Psota, team receive 2019 Omtvedt Innovation Award
Eric Psota, research assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, is part of the NUTrack Livestock Monitoring Team team that was chosen to receive IANR’s 2019 Omtvedt Innovation Award for Team. The award, which recognizes innovative faculty members or a team led by faculty that has demonstrated exceptional abilities and innovation in the areas of teaching, research or extension education, provides $5,000 for the team and plaques for each individual member of the team. The team, which also includes Ty Schmidt and Benny Mote from animal science, has been working together for more than four years using new computer technologies to monitor livestock, particularly swine, to improve the health of those animals.
Paper by Cui, Lu among most-cited in Journal of American Ceramic Society
A paper co-authored by Bai Cui, assistant professor of mechanical and materials engineering, and Yongfeng Lu, professor of electrical and computer engineering, is among the most-cited papers published in Journal of the American Ceramic Society. The paper is titled “(Hf0.2Zr0.2Ta0.2Nb0.2Ti0.2)C high-entropy ceramics with low thermal conductivity,” and was one of the first reports of high-entropy ceramics, a new ceramic material that has become an attractive material due to their high structural stability, unique physical properties, and potential applications in ultra-high temperature environments in aerospace and nuclear applications. For 102 years, the Journal of the American Ceramic Society has been a leading source for top-quality basic science research and modeling spanning the diverse field of ceramic and glass materials science.
Sutters' research highlighted on Office of Science website
The Department of Energy Office of Science recently published a highlight – “Wrapped, Layered Semiconductors Catch the Light” – about the research of Eli Sutter, professor of mechanical and materials engineering, and Peter Sutter, professor of electrical and computer engineering. The researchers used a simple and efficient new method to spontaneously form high-quality semiconductor layers with a core-shell structure. The simple process means these new heterostructures could be relatively easy to produce. The structures absorb light using their core, shell, and the interfaces between the components. This translates into enhanced light harvesting. The heterostructures are promising for applications using the sun to accelerate chemical reactions. For example, they could have a role in electricity and fuel production.
Sutters' research highlighted on Office of Science website
The Department of Energy Office of Science recently published a highlight – “Wrapped, Layered Semiconductors Catch the Light” – about the research of Eli Sutter, professor of mechanical and materials engineering, and Peter Sutter, professor of electrical and computer engineering. The researchers used a simple and efficient new method to spontaneously form high-quality semiconductor layers with a core-shell structure. The simple process means these new heterostructures could be relatively easy to produce. The structures absorb light using their core, shell, and the interfaces between the components. This translates into enhanced light harvesting. The heterostructures are promising for applications using the sun to accelerate chemical reactions. For example, they could have a role in electricity and fuel production.
Parents Association honors 28 engineering faculty, staff
At the annual Parents Recognition Awards Reception on March 6, 28 faculty and staff from the College of Engineering received a Certificate of Recognition for Contribution to Students from the UNL Parents Association.
Four electrical engineering students awarded IEEE PES scholarships
Four Nebraska Electrical Engineering students - seniors Jackson Cutsor, Jacob Eckstrom and Alexander Meier, and junior Megan Stokey - have been chosen as IEEE Power & Energy Society Scholars for 2017-18. Eckstrom and Meier earned the PES scholarship for the third straight year. Cutsor also received the PES scholarship in 2016-17. The Nebraska honorees, who will receive up to $3,000 for the current academic year, were among the 230 chosen from American and Canadian universities from 548 applicants.
Wiseman chosen Nebraska male student-athlete of the year

Drew Wiseman (left), an electrical and computer engineering major and first-team All-America sprinter/hurdler, was chosen Nebraska's 2016-17 Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Wiseman received his award at the annual athletics awards banquet on Sunday, April 9 at the Lied Center along with triple jumper Tierra Williams (right), who was honored as the Female Student-Athlete of the Year. Wiseman, an Academic All-American, earned the penultimate NCAA Elite 89 Award for having the top grade-point average among athletes competing at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships.
Five ECE students named PES Scholars
Five UNL Electrical Engineering students have been chosen as IEEE Power & Energy Society Scholars for 2016-17 -- seniors Bradley Naughton and Drew Wiseman and juniors Jackson Cutsor, Jacob Eckstrom and Alexander Meier. Wiseman, Eckstrom and Meier were also PES Scholars in 2015-16. The five honorees will receive up to $2,000 for the current academic year and were among the 230 chosen from American and Canadian universities from 529 applicants.
Nebraska Engineering faculty, post-doc earn NSRI research awards
At the National Strategic Research Institute's Researcher Recognition event on Nov. 2 in La Vista, two Nebraska Engineering faculty -- Dennis Alexander, professor of electrical and computer engineering; and Wallace Buchholz, research professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering -- were awarded NSRI Distinguished Scientist awards. Craig Zuhlke, a post-doctoral resarch assistant in electrical and computer engineering, received the NSRI Exceptional Post-Doctoral Research award.
Lu receives 2016 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor award

Yongfeng Lu, Lott Distinguished University Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, received the 2016 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award on Nov. 2 at the Fall 2016 Research Fair Postdoc Awards Luncheon at the Nebraska Union.