In fall 2016, three key endowed chair positions were filled in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, paving the way for cutting-edge research in some of Clemson’s priority areas.
The Duke Energy Smart Grid Technology Chair Endowment was established by Duke Energy and the SmartState SC program in 2013 to create an endowed faculty chair position at the Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI) in North Charleston, SC. This endowment created the Duke Energy Smart Grid Technology Endowed Chair and two distinguished professorships. In October 2016, the Duke Energy Endowed Chair position was filled by Dr. Johan Enslin, an expert in power system planning, power electronics, and the integration of large-scale solar and wind power to the electric grid. Enslin joined Clemson after leading the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at UNC Charlotte. As the Duke Energy Endowed Chair, Enslin will lead the development and growth of research initiatives in emerging electric-grid technologies. Read more about Dr. Enslin and his new role at Clemson.
The Michelin Endowed Chair in Vehicle Automation was established by Michelin and the SmartState SC program in 2004 to support a faculty position at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). In October 2016, Dr. Venkat Krovi was named the Michelin Endowed Chair. Krovi joins the Clemson faculty after 15 years at the University of Buffalo. He has a wide-ranging background in robotics, but is now focusing on autonomous vehicles, a field that could bring major changes to driving. During his time at the University of Buffalo, Krovi built an international reputation as a highly regarded expert in robotics, and among many other achievements, helped secure the University’s Tier-1 membership in the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute. As the Michelin Endowed Chair, Krovi will work with regional collaborators in the Upstate and beyond. Read more about Dr. Krovi and his new role at Clemson.
The BMW SmartState Chair in Automotive Manufacturing was established by BMW Manufacturing Co. and the SmartState SC program in 2003. In December 2016, Dr. Laine Mears, professor of automotive engineering at Clemson, was named to this esteemed faculty position. Mears has been a faculty member at Clemson since 2006 and has more than 10 years of experience in the automotive industry. As the BMW SmartState Chair, he will direct a new program at the Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI) in Greenville that will bring together Clemson engineers and Greenville Technical College students to work together on a prototype assembly line. Mears’ research focuses on how manufacturers can use sensors and the data they generate to better understand and streamline operations, saving money and improving quality. Read more about Dr. Mears and his new role at Clemson.
