March 20, 2017
Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) at IUPUI, Dr. Jie Chen is laser-focused on student success. According to Chen, the center’s ultimate goal is that all of its graduates find good jobs. The hands-on experience gained at the IAC prepares IUPUI engineering students for a successful job search and a strong start to their careers. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the IAC conducts on-site energy audits for small to medium-sized companies within 150 miles of campus. Students analyze electrical systems and water and gas usage and research energy-saving measures to provide evidence-based recommendations. On average, IAC assessments yield a 20 percent reduction in energy costs, which can save businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars. Abdul hadi Ayoub, a master’s student in mechanical engineering, began working at the IAC his junior year at IUPUI and now serves as lead engineer. He will graduate with experience conducting more than 31 unique energy audits. Abdul plans to pursue a career as an energy engineer, work he considers very important because “it is helping to save our world.”
