NAME at Michigan

🛠️🚢 Summer 2026 Internship Spotlight: Austin Barber

This summer, NA&ME student Austin Barber has been interning at Tiara Yachts in Holland, Michigan, where he's working on manufacturing process improvements focused on deck lamination. His project involves redesigning the production cycle and schedule for large composite parts, giving him valuable hands-on manufacturing experience. ⚓📐

Great work, Austin! 👏

Congratulations to Professor Michael M. Bernitsas, Mortimer E. Cooley Collegiate Professor of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, on being awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the National Technical University of Athens, one of the highest academic honors recognizing a lifetime of contributions to engineering, research, and innovation. This distinction reflects decades of groundbreaking work, global impact, and dedication to advancing the fields of naval architecture and offshore engineering.

Read more in the article here: https://myumi.ch/11AZV

🌏⚓ Summer 2026 Internship Spotlight: Ben Visco

This summer, Ben Visco is gaining international experience through an internship with Fincantieri in Genoa, Italy. From learning about the design of naval vessels and visiting active construction yards to taking classes at the University of Genoa, Ben is building technical knowledge while experiencing the global nature of naval architecture and marine engineering. 🚢⚙️

Great work, Ben!

As the maritime industry evolves, so does the need for engineers who can design with sustainability in mind. Beginning this fall, University of Michigan master's students can pursue a new dual degree in naval architecture and marine engineering and sustainable systems through a College of Engineering and University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability collaboration.

"The status quo for the last two and a half decades... is now changing," said Thomas McKenney, associate professor of practice in NAME at Michigan. "Because of that, we need a closer connection between ship design and sustainable systems."

By combining both disciplines, graduates will be better prepared to navigate emerging technologies, changing regulations and environmental challenges.

Read more below ⚓

ICYMI, University of Michigan Engineering has a new astronaut in its ranks. Alumni Andre Douglas, chosen for NASA's Artemis III mission launching in 2027, is now counted among the ranks of at least 11 other Michigan Engineers who served as astronauts, including James A. McDivitt, captain of the Gemini 4 mission, during which alumnus Ed White performed the first U.S. spacewalk.

Andre graduated with a Master's in NAME at Michigan and Mechanical Engineering- University of Michigan in 2012. As a Coast Guard naval architect, he has contributed to hundreds of technical reviews for maritime vessel compliance and provided worldwide technical support for numerous field commanders on maritime casualty response efforts. He has also supported NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, which developed and demonstrated technologies for deflecting asteroids away from Earth, as well as the Mars Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

📰⚓The Making of a Naval Architect: One Graduate’s Journey

Brendan Falkowski, a recent NA&ME graduate and founder of Shipwatcher News, reflects on his journey into naval architecture in his article, “Making of the Naval Architects.”

Drawing from his experiences growing up around Great Lakes shipping, studying Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan, and engaging with the maritime industry firsthand, Brendan explores the people, experiences, and opportunities that helped shape his understanding of ship design and maritime transportation.

More than a personal story, the article highlights the history, community, and legacy of Michigan’s NA&ME program and the role it has played in preparing future maritime professionals.

Read the full story on Shipwatcher News!

🏆🌊 Two NA&ME Faculty Members Honored with 2026 ASME Awards 🎉

Congratulations to Professor Lei Zuo, Herbert C. Sadler Collegiate Professor of Engineering, and Professor Krishnan Mahesh, Richard B. Couch Professor of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and director of the Center for Naval Research and Education, on receiving prestigious 2026 honors from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Professor Zuo was recognized with the N.O. Myklestad Award and the ASME McDonald Mentoring Award for his contributions to vibration engineering and his dedication to mentoring future engineers.

Professor Krishnan Mahesh also received the 2026 ASME Freeman Scholar Award for his contributions to fluids engineering and research on cavitation. ⚙️

These honors reflect the impact of their research, leadership, and service to the engineering community. ⚓🎉

Autonomous robots and AI models could help shipyard workers catch when a ship’s built structure differs from design drawings, allowing workers to fix problems or adapt sooner. University of Michigan Engineering is leading the American arm of an international project to develop such a system.

Funded with a $6.2 million grant from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the collaboration will design and prototype AI and robot teammates to track what was actually built inside the growing ship and compare it to a digital twin of the intended structure. The system will then create reports of mismatches that workers can use to make adjustments.

“We want to build a co-pilot system that uses AI and robotics to take some of the detective work off workers’ shoulders,” said Alan Papalia, assistant professor in NAME at Michigan and the principal investigator of the American research team.

“The system should automatically map what’s installed, identify where reality is drifting from the design, and suggest workable alternatives when something needs to change.”

Read more ⬇️