2008-2009 Bulletin – PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University

cochlear implant surgery (NSF funded,
Simaan).
Mass radiological triage is critical
after a large-scale radiological event
because of the need to identify those
individuals who will benefit from medical
intervention as soon as possible. The
goal of the ongoing NIH-funded research
project is to design a prototype of a fully
automated, ultra high throughput biodosimetry.
This prototype is supposed
to accommodate multiple assay preparation
protocols that allow the determination
of the levels of radiation exposure
that a patient received. The input to
this fully autonomous system is a large
number of capillaries filled with blood of
patients collected using finger sticks.
These capillaries are processed by the
system to distill the micronucleus assay
in lymphocytes, with all the assays being
carried out in situ in multi-well plates.
The research effort on this project
involves the automation system design
and integration including hierarchical
control algorithms, design and control of
custom built robotic devices, and automated
image acquisition and processing
for sample preparation and analysis
(Simaan, Yao).
A technology that couples the power
of multidimensional microscopy (three
spatial dimensions, time, and multiple
wavelengths) with that of DNA array
technology is investigated in an NIH-funded
project. Specifically, a system is developed
in which individual cells selected
on the basis of optically detectable
multiple features at critical time points in
dynamic processes can be rapidly and
robotically micromanipulated into reaction
chambers to permit amplified DNA
synthesis and subsequent array analysis.
Customized image processing and
pattern recognition techniques are
developed, including Fisher’s linear discriminant
preprocessing with neural net,
a support vector machine with improved
training, multiclass cell detection with
error correcting output coding, and kernel
principal component analysis (Yao).
Facilities for Teaching and Research
The undergraduate laboratories, occupying
an area of approximately 6,000
square feet of floor space, are the site of
experiments ranging in complexity from
basic instrumentation and fundamental
exercises to advanced experiments in
such diverse areas as automatic controls,
heat transfer, fluid mechanics, stress
analysis, vibrations, microcomputerbased
data acquisition, and control of
mechanical systems.
Equipment includes microcomputers
and microprocessors, analog-to-digital
and digital-to-analog converters, lasers
and optics for holography and interferometry,
a laser-Doppler velocimetry system,
a Schlieren system, dynamic strain
indicators, a servohydraulic material
testing machine, a photoelastic testing
machine, an internal combustion engine,
a dynamometer, subsonic and supersonic
wind tunnels, a cryogenic apparatus,
computer numerically controlled vertical
machine centers (VMC), a coordinate
measurement machine (CMM), and a
rapid prototyping system. A CNC wire
electrical discharge machine (EDM) is
also available for the use of specialized
projects for students with prior arrangement.
The undergraduate laboratory also
houses experimental setups for the
understanding and performance evaluation
of a complete small steam power
generation system, a heat exchanger,
and a compressor. Part of the undergraduate
laboratory is a staffed machine
shop with machining tools such as standard
vertical milling machines, engine
and bench lathes, programmable surface
grinder, bandsaw, drill press, tool
grinders, and a power hacksaw. The
shop also has a tig welder.
A mechatronics laboratory affords
the opportunity for hands-on experience
with microcomputer-embedded control
of electromechanical systems. Facilities
for the construction and testing of analog
and digital electronic circuits aid the students
in learning the basic components
of the microcomputer architecture. The
laboratory is divided into work centers for
two-person student laboratory teams.
Each work center is equipped with several
power supplies (for low-power electronics
and higher power control), a
function generator, a multimeter, a protoboard
for building circuits, a microcomputer
circuit board (which includes the
microcomputer and peripheral components),
a microcomputer programmer,
and a personal computer that contains a
data acquisition board. The data acquisition
system serves as an oscilloscope,
additional function generator, and spectrum
analyzer for the student team. The
computer also contains a complete
microcomputer software development
system, including editor, assembler, simulator,
debugger, and C compiler. The
laboratory is also equipped with a
portable oscilloscope, an EPROM eraser
(to erase microcomputer programs from
the erasable chips), a logic probe, and
an analog filter bank that the student
teams share, as well as a stock of analog
and digital electronic components.
The department maintains a modern
computer-aided design laboratory
equipped with fifteen Silicon Graphics
workstations and software tools for
design, CAD, FEM, and CFD.
The research facilities are located
within individual or group research laboratories
in the department, and these
facilities are being continually upgraded.
To view the current research capabilities
please visit the various laboratories
within the research section of the department
Web site (www.me.columbia.edu/
pages/research/index.html). The students
and staff of the department can, by prior
arrangement, use much of the equipment
in these research facilities. Through
their participation in the NSF-MRSEC
center, the faculty also have access
to shared instrumentation and the
clean room located in the Shapiro
Center for Engineering and Physical
Science Research. Columbia University’s
extensive library system has superb
scientific and technical collections
(www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb).
E-mail and computing services are
maintained by Columbia University
Information Technology (CUIT)
(www.columbia.edu/cuit).
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
The objectives of the undergraduate
program in mechanical engineering are
as follows:
The Mechanical Engineering Department
at Columbia University is dedicated
to graduating mechanical engineers who:
1.practice mechanical engineering in a
broad range of industries;
2.pursue advanced education, research
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SEAS 2008–2009