University of Kentucky Centers for Research
UK Center for Manufacturing
UK Center for Manufacturing (UKCM) - A nonacademic unit of the College of Engineering. It is a technology transfer center which specializes in high-quality services for manufacturers locally, nationally, and internationally. The center provides a rich variety of programs in manufacturing education, research, and technical assistance, drawing on the expertise of its own staff and the wealth of resources available campus wide. Research at the center, conducted by teams of faculty associates, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students, is practical and industry driven. Corporate partners are a key element in each project, insuring its relevance and usefulness to manufacturing.
Current research activities include experimental and analytical work in:
Engineering Design, Analysis and Consultation through
- Product design and analysis for 3D designs;
- Engineering drawings;
- Prototyping;
- Design for manufacturability;
- Material selection;
- Component sourcing;
- Technical feasibility analysis;
- Product costing;
- Finite element analysis;
- Designing, implementing, and improving existing plant layouts and work flow processes;
- Recommending improvements and/or designing new processes;
- Automating existing or new processes;
- Equipment design/selecting appropriate equipment or designing customized equipment;
- Ergonomics evaluating work areas to reduce cumulative trauma on employees;
- Environmental assistance specializing in air quality regulatory compliance and permitting; and
- Quality improvement finding root causes of defects, contamination and quality problems.
For additional information contact Dr. Bruce Walcott, Director (859)257-6262 or Kim Sayre UK Center for Manufacturing Phone: 859.257.6262 ext.401 Email: sayre@engr.uky.edu.
The Lean Program - An educational approach which provides critical skill sets for leadership teams, management teams, and associates throughout the organization. The lean system production requires three basic elements: man, machines, and material. Lean production is the technology or "know-how" to utilize these three basic elements effectively, reducing waste and increasing productivity while improving quality. Implementing lean production is a process requiring a multifaceted transformation encompassing your entire enterprise, from raw material to purchase by a customer.
Additional Research Centers and Consortia
Center for Aluminum Technology - A partnership involving the aluminum industries, the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet, the U.S. Department of Energy, and UK. The mission of the center is to provide industry with trained personnel, new knowledge and emerging technology know-how needed to be globally competitive in the 21st century. For additional information contact Dr. Subodh K. Das, Director Center for Aluminum Technology 1505 Bull Lea Road Lexington, KY 40511 Ph: (859) 514-4989 x101 Fax: (859) 514-4988 E-mail: skdas@engr.uky.edu.
Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center for Micro-Magnetic and Electronic Devices CeNSE(Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering), formerly known as CMMED (Center for Micro-Magnetic and Electronic Devices) is a shared use facility to encourage the development of device research at the nano-scale. Nearly $2 million has been invested in the basic fabrication techniques of film deposition, lithographic pattern definition, and material etching that will enable cutting edge research in a variety of fields. This facility is a resource for Kentucky ’s development of both innovative academic research and the realization of emerging commercial ideas. For additional information contact Dr. Vijay Singh, Director (859)257-3243.
Center for Visualization and Virtual Environments - With programs in research, education and industrial outreach, the Center brings together researchers with expertise in computer vision and image processing, data acquisition, graphics, human-computer interaction, multimedia, and teleconferencing and is dedicated to research and development of computer-generated immersive environments, ambient environments, dynamic scene acquisition and preservation, advanced telepresence and telecommunications, and visualization applications in areas such as education and training, medicine, manufacturing, security and daily life . Researchers are building state-of-the-art visualization and display environments for different applications. The research includes efficient 3D data acquisition and analysis and computer vision and graphics problems related to model acquisition and tracking of people and objects in order to populate and preserve realistic three-dimensional scenes. For additional information contact Dr. Brent Seales, Director (859) 257-1257.
Consortium for Fossil Fuel Science UK is the lead university in this research consortium that includes participants from six universities – UK, University of Pittsburgh, University of Utah, West Virginia University, Auburn University, and University of Missouri. The primary goal of the CFFS research program is to develop technology to produce clean transportation fuel from resources such as coal and natural gas that are more plentiful domestically than petroleum. C1 chemistry appears to be the most promising route to achieving this goal. C1 chemistry refers to processes that convert feedstocks containing one carbon atom per molecular unit into ultra clean liquid transportation fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel) and hydrogen, which many believe will be the transportation fuel of the future. The feedstocks include synthesis gas, produced by gasifying coal or reforming natural gas, methane, the principal component of natural gas, methanol, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. The CFFS also conducts a research program on environmental problems associated with the use of fossil fuel, such as emissions of fine airborne particulate matter and toxic trace metals (mercury, arsenic, chromium, etc.). Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and industry. For additional information contact Dr. Gerald Huffman, Director (859)257-4029.
Electron Microscopy Center The central campus Electron Microscopy Center, located in the Advanced Science and Technology Commercialization Center (ASTeCC), houses a suite of instruments for state-of-the-art materials characterization. A variable-pressure scanning electron microscope (SEM) is outfitted with a light-element energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) and a back- scattered diffraction camera for orientation imaging microscopy (OIM). A field-emission SEM is available for ultra-high resolution and low-voltage imaging. The facility offers two transmission electron microscopes, one with a LaB6 gun and the other with a field-emission gun; both TEMs are outfitted with light-element EDS detectors, and the field-emission TEM has an electron energy-loss spectrometer and imaging filter. A scanning probe microscope, which can be outfitted with heating, cooling or liquid cell stages, is also available. Instrument users are trained and assisted by facility staff. For additional information contact Dr. Eric Grulke, Director (859)257-6097.
Kentucky Transportation Center Serving as the focal point in the state for interdisciplinary transportation research, the center works closely with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Federal Highway Administration, and various other private and governmental agencies to develop innovative transportation technological advances. An ongoing technology-transfer program provides services to local governmental transportation agencies as well as the private sector through training programs, workshops, conferences, technical publications, and on-site consultation. The center's research capabilities span a wide range of areas with a major & focus on applied research and problem solving for the Transportation Cabinet. Their areas of expertise closely follow the traditional civil engineering discipline, including pavement, materials, structures, traffic/safety, geotech, construction management, environmental analysis, intelligent transportation systems, and policy and systems analysis. The center provides a myriad of opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to benefit from hands-on experience addressing transportation issues. For additional information contact Paul Toussaint, Director (859) 257- 4513 ext 223.
Painting Technology Consortium The Painting Technology Consortium joins research and industrial resources to develop a new generation of painting technology having a higher energy efficiency and environmental friendliness than those currently used on commercial products. The painting technology efforts cover five main areas: Paint spraying and transfer efficiency; paint overspray capturing; paint curing and drying; painted surface finish monitoring and control; paint-related waste recycling and disposal; and smart paint material. The Consortium has brought together a renowned team of researchers who are conducting research into these six main areas. Current PTC members include: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Trinity Industrial Corporation, National Surface Treatment Center, and Honda of America Manufacturing. For additional information contact Dr. Kozo Saito, Director (859) 257-6336 ext 80639.
Vibro-Acoustics Consortium The Vibro-Acoustics Consortium is a group of companies that have an interest in noise and vibration technology. The Consortium takes advantage of the experimental and computational facilities in the College of Engineering to conduct projects of mutual interest. A major focus is on the use of state-of-the-art software for vibro-acoustic modeling and simulation. In addition, the Consortium provides its members with training on experimental methods and how to use software tools more effectively. For additional information contact Dr. Andrew Seybert, Director (859)-257-6336 x 80645.
Affiliated Research Centers
Advanced Science and Technology Commercialization Center (ASTeCC) ASTeCC is UK's incubator for multidisciplinary collaborations and start-up ventures. This $17 million, 80,000-square-foot facility, completed in 1994 with funding from the Economic Development Administration and the Small Business Administration, provides research space and state-of-the-art equipment to both faculty groups and new businesses. More than 25 faculty working on five focal areas—biopolymers, computational sciences, materials sciences, molecular biology, and pharmaceutical engineering—have their labs in the ASTeCC building. In addition to fostering multidisciplinary research of intellectual and commercial value, ASTeCC provides rental space to new business startups that have licensed technology developed at UK. Nine new businesses currently lease space in ASTeCC; 14 businesses have "graduated" from ASTeCC to UK's Coldstream Research Campus and other locations in and around Lexington and beyond. For additional information contact Len Heller, Vice President for Commercialization and Economic Development (859) 218-6512.
Center for Applied Energy Research CAER is an energy technology research facility whose broad mission is to conduct basic and applied research designed to generate information on Kentucky energy resources; ascertain the associated environmental impacts; and produce, test and evaluate new technologies. Current activities include coal cleaning, catalysis, emissions control, separation technologies, coal combustion byproducts research, and activated carbon research. CAER's industrial support group works with industry to solve industrial problems through utilization of the center's analytical services expertise and facilities. The Center for Applied Energy Research each year sponsors seminars by distinguished experts on current scientific topics of interest to the academic and research communities. For additional information contact Dr. Rodney Andrews, Director (859)257-0305.
Center for Biomedical Engineering The Graduate Center for Biomedical Engineering provides multidisciplinary programs of education, research, and service in the application of engineering principles to medicine and biology. The center brings together engineers, life scientists, and physicians to teach and conduct original research to solve a variety of medical-related problems. Research areas include cardiopulmonary mechanics and controls, neuromuscular function, musculoskeletal mechanics, rehabilitation engineering, computational neuroscience, motor control, orthopedic biomaterials, orthopedic biomechanics and electromagnetic tissue stimulation. Center faculty and staff provide opportunities and support for graduate students, medical residents, and selected undergraduates. Graduates of the program enter careers in research institutes, academia, hospitals, and industry. For additional information contact Dr. David Puleo, Director (859)257-2894.
Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute KWRRI stimulates and supports water research and education by identifying current and emerging water issues for Kentucky and the nation. Institute programs include the Environmental Systems Certificate curriculum, which offers graduate students an understanding of the interactions of physical, social, biological, economic and legal parameters of environmental issues. Environmental Protection Scholarships support both undergraduate and graduate students with full scholarships in exchange for employment with the state upon graduation. KWRRI assists the state Cabinet for Health Services with environmental oversight of federal facilities located in Kentucky, and administers Water Resources Research Grants, which stimulate research activities by supporting faculty members, research staff and graduate students in a broad spectrum of research topics. The institute's technology-transfer activities include short courses, seminars and conferences, and distribution of research results. For additional information contact Dr. Lindell Ormsbee, Director (859) 257-1299.
Tracy Farmer Center for the Environment TFCE facilitates and coordinates the extensive and diverse array of research, commercialization, education, and service activities at the university that address the environment. More than 150 faculty members from fifty academic units across UK focus at least part of their professional effort on the environment. Prominent areas of faculty expertise under this heading include natural and human-impacted aquatic systems at scales ranging from ponds and streams to watersheds; analysis and interpretation of large, complex environmental data sets; mathematical models of pristine and of polluted ecosystems; methodology, efficacy and evaluation in environmental education; environmental toxicology and risk assessment; environmental literature and journalism; effects on natural systems and on human communities of chemicals spread by human activities; ecological design and restoration; and the impacts of energy production on the environment. For additional information contact Dr. Lindell Ormsbee, Interim Director (859)257-1299. |