Contact: Robbie Ward
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A team leader at Mississippi State's Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems is this year's selection for the university's Ralph E. Powe Excellence Award.
Mark F. Horstemeyer, leader of CAVS' computational manufacturing and design group and a mechanical engineering professor, was recognized for the significant impact of his research on the economic welfare of the nation, state and university.
Horstemeyer's work primarily involves CAVS-based manufacturing and design programs. He is recognized widely for developing computer modeling methodologies for various metal alloys used in a variety of automotive and other structural applications.
The annual award is a memorial to the MSU alumnus and longtime research vice president who died in 1996.
Interim MSU President Vance Watson and Kirk Schulz, vice president for research and economic development, presented the award during a campus banquet honoring faculty, staff and students for various research efforts.
Horstemeyer, a faculty member since 2002, said the Powe Award makes him feel very appreciated personally, but emphasized that his research efforts represent the combined work of many others on campus.
"It's a very humbling sort of thing to be recognized like this," he said. "I really appreciate the support of so many people; none of us can do this on our own."
The Powe Award is the second major honor the Georgia Institute of Technology doctoral graduate has received this year. Earlier, the Society of Automotive Engineers chose him for its Ralph Teetor Award that recognizes achievements in teaching and student development.
A Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Horstemeyer also holds a master's degree in engineering mechanics and a bachelor's in mechanical engineering, both from West Virginia University.
Schulz praised the CAVS leader for his many contributions that have helped set a research standard at the land-grant university.
"Mark has an exceptional research program and uses creativity, energy and vision to elevate research capabilities of those around him," Schulz said. "He brings computational simulation tools to a wide variety of different problems in mechanical engineering and materials science and has played an integral role in our recent efforts to develop a new Engineering Research Center."
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Dr. Horstemeyer at 662-325-7308 or mfhorst@me.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.