2026 Pigman College of Engineering Faculty Awards

YANG-TSE “Y.T.” CHENG

Frank J. Derbyshire Professor of Materials Engineering and Professor of Physics and Astronomy  

Yang-Tse Cheng, professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, with a joint appointment in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, is an internationally recognized leader in materials science and engineering, with a focus on electrochemical energy storage materials. Over his career, he has authored more than 270 publications and secured 49 U.S. patents.

Cheng’s recent accomplishments include pioneering studies on the mechanical–electrochemical coupling in battery electrodes, directly informing the design, durability, and manufacturability of next-generation energy storage systems. His work builds on decades of foundational contributions in nano- and micro-scale mechanics and instrumented indentation, enabling connections between mechanical behavior and electrochemical performance that few others can achieve.

Cheng’s impact extends beyond publications, as evidenced by more than 23,000 citations and an h-index of 81, reflecting sustained influence across materials science, chemical engineering, physics and energy research. His achievements have been recognized through election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society, the Materials Research Society and the National Academy of Inventors. His mentorship has produced 20 Ph.D. graduates now contributing to leading companies and research institutions, ensuring that his innovations in battery technology and advanced materials continue to shape practice and policy at a global scale.

ALEXANDRA F. PATERSON

Assistant Professor, Lighthouse Beacon Foundation Faculty Scholar, Materials Science (Joint Appointment Electrical Engineering)

Alexandra F. Paterson, assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, with a joint appointment in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is an internationally recognized researcher in organic mixed ionic–electronic conductors (OMIECs) whose work addresses urgent challenges in sustainability, healthcare technologies and low-cost electronics. She has published in Nature Materials, Nature Electronics, Nature Communications, Advanced Materials, and Advanced Functional Materials.

Paterson’s recent accomplishments include pioneering work on OMIEC stability, where her group developed a simple, scalable materials engineering strategy that dramatically extends device lifetimes and has been adopted broadly across bioelectronics, sensors, and neuromorphic computing. She also demonstrated the systematic overestimation of key OMIEC figures of merit, correcting the scientific record and enabling more reliable design and evaluation of devices. Her research has directly informed both fundamental understanding and practical applications, establishing her as a field-shaping presence in organic electronics.

Paterson’s influence is reflected in numerous honors, including the Beilby Medal and Prize, the American Chemical Society Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering Division Early Investigator Award, the NSF CAREER Award, the DARPA Young Faculty Award and recognition as a 2026 Rising Star by Advanced Materials. She serves on the editorial board of Journal of Physics: Materials, has delivered 28 invited talks and organized multiple high-profile conference symposia.

JULIUS M. SCHOOP

Ervin J. Nutter Professor, Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies Manufacturing Systems Engineering

Julius M. Schoop, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, has established an internationally recognized research program at the intersection of machining process science, surface integrity of machined components, digital process modeling and sustainable manufacturing. He has developed a reputation as a sought-after scientific and technical expert in the precision machining sector, which is responsible for more than $15 billion in annual revenue and plays a critical role in aerospace, defense, automotive and energy systems.

Schoop’s recent accomplishments include leading an innovative program in predictive process modeling that combines high-resolution in-situ experimentation, physics-based simulation and machine learning. This work has informed real-time optimization of machining operations and enhanced productivity, tool-life management and energy efficiency across aerospace, defense and energy systems. He has also founded the Research Alliance for Machining Performance, an industry consortium accelerating technology transfer and workforce development in precision machining.

Schoop’s research program has been supported by over $6 million in external funding as PI or co-PI, including an NSF CAREER Award, and research sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory, Army Research Laboratory, Department of Energy, and multiple industry partners. He has published 37 peer-reviewed journal papers, served as associate editor for Manufacturing Letters and the International Journal of Machining Science and Technology, and delivered numerous invited presentations.

BIYUN XIE

Assistant Professor

Biyun Xie, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is an internationally recognized researcher in robotics, specializing in safe, reliable and fault-tolerant motion planning for robotic arms operating in complex and extreme environments. Her work addresses foundational challenges in kinematic redundancy, reliability-aware motion planning and human-robot shared control, with applications ranging from space exploration and nuclear remediation to disaster response and intelligent manufacturing systems.

Xie’s recent accomplishments include securing six external research awards as PI totaling more than $2.39 million. This portfolio includes three highly competitive NSF awards through the Foundational Research in Robotics, Cyber-Physical Systems and CAREER programs. Her research integrates theoretical rigor with computational and experimental validation, producing solutions that advance both the science and practical implementation of robotic manipulation.

Xie has authored or co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications, including articles in Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Transactions on Robotics and IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters. She serves in international leadership roles, including associate vice president of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Technical Activities Board and co-chair of the Technical Committee on Algorithms for Planning and Control of Robot Motion. She is also Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Robotics and flagship international conferences such as the International Conference on Robotics and Automation and the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems.

GABRIEL B. DADI

Associate Professor; W.L. Raymond & R.E. Shaver Chair of Construction Engineering & Management

Gabe Dadi, associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, is a committed leader and mentor whose service has had a lasting impact on students, the department and the engineering profession.

Since joining the University of Kentucky in 2013, Dadi has demonstrated exceptional dedication to service across all levels of the institution. He has served in numerous leadership roles, including chairing the department’s Service Committee, participating as a University Senator and contributing to multiple faculty and administrative search committees. He has also been an active member of the College’s Scholarship Committee and Research Team.

Dadi is especially recognized for his efforts to enhance student engagement and foster an inclusive community. As faculty advisor to the National Society of Black Engineers, he has supported student success and professional development, while also promoting diversity within the college. He also established a student-led communication initiative on Instagram that strengthens connections among students and alumni.

Beyond the university, Dadi has provided extensive service to the engineering profession through 18 invited talks, reviewing for nine prestigious journals and acting as an external reviewer for multiple promotion and tenure cases. He is also a committee member for the Transportation Research Board, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the North American Association of Transportation Safety and Health Officials.

REGINA HANNEMANN

Senior Lecturer

Regina Hannemann, senior lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), is a dedicated educator whose service has significantly strengthened student engagement, multidisciplinary collaboration and outreach within the College.

Since joining the University of Kentucky in 2005, Hannemann has been committed to Capstone development as director and lead instructor of the ECE Capstone Design program. In this role, she mentors approximately 100 students each year, guiding them through complex, industry-sponsored projects that build both technical expertise and professional skills. She also assumed a central leadership role in developing the College’s multidisciplinary Capstone initiative and served as a primary organizer of the inaugural Capstone Showcase in Spring 2025.

Hannemann serves on the University Undergraduate Council, the ECE Undergraduate Committee and numerous other strategic planning efforts. Her committee service consistently focuses on curricular improvement, governance and student success.

Since 2005, Hannemann has been the counselor of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Student Branch, where she has led student teams to success in regional and national competitions. In the past five years alone, she has accompanied more than 120 students to IEEE SoutheastCon competitions, and in 2024, she was recognized with the IEEE Region 3 Joseph M. Biedenbach Outstanding Educator Award.

Her commitment to service is further highlighted by the many grant proposals she has written to support meaningful opportunities for students, in addition to advising and mentoring a FIRST Robotics Competition team.

KENTUCKY RE-ENTRY UNIVERSAL PAYLOAD SYSTEM (KRUPS) TEAM

AARON CRAMER, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Professor, DAN FRIES, Lighthouse Beacon Foundation Faculty Scholar, ALEXANDRE MARTIN, Ervin J. Nutter Professor, and SAVIO POOVATHINGAL, Lighthouse Beacon Foundation Faculty Scholar. 

The Kentucky Re-entry Universal Payload System (KRUPS) team has established the University of Kentucky as a world leader in hypersonic flight and re-entry research. Over the past five years, the team has achieved multiple historic milestones: KREPE-1 (2021) marked the first university-designed spacecraft to successfully re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and the first to fly a fully 3D-printed heat shield under re-entry conditions. KREPE-2 (2024) deployed and returned five capsules from the International Space Station, performing the first in-flight spectroscopic measurements of the shock layer during re-entry. The KREPE-3 mission (2026) tested 12 capsules with multiple geometries and thermal protection system concepts, enabling controlled comparisons of shape and material performance under identical re-entry conditions, in partnership with peer academic institutions including University of Stuttgart, University of Oxford, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, University of Maryland and The University of Queensland.

KRUPS integrates laboratory testing, computational modeling and operational flight experiments to generate unique, flight-validated datasets. These results directly advance predictive modeling, thermal protection system validation, high-temperature materials research and ablation prediction. The program also serves as a major workforce development platform, engaging over 100 undergraduate, graduate and high school students in interdisciplinary research spanning mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and computer science. Many alumni have secured positions at NASA and other aerospace organizations.

The KREPE program and its broader hypersonics research portfolio at UK have received national recognition for innovation and impact. The team’s transformative work has been honored with the International Space Station’s Research and Development Award (2022) for advancing university-led experimentation and for translating flight opportunities into high-value scientific return. In addition, the program’s leadership was recognized with the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal (2025), one of NASA’s highest honors for non-government personnel, acknowledging sustained contributions to spaceflight research, mission execution and the advancement of hypersonic re-entry science through academic–agency partnership.

KRUPS has been widely featured by NASA and in media outlets, resulted in several peer-reviewed publications and established a scalable, mission-driven model for sustained university participation in hypersonic and atmospheric entry research.

KIMBERLY WARD ANDERSON

Professor

Kimberly Ward Anderson has dedicated nearly four decades to advancing engineering education at the University of Kentucky, where she has served as a professor, mentor and academic leader. Since joining the faculty in 1987 as the College’s first female faculty member and later serving as associate dean for academic affairs from 2013 to 2023, she has inspired students and colleagues alike with her unwavering commitment to teaching excellence.

Anderson is known for her student-centered teaching approach, creating a classroom environment that is both intellectually rigorous and deeply supportive. She emphasizes active learning, critical thinking and problem-solving, often using guided instruction and interactive techniques that encourage students to participate fully in their own learning. From foundational classes to advanced topics, she consistently challenges students while building their confidence and independence. Students frequently credit her with helping them persist in demanding engineering programs, pursue research opportunities and gain the confidence to achieve their goals.

In addition to teaching, Anderson has made lasting institutional contributions to engineering education at UK. She played a key leadership role in establishing the College’s first-year engineering program, expanding living-learning communities, strengthening advising and tutoring systems, and improving student retention. She has also directed major NSF programs supporting undergraduate and graduate research, providing opportunities for students from across the country.

Anderson’s excellence in teaching has been recognized with numerous honors over the years, including the UK Provost’s Award for Outstanding Teaching, the SEC Faculty Achievement Award, the UK Excellence Award in Undergraduate Education and the Tau Beta Pi Outstanding Teaching Award.