Department of Mechanical Engineering

Spring 2022

Letter From The Chair

Dear Friends,

I am happy to inform you that the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Idaho has continued to perform well on many different levels during the past six months. We have continued to benefit from the generous support of various stakeholders, including alumni and other donors.

Our students and faculty have been engaged in productive and rewarding academic activities. We have taken steps to improve our teaching plans and invest in infrastructure capabilities. Soon, three of our most reputable faculty members will retire.

I invite you to read about these topics and more by accessing the web links below or downloading a printable copy of our spring 2022 newsletter.

Thank you for your readership and ongoing support of our unique program.

Go Vandals!

Gabriel Potirniche
Professor and Chair
gabrielp@uidaho.edu
208-885-4049

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RETIRING FACULTY — Pages 1-2

Leaving a Legacy of Excellence in Education and Research — Three Pillars of the Mechanical Engineering Department to Retire this Summer.

TEACHING INNOVATIONS — Page 3

VentureWell Grant Enables Innovative Capstone Design Projects —Grant strengthens relationship between college and statewide Invent Idaho program.
Building Programming Skills for Mechanical Engineers – New course provides hands-on experience in programming applied to mechanical engineering problems.

NEW SCHOLARSHIPS — Page 4

Frank W. Harris Endowed Scholarship - Endowment honors life and legacy of Frank W. Harris and recognizes the positive impact of U of I on his life and engineering career.
Dennis and Norma Jean Hanson Scholarship - Scholarship recognizes two outstanding students by supporting approximately half the cost of their annual in-state tuition.

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS — Pages 5-6

Simulation Factory Established in the New Robotics Laboratory - $15,000 donation was provided by SEL to purchase a Fishertechnik Simulation Factory.
Design Suite Update: Phase 2 Renovations - Progress toward the completion of the second phase of the design suite remodel.
Agricultural Mechanics Laboratory (AgMEQ) moves into Gauss Johnson - Maize plant testing lab moves to GJ 119.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT NEWS — Pages 6-7

ASME Accomplishes Key Goals – Lounge upgrades and research goals met.
Clean Snowmobile Team Achieves Podium Finish at 2022 Competition - U of I placed first in acceleration.
Student Profile: Sebastian Garcia.

GRADUATE STUDENT NEWS — Pages 8-9

U of I Boise Mechanical Engineering Students Win National Challenge - Design on how to best provide equal access to healthy indoor air.
Faculty and Students Present Research at American Physics Society Meeting – Conference attended by over three to four thousand researchers worldwide.
Graduate Student Profiles: Ian Glasgow and Jack Gonzalez.

FACULTY & STAFF NEWS — Pages 9-10

Stream-Streambed Processes - CER leading laboratory and field studies to gain understanding of the processes that occur at the stream-streambed interface.
Homemade Creep Testing Frame – Device built in less than one month.