University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Center for Materials and Structures

Projects

UNLV Distinguished Faculty Advancement Program – Nuclear Engineering

  • Sponsors
    • U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  • Dates
    • July 2023 – June 2027
  • Key Personnel
    • Brendan O’Toole, Mechanical Engineering Faculty
    • Meng-Jen (Vince) Wang, Mechanical Engineering Faculty (2023-2024)

Battery Workforce Challenge

  • Sponsors
    • U.S. Department of Energy Argonne National Lab
    • Stellantis
    • Additional Sponsors include: Samsung SDI America, American Battery Technology Company (ABTC), Battery Innovation Center (BIC), Eaton, AVL, Dana Inc., Analog Devices Inc., Gamma Technologies, Hesse Mechatronics, Mathworks, Vibration Research, Vector North America, Siemens
    • Collaborating with the UNLV Center for Energy Research
  • Dates
    • September 2023 – June 2026
  • Key Personnel
    • Yahia Baghzouz, Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty
    • Brendan O’Toole, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering Faculty
    • Jonathan Lazatin, Program Manager, Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. Student
    • Kamran Baesmat, Engineering Manager, Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D. Student

Post-Secondary Program Support: Manufacturing Internships, Robotics Mentoring, and Capstone Engineering

  • Sponsors
    • Gene Haas Foundation
  • Dates
    • September 2023 – June 2026
  • Key Personnel
    • Brendan O’Toole, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering Faculty
    • Yitung Chen, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering Department Chair
    • Kerry Sallee, Senior Director of Development, Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering

Developing a Sustainable FIRST Robotics Ecosystem in Southern Nevada

  • Sponsors
    • Argosy Foundation
    • FIRST Nevada LLC
    • Gene Haas Foundation
    • Nevada National Security Site
    • Mission Support and Test Services LLC
    • Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT)
    • UNLV Office of the President
    • Coast Aluminum
  • Dates
    • September 2022 – June 2026
  • Key Personnel
    • Brendan O’Toole, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering Faculty
    • Jonathan Lazatin, Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. Student

SAE Baja, SAE Formula, RebelSat, AIAA, SEDS, ASME Student Design Competition Support

  • Sponsors
    • Gene Haas Foundation
  • Dates
    • September 2022 – December 2025
  • Key Personnel
    • Brendan O’Toole, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering Faculty

Developing Hydroponics Curricula Integrated with Engineering and Computer Science

  • Sponsors
    • NSHE University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
  • Dates
    • September 2023 – June 2025
  • Key Personnel
    • Hasan Deniz, Ph.D., Director of Center for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education
    • Brendan O’Toole, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering Faculty
    • Tricia Braxton, DPP, Senior Coordinator, Extension Partnerships, Programs & People Engagement, University of Nevada Reno Extension, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources
    • Taylor Quiram, BLA, Youth Horticulture Education Program – Hydroponics Instructor, University of Nevada Reno Extension, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources
    • Osjah Ragin, Mechanical Engineering MS student
    • Christian Yuan, Electrical Engineering BS student
    • Jillian Perry, Management Information Systems student

Mitigating Risks at Bus Stops: A Study of the Effectiveness of Bollard Systems

  • Sponsors
    • Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
    • Collaborating with the UNLV Transportation Research Center
  • Dates
    • December 2022 – December 2024
  • Key Personnel
    • Mohamed Trabia, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research, Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering
    • Brendan O’Toole, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering Faculty
    • Jonathan Lazatin, Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. Student
    • Pouya Shojaei, Ph.D., Computational Simulation Consultant

Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project

  • Sponsors
    • NASA Space Grant and Montana State University
    • NSHE Nevada NASA Space Grant
  • Dates
    • November 2022 – December 2024
  • Key Personnel
    • Matthew Pusko, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Residence, Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering
    • Brendan O’Toole, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering Faculty

Improved Functionality of Under Actuated Hand Prosthesis

  • Sponsors
    • UNLV Top Tier Doctoral Graduate Research Assistant (TTDGRA) Program
    • Howe Foundation
    • UNLV Mechanical Engineering Department (Graduate Assistantship Support)
    • UNLV Foundation Fundraising Support
  • Dates
    • May 2014 – December 2024
  • Key Personnel
    • Mohamed Trabia, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research, Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering
    • Brendan O’Toole, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering Faculty
    • Lucas Gallup, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. Student
    • Youssef Fahmy, M.S., Mechanical Engineering M.S. and B.S. Student
    • Maria Gerardi, M.S., Mechanical Engineering M.S. Student

Preventing Colorectal Anastomosis Failure with FEM Validated Ex-Vivo Model

  • Sponsors
    • U.S. National Institutes of Health
    • UNLV Mechanical Engineering Department (Graduate Assistantship Support)
  • Dates
    • September 2023 – December 2024
  • Key Personnel
    • Mohamed Trabia, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research, Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering
    • Youssef Fahmy, M.S., Mechanical Engineering M.S. and B.S. Student
    • Lucas Gallup, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. Student
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