American Society of Mechanical Engineers honors mechanical engineering professors for Career Research Awards
By Jena Salem
Assistant Professor Lane B. Carasik, and Associate Professor Carlos E. Castano, Ph.D., from the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, were recently honored as Rising Stars in mechanical engineering by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) at the International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition meeting in Portland, Oregon in November.
This award recognizes their distinguished achievements in mechanical engineering, innovative work and dedication that significantly advances the engineering profession, inspiring the next generation of engineers. Both professors showcased their research during the International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition in a poster session for attendees that included program managers from federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DoE).
Carasik’s research is on the holistic investigations of molten salt fusion energy systems to support future fusion power plants. This work is funded by a DoE Early Career Research Award under the Office of Science’s Fusion Energy Sciences program.
Castano’s work focuses on the advanced surface modification of powders for sintering-based manufacturing. His team uses high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) as an advanced surface modification method of micro- and nano-powders to create core/shell structures that will advance the sintering-based manufacturing field. This work is funded by a NSF CAREER award under the Engineering Directorate’s Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Division.
Those who are named “rising stars” have also been granted awards in the past by many esteemed institutions, including the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Young Faculty Award, NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER), Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Program, DoE Early Career Research Award and National Institutes of Health New Innovator Award. This conference celebrates the inspirational, impressive accomplishments the engineers invited have fulfilled.
Congratulations to all of the awardees!
The Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering provides undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to perform real-world research as soon as they enroll. From applying material science to additive manufacturing techniques to optimizing coolant systems for nuclear reactors and more, students gain understanding of many important engineering topics. Browse videos and recent news from the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering to discover how the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University prepares the next generation of scientists and engineers for the challenges of the future.
Categories Faculty Awards, Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering