Graduate Student of the Month
The Carl R. Ice College of Engineering recognizes one outstanding graduate student from each department during the academic year. This program was established to enhance graduate student recognition and development. Students are nominated each month by their department heads.
January 2024 recognitions
Ober’s research focuses on structural sustainability, specifically examining case studies of buildings that have completed the Living Building Challenge through a structural sustainability lens. Ober is from Alden, Kansas, and her hobbies include Legos, line dancing and karaoke. Her favorite food item is a warm brownie with ice cream, and her top bucket list item is to visit Italy.
Singh’s research focuses on intelligent crop protection through liquid application technologies, specifically emphasizing variable rate application and pulse-width modulation systems. Singh is from Punjab, India, and his hobbies include cricket, volleyball and soccer. His favorite food is butter chicken, and his top bucket list item is to see the Northern Lights.
Ebrahimi’s research focuses on distributed estimation and control of complex process networks, multiscale computational modeling and cyber physical systems. Ebrahimi is from Iran, and his hobbies include going to the gym and playing video games. His favorite foods are kebab and gheimeh, and his top bucket list items are to improve the efficiency of a real-life plant facility and improve his bodybuilding skills.
Akter’s research focuses on shared-use mobility in transportation, specifically assessing the role of intelligent infrastructures by optimizing curb spaces for cities for freight transport and shared mobility services. Akter is from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and her hobbies include traveling, photography and reading. Her favorite foods are tehari and chotpoti, and her top bucket list items are to see the Northern Lights and visit the seven wonders of the world.
Saki Norouzi’s research focuses on natural language processing and explainable AI. She is working on the explainability of large language models by employing the concept induction method to interpret the behaviors of these models. Saki Norouzi is from Iran, and her hobbies include traveling, exploring and taking photos. Her favorite food is ground beef kabob, and her top bucket list item is go camping at Yellowstone National Park.
Liu’s research is centered on the development of electronic design automation tools aimed at assisting hardware developers. These tools are designed to detect design flaws, optimize the hardware design workflow and offer innovative solutions for enhancing traditional processes in the industry. Liu is from China, and his hobbies include video games, board games and snowboarding. His favorite foods are chocolate and Peking duck, and his top bucket list item is to write a blog.
Hussein’s research focuses on using ultrafast laser pulses for transparent materials welding and ceramic composite powder processing. Transparent materials like glass are welded by a femtosecond laser using innovative process parameters and conditions. Ceramic powders are mixed with absorbents to enhance laser absorption and reduce manufacturing defects. Hussein is from Iraq, and his hobbies include soccer and ping pong. His favorite foods are kebab and pizza, and his top bucket list item is to go mountaineering.
Giunta's research focuses on large-scale radiation survival analysis, specifically, designing an R library to perform large-scale regression for survival function models. Giunta is from Leawood, Kansas, and his favorite hobby is playing with his cat. His favorite food is Zuppa di Mare, and his top bucket list item is to learn to paint.