John Schmalzel

John Schmalzel, Ph.D., P.E., is a Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Rowan University, part of the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering. He is the Founding Chair of his department and currently serves as a Senior Research Scientist at NASA-Stennis Space Center through an inter-personnel agency assignment.

Education: He holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Kansas State University (1973, 1977, 1980). Prior to Rowan, he was faculty at the University of Texas at San Antonio and served in the U.S. Army as a Clinical Automation Officer. His professional experience includes consulting for aerospace contractors and federal agencies.

Research Focus: Dr. Schmalzel specializes in intelligent sensors, biosensors, and geophysical assessment systems. His work spans renewable energy, infrastructure connectivity, robotics, and aerospace applications. Notable areas include sensor fusion for AI at the edge, soil electrical resistivity under extreme conditions, and smart transducer standards (IEEE 1451.x).

Publications & Impact: With an h-index of 825 citations, his research addresses challenges in space exploration, environmental monitoring, and smart grid technologies. Recent work includes spherical sensor arrays for mass asymmetry detection and low-power sensor systems for edge AI.

• Awards: IEEE Fellow (2008)
• Grants/Projects:
  • Flying Fish Brewery Clinic (2018-2019)
  • Novel Putter Dynamics (2013-2014)
  • Multi-Junction Photovoltaic System Test (2010-2012)

Labs & Teams: Active in NASA partnerships, CubeSat technology development, and interdisciplinary clinics addressing real-world challenges like hurricane recovery and energy assurance planning.