Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME graduate student receives Research Excellence Award

 

Doug McCorkle, a PhD student advised by Associate Professor Mark Bryden, recently received the Research Excellence Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize graduate students at the time of their graduation for outstanding research accomplishments as documented in their theses and dissertations. These students are also expected to be academically superior and able not only to do research, but also to develop a well-written product. Each department or interdepartmental unit has the opportunity to select and nominate students for this award every semester. The intent of this program is to recognize up to 10% of graduating students who have submitted theses and dissertations.

McCorkle began his studies at Iowa State in 2001 as a master’s student in mechanical engineering. After receiving his master’s degree in 2002, he began working toward his PhD and will graduate on May 9, 2008. McCorkle’s dissertation, “Establishing an Advanced Engineering Framework for Engineering Decision Making,” explores how the interaction of software frameworks and information management methods can be used to create efficiencies in the engineering design process.

Much of his graduate research has concentrated on identifying ways to make better engineering decisions through computer modeling. McCorkle has spent a great deal of time developing VE-Suite, an open source virtual engineering design analysis and software package developed by Bryden’s research group, to create simulations to examine design and development practices and processes. His graduate work was partially funded by John Deere to help the company reduce costs and design cycle time for its cotton picker that is manufactured in Ankeny, Iowa. After graduation, McCorkle will continue his position as an associate scientist in Bryden’s Simulation, Modeling, and Decision Sciences Program in the Ames Lab.

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