AMUG Introduces Scholarship Winners at AMUG 2019
April 1, 2019Comments
The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG), at the opening of AMUG 2019 in Chicago, IL, recognized the recipients of this year’s AMUG scholarships: Wenchao Zhou, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering at the University of Arkansas (U of A), winner of the Randy Stevens Scholarship; and Victoria Sears, pursuing a master’s degree in Bioengineering at the University of Michigan (UM), winner of the Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarship. These scholarships enable Zhou and Sears to attend AMUG 2019, as explained by Brett Charlton, AMUG scholarship chair, who introduced the recipients.
Zhou has multiple roles within the Department of Mechanical Engineering at U of A as an assistant professor, lab director and researcher. Beyond the university, he helps primary and secondary students learn additive manufacturing (AM) through a community-service-oriented and project-based organization called EAST Initiative. In his first year at U of A in 2014, he developed an AM course, which was later selected as a winner of the AM Curricula Challenge sponsored by America Makes. He founded, and now directs, the university’s AM Lab, which has invented new technologies, such as Swarm 3D Printing and Assembly, Microheater Array Powder Sintering (MAPS) and high-frequency inkjet printing. Dr. Zhou is also co-founder and CTO of Ambots Inc., a company commercializing the patent-pending Swarm 3D Printing technology.
Sears’ research for her master’s degree at UM is on biological ink for AM. Her goal is to optimize bioprintability and study resulting regenerative properties. She first developed a passion for AM through internships. Working in AM research and development at 3D Systems and Ford Motor Co., Sears acquired firsthand experience with several AM processes; compounded her own filaments; and developed post-processing techniques to improve color and surface finish of power-bed-fusion parts. She also became actively involved in the AM community during her internship at SME, where she supported the Medical Additive Manufacturing/3D Printing Work Group.
The Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarship—founded by his wife, Renee Bourdeau, and financially supported by Cimquest, Inc., is awarded annually to one college student. The Randy Stevens Scholarship, founded by Randy’s employer, In’Tech Industries, is awarded annually to one educator that emphasizes or focuses on AM.
See also: Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG)
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