The Ohio State University College of Engineering

Congratulations to the 7️⃣ College of Engineering faculty and staff who received 2026 awards from The Ohio State University in recognition of their distinguished scholarship, teaching & achievements!
https://engineering.osu.edu/news/2026/06/university-honors-seven-exceptional-faculty-and-staff

⭐ Distinguished University Professor: Alan Luo & Giorgio Rizzoni
⭐ Distinguished Scholar Award: Han-Wei Shen
⭐ Early Career Distinguished Scholar Award: Jinghua Li
⭐ Provost’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Lecturer: Alexia Leonard
⭐ Community Engaged Scholar Award: Yasuyuki Motoyama
​⭐ Graduate Coordinator Wellness Program of the Year Award: Tracy Hanson

University honors seven exceptional faculty and staff Awardees recognized for distinguished scholarship, teaching and achievements

We thank The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation and all of our scholarship donors for their extraordinary support and care of our students❣️

One of the cool things we learned in The Columbus Dispatch series about the people behind Brutus Buckeye is that an engineering alum is the CBO (Chief Brutus Officer)! Himself a Brutus Buckeye from 2010-13, Ray Sharp became head coach of Ohio State Athletics' Mascot Program in 2022 after nearly a decade as a part-time coach and full-time IT pro. He has helped Brutus win 2 UCA Mascot National Championships and 2 UCA/UDA Gameday National Championships.
https://www.dispatch.com/picture-gallery/sports/college/football/2026/05/10/being-brutus-buckeye-a-year-in-the-life-of-the-ohio-state-mascot/89926564007/

Keep up the great work Ray!

🛩️ Cheers to Ohio State's Flight Team on earning 5th place (out of 31) at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association's SAFECON 2026 Nationals! See individual results/awards and more pics on the team's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYuyacYCdXY/?hl=en&img_index=1

👏 Prof. Arnab Nandi's startup is 1 of 5 selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of the AI Research Commons Midwest Fellows Program, a highly selective initiative designed to support inception-stage AI companies emerging from leading Midwest research universities. His company is developing human-in-the-loop AI infrastructure for enterprises. https://polsky.uchicago.edu/2026/05/19/the-polsky-center-announces-the-inaugural-ai-research-commons-midwest-fellows-program-cohort/

Launched in collaboration with the AI Research Commons, Microsoft & NVIDIA, the program connects high-potential AI founders with infrastructure, mentorship, and national investor networks to help accelerate commercialization and company growth.

As part of the program, selected companies receive:

▪️Up to $350K in Startup credits on eligible services through Microsoft for Startups, access to leading AI models through Azure, 1:1 technical guidance from Microsoft experts, and discounts on essential tools like GitHub, Microsoft 365, and LinkedIn Premium.
▪️Benefits from NVIDIA’s Inception Program for Startups, including access to the latest developer tools and training, preferred pricing on NVIDIA hardware and software, exclusive offers from partners, and exposure to a global ecosystem of investors.
▪️Co-working space at Third Coast Foundry, located in San Francisco’s AI corridor.
▪️Direct access to Bay Area investors, technical advisors, and commercialization support... and more

The initiative is one of many coming out of the newly launched Third Coast Foundry, a collaboration led by Polsky Center at the University of Chicago bringing together The Ohio State University and seven other R1 institutions.

The Polsky Center Announces the Inaugural AI Research Commons Midwest Fellows Program Cohort - Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation The Polsky Center today announced the inaugural cohort of startups selected to participate in the AI Research Commons (ARC) Midwest Fellows Program, a highly selective initiative to support artificial intelligence companies emerging from leading Midwest research universities.

Ohio State is now ranked #28 among all U.S. institutions in the
Cure Innovation Index, a national benchmark measuring strength in translating biomedical research into real-world impact. The new ranking reflects Ohio State’s increasing momentum in innovation, commercialization and clinical translation.
https://news.osu.edu/ohio-state-earns-top-30-national-ranking-in-innovation-index/

“This recognition affirms the intentional work we have done to move discovery out of the lab and into the world where it can improve lives,” said John Horack, vice president for research. “Our research community is focused not only on breakthrough science, but on ensuring those discoveries translate into therapies, diagnostics, and technologies that make a meaningful difference.”

The Cure Innovation Index evaluates universities on a range of indicators tied to biomedical innovation, including startup creation, industry partnerships, licensing activity, and the development of treatments that reach patients. Ohio State’s performance highlights its strength in connecting fundamental research with commercialization pathways.

A key driver of this success has been the university’s growing patent portfolio. The increase in patents reflects an expanding culture of innovation among faculty, researchers, and students, as well as strategic investments in infrastructure that supports invention disclosure, protection, and market translation.

According to recent national patent rankings by the National Academy of Inventors, Ohio State has climbed to No. 21 among U.S. universities and No. 30 globally, underscoring a sustained commitment to research that leads to tangible solutions in health care, technology, and beyond.

Ohio State earns Top 30 national ranking in innovation index The Ohio State University was ranked 28th among all U.S. institutions in the Cure Innovation Index, a national benchmark measuring strength in translating biomedical research into real-world impact.The new ranking reflects Ohio State’s increasing momentum in innovation, commercialization, and clin...

Loving this article on General Motors' website about alum Vir Dasgupta, who's a TRACK (Technical Rotation And Career Knowledge) engineer at GM: https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/topic/us/en/2026/may//0512-on-track-talent-pipeline-engineers.html

The interview covers what Dasgupta has learned in the TRACK program and why he sees manufacturing as one of the most exciting places to build a career.

Keep up the great work Vir!

On TRACK: Inside GM’s talent pipeline, where the best engineers are built For Vir Dasgupta, the future of automation starts by considering the bigger picture.

🛩️ Yesterday, The Ohio State University Board of Trustees approved the reestablishment of the Department of Aviation in the College of Engineering! It will officially relaunch on July 1: https://engineering.osu.edu/news/2026/05/department-aviation-cleared-takeoff

In 2012, based on faculty attrition and administrative priorities, the Department of Aviation was replaced by the Center for Aviation Studies, but since then there has been a resurgence in enrollment, research expenditures and opportunities for growth.

“Reinstating the center as the Department of Aviation will position us for further growth, creating expanded educational opportunities for students and engagement points for industry, such as research,” said the center’s director, Professor Blake Stringer. “The board’s approval is the culmination of the manifold efforts of faculty, staff and leadership from throughout the university.”

With fitting synchronicity, Ohio State’s School of Aeronautics originally opened on May 21, 1917, when the first squadron of 16 cadets reported for instruction. Over the subsequent 109 years, aviation at Ohio State has consistently pivoted its educational approach in response to industry needs. Today, the center teaches hundreds of students in three majors from across campus, representing the College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, and Fisher College of Business.

https://engineering.osu.edu/news/2026/05/department-aviation-cleared-takeoff

Department of Aviation cleared for takeoff Board of Trustees approves department's reestablishment

Exciting news... World-renowned scientist and expert in battery technology Kang Xu joins Ohio State as an Ohio Eminent Scholar and Howard D. Winbigler Chair in Engineering!
https://engineering.osu.edu/news/2026/05/game-changer-scholars-initiative-attracts-global-leader-battery-innovation

His appointment in the Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering represents another milestone of Ohio State’s Game Changer Scholars initiative, which aims to recruit transformative research leaders and elevate the university’s global impact.

Xu is widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost experts in electrolyte materials and interface science, with more than 30 years of experience and a publication record that includes some of the most cited works in the field. His research has shaped modern understanding of advanced electrolytes, interphases and next‑generation battery chemistries.

Game Changer Scholars initiative attracts global leader in battery innovation Kang Xu is a world-renowned battery technology scientist