Materials Engineering News

AUSome Science in 60 Seconds overall graduate winner Md Mijanur Rahman, left, and undergraduate winner Cade May.

Students' awesome research ideas celebrated at college's third AUSome Science in 60 Seconds

Joe McAdory | 11/03/25

Presented by the Council of Engineering Graduate Students, AUSome Science in 60 Seconds tasked students to create videos and explain their projects in one minute or less.

The Grand Engineering Challenges event, held in the Brown-Kopel Center Grand Hall, is organized by the college’s Office of Recruitment, Outreach and Scholarships, and it draws hundreds of students to campus each year.

Auburn’s Grand Engineering Challenges combines fun and learning for K-6th grade students

Austin Phillips | 10/15/25

Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering hosted more than 220 K-6th grade students Tuesday, Oct. 14, as part of its Grand Engineering Challenges event.

Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering honored faculty and staff, including Tyler Patterson (pictured), senior application systems analyst in the Office of Engineering Communications and Marketing.

Faculty, staff recognized at Engineering Research Awards banquet

Joe McAdory | 09/12/25

The awards recognize outstanding contributions that exemplify innovation, collaboration and real-world impact

NSF funds Auburn materials engineering research into combining light and matter

Jeremy D Henderson | 08/25/25

The National Science Foundation’s Division of Materials Research (DMR) has awarded Siyuan Dai, associate professor and Ginn Faculty Achievement Fellow in the Department of Materials Engineering, a $600,000 grant to explore ways of fusing light and matter that are literally opening new dimensions in nano-optics.

Zihe Gao, left, and Pengyu Chen are pioneering quantum imaging techniques to reveal hidden molecular details on exosomes—tiny cellular messengers—advancing cancer detection and earning national recognition in the NIH Quantum Sensing Technology Challenge.

Auburn Engineering researchers advance to Stage 2 of NIH/NCATS Quantum Sensing Technology Challenge

Joe McAdory | 08/18/25

Zihe Gao and Pengyu Chen created a cutting-edge imaging method for cancer detection that advanced to Stage 2 of the NIH/NCATS Quantum Sensing Technology Challenge.

#GINNing Podcast: All We Do Is Chen

Jeremy D Henderson | 08/15/25

In the field of rapid immunodiagnostics, one name lights up the sensors more than any other — Pengyu Chen.

The Ginn Family, including (L-R) Matt, Ann, Sam, Samantha and Mike — made the largest single commitment to scholarships in Auburn University history.

Auburn University Samuel Ginn College of Engineering’s namesake and family commit $30 million to scholarships

Austin Phillips | 07/30/25

The namesake of Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and the Ginn Family Foundation has committed $30 million to the college to establish a new scholarship program, marking the largest single commitment to scholarships in Auburn University history.

NSF highlights Auburn’s leading research in biomedical sensor technology

Jeremy D Henderson | 07/24/25

The NSF's confidence in Pengyu Chen's transformative research into rapid immunodiagnostics was well-placed.

The flying car designed and developed by Alef Aeronautics.

Auburn mechanical engineering doctoral student spending summer developing flying cars

Jeremy D Henderson | 07/08/25

They promised us flying cars. Ehsan Vaghefi is trying to hold them to it.

AUSME compiles publicly available research data — including faculty publication records, citation metrics, co-author networks and academic backgrounds — into interactive, easy-to-navigate profiles.

College launches novel internet tool designed to foster research collaboration across multiple disciplines

Joe McAdory | 07/03/25

AUSME is a searchable, artificial intelligence-powered tool that transforms how researchers discover one another, form collaborations and pursue complex, cross-disciplinary challenges.

Graduate School dean named as chair of Department of Mechanical Engineering

Jeremy D Henderson | 06/30/25

George Flowers has been named as the new chair of Auburn University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, according to an announcement by Mario Eden, dean of engineering.

Graduate Engineering Research Showcase winner Tori Phillips, left, with Maria Auad, the college's associate dean for graduate studies and faculty development.

Chemical engineering student wins Graduate Engineering Research Showcase with study on hydraulic redistribution

Joe McAdory | 04/08/25

More than 150 students participated in the 12th Graduate Engineering Research Showcase, held April 3 in the Brown-Kopel Center.

Auburn Engineering’s graduate programs were ranked No. 6 overall in the Southeastern Conference and, once again, No. 1 in the state.

Auburn Engineering graduate programs earn high marks in recent U.S. News and World Report rankings

Joe McAdory | 04/08/25

U.S. News and World Report, which ranks graduate programs nationally each spring, designated Auburn Engineering No. 33 among public institutions when its annual list was released Tuesday, April 8.

#GINNing Podcast: @KrazyKlementine

Jeremy D Henderson | 04/03/25

This double-degreed Auburn engineering apostle extraordinaire is supporting the team and living the dream.

New Engineering Global Programs opportunity takes students to New Zealand

Dustin Duncan | 02/17/25

A new study abroad program through Engineering Global Programs will take Auburn Engineering students to the South Pacific, immersing them in the environmental landscapes of New Zealand.

Jonathan Pettus has been named executive director of the Auburn University Applied Research Institute. [Credit: UAH]

Pettus named executive director of Auburn University Applied Research Institute in Huntsville

Jeremy D Henderson | 01/28/25

Auburn University’s Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development has hired Jonathan Pettus as executive director of the Auburn University Applied Research Institute (AUARI) in Huntsville, effective February 1.

#GINNing Podcast: The Right Material

Jeremy D Henderson | 01/24/25

From the woods of Columbiana to the Costa da Caparica, junior Anna Carter is living the dream, Birdsonging her away around this great material world of ours one extra engineering mile at a time.

The new rankings mark five consecutive years in the Top 20 and nine consecutive years in the Top 25.

Auburn Engineering ranks No. 20 in U.S. News online graduate program rankings, online computer science program moves up 10 spots

Karen Hunley | 01/21/25

The new rankings mark five consecutive years in the Top 20 and nine consecutive years in the Top 25.

Yeonjin Baek poses in front of a display of "Flower Power," which won the grand prize in JEOL'S 2023 SEM Image Contest.

Auburn materials engineering students have MXene research down to a fine art

Jeremy D Henderson | 01/10/25

At this rate, Auburn may need to open its own "NanoArt" museum. Because the Department of Materials Engineering just keeps churning out masterpieces.

#GINNing Podcast: Mr. Materials

Jeremy Henderson | 12/20/24

He may work inside Wilmore Laboratories , but materials engineering program chair Bart Prorok does his thinking outside the box.

Ruha Tacey, a 2012 Auburn chemical engineering graduate who has gone viral on social media as a STEM advocating influencer, served as the keynote speaker for this year's MADE@AU event.

Auburn MADE event prepares students for an engineering experience

Austin Phillips | 12/06/24

Auburn MADE event prepares students for an engineering experience

Materials engineering program chair honored for wide-ranging work in experimental mechanics

Jeremy D Henderson | 11/14/24

Much of Bart Prorok's work in experimental mechanics is focused on micro and nanoscale mechanisms. But there's nothing small about his most recent achievement in the field.

Auburn Engineering has now increased its annual new research awards and contracts by more than 300% since 2018, when the college brought in $29 million.

Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering has set a college record for new research awards and contracts for a fiscal year, closing FY24 with $117.7 million.

Austin Phillips | 11/11/24

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering has set a college record for new research awards and contracts for a fiscal year, closing FY24 with $117.7 million.

Materials engineering doctoral student wins prestigious award for advancing PepsiCo climate goals

Jeremy Henderson | 10/18/24

Following his second Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps fellowship in as many years, Yaqub Adediji, a doctoral student in materials engineering, has been awarded the organization's 2024 Climate Corps Fellow Collaboration Award for helping PepsiCo achieve its ambitious climate goals.