As you have read in previous issues of Michigan Engineer, the College of Engineering is investing heavily in three overlapping research areas: cellular and molecular biotechnology, information technology, and nanotechnology and integrated microsystems. These research areas are critical to meeting society's grand challenges and satisfying future needs, including: delivering affordable healthcare, repairing our nation's aging infrastructure, ensuring homeland security, and providing safe drinking water and a pollution-free environment. In this issue of the Michigan Engineer we focus primarily on our research in the area of nanotechnology and how our efforts are being used to address our society's challenges and needs.

"Nanotechnology" refers to a wide range of activities that involve building nanoscale structures (i.e., structures for which the relevant unit of measure is the nanometer, or about 1/50,000 the diameter of a human hair). In this miniscule realm, engineering is not confined to traditional engineering techniques.

College of Engineering researchers are collaborating with colleagues in various fields to build organic and inorganic nanostructures atom-by-atom and molecule-by-molecule. We have also been developing machining and etching techniques that yield nanomaterials with specific properties. For example, our researchers have developed an ultra-short pulsed laser capable of nanomachining features as small as 50 nanometers. Lasers such as these will become significant tools in building nanostructures. We have also developed techniques that enable nanoparticles to self-assemble into wires, sheets, shells and other unusual structures. It is expected that such techniques will be used to fabricate new materials and devices for a variety of applications -- for example, medical imaging technologies that will make it possible to identify, target and treat disease in individual cells; nanoparticles that remove toxic metals from groundwater; nano-films that will help in the development of more efficient solar cells and fuel cells; and nanocomposities to combat chemical and biological terrorism.

In order to support our growing research in nanotechnology, we will be breaking ground this April for a major expansion of our Solid-State Electronics Laboratory. This project, which is part of the College's Progress & Promise: 150th Anniversary Campaign, will double the size of the "clean room," upgrade equipment and address safety and systems infrastructure needs, and is being made possible with the strong support of our alumni, friends and corporate sponsors.

In addition to the major thrust areas mentioned previously, we remain engaged in other research areas that also are critical to our mission of bettering lives through engineering. For instance, in this issue you will read the story "A Robot That Walks the Walk," which chronicles the progress of EECS Professor Jessy Grizzle and his team in developing an algorithm that allows two-legged walking machines to balance like humans.  This research has significant applications for "smart" prosthetics that adjust to the wearer, and in rehabilitative aids that help spinal injury patients re-learn to walk. Of course, you'll also read news about alumni, faculty and students, all of whom are the lifeblood of Michigan Engineering.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Michigan Engineer. It is yet another celebration of the College, of which you are an integral part.

Sincerely,

Stephen W. Director
Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering