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Mel Yoken Headshot
Claire T. Carney Library Associates to host annual meeting on May 23

The Associates will hold annual meeting at 4 p.m. in the Grand Reading Room of the Claire T. Carney Library

The 2024 University Scholars and Research Fellows announced

Provost Balasubramanian awards five UMassD faculty members for their innovative work

Aerial view of UMass Dartmouth's main quad.
UMass Dartmouth is trending up

Highlights of an extraordinary academic year

3+3 partnership
UMass Law and Dean College partner to offer an accelerated law degree program

Agreement will enable Dean College students to earn an undergraduate and law degree in six years instead of seven

Four Student Commencement Speakers headshots
Class of 2024 Student Commencement Speakers announced

Alexis Petty, Zemen Berhe, Susie Furtado, and Natalia Vargas to deliver speeches that exemplify determination and success

Leadership Awards Group Photo
Student leaders celebrated during 2024 Student Leadership Awards

The UMassD community came together to honor student achievements

Summer 2024 undergraduate student researcher awards announced

Winners of the Office of Undergraduate Research's awards exemplify research excellence

Feature Stories

Feature stories
May
9
10:00AM
Department of Fisheries Oceanography MS Thesis Defense by Amanda Meli

SMAST East 101-103 and Via Zoom Abstract: A baseline assessment of crustacean has many applications, it can used to quantify organisms for comparisons throughout years, as a pilot study to determine best practices for abundance surveys, or to explore species distribution and aggregation. Windfarms and climate change have the potential to be major drivers of environmental change on the continental shelf. Estimating the absolute abundance, distribution, and preferences of these species will allow researchers, years from now, to quantify the environmental changes and discern population patterns. This baseline assessment discerned that hermit crabs were the most common crustacea in the survey, Atlantic rock crabs had the largest biomass, crustaceans aggregate at a wide range of distances in similar locations over time, and temperature, competitors, and sediment have the biggest influence in distribution.

May
10
1:00PM
Mechanical Engineering MS Thesis Defense by Ms. Stephanie DeCarvalho

Mechanical Engineering MS Thesis Defense by Ms. Stephanie DeCarvalho DATE: May 10, 2024 TIME: 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. LOCATION: ZOOM link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/91399406281?pwd=aUNpWS8ybFQ5eFNIWlVmRGNjbmlaZz09 (Contact scunha@umassd.edu for Meeting ID and PassCode) TOPIC: Computational Modeling of Materials and Structures for Biomedical Applications: from 3D Printed Implants to Tissue Growth ABSTRACT: Computational modeling has been increasingly used to aid and improve engineering design, fabrication, and manufacturing. In the biomedical field, scientists and clinicians could use computational models to better understand biological phenomena and develop more precise treatment strategies. This thesis employs computational modeling of materials and structures to study two examples in biomedical applications: the development of a patient-specific additively manufactured knee implant and the prediction of an embryonic chick in its first stages of growth. Additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as an innovative way of manufacturing products of complicated and customized geometries. Bioengineering has a special interest in AM as the possibility of creating patient specific implants that can help increase satisfaction and comfort with procedures. This study explores the use of patient data in combination with finite element modeling and analysis to evaluate the performance of an AM knee implant. The approach is demonstrated on a distal femur replacement for a 50-year-old male patient from the open-access Natural Knee Data. The performance of the implant is influenced by the printing process parameters that are used to print the part. The results show that build orientations have a significant impact on both shape distortions and residual stresses. Understanding the developmental growth from a single cell into a more complex multicellular structure contributes to topics such as tissue engineering and growth defects as well as developing individual treatments. In combination with experimental results, computational analysis can increase the understanding of the behavior of organisms. Morphomechanics are used to create a computational model to simulate the tissue growth in the embryonic chick during the early stages of its development. As the chick embryo develops, the behavior and positioning of the embryo is affected by the membrane in which it develops. The effects of the growth and its surroundings result in a series of coupled bending and twisting of the embryonic body. Using computational modeling in personalized medical implants and developmental biology, this study contributes to the goals of advancing precision health initiatives. Patient-specific implants that are created to be a perfect fit would increase the probability of more patients recovering with diminished pain, increased mobility, and an improvement in their quality of life. The deformation and behavior of biological development supports the research of quantifying health conditions that may result from environmental, developmental, or genetic influences. Understanding these factors supports the advancement of preventative medical research to preserve the health of patients. ADVISOR: - Dr. Jun Li, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, UMass Dartmouth COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Dr. Wenzhen Huang, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, UMass Dartmouth - Dr. Alfa Heryudono, Associate Professor of Department of Mathematics, UMass Dartmouth Open to the public. All MNE students are encouraged to attend. For more information, please contact Dr. Jun Li (jun.li@umassd.edu).

May
10
2:00PM
Summer Financial Aid FAFSA Help Zoom Labs

Financial Aid Services wants to remind all students to file their FAFSA! Join Financial Aid Services for FAFSA Help Labs via Zoom on Fridays from 2-3pm for help filing your FAFSA and learning more about financial aid. https://umassd.zoom.us/j/96235213250?pwd=ZE1FSWtNek05dnNEQWVqdnZyNHVDUT09 Contact Mark Yanni myanni@umassd.edu

May
11
10:00AM
ALANA Graduation

UMass Dartmouth celebrates African American, Latino, Asian and Native American graduates of color. 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Marketplace Contact: Donna Moore, dmoore@umassd.edu or 508-999-9222 Sponsored by the Frederick Douglass Unity House & BH4S

May
14
10:00AM
Mechanical Engineering MS Thesis Defense by Mr. Anthony Encarnacion

Mechanical Engineering MS Thesis Defense by Mr. Anthony Encarnacion DATE: May 14, 2024 TIME: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. LOCATION: Science & Engineering (SENG), Room 110 Zoom link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/88265834821?pwd=PTi4awzgy5dIWiXFI179B9jUP0ype5.1 (contact scunha@umassd.edu or aencarnacion for Meeting ID# and PassCode) TOPIC: The Development and Implementation of a MATLAB Based Model Representing the Power-Take Off Unit of a Wave Energy Converter ABSTRACT: This thesis presents the development and implementation of a MATLAB-based model designed to represent the Power-Take Off (PTO) unit of the Maximal Asymmetric Wave Energy Converter (MADWEC) device. The objective was to create a model based on empirical data and mechanical principles to accurately represent a table-top prototype of the MADWEC PTO. This model will serve as a predictive tool, analyzing the performance of the PTO unit under various wave conditions and enabling the selection of optimal configurations based on the deployment location or power requirements. The computational model incorporates the PTOs components, including a dual-dispensing reel, counterweight rewind mechanism, slip clutch, one-way clutch, gearbox, and generator. Leveraging the computational resources of MATLAB and its Simulink environment, the model was developed with an overall error of 1.36% compared to empirical data. This research details the development process of the model, including empirical data acquisition, analysis, and model optimization techniques. A performance estimation for the Nantucket Sound area indicated the potential power generation capabilities of the device, estimated at approximately 0.19 kilowatts an hour or 1.664 megawatts annually for that location. The study showcases a robust approach to predicting the efficiency and power output of MADWEC's PTO unit, providing a valuable tool for researchers and engineers in the field of renewable energy. It contributes to the understanding of WEC operations and supports the advancement of marine renewable energy systems by aiding in the design and optimization of WEC prototypes. ADVISORS: - Dr. Daniel MacDonald, Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, UMass Dartmouth - Dr. Mehdi Raessi, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UMass Dartmouth COMMITTEE MEMBER: - Dr. Kihan Park, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UMass Dartmouth Open to the public. All MNE students are encouraged to attend. For more information, please contact Dr. Daniel MacDonald (dmacdonald@umassd.edu).

May
14
10:00AM
Summer Financial Aid FAFSA Help Labs in LARTS 203

Financial Aid Services wants to remind all students to file their FAFSA! Join Financial Aid Services for FAFSA Help Labs in LARTS 203 on Tuesdays from 10am-11am for help filing your FAFSA and learning more about financial aid. Contact Mark Yanni myanni@umassd.edu

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