- University News Archive - ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock /news-archive/tag/national-engineers-week/ ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock Thu, 24 Feb 2022 14:52:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 National Engineers Week: Professor Ashokkumar Sharma /news-archive/2022/02/24/ashokkumar-sharma/ Thu, 24 Feb 2022 14:52:45 +0000 /news/?p=81079 ... National Engineers Week: Professor Ashokkumar Sharma]]>

Dr. Ashokkumar Sharma, Assistant Professor in the in the Department of Engineering Technology

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Dr. Ashokkumar Sharma is an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Technology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock since 2016. He obtained his Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering from Oklahoma State University and has a M.S. and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from India. He has over 20 years of broad experience including teaching, research, and industry. He has been extensively involved in renewable energy R&D (Bioenergy, Biofuels, and Bioproducts). He led several bioenergy projects and has over 20 peer-reviewed research publications, 41 scientific conference presentations, and has developed one invention disclosure. He is a member of several professional organizations (ASME, AAS, AEE). Prior to ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock, Dr. Sharma served as a postdoctoral associate, research engineer, manager, engineering faculty, research associate, production engineer, and site engineer. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, playing with kids, gardening, and music. Why do you think ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock would be a good fit for future engineering students? ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock is a metropolitan university, and it offers several attractive, cost-effective, competitive, and career-ready engineering and engineering technology programs. We have well-qualified, experienced, and caring faculty and support staff along with good laboratory facilities to offer engaging, student-oriented, and diverse academic experiences to both traditional and non-traditional engineering students at all levels (B.S., M.S., and Ph.D.). The ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock Signature Experience Award program has been instrumental in providing research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students. I have personally mentored over 20 undergraduate and graduate students supported by the Signature Experience Program. Besides, students get exposure to a diverse culture and various benefits including student support services, sports, campus housing, and service-learning at ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock campus. What do you like most about the field? The engineering field has been rewarding and one of the highest-paying careers. It involves creativity, innovation, research, and hands-on learning that resulted in many startup companies and big businesses today. Engineering provides solutions to real-world technical problems, and engineers are the main contributors to today’s rapid technological advancements benefiting science and society. What made you want to pursue a career in engineering? Many factors such as a rewarding career, pride, intellectual development, well-paid profession, wide job market, and personal satisfaction were the deciding factors why I pursued a career in engineering. Further, I always enjoyed building things and have the ambition to build something beneficial to the people, science, and the planet. What is your most memorable experience from the engineering field? The broad spectrum of engineering coursework along with hands-on lab experiences during my B.S. program really prepared me well to meet various technical requirements of a professional career. At the beginning of my engineering job, it was fascinating to manage real-world engineering tasks (e.g., manufacturing, design, drafting, fabrication, work management, etc.). Further, my industrial experiences after the B.S. program helped me reinforce a deep understanding of engineering fundamentals and have long-lasting learning. Do you have any advice for prospective students who want to major in the field? Consider your best interests or who you want to be and accordingly decide your engineering major. Your family members or people who inspire you could be a good help in this matter. Keep your ambition high and set clear academic goals and standards. The engineering study requires dedicated and consistent efforts, so practice time management and learn to balance your study, family, and work life. Revise all basic skills (e.g., Math and Science basics, computer skills, problem-solving, etc.) to excel in your engineering education. Notably, we always review basic skills in the First-Year Experience engineering course at ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock to provide the best learning supports to our freshmen students.]]> National Engineers Week: John Short /news-archive/2022/02/23/national-engineers-week-john-short/ Wed, 23 Feb 2022 14:15:46 +0000 /news/?p=81069 ... National Engineers Week: John Short]]>

John Short, Civil and Construction Engineering student

Tell us a little bit about yourself. I will be a senior in the fall of 2022. I am very excited about graduating. I am from the Central Arkansas area. I have enjoyed my time and the material that I am learning. My hobbies include being an avid archer and whitetail hunter. I like to fish, and in my spare time, I like to do carpentry (building custom furniture). What made you choose ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock? I received my first degree at ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock. I was a primary education teacher for about seven years, then decided to change careers. I returned to ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock because of location. I trusted that I would be given the opportunities to learn at a high level as well as possibly make connections with professionals in the local area. Erin Flowers was my first advisor I spoke with coming in to the program, and she did a very good job selling it to me as well. What interests you the most about the engineering field? I chose engineering from my interests and proficiencies in both math and physics. Also, I have enjoyed working on some small structures on my own time and thought that being on the design side of structures would be enjoyable work. I was able to determine this with the help from my very supportive wife. What opportunities have you gotten through ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock’s Engineering program that you might not have gotten otherwise? I was able to make a connection with the company Afco Steel at one of the virtual career fairs. I did a summer internship with them last year. It was a great opportunity and experience that might not have happened had I not attended ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock. What engineering course has been the most challenging/rewarding for you?  I believe statics then mechanics were equally challenging and rewarding for me. They were my first exposure to the introduction of how engineering courses will proceed for the remainder of my time in the program. The knowledge I gained from those courses has been used in other courses including some that I am currently enrolled in. What do you plan to do after graduation? Begin working as a civil engineer and gain the time/experience I need in order to get my PE. My goal is to be a working Professional Engineer as soon as possible. Do you have any advice for prospective students who want to major in the field? Try not to overthink the concepts that you learn. Sometimes they are more straight forward and simple than you might think. Stay off of the website aid (CHEGG) unless you need help. Even if you need help, use your instructors and peers. I am thankful for my peers and have made close friends in the process. My friends, Andrew Brown and Sam Swindle, have helped me when I get stuck, and I like to think that I have helped them as well. They also offer support in more ways than just school work. Learn the material as it is being taught to you. And most importantly, practice! Each of the engineering textbooks that have been assigned offer several opportunities to practice on your own. Instructors will use these as homework but there are plenty of problems in the books to get enough practice to learn and feel confident. The information learned in this program can be complex, however, I would say that it is quite rewarding.]]> ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock Celebrates National Engineers Week /news-archive/2022/02/21/national-engineers-week/ Mon, 21 Feb 2022 21:14:58 +0000 /news/?p=81056 ... ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock Celebrates National Engineers Week]]>

David Luneau, Professor in the Engineering Technology Department

Tell us a little bit about yourself. I have taught at ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock for 31 years. Prior to that, I was an engineer at AT&T in Little Rock at their computer manufacturing facility for five years. I spent my first five years after college working at the Johnson Space Center in the Space Shuttle program as a flight controller in the Mission Control Center. I grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and have electrical engineering degrees from Rice University and Georgia Tech. I grew up playing baseball and played as an adult as well. At age 35, I took up tennis and still enjoy playing regularly. I enjoy birding, and I have been involved in the documentation of the continued existence of the once presumed-extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker. For 28 years, I have been involved in SOLAR SPLASH, an international, intercollegiate solar/electric boat competition. I am currently president of the non-profit corporation that organizes the event annually. I have been married for 41 years. My wife, Terri, and I live in North Little Rock and attend Lakewood United Methodist Church. Why do you think ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock would be a good fit for future engineering students? The engineering technology department has been part of ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ Little Rock for almost 50 years. Our graduates have contributed to the economy of Arkansas in a big way. Graduates from our programs find good-paying jobs both here in Arkansas as well as all around the U.S. What do you like most about the field? I enjoy solving problems, which is the crux of the engineering experience. What made you want to pursue a career in engineering?
Professor David Luneau

Professor David Luneau

I have to confess that the summer before my senior year in high school I did not know what engineering was. My father, who worked most of his career for Arkansas Power and Light (now Entergy), asked me if I had considered majoring in engineering. I knew that I liked math and science, but I had not thought much about a career. I looked into engineering, and it seemed like a good fit. I started college wanting to be a chemical engineer, but quickly discovered that I liked the electrical parts of physics class much more than I liked chemistry, so I switched majors. What is your most memorable experience from the engineering field? One memorable experience during the search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker was when a biologist asked me if I could design him a wireless camera system to use for inspecting woodpecker cavities. He had dropped his very expensive camera in 10’ of water and was in dire need of an affordable replacement. I took up the challenge, and modified a baby monitor system that met his needs. The camera system evolved over the next few years. For the past 10 years, I have been making and selling wireless camera systems to field biologists, mostly for woodpecker research. Do you have any advice for prospective students who want to major in the field? If you enjoy problem-solving on a regular basis and aren’t afraid of a little math, you just might be a good fit for a career in engineering technology.]]>