MU Engineering Student’s Energy-Reducing Research Catches Attention from the Department of Defense
May 20, 2010
Story Contact(s):
Emily Martin, martinem@missouri.edu, (573) 882-3346
Adam Rubemeyer, a senior at the University of Missouri, received the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship from the Department of Defense (DoD) and the American Society for Engineering Education.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Adam Rubemeyer, a senior at the University of Missouri, received the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship from the Department of Defense (DoD) and the American Society for Engineering Education. The SMART program provides a scholarship for tuition and a monthly stipend. In return, awardees are required to work for the DoD after graduating for the same number of years that they received funding. The program aims to support undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, to increase the number of civilian scientists and engineers working at DoD laboratories.
Rubemeyer is among 100 students selected for the prestigious scholarship out of 3,300 student applicants. In the 14-page application, Rubemeyer highlighted his research with Boeing to reduce energy usage in the supply chain. He is an undergraduate research assistant working with the MU Center for Engineering Logistics and Distribution and Boeing, the world’s leading aerospace company. He is developing a Microsoft Excel interface that will automatically calculate shipping, transportation and fuel costs for shipments from suppliers. The module will allow them to save money by identifying the supplier with the cheapest total cost and fuel consumption.
“This is an incredible opportunity,” Rubemeyer said. “The work that I’ll get to do with the Department of Defense could potentially save lives, which is the greatest honor a person could have. With the volatility of today’s economy, a guaranteed job after graduation is more than anyone could ask for.”
Rubemeyer will graduate in December from the dual Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Master of Business Administration Program at MU. After graduating, he will work in the research and analysis division at Fort Leavenworth.