Abdelmalek earned her Ph.D. in wireless technology from Florida International University and went on to work as a postdoctoral associate at Virginia Tech’s Wireless Lab. She researches many areas, including next-generation cellular, 5G networks, electric vehicles, secure Internet of Things Networks and device-to-device communications.

“Several factors attracted me to the University of Arizona,” said Abdelmak, who is starting as an assistant professor of practice. “Its reputation and vibrant academic environment, innovative research, and overall friendly and inviting environment.”

Ehsan Azimi - electrical and computer engineering

Azimi joins the ECE Department from Johns Hopkins University, where he worked as an assistant research professor in computer science. His research specialties include augmented reality, robotics and human-computer interaction. He holds a doctoral degree in computer science from Johns Hopkins University and has also worked at Harvard Medical School.

Majid Beidaghi – aerospace and mechanical engineering

Beidaghi joins the university from Auburn University, where he served as an associate professor of mechanical engineering. Prior to this, he received his Ph.D. in materials engineering from Florida International University, then worked as a postdoc and research associate at the A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute at Drexel University.

“When I first visited UA, I was impressed by the strong sense of community and shared purpose I saw in the faculty members and staff,” said the new associate professor. “The culture of nurturing innovation and dedication to societal impact at UA aligns with my personal and professional values. I believe that in such an environment, I can not only contribute to the academic community but also grow and evolve as an educator and researcher.”

Misael Cabrera – School of Mining and Mineral Resources

Cabrera was selected as the inaugural director of the School of Mining and Mineral Resources after a nationwide search. He began the position in April, after most recently serving as director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 1993 with a civil engineering degree.

Cabrera’s initial vision ties together the many layers of mining and minerals: “To be the global destination for educational and research excellence in mining and mineral resources that will catalyze economically, socially and environmentally sustainable mineral resources for generations to come.”

Oana Cazacu – materials science and engineering

Cazacu joins the UA as a professor, coming from the University of Florida, where she was the Charles E. Taylor Professor of Mechanics in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Her research focuses on using theoretical and computational mechanics to find new applications for existing materials and design new materials and microstructures. She received her Ph.D. and habilitation degrees from the University of Lille.

“What brought me to UA is the vision for the college and a unique environment in the MSE department, which fosters innovation and promotes integration between mechanics and materials,” she said.

Tomas Cerny – software engineering

Cerny earned his Ph.D. in information science and computer engineering from Czech Technical University and served as an assistant professor of computer science at the same university from 2009 to 2017. He went on to become a postdoc, then an assistant and associate professor in software engineering, at Baylor University. He researches software engineering targeting cloud-native systems design, static and dynamic analysis, security assessments, and aspect-oriented programming.

He is joining the UA for its “new software engineering program, great people, and leadership in the SIE Department.”

Cherie Devore – chemical and environmental engineering

Devore is joining CHEE as an assistant professor after working as a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. She received her Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of New Mexico. She is also a member of the UA’s Indigenous Resilience Center.

Devore’s research includes investigating the biogeochemical processes that affect the accumulation of metals and microbial community changes in areas impacted by mining and wildfires.

Paraskevi "Evi" Flouda – chemical and environmental engineering

Flouda received her Ph.D. from Texas A&M and then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on polymer nanocomposites with unique morphologies and properties for energy storage applications. As portable electronics become increasingly important in our everyday lives, she seeks to bridge the gap between different materials science and chemical engineering fields to meet energy storage and sustainability needs.

“At UA’s CHEE, I found a unique departmental culture,” she said. “It’s a highly supportive and multidisciplinary environment guided by a well-defined vision with great people and dedicated leadership.”

Christos Gagatsos – electrical and computer engineering

Gagatsos first joined the UA’s Wyant College of Optical Sciences in 2018 as a postdoctoral research associate, working on a team specializing in quantum technologies. He was promoted to an assistant research professor in 2020 and joined ECE in 2023 as an assistant professor. He received his Ph.D. from ULB, Ecole Polytechnique de Bruxelles, and he also worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Warwick.

His research focuses on quantum information science and related technologies, such as quantum sensing, communications and computing.

Sen He – software engineering

Sen He earned his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and then went on to be an assistant professor in the School of Computer and Cyber Sciences at Augusta University. He now joins the UA as an assistant professor of software engineering. His research specialties include cloud computing, edge, software engineering, performance engineering and computer vision.

“The University of Arizona serves as a hub for intellectual advancement and innovation within its engineering programs,” he said. “The recently launched software engineering program is in perfect harmony with my professional aspirations, making the UA an appealing choice for me.”

Brian Kim – materials science and engineering

Kim currently works as an associate research scientist at Columbia University and will join the UA as an assistant professor in January 2024. His research focuses on building next-generation devices out of quantum materials, including atomically thin 2D materials and oxides. His central research goal is to better understand, manipulate and design unique quantum properties for new electronic, photonic and quantum technologies.

“It goes without saying that the UA is a top-notch research university,” Kim said. “There are so many excellent researchers, staff, students and resource, making it a great place to carry out research and collaborate. Moreover, Arizona is emerging as the epicenter of semiconductor industries, making the UA an even more exciting place with bright future prospects and vision.”

Mike Kwinn – systems and industrial engineering

Kwinn first came to the UA to earn a master’s degree from SIE while he and his wife, who retired as lieutenant colonels, were in the Army. They wanted to come back to Tucson ever since. Kwinn earned his Ph.D. in management science and marketing from the University of Texas at Austin, and he has also taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and at Raytheon.

Now, he returns to the department as the director of Engineering Management and a full professor of practice.

“When the position for the director of Engineering Management opened, I felt it was time to come home to this wonderful department,” he said. “I am focused on building a sense of camaraderie within our majors and greatly growing our enrollments.”

Daniel Larsson – aerospace and mechanical engineering

Larsson is joining the UA in January 2024 as an assistant professor in AME. He currently works as a graduate research assistant in a dynamic and control laboratory at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Eung-Joo Lee – electrical and computer engineering

Lee joins the university from Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, where he was a postdoctoral research fellow. He completed his Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. His research focuses on developing deep learning systems that use computationally efficient models, specifically designed for embedded computer vision systems and medical imaging applications. However, it also extends to developing intelligent systems for other applications, including unmanned vehicles, face analysis, hyperspectral imaging and surgical AI.

“I decided to work for the University of Arizona due to the strong support and friendly environment of the department,” he said. “Additionally, I can collaborate with other engineering departments, as well as the medical center.”

Eric Lutz – School of Mining and Mineral Resources

Eric Lutz has been the director of the International Safety, Health and Risk Center of Excellence since 2010. In 2019, he became director of the Mining Safety Center of Excellence for the School of Mining and Mineral Resources. Now, he is the associate director of the school and a professor of practice in the Department of Mining and Geological Engineering. Lutz holds a Ph.D. in public health from The Ohio State University and has also served in the U.S. Air Force and the Arizona Air National Guard.

Mario Romero-Ortega – biomedical engineering

Mario Ortega-Romero was selected to head the BME beginning in the fall 2023 semester. He joins the college from the University of Houston, where he served as a Cullen Endowed Professor of Biomedical Engineering, director of the undergraduate BME program and professor of biomedical sciences.

“I was drawn by the culture of collaboration, the quality of the students and faculty, and by the unified vision from University of Arizona leadership to impact biomedical engineering and health, from local to global,” said Romero-Ortega, who holds a doctorate in neuroscience from Tulane University.

Benoit Revil-Baudard – materials science and engineering

Revil-Baudard joins the university as an assistant professor in MSE, after serving as a research scientist at the University of Florida Research and Engineering Education Facilities. He holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the Paris School of Mines, and his research interests include numerical modeling of materials and forming processes, computational plasticity of metallic materials, and modeling and simulation of molecular crystals.

Ali Shamshiripour – civil and architectural engineering and engineering mechanics

Shamshiripour is joining CAEM as an assistant professor, and the Center for Applied Transportation Sciences as assistant director. He received his Ph.D. in civil (transportation) engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago, then worked as a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on the intersections between transportation engineering, urban policy and computer science.

“I am determined to help make future cities better places to live and work, including fostering sustainability, equity, welfare, well-being,” he said. “What I like the most about the UA is its dynamic and productive research culture.”

Ronald Douglas Stingelin – civil and architectural engineering and engineering mechanics

Stingelin has worked as a professional engineer in architectural engineering in Tucson for nearly 20 years, having worked on more than 100 construction projects at the University of Arizona. He joined CAEM as an adjunct instructor in 2019 and is now a professor of practice. He holds a master’s in architectural engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

“My focus centers on energy conservation in the built environment through systems commissioning, measurement and verification and prudent engineering design of commercial, institutional and district energy mechanical systems.

Yue Wang – systems and industrial engineering

Wang joins the department as an assistant professor after earning her Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering from Texas A&M University. In her research, she works to apply operations research methodologies to address challenges in supply chain management, transportation and logistics, and service operations systems. She looks forward to contributing to supply chains in areas including e-commerce, retail, semiconductors and health care. She was drawn to the UA by the SIE department.

“I felt warmly welcomed the first time I visited the department for my on-site interview,” she said. “Everyone was so nice and helpful. It is a big family where I believe I can thrive as a junior faculty member and beyond. Also, the fall and winter in Tucson is beautiful!”

Xiaodong Yan – materials science and engineering

Yan is joining the university from Northwestern University, where he worked as a postdoc in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. He earned his Ph.D. in in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Southern California. His research focuses on exploring and studying nanomaterials and physics, nano-devices and mechanisms, and new circuits and architectures for next-generation computing.

“It is an exhilarating experience to be a member of MSE at the UA, an institution that boasts a longstanding legacy of academic and educational excellence,” he said.

Additional faculty
One additional instructor will begin at the College of Engineering in January 2024.