Paul S. Steif has been on the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University since 1983. He is noted for his modeling of the connection between interface properties and the overall mechanical response of composite materials, research that has been widely published. In addition, he has used mechanics to provide valuable insights into a number of industrial problems, including the design of hysteretic dampers, the blistering of carbon face seals and the use of titanium aluminides in turbine blades. He has also been active in devising new methods and technologies for the teaching of engineering mechanics. Ph.D. (1982), Harvard University.

John M. Tarbell's career as a researcher and educator spans nearly 30 years. He is internationally recognized for his contributions to cardiovascular fluid mechanics, arterial wall transport, and artificial heart fluid mechanics, including the function of mechanical heart valves and blood-damage in mechanical devices. He has pioneered the development of in vitro endothelial transport models for examining the permeability of the endothelial barrier. As an educator, he has mentored more than 50 graduate students, nearly half of whom have already obtained their doctorates. A number of these students have won major awards for their research in student competitions. Tarbell has also been a leader in the organization of numerous national meetings and symposia for ASME, BMES and AIchE in areas related to his research. Ph.D. (1974), University of Delaware.

Sean F. Wu has worked in the areas of acoustics, vibration and noise control for 16 years and has developed many new theories and methodologies in structural acoustics and noise control. The most widely acknowledged achievements include: 1) The Helmholtz Equation Least Squares (HELS) method for reconstructing the acoustic field radiated from a vibrating structure; 2) an extended Kirchhoff integral formulation for predicting acoustic radiation from a vibrating structure in arbitrary motion; 3) an FFT-KIT algorithm for faster and more efficient transient acoustic radiation calculations; 4) an explicit solution to the Kirchhoff integral formulation for predicting transient acoustic radiation; and 5) a variation principle for predicting acoustic radiation and scattering from a finite object in a free field. Wu also developed computer models for predicting noise spectra from engine cooling fans and air-handling systems in passenger vehicles, noise diagnostic tools (U.S. Patent No. 5712805), and a system and method for predicting sound radiation and scattering from an arbitrarily shaped object (U.S. Patent No. 5,886,264). Ph.D. (1987), Georgia Institute of Technology.

Vigor Yang is an internationally recognized leader in all aspects of the field of unsteady combustion in propulsion systems. His research involves the development of new theories and numerical models for various combustion and gas dynamics problems that arise from both rocket and air-breathing engines. He has published five comprehensive volumes and more than 100 technical papers. He was the recipient of the Penn State Engineering Society Outstanding Teaching and Research Award in 1989 and 1992, respectively, and the Best Paper Award from AIAA in 1995 for research on supercritical combustion. Yang is currently acting editor-in-chief of the AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power. Ph.D. (1984), California Institute of Technology.

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