Olga Pierrakos, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, James Madison University 3227 HHS Building, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 Cell: (540) 230‐7465 and Office: (540) 568‐8917, pierraox@jmu.edu (CV Updated February 2009)
EDUCATION Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia Doctor of Philosophy, Biomedical Engineering, May 2006 Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (GPA: 3.9/4.0) Dissertation: “Vortex Dynamics and Energetics in Left Ventricular Flows” Master of Science, Engineering Mechanics, December 2002 Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics (GPA: 3.96/4.0) Thesis: “Hemodynamic Flow Characterization of St. Jude Medical Bileaflet and Biological Heart Valve Prostheses in a Left Ventricular Model via Digital Particle Image Velocimetry” Bachelor of Science, Engineering of Science and Mechanics, December 2000 Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics (GPA: 3.8/4.0) Minor: Mathematics EXPERIENCE/EMPLOYMENT Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, Jan. 2008 ‐ Present • Involved with course and curriculum development of the new School of Engineering. • Involved with program‐level and ABET assessment efforts. • Conducting cardiovascular fluid mechanics and engineering education research. • Participating in STEM outreach activities in K‐12 education. National Academy of Engineering CASEE Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Engineering Education, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia Jan. ‐ Dec. 2007 • Conducted engineering education research on assessing the learning outcomes of engineering students involved in undergraduate research, capstone design, and industry internships. • Developed and administered test instruments to NSF undergraduate researchers and Virginia Tech engineering students (total student participants ~ 750). • Published findings at national and international engineering education conferences. Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia Fall 2001‐Spring 2006 • Conducted experiments on left ventricular and other cardiovascular flows including flow through stents, stenosed and bifurcating arteries using Time Resolved Digital Particle Image Velocimetry. • Developed algorithms for flow characterization in cardiovascular and other complex flows such as turbulence quantities and dissipation rates, vortex formation and dynamics parameters, signal processing, wavelet and spectral analysis. • Performed experiments and did research in other areas such as ionic polymer sensor technology, grid turbulence flows, laminar and turbulent boundary layers and viscous drag reduction. • Prepared progress reports, technical papers and aided in the writing/editing of research proposals.
Olga Pierrakos, Ph.D. Page 2 of 7 Instructor, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia • Mechanical Engineering Laboratory II (ME 4006), Department of Mechanical Engineering (285 students, co‐taught class with two professors, lectures on speaking and writing communication skills, supervised four graduate students to design two new experiments for the course) Fall 2007/Fall 2006 • Thermal‐fluids Engineering Course (ME 2124), Department of Mechanical Engineering (55 students, Course Evaluations 3.4/4.0) Spring 2006 • Thermal‐fluids Engineering Course (ME 2124), Department of Mechanical Engineering (24 students, Course Evaluations 3.9/4.0, Teaching Dean’s List) Summer 2004 • Fluid Mechanics Laboratory (ESM 3024), Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics (15 students, Course Evaluations 3.6/4.0, Teaching Dean’s List) Fall 2002 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia • Mechanical Engineering Laboratory II (ME 4006), Department of Mechanical Engineering (220 students, lectures on internal cooling channels of turbine blades) Fall 2004 • Mechanical Engineering Laboratory I (ME 4005), Department of Mechanical Engineering (20 students, supervised twelve instrumentation experiments) Spring 2005 • Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, Dynamics, Vibrations, Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics (Instructor assistant and grader of assignments and technical reports) Spring 2001 and 2002 Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Mathematics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia (Tutored undergraduate students in math and math‐related software) Fall 1998‐Spring 2000 Advising/Mentoring/Leadership Experience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia Advisor, Engineering Design and Project (ME 4015/4016), Department of Mechanical Engineering • Advised twenty‐five senior mechanical engineering students, corresponding to four senior design teams, in year‐
long capstone design experience. (Course Evaluations 3.9/4.0) • Projects varied from the design of a hand‐held probe to measure mechanical properties of knee cartilage (meniscus) in‐situ to the design of a bioreactor, a device to study the effect of mechanical stimuli on endothelial cells in a physiologic environment of a vessel construct. Fall 2006‐Spring 2007 Program Coordinator, Bioengineering and Bioinformatics Summer Institute (BBSI) Program School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Bioinformatics Institute • Managed administrative efforts of the NSF/NIH sponsored BBSI program, which offers state‐of‐the‐art summer undergraduate research experiences for undergraduates. (Program started on August 2006) • Prepared and coordinated program material such as website, online student application, organization of faculty mentors, and all recruitment efforts of the program. Fall 2006 Outreach Experience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia Outreach Volunteer, College of Engineering, Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) • Prepared and presented lectures to illustrate the diversity of engineering research (focusing on fluid mechanics, mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering) by using tangible real life examples and integrating them to contemporary research for four CEED groups (high school women, pre‐college incoming freshmen, freshman male engineers, freshman female engineers). Summer 2005‐Present • Assessed (pre and post lecture) students’ perceptions of engineering stereotypes, their appreciation and knowledge of research, their knowledge of engineering diversity, and overall impact of the experience. Mentor/Volunteer, Roanoke Valley Governor’s School (RVGS) and Christiansburg High School • Prepared and presented lectures to illustrate the diversity of engineering via use of research examples (focusing on fluid mechanics, mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering) by using tangible real life examples and integrating them to contemporary engineering research. • Mentored two high school women, one from each high school, in conducting independent engineering research projects pertaining to fluid mechanics and biomedical engineering. Spring 2006‐Present Olga Pierrakos, Ph.D. Page 3 of 7 PROPOSALS Current and Funded Proposals (1) NSF CAREER Proposal – “CAREER: Characterizing, Understanding, and Integrating Complex Problem Solving in Engineering Education” – Olga Pierrakos (PI) ‐ $400,000 – Funded (February 2009 – February 2014) (2) NSF BRIGE Proposal – “BRIGE: Understanding Engineering Students through the Lens of Identity Theory – Implications for Recruitment and Retention of Underrepresented Students” – Olga Pierrakos (PI) ‐ $174,643 – Funded (Aug. 2008 – July 2010) (3) NSF CCLI Proposal – “Design and Implementation of an Innovative Problem‐based Learning Model and Assessment Tools in Undergraduate Engineering Education” – Olga Pierrakos (PI), Ron Kander (Co‐PI), Eric Pappas (Co‐PI), Rob Prins (Co‐PI), Robin Anderson (Co‐PI) ‐ $150,000 – Funded (Jan. 2009 ‐ Dec. 2011) (4) NSF REU proposal – “REU Site: Modeling and simulation of biological networks” – Reinhard Laudenbacher (PI – Virginia Tech), Olga Pierrakos (Senior Personnel – Evaluator) – Funded (5) NSF REU proposal – “Bioengineering and Bioinformatics Summer Institute: Computational Modeling” – Rafael Davalos (PI – Virginia Tech), Olga Pierrakos (Senior Personnel – Evaluator) – Funded (6) Freddie Mac Proposal – “Integration of Computational Fluid Dynamics into ISAT and Engineering” ‐ Olga Pierrakos (PI), Chris Bachmann (Co‐PI), Karim Altaii (Co‐PI), Robert Prins (Co‐PI) ‐ $2,800 – Funded (May 2008 – May 2009) (7) Freddie Mac Proposal – “Establishing Sustainable Student‐Centered Assessment Practices” ‐ Olga Pierrakos (PI), Mary Handley (Co‐PI), Ronald Kander (Co‐PI), Robert Prins (Co‐PI), Eric Pappas (Co‐PI) ‐ $5,500 – Funded (May 2008 – May 2009) Completed and Funded Proposals (1) ASEE Cooperative Education Division (CED) Research Grant – “Collecting Empirical Evidence to Assess Cooperative Learning Experiences: Do These Experiences Lead To High Performance Engineers?” – Olga Pierrakos (PI), Maura Borrego (Co‐PI), Jenny Lo (Co‐PI) ‐ $6,500 – Funded (May 2007 – August 2008) (2) The National Academies ‐ “Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Engineering: Assessing Learning Outcomes and Skills” ‐ Olga Pierrakos (PI), Maura Borrego (Co‐PI), Jenny Lo (Co‐PI), Virginia Tech ‐ $20,000 – Funded (December 2007 – January 2008) PUBLICATIONS Journal Publications Technical Journal Publications 1. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, August 2006, “The Effect of Vortex Formation on Left Ventricular Filling Energetics,” ASME Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, Vol. 128, pp. 1‐15. 2. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, D. Telionis, December 2004, “Time Resolved DPIV Analysis of Vortex Dynamics in a Left Ventricular Model through Bileaflet Mechanical and Porcine Heart Valve Prosthesis,” ASME Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, Vol. 126, pp. 714‐726. 3. Bartell J., Pierrakos O., L. Scotten, “A Novel Assessment Technique for Prosthetic Valve Function Grounded on a New Laboratory Approach to Investigate Vortex Formation,” In Preparation. Journal Publications Engineering Education Journal Publications 1. Alley M., O. Pierrakos, C. Dancey, H. Robertshaw, “How a Large Engineering Department Dramatically Improved the Presentation Skills of Its Students,” In Preparation. 2. Pierrakos O., M. Borrego, “National Engineering Students’ Learning Outcomes Survey: Development, Reliability, and Results,” In Preparation. 3. Pierrakos O., “Undergraduate Research – What are Students Learning and What Impact are We Making?,” In Preparation. 4. Pierrakos O., “Capstone Design Projects – What are Engineering Students Learning?” In Preparation. 5. Pierrakos O., “Interdisciplinary Projects in Engineering Education,” In Preparation. Olga Pierrakos, Ph.D. Page 4 of 7 Conference Referred Publications Technical Conference Publications (presenting author is underlined) 1. Bartell J., Pierrakos O., L. Scotten, Nov. 2008, “A Novel Assessment Technique for Prosthetic Valve Function: Employing a New Laboratory Approach to Characterize Projected Dynamic Valve Area and Vortex Formation Analysis,” ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, Boston, MA. 2. Invited Plenary Talk – O. Pierrakos and P. Vlachos, August 2007, “Vortex Dynamics in Cardiac Flows,” 5th IASME/WSEAS International Conference on Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics, Athens, Greece. 3. Pierrakos, O., G. Hundley, E. Kincaid, N. Kon, June 2007, “Hemodynamic Energy Losses During Left Ventricular Filling,” Fourth Biennial Meeting of The Society for Heart Valve Disease, New York, NY. 4. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, June 2007, “Turbulent vs. Vortex Ring Energy Losses in the Left Ventricle,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Keystone, CO. 5. Rahul Kumar, G. McNeal, K. Stewart, J. Charonko, O. Pierrakos, P. Vlachos, W. Ntim, G. Hundley, C. Hamilton, W. Little, Feb. 2008, “Phase Contrast Imaging: A Novel Way of Assessing Left Ventricular Diastolic Function,” Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, California. 6. Stewart, K., J. Charonko, O. Pierrakos, R. Kumar, W. C. Little, P. Vlachos, November 2007, “Left Ventricular Filling Hydrodynamic Efficiency as a Predictive Tool for Cardiac Diastolic Dysfunction Diagnosis,” Deans' Forum on Health, Food, and Nutrition, Virginia Tech. 7. Golay, M., S. Geiger, B. Harless, B. Holzgang, D. Pugh, R. Stanhope, P. Wolfe, S. Karri, O. Pierrakos, P. Vlachos, June 2007, “Effect of Stent Design Parameters on Fluid and Structural Mechanics in Coronary Arteries,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Keystone, CO. 8. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, November 2006, “Three Dimensional Energetics of Left Ventricle Flows Using Time‐
Resolved DPIV,” American Physical Society 59th Annual Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting, Tampa, FL. 9. Vlachos P., A. Etebari, O. Pierrakos, July 2006, “The effect of an active travelling wave wall motion on the structure of a turbulent boundary layer,” ASME Fluids Engineering Division Meeting. 10. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, June 2005, “Quantifying 3‐D Anisotropic Inhomogeneous Turbulence Dissipation in Left Ventricular Flows Using a Large Eddy PIV Method,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference. 11. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, November 2005, “Quantifying the Incoming Jet Past Heart Valve Prostheses Using Vortex Formation Dynamics,” American Physical Society 58th Annual Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting, Chicago, IL. 12. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, 2004, “Identification of a New Energy Loss Mechanism for Flow Past Heart Valves,” Poster Session, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Meeting. 13. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, D. Telionis, August 2004, “Vortex Ring Formation in Left Ventricular Flow: An Energy Mechanism to Quantify Losses,” WSEAS International Fluid Mechanics Conference, Greece. 14. Pierrakos O., A. Etebari, S. Raben, S. Prakash Karri, P. Vlachos, June 2006, “Direct Dynamic Wall Shear Stress Measurements in Cardiovascular Flows: Applications to Mechanical Heart Valves,” 2006 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Amelia Island, FL. 15. Etebari A., O. Pierrakos, S. Raben, S. Prakash Karri, P. Vlachos, June 2006, “Direct, Dynamic Wall Shear Stress Measurements in Cardiovascular Flows: Application to Stenotic Vessels,” 2006 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Amelia Island, FL. 16. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, June 2005, “In‐vitro Investigation of Vortex Formation Past Mechanical and Biological Bileaflet Heart Valve Prostheses,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Vail, CO. 17. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, D. Telionis, 2002, “Characterization of Hemodynamic Performance and Degree of Flow Redirection in the Left Ventricle Dependent on the Mitral Mechanical Heart Valve Orientation,” BED‐Vol. 53, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. 18. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, D. Telionis, March 2002, “Left‐Ventricle Flow Redirection Dependence on Prosthetic Heart Valve Configuration,” Sixth Annual Hilton Head Prosthetic Heart Valve Workshop. 19. Yazdani S., O. Pierrakos, J. Berry, P. Vlachos, 2002, “Analysis of Fluid‐Stent Interaction via Digital Particle Image Velocimetry,” BED‐Vol. 53, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. 20. Etebari A., O. Pierrakos, P. Vlachos, 2002, “Automating MRI Segmentation and Left Ventricle Surface Reconstruction for Characterizing Myocardial Muscle Function,” BED‐Vol. 53, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Olga Pierrakos, Ph.D. Page 5 of 7 21. Etebari A., C. Abiven, O. Pierrakos, P. Vlachos, 2002, “High Spatio‐Temporal Resolution Digital Particle Image Velocimetry Near Compliant, Dynamically Moving Boundaries,” BED‐Vol. 53, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. 22. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, D. Telionis, 2001, “Turbulent Flow Characteristics Downstream of Biological and Mechanical Mitral Heart Valves,” Poster Session III P5.37, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Meeting. 23. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, D. Telionis, 2001, “Flow Characteristics Inside a Transparent Flexible Left Ventricle with Anatomical and Anti‐anatomical Valve Orientations,” BED‐Vol. 51, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. 24. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, D. Telionis, 2001, ”Vorticity and Turbulence Characteristics Inside Transparent Flexible Left Ventricle,” BED‐Vol. 50, ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference. 25. Etebari A., O. Pierrakos, P. Vlachos, 2001, “Development of a Virtual Scientific Visualization Environment for the Analysis of Complex Flows in the Cardiovascular System,” BED‐Vol. 50, ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference. Engineering Education Conference Publications (presenting author is underlined) 1. Pierrakos O., Nov. 2008, “A Study of Mechanical Engineering Students’ Learning Outcomes During Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences,” ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, Boston, MA. 2. Pierrakos O., R. Kander, E. Pappas, R. Prins, Nov. 2008, “An Innovative Engineering Curriculum at James Madison University: Transcending Disciplinary Boundaries Through Innovative Problem Based Learning Practices,” ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, Boston, MA. 3. Prins R., R. Kander, T. Moore, E. Pappas, O. Pierrakos, Oct. 2008, “Special Session – Engineering for a Sustainable World: How do We Incorporate Sustainability in Undergraduate Engineering Education?,” The 38th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY. (Accepted for publication) 4. Prins R., O. Pierrakos, E. Pappas, R. Kander, Oct. 2008, “Work in Progress – A Freshman Engineering Course Designed to Convey the Essence of the Engineering Program at James Madison University,” The 38th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY. (Accepted for publication) 5. Pierrakos O., M. Borrego, J. Lo, June 2008, “Preliminary Findings from a Quantitative Study: What are Students Learning During Cooperative Education Experiences?,” ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburg, PA. 6. Pierrakos O., M. Borrego, J. Lo, June 2008, “Assessing Students’ Learning Outcomes During Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences,” ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburg, PA. 7. Pappas E., R. Kander, R. Prins, O. Pierrakos, June 2008, “Liberal Education in Engineering: Social Contexts Instruction in the Sustainable Societies Engineering Program at James Madison University,” ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburg, PA. 8. Trenor J., O. Pierrakos, June 2008, “Utilizing a Social Cognitive Theoretical Framework to Investigate the Influences of a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience on Participants’ Academic and Career Plans,” ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburg, PA. 9. Pierrakos O., M. Borrego, February 2008, “Preliminary Findings from a Quantitative Study: Comparative Analysis of Students’ Learning Outcomes during Co‐ops, Research, and Capstone Design,” Center for the Integration of Science Education and Research (CISER) Conference: On Being An Engineer ‐ Cognitive Underpinnings of Engineering Education, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas. (Poster) 10. Pierrakos O., M. Borrego, J. Lo, December 2007, “Empirical Evidence to Support Interdisciplinary Projects in Engineering Design Experiences,” Eighteenth Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education, Melbourne, Australia. 11. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, June 2007, “Using Research Examples to Enhance and Stimulate Undergraduate Engineering Education: Part II,” ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Honolulu, Hawaii. 12. Pierrakos O., J. Lo, M. Borrego, June 2007, “Assessing Learning Outcomes of Senior Mechanical Engineers in a Capstone Design Experience,” ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Honolulu, Hawaii. 13. Spangler D., O. Pierrakos, June 2007, “'Establishment of an Engineering Education Program at an Accelerated Governor’s High School,” ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Honolulu, Hawaii. Olga Pierrakos, Ph.D. Page 6 of 7 14. Claydon F.J., J. M. Trenor, O. Pierrakos, September 2007, “Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site: Nanotechnology at the University of Houston,” NSF Awardee’s Meeting – Engineering Education Centers. 15. Pierrakos O., P. Vlachos, M. Alley, June 2006, “Using Research to Educate Freshmen Engineers and High School Students about the Multidisciplinary Character of Engineering,” ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, IL. 16. Pierrakos O., M. Alley, P. Vlachos, June 2006, “Translation of Biomedical Engineering Research to Undergraduate and Graduate Level Education,” 2006 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Amelia Island, FL. 17. Pierrakos O., M. Alley, April 2005 “Assessment of a Scheme to Give Graduate Students Valuable Experience Teaching A Formal Class,” American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) SE Regional Conference, Chattanooga, TN. HONORS AND ACTIVITIES •
Advisory Board Member, Girls Exploring Engineering Program, Chantilly High School in Fairfax, Virginia •
2008 Faculty Assessment Fellow – James Madison University Center of Assessment and Research Studies (CARS) •
2007 National Academy of Engineering Center for the Advancement of Scholarship on Engineering Education (CASEE) Postdoctoral Fellow •
2006 College of Engineering “Graduate Student Recruitment Weekend” Invited Speaker •
2005 Paul E. Torgersen Graduate Student Research Excellence Award (Virginia Tech) •
2005 Outstanding Research Award (Graduate Student Presentation Competition), The Virginia Tech/Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering Graduate Research Symposium •
2005 Graduate Teaching Assistant Commendation Award •
2005 Pratt Scholarship (School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences) •
AdvanceVT Doctoral Fellowship (2004/2005 Academic Year, NSF sponsored fellowship) •
P.E.O. Scholar, Idagrace Guy Endowed Scholar ($8,000) (2003‐2004, Nominated International Award, only 10% of applicants selected) •
General Electric and Virginia Tech Graduate Fellowship Scholar (2002‐2004 Academic Years) •
Academic Dean’s List for Teaching (Spring 2002, Fall 2002, Summer 2004) •
VT Center of Biomedical Engineering Graduate Scholarship ($4,500) (2001‐2002 Academic Year) •
Pratt Presidential Fellowship ($2,700) (2001‐2002 Academic Year) •
Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges Award (VT, 2000‐2001) PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) System Dynamics Society (SDS) Biomedical Engineering Society (BES) American Physical Society (APS)