MechSE Profs Receive COE Awards

7/3/2012 By Anna Flanagan

Three MechSE professors--Dimitri Kyritsis, Michael Philpott and Andreas Polycarpou--have been honored by the College of Engineering for achievements in teaching and research.

Written by By Anna Flanagan

Three MechSE professors--Dimitri Kyritsis, Michael Philpott and Andreas Polycarpou--have been honored by the College of Engineering for achievements in teaching and research.

Assistant Professor Dimitri Kyritsis has received the 2007 Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence, chosen by the student Engineering Council Awards Committee. The annual award, named in memory of Dean Emeritus William L. Everitt, recognizes outstanding undergraduate teaching, and is one of the most coveted awards available to faculty in the College of Engineering. Professor Kyritsis teaches undergraduate classes in thermodynamics and gas dynamics.

Associate Professor Michael Philpott has received the 2007 BP Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Instruction, which recognizes innovative teaching methods and instructional programs that motivate students to learn and appreciate engineering. Professor Philpott combined cutting-edge software and technology with the use of project-based instruction to turn a freshman-level required class in design into a true exercise in real-world engineering. Because of his efforts, the University of Illinois was the first to provide first-year engineering students with experience in solid modeling and rapid prototyping.

Associate Professor and Kritzer Faculty Scholar Andreas Polycarpou has received a 2007 Xerox Award for Faculty Research in recognition of outstanding research accomplishments over the last five years. Professor Polycarpou is internationally renowned in the field of tribology, working at a variety of size scales with particular emphasis on micro- and nanoscale phenomena. Much of his work focuses on magnetic storage devices, but he also works with compressors, microsystems and engineering surfaces in general.


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This story was published July 3, 2012.