Category: School of Engineering

PLET Students in Germany – Days 4 & 5

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Guest Post by Ian Duchene, Plastics Engineering Technology major

No matter how vivid the photos or descriptive the lecture, there’s nothing quite like seeing and experiencing another country in person. And, in today’s increasingly global business climate, it’s vital that students be versed in the culture and business practices of international partners. There is much to be learned from seeing how others do it. That’s why, every year, students in the Plastics Engineering Technology program have the opportunity to travel overseas to visit plastics companies and universities and attend a plastics trade show, too.

On Thursday, Oct. 20th, thirty-three PLET majors embarked on a 10-day trip to Germany. We asked them to tell us about their journey. In this blog post, students Ian  Duchene gives us a report from days 4 & 5 of the trip:

Image result for plastic k-show

Day 4

Finally the moment we’ve all been waiting for… Day one of the K-Show. After two short train rides to Düsseldorf, we arrived. Unsure of what to expect, we were in for quite the surprise when we saw the size of the company booths. Many of which are larger than classrooms on campus at Behrend!

With the show spanning 17 buildings, there are endless places for the 33 Behrend plastic enthusiasts that came on the trip to get lost in a plastic engineering wonderland. Many injection molding companies offered samples of parts they were running fresh off the press. A couple of the most popular items include a collapsible step stool and watch from Arburg.

There is so much to do and see; it is impossible to see everything in one day.

Day 5

This was our second day at the K-Show. Even with eight more hours to spend, we still did not see every booth. Each building we went to, we saw different technologies. The size of the show still baffles everyone.

The automation was one thing that blew everyone away. One automation company had a display of the capabilities of their robots where the robots were dribbling and shooting basketballs. Injection molding machine manufacturers were a hit with the class as they were not only revealing new presses but also supplying everyone with cool gear such as watches, stools, screwdrivers, personalized cups, bottle openers, performs for 2-liter bottles, and countless other items.

One thing that many of the students seemed to dislike was the amount of civilians at the show that did not truly appreciate everything. It seemed they were just there for the free gear. Also, with many of the machines, many of these same people were disregarding safety guards and shoving their hands in harm’s way. Our shock was probably reflective of the amount of training we have all gone through, both at Behrend as well as at our internship sites, where safety is stressed more than anything.

Overall, the K-Show was a great experience and we all are itching to go back in four years to see the emerging technologies after we have been in industry for a few years. It was certainly an eye opening experience as well as a great learning experience. Many, if not all, of the students had the opportunity to receive beneficial information about their senior projects from some of the industry’s most experienced and knowledgeable experts.

 ~ Ian 
 

 

Plastics Engineering Technology Students Off to Germany

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germany

Guest Post by Ian Duchene and Eric Santini, Plastics Engineering Technology majors

No matter how vivid the photos or descriptive the lecture, there’s nothing quite like seeing and experiencing another country in person. And, in today’s increasingly global business climate, it’s vital that students be versed in the culture and business practices of international partners. There is much to be learned from seeing how others do it. That’s why, every year, students in the Plastics Engineering Technology program have the opportunity to travel overseas to visit plastics companies and universities and attend a plastics trade show, too.

On Thursday, Oct. 20th, thirty-three PLET majors will begin a 10-day trip to Germany. We asked them to send us some photos and tell us about their journey. In this blog post, students Ian  Duchene and Eric Santini give us a preview of what the group will be seeing while overseas.

For the past eight weeks, we students have been meeting in and out of class preparing for the adventure that we will be embarking on.

Upon arrival in Frankfurt, Germany, at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, October 21, we will be gathering ourselves for a tiresome first couple days of fighting off jet lag. The day will begin by boarding a train to travel to Cologne or Köln. The students have been given both Friday and Saturday as Cultural Tour days where they have the flexibility to go to specific museums or local attractions of their choice.

Sunday, October 23 and Monday, October 24 will be spent entirely at the K Show. For those who are unfamiliar with the K Show, it is the world’s largest plastics conference that only takes place once every four years…Yes, it is the Olympics of Plastics Engineering. This conference covers more than 170,000 square meters of floor space with companies presenting new technologies and systems that you should expect to see released the next four years in the industry. This is a great opportunity for all of the seniors attending the trip to network on a global level and potentially line up interviews for full time jobs upon graduation in December or May.

After our time at the K Show comes to a close, we will be traveling to Stüttgart, Germany on Tuesday, October 25 to visit both the Mercedes Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum. The following day will be spent touring Arburg, an injection molding machine manufacturer, a company that has two machines in our lab here on campus. Following the tour, we will then be travelling to Munich or “München” for the final three days of our trip.

On Thursday, October 27, we will have another cultural day to explore the city. Many students are planning to go to Dachau, a nearby Nazi Concentration Camp while others are planning on travelling to Neuschwanstein Castle.

On Friday, October 28, we will tour the University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim. The final day of the trip, October 29, will be another cultural day for students to visit any remaining attractions they may have wanted to see, and to prepare for the trip home the next day.

Check this blog in the next 10 days and follow us on our journey!

Alumnus Named Top Innovator by MIT Technology Review

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Humans have forty-three muscles in their face that can be combined to create 10,000 unique expressions. Imagine programming a computer to interpret all of them. And, when you’re done with that, add in the other factors that effect social interaction – body language, culture, gender, and more.

Impossible?

That’s a word that doesn’t compute for Dr. Ehsan Hoque ’04, a Penn State Behrend Computer Engineering graduate who was recently featured in MIT Technology Review as one of the top 35 innovators under the age of 35. He was recognized for developing two computer technologies— MACH (My Automated Conversation coach) and ROCspeak—that train people to excel in social settings.

ehsan-credit-adam-fenster

Dr. Ehsan Hoque ’04, a Penn State Behrend Computer Engineering graduate, innovator and assistant professor of computer science at the University of Rochester. Photo credit: Adam Fenster

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger

Hoque has been turning “impossible” situations into opportunities since his undergraduate days at Behrend.

“A scheduling mix-up required me to take some courses out of order and without having had the recommended prerequisites,” he said. “I really struggled, but it was a good thing because it made me resilient.”

His resiliency was put to the test in his final year at Behrend when his team took on a senior design project that they weren’t sure could be done. Not only did the team complete the project—a robot that could see, hear, and recognize people—but they also won the “Best Design” award.

So when Hoque was a doctoral student at MIT presenting his work on a computer program capable of gauging a user’s mood, and was challenged to expand it, he didn’t balk.

Challenge accepted

“After demonstrating my research at a workshop, a gentleman approached me and said he was very awkward in social situations and wondered if my technology could be used to create some sort of automated program that he could use at home to practice making eye contact and improve his social skills,” Hoque recalled.

As the primary caretaker of his brother who has Down Syndrome, Hoque had witnessed first-hand how difficult social interactions can be for some people. He also suspected that social stigma and shame kept many from seeking help.

“A computer, however, is completely objective, standardized, and non-judgmental,” he said. “It’s a safe place for people with social anxiety or awkwardness to practice and learn.”

Hoque, now an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Rochester, started working on MACH, a system for people to practice social interactions in face-to-face scenarios with a 3D character that can see, hear, and make its own decisions in real time.

Conversations with computers

In MACH, a virtual businesswoman has been programed to recognize the user’s expressions and statements. She can also nod, smile, and even ask questions. At the end of the conversation, the businesswoman gives users feedback about their interpersonal performance, including body language, intonation, and eye contact.

The program went live in 2015 and, to date, more than 20,000 people have used it to improve their social skills. Users can choose to share their results for research purposes and more than half have done so. Hoque uses the data to further improve the program.

“Building the original platform was easy, but then you have to add in all the insights,” he said. “That never really ends. It is an ongoing, evolving process.”

Hoque also designed a pared-down mobile version, Rocspeak, free for anyone with Internet access to use. There’s no animated character; instead, it records video and sends you a report on various aspects of your performance, such as speed of speech, pitch, intensity of smiles, and how often you repeat wrds.

Applied science

Applications for MACH and Rocspeak have gone far beyond the original intended audience. Hoque said his tool has been used by all kinds of people, including customer service representatives, nervous students with looming classroom presentations, and individuals simply preparing for a big date or a job interview. It can also help those who have social anxiety or challenges, such as those with Asperger’s.

Hoque, who earned a master’s degree from the University of Memphis and a Ph.D. from MIT, said he enjoys being able to use his skills to make a real-world impact.

“I have these advanced degrees and technical skills and, if I can use those to solve problems for people, then it is knowledge and time well spent,” he said.

Blast from the past

Check out Hoque’s Penn State Behrend senior project presentation: VisionPSU, a human interactive robot (below).

ehsan-at-psubehrend

Also, peruse these vintage photos, where you may recognize some School of Engineering faculty members, including Dr. Ralph Ford, now Penn State Behrend’s chancellor.

Class of 2016: Meet Michael Pacacha (Mechanical Engineering)

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By Heather Cass
Publications & Design Coordinator, Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2016 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and the things they’ve accomplished and learned while here at Behrend.  We sat down to talk to some remarkable seniors before they left school and we’d like to a few of our students who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technology, participated in important research projects, and left an impression at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Michael Pacacha:

Pacacha1

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Hunker, Pennsylvania

On majoring in Mechanical Engineering: Growing up, I always enjoyed math and science, so I knew I wanted to pursue a career focused on those. Having participated in the Pennsylvania Envirothon since sixth grade, I was also interested in environmental science/engineering. I went with Mechanical Engineering because it gave me a broader group of industries I could work in.

Campus involvement: I’ve been involved with Lion Ambassadors, Lion Scouts, THON, and Engineering Ambassadors.

What you’d be surprised to know about him: I was homeschooled, so college was definitely a new and exciting experience for me. Sometimes people wonder if I socialized in high school. I did; I started working early and was always involved with several organizations.

Traveling engineer: I hope to find a job that offers me the opportunity to travel. I love exploring and going to places I’ve never been before, so finding a position that allows that outside of a professional environment is important to me.

Marathon dancin’ man: In February, I was blessed to represent Penn State Behrend at THON, the University’s 46-hour dace marathon that raises money to help kids with cancer.

Advice for current students: Always be responsible and accountable for your actions. Also, time management skills are extremely important in college!

Michael is planning to work as an engineer in the field of aerospace, defense, or energy following his graduation in May.

Class of 2016: Meet Dan Doleiden (Mechanical Engineering)

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By Heather Cass
Publications & Design Coordinator, Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2016 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and the things they’ve accomplished and learned while here at Behrend.  We sat down to talk to some remarkable seniors before they left school and we’d like to a few of our students who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technology, participated in important research projects, and left an impression at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Dan Doleiden:

Dan Doleiden

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Allentown

On choosing to major in Mechanical Engineering: It’s a major that offers endless opportunities to specialize. Mechanical engineers are employed in a vast array of exciting fields.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Presenting research at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers annual meetings in both 2014 and 2015.

What you’d be surprised to know about him: I’ve been learning the Turkish language over the past year. Also, I’m a registered beekeeper!

On undergraduate research: Assisting my adviser, Dr. Adam Hollinger, with his research on fuel cells really took my education experience to a higher level. (Read all about it the latest issue of Engineering News, Pg. 10-11).

Advice for current students: Get involved in research. It’s a great way to apply concepts you’re learning (in your major and outside of your major), and it’s a great way to network with faculty members and others in academia and industry.

Dan plans to attend graduate school following his graduation in May.

Class of 2016: Meet Tara Kryzsiak (Mechanical Engineering)

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By Heather Cass
Publications & Design Coordinator, Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2016 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and the things they’ve accomplished and learned while here at Behrend.  We sat down to talk to some remarkable seniors before they left school and we’d like to a few of our students who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technology, participated in important research projects, and left an impression at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Tara Krzysiak

Tara Krysiak1

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania

On choosing to major in Mechanical Engineering: I have always loved math and science and I enjoy problem solving and figuring out how things work. Mechanical Engineering was a good fit for my interests.

Leader in training: I’m honored that I’ve been given the opportunity to not only get involved with so many clubs at Behrend, but to also take on leadership roles in them. I became the vice president of Lion Ambassadors and treasurer of Reality Check, and I have been a resident assistant for two years. All these positions have taught me so much about leadership and helped me grow as a person.

Just call me “Grandma”: I enjoy crocheting and making scarves and other items for my family and friends. I once crocheted a rug out of old t-shirts. My friends like to call me “Grandma.”

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I love fitness and just recently became a Les Mills Body Pump instructor.

Advice for current students: Get out of your room and get involved. Your college experiences is what you make of it. There are tons of clubs and organizations and leadership opportunities at Behrend. Take advantage of all that the campus has to offer. You can learn so much about yourself.

Tara has accepted a position as a project engineer at Armstrong World Industries following her graduation in May.

 

Class of 2016: Meet John Galla (Mechanical Engineering)

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By Heather Cass
Publications & Design Coordinator, Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2016 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and the things they’ve accomplished and learned while here at Behrend.  We sat down to talk to some remarkable seniors before they left school and we’d like to a few of our students who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technology, participated in important research projects, and left an impression at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet  John Galla:

John Galla

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Erie

On choosing Behrend: I started college as an economics major at Pitt, but wanted a smaller campus. I also wanted to switch to engineering, and haven’t regretted the decision. I have great relationships with most of my professors because Behrend is a personal school.

Engineering as seen on TV: I had a fantastic summer internship at FMC Technologies in Houston. One R&D project required my mentor and me to build a dipping machine that would consistently coat specimens. But we didn’t have any budget to build it, so we improvised and built a working machine from parts that were lying around, including a television stand and coffee stirrers. It was a real example of MacGyver-ing.

Student as teacher: I teach the computer lab, which is part of Introduction to Engineering Design. I show first-year engineering students how to use Autodesk Inventor, Excel, and Mathcad. I’m pretty good at teaching and explaining things to other students and have been tutoring and teaching almost constantly since high school. It’s been a great opportunity to give back to the school that has given me an excellent education.

What you would be surprised to know about him: I’m a good public speaker and presenter. I am a shy and introverted person, yet I never really get nervous speaking in front of a crowd.

Advice for current students: Sweat the small stuff and be persistent. Building good habits early makes it much easier when the answers aren’t in the back of the book. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s the easiest way to get to know your professors and coworkers. A relationship with your professors and coworkers is one of the best reasons to stay motivated and do good work. You don’t want to disappoint a professor you like, or embarrass yourself.

John has accepted a position at Cummins a product validation engineer at the company’s Jamestown Engine Plant.  

 

Class of 2016: Meet Lola Soniregun (Interdisciplinary Business with Engineering Studies)

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By Heather Cass
Publications & Design Coordinator, Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2016 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and the things they’ve accomplished and learned while here at Behrend.  We sat down to talk to some remarkable seniors before they left school and we’d like to a few of our students who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technology, participated in important research projects, and left an impression at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Lola Soniregun

Lola Soniregun1

Degree: Interdisciplinary Business with Engineering Studies

Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland

On choosing to major in IBE: During high school, I participated in Project Lead the Way and The National Academy of Finance, which are programs created to introduce students to engineering and business. After having that initial introduction and enjoying both fields of study, I decided to pursue the mix of the two disciplines through the IBE program.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: The internships and experiences that I’ve been able to acquire.

Campus involvement: Over the years, I’ve been involved with several campus organizations, including Lambda Sigma, the Multi-Cultural Council, the Penn State Behrend Dance Team, and the National Society of Black Engineers.

Dance, dance, dance: I joined the Dance Team during my first year at Behrend. It taught me a lot about commitment, character, and confidence. The team gave me a home away from home and I learned as much about dancing as I did about life during my three years on the team. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Let your light shine: Every student here has a function, a purpose, something that you can contribute to the college that will make you feel feel valued and important and motivate you to achieve great things.

Advice for current students: You are blessed to be at Penn State Behrend and you have a lot of resources at your disposal. Take time to explore those resources and take advantage of them because you will never again have so many opportunities available to you all at once. You are now a member of one of the most powerful universities in the world!

Class of 2016: Meet Angela Zorn (Industrial Engineering)

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By Heather Cass
Publications & Design Coordinator, Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2016 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and the things they’ve accomplished and learned while here at Behrend.  We sat down to talk to some remarkable seniors before they left school and we’d like to a few of our students who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technology, participated in important research projects, and left an impression at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Angela Lynn Zorn:

Angela Zorn1

Major: Industrial Engineering

Hometown: Meadville, Pennsylvania

On choosing to major in Industrial Engineering: I started my freshman year intending to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering, but I decided it wasn’t for me. I met with my advisor, Dr. Russ Warley, who suggested I look at Industrial Engineering. I researched the field and actually landed an internship in industrial engineering the summer before my sophomore year. I.E. has been a good fit for my interests.

On gaining plenty of real-world experience: I’ve done three internships at AccuSpec Electronics, GE Transportation, and TE Connectivity, and I had a research experience at Saint Vincent Hospital.

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I never missed a single day of school from elementary through high school.

Advice for current students: Don’t be afraid to change your major early if you don’t like your initial choice. It could be the best decision you make. It was for me.

Angela has accepted a position in the Lean Manufacturing Engineering Leadership Program at Parker Hannifin, a Cleveland-based company that specializes in motion and control technologies.

 

Class of 2016: Meet Abigail Gilmore (Plastics Engineering Technology)

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By Heather Cass
Publications & Design Coordinator, Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2016 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and the things they’ve accomplished and learned while here at Behrend.  Over the next couple months, we’ll be introducing you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technology, participated in important research projects, and left an impression at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Abigail Gilmore:

Abigail Gilmore

Major: Plastics Engineering Technology

Hometown: Waterford, Pennsylvania

On choosing Behrend: My older brother attended Behrend and discussed with me the benefits of attending a smaller school and the opportunities I would have to engage with my professors on a personal level. I know from growing up here that Behrend has long been recognized for its engineering programs, so it seemed unnecessary to search all over the country for the right school when I had one of the best so close to home.

Love at first (lab) sight: When I saw the plastics lab during my tour of Behrend, I knew I had found my major. Plastic polymers were something I knew very little about even though I interacted with plastic materials on a daily basis. With an interest in sustainability, I was intrigued by the idea of reducing the impact of plastic on the environment and finding a career where I could contribute on a global level.

Campus involvement: I have been a member of both the cross country and track and field teams during my four years at Behrend. I’m also the current president of Tau Alpha Pi, the Engineering Technology National Honors Society, and secretary of the Plastics Engineering Club.

Challenge accepted: One thing I’ve really worked on during my time at Behrend is my willingness to accept a challenge. As a high school student, I often found myself shying away from opportunities where failure was a likely possibility. In college, I just decided to try new things and take on new responsibilities even if I worried I couldn’t do them. The more I did it, the quieter that doubting voice in my head became and my drive to work harder to pursue each opportunity became stronger. In the end, this resulted in great gains in my time management skills, a decrease in my fear of failure, and a boost in my self-confidence.

What you’d be surprised to know about her: Up until my sophomore year in high school, I had intended to pursue a dancing career after graduation and go to college when I got too old to dance. Now, just a few years later, I’m graduating with an engineering degree and competing in NCAA Division III cross-country and track and field!

On a love for learning: College allowed me to discover just how much I love learning. As a senior, I chose electives that I found interesting, rather than classes simply to fill my major requirements. I love reading articles about new breakthroughs in science or running experiments to prove, or disprove, my scientific hypotheses.

Abigail has accepted a position as a plastics rotational engineer in TE Connectivity’s automotive division in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, following her graduation in May.