Auburn Engineering awards 19 new and renewed professorships
Published: Oct 1, 2026 10:25 AM
By Joe McAdory
The new and renewed endowed professorships were effective Oct. 1.
Nineteen Auburn Engineering faculty members have been awarded new or continued endowed professorships, effective Oct. 1, the college announced.
“Endowed professorships are among the highest honors a college can bestow on its faculty,” said Mario Eden, dean of engineering. “These appointments recognize sustained excellence and significant contributions to research, teaching and outreach/service. We are pleased to celebrate these faculty members and the lasting impact they have on our students, disciplines and profession.”
Edward Davis was promoted to Philpott WestPoint Stevens Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Davis, the department's graduate program officer, conducts research in polymer engineering, biomaterials, nanocomposites and shape memory polymers. His work focuses on developing advanced materials for biomedical and engineering applications, helping translate fundamental materials science into technologies with real-world impact.
Davide Guzzetti was promoted to William & Pamela Moench Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. Guzzetti, director of the 3i Space Dynamics Lab, has built a career at the intersection of aerospace engineering and computational technologies, developing innovative approaches to spacecraft navigation, mission planning and autonomous space operations. His research explores how immersive computing, machine learning and human-machine collaboration can improve the design of next-generation space systems and enable more efficient exploration beyond Earth orbit.
Daniel Silva was promoted to Saeed Maghsoodloo ISE Endowed Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Silva, the department’s graduate program officer, focuses research on operations, optimization and stochastic modeling, developing analytical tools to improve decision-making in supply chains, manufacturing systems and logistics networks.
Jorge Valenzuela was promoted to Joe W. Forehand Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. A longtime Auburn faculty member and former department chair, Valenzuela has made significant contributions in operations research, engineering statistics and decision support systems. His research applies advanced analytical and optimization methods to complex engineering and operational challenges, while his teaching and leadership have helped shape generations of industrial and systems engineers.
Jose Vasconcelos was promoted to James Dozier Caldwell Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Vasconcelos conducts research in water resources engineering, with interests including unsteady hydraulics, multiphase flows, urban water systems, surface hydrology and sediment-water flows. His work combines computational and experimental approaches to study water infrastructure and hydraulic systems.
Mark Adams, director of the Alabama Micro/Nano Electronics Science and Technology Center, will carry the title of Godbold Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for the next three years. Adams’ work focuses on sensors, micro- and nanoscale systems, computational electromagnetics and advanced diagnostic technologies. His work has supported applications ranging from national defense and aerospace systems to biomedical devices and point-of-care diagnostics, bridging fundamental engineering research and real-world technology development.
Maria Auad, associate dean for graduate studies and faculty development, will carry the title of Charles E. Gavin III Distinguished Professor for the next five years. As former director of the Center for Polymers and Advanced Composites, Auad built a multidisciplinary research program focused on developing advanced materials for engineering, biomedical and sustainable applications.
Pengyu Chen, materials engineering program chair and Ginn Faculty Achievement Fellow, will carry the title of Francis Family Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering for the next five years. His research focuses on nanoplasmonic biosensors, single-cell analysis and precision medicine, advancing new approaches for disease detection and biomedical diagnostics. His work explores the interactions between proteins and nanomaterials to develop sensing technologies with applications in health care, food safety and environmental monitoring.
Tom Denney, director of the Auburn University Neuroimaging Center, will carry the title of Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Donnellan & Family Endowed Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for the next five years. Denney has built a research program in biomedical imaging, cardiovascular MRI and medical image analysis.
Steve Duke will carry the title of Mary and John Sanders Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering for the next three years. His research interests include transport phenomena, fluid dynamics, polymer and pharmaceutical particle processing, alternative energy technologies, environmental systems and engineering education.
Xiaowen Gong will carry the title of Godbold Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering over the next three years. His research focuses on machine learning and AI across wireless networks, edge computing and network security. Gong’s work advances federated learning and other distributed AI technologies that enable connected devices to collaborate in building intelligent systems while improving efficiency, reliability and data privacy.
Ujjwal Guin will carry the title of Godbold Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for the next three years. Guin's research focuses on hardware security, semiconductor supply chain security, cybersecurity and VLSI design and testing. Known for his work in detecting counterfeit integrated circuits and securing electronic systems, Guin develops technologies and methodologies that help protect critical hardware and global semiconductor supply chains from emerging threats.
Greg Harris, director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS), will carry the title of Forehand/Accenture Distinguished Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering for the next three years. Harris, also the associate director for digital strategy at the National Center for Additive Manufacturing (NCAME), focuses research on advanced manufacturing systems, digital engineering and manufacturing innovation, supporting research, workforce development and industry collaboration.
Robert Jackson will carry the title of Albert Smith, Jr. Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering for the next five years. His research focuses on tribology, including friction, wear, surface fatigue and surface engineering. His work examines how interacting surfaces perform and degrade under operating conditions, with applications in mechanical systems and component reliability.
Masoud Mahjouri-Samani will carry the title of Godbold Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering over the next three years. His research advances laser-assisted science and engineering, developing advanced materials and devices through innovative manufacturing, synthesis and characterization techniques. His work includes nanoparticle 3D printing, nanomaterials and photonics research aimed at creating next-generation technologies for electronics, sensing and space-based manufacturing applications.
Hari Narayanan, chair of Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, will carry the title of John H. and Gail Watson Professor for the next five years. Narayanan, whose work bridges artificial intelligence, cognitive science and human-computer interaction, has helped advance the understanding of how technology can support learning and decision-making. His research has produced innovative educational technologies and intelligent systems supported by federal agencies, foundations and industry partners.
Larry Rilett, director of the Auburn University Transportation Research Institute, will carry the title of Samuel Ginn Distinguished Professor for the next five years. Rilett’s work leverages advanced analytics and emerging technologies to improve transportation system performance, enhance highway safety and support the development of smarter, more connected infrastructure.
Adit Singh will carry the title of Godbold Endowed Chair in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for the next three years. A fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, his research spans very large-scale integration design, semiconductor test and electronic design automation, and has led to more than 300 publications, patented technologies licensed by industry and collaborations with leading semiconductor and technology companies.
Yin Sun will carry the title of Godbold Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering over the next three years. Sun's research focuses on Age of Information and semantic communications, developing new frameworks for delivering timely, relevant and actionable information in networked systems. He combines wireless networking, machine learning and information theory to improve the performance of intelligent systems operating in dynamic, data-driven environments.
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