The University of Toledo University Transportation Center

Mike Titus at the CUTC Award Banquet in  Washington, DC with guest Jenna Slattery 

Mike Titus, who is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Toledo, was named the UT-UTC Student of the Year 2010. He attended the Council of University Transportation Centers annual banquet in Washington, D.C. in January where he received his award. Along with fees and expenses for attending the Transportation Research Board conference, which began the day after the dinner, he received a check for $1,000.

Mike’s primary transportation area of experience/study is on a project involving the magnetic inspection of embedded prestressing strands in box girder bridges with advanced corrosion.In the nomination for the award written by Dr. Douglas Nims of the Department of Civil Engineering and Principal Investigator on the bridge projects wrote: “Mr. Titus played a key role in the planning and execution of the first field test of a magnetic prestressing strand inspection system on a adjacent prestressed box girder bridge.  Because 10% of the square footage of bridges in Ohio are of this type, reliable inspection is very important. 

“Mike is bright, inquisitive and has good grasp of the behavior of the bridge and the characteristics of the test system.  These characteristics plus hard work enabled Mike to make key contributions to the success of this inspection.  He carried out lab experiments to design the system and ready the system for field deployment, was important in designing the field test fixtures, and helped establish the test procedures.  He, also, lead the dissection of the bridge to validate the magnetic inspection results. 

“Mike has demonstrated leadership and commitment by serving on the Civil Engineering Student Advisory Board, mentoring middle school students participating in the 2010 West Point Bridge Design Competition and by excelling at helping students for which he received the “Civil Engineering Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award”

Mike Titus with Student of the Year Award Certificate

Walter Anderson, Student of the Year 2009,with his father Greg Anderson at the Awards Banquet

Walter Anderson, who is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo, was named the UT-UTC Student of the Year 2009. Accompanied by his father, Gregg Anderson, he attended the Council of University Transportation Centers annual banquet in Washington, D.C. in January where he received his award. Along with fees and expenses for attending the Transportation Research Board conference, which began the day after the dinner, he received a check for $1,000.

Walter graduated Cum Laude when receiving both his associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Currently, he is performing research related to magnetorheological (MR) fluids. More specifically he is researching a multi-axial MR mount for use in hybrid vehicles. The physics of the mount have been theoretically captured through a mathematical derivation of the equations of motion. These equations have been programmed and simulated. A fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulation is being constructed to help verify the mathematical derivation through a numerical solution. The simulation numerically solves Newton’s second law and the Navier-Stokes equations simultaneously.

Walter enjoys collaborating in multi-disciplinary work groups and takes a results oriented approach to engineering problems. In his spare time he enjoys multi-cultural experiences, working on his car and learning different languages. He speaks French and is attempting to learn others. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and enjoys participating in their activities. 

Following the granting of his Master’s this May, he will begin work on a Ph.D. in engineering at UT.

Robert H. “Bob” Plymale, President Council of University Transportation CentersWalter Anderson, UT-UTC Student of the Year 2009, receiving his award from Peter Appel, Administrator – Research and Innovative Technology Administration, US Department of Transportation

Sarah with her husband Guy at the Awards banquet. Guy was the UT-UTC Student of the Year 2006. They are a true transportation couple

Sarah Schafer was the UT-UTC Student of the Year for 2008. She received her award at the 18th Annual Outstanding Student of the Year Awards banquet in Washington, D.C. in January.

The focus of her study is maritime and intermodal transportation freight flows. She has worked in a leadership position on several Great Lakes regional transportation projects that support the Great Lakes Maritime Information Delivery System project at the University of Toledo GISAG Center. This system is a data collection and exchange resource for public policy decision makers and regional stakeholders of maritime commerce to draw the linkage between maritime freight movements and the regional economy. Part of her function on the project team is to meet with key leaders of maritime commerce to promote the use of this system.

In addition to receiving $1000, Sarah’s registration and expenses for attending the Transportation Research Board (TRB) conference which followed the banquet were paid by the UT-UTC.

Sarah has an analytical business background and holds a BBA in Finance. She is a graduate student in Geography and Planning working on her Master’s degree. Her husband, Guy Schafer, was the UT-UTC Student of the Year recipient in 2006.

Presently he is a Senior Materials Analyst at Ohio Modular Manufacturing Company which makes the chassis for the Jeep Wrangler. He is in charge of network design for the transportation system as well as transportation cost analysis for current and potential business. He also manages the containerization for all parts.

Sarah, far right, receiving her Student of the Year certificate
from Dr. Randy Machemehl, the current President
of the Council of University Transportation Centers,
with former Secretary of Transportation Mineta and
US DOT Administrator Paul Brubaker
   

Joining Samir at dinner was his wife, Madhavi

Samir Dhar, a graduate student in the Department of Geography and Planning, was selected as the UT-UTC Student-of-the-Year. In addition to the $1,000 award, Samir received a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) Award Banquet and registration and expenses for the Transportation Research Board conference which started the following day. Joining Samir at dinner was his wife, Madhavi. Samir was one of the 46 students from across the country being recognized for their exceptional work in transportation.

 Keynote speaker at the dinner was the Honorable James Oberstar, Chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who also received the CUTC Lifetime Achievement Award.

Samir Dhar was born in Mumbai, India. He received a BS in Chemistry & Bio-Chemistry and minor in Dyes & Drugs. His MBA focused on IT, but he augmented his skill set by also working toward a Masters in Transportation Planning/GIS in the Department of Geography and Planning. 

His research has included work in developing and managing the GIS Data-Viewer for the  Upper Midwest Freight Corridor Study, developing the Great Lakes Maritime Information Delivery System for the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute, and developing the GIS of all Ports/Docks in the Great Lakes region for the US Army Corps of Engineers. He has also worked on Location-Analysis for site selection for retail outlets and fire stations; developed the EMS routing between emergency centers and trauma centers; developed a detailed regional database of international air freight import/export volumes from the US to Europe, Asia and South America; and also worked on developing the GIS for the sewer system in the City of Toledo.

Samir was selected as Student of the Year because of the integral role he played in the successful completion of the Corridor Study and the combination of IT and academic rigor he brings to his research. 

UTStudent Honored as MIOH-UTC Student-of-the-Year Chris Schroeder, a graduate student in the College of Engineering at UT, was selected as the Student-of-the-Year by the Michigan-Ohio UTC and was honored at the Council of University Transportation Centers Award Banquet in Washington, D.C. Joining him at this special occasion was his proud father, Thomas Schroeder, and MIOH-UTC assistant director, Patricia Martinico.

Chris received a $1,000 award plus registration and expenses for the Transportation Research Board conference in Washington, D.C.

Guy Schafer being congratulated for being named the Student-of-the-Year for the UT-UTC at the CUTC award banquet in Washington, DC

Guy Schafer, a graduate student in the department of Geography and Planning was named the Student-of-the-Year by the newly formed University of Toledo University Transportation Center and was recognized at the annual awards dinner of the Council of University Transportation Centers in Washington, DC on January 20th. The award is given to a student who has demonstrated technical merit and accomplishments in research, superior academic performance and displayed professionalism and leadership in transportation related work.

In addition to a $1000 cash award, Guy received funding for his expenses and registration to attend the annual Transportation Research Board conference in Washington which began the day after the awards dinner. Support for his wife to join him at the dinner was also included.
 

Guy Schaefer was born in Toledo, Ohio and remained in the area graduating from a suburban high school. He received a BA in Visual Communications from the University of Toledo in 1999. From 1998 to 2005 he worked in the transportation and logistics industry including employment at National Logistics Management where his duties included coordinating shipments and routing for Ford, General Motors and Daimler-Chrysler. In 2005, he returned to the University as a graduate assistant working toward a Masters in Transportation Planning/GIS in the Department of Geography and Planning.

His research has included work on the Upper Midwest Freight Corridor Study, work with the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute and a study commissioned by a local port authority of air freight in the mid-west including imports and exports from Europe, Asia and South America. Guy was selected as Student of the Year for the University of Toledo UTC because of the integral role he played in the successful completion of the Corridor Study and the combination of industry perspective and academic rigor he brings to his research.

In May, immediately after the end of the spring semester, Guy started his new job at Ohio Module Manufacturing Co. LLC (OMMC), a division of Hyundai Mobis, in the materials department. Within a few months he was already involved in transportation changes that saved the company significant transportation costs. OMMC is part of an innovative co-located manufacturing project with the Chrysler Group in the City of Toledo. The suppliers – Hyundai Mobis, the Kuka Group and Durr Industries – are partners in the development, construction and daily operations at the Toledo manufacturing complex. OMMC will house a rolling chassis module which will include power train and drive train components, as well as wheels and tires for Jeep Wranglers.

Those of us at the UT-UTC are pleased that this outstanding transportation professional has remained in our region and is contributing to an exciting new automotive related endeavor.