Building for creative problem-solving

“I started building things as soon as I could. As a kid, I built a go-cart that was wide enough to support a mast, and I got my mom to sew some sheets together. I went so fast down the street that I got pulled over by the police. I just like to create stuff. If I’m building something I seem to be happy. ”

Cliff Gulyash has been building things for as long as he can remember and has used his skills as an instrument maker, serving MechSE’s research scientists for the past 11 years in the Mechanical Engineering Lab.

Gulyash was recently honored with the Chancellor’s Distinguished Staff Award, which annually recognizes a handful of staff across campus for their exceptional accomplishments and service to the university. He was nominated by his supervisor, Keith Parrish, who won the award in 2010 and considers Gulyash to be a campus expert in electrical discharge machining (EDM).

As an instrument maker, Gulyash is tasked with building scientific research instrumentation. To help one researcher, for example, he was able to figure out how to get a precision hole in tungsten, and more importantly, how to duplicate and repeat it.

“We are constantly challenged with solving problems and coming up with ideas. The people who come to us have an idea in their head but they don’t know the best, fastest, cheapest way to make it. So they lean on us heavily to solve those problems. So far it has always worked. I’ve always been able to figure out a way to get something done,” said Gulyash.

After attending an apprenticeship program at the Superior Welding Company in Decatur, Gulyash began working on campus 22 years ago in the Materials Research Lab, before moving to MEL. Much has changed with the work and his customers over 22 years, but Gulyash has remained dedicated to creative problem-solving.

“I’ve just made mistake and discovery, and mistake and discovery, over and over. As long as I can find an answer, that’s the biggest part of making mistakes. When something goes wrong, there’s a reason for it, and I’ve got to figure it out so I don’t do it again. And in that process you get pretty good at it. It’s a challenge for all of us here, to do it right the first time and to do it well. But it’s great to work with people who not only have great ideas but are willing to listen to other people’s ideas. We help each other, we support each other,” explained Gulyash.

Outside of MEL, he enjoys oil painting, including landscapes, portraits, and “anything that is pleasing.” He explains his home life as an extension of his work, using his skills for the last 30 years to remodel the 100-year-old home he shares with his wife Leigha.

Gulyash will be honored at a banquet on April 10, where all the winners will receive a trophy, photo with Chancellor Phyllis Wise, a compilation of their nomination and support letters, and $2,000.