Dr. Sheng-Jen (“Tony”) Hsieh, professor in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution (ETID) at Texas A&M University, served as manufacturing division program chair for the 2014 American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) Conference in Indianapolis. In this role, he received 56 abstracts, recruited dozens of reviewers, coordinated the paper review process, scheduled presentations for the 28 accepted papers, and planned the division banquet. He also wrote a successful proposal to fund the division’s first Junior Faculty Travel Support award.
Hsieh also led two National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored summer programs — one for undergraduate students and one for teachers. The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program focused on mechatronics, robotics, and automated system design. The objectives were to help participants understand the research process, acquire laboratory skills, and be well positioned for graduate school and career success.
Program activities included joining a research group led by a faculty mentor, completion of a 10-week research project, and participation in weekly faculty seminars, field trips, and career development workshops. Undergraduate students from 10 different institutions participated.
Faculty mentors included Hsieh, Dr. Rainier Fink and Dr. Jyhwen Wang, both from ETID; Dr. Dezhen Song from computer science and engineering; Dr. Jun Zou from electrical and computer engineering; and Dr. Aaron Ames from mechanical engineering. At the end of the program, the students participated in the annual REU poster session sponsored by the University’s Honors and Undergraduate Research Office.