Clemson University forms new school as globe switches to electric vehicles

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January 23, 2023January 24, 2023

The South’s quickly increase as a leader in the constructing of electrical autos and the batteries to electrical power them is serving to push Clemson University’s determination to sort a new faculty that delivers alongside one another its mechanical and automotive engineers.

The new Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering puts the departments of mechanical engineering and automotive engineering under a single umbrella, far better positioning Clemson for innovation and education and learning in a amount of regions, such as mobility, vitality and superior producing, all cornerstones of the South Carolina financial state.

The founding director of the new college is Zoran Filipi. He was chair of the Section of Automotive Engineering for approximately 7 yrs ahead of vacating his seat to develop into founding director of the Digital Prototyping of Ground Devices (VIPR-GS) Centre, a placement he even now retains.

Filipi will be the top rated administrator in a strategically significant faculty, with most mechanical engineers situated largely on the key campus in Clemson and most automotive engineers at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Investigation (CU-ICAR) in Greenville.

The college, 1st permitted by the Board of Trustees in October 2021, is dwelling to 66 faculty members and has the premier enrollment in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, with about 780 undergraduates and 400 graduate learners.

Clemson College President Jim Clements said mechanical and automotive engineering at Clemson are entering a new period.

“The Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering will carry on to placement Clemson University as a national chief in teachers and exploration as very well as strengthen vital sector partnerships,” Clements reported. “The workforce of the long term is quickly modifying. Possibilities for learners to engage in experiential finding out and interdisciplinary study, along with college and industry’s want for innovation, entrepreneurship, and discovery will be essential to meeting the demands of South Carolina and outside of. Dr. Zoran Filipi, the school’s founding director, is an fantastic chief, and will use his experience and practical experience in major the college ahead.”

Bringing the mechanical and automotive engineering departments below 1 umbrella superior positions them for collaborative, superior-impact research.

Parts of skills in the new college incorporate autonomy, composite components, computational modeling and simulation, flow and turbulence, human-robotic teams, good supplies, units integration and motor vehicle electrification.

Atul Kelkar will carry on to serve as chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, a situation he has held given that 2018. Laine Mears, who took about for Filipi in January 2022, is the new chair of the Section of Automotive Engineering.

Angie Leidinger, senior vice president for external affairs and senior advisor to the Board of Trustees, reported the faculty will engage in a critical role in providing South Carolina with the engineering management it desires to proceed rising its economic system.

“The University of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering positions us for the upcoming as we associate with private companies and state and federal governmental entities to make field leaders and innovators of tomorrow,” she claimed. “The automobile field is heading by way of a sea modify, and the partnership involving these two departments will assist us satisfy evolving requires. I congratulate Dr. Filipi and appear ahead to doing the job with him in his new position.”

Congratulations for Filipi also came from Robert Jones, government vice president for academic affairs and provost, and Tony Wagner, govt vice president for finance and operations.

“The potential is in interdisciplinary investigation, and generating the College of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering is a strategically essential go for Clemson College and the College or university of Engineering, Computing and Utilized Sciences,” they wrote in a joint statement. “The new university will situation us for academic improvement, such as substantial-impression investigate and academic packages. We are fortuitous to have a gifted leadership workforce in location, together with founding director Zoran Filipi.”

Filipi commenced operate in Clemson’s automotive engineering office in 2012, serving as Timken Endowed Chair in Car or truck System Layout. As a researcher and educator, he has worked at the forefront of making the transition from the classic combustion motor to cars that run on close to-zero carbon fuels.

He is a main skilled in sophisticated motor principles and alternative powertrains, including electric powered and hydraulic hybrids.

Filipi in 2015 grew to become the next chair in the record of the Section of Automotive Engineering, pursuing its founding chair, Imtiaz Haque. Below Filipi’s management the automotive engineering division attained multi-fold growth in its exploration company and solidified its world-class track record for innovation in engineering education and excellence in analysis.

Filipi was instrumental in forming VIPR-GS, which is section of a exploration partnership aimed at creating progressive virtual prototyping applications to style the up coming generation of on- and off-road vehicles, with the U.S. governing administration committing up to $100 million.

He acquired his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Belgrade in 1992 and joined the College of Michigan in 1994.

Filipi is a Fellow of the American Culture of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Automotive Engineers. His honors incorporate the society’s Forest R. McFarland Award and The Establishment of Mechanical Engineer’s Donald Julius Groen Award.

Amongst all those throwing their guidance guiding the new college are Kelkar and Mears.

“I look forward to doing work with Zoran, Laine and the faculty management staff to start the faculty and make it one particular of the nation’s most effective-recognised and properly-revered producers of mechanical and automotive engineers,” Kelkar stated. “The significance of our get the job done can not be overstated. We are making leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs of the long term.”

Mears mentioned the school is effectively-positioned to construct on both of those departments’ former successes.

“The college provides a framework to leverage the departments’ complementary talents to obtain larger affect,” Mears reported. “I am energized to operate with Zoran, Atul and the university to present South Carolina with the engineering leadership it warrants.”

Anand Gramopadhye, dean of the Higher education of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, explained he available Filipi his wholehearted congratulations on his new function as the school’s director.

“The University of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering strengthens the college’s posture as we go after new investigation alternatives and supply pupils with impactful academic activities,” Gramopadhye claimed. The school will be in great hands with Zoran as director and Atul and Laine as department chairs.”