevant and profitable to both sides. I am committed to making this happen as a volunteer after more than four decades in the industry doing research and development, product development, and project implementation in Europe, Canada and the U.S.
An industrial advisory committee is essential to match up academia and industry as the two sides often miss the obvious ways in which they can help each other. As funding grows tighter every year, this role is key to the growth of engineering schools, and that is why I enjoy it so much.”
Help Shape the School of Engineering’s Future
Consider joining the School’s Advisory Board or one of its Industrial and Professional Advisory Councils (IPAC). As an Advisory Board or IPAC member, you will have the opportunity to provide strategic support, help the School and its departments prepare for future trends, and participate in mentoring opportunities with student organizations.
For more information and to view the list of Advisory Board and IPAC members, visit siue.edu/engineering/about/advisory-board.
Scott Miller, BS civil engineering ’96, was inducted into the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame in September. Miller currently leads a global research and development team focused on improving housing affordability and sustainability through innovations that drive off-site construction. As vice president of global structural system technology at MiTek, Inc., Miller and his team are creating better ways to construct buildings while making them safer and more economical and sustainable.
Teamwork has always been an important part of Miller’s professional philosophy. He is motivated by helping others succeed. Through his team’s combined efforts, they are delivering solutions to improve the way buildings perform in earthquakes and wind events, as well as how they resist fire.
Miller is also creating positive change in his community by actively serving on several boards, including the SIUE School of Engineering Advisory Board, the International Code Conference – Evaluation Services Board of Managers, the Truss Plate Institute Board of Directors as vice president, and the St. Louis area Fellowship of Christian Athletes Board of Directors. He is deeply involved in his church as well.
“The SIUE School of Engineering supported me as a student with faculty who knew me by name and showed genuine care for me as I worked hard to earn my engineering degree while also working,” shared Miller.
“One example was when I took the soils class during an accelerated summer term,” Miller continued. “I performed poorly on a midterm exam and my professor, Dr. Linn, pulled me aside in the hallway and asked what happened. I let him know that my grandfather had passed away and I did not study as hard as I should have. I did well in the rest of the class and was able to see that my final grade did not fully reflect the poor midterm test grade. It was clear he cared about me and looked at my overall performance; he balanced my grade with both care and integrity. After graduation and now 25 years later, I still count some of these faculty as friends and experts from whom I can seek guidance as a professional.”
Learn more about all of the 2022 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees at siue.edu/alumni-hall-of-fame.
