This semester, the Faculty of Engineering welcomed two new professors:
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Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture
Alan Dunyo Avorgbedor
Assistant Professor
Prof. Alan Dunyo Avorgbedor is an architectural historian, critical theorist, artist, and attorney admitted to practice law in Washington D.C. His architectural research focuses on culturally embodied dwelling practices in natural and built environments in sub-Saharan Africa and across the diaspora. Artistically, he works within the poetics of the image using analog media, grounded in marginal African and diasporic cultural identities and histories.
He earned his interdisciplinary doctorate from Concordia University in Montreal, his Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law in New York City, and his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from The Ohio State University. In 2018, he completed a Doctoral Residency at the Canadian Centre for Architecture.
Areas of research: African architecture; African technicity and embodied spatiality; race and architecture; post-phenomenology
Courses you teach/will be teaching: I will offer core courses in architectural history in the undergraduate program (ARCH 355: Architectural History 4) and advanced seminars on African technicities and aesthetics for graduate students. I鈥檓 currently teaching an advanced seminar, ARCH 543: Architecture & the Postcolony.
Things you鈥檙e excited to get started at 捆绑SM社区: I am excited to join the School of Architecture and begin collaborating with faculty and students to enhance architectural education and representation through my research program and grant-funded opportunities.
Favourite aspect of your work: I enjoy developing and sharing new ideas with students and inspiring their creativity for good in the world.
Last book you read: Ayi Kwei Armah, The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born
Instruments you play: Guitar. I also generate sonic textures using modular and analog noise sources.
What鈥檚 on your work/research/lab playlists? Some music that is in varying but constant rotation: Congolese Soukous, Bachata, Amapiano, Aphex Twin, Charles Gayle, and billy woods. All augmented by pink noise.
Mechanical Engineering
Mathieu Francoeur
Associate Professor
Prof. Mathieu Francoeur鈥檚 research focuses on near-field thermal radiation and its application to energy conversion and thermal management. His research interests include: modeling of near-field radiative heat transfer in complex geometries, radiative property control via man-made structures, near-field radiative transfer devices, thermophotovoltaic power generation, electromagnetic scattering, and extreme near-field heat transfer.
He received his B.Eng. and M.Sc. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from l鈥橴niversit茅 Laval in 2002 and 2004 respectively, and he obtained his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kentucky in 2010. Prior to joining 捆绑SM社区, he was a tenure-track Assistant Professor (2010-2016) and a tenured Associate Professor (2016-2022) at the University of Utah.
Areas of research: Radiation heat transfer; light-matter interactions; nanoscale heat transfer
Courses you teach/will be teaching: Thermodynamics 1; Heat Transfer
Things you鈥檙e excited to get started at 捆绑SM社区: I am excited to establish my research team and laboratory which will focus on near-field thermal radiation modeling and experiments applied to energy conversion and thermal management. I am looking forward to working with 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 students and establishing collaboration with my new colleagues.
Research/career highlight you鈥檙e most proud of: In 2019, my group published an article in Nature Nanotechnology on near-field radiative heat transfer devices that could be used to convert waste heat into electricity. The article was reported in various media outlets, including television, radio, podcasts, and newspapers.
Favourite aspect of your work: Working with students
Last place you lived: Salt Lake City, Utah
Favourite subject in school: Physics
Something you like to do during your time off: Run