[ARCHIVED NEWS RELEASE]
05-07-2020
LeTourneau University electrical engineering dual-enrolled graduate student James Allen Morrison of Tatum won First Place in the student paper competition April 3-4 at the 2020 IEEE Region 5 Annual Business Meeting and Student Activities Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Morrison took the top prize against three students from the University of Arkansas and Oklahoma Christian University in the final round. Morrison presented his research virtually using Zoom, due to the coronavirus pandemic canceling his travel plans.
The IEEE Region 5 Student Paper Competition is a three-stage event where undergraduate students from universities in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado submit their research papers to be reviewed on the local, area and regional levels.
Titled “Determining non-Newtonian Fluid Medium Characteristics using RF Techniques” Morrison’s paper will be reviewed for possible publication in the monthly IEEE Potentials magazine, a publication for 140,000 graduate and undergraduate students and young engineering professionals to address global issues, technology, trends, and career development.
“My research details methods for measuring the interactions that electromagnetic waves have with fluids that change their state with mechanical disturbances,” Morrison said.
The results of his research are useful in defining complicated materials in electromagnetic full wave simulation and possibly micro-mechanical applications. These methods provide the ability to measure unconventional materials from an electromagnetic standpoint.
Morrison is a 4+1 Master of Engineering student who began the paper for a class and extended it to a year-long undergraduate research effort, overseen by assistant professor of electrical engineering Dr. Hoo Kim.
“Starting from my sophomore year, having one-on-one review access to accomplished researcher and professor Dr. Hoo Kim made a significant impact on my research,” Morrison said. “Infusing our common faith into our workplace through constructive communication and frequent meetings to pray for guidance is a unique and highly valued opportunity offered by LeTourneau University. This project certainly has consisted of doors being opened by God and me walking through them by faith.”
LETU Dean of the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology Dr. Steve Starrett lauded Morrison’s achievement.
“There are brilliant competitors at the IEEE student competitions, so that makes winning extra special recognition of the innovation and creativity exhibited,” Starrett said.
Morrison is a member of the LEGRange Senior Design Team designed to create a GPS constellation on the university’s Longview campus to provide over-the-air testing and evaluation of adversarial signals for use in national defense. The three-year project is funded by Sandia National Labs. Faculty sponsor is LETU engineering professor Dr. Nathan Green.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is an association of professionals dedicated to the advancement of technology in electrical and computer engineering. It has over 350,000 members from over 160 countries, including more than 90,000 student members, making it the largest professional association in the world.
LeTourneau University is home to a vibrant IEEE student chapter, which hosts regular seminars presented by professionals in the field, and occasionally even senior students. LeTourneau University’s student chapter is also active in regional and national events and competitions and is a member of IEEE region 5.
LeTourneau University is the Christian polytechnic university in the nation where educators engage students to nurture Christian virtue, develop competency and ingenuity in their professional fields, integrate faith and work, and serve the local and global community. LETU offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a wide range of disciplines online and at LETU’s 196-acre residential campus in Longview, Texas, located 120 miles east of Dallas and 60 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana. For additional information, visit www.letu.edu.
Categories: Engineering
