News and Updates

Innocvative Research

Engineering Power Through innovative research and service to the scientific community, Plamen Atanassov is fueling a renaissance in biosensors, enzymatic fuel cells, and implantable devices that one day may be powered by the sugar in your bloodstream. Read More (PDF). Mixing the Micro In a burst of inspiration, Mitko Petsev invents an easy way to mix or separate fluids in microscopic channels. Read More (PDF).

Centered on Success
CBME fosters biomedical engineering research and education at UNM. Read More (PDF).

The Nano Architect
Jeff Brinker’s elegant insight into molecular self-assembly is laying the foundation for a world or technological innovation. Read More (PDF).

Microengineering for the Macroworld
Abhaya Datye, director of UNM’s Center for Micro-Engineered Materials, has been a driving force towards understanding heterogeneous catalysts at the atomic level. Read More (PDF).

(Em)powering the Next Generation
UNM fosters new space power research – and empowers future engineers. Read More (PDF).

Powering the Future
UNM research improves fuel cell technology. Read More (PDF).

Big Ideas on a Small Scale
UNM chemical and nuclear engineers help develop unique microfluidic devices. Read More (PDF).

Julia Fulghum Appointed as Interim Vice President of Research

4-17-08 -- UNM President David J. Schmidly has appointed Julia E. Fulghum as the interim vice president for Research. Fulghum currently serves as the chair of the UNM Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Department. "Julia has proven herself to be a great asset to the University of New Mexico as an outstanding professor and administrator," said Schmidly. "I think she will serve the campus well in this role and I look forward to working with her as we continue to improve the research programs and services at UNM."

Fulghum says she looks forward to serving in the interim position and has the immediate priority to work with colleagues across campus to facilitate all aspects of on-campus research and also to extend collaboration with UNM’s external partners.

An acting chair will be appointed for the Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Department; however Fulghum said she plans to remain involved in departmental activities and to return to the department when the current search for a permanent vice president for Research is complete.

Fulghum joined the Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Department in 2002, coming in as department chair. She had previously been a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Kent State University.

Her research interests include materials characterization with an emphasis on multi-technique correlation and multivariate analysis for non-destructive evaluation of heterogeneous samples using XPS,TOF-SIM, AFM, FTIR, and Confocal microscopy.

Fulghum received her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry in 1987 from the University of North Carolina.

El-Genk Appointed Fellow of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety

4-9-08 -- UNM Regents’ Professor of Chemical, Nuclear and Mechanical Engineering Mohamed S. El-Genk has been elected fellow of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety. El-Genk is also the founding director of the Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies at UNM. El-Genk serves on the IAASS Academic Committee to develop international education and training programs in collaboration with other universities in the United States and internationally in the areas of space power and propulsion technologies and the advancement of space safety. IAASS is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering international cooperation and scientific advancement in the field of space systems safety and is a member of the International Astronautical Federation.

Space Conference Celebrates 25 Years
Space Technology & Applications International Forum meets February 10-14, 2008

2/12/08 -- They’ve dreamed about space exploration since they were kids. Now many of them sport grey hair. Still dreaming about space, the men and women who do serious space research for private companies and the federal government come every winter to Albuquerque to talk about what’s new, what’s hot, who’s got research money, and how they can get involved in the most interesting projects. They’ve made the pilgrimage for the past 25 years because the UNM School of Engineering’s Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies puts on a conference that encourages the disparate groups involved in international space efforts to sit down, talk and think about the huge technical challenges facing the human race as it prepares to move beyond the planet Earth.

It is neutral ground for the companies and agencies that compete for the increasingly scarce research money for space projects, a chance to catch up with the latest thinking in the field, and the newest projects. This year more than 500 people are in Albuquerque to spend most of the week talking about space.

The topics range from complex presentations on thermal control in spacecraft through ways to make a business case for generating electricity from solar power on the moon. The scientists examine the latest proposals for operating systems on space vehicles and discuss how to build sustainable living modules on the moon. For the adventuresome, a series of discussions called “Other Concepts and Theories” will feature presentations about the theory of faster than light space travel or the idea of space travel via black holes.

One part of the conference features a space design competition for middle school and high school students. The class project winners this year came from the 6th grade at Madison Middle School in Albuquerque. Individual winners are Shannon Archuleta from Eisenhower Middle School and Sam Pedrattin from Albuquerque High School. The conference is held February 10-14, 2008 at the Hotel Albuquerque. More information is available at http://www.unm.edu/~isnps/staifhome.html.