Research
Research Focus: Modeling, analysis and optimization of complex manufacturing and engineering design systems using computational intelligence (artificial neural networks, evolutionary algorithms and fuzzy systems) combined with techniques from probability and statistics and from operations research. Primary application areas include manufacturing process control, design for reliability, facilities design and economic modeling.
NSF Project Websites:Research Experiences for Teachers
Workshop on Women in Industrial Engineering Academia
AU CSEMS Automotive Scholarship, ISE - ME
Research Grants
"US-Turkey Workshop: on Women in Industrial Engineering Academia - U.S. and Middle East," National Science Foundation (NSF), #OISE-0728947, $60,000, 2007-2009.
"Academy of Aerospace Quality " Phase II," with Jeff Smith, NASA, $462,090, 2006-2009.
"Planning Visit: Workshop on Industrial Engineering Women in Academia," National Science Foundation (NSF), #OISE-0549304, $14,705, 2006-2007.
"Next Generation of Manufacturing Engineers for the Automotive Sector," with John Evans and Peter Jones (Mechanical Engineering), National Science Foundation (NSF), #DUE-0422361, $400,000, 2004-2008.
"Enhancing the Fracture Strength of Advanced Ceramics by Process Control at the Microstructural Scale," with Ian Nettleship (Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pittsburgh), National Science Foundation (NSF), #DMI-0301273, $100,000 with RET Supplement $6,000, 2003-2005.
"Academy of Aerospace Quality," with Jeff Smith, NASA, $405,000, 2003-2006.
"Industry / University Cooperative Research Center for Advanced Vehicle Electronics (CAVE), Research Experiences for Teachers," with Jeff Suhling (Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University), National Science Foundation (NSF), Supplements to #EEC-9907749, $125,400, 2003-2007.
"ADVANCE Leadership: Improving Success of Women Engineering Academics in Archival Publications," National Science Foundation (NSF), #SBE-0123493, $150,000 with REU Supplement $15,000 and RET Supplement $10,000, 2001-2005.
"Relating Field Data to Accelerated Life Testing," with S. Wayne Johnson (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Auburn University), National Science Foundation (NSF), #EEC-0002669, $50,000 with REU Supplement of $6,000, RET Supplement of $46,225 with another $70,000 from the member companies of the NSF Center for Advanced Vehicle Electronics, 2000-02. This was a joint project with the NSF Center for Quality and Reliability Engineering of Rutgers University. The PIs there, Elsayed S. Elsayed and David W. Coit (both, Department of Industrial Engineering, Rutgers University), also received a similar amount for the same project.
"Comprehensive Redesign of Industrial Facilities," with Bryan A. Norman (Industrial Engineering, University of Pittsburgh), National Science Foundation (NSF), #DMI-9908322, $317,562 with REU Supplement $22,000, 1999-2003.
"GOALI: Improving Manufacturability of P/M Superalloys by Microstructural Control," with Ian Nettleship (Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pittsburgh), National Science Foundation (NSF) with the participation of Crucible Compaction Metals, #DMI-9800430, $311,526 with REU Supplement $32,000 and International Supplement $20,000, 1998-2001.
"Collaborative Research: Design of Communications Networks Using Computational Intelligence and Women in Engineering in the U.S. and Turkey," with Berna Dengiz (Gazi University, Turkey), National Science Foundation (NSF), #INT-9731207, $34,965, with additional support from TUBITAK (Turkish equivalent of NSF), 1998-2004.
"Joint Research on Intelligent Manufacturing Techniques," with Mitsuo Gen (Industrial Engineering, Ashikaga Institute of Technology, Japan), Bryan A. Norman (Industrial Engineering, University of Pittsburgh) and Gursel A. Suer (Industrial Engineering, University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez), Monbusho (Japanese Ministry of Education, Science and Culture) International Scientific Research Program, 6,900,000 yen, with supplemental funds from the University Center for International Studies, University of Pittsburgh, $760, and the Japanese Science & Technology Management Program, University of Pittsburgh, $6500. 1998-2000.
"Process Improvement for Low Oxygen Metal Powders," with Ian Nettleship (Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pittsburgh), Ben Franklin Technology Center of Western Pennsylvania with Crucible Compaction Metals Corporation, $172,035, 1997-99.
"Motor Vehicle Abrasive Flow Machining," with William S. Slaughter (Mechanical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh), National Institute of Standards (NIST) with Extrude Hone Corporation, Ford Motor Company and others, $125,000 (part of larger Advanced Technology Program), 1996-99.
"Predicting Failures of Mechanical/Electrical Systems," Adtranz (now Bombardier Transportation), $83,376, 1996-2000.
"Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) : Resampling Approaches to Neural Model Validation," National Science Foundation (NSF), #DMI-9502134, $309,574 with REU Supplements $40,000, 1995-2000.
"Predictive Quality Control for Ceramic Casting," Ben Franklin Technology Center of Western Pennsylvania with Eljer Plumbingware Corporation, $141,782, 1993-96.
"Intelligent Control for Wave Soldering," with Amro El-Jaroudi (Electrical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh) and William Clark (Mechanical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh), Lockheed Martin Corporation, $100,000, 1993-94.
"Process Planning Using an Integrated Neural Network and Expert System Approach," National Science Foundation (NSF), #DDM-9209424, $21,235, 1992-94.
"An Empirical and Theoretical Analysis of Backpropagation Error Surface Initiation and Descent," Central Research Development Fund Award, University of Pittsburgh, $12,996, 1992-94.
Equipment Grants
"In-Process, Non-Destructive Analytical Equipment for Electronics Manufacturing Research," with Wayne Johnson, Jeffrey Suhling, Roy Knight, George Flowers, Hareesh Tipur, Michael Bozak, Bryan Chin and William Gale, Auburn University Internal Infrastructure Grant, $100,000, 2000-01.
"Software for Simulation Research," Systems Modeling Corporation, $1,550, 1996.
"Interdisciplinary Fuzzy Logic Infrastructure for Education and Research," with Robert Boston (Electrical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh) and George Klinzing (Chemical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh), Faculty/Departmental Computing Infrastructure Grant, University of Pittsburgh, $4,000, 1994.
"Artificial Intelligence Hardware," Individual Faculty Initiative, Computing Proficiency Enhancement Program, University of Pittsburgh, $4,993, 1992.