Mechanical Engineering

  • Nabil Simaan (Vanderbilt University)

    Simaan honored as IEEE fellow for robotics advancements

    Nabil Simaan, professor of mechanical engineering, has been elevated to fellow by the Board of Directors of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The award recognizes Simaan for contributions to dexterous continuum robotics for surgery. Read More

    Dec 9, 2019

  • portrait in lab holding device

    Robot prototype shows promise for microsurgery on eyes and aneurysms

    A new continuum robot designed by Vanderbilt engineers achieves multiscale motion and may open up a huge world of previously impossible complex microsurgeries. Read More

    Nov 14, 2019

  • Vanderbilt University

    Valentine named Vanderbilt faculty liaison with ORNL

    The Oak Ridge National Laboratory collaboration with Vanderbilt University will grow stronger through a new faculty liaison—a School of Engineering professor—and enhanced management of travel assistance awards. Read More

    Nov 8, 2019

  • rocket

    Vanderbilt Rocketeers take on the 2020 NASA Space Robotics Challenge

    A 25-member engineering team—13 seniors, 9 undergraduates and three graduate students—in the Vanderbilt Aerospace Design Laboratory is taking on the 2020 NASA Student Launch challenge.   Read More

    Nov 7, 2019

  • Left, Nilanjan Sarkar, professor of mechanical engineering, is the lead investigator on a significant new NSF convergence grant. He, Joshua Wade, a senior staff research scientist, Michael Breen, an intern on the project, and Claire Barnett, communications coordinator at the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, work an interactive prototype, developed with Microsoft support, that prepares applicants with ASD for job interviews. (Vanderbilt/Joe Howell)

    VU engineers lead $1M NSF pilot to develop tech for workforce inclusion of people with autism

    A Vanderbilt mechanical engineering professor is leading an ambitious pilot project that will develop prototypes of new AI-based technology and tools to train, connect and support people with autism spectrum disorders in finding jobs and succeeding in the workforce. Read More

    Oct 16, 2019

  • portrait in lab

    Hatzell wins ECS Toyota 2019-20 Fellowship

    Kelsey Hatzell, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, is one of five recipients of an Electrochemical Society Toyota 2019-20 Young Investigator Fellowship awarded this year for projects in green energy technology. Read More

    Aug 29, 2019

  • Vanderbilt celebrates opening of Frist Center for Autism and Innovation

    Vanderbilt celebrates opening of Frist Center for Autism and Innovation

    The ribbon-cutting of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation with (l to r) Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affair Susan R. Wente, Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering Philippe Fauchet, Jennifer R. Frist, BS’93, William R. “Billy” Frist, Frist Center for Autism & Innovation Director Keivan Stassun, Daria Mulkey and John Mulkey.... Read More

    Jul 29, 2019

  • Webster and Herrell standing with telescoping surgical device

    Hand-held robot points to less invasive prostate surgery

    Vanderbilt collaborators focused on minimally invasive prostate surgery are developing an endoscopic robotic system with two-handed dexterity at a much smaller scale than existing options. Read More

    Jul 18, 2019

  • Hand-held robot points to less invasive prostate surgery

    Hand-held robot points to less invasive prostate surgery

    Vanderbilt collaborators focused on minimally invasive prostate surgery are developing an endoscopic robotic system with two-handed dexterity at a much smaller scale than existing options. A key part of the design – telescoping, curved, concentric tubes – received U.S. patent protection in March 2019, the same month the principal investigators secured a $2.1 million R01... Read More

    Jul 18, 2019

  • Five engineering faculty awarded Discovery Grants

    Five engineering faculty awarded Discovery Grants

    Five proposals from School of Engineering faculty have been selected by the Office of the Provost for 2019 Discovery Grants, which advance new ideas and cutting-edge scholarship in the university’s core disciplines. “Discovery Grants serve as a key internal funding vehicle for fostering research that has the potential to improve lives and address society’s complex problems—a vital part... Read More

    Jun 29, 2019

  • Weiss to lead VINSE starting July 1

    Weiss to lead VINSE starting July 1

    Sharon Weiss (Vanderbilt University) Sharon Weiss, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Engineering, professor of electrical engineering and physics and deputy director of the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE), will become the new director of VINSE, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Susan R. Wente announced today. Weiss’ appointment will begin on July... Read More

    Jun 27, 2019

  • Vanderbilt engineers tripped people 190 times, but it was for a good cause

    Vanderbilt engineers tripped people 190 times, but it was for a good cause

    Andrés Martínez strode briskly on the treadmill, staring straight ahead and counting backwards by seven from 898, a trick to keep his brain from anticipating the literal stumbling block heading his way: a compact 35 pounds of steel specifically designed to make him fall. Special goggles kept him from looking down. Arrows on an eye-level... Read More

    Jun 19, 2019

  • Nine engineering design projects earn awards for seniors

    Nine engineering design projects earn awards for seniors

    Nine exceptional student design projects have been recognized as winners in the School of Engineering’s annual design competition for the 2018-2019 academic year. More than 70 teams of senior engineering students in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science presented their final projects on April 22—Design Day 2019. The... Read More

    Jun 18, 2019

  • Vanderbilt Engineering and Science Building wins international S-Lab Award

    Vanderbilt Engineering and Science Building wins international S-Lab Award

    Vanderbilt’s Engineering and Science Building has won an international S-Lab award in the category of Engineering and Related Buildings for Wilson HGA, a national design and architecture firm specializing in science and technology facilities for higher education. S-Lab awards recognize excellence in science buildings, equipment, facilities and management. Designed by Wilson HGA, the 230,000-square-foot, seven-story... Read More

    Jun 3, 2019

  • Rocketeers claim sixth NASA championship with novel UAV search and deploy mission

    Rocketeers claim sixth NASA championship with novel UAV search and deploy mission

    Vanderbilt’s Aerospace Design Laboratory again earned top honors in NASA’s 2019 National Student Launch Competition, the Space Agency announced today. This is the lab’s sixth national championship, winning the top spot in the last seven years: 2019-2018 and 2016-2013. “The 2019 project has been one of our most complex experiments to date. The challenges—both imposed... Read More

    May 16, 2019

  • Dean presents 2018-2019 faculty, staff and student research awards

    Dean presents 2018-2019 faculty, staff and student research awards

    Dean Philippe Fauchet announced May 7 the promotions of two engineering faculty members at the final faculty meeting of the 2017-2018 academic year and presented four awards at a reception following the meeting. Craig Duvall and Jamey D. Young have been promoted to the rank of professor. Duvall’s promotion to full professor of biomedical engineering... Read More

    May 7, 2019

  • The Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association Symposium featured postdoc oral and poster presentations, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. (Anne Rayner/Vanderbilt)

    Yohn named Postdoc of the Year at annual symposium; Sappington named Mentor of the Year

    Postdoctoral scholars Samantha Yohn and Anneke Sanders and ophthalmology professor Rebecca Sappington were honored by the Graduate School at the 13th Annual Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association Symposium on April 9. Read More

    Apr 22, 2019

  • Army Futures Command, Vanderbilt ink partnership to encourage innovation, education for both

    Army Futures Command, Vanderbilt ink partnership to encourage innovation, education for both

    Army Futures Command and Vanderbilt University signed an agreement April 9 that links creative, innovative soldiers with top-tier Vanderbilt University experts so that ideas quickly can become useful products. Leaders from the two groups say this five-year education partnership agreement is a potential model for military-academic collaboration across the nation, not only on research and... Read More

    Apr 15, 2019

  • portrait in lab

    Hatzell awarded NSF CAREER grant to expand research on lithium-ion batteries

    Kelsey Hatzell, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development grant. Read More

    Apr 12, 2019

  • Robby Perry, BE’19: Happy Helping Others

    Happy Helping Others: Robby Perry, BE’19

    From an Alternative Spring Break trip to renovate houses with Habitat for Humanity, to a Home Depot–sponsored web-coding hackathon, to a semester of study abroad that took him to cities such as Madrid, Marrakesh and Istanbul—Robby Perry’s time at Vanderbilt exemplifies just how much you can pack into four years. Read More

    Apr 11, 2019