Tom Schnell, an associate director for the UI’s Iowa Technology Institute and the Captain Jim “Max” Gross Chair in the UI College of Engineering, is the founder of the Operator Performance Laboratory. Since arriving in Iowa City 25 years ago this spring, Schnell has built the OPL into a nationally trusted aviation research hub.

Xuan Song, University of Iowa engineering professor, has received the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER award to advance research of ceramic additive manufacturing, which could benefit industries, including health care, defense, and energy.