Student Group Hosting Webinar With NASA Engineer

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University of Arkansas electrical engineering students invite the community to join a virtual seminar featuring a NASA engineer who will discuss projects he's working on for the agency, as well as what it's like to work on a major tech project during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

The seminar will feature Joseph Connolly, an aerospace engineer at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.  

The seminar will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 16. Follow this link to participate.

Connolly, who has been with NASA for 16 years, is responsible for developing an electric aircraft propulsion and power control systems for the next generation of commercial aircraft. His background is in aerospace engineering, with a Ph.D. and a B.S. in aerospace engineering from Ohio State University. Previously, he was an Instructor at Kent State University.  

In his current project at NASA, Advanced Air Transport Technology, he develops technologies in electrified aircraft propulsion with a goal of reducing emissions and improving performance for commercial aviation.

The event is hosted by the U of A student chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, also known as IEEE.  

Joel Calhoun, secretary of the U of A's IEEE chapter, said he hopes the seminar will give students an in-depth look at how engineers from the biggest tech industries are handling projects in a time of uncertainty.   

"We want students to see how a company can individually contribute to help the world with its unique platform of products," Calhoun said.  

Robert Saunders, assistant department head of electrical engineering , said he's pleased to see students take initiative to address professional issues of the day.

"What better way to address today's hot topics than to get company engineers to discuss today's online work environment and the technical challenges they need to overcome to get the job done," Saunders said.

 Please note the webinar will be limited to 1,000 participants.