Oct. 5, 2026 - ME Faculty & Staff Newsletter
Department Highlights
New research shows why some stroke patients fare better than others
Nearly 21,000 people worldwide experience ischemic strokes every day, threatening long-term disability or even death. In recent years, clot-busting drugs and mechanical tools for removing them have revolutionized care, but even with the clot gone and the vessel clear, up to 50% of patients never recover neurologically. New research, led by Assistant Professor Debanjan Mukherjee, reveals in unprecedented detail how the brain’s own defense mechanisms against stroke can backfire, triggering additional micro-clots in minor vessels which can damage tissue long after the primary culprit is gone.
Four new faculty members joining the ME department for Fall 2026
The Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering at ñ is welcoming four new faculty members this fall semester. From renewable energy technologies and robotic optimization to engineering education and computing, these talented scientists and engineers bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to our teaching and research missions.
ME researcher works to build artificial blood vessels that heal
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming nearly 20 million lives every year. For many patients, tiny tubes called vascular grafts can be an effective, short-term solution. However, the synthetic implants also come with problems of their own that make them inadequate for long-term use. Associate Professor Wei Tan is trying to change that by working with BME undergraduate student Anagha Varada to develop a new, multilayered vascular graft that mimics the structure of natural blood vessels, allowing them to regenerate.
How an ME undergraduate student helped build a new AI startup
Third-year undergraduate student Caleb Woldemichael is one of the architects behind a new AI company called YW Holdings. The startup leverages his studies and extensive internship experience to help change the way engineering firms do business by streamlining the slow, manual processes that companies depend on to run engineering firms.
ME senior design project is still “heating up” nearly a decade later
In 2017, a former team of mechanical engineering alums developed an adjustable, heated bench system for their senior capstone project that helps NBA players stay warm and ready for action when their number is called during games. Today, the project has turned into a commercially-licensed technology that has achieved over $1 million in sales, been installed by four total teams across the world’s top basketball league and been nominated for the Sports Business Journal’s 2026 Best Technology Collaboration award.
Humbert selected for Outstanding Postdoc Mentor of the Year award
Professor Sean Humbert has been selected as a 2026 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor of the Year Award recipient. The postdoc-nominated award recognizes faculty members who provide exceptional mentoring, training and leadership to postdoctoral scholars at ñ. Humbert is described by his nominator as "the gold standard of postdoctoral mentorship" for his individualized approach to training and his commitment to preparing postdocs for independent careers.