Mechanical Engineering Fall 2020 Newsletter

C2_Color: PMS 541 & PMS 131 & BLACK FALL 2020 MicroKits Continue NATALIA PEREZ TRIANA ME’s Hands-on Learning TraditionC3_Color:PMS541&PMS124 graduate student instructors while ME student Natalia Perez Triana completing a comprehensive datasets were collected, lab assignment using the MircoKit Current and former ME students which together allowed students to have valued both the hands-on remotely perform data analysis that faculty, staff, and students, assembled and theoretical components coincided with course lectures and a wish list of components from ME that courses, including Electronics assignments in the mechanical behavior instructors and through collaborative for the Internet of Things (ME100), of engineering materials, manufacturing discussions created a kit consisting of Experimentation and Measurements and tolerancing, and dimensional 105 components with 59 individual (ME103), and Mechatronics Design modeling for design courses, as well as part numbers. Many aspects of the (ME102B), have offered. When introductory and training videos for the kits’ usability had to be considered. instruction switched from in-person to student machine shop. For example, most students would distance learning in March because of not be able to solder at home, so kit strict state and county shelter-at-home MicroKit Design components were modified by soldering mandates that remained in place during leads or connectors to allow students to the fall semester and will probably To implement the design of the MicroKit, plug them directly into a project board. continue into the first part of the spring Associate Professor Hayden Taylor, semester, ME faculty and staff worked together with a department task force of Continued next page together to plan, create, assemble, and distribute lab kits to students in these courses to continue the level of hands-on experience ME is known for. The team effort to organize all the components necessary to create the lab kit, or MicroKit, paid off. “This semester, the lab kits enabled each student to practice theory on real hardware at home, and this elevated engagement and retention of the materials,” said Assistant Professor Hannah Stuart, who taught ME102B, together with Professor Homayoon Kazerooni, during the fall semester. “I feel this student experience has been especially important and fulfilling when so much of our teaching must be remote.” In a parallel effort to support online instruction, more than 20 laboratory videos were created by the ME Machine Shop staff and edited by ME faculty members and

MICHAEL NEUFERContinued from previous page “This semester, the to support the project. The Department lab kits enabled anticipates needing at least 325 kits The kit design needed to adhere to each student to for the spring 2021 semester at an a cohesive and synergistic laboratory practice theory estimated cost of $65k. To avoid any lag instruction strategy in which essentially on real hardware time and to ensure that vendors have the same kit would be distributed to at home, and all components available, orders will be all students in ME100, ME103 and this elevated placed within the next few weeks. ME102B, allowing them to progressively engagement and apply the knowledge and experience retention of the The Future gained from one course to subsequent materials” courses. In addition, a companion web Since distance learning will continue site (https://microkit.berkeley.edu) was An assembled MicroKit during the spring 2021 semester, created to encapsulate all aspects of ready for shipment modifications will be made to create a online training, collaboration, and support more universal MicroKit that students can associated with the use of the kits. use throughout their academic careers. And when classes return to in-person MicroKit Assembly and instruction, faculty members have Distribution expressed an interest in retaining the kits. Unlike past semesters when student Once the MicroKit component selection teams shared resources, incoming and support website were completed, students would receive a standard kit ordering parts and assembling the when enrolling in their first lab course that required 275 kits followed. The biggest would be used in future classes. “The challenge was getting all components to the students on time. A short lead time kit has allowed us to refine and compounded by unreliable expand many lab activities,” says vendors made meeting the Taylor. “We also believe that, by deadline very challenging. giving each student their own kit, Kits were assembled by their levels of understanding and staff members who worked competence have become higher evenings and weekends to and more uniform. Each student meet delivery deadlines. Stuart works on all aspects of the laboratory remarked, “The team of staff assignment.” While each student and faculty who worked hard to would receive a kit at a projected cost make this experience happen of $88, some components could be are extremely dedicated to shared among students. For example, creating meaningful new student students could pool motors to build experiences.” vehicles. MicroKits have received positive Once kits were assembled, feedback from students who value distribution commenced. the hands-on experience and Course instructors collected independent learning the kits students’ names and provide. “I have been able to test addresses to create mailing my understanding on controls, labels. Many locally-based linkages, and electronics while students picked up kits in learning how to utilize the person, while some had to different electronic parts that I be hand-delivered by staff did not know how to use before,” members. Out-of-area says ME senior Natalia Perez domestic and international students received their kits Triana. “In addition, it has via FedEx. R&D Engineer inspired me to work on my own II Tom Clark drove to the projects. I hope we keep using FedEx Emeryville Hub to this kit in future semesters since I complete multiple processes believe it is fundamental that every ME before shipments were sent, while student have this kind of experience Facilities Specialist Robert Jenkins before graduating.” worked with FedEx to get kits through customs at international locations. TO DONATE TO ME'S MICROKIT FUND, PLEASE VISIT: MicroKit Cost https://give.berkeley.edu/fund/FN2323000 The cost of assembling and distributing the 275 kits came to approximately $60k with General Motors contributing $30k 2 Mechanical Engineering

MATT EHRICHS [ME FACULTY] Assistant Professor Michael Gollner Introducing Michael J. Gollner Gollner leads The Berkeley Fire Research Laboratory (http://firelab. Assistant Professor Michael J. Gollner joined the ME faculty in January berkeley.edu), which has expanded 2020. He is broadly interested in problems of fire science applying its expertise under his guidance. New combustion and fluid dynamics theory to solve problems. Much of projects are aimed at understanding his work is focused on applications to wildfires, including their spread emissions from wildfires, applied to through vegetation, ignition of structures in the wildland-urban interface, public health and climate; risk-informed transport of embers, fire whirls, and emissions from wildfire smoke. He modeling, applied to wildland-urban received his B.S. (2008), M.S. (2010) and Ph.D. (2012) in Mechanical interface communities; and spacecraft Engineering from the University of California, San Diego. He was a fire safety. Gollner has also started the faculty member in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at the California Fire Science Seminar Series University of Maryland, College Park, from 2012-2019. this semester. Hosted by the Berkeley Fire Research Group (http://frg.berkeley. Applying Thermal-Fluids of spreading wildfires to quantify the edu), the series covers a wide variety Engineering to Problems roles of convective and radiative heat of topics with speakers and attendees transfer. Another application has been from around the world applying their Gin Fire Science in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) knowledge to California fires. ollner’s research aims to solve where people and property coincide fundamental problems in fire with natural lands. His group has used Dr. Gollner’s work has been funded science by applying techniques their collective combustion expertise by the NSF, NIST, USDA FS, FEMA, from the thermal-fluid sciences to to model firebrands, the small burning BSEE, NFPA, the Joint Fire Science various wildland fire problems affecting embers which travel far ahead of the Program and the support of Dipanjan persons, property, and the environment. main fire front to ignite new fires, in and Shashikala Deb. He is active in Much of this work has been centered terms of their production, transport, professional society leadership, serving around how fires spread, experimentally and ability to ignite materials. Studies in various roles with the International understanding the underlying have also continued on fire whirls, an Association of Wildland Fire, National mechanisms of these processes so that extreme vortex phenomenon which Fire Protection Association, and they can be incorporated into numerical enhances combustion efficiency, both International Association for Fire Safety modeling approaches for research, in terms of their safety hazards in Science. He is also a recipient of the mitigation, and operational suppression. wildland fire and potential efficiency for NSF CAREER award, the Tsuji Early Some of this work has led to a further fuel spill cleanup. Career Award from the Combustion understanding of the fluid dynamics Institute, the Proulx Early Career Award in Fire Safety Science, and the Fire Protection Research Foundation Medal. TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: https://me.berkeley. edu/people/michael-gollner/ Mechanical Engineering 3

RAFAEL PRIETO Prototype of Bear [ME STUDENT] Air apparatus Meet Angel F. Rodriguez BearAir Angel F. Rodriguez is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Flow, Offshore, With the onset of the and Waves (FLOW) Lab under Professor Simo Mäkiharju. Angel came to COVID-19 outbreak, it became UC Berkeley in 2018 after being selected by the U.S. Navy to become a professional military professor. He has received B.S. in Mathematics evident that many facilities around the from St. John’s University, two M.S. degrees from Naval Postgraduate world were seriously underprepared for School in Engineering Science (Mechanical Engineering) and Information the airborne spread of the virus. To Systems Operations and a Master of Engineering Management from Old reduce airborne viral concentrations, Dominion University. Since arriving at UC Berkeley, Rodriguez has been Associate Professor Hayden Taylor and conducting research on X-ray tomographic measurement techniques for his student team, including X.Sun, Jacob multiphase fluid flows in bubble columns. He has also been a member Brito, Jack Wallis, Rafael Prieto, and of the Graduate Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee for the ME Maria Echeverria Molina, have developed Department and is currently one of the Outreach Chairs for the Latino/a Bear Air, a prototype of an affordable, Association of Graduate Students in Engineering and Science (LAGSES). high-throughput air filtration system. Current HVAC systems have capacity JIGAR CHAMPANERIA The Rodriguez family, from left limitations, are often poorly serviced, to right: Angel Michael, Jackie, and are generally hard to modify. More Angel has served as a Submarine Gabriella, Angel, and Jaime efficient, freestanding systems are Warfare and Nuclear Propulsion commercially available but are often Officer for over 20 years in the conducting with the FLOW premium-priced, limiting accessibility. U.S. Navy. During his time as Director of Lab. Using new X-ray And with a prolonged pandemic, the the Submarine Officer Advanced Course, imaging technology, he supply chain is often unable to meet the Angel was inspired to continue his naval is measuring the gas-to- demand for the highest-performance career as a mechanical engineering liquid ratio of multiphase filters. With these contributing factors, professor at the United States Naval flows – something that has Taylor says, “There is a need to develop a Academy. Angel loves to advise students rarely been done before. minimalist but effective approach.” on pursuing graduate school and careers Since his arrival, Angel in the industry. He has also given much has spearheaded the The team’s research aims to examine of his time at Berkeley to volunteer for construction of the FLOW whether a combination of moderate Community Resources for Science’s Be Lab’s X-ray Computed filtration efficiency and a high air a Scientist and BASIS programs, where Tomography Multiphase recirculation rate can be a solution that he enjoys sharing his experience with Flow system, through offers an effective and accessible system elementary and middle school students. which he has continued to to lower indoor aerosol concentrations. In As a parent of three, Angel is committed evaluate X-ray measurement studies like the spread of tuberculosis, to ensuring underrepresented youth techniques of two-phase systems to elevated clean air delivery has shown grow an appreciation for STEM and yield sufficient resolutions for future reduced transmission, while filtration has appreciate boundless opportunities to evaluation of nucleate boiling sites in proven critical in recirculating systems pursue their dreams. nuclear fuel cell systems. as aerosols may be recirculated. Based While UC Berkeley may be known on their hypothesis that “we can clean Angel loves the research he is for its cutting-edge research, it is air by recirculating it more frequently also known for its culturally vibrant and using lower-cost commodity filters,” community. For Angel, one of the best the team designed a mobile air purifying things about Cal is meeting people with system made up of an affordable, different ideas and perspectives. Serving commercially available air blower and on nuclear submarines, Angel has low-cost filters. A COVID-19 sensing fostered an appreciation and admiration system and a humidity-control function for engineers and continues to be will be added to later versions. astounded by the immense talent in our ME community. The team is currently working with a Throughout his time at Cal, Angel feels local nonprofit senior living organization that he has grown as a researcher and a to plan evaluation and testing of the student. He is looking forward to his time prototype. as a professor at the Naval Academy and TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: https://me.berkeley. is looking forward to sharing his naval and edu/people/hayden-taylor/ academic experiences with the future of our Armed Forces. 4 Mechanical Engineering

This figure shows theSIMO MÄKIHARJU [ME FACULTY] result of the team’s THOMAS CAREY repeatable respirator rig Pooled Testing coughing up simulated droplets. These were In response to the often-debated made visible by process of testing for COVID-19, fluorescence, with color used to identify size. ME Professor Lydia Sohn is researching While the emitting person the means of detecting the virus got covered in their own through pooled testing. Pooled testing germs, spread to ambient involves screening combined saliva areas was reduced. samples from multiple participants. If the result is negative, no further [ME FACULTY] testing is done. If the collected sample is positive, all participants are then Droplet Transport tested individually. Pooled testing can reduce wait time and cost. Through ME Assistant Professor Simo Mäkiharju, CEE Professor Evan Variano, this method, groups of individuals, and Ph.D. students Eric Thacher and Tvetene Carlson teamed up with including students, sports teams, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to study droplet transport. The health-care workers, can get tested in a study is especially relevant with the current number of COVID-19 cases more efficient manner. continuing to rise. Pooled testing is not a new strategy. The research considers the wide spectrum of droplets emitted when we speak, It was used in the 1940s to test cough, or sneeze. These droplets can transmit airborne viruses and bacteria. for syphilis among groups of men The droplets can be thought of as either aerosols or ballistic droplets. Aerosol called up for military service. Testing droplets are small with a diameter less than a human hair and can linger in the air for soldiers individually would have minutes or hours. Ballistic droplets’ trajectories are mainly determined by their initial been expensive and inefficient. By momentum and settle quickly. To study repeatable release events of the droplets, both using the pooled method, all soldiers simplified and realistic models of the human airway were used. in a negative-result group could be eliminated with just one test. Mäkiharju’s team also had to create a unique environment for generating data suitable even for numerical model validation. They set up a temperature and humidity The current RT-PCR (reverse controlled isothermal, non-reflective, fully grounded room, free of uncontrolled flows, transcription polymerase chain in O’Brien Hall. In the course of the research, the team also advanced fluorescent reaction) method of detecting SARS- particle and droplet experimentation techniques – creating conductive carbon tape CoV-2 is not sufficiently sensitive for sampling strips, and a cost-effective method for sample coupon scanning with a photo pooled testing: 1 in 5 tests are false negative scanner followed by image enhancement with blind deconvolution. This negative. Sohn’s team is currently enabled the team to increase the number of samples that could be analyzed in a given optimizing their method, which is time by an order of magnitude. based on how they detect tumor-derived extracellular vesicles in lung-cancer The work is ongoing, but initial findings already showed that in a low-humidity patient saliva, so as to best the RT-PCR setting, droplets evaporate faster and spread further. A florescent tracer was used method and apply it to different pooling to enable detection of even a few micron size droplets deposited per sampling algorithms. “Hopefully we’re making a coupon. The ongoing research examines droplet transport in various work space-like meaningful contribution to allow society environments, most notably classrooms and clean rooms. to resume normalcy,” added Sohn. While and he and his team continue their research, Mäkiharju offers this advice, TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: https://me.berkeley. “As confirmed by countless studies by now, even a simple mask can help reduce the edu/people/lydia-sohn/ spread of the droplets. Wear the best mask you have and wear it so it fits well!” Lydia Sohn FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE TEAM’S RESEARCH, VISIT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9TqLvHInxo&feature=youtu.be&t=264 Mechanical Engineering 5

TORY SMITHAlumni Support At-home detection system KAMYAR BEHROUZI AND NEIL RAMIREZ When the sudden shift to online [ME FACULTY] education occurred last March, many At-home Testing and Air Purification undergraduate students were left without to Combat COVID-19 resources to help them get through challeng- ing classes. When ME alumnae Alyssa Novelia ME Professor Liwei Lin is investigating two projects to help in controlling and Selina Pan contacted ME Professor Oliver the spread of COVID-19. The first is an at-home test kit Lin collaborated O’Reilly to see how to help struggling students, on with UCSF Professor Shuvo Roy, and the second is an air purifier ME Alumni Support was created. The three being developed with Alejandro Montesinos of the Tecnológico de recruited graduates from the ME program to Monterrey, Mexico. become tutors and mentors. Students entered which classes they were enrolled in and were Lin’s at-home testing kit centers than five minutes. Because the present matched with alumni tutors via a Google form. around the face mask. Since testing process records only the current Ten alumni provided teaching and mentoring the spread of COVID-19 occurs state of those being tested, the biggest during the spring semester and 28 contributed mostly by mouth through breathing or advantage of this method is potential daily their time during the fall semester. talking, users’ masks ultimately capture tests for a more accurate picture of a virus samples. Lin recommends using user’s exposure to the virus. In his now online Intermediate Dynam- nanofibers to create masks which will ics (ME175-271) class, O’Reilly has alumni increase the surface area-to-volume ratio Air Purification attend lectures and invites them to talk to and will also increase and concentrate students at the end of the session. Students the amount of viruses on the mask. It is With Professor Montesinos, Professor Lin gain insight into their majors by learning estimated that after about three hours is developing an air purification system. A from the experiences shared by the visitors. of mask usage, the accumulated virus room with virus-infected individuals can “It’s heartening to see how many alumni contents would be detected potentially contaminate other inhabitants for some have reached out to provide support to our for patients without symptoms. Virus cells time even after vacated. The objective students,” says O’Reilly. “This is an untapped would be destroyed through cell lysis and, of the purification system is to clean the resource we need to continue engaging even after interacting with a bioassay solution, room within 30 minutes. The COVID-19 Air after the pandemic.” the contents would change color to be Purifier has two features: hydrodynamic identified by the naked eye, indicating the control and nanotechnology. “As the pandemic began, presence of SARS-CoV-2. I started to see people Hydrodynamic control will combine putting their skills to use Lin and Roy feel this process would with UVC light and nanofiber filters — the fashion industry far surpass current testing strategies to purify a 100 square meter room began sewing masks, gym because this non-temperature sensitive in 30 minutes with 99.9% efficiency. trainers started offering testing procedure could be done at home Preliminary testing results on a prototype instead of at a hospital or testing center. and custom-made air purifier using online workouts, distilleries The results could be seen by the naked cigarette smoke have demonstrated pivoted to making hand sanitizer. Alyssa eye and each test would only cost about positive results. and I were chatting and I told her how I felt 50 cents while the process would take less helpless that my specialized background TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: paled in comparison with skills that could immediately help others. Alyssa suggested https://me.berkeley.edu/people/liwei-lin/ asking Prof O’Reilly if he had any students who might need tutoring now that classes and office hours were virtual, and that is how the idea was born.” —SELENA PAN “Looking back over the years, I realized that my closest friendships and relationships at the Cal ME department were initially formed by bumping into each other at elevators and sheepishly peeking into faculties’ open office doors. I am deeply saddened by the current students’ lost opportunities to do that during this challenging pandemic. I suppose what I can and want to offer in this incredibly isolating time is a place to “slide into my DMs” because I want to hear about their experience and schoolwork, and do something so they can still have a hell of a time at Cal (both the good and the crazy) just like I did.” —ALYSSA NOVELIA IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE TUTORING OR MENTORING, PLEASE VISIT: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-zVzb- auux3FiHn0cOjqIi0N5CTs2TZcmvv0rP7isilFuBg/ viewform?gxids=7757

[ME FACULTY] ME Faculty Awards 2020 Sleep Apnea Machine Conversion Professor Alice Agogino 2020 Women in Tech Initiative Athena Award ME Associate Professor Grace O’Connell and a team of student for Academic Leadership volunteers responded when Cal alumnus Bryan Martel suggested Professor Alice Agogino (with Assistant Professor Kosa Goucher-Lambert) using sleep apnea machines to provide breathing support to COVID-19 2020 Best Paper Award in the Design Theory and Method Division at the patients. Martel first contacted College of Engineering Dean Tsu-Jae King ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conference Liu with his idea, which was then passed on to O’Connell, who led the Professor Murat Arcak engineering team on the Berkeley-UCSF PreVent project. 2020 Automatica Paper Prize O’Connell’s research expertise is Developing Economies. Additional Professor Jyh-Yuan Chen in biomechanics and biomedical modifications included re-filtering Elected Fellow of The Combustion Institute devices. She is also the instructor exhaled air before being released to for Designing for the Human Body, the surrounding environment, offering Professor of the Graduate School a technical elective where students additional protection for healthcare Robert Dibble design, build, and test prototypes that professionals working with a COVID-19 Elected Fellow of The Combustion Institute interface with the body — much like a patient. Providing breathing support sleep apnea device. O’Connell’s team to patients with mild to moderate Professor Michael Frenklach Jürgen Warnatz Gold Medal designed modifications to existing symptoms has been shown to reduce • Elected Fellow of The Combustion Institute sleep apnea machines to reduce disease progression and, thus, the need potential aerosolization of COVID-19 for more invasive ventilation. Assistant Professor Michael Gollner positive air and provide additional 2020 Hiroshi Tsuji Early Career oxygen support using FDA-approved PreVent devices were not Researcher Award components. Further improvements distributed nationally since the U.S. were made to PreVent’s design as ventilator shortage was resolved, but Assistant Professor Kosa Goucher-Lambert with Survivors for Good, a non-profit (with Professor Alice Agogino) 2020 Best Paper Award in the Design O’Connell collaborated with clinical organization whose goal is to empower Theory and Method Division at the partners including Dr. Aenor Sawyer of growth, solutions, and resiliency, over ASME International Design Engineering UCSF; Cal alumnus Dr. Ajay Dharia, a 500 of the machines were shipped Technical Conference Bay Area pulmonologist and engineer; and Dr. Bertram Lubin, former to Ecuador, Haiti, and Brazil to Assistant Professor Grace Gu president and CEO of UCSF help remedy the shortage of 2020 SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Benioff’s Children’s Hospital breathing support devices Engineer Award there. • 2020 MRS Communications Lecture Award and special adviser on health TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: Professor Panayiotis Papadopoulos at Berkeley Engineering https://me.berkeley.edu/ 2020 Berkeley Faculty Service Award and the Blum Center for people/grace-oconnell/ Professor Kameshwar Poolla Grace O’Connell and 2020 O. Hugo Schuck Best Paper Award the PreVent breathing support device Professor Masayoshi Tomizuka 2020 IEEE ITS Lifetime Achievement Award ADAM LAU • 2020 IFAC Nichols Medal • ASME Honorary Membership Emeritus Professor Ronald Yeung 2020 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) Distinguished Achievement Award for Individuals Professor Tarek Zohdi Humboldt-Forschungspreis (Humboldt Research Prize • Named Academic Director of SCET Mechanical Engineering 7

PEG SKORPINSKI [ FROM THE CHAIR ] participants test negative, no further individual Contributors testing is needed. Associate Professor Hayden LIKE THE REST Taylor’s research on the airborne spread of Department Chair: OF THE WORLD, the virus resulted in Bear Air, a low-cost air Roberto Horowitz the ME Department purifying system that can reduce airborne has had to adapt to viral concentrations. Creative Director/Editor the many unforeseen Marcel Kristel and unexpected Assistant Professor Simo Mäkiharju’s ([email protected]) circumstances research studies droplet transport and brought on by examines the effects of various size droplets Editor-in-Chief: the COVID-19 emitted when we speak, cough, or sneeze, Emily Higgins pandemic. Our while Associate Professor Grace O’Connell ([email protected]) faculty, staff, and has worked to reconfigure sleep apnea students have machines into breathing support devices. The Proofreader: proven their reconfigured machines have been shipped to Melissa Varian resilience and developing countries experiencing a shortage determination in of ventilators. And Professor Oliver O’Reilly’s Design: upholding our effort to recruit ME alumni has helped tutor Cuttriss & Hambleton, Berkeley campus’ teaching current students who are not able to access excellence by on-campus learning centers. Printing: contributing their efforts to maintaining a high UCSF Documents, standard of education, albeit online education, Finally, you’ll read how many of our faculty, Media & Mail, San Francisco since the abrupt changes hit in March. staff, and graduate students came together in In this issue, you’ll meet Assistant Professor an extraordinary effort to plan, assemble, and Images: Michael Gollner, whose research centers distribute laboratory kits, or MicroKits, to a Kamyar Behrouzi, Thomas Carey, around fire science. Gollner’s aim is to solve large number of our undergraduate students. Jigar Champaneria, Matt Ehrichs, problems related to fire spread, particularly These MicroKits enabled our students to Adam Lau, Simo Mäkiharju, preventing and controlling wildfires, by conduct experiments and assemble and test Michael Neufer, Tory Smith, applying techniques from thermal-fluid mechatronic components as part of their Natalia Perez Triana, sciences. You’ll also meet Angel Rodriguez, online laboratory and capstone design courses, Rafael Prieto, Neil Ramirez a third-year Ph.D. student who works in the therefore preserving the combination of Flow, Offshore, and Waves (FLOW) Lab with academic rigor and hands-on experience that Assistant Professor Simo Mäkiharju and is a is a hallmark of our instructional program. member of the department’s Graduate Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. If you’d like to contribute to the MicroKit In response to COVID-19, several faculty fund for the spring 2021 semester, please visit members’ research creatively and swiftly https://give.berkeley.edu/fund/FN2323000. shifted to address critical problems brought on by the pandemic. Professor Liwei Lin is We look forward to hearing from you in 2021. developing an at-home COVID test whereby Please keep in touch via our Facebook page users can apply a solution to their used (www.facebook.com/Berkeley.Mechanical. face masks for results that can indicate the Engineering). presence of the virus. Lin is also developing an air purifying system that can free a room Go Bears! of the virus in 30 minutes. Professor Lydia Sohn’s cost effective and efficient pooled Roberto Horowitz testing research works by testing groups of people instead of individuals—if all Chair, Mechanical Engineering and James Fife Endowed Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering