Oct. 8, 2025 - External Newsletter
News from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering
Assistant Professor Nicole Xu first became fascinated with moon jellyfish more than a decade ago because of their extraordinary swimming abilities. Today, Xu has developed a way to harness their efficiency and ease at moving through the water in ways that could make some types of aquatic research much easier.
High-Impact, Interdisciplinary Research
Beyond Arrakis: Dune researchers confront real-life perils of shifting sand formations
Associate Professor Nathalie Vriend is leading a research effort exploring how sand dunes evolve over time, shifting and surging across the landscape. Her team ultimately wants to answer a pressing question: Can humans efficiently shift or even halt the flow of the planet’s largest dunes?
Researchers testing next-generation ankle braces for stroke survivors
Nearly 80% of all stroke survivors experience walking issues and turn to ankle braces for increased support, but ankle braces are still very limited and many stroke survivors report no improvements when using them. Assistant Professor Cara Welker is leading a new, collaborative research project that aims to transform the way these assistive devices are designed.
ME grad student probes industrial pollution in Mississippi neighborhood
Caroline Frischmon is a graduate student leading a critical study documenting industrial pollution near the Cherokee Forest subdivision in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Her findings show that industrial activities are leading to negative impacts on human health and the residents of the neighborhood are looking to take action.
Five new faculty members joining the ME department for Fall 2025
The Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering at Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder is welcoming five new faculty members this fall semester. From responsive biomaterials and unique teaching environments to additive manufacturing, these talented scientists and engineers bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to our teaching and research missions.
Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder advancing artificial intelligence research for real-world applications
Professor Sean Humbert is one of many Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder faculty members making important artificial intelligence (AI) discoveries. With the help of his lab group and other CEAS collaborators, Humbert is developing algorithms and autonomous systems that can process sensor data within milliseconds to operate in places and situations where direct human engagement creates unacceptable risk.
ME startup Point Designs announces major prosthetics partnership
Point Designs, co-founded by Research Professor Jacob Segil, Associate Research Professor Richard Weir at Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØAnschutz, and Rady Mechanical Engineering alums Levin Sliker (MechEngr’10; MS’12; PhD’15) and Stephen Huddle (MechEngr’99; MS’13), is announcing a new collaboration that they believe can have a profound impact on the future of prosthetic design.