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Research Centers

The College of Engineering has several research centers and institutes that capitalize on interdisciplinary research initiatives and advance the University’s mission.

In The News: Alabama’s deadly tornado ripped through homes — and exposed vulnerabilities

March 17, 2019 - Washington Post - Center for Advanced Public Safety

Connie Moman thought these would be her last moments: huddling in her bedroom closet with her husband and her dog, feeling the wind rattle their double-wide trailer, listening to the towering trees in her yard splinter in the tornado’s grip … While praising the initiative, Laura Myers, director of the… Read more

Sources: Washington Post, Savannah Morning News (Georgia), Alton Telegraph (Illinois), San Francisco Gate, The Bryan Eagle (Texas), Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (Kentucky)

In The News: Editorial: Every Alabama county needs 24/7 state trooper coverage

March 16, 2019 - Anniston Star - Center for Advanced Public Safety

In comments to Alabama Political Reporter, ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor has said his goal is to have 670 troopers patrolling the state’s roads and highways … And that’s still below the 1,000 troopers Alabama should employ based on its geographic size and population, according to data from the Center for… Read more

Sources: Anniston Star

In The News: CAPS research shows increase in crashes around Christmas

December 21, 2018 - WBAL-AM (Baltimore, Maryland) - Center for Advanced Public Safety

David Brown, University of Alabama professor, analyzed 10 years of crash data in Alabama and found that the six days around Christmas were particularly deadly with accident numbers that were 27 percent higher than New Year’s Eve, and on New Year’s Eve everybody’s drunk, so it must be super stressful to… Read more

Sources: WBAL-AM (Baltimore, Maryland)

UA engineering professor named AVS Fellow

December 6, 2018 - By Gillian Castro - Center for Materials for Information Technology, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A University of Alabama metallurgical and materials engineering professor has received an American Vacuum Society Fellow award for her contributions to disciplines related to materials, interfaces and processing. Dr. Subhadra Gupta has been named a 2018 AVS Fellow for her research in thin film and vacuum technology… Read more

In The News: What GM’s layoffs could mean for Alabama’s auto industry

November 28, 2018 - Al.com - Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

The auto industry is still trying to process the effect of yesterday’s planned layoffs by GM … There are some dangers though. Bharat Balasubramanian, a professor of mechanical engineering and electrical and computer engineering at the University of Alabama, said the strategy could prove dangerous if fuel prices increase or… Read more

Sources: Al.com

In The News: Days leading up to Thanksgiving most dangerous, University of Alabama study finds

November 20, 2018 - Tuscaloosa News - Center for Advanced Public Safety

More than half of all vehicle crashes during the week of Thanksgiving last year occurred in the three days before the holiday, according to the annual study of state traffic data by University of Alabama researchers. In 2017, 1,400 auto crashes, or 53 percent of the wrecks for the week… Read more

Sources: Tuscaloosa News, NBC 13 (Birmingham), Montgomery Advertiser , ABC 33/40 (Birmingham)

In The News: UA engineers build structure that could survive a natural disaster

October 25, 2018 - WVUA (Tuscaloosa) - Center for Sustainable Infrastructure, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering

A building has now been made to survive the impact of an earthquake, and possibly a hurricane. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA engineers built a two-story structure to stand strong in the wake of a natural disaster. The building is designed with a special wooden material stronger than what is normally used.  Read more

Sources: WVUA (Tuscaloosa)

In The News: Put down that cell phone! Alabama lawmakers are getting closer to passing hands-free driving laws.

October 23, 2018 - Bham Now - Center for Advanced Public Safety

Hey drivers! Put down that cell phone because Alabama is on the verge of passing hands-free driving laws in March 2019. Admit it, your cell phone is your best friend. At work, at home, at the store and in the car, your phone is always right there with you …… Read more

Sources: Bham Now, WBRC 6 (Birmingham)