Jordi Estevadeordal, NDSU professor of mechanical engineering, has been named the 2023 NDSU College of Engineering Researcher of the Year.
Estevadeordal’s research interests include advanced laser techniques, thermo-fluid and spray diagnostics, phosphorescence and infrared thermography. Since joining NDSU in 2015, he has worked diligently to develop a state-of-the-art laboratory for conducting cutting-edge research in experimental fluid measurements, transforming NDSU into one of the top universities in the nation equipped to conduct advanced flow measurements of aerodynamic systems.
“Professor Estevadeordal has made great strides in building his research program at NDSU and providing effective mentorship to junior faculty in the ME Department,” said Chad Ulven, interim chair of mechanical engineering.
“Since joining NDSU, he has been very active in establishing fruitful multidisciplinary research collaborations with colleagues across NDSU as well as with researchers in other institutions including Air Force Research Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, NASA Langley Research Center, GE Global Research Center, Office of Naval Research, and USDA Agricultural Research Service,” said Yilirim Bora Suzen, associate professor of mechanical engineering.
Estevadeordal earned his doctorate from the University of Houston. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Rex Sun, assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, was also honored for his research efforts by being named the College of Engineering Early Career Researcher of the Year.
Sun came to NDSU in 2015 as a visiting scholar and research scientist. He joined the faculty in 2018 as an assistant professor of precision agriculture and has secured millions of dollars in research funding to support his work in precision agricultural engineering using artificial intelligence and robotic technologies.
“Dr. Sun led the first team in the US to design and build a national pork grading machinery system using AI and automatic machine vision technology,” said Xinhua Jia, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering. “He has developed and nationally and internationally known research program.”
Sun serves as the associate director for the Center for Digital Agriculture and Big Data at NDSU and as the director of the NDSU Meat Quality Laboratory Recharge center. He earned his doctorate in agriculture engineering from Nanjing Agricultural University in China.
The College of Engineering’s final research award, Graduate Student Researcher of the Year, was presented to Yangchao Liao.
Liao is a doctoral student in the Civil, construction and environmental engineering department. His research work has made significant strides in the field of materials science, particularly in the use of crumpled sheets as an innovative and effective way of absorbing energy. His research has the potential to pave the way for the development of novel lightweight materials with improved mechanical properties and absorption capabilities, which could have far-reaching implications for various fields, including civil engineering.
Estevadeordal, Sun and Liao will be honored at the College of Engineering’s Scholarship and Awards Reception on Sept. 28.
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