Ayoub has led a team of 20 engineers in conducting 37 energy audits for companies, and recommended significant ways to save energy and cut costs. His responsibilities include: overseeing assessment projects and monitoring progress, reviewing final reports to ensure quality, working on center-related projects, recruiting and training newly hired engineers, promoting IAC and recruiting clients, and attending conferences and seminars (locally and nationally). He identifies issues from audits and report to IAC directors, runs weekly meetings, and assign teams for various audits.
“The Industrial Assessment Center has been a big part of my life,” he said. “I joined the center when I was a junior pursuing my bachelor’s degree in energy engineering. I decided to stay and get my masters in mechanical engineering with an energy focus to compliment the practical experience that I received from IAC.”
In addition, he will also receive the Management and Assessment Gradate certificate upon graduation. Ayoub is a recipient of the 2016 Elite 50 Award (top 0.5% of the graduate and professional student body) and a Best Graduate Student in School Award (Purdue School of Engineering and Technology) in 2016. He also received the IUPUI Service Award Scholarship for his dedication to serving the community.
“Abdul has played a critical leadership role in managing the growth of the center,” said Dr. Jie Chen, professor and chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of the IAC. “He is a reliable engineer and a responsible leader. Abdul has managed the center well, promoting energy efficiency at various conferences and AEE local chapter meetings, and participating in various service activities. He truly deserves this honor.”
Ayoub also is working on a research project that uses engineering modeling combined with a wireless monitoring and controlling system to optimize energy consumption of compressor system, a smart manufacturing approach, which is his thesis topic.
In addition to his academic work, he received a Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Institute Award. His goal was to develop an energy-efficient urban residential aquaponics system capable of 24-hour operation, as well as being remote-monitored and automated. He also has conducted proportion-air pump testing. He performed diaphragm pump testing, with and without MizAir (an energy saving device), to indicate whether it actually saves energy or not. A paperwas published with the results, and the device is being marketed.
Ayoub has worked on powerhouse testing as well – an electrical device that could help churches, schools and restaurants reduce their energy usage. His capstone design project focused on designing a recycled water irrigation system that uses the canal water at White River State Park instead of city water. Additionally, Ayoub received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Associate certification while helping to obtain certification for the Indianapolis City-County Building as a community-service project.
“Being part of IAC has helped me reach many goals and accomplishments,” said Ayoub. “Winning this award is very special to me. It is such an honor to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for my accomplishments in promoting the practices and principles of energy engineering. I hope that my contribution will continue to make a difference, and help in improving the world we live in today.”
