Wichita State University
Research Facilities
Engineering Research Laboratories
The College of Engineering at WSU is well-equipped with research laboratories that allow students to keep up with the latest developments in their fields. Engineering faculty direct research laboratories where undergraduate and graduate students participate in local and nationally-sponsored projects. The National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) conducts research projects for government and industry, and also provides lab access to engineering faculty and students. Below is a partial list of faculty-directed laboratories.
Aerospace Engineering
- General Aviation Flight Lab (GAFL), led by Dr. James Steck, is located in Donald L. Beggs Hall, Room 212. This lab designs and simulates adaptive flight controls systems and develops and evaluates pilot advisory displays on an aircraft flight simulator.
- Flight Structures Lab, led by Dr. Suresh Keshavanarayana, is located in the John Bardo Center, Room 143. This lab is used for testing advanced materials and airframe structural components.
- Projects and Prototyping Lab is located in the John Bardo Center, Room 142. This lab rapidly designs, builds, tests and flies small aircraft. The unique prototypes vary in size, up to 12-ft span and 25-lbs in weight. Recent research includes autonomous cooperative soaring, control systems development, and low Reynolds Number propeller testing/analysis.
Biomedical Engineering
- Bio-Integrated Electronics and Systems Lab, led by Dr. Yongkuk Lee, is located in Donald L. Beggs Hall, Room B108. His research focuses on flexible/stretchable electronics for human health monitoring, human-machine interfaces via wearable electronics, fabrication of micro/nano-structures, bio-integrated/bio-inspired engineering, and nano-biosensors for disease diagnostics.
- Biomaterials Lab, led by Dr. Anil Mahapatro, is located in Donald L. Beggs Hall, Room B112. His reasearch focuses on biomaterials and bioengineering, 3D printing of biomaterials, bioprinting, surface modification of bio-metallic alloys, biodegradable metallic implants, nanotechnology, drug delivery, and design and optimization of bio-devices.
- Biomedical Sensors, Imaging and Modeling (BioME) Lab, led by Dr. Kim Cluff, is located in the John Bardo Center, Room 325. His research focuses on RF resonators, wearable sensors, Intracrainial Pressure (ICP), muscle damage quantification, Raman spectral analysis, peripheral artery disease muscle imaging, hyperspectral imaging, and biomedical instrumentation design.
- Mechanobiology and Biomedicine Lab, led by Dr. David Long, is located in the John Bardo Center, Room 326. His research focuses on cardiovascular mechanobiolgy, cell-tissue biophysics, instrumentation/devices to understand cell and tissue mechanobiology, identifying novel surrogate markers of diseases, gene regulation, epigenetics, cell and tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
- Multidisciplinary Human Biomechanics and Design Lab, led by Dr. Nils Hakansson, is located in the John Bardo Center, Room 324. His research focuses on musculoskeletal biomechanics, human movement computer simulation, rehabilitation engineering and technology, functional electrical stimulation, neuromuscular control, and human movement coordination.
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Computer Architecture and Parallel Programming Lab (CAPPLab), led by Dr. Abu Asaduzzaman, is located in Jabara Hall, Room 256. This lab conducts fundamental and applied research in high-performance, low-power computer systems and related fields, including computer architecture, parallel computing, embedded systems, and healthcare technology.
- Control Systems Research Lab, led by Dr. John Watkins, is located in Donald L. Beggs Hall, Room 204. This lab is working on state-of-the-art controls systems theory and its application.
- Cyberphysical System Security Lab, led by Dr. Sergio A. Salinas Monroy, is located in Wallace Hall, Room 33. This lab investigates interactions between physical and cyber components of next-generation systems, including additive manufacturing, smart grids, and personalized-medicine, in order to better protect them and their users' privacy.
- Robot Intelligence Laboratory, led by Dr. Hongsheng He, is located in Wallace Hall, Room 330. This lab focuses on the research of robot autonomy, artificial intelligence and smart perception to give an intelligent robot the ability to autonomously accomplish navigation and manipulation tasks, while interpreting human instructions and perceiving the environment.
Industrial, Systems, and Manufacturing Engineering
- Facilities Planning & Logistics Research Lab, led by Dr. Krishna Krishnan, is located in Engineering Building, Room 208B.
- Health Systems Engineering Lab, led by Dr. Laila Cure, is located in Engineering Building. This lab supports teaching and research activities involving: operations analysis, standardization and improvement, optimization of resource planning and allocation decisions, data analytics, and model-based support for complex decision-making.
Mechanical Engineering
- Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Lab is located in Donald J. Beggs Hall, Room 130. This lab focuses on investigating the fundamental physics of micro- (1-1000 microns size) and meso-scale (1-100 mm size) devices. Our principle applications are microdevices for biomedicine and energy conversion.
- Nanomaterials for Renewable Energy and Environment Lab (NREEL), led by Dr. Wei Wei, is located in Donald J. Beggs Hall, Room 130. This lab's mission is to advance the scientific frontiers of nanomaterials in order through cutting-edge technologies, including nanostructured materials: synthesis and characterizations; and advanced energy storage and conversion systems.
- Renewable Energy Lab, led by Dr. Ikram Ahmed, is located in John Bardo Center, Room 335. This lab investigates alternative sources and uses of energy, especially biogenic municipal solid waste (MSW), solar thermal, and wind, using experimental and computer simulation methods, and internet of things (IOT) for remote experimental set-ups.
- Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Lab, led by Dr. Gisuk Hwang, is located in Wallace Hall, Room 109. This lab pursues fundamental research in the thermofluid sciences and engineering, aiming at developing new clean and sustainable energy and environmental systems.
Other WSU Engineering Facilities
3DExperience Center
The 3DEXPERIENCE® Center, a partnership with Dassault Systemes, involves an interconnected community of top researchers, corporations and laboratories to accelerate innovation.The 22,000-square-foot facility at Wichita State University offers the expertise and technology for companies to accelerate their innovation. Aerospace and other industries can target improvements from concept to production and extend to operations - all while facilitating certification. The 3DEXPERIENCE Center enables companies to engage in advanced product development and the manufacturing of next-generation materials and technologies.
Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems - ATLAS
(Part of the National Institute for Aviation Research)
ATLAS – the Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems – is a multi-disciplinary manufacturing environment and engineering education program to prepare engineers and educators for the Factory of the Future and to aid the current workforce in seamlessly adapting to advancements in the workplace.
Aircraft Structural Test and Evaluation Center (ASTEC)
(Part of the National Institute for Aviation Research)
The Aircraft Structural Test and Evaluation Center houses the National Institute for Aviation Research's Full-scale Structural Test Lab. This immense facility encompasses 130,000 square feet (39,000 square meters), has a clear span of 265 feet (80 meters) and ceiling height of 48 feet (14 meters). The lab assesses the structural performance and durability of aerospace and related structures by performing full-scale and component testing (static, durability and damage tolerance), pressure cyclic testing, hail strike testing and material testing.
Center for Energy Studies
The Center for Energy Studies (CES), one of the 13 university members of the public-private Power Systems Engineering Research Center (PSERC), pursues excellence in energy and electric power industry research and advanced power system education. The CES finds innovative and efficient solutions in the areas of power systems, power quality, energy technologies and communication and control systems.
ASSURE Center of Excellence for UAS Research
(Sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration)
The center's mission is to provide high-quality research and support to autonomy stakeholders both within the US and beyond to safely and efficiently integrate autonomous systems into the national and international infrastructure, thereby increasing commerce and overall public safety and benefit.
Center of Excellence for Composites and Advanced Materials (CECAM)
(Part of the National Institute for Aviation Research)
The Center of Excellence for Composites and Advanced Materials (CECAM) is a division of the FAA’s Joint Advanced Materials and Structure Center of Excellence, established in 2004 to assist in ensuring the safe and reliable application of composites and advanced materials to commercial aircraft. CECAM is headquartered at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research.
Ennovar, Institute of Emerging Technologies and Market Solutions
Ennovar at Wichita State University provides solutions for software, technology, and support services for companies worldwide. Working with partners to address current community, workforce and research needs, the institute has designed an employment model that meets partner needs and enhances the learning process for student employees — integrating education and employment to the benefit of all.
FirePoint Innovations Center
FirePoint is a partnership between Wichita State University and the US Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command, Aviation and Missile Center (DEVCOM AvMC). We accelerate joint technology development, transfer and commercialization among DEVCOM, universities, industry and other government organizations.
GoCreate, A Koch Collaborative
GoCreate is a creative community workspace open to creators of all ages and experiences. Bring an idea and we will help make it come to life! The 18,000-square-foot space offers sophisticated tools and equipment, as well as expert training and a supportive community that can help make your prototypes, projects and dreams come true.
Jerry Moran Center for Advanced Virtual Engineering and Testing (AVET)
(Part of the National Institute for Aviation Research)
The Jerry Moran Center was opened in 2019 on the Innovation Campus to house NIAR’s Virtual Engineering and Crash Dynamics Labs. The space and updated equipment enable NIAR to expand work volume, hire more employees and provide more precise testing for clients. The facility also features additional client prep bays, which will allow multiple clients to be in the lab at the same time, while maintaining privacy during testing.
National Center for Advanced Materials Performance
(Part of the National Institute for Aviation Research)
NCAMP, the National Center for Advanced Materials Performance, works with the FAA and industry partners to qualify material systems and populate a shared materials database that can be viewed publicly. NCAMP started as a FAA-funded program within the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University and stemmed from NASA's 1995 Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiment (AGATE).
National Institute for Aviation Research
The National Institute for Aviation Research conducts research, transfers technology and enhances education for the purpose of advancing the nation's aviation industry, and to assist non-aviation industries that may benefit from aviation-related technologies.