Sep. 30, 2022

150 Years of Leadership: Joe Hoffmann

Call it fate, happenstance, coincidence or destiny, Joe Hoffmann, BS ME ’13, knows he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be. As General Manager at Hoffmann Brothers in St. Louis, he oversees operations of five divisions: residential and commercial heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical and appliance. Since he started in 2016, he’s helped grow company revenue from $10 million to $80 million. That’s a 30% increase year-over-year. “Every year as we’re budgeting, we say ‘There’s no way we can do it again,’” said Hoffmann, the youngest son of founder Robert Hoffmann. “But we build a budget from the ground up,…

Sep. 29, 2022

Robotic dogs, battle bots, AI: MU Robotics Club offers something for everyone

Students build battle bots at the weekly Robotics Lab. Interested in learning how to operate Spot the robot or how autonomous vacuums navigate their environments? Curious about artificial intelligence? Just want to see some robots fight? No matter your major or skill level, there’s a place for you within MU Robotics. MU Robotics is an umbrella organization that brings together all-things robotics at the University of Missouri. While that’s mainly a subject reserved for Mizzou Engineering students and hosted by the Department of Engineering and Information Technology, the group is open to anyone on campus, said Cameron Ellis, president…

Sep. 27, 2022

In pursuit of better lithium-ion batteries

MU researchers Matthias J. Young (left) and Xiaoqing He are using a $500,000 grant from NSF to explore a key technical challenge preventing lithium-ion batteries from achieving optimal energy performance. By Eric Stann  |  MU News Bureau From personal electronics to electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries are used in many technologies today. Over the last 30 years, scientists have worked to improve the overall safety and performance of these batteries by converting a key component, called electrolytes, from liquid to solid — partly due to an issue of the liquid being flammable. Yet, while solid-state lithium-ion batteries — using solid electrolytes…

Sep. 21, 2022

Mizzou Engineer using machine learning to solve space debris problem

Companies are launching satellites into orbit at a dizzying pace with no plans to clean them up once they’ve completed their missions. That means dead satellites are floating in space with no one controlling them, leaving them vulnerable to collisions. “Space is becoming more and more crowded,” said Ming Xin, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, “and solutions are becoming more and more urgent.” While studies are underway on best practices to remove space debris, right now there’s no good method to know exactly what’s out there. That’s because once a satellite is no longer in use, it…

Sep. 15, 2022

UM Curators name Hongbin ‘Bill’ Ma Curators’ Distinguished Professor

Hongbin “Bill” Ma Mizzou Engineering’s Hongbin “Bill” Ma has been named a Curators’ Distinguished Professor, the highest honor bestowed by the University of Missouri System. “I’m so honored,” Ma said. “This is certainly a highlight of my career at Mizzou, and I appreciate my colleagues and students who have supported me and my work from Day One.” Ma is Chair and Glen A. Barton Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Over his career, he has made profound contributions in the field of heat transfer in both fundamental understanding and engineering applications, specially through research of…

Sep. 14, 2022

150 Years of Leadership: Steve Pelch

Many successful companies in today’s economy depend not only on outstanding service and best-in-class technology, but also rely upon creativity, unique business models and go-to market strategies, pervasive marketing outreach, authenticity or a global perspective that embraces aspects of both science and art. Steve Pelch, BS ME ’87, understands this. That’s why billion-dollar companies hire him to help them navigate ever-evolving industries. Pelch is owner of SJP Value Creation, a boutique advisory firm where he assists CEOs and C-suite executives on strategy, leadership, talent management, operations and acquisitions. His clients range from a $15 million privately held specialty chemical…

Sep. 13, 2022

Mizzou Engineering student explores passion for music with professional drum corps and Marching Mizzou

Ryan Deloney spent his summer touring with the World-Champion Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps before returning to continue his mechanical engineering degree and play trumpet with Marching Mizzou this fall.

Sep. 11, 2022

Mizzou Engineering welcomes 14 new faculty members

Mizzou Engineering welcomed 14 new faculty members, including 11 tenure-track faculty who bring expertise in areas such as pollution remediation, manufacturing and computational material science. “We’re excited to bring in this group of educators and researchers who will make tremendous contributions to the College,” Dean Noah Manring said. “Students will, no doubt, benefit greatly from their teaching and research expertise.” Joining Mizzou Engineering are: Melissa Collins will serve as First Year Engineering coordinator and an assistant teaching professor in biomedical, biological and chemical engineering. Collins has a PhD from Texas A&M University and a bachelor’s from the University…

Sep. 7, 2022

Mizzou Space Program is reaching for the stars, looking to the future

The Mizzou Space Program’s performance has been out of this world, and the team is aiming even higher this academic year. MSP recently attended two competitions, including the Argonia Cup in April, where they placed 6th. MSP placed 14th in their category of 47 teams and 24th overall at the Spaceport America Cup in June.

Aug. 30, 2022

Sanders Internship at Black & Veatch Provides Invaluable Experience

Internships open students' eyes to employment possibilities post-graduation. Luke Sanders, a junior in mechanical and aerospace engineering, conducted a summer internship with Black & Veatch.