Steven P. Nichols

Dr. Nichols research interests include topics in engineering design and manufacturing, technology commercialization, and professional aspects of engineering practice. He currently serves in three administrative posts at The University of Texas at Austin (Area Coordinator for Dynamic Systems and Controls in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Center in the Cockrell School of Engineering, and Director of the Chair of Free Enterprise. As the Director of the Clint Murchison Chair of Free Enterprise, Dr. Nichols focus on creating and nurturing a culture of technology innovation, creativity, leadership, and entrepreneurship in the College of Engineering. As part of his activities, Dr. Nichols organized the Roden Scholar (Leadership) program and supported the start-up of the Engineering Entrepreneurship Society, and the Idea to Product (I2P) technology competition. I2P has grown from 9 teams at UT-Austin in 2002 to 72 teams in 2003. The University of Texas at Austin will serve as the host for the first International Idea to Product Competition in the Fall of 2003. Dr. Nichols has also initiated multidisciplinary research and classroom activities that encourage collaborative learning environments for students, faculty, and staff from the College of Engineering, the College of Natural Sciences, the McCombs School of Business, and the School of Law. Dr. Nichols previously serves as the Associate Chair for the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He coordinates with faculty and industrial representatives. He also prepared proposals for industrial support for Departmental Activities. Dr. Nichols also serves as a designated contact for alumni. As part of his responsibilities, Dr. Nichols has raised more than $8 million in industrial support for educational activities. Dr. Nichols previously served as the Director of the Design Projects Program. (Department of Mechanical Engineering) Dr. Nichols taught the Department's capstone design courses (ME 466K and ME 279M) for 14 years, supervising approximately 200 students each year in approximately 60 industrial sponsored projects annually. He emphasizes design methodology and has introduced material on engineering ethics, and engineering professionalism. While serving as Director for the program, Dr. Nichols has raised more than $3,920,000 in industrial and government support for undergraduate engineering design education. Dr. Nichols coordinated an interdisciplinary (collaborative) design experience among students and faculty in Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He also organized a cross-disciplinary course in entrepreneurship in cooperation with the College of Natural Sciences, the School of Business, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Law, and IC. Dr. Nichols also previously served as the Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Resources (formerly the Center for Energy Studies). CES research includes faculty in separations research, process energetics, energy economics, and environmental engineering. Dr. Nichols also serves on the board for a state agency, the Texas Energy Coordination Council. The Council recently completed a study of Market Based Methods for Encouraging Renewable Resources for the State of Texas. Dr. Nichols served as the Acting Director of the Center for Electromechanics for five years. CEM research focuses on rotating machines, but Center researchers also work in areas including resistance welding, electro-spray, and hybrid electric vehicles (suspension, control, and energy requirements). During the 1997-98 Academic Year, the Center introduced a new research program both in power quality applications and in space applications for flywheel technology developed at CEM. Dr. Nichols is a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering, and has received the Fred Merryfield Design Award from the American Society of Engineering Education. Dr. Nichols received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1975 and J.D. in Law (with honors) in 1983.