New Faculty and Campus Partnerships

Chad M. Walber joined the department as an associate teaching professor in fall 2023. He earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering, BS in Electrical Engineering, and MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech, and acquired industry experience as a technical support and R&D engineer for PCB Piezotronics.

Walber's specialty is testing and measurement of dynamic systems, noise and vibration, and acoustics. "I was very interested in the signal processing aspect of all of this from my electrical engineering classes, and really dug into it more when I started to work for PCB," he said. He helped develop new sensors and calibration methods for microphones and accelerometers at PCB, and is involved in calibration standards for both devices through the International Electrotechnical Commission. He also works with the Society of Experimental Mechanics' sensors and instrumentation technical committee.

His long-term goals include encouraging metrology discussions at Tech. "Part of almost every type of research that's done here has a measurement component, but sometimes we don't really think about how accurate our measurements really are, or if there might be a better way to measure the phenomena we look at," he said.

Short term, he is focused on student learning. "I'd like to get to know my students better and help them figure out how best they learn. I feel like when folks come to MTU, they don't realize that they can and should adapt their learning processes. The way a student learned things in high school may not be the best way for them to learn things going forward."

Shawn Brueshaber joined the MAE faculty in fall 2023 as an assistant professor. He earned his MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Western Michigan University and his BS in Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. He spent several years in industry, earning his master's degree while working full-time.

Brueshaber specializes in atmospheric planetary science, a research field that allows him to combine his interest in weather and planetary science with his formal education. His research at WMU focused on polar atmospheric dynamics of the gas giant planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

According to Brueshaber, atmospheric planetary science has more potential for practical problem-solving applications here on Earth than it might seem at first glance. "Because our understanding of weather and climate is a subset of fluid dynamics, and, in turn, is a huge area of physics that is still not fully understood, atmospheric planetary science provides another rich field of science that may eventually lead to a more complete understanding of fluid mechanics," he said.

Brueshaber is working toward developing a deeper understanding of how planetary atmospheres work by continuing his current research. He intends to develop a new course on the basics of planetary science for engineering students who wish to work in the space industry. He also wants to begin new research focusing on clouds and precipitation in the Keweenaw, and plans to set up a more comprehensive suite of meteorology instrumentation for the area.

Bhisham Sharma joined the department as an associate professor in fall 2023, coming from Wichita State University's Department of Aerospace Engineering. He earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pune in India, and his MS and PhD in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at Purdue University. He also spent a few years at Purdue as a postdoctoral research associate and visiting assistant professor.

Sharma's research involves solid mechanics, structural dynamics, acoustics, and advanced manufacturing. "At one end of the spectrum, I seek to understand fundamental mechanics and acoustics of novel engineered material systems such as acoustic metamaterials, phononic structures, architected lattice structures, and stochastic foams," he said. "At the other end, I focus on developing advanced manufacturing methods that can enable such structures." He translates his findings into the creation of "performance-tailored solutions to critical engineering problems across various industries."

"My work is inherently interdisciplinary, encouraging me to delve into physics, mathematics, and manufacturing," said Sharma. "This continuous opportunity to acquire new knowledge fuels my passion and excitement for this field. I am motivated by the prospect of pushing the boundaries of what is possible."

Tech's reputation for exceptional academics and interdisciplinary research drew Sharma to the University. He also noted the department's outstanding academic program and strong emphasis on equipping students with real-world experiences as significant factors in his decision. "As a faculty member, my own teaching philosophy and vision perfectly align with the department's approach as we bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical engineering applications."