Article by Hillary Hoffman
Doctoral candidates at the University of Delaware College of Engineering have received graduate fellowships from the Koerner Family Foundation, an organization dedicated to training and retaining U.S. engineers. The recipients are Collin Meese, Michael Richards and Kristin Schmidt.
Meese, who holds a bachelors of science in computer science from UD, is pursuing a doctorate in civil engineering. He studies transportation systems, with a focus on alleviating problems caused by traffic congestion.
His research, supervised by associate professor Mark Nejad, seeks to make smart traffic systems better at responding to unexpected disruptions such as accidents, which account for almost half of all traffic congestion. Meese developed tools that help traffic prediction models update in real time using data from traffic sensors. He has also harnessed generative artificial intelligence to simulate rare events, helping traffic management centers better anticipate and handle disruptive situations.
“Receiving this fellowship from the Koerner Family Foundation is a great honor,” Meese said. “I am very grateful to the Koerner family, my advisor, my lab colleagues and my department for supporting my passion for engineering research.”
Richards’ doctoral research, supervised by professor Mark Mirotznik, combines applied electromagnetics, advanced digital manufacturing and new materials to address national security challenges.
His work covers applications including sensing and detecting signals, locating radio-frequency sources, and designing and fabricating specialized lenses for millimeter-wave technologies that use high-frequency radio waves to capture fine detail and detect signals with great precision. Prior to his doctoral studies, Richards completed a 4+1 program in electrical engineering at UD.
“I am deeply grateful and humbled to receive the Koerner Family Foundation award, which is especially meaningful as it reflects not only my work but also the unwavering support of my family, friends, colleagues and mentors,” Richards said. “I am honored to represent the values and legacy of the Koerner family and will continue striving to uphold the excellence and character this award represents.”
Schmidt came to UD to pursue a doctorate in mechanical engineering after earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia. Under the supervision of associate professor Fabrizio Sergi, her research explores how the brain controls wrist movements in different situations.
She studies how the brain balances muscle force and joint stiffness during everyday tasks, such as pushing objects or using power tools. To better understand these processes, she developed a protocol using an MRI-compatible wrist robot to help separate and measure how the brain controls force and stiffness. Her work provides insights into how regulation of these processes is affected by brain injuries, and may help guide future rehabilitation approaches.
“It is an honor to be recognized for the hard work I’ve put into my Ph.D., and I’m very grateful to the Koerner Family Foundation and UD community for supporting my growth as a researcher,” Schmidt said.
About the award
The Koerner Family Foundation graduate fellowships enable students to complete their doctoral degrees in engineering research so that these scholars may go on to use their education to create innovative solutions to some of the nation’s most difficult problems. Fellowship recipients must be United States citizens, have passed their candidacy exams for their doctoral degree and express an interest in a research career.