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�Ͼ�Ʒ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science—Paula Pranda, a chemical and biological engineering PhD student, earned the top student honor at the Adhesion Society meeting for her research on aligned Liquid Crystal Elastomer (LCE) adhesives. The society annual meeting was held Feb. 16-19 in New Orleans.

�Ͼ�Ʒ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science—As the principal investigator of a $7.5 million, five-year Department of Defense Office of Naval Research (ONR) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), Hussein is leading an effort to reshape the fundamental character of fluid-structure interactions to reduce drag on high-speed aerospace vehicles—the focus of the project.

�Ͼ�Ʒ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science—Jianliang Xiao is a “mechanics of materials” expert launching innovations in soft materials and flexible electronics. His work recently earned him an exclusive spot amongst some of the most successful academic inventors in the world.

Mesa Quantum, a �Ͼ�Ʒ�� spinout and leader in quantum sensing, recently announced $3.7 million in seed funding and a $1.9 million grant from SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force. Both investments are fueling the company drive toward commercializing chip-scale quantum sensors for multiple applications including next-generation position, navigation and timing solutions.

With a foundation of education and specialized training augmented by years of hands-on experience leading a classroom, lab or studio in their area of expertise, faculty from universities like �Ͼ�Ʒ�� are critical to solving society toughest challenges and cultivating the next generation of thinkers and problem-solvers.

�Ͼ�Ʒ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science—A team of engineers and material scientists in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering at �Ͼ�Ʒ�� has developed a new technology to turn thermal radiation into electricity in a way that literally teases the basic law of thermal physics.

�Ͼ�Ʒ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science—It been six years since the launch of startup company Aspero Medical, co-founded by Professor Mark Rentschler of the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. The company has seen great success, including the development of a medical device designed to enable more efficient procedures in the small bowel region.

�Ͼ�Ʒ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science—The �Ͼ�Ʒ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) has announced the recipients of its inaugural class of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) Fellows, a new program designed to support faculty, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students in advancing cutting-edge research with commercial potential. The fellowships are supported by the CEAS I&E initiative and Venture Partners at �Ͼ�Ʒ��.

�Ͼ�Ʒ�� Graduate School—Since its inception, the Lab Venture Challenge has funded more than 117 projects through 64 new companies that provide technology solutions to scientific or engineering challenges, or deep-tech start-ups. In turn, these companies have raised over $349 million to date in follow-on financing.

Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN)—A structural engineer, Wil Srubar (�Ͼ�Ʒ�� Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering) recruits biologists, chemists, physicists, materials scientists, and a host of engineers to his lab, where they design biomimetic building materials.