Smart Multifunctional Material Systems Lab
Catamaran testing at the campus pool
Casey Harwood lab

6 months post graduation:

94 %

Employed, continuing education, or not seeking

$ 64,750

Median salary

Department Events

Mobility Matters: Focusing on User-Centered Assistive Device Design

Thursday, April 3, 2025 3:30pm to 4:20pm
Seamans Center
Millions of individuals worldwide rely on walking aids for mobility, and the design of these devices significantly impacts their quality of life. Walking impairments can lead to profound physical and psychological consequences. However, poorly designed devices may exacerbate issues such as arthritis, scoliosis, and increased energy expenditure. Addressing these challenges necessitates a comprehensive design approach that prioritizes the users' needs and experiences at every stage.PRESENTER: Dr...

Neural Interface to Soft Robotics: Enabling Functional Restoration with Transformative Technologies.

Thursday, April 10, 2025 3:30pm to 4:20pm
Seamans Center
Recent advances in assistive technology have facilitated improved motor recovery in individuals with various neuromuscular and musculoskeletal impairment. As innovative and cutting-edge technologies continue to emerge, it is important to understand how users interact with and benefit from these new technologies to maximize their functional outcome. This seminar discusses various novel technologies targeting functional restoration through assistive device use. Examples include the use of...

Universal Vortex Formation Time of Flapping Flight

Thursday, April 17, 2025 3:30pm to 4:20pm
Seamans Center
The profound impact of lift force on human travel is mirrored by its vital role in animal locomotion. A recurring feature in animal flight and swimming is a roll-up of free shear layers into swirling vortical structures. Biological flyers periodically flap their appendages to generate aerodynamic forces. Extensive studies have made significant progress in explaining the physics behind their propulsion in cruising by developing scaling laws of their flight kinematics. Notably Strouhal number (St...

The "Selfie" and Other Origin Stories

Thursday, April 24, 2025 3:30pm to 4:20pm
Seamans Center
A short walk-through of the history of selfies and their evolution and how that influenced the development of modern technologies in modern smartphones. Layered with some anecdotes from his personal journey with Apple, one of the biggest tech industry firms, Yazan Alnahhas reflects on lessons learned and how they shaped his career and reasoning. Discussion will also touch on future directions based on incoming industry trends like artificial intelligence.   PRESENTER: Yazan Alnahhas / Apple...

Strengthening Prosthetic Care in Post Conflict and Remote Zones

Thursday, May 1, 2025 3:30pm to 4:20pm
Seamans Center
PRESENTER: Dr. Francesca Riccio-Ackerman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology FACULTY HOST: Dr. Deema Totah, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Graduate Seminar

College Events

Maker Breaks: Robotics Showcase

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 11:30am to 1:30pm
Seamans Center
See robots from around the College of Engineering and make your own papercraft robotic claw.  
Leaders in Discovery: Modeling Climate Science and Earth Systems with Lai-yung Ruby Leung promotional image

Leaders in Discovery: Modeling Climate Science and Earth Systems with Lai-yung Ruby Leung

Monday, April 14, 2025 3:30pm to 5:30pm
Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)
L. Ruby Leung, an atmospheric scientist internationally recognized in Earth systems modeling and hydrologic processes, will be the University of Iowa's inaugural "Leaders in Discovery" speaker on Monday, April 14. Leung, Battelle Fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Chief Scientist of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Exascale Earth System Model, is known for her contributions to the development of local climate models and her understanding of the consequences of climate...

Iowa PFAS Conference: Learn, Connect and Explore

Tuesday, April 15 8:00am to Wednesday, April 16, 2025 5:00pm
Graduate Iowa City
The 2025 Iowa PFAS Conference will be held April 15-16, 2025, at the Graduate by Hilton Iowa City and the University of Iowa campus. The conference is designed to exchange ideas and findings, provide learning and networking opportunities, and explore new ways to test and deal with PFAS in environmental and biological samples. It has the following objectives: Create a learning environment to share ideas and findings about PFAS.  Bring faculty members, researchers, staff, and students to one...

Chicago Career Trek – April 17–18

Thursday, April 17 6:30am to Friday, April 18, 2025 6:00pm
Explore Engineering Careers in Chicago – April 17–18 Join us for an exciting two-day career trek to Chicago, where you’ll gain behind-the-scenes access to leading engineering companies, connect with industry professionals, and grow your career network—all while exploring one of the Midwest’s top engineering hubs. Trek Schedule: Thursday, April 17 Depart from the Seamans Center at 6:45 AM Visit Panduit – a global leader in electrical and network infrastructure innovation Evening Alumni...