Looking back on 2024, we reflect on an eventful and rewarding year for our group at the University of Michigan—a year of growth, achievements, and exciting new directions. Here are some highlights from the past year:
🌟 Student Success
Our students have excelled, securing full-time job offers and internships at leading academic institutions and industry giants, including City University of Hong Kong, Solventum, Meta, C3 AI, KLA, General Motors, Lucid, TSMC, Intel, Seagate, Milwaukee Tool, and Wayfair. Their accomplishments are a testament to their hard work and dedication—congratulations to all!
📖 Publications
Research productivity remained strong this year. Our group published 12 journal papers. These contributions advance knowledge in smart manufacturing, machine learning, and quality control, reinforcing our lab’s impact on the field.
💡 Research Funding
We were fortunate to secure seven research grants from NSF, DOE, General Motors, and NAWCAD. These new grants are crucial in driving our research forward, and we are deeply grateful to our sponsors for their support and confidence in our work.
📚 Teaching Milestone
This year, I had the opportunity to launch a new 400-level course, Data Science for Manufacturing Quality Control, at the University of Michigan. Teaching evaluation scores were 4.7/5 for both the course and my teaching. It was an incredible experience, and I’m deeply grateful for the overwhelmingly positive feedback. Special thanks to General Motors for sponsoring the course projects.
🚗 A Unique Commuting Experience
During the Winter semester, I navigated the challenge of commuting between Champaign and Ann Arbor, logging over 6,000 miles on the road. It was a unique experience, and I’m grateful for the relatively mild weather and the absence of major Midwest storms.
📈 A New Chapter for Our Lab
To better align with our evolving research vision, we are excited to announce our lab’s new name: Connected and Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (CIMS).
Looking Ahead to 2025
A heartfelt thank you to my students, collaborators, and sponsors for making this year so memorable. Your dedication and support have been invaluable. Here’s to an exciting and impactful 2025!