Engineering and... News: November 2024

Greetings GW Engineering Community!

GW Engineering faculty leverage deep technical expertise and a broad world view to educate the engineering leaders of the future, build trust in technological innovation, advocate for equity and access for all members of the global community, and

collaborate with industry and government on issues like health and wellness, cyber and national security, workforce development, and environmental sustainability.

Our students also play a significant role in shaping our school and our society. From undergraduates to alumni, GW Engineering students remain at the forefront of an ever-changing future. Whether they’re leading the evolution of autonomous vehicles to improve road safety and minimize environmental impact or developing new scientific solutions for chronic health issues like cardiovascular disease or sleep apnea, our students, like our faculty, regularly demonstrate our “Engineering And…” mindset.

Computer Science Professor James Hahn is leading two new research studies focused on developing solutions to address a health issue commonly associated with the gradual loss of muscle mass and function due to aging and obesity – Sarcopenia. “Novel Optical Imaging Modality for Body Composition and Physical Function in Older Adults” is funded by GW’s Cross-Disciplinary Research Fund (CDRF), and “3D Body Shape Analysis Predicting Sarcopenia and Obesity in Older Adults” is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) R-56 grant. Hahn’s interdisciplinary research projects aim to remove barriers such as cost and accessibility for older adults suffering from this common chronic condition.

Dr. Leah Kaplan, Ph.D. ’24 and undergraduate student Lola Nurullaeva are using real-world data to assess robotaxis’ impact on the taxi driver job market. Kaplan and Nurullaeva successfully submitted a study titled “Modeling the operational and labor costs of autonomous robotaxi services”, that was published in Transport Policy Science Direct Journal. Included in the study and developed under the guidance of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Assistant Professor John Helveston, Kaplan and Nurullaeva created a model comparing the operational costs of traditional taxis against robotaxi services to assess the real-world impact of this new technology.

GW Engineering alumnus and National Advisory Council member Mr. Kevin Brown was recently honored with the GW Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award by GW’s President Ellen Granberg. A member of the executive leadership team at Dell, overseeing supply chain processes for 180 countries and 25 manufacturing sites, Brown exemplifies what it means to be a scholar and an innovator. Brown is a fierce advocate for our students and led the strategic coordination to strengthen our school and the university’s relationship with Dell Technologies, helping to expand internships and job opportunities.

As we head into the holiday season and approach the end of another year, I’m reminded of why we do what we do. Our school was established 140 years ago to ensure GW and DC had the academic infrastructure to be leaders and pioneers in a fast-changing technology landscape. Thanks to all of you - our faculty and staff, our students and alumni – we continue to live up to those founding ideologies 140 years later. Because of who we are and the role we all play in improving the world around us, we have a lot to be thankful for, and I’m excited about what the future holds for the GW Engineering community.

Please be on the lookout for more information to join us in commemorating and celebrating 140 years of excellence in engineering education, research, and societal impact.

Raise High!

John Lach

Dean, GW Engineering

Sarcopenia–a condition causing a gradual loss of muscle mass and function–affects 10 to 16% of older adults worldwide. The condition is exacerbated by the co-presence of obesity, leading to sarcopenic obesity with a variety of associated morbidities. Professor of Computer Science James Hahn is dedicated to improving the quality of life of older adults, particularly those with sarcopenia and obesity, through innovative digital solutions addressing key challenges in healthcare. In two new interdisciplinary projects, Hahn is leading research to overcome the cost and accessibility barriers of traditional clinical diagnoses and monitoring of these conditions by developing a novel image modality, optical scan technology. 

Dec. 1, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025: "Spiraling Upwards": The Traveling Gallery of Fluid Motion
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December 2 from 2-3pm: GW Engineering Career Chat
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December 3 from 6-8:30pm: AI Horizons: Exploring the Future with GW Alumni
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December 5 from 5:30-6:30pm: Battle of the Bots Final Workshop
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December 6 at 3:30pm: FRIES^3 Seminar Series
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December 7 from 1-3pm: Battle of the Bots Competition
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December 13 from 12-1:15pm: Intro to Lean Innovation Webinar
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December 14 from 1-5:30pm: LEED Green Associate Training Webinar
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In 1884, the world was changing. The National Monument was built, the first skyscraper was constructed, and, thanks to new inventions like gas-powered automobiles, the U.S. had become a leader in technology innovation. As a result, The George Washington University answered the call to position the country’s capital as a central influence on scientific education, research, and discovery.

By partnering with both private and public industry, the Corcoran Scientific School, now known as GW’s School of Engineering and Applied Science (GW Engineering), was established. William Corcoran provided the vision and initial philanthropic investment to establish GW Engineering. While neither an engineer nor a tech giant, Corcoran had a history of investing in projects and ventures that would move the U.S. forward. Not wanting Washington, D.C., to be without a center for scientific discovery - when electric lighting was becoming commercially available - Corcoran led the way for future discoveries and transformation by providing the founding gift for the school.

Prof. Hyungsok "Nathan" Choe's Journey in Biomedical Engineering

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Observation-Driven Mapping of Linkages Between Terrestrial, Water, Energy, and Carbon Cycles

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Team Led by Dr. Hurriyet Ok Wins Best Real-World Award in Niantic Studio Challenge

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Undergraduate Research Accelerates Machine Learning Efficiency

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Insights from Professor Helveston on Why Used EV Prices Are Falling

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Professor Barba Unveils AI Mentor for Course-Level Support

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Autonomous vehicle (AV) companies worldwide have begun rolling out their driverless taxi-type services, with Zoox being the latest to hit California’s streets. While they promise to enhance road safety, promote equity, and foster environmental sustainability, robotaxis simultaneously impacts the jobs of current taxi and ride-hailing drivers. A new study published in Transport Policy, titled “Modeling the operational and labor costs of autonomous robotaxi services,” from researchers in the Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, highlights the importance of considering this impact when discussing robotaxi competitiveness. Under the guidance of Assistant Professor John Helveston, Dr. Leah Kaplan, Ph.D. ‘24, and undergraduate student Lola Nurullaeva developed a cost model for this study grounded in real-world data, comparing the operational costs of traditional taxis against robotaxi services.

The Office of Graduate Admissions and Student Services at GW Engineering fosters academic, professional, and personal growth for all our graduate students. Graduate Professional Advisor, Jas Jefferies, is a key part of this process!

Q: How long have you been working at GW and what is your position?
A: I’ve working at GWU for about 2.5 years now. I serve as a Graduate Professional Advisor for the GW Engineering Office of Graduate Admissions and Student Services.

Q: What led you to this career?
A: I became a Resident Advisor in college and have loved working with students ever since. I got my M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration and have been working in higher education for about 6 years now.

Q: Why did you choose GW?
A: I chose GWU for a new start! I never lived or worked on the East Coast before so this position was a new chapter for me.

GW Engineering hosts a wide range of high-impact research, reflecting our commitment to addressing society’s grand challenges. For over two years, the Friday Engineering Science Seminar Series (FRIES^3) has provided students in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering with a valuable platform for presenting their research and forging connections with fellow engineers. These biweekly gatherings showcase cutting-edge research while fostering collaboration, with the November 8th FRIES^3 seminar featuring innovations in pathology imaging and cancer therapy.

Every year, GW Engineering is excited to welcome incoming students to our community, with the School of Engineering & Applied Science Student Peer Advisory Network (SEASSPAN) being integral in making students feel at home. Their support doesn’t stop in August, though, as they host countless events throughout the academic year to foster community and ensure first-year, sophomore, and transfer students have what they need to succeed in and out of the classroom. One of their latest events was a PJ Party on November 15 in the Science & Engineering Hall.

The GWU-PREP is a collaboration with GWU in Washington, DC and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland. GWU-PREP provides research opportunities at NIST to students, faculty, research staff, and postdoctoral researchers at GW as well as researchers at SURA-affiliated universities.

We support your ambitions by offering financial support to eligible GW community members, including a monthly stipend, hourly wage, or full tuition reimbursement for qualifying undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff.