College of Engineering & Technology

Kimmel School of Construction Management
Dr. Chris Cox 
Assistant Professor 
Kimmel School of Construction Management 
ccox@email.wcu.edu 

Presentations 

Cox, C. (Presenter & Author), 9th North American Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, “Project Management: A Pedagogical Framework for Engineering Education and Professional Development,” IEOM Society International, University of The District of Columbia, Washington D.C.
Dr. Sisi Han 
Assistant Professon 
Kimmel School of Construction Management 
shan@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Han, Sisi, et al. “Experimental Evaluation of Convolutional Neural Networks in Asphalt Concrete Computed Tomography Scan Image Analysis.” Construction Research Congress 2024, 2024, pp. 506–515.
School of Engineering & Technology
Dr. Basel Alsayyed Ahmad 
Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
alsayyed@wcu.edu 

Patents 

Alsayyed, B. “Skill Portal.” (Submitted: June 2024).

Alsayyed, B., Borrille, A. “Innovative Teaching Aid for Applied Mechanics.” (Submitted: May 2024).

Alsayyed, B., Lowe (wcu), D., Slappy (wcu), D. “Road Pressure Generator.” (Submitted: May 2024).

Alsayyed, B., Clay (wcu), J. “Smart Fridge Door.” (Submitted: May 2024).

Alsayyed, B., Malm (wcu), F. “Smart HVAC vent.” (Submitted: May 2024).

Alsayyed, B., Tastet (wcu), C. “Solar Recycler.” (Submitted: May 2024).

Alsayyed, B., Harris, A., Borra, C. “Smart Self-Repairing Structure Design.” (Submitted: May 14, 2024).

Alsayyed, B., Patterson (wcu), C. J. “Combustion Exhaust Power Generator.” (Submitted: May 3, 2024).
Dr. Chaitanya Borra 
Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
vborra@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Borra, Chaitanya, and Sudhir Kaul. TWO-DIMENSIONAL (2D) MODELING of ENGINE MOUNTED HOSES: USING COSSERAT THEORY of RODS. 36th VIB Conference, ASME IDETC 2024, 2024, p. 141970.

Pierce, Robert Scott, and Chaitanya Borra. Moving from Matlab to Python in a First-Year Engineering Programming Course – Comparison of Student Achievement and Assessment of Self-Learning. 10.18260/1-2–47784, 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, 2024, https://peer.asee.org/47784.

Patents 

Alsayyed, B., Harris, A., Borra, C. “Smart Self-Repairing Structure Design.” (Submitted: May 14, 2024).
Dr. Hamid EisaZadeh 
Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
heisazadeh@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

EisaZadeh, Hamid, and Mona Torabi. “Multi-Objective Optimization of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Considering Filament Length, Print Time, and Mechanical Properties.” Volume 2: Advanced Manufacturing, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2024, doi:10.1115/imece2024-139226.
Dr. Chip Ferguson 
Full Professor/Associate Dean, College of Engineering & Technology 
cferguson@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Yanik, Paul M, et al. “Fostering Leaders in Technology Entrepreneurship (FLiTE): Second Year Progress.” 131st ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education) Annual Conference and Exposition, ASEE, 2024, pp. 1–10.
Dr. Adam Harris 
Assistant Professor of Practice 
School of Engineering and Technology 
adamharris@email.wcu.edu 

Presentations 

Harris, A. (Presenter & Author), WCU College of Engineering Seminar Series, “Engineering Students Who Can Do More,” Belk Building, Cullowhee, NC. 

Patents 

Tastet, C., Harris, A. “In-System Automatic Guitar Tuner.” (Submitted: 2024).

Alsayyed, B., Harris, A., Borra, C. “Smart Self-Repairing Structure Design.” (Submitted: May 14, 2024)
Dr. Tarek Hassan Kandil 
Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
thassankandil@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Hassan Kandil, Tarek Abdelmoneim. Investigation of the Impact of Fault Characteristics on the Cost-Effectiveness of Doubly Fed Induction Generator-Based Wind Systems in Withstanding Low-Voltage Ride-Through. no. 13, Sustainability, Jul. 2024, p. 5812, doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135812.

AL-Wesabi, Ibrahim, et al. Fast DC-link Voltage Control Based on Power Flow Management Using Linear ADRC Combined with Hybrid Salp Particle Swarm Algorithm for PV/wind Energy Conversion System. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Mar. 2024, pp. 688–709, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.02.325.
Dr. Hugh Jack 
Cass Balleneger Distinguished Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
hughjack@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Jack, Hugh, and Yanjun Yan. The Use of Chatbots in Engineering Including Critical Thinking and Problem Definition. American Society for Engineering Education, 2024.
Dr. Bora Karayaka 
Full Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
hbkarayaka@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Warner, Andrew, et al. “Streamlining Clean Microgrid Economics: Multivariate Cost Optimization with Nuclear Power Integration.” IEEE SoutheastCon 2024, IEEE, 2024.

Presentations 

Vang, T. (Presenter & Author), Warner, A. (Author Only), Blankenship, B. (Author Only), Karayaka, H. B. (Leader), Yan, Y. (Author Only), Appalachian Energy Summit 2024, “Synergizing Nuclear and Renewable Energy: Microgrid Cost Optimization,” Appalachian State University, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.

Warner, A. (Author Only), Vang, T. (Author Only), Blankenship, B. (Presenter & Author), Karayaka, H. B. (Leader), Research and Scholarship Conference, “Streamlining Clean Microgrid Economics: Multivariate Cost Optimization with Nuclear Power Integration,” Western Carolina University, Cullowhee.

Warner, A. (Presenter & Author), Vang, T. (Presenter & Author), Blankenship, B. (Author Only), Karayaka, H. B. (Presenter & Author), Yan, Y. (Author Only), IEEE SoutheastCon 2024, “Streamlining Clean Microgrid Economics: Multivariate Cost Optimization with Nuclear Power Integration,” IEEE, Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta, GA.
Dr. Namhee Kim 
Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
nkim@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Kim, Namhee. Importance of CFD in Undergraduate-level Fluid Dynamics Course. ASEE Conferences, 2024, doi:10.18260/1-2–47586.
Dr. Scott Pierce 
Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
rspierce@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Pierce, Robert Scott, and Chaitanya Borra. Moving from Matlab to Python in a First-Year Engineering Programming Course – Comparison of Student Achievement and Assessment of Self-Learning. 10.18260/1-2–47784, 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, 2024, https://peer.asee.org/47784.
Dr. Scott Pierce
Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
rspierce@email.wcu.edu 

Publications

Pierce, Robert Scott, and Chaitanya Borra. Moving from Matlab to Python in a First-Year Engineering Programming Course – Comparison of Student Achievement and Assessment of Self-Learning. 10.18260/1-2–47784, 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, 2024, https://peer.asee.org/47784.
Dr. Andy Ritenour 
Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
aritenour@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Yanik, Paul M, et al. “Fostering Leaders in Technology Entrepreneurship (FLiTE): Second Year Progress.” 131st ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education) Annual Conference and Exposition, ASEE, 2024, pp. 1–10.
Dr. Scott Rowe 
Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
srowe@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Yanik, Paul M, et al. “Fostering Leaders in Technology Entrepreneurship (FLiTE): Second Year Progress.” 131st ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education) Annual Conference and Exposition, ASEE, 2024, pp. 1–10.
Dr. Wes Stone 
Professor / Department Head
School of Engineering and Technology 
wstone@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Yanik, Paul M, et al. “Fostering Leaders in Technology Entrepreneurship (FLiTE): Second Year Progress.” 131st ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education) Annual Conference and Exposition, ASEE, 2024, pp. 1–10.
Dr. Martin Tanaka 
Full Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
mtanaka@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Tanaka, Martin L., et al. Polymer-Interface-Tissue Model to Estimate Leachable Release from Medical Devices. Mathematical Medicine and Biology: A Journal of the IMA, Dec. 2024.

Tanaka, Martin L., and Orlando Lopez. Outlook on Industry-Academia-Government Collaborations Impacting Medical Device Innovation. ASME Journal of Engineering and Science in Medical Diagnostics and Therapy, May 2024.

Tanaka, Martin L., et al. Comparison of Computational Models for Predicting Leaching from Implanted Medical Devices. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference.

Menghani, Ritika, et al. The Quest to Establish Finite Element Brain Strain as a Cognitive Change Indicator. Mach Conference 2024, 2024.

Presentations 

Allen, S. (Presenter & Author), Tanaka, M. L., Harris, A., “Soil Moisture Sensor,” National Conference on Undergraduate Research NCUR 2023, Eau Claire, WI. 
Dr. Yanjun Yan 
Associate Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
yyan@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Yan, Yanjun, et al. Co-offering Engineering and Non-Engineering Courses on Faculty-led Trips to Foster Global Competence via Interdisciplinary Learning. American Society for Engineering Education, 2024.

Jack, Hugh, and Yanjun Yan. The Use of Chatbots in Engineering Including Critical Thinking and Problem Definition. American Society for Engineering Education, 2024.

Warner, Andrew, et al. “Streamlining Clean Microgrid Economics: Multivariate Cost Optimization with Nuclear Power Integration.” IEEE SoutheastCon 2024, IEEE, 2024.

Presentations 

Vang, T. (Presenter & Author), Warner, A. (Author Only), Blankenship, B. (Author Only), Karayaka, H. B. (Leader), Yan, Y. (Author Only), Appalachian Energy Summit 2024, “Synergizing Nuclear and Renewable Energy: Microgrid Cost Optimization,” Appalachian State University, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.

Warner, A. (Presenter & Author), Vang, T. (Presenter & Author), Blankenship, B. (Author Only), Karayaka, H. B. (Presenter & Author), Yan, Y. (Author Only), IEEE SoutheastCon 2024, “Streamlining Clean Microgrid Economics: Multivariate Cost Optimization with Nuclear Power Integration,” IEEE, Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta, GA.
Dr. Bill Yang 
Full Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
wyang@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Yang, Weiguo. Spectral Characterization of Clock Timing Jitter. IEEE SoutheastCon, 2024, doi:https://doi.org/10.1109/SoutheastCon52093.2024.10500170.
Dr. Paul Yanik 
Full Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
pyanik@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Yanik, Paul M, et al. “Fostering Leaders in Technology Entrepreneurship (FLiTE): Second Year Progress.” 131st ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education) Annual Conference and Exposition, ASEE, 2024, pp. 1–10.

Presentations 

Yanik, P. M. (Presenter & Author), Global Spotlight on AI, “AI and Machine Learning: Foundations, Current Applications, and Prospective,” WCU Department of Political Science and Public Affairs, Forsyth 101, Cullowhee, NC.

Dr. Yang Zhang 
Assistant Professor
School of Engineering and Technology 
yzhang@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Zhang, Yang, and Hao Zhang. Influence of Laser Remelting on the Microstructure and Properties of Mo2FeB2 Ternary Boride Coatings Prepared by Laser Cladding. Materials Today Communications, Sep. 2024, p. 110548.

Zhang, Hao, and Yang Zhang. Effects of H-BN Content and Heat Treatment Temperature on the Tribological Behavior and Toughness of Laser-clad Mo2FeB2/WC/h-BN Coatings. no. 14, Ceramics International, Jul. 2024, pp. 26097–108.

Zhang, Yang, and Hao Zhang. Brief Paper: Synergistic Enhancements in WCoB Cemented Carbide: A Study of Microstructural and Performance Benefits Achieved Through Cu and Ni Addition via Vacuum Sintering. International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference, 2024.

Presentations 

Zhang, Y., Zhang, H., 2024 MSEC Manufacturing Science & Engineering Conference, “Synergistic Enhancements in WCoB Cemented Carbide: A Study of Microstructural and Performance Benefits Achieved Through Cu and Ni Addition via Vacuum Sintering,” ASME, Knoxville, TN.

Zhang, Y., Johnson, C., Rodriguez, J., Khamphengphet, J., AOTA INSPIRE 2024 Annual Conference & Expo, “Empowering Stroke Survivors: Designing and Developing a Gamified, Neurological Recovery Device for Enhanced Rehabilitation,” AOTA, Orlando, FL.