The investment, made possible through UMS TRANSFORMS, will support 44 researchers and students spanning engineering and computing programs across the University of 海角社区 System. The awards are designed to increase recruitment and retention, developing programming at the , creating interdisciplinary programs in emerging fields, enhancing research, deepening collaboration among University of 海角社区 System institutions and strengthening partnerships with industry.

“These awards, made possible by the invaluable support of UMS TRANSFORMS and the Harold Alfond Foundation, highlight the incredible breadth of interdisciplinary work at U海角社区,” said Giovanna Guidoboni, Dean of MCEC. “From future transportation systems and advanced manufacturing to building sustainability and immersive virtual reality, this wide-ranging focus ensures we are addressing diverse challenges and preparing our students for cutting-edge careers.”

Developing Graduate and Undergraduate Certificate Program in Ocean Engineering and Maritime Digitalization

• Amrit Verma, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Andrew Goupee, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
• Richard Kimball, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
• Yifeng Zhu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Masoud Rais-Rohani, Department of Mechanical Engineering 

The project aims to create an online undergraduate and graduate certificate program in Ocean Engineering and Maritime Digitalization, with the primary goal of training students and professionals to design, operate, and maintain digitally enhanced maritime systems and ocean infrastructure, including applications of digital twin systems in ocean industries.

Surveying Engineering Technology on campus programming

• Will Manion, School of Engineering Technology  
• Rich Vannozzi, School of Engineering Technology

The primary goal of the project is to increase enrollment of traditional on-campus students, and particularly, 海角社区 resident students, in the Surveying Engineering Technology Program.

Game Design and Development: Multi-Campus Academic Program

• Penny Rheingans, School of Computing and Information Science聽
• Joseph Szakas, University of 海角社区 at Augusta 

This proposal aims to create a new multi-campus Game Design and Development program across the University of 海角社区 System. It will combine the expertise of faculty from various institutions to allow students to complete the program at any participating campus, with funding supporting new course development, remote learning initiatives, and necessary hardware.

Integrating Pre-Engineering Students into their Major

• Megan Walsh, University of 海角社区 at Machias

The Integrating Pre-engineering Students into Their Major project plans to increase the progression of pre-engineering students at U海角社区鈥檚 regional campus, the University of 海角社区 at Machias, into the appropriate engineering program at the University of 海角社区 by housing an engineering graduate student on the UMM campus to mentor undergraduate pre-engineering students.

海角社区 Community Colleges to U海角社区 Pathways in Engineering

• Masoud Rais-Rohani, Department of Mechanical Engineering聽
• Christopher Mordaunt, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The project’s primary goal is to establish a viable pathway through the Transfer ME program for 海角社区 community college students to pursue an engineering degree at U海角社区.

Summer Bridge: Accelerating Community College Transfers in Engineering Through Online C Programming

• Yifeng Zhu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The project aims to accelerate community college transfers in engineering by offering a fully asynchronous online C programming course that bridges curricular gaps and ensures timely progression toward graduation

Developing Asynchronous Online Courses for the Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence Certificate

• Yifeng Zhu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering  
• Vikas Dhiman, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Xueyu Hou, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

To create four asynchronous online courses for the Engineering Applications of AI certificate that expand statewide access, drive enrollment growth, and equip learners and industry professionals with essential, workforce-ready AI skills.

Energize UMS Campus Life with the Concept of Transportation+

• Ruijie “Rebecca” Bian, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering聽

This project creates an open-forum to engage students in depicting a future picture of on-campus mobility, while connecting UMS students through events and trips to explore future transportation systems and career opportunities in the sector.

Building a Multi-Institutional Community of Practice for Engineering Capstone Project

• Ashanthi Maxworth, Department of Engineering (USM)聽
• Wilhelm Friess, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
• Carolyn Arcand, Muskie School of Public Service (USM)

The goal of this project is to develop a multi-institutional community of practice for the engineering capstone project to share knowledge, experience and resources within a collaborative framework.

Expanding the Human-Centered Technology Design Program: Expanding Access, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, and Workforce Readiness

• Nimesha Ranasinghe, School of Computing and Information Science 
• Aaron Boothroyd, School of Computing and Information Science

The Human-Centered Technology Design (HCTD) Program expansion aims to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, increase student enrollment and retention, and provide cutting-edge, hands-on learning opportunities in human-centered design across the University of 海角社区 System using the mini GEM facility.

Building Energy Monitor Display for Ferland Hall

• Justin Lapp, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
• Nimesha Ranasinghe, School of Computing and Information Science

This project will design, develop, and install a real-time building energy monitoring display in U海角社区’s Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center.

The MCEC Imaginarium

• Richard Corey, VEMI Lab
• Ruhammah (Ru) LaGarry, VEMI Lab
• RJ Perry, VEMI Lab

The MCEC Imaginarium will serve as an immersive portal to the groundbreaking research at the University of 海角社区 System, providing a place for everyone to explore the exciting work happening across our campuses and streamlining collaboration with our industry partners by highlighting areas of active research and development across disciplines.

New CIE Winter Travel Course: Sustainability in the Peruvian Amazon

• Reed Miller, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | Advanced Structures and Composites Center

A new faculty-led travel course will take undergraduate engineering students to the Peruvian Amazon rainforest to learn hands-on about biodiversity and the conservation challenges posed by increasing infrastructure and development.

MCEC PhD Scholars Fellowship Program

• Masoud Rais-Rohani, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The goal of this project is to help establish MCEC PhD Scholars Fellowship Program aimed at attracting high quality domestic PhD students to engineering from US institutions outside of 海角社区.

Expanding Smart Factory Training for Undergraduate and Graduate Education

• Bradley Denholm, Advanced Manufacturing Center
• John Belding, Advanced Manufacturing Center

The AMC Bot Loft at U海角社区 will expand its Smart Factory training system to double student lab capacity and enhance Industry 4.0 education across undergraduate, graduate, and K-12 programs.

MCEC Global — Pilot Development of Online Graduate Aerospace Engineering Certificate

• Wilhelm Friess, Department of Mechanical Engineering聽
• Kewei Zu, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The MCEC Global project aims to develop the necessary delivery framework and online course content to offer the Graduate Certificate in Aerospace Engineering in full asynchronous online mode to students in 海角社区 and beyond.

Growing and Strengthening the BME Program via Curricula Modernization and the Development of a Sustainable Eng. Gen-Ed and Project Description

• Karissa Tilbury, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Lisa Weeks, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Ray Kennard, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Michael Mason, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Andre Khalil, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Dave Neivandt, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Cailtin Howell, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Bob Bowie, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Peter Van Walsum, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

Innovative Biocompatibility Module Gives First-Year Biomedical Engineering Students a Head Start on Industry-Ready Skills.

A Virtual Reality Educational Tool for Understanding PFAS Transport in Soil

• Jean MacRea, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering 
• Xiaoxiao Zhao, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• RJ Perry, VEMI Lab
• Manisha Choudhary, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

Our project aims to develop an interactive virtual reality tool that simulates PFAS transport in soils and to integrate it into STEM curricula to help students visualize and understand these processes, thereby enhancing STEM education across 海角社区.

Intelligent Manufacturing in 海角社区 (IM2)

• Justin Willis, Advanced Structures and Composites Center 
• Roberto Lopez Anido, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering  
• Keith Berube, School of Engineering Technology

This project intends to develop a Research Learning Experience (RLE) in intelligent manufacturing in 海角社区, to better expose U海角社区 students to the sustainable, data-driven, and interdisciplinary processes present in current and emerging Industry 4.0 smart factories.

The 海角社区 College of Engineering and Computing is a signature initiative of UMS TRANSFORMS, a $320M investment by the Harold Alfond Foundation to drive the innovations and technical workforce critical to advancing 海角社区鈥檚 economy. 

Contact: Taylor Ward, taylor.ward@maine.edu

Edward T. Bryand Distinguished Engineering Award
Anthony 鈥淭ony鈥� Paine, Co-Founder and CEO of HighByte Inc., as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Edward T. Bryand Distinguished Engineering Award. Renowned for his visionary leadership in industrial software, Paine has played a pivotal role in transforming modern manufacturing through innovative data integration solutions that power Industry 4.0.

With a career defined by technical excellence and a deep commitment to solving real-world challenges, Paine has positioned HighByte as a leader in the industrial intelligence space. His customer-first mindset, combined with a forward-thinking approach to software design, continues to influence the evolution of smart manufacturing globally.

Established in 1979, the Edward T. Bryand Distinguished Engineering Award is the highest honor granted by the MCEC. It recognizes individuals outside the University whose achievements in engineering, research, and public service bring distinction to the profession. Paine’s exceptional contributions embody the spirit of the award, making him a fitting and celebrated recipient.

Ashley S. Campbell Award
The 2025 Ashley S. Campbell Award was awarded to Jean MacRae, a respected environmental microbiologist and long-standing faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. With a career marked by outstanding teaching, impactful research, and meaningful service, Dr. MacRae has profoundly shaped the education and experience of engineering students at U海角社区.

The 海角社区 College of Engineering & Computing honored outstanding alumni, faculty, staff, and students at the 45th Annual Edward T. Bryand Awards Ceremony, held April 14, 2025, at Buchanan Alumni House. The event gathered faculty, staff, industry professionals, friends, and family to celebrate the individuals whose work and dedication advance the College鈥檚 mission.

A national leader in biological remediation, Dr. MacRae has advanced the field through her innovative research and dedication to sustainability. Equally transformative has been her leadership of U海角社区鈥檚 Engineers Without Borders chapter, where she has guided students in applying their engineering skills to improve infrastructure and quality of life in communities around the world.

Established in 1979, the Ashley S. Campbell Award is the College鈥檚 highest faculty honor, recognizing individuals whose teaching excellence, scholarly achievements, and service have brought distinction to engineering education. Dr. MacRae exemplifies the purpose of this award through her unwavering commitment to student success and her contributions to global engineering challenges.

Leila C. Lowell Award for Exemplary Staff Support

Kyle Guerrette, Building Manager of the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center was recognized as the 2025 recipient of the Leila C. Lowell Award. Guerrette鈥檚 unwavering commitment to student success, safety, and hands-on learning has made him an essential figure in the day-to-day excellence of the College.

Established in 1983, the Leila C. Lowell Award honors staff members whose work has brought distinction to the field of engineering through outstanding support, service, and achievement. Kyle Guerrette exemplifies the spirit of this award and continues to be a cornerstone of the College鈥檚 thriving academic community.

Early Career Research Award

Evan K. Wujcik, Assistant Professor in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering and researcher at the Advanced Structures & Composites Center, received the Early Career Research Award. Dr. Wujcik鈥檚 work on nanosensors, green composites, and wearable technologies reflects a deep commitment to sustainable innovation across environmental and health applications.

Early Career Teaching Award

Reed Miller, Assistant Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering, received the Early Career Teaching Award for his student-centered teaching in life cycle assessment and engineering decision-making, and his impactful research applying Industrial Ecology to sustainability challenges.

Danilo Botero Lopez received the Graduate Teaching Assistant Award for his instructional excellence in Civil and Environmental Engineering, where he also contributes cutting-edge research in geotechnical and earthquake engineering.

Jeremy Juybari, Ph.D. candidate in Computer Engineering, earned the Graduate Research Assistant Award for his groundbreaking work at the intersection of machine learning and medical imaging in the CompuMAINE Lab.

海角社区 the Bryand Awards

Established in 1979 by then-Dean Jim Clapp, the Edward T. Bryand Awards Ceremony recognizes individuals who exemplify excellence in teaching, research, engineering, and service. The first ceremony was held in 1980, with the Ashley S. Campbell and Edward T. Bryand Distinguished Engineering Awards as its founding honors. Over time, additional awards鈥攊ncluding the Leila C. Lowell Award for staff and graduate student awards鈥攚ere added, continuing a proud tradition of celebrating the remarkable people who shape U海角社区 Engineering.

Contact: Christopher Karlen, christopher.karlen@maine.edu

With a student team, Abedi recently completed building 海角社区鈥檚 first CubeSat, MESAT1, to be launched to polar orbit in 2023. The miniaturized research satellite, funded by NASA and the 海角社区 Space Grant Consortium, will circle Earth for 12 years, providing 海角社区 K鈥�12 and college students, educators and small businesses with access to space data from a ground station in Orono.聽

His biomedical research has contributed to two patents for a system and method for early detection of mild traumatic brain injury, co-invented with U海角社区 professor of psychology Marie Hayes. The biomedical device is designed to help patients 鈥� from veterans and the elderly to athletes 鈥� with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, traumatic brain injury and mild cognitive impairment due to aging.聽

Abedi and his research teams also have developed and tested wireless sensing instrumentation for air leak detection in NASA鈥檚 first inflatable lunar habitat, sited at U海角社区. That source localization using acoustic wireless sensor networks resulted in a product that was launched to the International Space Station in 2016. The technology, successfully operated for several months on the space station, was the first product to be launched into space and to use AI and signal processing for air leak detection, localization and signature recognition.聽

In addition to his wireless sensor research for enabling deep-space missions, Abedi鈥檚 cutting-edge technology research and development has implications for environmental monitoring, including the use of artificial intelligence to provide a cost-effective, energy-efficient tool to monitor and manage 海角社区鈥檚 forests.

Abedi is co-founder of two startup companies: Activas-Diagnostics and Nawindor. His extensive publication record includes six books. He is the co-founder of IEEE International Conference on Wireless for Space and Extreme Environments and serves as vice president of the IEEE Council on Radio Frequency Identification.