Francis College of Engineering

At UMass Lowell we don't just tell you how to find success in a career in engineering, we show you.

We have strong ties to the regional companies and government agencies shaping the industry, connecting you to a variety of co-op and internship opportunities.

Our distinguished reputation for hands-on, practice-oriented education and cutting-edge research will ensure you graduate ready for work in this dynamic field.

Meet Our Faculty

Joey Mead, Ph.D.Co-Director, Nanomanufacturing Center of Excellence; Deputy Director, NSF Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing; Professor, Plastics Engineering, Nanomanufacturing Center of ExcellenceRubber technology, thermoplastic elastomers, design, properties and processing of elastomers, nano materials.
Stephen McCarthy, Ph.D.Professor, M.S. Co-Coordinator, Director, Co-Director, Plastics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center, Center for Irish PartnershipsMedical devices, biodegradable polymers, mechanical behavior, applications of CAD/CAM
Sukesh AgharaAssociate Professor, Chemical Engineering (Nuclear) 
Daniel F. Schmidt, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Plastics Engineering, Nanomanufacturing Center of Excellence, Biomedical Engineering, Wind Turbine Research GroupMaterials preparation and structure/properties relationships in polymer nanocomposites, polymer crosslinking and network formation, pre-ceramic polymers, sol-gel chemistry and materials analysis (porosimetry, permeation testing, thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction & spectroscopic techniques)
Paul DeStefano, Ph.D., P.E., SECBLecturer, Civil & Environmental EngineeringStructural & Geotechnical Engineering, Civil Infrastructure Systems
Oliver Ibe, Sc.DAssociate Professor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringMobile & Converged Communications
Michael Shenoda, P.E., Ph.D., LEED AP BD+CLecturer, Civil & Environmental EngineeringTransportation Engineering, Sustainability Engineering
Joel Therrien, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Nanomanufacturing Center of Excellence, Biomedical EngineeringNanoelectronic Devices
Aldo CrugnolaProfessor & Dean Emeritus, Plastics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology ProgramMechanical-physical properties, process-induced changes in physical molecular structure
Hongwei Sun, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Mechanical EngineeringMicro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Microfluidics
Xuejun Lu, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringOptoelectronics, Nanophotonics & Fiber Optics
Majid Charmchi, Ph.D.Professor, Associate Chair & Graduate Coordinator, Mechanical Engineering, Nanomanufacturing Center of ExcellenceHeat and Mass Transfer, Computational Fluid Dynamics
Jay Conant, Ph.D.Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering 
Bridgette Budhlall, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Plastics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Nanomanufacturing Center of ExcellenceSynthesis & applications of polymer colloids & soft matter towards stimuli-responsive materials. Emulsion polymers. Photoresist polymers for nanolithography, nanofluidic devices & microcapsules & hybrid nanoparticles for biomedical devices, drug delivery systems & biosensors.
Mufeed Mah'd, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Biomedical EngineeringDigital Signal and Image Processing
Robert Malloy, Ph.D.Professor & Department Chair, Plastics Engineering, Nanomanufacturing Center of Excellence, Center for Irish PartnershipsPlastics product design, polymer processing, recycling of thermoplastics.
Stephen Johnston, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Plastics EngineeringComputer-aided engineering, computer-aided manufacturing, process control, injection molding, part design, mold design, finite element analysis
Jay A. Weitzen, Ph.D.Professor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringWireless Communication
Theodore Grosch, Ph.D.Instructor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringRF & microwave circuit design, radar systems, cellular systems, & commercial product development.
Fahd Wakim, Ph.D.Professor Emeritus, Electrical & Computer EngineeringPhotoelectronics & Photovoltaic Materials
Donald Leitch, M.S.Professor, Department Undergraduate Coordinator, Executive Officer, Civil & Environmental EngineeringStructural Engineering
Anh Tran, Ph.D.ProfessorLogic Design & Switching Theory
Samson Mil'shtein, Ph.D.Professor, Director - AETC, Electrical & Computer EngineeringSolid State Devices, Biomedical Engineering, Biometrics
Julie Chen, Ph.D.Vice-Provost for Research, Professor, Co-Director, Mechanical EngineeringComposite Materials, Nanomanufacturing.
Tingshu Hu, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringDynamic Systems & Control
Gonca Altuger-GencLecturer, Plastics EngineeringDesign, Manufacturing & Supply Chain Management. Virtual learning Environments & Self-Directed Lifelong Learning in undergraduate education.
Carol Barry, D.Eng.Co-Director, Nanomanufacturing Center of Excellence; Associate Director, NSF Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing; Professor, Plastics EngineeringExtrusion, injection molding, electrorheology, novel processing techniques, coatings, CAE & nano plastics processing
Chunxiao (Tricia) Chigan, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringCommunication Networks & Network Security
Sanjeev Manohar, Ph.D.Associate Dean, Associate Professor, College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Nanomanufacturing Center of Excellence 
Nathan Gartner, Sc.DProfessor, Co-op Coordinator, Civil EngineeringTransportation Engineering
John Ting, Sc.D., P.E.Vice Provost for Enrollments; Professor, Emeritus Dean of Engineering , Academic Affairs, Civil Engineering 
Seongkyu Yoon, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Director, Chemical Engineering, MA BioManufacturing Center (MBMC) 
Meg Sobkowicz-Kline, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Plastics Engineering, Climate Change InitiativeRenewable polymers, nanocomposites, organic photovoltaics, rheology, scattering
George Cheney, M.S.Professor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringEmbedded Systems, Analog/Digital Design
Kavitha Chandra, D. Eng.Professor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringCommunications networks
John W. Walkinshaw, Ph.D.Professor, Program Coordinator - Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering; Paper Engineering  
Fang Lai, Ph.D.Professor, Plastics EngineeringPlastics processing, process control and instrumentation, powder technology, industrial hazard assessment, SQC/SPC, & statistical methods
Frank J. Bonner, Ph.D.Professor, Grad. Program Coordinator, Grad. Student (Chemical) Faculty Advisor , Chemical Engineering 
Pradeep Kurup, Ph.D.Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Nanomanufacturing Center of Excellence, Geotechnical Research LabGeotechnical Engineering
Edward L. Hajduk, D.Eng, PELecturer, Civil & Environmental EngineeringGeotechnical engineer. Specialized focus related to the design, inspection, and construction of deep foundations; evaluation of soil engineering properties though in-situ testing; construction vibrations; and the development, use and analysis of geotechnical and structural instrumentation. Academic interests focus on geotechnical and materials engineering coursework overlaid with improving student’s cognitive development and critical thinking skills.
Eugene E. Niemi, Jr. Ph.D.Professor, Mechanical EngineeringAerodynamics, Wind Tunnel Testing, Thermofluids
Ross Stacer, Ph.D.Professor, Plastics EngineeringElastomers, adhesion & adhesives, fracture and failure analysis, time-dependent phenomena, viscoelasticity, electrorheological materials, & solid rocket propellants
Christopher Hansen, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Mechanical EngineeringMaterials science, self-healing materials, micro-patterning & additive manufacturing techniques
John R. White, Ph.D.Professor, Chemical Engineering 
Yan Luo, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringComputer Architecture
Glenn Sundberg, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Chair, Engineering Technology 
Stephen Driscoll Burke , M.S.Professor, Co-op Coordinator, Plastics EngineeringNew polymeric materials, additives, fillers, economic evaluations, elastomers, & rheology
David J. Willis, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Wind Turbine Research GroupAerodynamics, Computational Fluid Dynamics
Charles Thompson, Ph.D.Professor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringAcoustics, Systems & Field Theory
Eric MaaseLecturer, Chemical Engineering 
Stephen Orroth, M.S.Professor, Executive Officer, Plastics EngineeringExtrusion, die design, processing, thermoforming, blow molding, & rotational molding
Tenneti K. Rao, Ph.D.Professor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringElectromagnetics
Samuel Paikowsky, Sc.D.Professor, Director, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering Research LaboratoryGeotechnical Engineering
James R. Sheff, Ph.D.Professor, Chemical EngineeringTransport phenomena; control systems; separation processes; laboratory processes & mathematical methods
Pawan Pingle, Ph.D.Visiting Lecturer, Mechanical EngineeringVibrations, Structural Dynamics & Modal Analysis
Daniel J. Sullivan, Ph.D.Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering 
Clifford Bruell, Ph.D.Professor, Department Chair, Civil EngineeringEnvironmental Engineering
Alkim Akyurtlu, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringElectromagnetics
Ming Wei, D.EngAdjunct Faculty, Plastics Engineering Nanomanufacturing, polymer blends, surface chemistry, polymer characterization, project management
Amad TayebiProfessor Emeritus, Plastics EngineeringFibrous materials and composites.  mechanical behavior, performance and failure of plastics products.  air filtration and respiratory protective devices, automated assembly systems. Patent law.
Martin Margala, Ph.D.Chair, Professor, Deputy Director - AETC, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Nanomanufacturing Center of Excellence, AETCDigital & Mixed-Signal VLSI Design & VLSI Testing
John Duffy, D.Sc.Professor Emeritus & Coordinator, Mechanical Engineering, Solar Engineering Graduate ProgramMechanical engineering, control systems science, solar engineering, environmental engineering, education, statistics and manufacturing systems
Jennifer Gorczyca, D.Eng.Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering 
Nese Orbey, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering 
Yuanchang Xie, Ph.D., P.E.Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental EngineeringTransportation Engineering
Xiaoqi (Jackie) Zhang, Ph.D.Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Nanomanufacturing Center of Excellence, Climate Change InitiativeEnvironmental Engineering
Jan Chan Huang, Ph.D.Professor, Doctoral Coordinator, Plastics EngineeringPhysical properties of polymers, conducting polymers, thermodynamics of solutions, modeling and numerical methods
Gilbert J. Brown, Ph.D.Professor, Chemical EngineeringEnergy Engineering, Nuclear Engineering
Chronis Stamatiadis, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Graduate Coordinator, Civil & Environmental EngineeringTransportation Engineering
Sammy Shina, Ph.D.Professor & Coordinator of College Co-op Program, Mechanical EngineeringElectronic manufacturing, six sigma applications, design of experiments, collaborative engineering, quality & product design
David Kazmer, Ph.DProfessor, Plastics EngineeringPlastics product design & process engineering
Nick SchottProfessor Emeritus, Plastics EngineeringExtrusion, injection molding, process control, mixing requirements, and product design.
Kanti Prasad, Ph.D.Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering 
Michele Putko, Ph.D.Lecturer, Mechanical EngineeringMechanical and Industrial Engineering
Craig Armiento, Ph.D.Professor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringFiber Optics, Semiconductor & Devices
Ramaswamy Nagarajan, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Plastics Engineering, Nanomanufacturing Center of ExcellenceBiocatalysis, greener advanced materials (electronic, photo-responsive polymers, molecularly integrated hybrid nanomaterials, materials for energy conversion/storage), elastomers, thermal & morphological characterization of materials, roll to roll manufacture of flexible electronic products
Frank Tredeau, Ph.D.Lecturer, Electrical & Computer Engineering Power Electronics, Renewable Energy, Electric Vehicles, Battery Management Systems, Battery Evaluation
Christopher Niezrecki, Ph.D.Professor, Director - Wind Energy Research Group, Co-director - Structural Dynamics & Acoustic Systems Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering; Structural Dynamics & Acoustic Systems Laboratory, Climate Change InitiativeModeling & control of vibrations  & acoustics, smart structures & materials
Krishna Vedula, Ph.D.Professor, Dean Emeritus, EngineeringChemical Engineering
Peter Avitabile, D.Eng.Professor & Co-Director, Mechanical Engineering; Structural Dynamics & Acoustics Systems LaboratoryModal Analysis, Analytical and Experimental Structural Dynamics
Ioannis Raptis, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, RoboticsNonlinear dynamic systems theory and control design, robotics, fault detection and failure prognosis.
Carl W. Lawton, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Program Coordinator, Chemical Engineering, Biological Engineering 
Steven Grossman, Ph.D.Professor, Plastics EngineeringStructure-property relationships of plastics, reactive processing of polymers, polyblends and additives, & new polymerization reactions
John McKelliget, Ph.D.Professor, Chair & Undergraduate Coordinator, Mechanical EngineeringComputational Fluid Dynamics, Thermal Plasma Processing
Tzu Yang Yu, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Wind Turbine Research GroupRadar NDE, Structural Engineering, Concrete Materials, Structural Stability & Dielectric Dispersion of Materials
James A. Sherwood, Ph.D., P.E.Professor, Director, Co-Director, Mechanical Engineering; Baseball Research Center; Advanced Composite Materials & Textiles LaboratorySolid Mechanics, Composite Materials, Sports Engineering, Finite Element Modeling
Prakash Rai, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering 
Robert E. Parkin, Ph.D.Professor, Program Coordinator, Mechanical Engineering, Renewable Energy EngineeringRobotics, Control, Manufacturing
Juan Pablo Trelles, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Energy Engineering Renewable energy engineering, plasma science & engineering, semiconductor manufacturing, computational transport phenomena
Ziyad Salameh, Ph.D.Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Wind Turbine Research GroupPower & Energy
Xingwei Wang, Ph.DAssociate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Nanomanufacturing Center of ExcellenceOptical biosensing & biomedical devices
Michael J. Geiger, Ph.D.Lecturer, Electrical and Computer EngineeringComputer architecture, embedded systems
Rebecca DarlingtonAdjunct Instructor, Mechanical Engineering 
Alfred A. Donatelli, Ph.D.Professor, Dept. Chair, Transfer & Readmit Coordinator, Chemical EngineeringHeat & mass transfer to non-Newtonian fluids; permeation through polymer films and membranes; mathematical modeling, simulation & control of dynamic processes.
Dalila Megherbi, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer EngineeringDigital Image Processing, Computer Vision, AI, Networking, Distributed & Embedded Systems
Zhiyong Gu, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Chemical EngineeringNanomaterials and nanotechnology, nanowires
Dikshitulu Kalluri, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Electrical & Computer EngineeringApplied & Computational Electromagnetics Including Plasmas
Emmanuelle Reynaud, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Mechanical EngineeringMaterials Science, Nanomanufacturing
Jack Wilson, Ph.D.Interim Dean, College of Engineering, Distinguished Professor of Higher Education, Emerging Technologies and Innovation, Engineering, Management 
Susan Faraji, Ph.D.Professor, Civil EngineeringStructural Engineering

The UMass Lowell Edge

Engineering News
Members of the Lowell Sprouts/Let's Go Lowell team Christopher Horne, Mary Beth Burwood and Sean Hicks talk to Visiting Lecturer Ralph Jordan at the DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge.

Student Projects Win DifferenceMaker Funding

Plastics Today: Subsitute for BPA in Epoxy Looks 'Promising'

Students in K-12 are the target end users for new software being developed by one of the research teams that submitted abstracts to the Posters on the Hill competition.

Undergrads Take Honors in National Competition

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