Dr. Akhlesh Lakhtakia is the Charles Godfrey Binder Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at the Pennsylvania State University. He has been elected a fellow of Optical Society of America, SPIE, Institute of Physics (UK), American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Physical Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Royal Society of Chemistry, and Royal Society of Arts. He has been designated a Distinguished Alumnus at the highest level by the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) and the University of Utah. He received the 2010 Technical Achievement Award from SPIE and the 2016 Walston Chubb Award for Innovation from Sigma Xi. His current research interests include electromagnetic scattering, surface multiplasmonics, photovoltaic solar cells, sculptured thin films, mimumes, nano-refacing of bones, bioreplication, and forensic science. Dr. Cynthia M. Furse is the Associate Vice President for Research at the University ofUtah and Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. Dr. Furse is a Fellow of the IEEE and the National Academy of Inventors. Her technological innovations and 14 patents include development of a system to locate intermittent electrical faults on aging aircraft wiring, with which she founded a successful spin off company, LiveWire Innovation. She is also a pioneering researcher in the development of telemetry antennas for medical implants, and fast methods for predicting the statistical variation in bioelectromagnetic applications. Dr. Furse teaches circuit design, electromagnetics, wireless communication, computational electromagnetics, microwave engineering, and antenna design and is currently a leader in the flipped classroom teaching method. She works to interest young students, including women and minorities, in engineering and routinely volunteers in Utah's K-12 schools. She has helped organize the Society of Women Engineers Girl Scout Night, Meet an Inventor Night, and College of Engineering High School Summer Camp. She has received numerous teaching and research awards including the 2009 IEEE Harriett B. Rigas Medal for Excellence in Teaching.
