CAD/PDM Systems Professors and Supervisors

Mirko MeboldtView profile

Professor

ETH ZurichSwitzerland

Prof. Dr. Mirko Meboldt serves as a Full Professor at ETH Zurich's Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, where he holds dual leadership roles as Head of Lecturers' Conference and Deputy Head of the Institute of Machine Tools and Manufacturing. His office is located at Leonhardstrasse 21 in Zürich, Switzerland. Professor Meboldt's research spans multiple engineering domains with particular emphasis on: User-oriented product innovations New production technologies Mechanical engineering applications Biomedical device development CAD/PDM systems standardization Engineering education methodologies His recent publication portfolio reveals a distinctive interdisciplinary approach that bridges traditional mechanical engineering with cutting-edge medical applications. Key research trends include human-robot collaboration systems, intelligent medical devices for neurosurgery, augmented reality training platforms for medical procedures, advanced manufacturing processes, and AI-assisted healthcare communication analysis. This diverse research portfolio demonstrates his commitment to solving complex real-world engineering challenges through cross-disciplinary innovation. Professor Meboldt places significant emphasis on the educational impact of his work, explicitly stating that he 'regards the impact on the education of young engineers and its relevance for industry as a key motivation and benchmark for his research.' His industrial background at Hilti AG informs his practical approach to academic research, ensuring strong industry relevance across all his projects.

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Caroline MuellenbroichView profile

Senior Lecturer

University of GlasgowUnited Kingdom

Dr. Caroline Muellenbroich is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Glasgow, where she develops advanced microscopy techniques for cardiac and neuro imaging. She joined the university in 2018 and is based at the Advanced Research Centre. Her work bridges physics, engineering, and biomedical sciences to create innovative imaging solutions. Dr. Muellenbroich received her physics education at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and earned her PhD from the Institute of Photonics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow in 2012. Her doctoral research focused on adaptive optics in advanced microscopy techniques. She then pursued postdoctoral research at the Biophotonics group at the European Laboratory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy (LENS) in Florence, Italy, where she implemented confocal light-sheet microscopy for whole mouse brain imaging and functional calcium imaging in Zebrafish. From 2016-2018, she worked as a researcher with the Italian National Institute of Optics, part of the Italian National Research Council. Dr. Muellenbroich's research focuses on developing and applying advanced optical imaging techniques, particularly light-sheet microscopy, for biomedical applications. Her work spans neuroscience and cardiology, with a strong emphasis on whole-brain imaging in model organisms and cardiac electrophysiology studies. She has made significant contributions to improving imaging fidelity, developing artifact removal techniques, and creating open-source microscope hardware. Her research bridges fundamental physics with practical biomedical applications, enabling new discoveries in brain function and cardiac physiology. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on light-sheet microscopy applications in neuroscience and cardiology. Her work addresses technical challenges in whole-brain imaging, artifact reduction, and the development of novel optical approaches for studying brain activity and cardiac function. She has made important contributions to the field through both technical innovations in microscopy hardware and novel applications of these techniques to biological problems. Dr. Muellenbroich is actively involved in developing open-source approaches to microscope hardware, as evidenced by her 2022 Nature Methods publication "CAD we share? Publishing reproducible microscope hardware." Her research has been supported by various grants, though specific funding sources are not detailed in the available information. She leads research efforts in developing advanced microscopy techniques for cardiac and neuro imaging, working with interdisciplinary teams that include physicists, engineers, biologists, and medical researchers. Her laboratory likely focuses on pushing the boundaries of optical imaging to address challenging biomedical questions in brain function and cardiac physiology.

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Marcus BentinView profile

Professor

Emden/Leer University of Applied SciencesGermany

Prof. Dr. Marcus Bentin serves as Professor of Ship Technology and Dean of the Faculty of Maritime Sciences at the University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer, Germany. He actively represents the institution through memberships in the Shipbuilding Technology Society and its Education Committee, while leading research initiatives across ship technology, offshore engineering, and sustainable maritime systems. Research Focus: Bentin specializes in wind-assisted ship propulsion systems and route optimization for fuel efficiency, with significant contributions to offshore wind decommissioning logistics. His work bridges theoretical modeling and practical implementation through projects like DecomTools (Interreg, 2018-2023) for sustainable wind park dismantling and GreenSAILER (EFRE, 2016-2019) for innovative sailing vessel design. Current leadership includes the EFRE-funded cleaning robot development for offshore wind turbines (2024-2025). Publication Trends: His scholarly output (2005-2020) demonstrates consistent advancement in renewable energy integration for maritime transport, with emphasis on wind propulsion efficacy, operational optimization under environmental constraints, and shipbuilding process innovation. Key themes reveal strategic progression from foundational CAD/PDM systems research toward contemporary sustainability challenges in offshore wind logistics and emission reduction. Scientific Awards: No awards are documented in available institutional records. Research Leadership: Bentin has secured substantial funding from EFRE, Interreg, and MWK programs, directing projects including ROBUST (2010-2015) for ship resistance modeling and MarTIM (2011-2015) for LNG vessel performance measurement. His industry collaboration with Blohm & Voss Nordseewerke (2003-2009) focused on material flow simulation and PLM system optimization, demonstrating strong industry-academia translation. Research Infrastructure: As Dean, he oversees the Faculty of Maritime Sciences research ecosystem while personally leading the GreenShipping Niedersachsen Competence Center initiatives. His current EFRE-funded cleaning robot project (2024-2025) exemplifies hands-on development of specialized maritime technology solutions through interdisciplinary engineering teams.

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Amir PIRAYESHView profile

Associate Professor

ISCTE-IULPortugal

Dr. Amir Pirayesh is an Associate Professor in Operations, Supply Chain and Information Management at KEDGE Business School, France. His research focuses on supply chain optimization, process modeling, and sustainability in manufacturing and logistics systems. He holds a PhD in Industrial and Mechanical Engineering from École nationale supérieure des arts et métiers (ENSAM) and previously worked at ENSAM as an ATER (Associate Professor of Teaching and Research). He has contributed extensively to European research projects under the Factories of Future and Horizon 2020 programs. PhD in Industrial and Mechanical Engineering (ENSAM, 2014) Current affiliation: KEDGE Business School Prior affiliation: InterOP-VLab His research spans four key domains: supply chain optimization (vaccine distribution, waste recycling), smart manufacturing (collaborative robots, assembly line balancing), enterprise modeling (interoperability, conceptual frameworks), and sustainability analytics (circular economy, environmental/social integration). Recent work applies reinforcement learning to scheduling and semantic frameworks for IoT interoperability. Article trends show a strong focus on pandemic response logistics (2021-2025), followed by collaborative robotics (2024), smart grid energy management (2022-2023), and circular economy applications (2023-2025). Co-authors include M. Mohammadi, M. Karimi Mamaghan, and O. Battaia, indicating collaborations across French, Iranian, and Portuguese institutions. As a former InterOP-VLab researcher and ENSAM ATER, Dr. Pirayesh has extensive experience in model-driven enterprise management, with applications in healthcare logistics, sustainable manufacturing, and digital dentistry. He teaches courses on supply chain modeling, simulation, and information systems optimization.

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Md Ferdous AlamView profile

Research Fellow

Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States

Md Ferdous Alam is a Postdoctoral Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering , affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Previously, he earned his Ph.D. from Ohio State University and worked at Autodesk AI Lab as a research intern and collaborator. Academic Affiliations: Current: MIT (Postdoctoral Associate) Ph.D.: Ohio State University Research Collaborator: Autodesk AI Lab Research Interests focus on generative AI, reinforcement learning, and optimal control theory for manufacturing automation. His work integrates AI with hardware for real-time autonomous systems, particularly in 3D CAD/CAM and robotic manufacturing. Key projects include: Developing GenCAD for image-conditioned CAD generation Building a universal manufacturing operating system with AI at its core Advancing data-efficient reinforcement learning algorithms Creating multimodal benchmarks like DesignQA Scientific Awards include the Google Research Scholar Award 2024 in Applied Science and Best Paper Award at MSEC 2020. His publications span journals like Journal of Mechanical Design and conferences including IDETC-CIE. He is active in open-source development, maintaining repositories for autonomous manufacturing and machine learning frameworks.

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Joachim TaiberView profile

Research Professor

Clemson UniversityUnited States

Joachim Taiber is a Research Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Clemson University. He joined Clemson in 2010 after leading the Information Technology Research Office at the BMW ITRC at CU-ICAR since 2005. His research focuses on Clean Transportation and Advanced Vehicle Communication , including secure wireless networks, power/data connectivity standards for electric vehicles, and simulation of connected vehicle systems using V2I/I2V concepts. Education: Ph.D. in Technical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (1996) B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (1991) Professional Background: Prior to Clemson, Taiber held senior IT roles at BMW AG in Munich (1997–2005), where he pioneered corporate e-business initiatives and established a collaborative automotive IT benchmarking process. Earlier, he led strategic product planning at a Swiss CAD/CAM/PDM startup (1995–1997). Leadership and Affiliations: He served on Clemson's Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty executive board (since 2006), chaired IEEE IES's Automotive Standards subcommittee, and was vice-chair of South Carolina's Educational Service Broadband Commission (until 2009). He is a member of ACM, IEEE, IES, and VDI.

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Nathan W. HartmanView profile

Professor

Purdue UniversityUnited States

Dr. Nathan W. Hartman is the Dauch Family Professor of Advanced Manufacturing at Purdue University's School of Engineering Technology. As Director of the Purdue Digital Enterprise Center and Executive Director of the Indiana Next-generation Manufacturing Competitiveness Center (IN-MaC), he leads research initiatives in digital transformation, PLM, and workforce development. He has secured over $14 million in funding from agencies like NSF, DoD, and NIST, collaborating with industry giants such as Rolls Royce, Boeing, and Cummins. Education: Doctorate from North Carolina State University (2003), Master's and Bachelor's from Purdue University. His research focuses on Product Lifecycle Management , CAD Interoperability , and Industry 4.0 . His work addresses data standards, model-based definitions, and workforce strategies to bridge academia and industry. Articles highlight trends in PLM education, SME engagement with PDM tools, and standardization efforts in CAD. Scientific Awards: Dauch Family Professor (2016), Purdue Faculty Scholar (2011), and multiple awards for educational innovation and excellence in distance learning. Prof. Hartman has directed over 125 workforce development initiatives and managed a $750,000 annual research budget. He advises numerous undergraduate research projects and maintains active roles in ISO and ASME standards committees.

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Richard CrawfordView profile

Professor

University of Texas at AustinUnited States

Dr. Richard H. Crawford is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, holding the Earl N. & Margaret Brasfield Endowed Faculty Fellowship. He directs the Design Projects Program and has been affiliated with the university since 1990. His expertise spans mechanical design, geometric modeling, and engineering education. Education: BSME from Louisiana State University (1982), MSME and PhD from Purdue University (1985, 1989). Research focuses on computer-aided design, additive manufacturing, and pre-college engineering education. Notable initiatives include the DTEACh program and the UTeach Engineering track, which developed the Engineer Your World curriculum adopted by over 200 US school districts. Awards include the 1995 Fred Merryfield Design Award, 2010 Ralph Coates Roe Award, and 2011 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. His work bridges academia and industry through collaborations with Ford, IBM, and Sandia National Lab. Recent research emphasizes watertight spline modeling, additive manufacturing processes, and educational frameworks for integrating engineering into science curricula. He leads the annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium.

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Sören HilmerbyView profile

Senior Lecturer

Örebro UniversitySweden

Sören Hilmerby is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Science and Technology , Örebro University , specializing in Mechanical Engineering . He serves as Program Director for the MSc in Industrial Engineering & Management , integrating industrial expertise into academic frameworks. Research Focus: Digitalized development of sustainable products and production systems Teaching Areas: CAD (Computer-Aided Design), PDM (Product Data Management), project courses His work emphasizes strengthening the synergy between education and research in mechanical engineering. A notable publication (2016) explores curriculum innovation through the CDIO framework in engineering education. Currently affiliated with the Department of Natural Sciences and Technology , he bridges industrial practices with academic advancements, particularly in product design and operational sustainability.

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David Guerra-ZubiagaView profile

Associate Professor

Kennesaw State UniversityUnited States

David Guerra-Zubiaga is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mechatronics Engineering , Kennesaw State University, with 15 years of academic experience and 22 years of combined industrial/academic background. He holds a Ph.D. in Manufacturing Engineering from Loughborough University (UK) and has taught at institutions across USA, Mexico, and UK. Ph.D., Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University (UK), 2004 M.Sc., Manufacturing Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico), 1996 M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico), 1992 B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Madero (Mexico), 1988 His research focuses on Manufacturing System Integration , Factory of the Future, Sustainable Manufacturing, and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) . He has developed knowledge models for next-generation automation systems and pioneered integration of nanomaterials in manufacturing. Recent publications analyze digital twin implementations , blockchain applications in manufacturing security, and energy efficiency tools for eco-factories. He has led international collaborations with institutions in Switzerland, Italy, Mexico, and Spain. INP Scholarship (2017) Level 1 Investigator, Sistema Nacional de Investigadores (Mexico) He has supervised 3 Ph.D. and 23 Master's students while serving as external examiner for 17 additional theses. As Associate Editor for the International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing , he shapes discourse in advanced manufacturing research.

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H. Felix LeeView profile

Professor

Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleUnited States

Dr. H. Felix Lee is a Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's School of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan (1989), an M.S. from Oklahoma State University (1984), and a B.S. from Hanyang University, South Korea (1982). His research focuses on: Computer-integrated design/manufacturing systems Advanced CAD/CAM/CAE applications 3D modeling for productivity enhancement Operations research and simulation Continuous quality improvement methodologies Dr. Lee renovated SIUE's Manufacturing Engineering curriculum, introducing industry-relevant CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM coursework used to train both students and Boeing engineers. He secured an NSF grant for developing design tools for flexible manufacturing systems. Professional affiliations include SME, IIE, INFORMS, Tau Beta Pi, and Phi Kappa Phi.

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