UCLA Engineering: UCLA Engineer Magazine

Letter from the Dean

In 1945, founding Dean Llewellyn M.K. Boelter welcomed the first class of engineering students to UCLA, and since then the alumni, faculty, and students of the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have distinguished themselves professionally, academically, and in their research.

We are continuing our tradition of excellence as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the School this year. Working with a colleague in the School of Dentistry, bioengineering professor Benjamin Wu has discovered a natural molecule that can be used to heal fractures and generate new bone growth. This breakthrough holds tremendous promise for faster, more reliable healing.

Our research will benefit society in other ways, as well. Materials science professor Eric Bescher is applying advanced sensors to reduce the time freeways must remain closed for repairs. This new technology will notably decrease traffic congestion and pollution in urban areas.

A team led by professor Nasr Ghoniem in the mechanical and aerospace engineering department is creating large-scale simulations to more easily model and design new materials. His work will result in more reliable, less expensive materials for use in space, automobiles, and a range of other industries.

And others are taking note of the high quality of our work. In addition to the many notable awards bestowed on our faculty, environmental engineering assistant professor Jenny Jay was selected as one of only 20 to receive a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

I hope you’ll read about these and other activities in this issue of UCLA Engineer. We’re proud of our reputation for innovative thinking and the quality of our faculty and students. Together, we’re engineering the future.

Sincerely,

Vijay K. Dhir
Dean