Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology

09/09/2026

It was a pleasure to welcome Dr. Tao Ban, Chief Senior Researcher at Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), to Old Dominion University this week.

The visit began with a meeting between Dr. Ban and Dean Jeffrey Fergus, where they discussed ODU Engineering’s research capabilities and areas of mutual interest, particularly the security of AI systems. The conversation helped set the stage for subsequent meetings with ODU faculty, the director of international partnerships and the director of the School of Cybersecurity.

Dr. Ban presented state-of-the-art research underway at NICT and met with ODU engineering faculty to share research and explore opportunities for collaboration in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, wireless communications and other areas of information and communications technology.

ODU faculty members Dr. Qianlong (Ronnie) Wang, Dr. Dimitrie Popescu, Dr. Katie Smith, Dr. Otilia Popescu, Dr. Kouhyar Tavakolian and Dr. Hicham Chaoui shared their research during the visit.

Dr. Ban is part of NICT’s Center for Research on AI Security and Technology Evolution (CREATE), which focuses on making AI systems more secure and using AI to strengthen cybersecurity.

During his visit, Dr. Ban also met with Dr. Patricia Schiaffini-Vedani to discuss faculty and student exchanges and international collaboration, and with Dr. Daniel Takabi, director of ODU’s School of Cybersecurity, to discuss research opportunities focused on the security and trustworthiness of AI systems.

We look forward to building on these conversations and creating new opportunities for research collaboration between ODU and NICT.

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ODU - Engineering Technology Department, Old Dominion University - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, ODUBioelectrics, NICT.Kouhou, ODU School of Cybersecurity

09/09/2026

The Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology kicked off its Fall 2026 Engineering Research Luncheon series, hosted by Dr. Hossein Sarrafzadeh, Associate Dean of Research and Innovation.

The luncheons give faculty members an opportunity to share their research through brief, five-minute presentations highlighting their work, potential collaborations and ways they can support their colleagues.

The series is designed to foster connections, spark new partnerships and help faculty get to know one another across departments.

At the August luncheon, four presenters shared research on topics ranging from combustion and high-speed propulsion to tensors and multiple sensors for predictive maintenance, water and wastewater microbiomes, and advances in wearable and nearable technologies and cardiovascular monitoring.

Together, the presentations highlighted the college’s collaborative, applied and interdisciplinary research and its potential for real-world, mission-driven impact.

𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘥:
- Dr. Ananda S. Bhattacharjee (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
- Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun (Engineering Technology)
- Dr. Sayop Kim (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)
- Dr. Kouhyar Tavakolian (Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics)

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ODU - Engineering Technology Department, ODUBioelectrics

The Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology kicked off i...

09/08/2026

This summer, Dr. Maria Murdock toured the construction site of ODU’s new Biology Building at the invitation of one of her former students and an ODU alumnus, Denis Mwangi. Mwangi is now a project engineer with W.M. Jordan Company, the general contractor for the project.

“It was especially rewarding to see Denis working on such an exciting project and to witness the construction progress firsthand,” said Dr. Murdock. “Moments like this remind me why teaching in Construction Engineering Technology is so meaningful—seeing students apply what they’ve learned and build their careers in the field.”

09/02/2026

Eighteen incoming Old Dominion University engineering students spent a week getting hands-on experience through the Monarch Accelerator Program to Engineering (MAP2E).

Now in its third year, MAP2E introduces incoming freshmen to engineering and helps prepare them for academic success.

This year, students worked in teams on a water-filtration project. They designed and tested water filters, built sensor circuits to measure water quality, learned soldering and basic Arduino coding, and 3D-printed sensor cases in ODU’s M-Lab.

Students also toured the HRSD's Virginia Initiative Plant Tertiary Treatment Facility, participated in team-building activities, heard from current engineering students and met with faculty and college leadership.

At the end of the week, teams presented their water-filtration projects to faculty, staff and family members.

“Engineering is not always about knowing the answers,” said MAP2E Program Director Kristin Eden. “Engineering is about being willing to ask the questions.”

Established in 2023, MAP2E provides students with ongoing support throughout the academic year, including tutoring, field trips, career mentoring, and opportunities for co-ops and internships. HII, Newport News Shipbuilding is the lead industry sponsor of the program.

08/31/2026

Congratulations to Julia Conklin on receiving a Virginia Aerospace Business Association (VASBA) scholarship!

Julia is a mechanical engineering student at Old Dominion University and will be a featured student speaker at the VASBA Aerospace Gala later this month.

She graduates in spring 2027 and plans to stay at ODU for her master’s in mechanical engineering.

This summer, Julia interned with plant engineering at Newport News Shipbuilding. She also interned with Adaptive Aerospace Group in 2025.

Looking ahead, Julia hopes to work for an aerospace company and contribute to the growing aerospace industry in the Hampton Roads region.

Newport News Shipbuilding

08/13/2026

𝗗𝗿. 𝗩𝘂𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲–𝟮𝟳 𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄
Vukica Jovanovic, Ph.D., professor and chair of Old Dominion University’s Department of Engineering Technology, has been selected as a Fellow in the 2026–27 class of the Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) program at Drexel University.

Dr. Jovanovic is one of 39 senior faculty leaders from universities across the United States and Canada selected for this year’s program.

ELATES is a yearlong leadership development program for senior faculty in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The program helps Fellows develop skills in strategic planning, organizational leadership, resource management and working with diverse groups.

“I am honored to have been selected for the ELATES program,” Dr. Jovanovic said. “This is an opportunity to grow as a leader, learn from fellow department chairs at other universities and bring new ideas back to Old Dominion University and the Department of Engineering Technology.”

Dr. Jovanovic served as interim chair of the engineering technology department from 2021–2022 and in 2022 was named the college’s first permanent female chair. She joined the University’s faculty in 2012.

Her expertise and areas of teaching include smart and digital manufacturing, digital twins, robotics, mechatronics and engineering education.

As an ELATES Fellow, Dr. Jovanovic will participate in leadership training, mentoring and an institutional project focused on a challenge at her home institution. She will also join a national network of STEM faculty leaders. More than 300 faculty members have completed the program since it began in 2012.

Dr. Jovanovic’s selection builds on her leadership in engineering education. She has served in national professional organizations, participated in ABET accreditation activities and led federally funded research and education projects focused on advanced manufacturing, STEM pathways and workforce development.

ODU - Engineering Technology Department

07/28/2026

ODU Engineering students will soon use virtual reality and digital engineering tools to explore materials, manufacturing and structural mechanics, thanks to new funding from La Fondation Dassault Systèmes.

Led by Principal Investigator Dr. Oleksandr Kravchenko with Co-PIs Dr. Dalya Ismael and Dr. Michel Audette, the project, “Introducing VR Digital Twins for Structural Mechanics and Materials into the Classroom,” brings physical lab experiences directly into a virtual environment.

By combining physical material testing, micro-CT imaging, and digital simulations, the team is building interactive digital twins that let students see firsthand how materials respond to stress, damage, and material failure.

Beyond giving ODU students hands-on experience with industry-standard digital tools used in aerospace, automotive and advanced manufacturing, the project aims to develop a model for integrating VR and digital twins into engineering education.

Learn more about ongoing research in structural materials in advanced manufacturing: https://www.odu.edu/mechanical-aerospace-engineering/research/cmml

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘴: Omid Ravangard, Ray Domena, Andrew Coddington and Dr. Oleksandr Kravchenko test Virtual Reality (VR) equipment in the Solid Mechanics Lab.

ODU - Engineering Technology Department, Old Dominion University - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

07/28/2026

The Batten College of Engineering and Technology welcomed dozens of ninth- and 10th-grade students participating in the Virginia Space Grant Consortium's BLAST (Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology) program. Throughout the day, students explored a variety of engineering topics, including fluid mechanics, toured engineering labs and completed hands-on activities focused on logic gates, circuits and satellites.

Today, they're heading to the ODU College of Sciences for more STEM experiences.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the program a success!

07/27/2026

Meet two ODU Engineering students gaining hands-on experience this summer as interns with Gallo Mechanical, LLC.

𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗼 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝘀, a mechanical engineering major, and 𝗞𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗲, a physics and electrical engineering major, are among many students spending the summer building skills, making connections and exploring career paths through internships.

Headquartered in New Orleans, the company recently opened an office in Norfolk, creating new opportunities for students in our region.

A big thank you to Gallo Mechanical and all of our industry partners for providing internship opportunities that help prepare our students for successful careers.

ODU Monarch Internship & Co-Op Office, Old Dominion University, Old Dominion University - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

07/23/2026

Valkyrie Enterprises is partnering with Old Dominion University’s Batten College of Engineering and Technology to establish the Valkyrie Defense Lab through a $500,000 investment.

Led by Katie Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor in the ODU - Engineering Technology Department, the lab will provide students with opportunities to work on real-world challenges alongside industry partners while gaining experience in artificial intelligence, digital engineering, modeling and simulation, and defense technologies.

The partnership will also provide access to advanced simulation tools and help prepare students for careers in defense and national security.
Learn more: https://www.odu.edu/engineering/article/valkyrie-enterprises-partners-old-dominion-university-to-launch-digital