Jared Garrison receiving the ASME Old Guard Early Career Award from Madiha Kotb, ASME President.
Jared Garrison, a Ph.D. student advised by Dr. Michael Webber in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin recently received the the 2013 Old Guard Early Career Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for outstanding service and leadership in both the ASME Student Section at the University of Texas at Austin and the Central Texas Section; and for contributions to society through community outreach and research in alternative energy systems.
The Old Guard Early Career Award
The was established in 1994 to help the young engineer bridge the gap between college and professional life. Its intent is to bring that individual closer to the activities of ASME by providing encouragement for graduating student members to upgrade to member and actively become involved in the work of the Society.
Academic and Research Interests
Garrison earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin (UT) in 2007 and 2009, respectively. Currently a graduate research assistant in the Mechanical Engineering Department, Garrison is working toward his Ph.D., which he hopes to earn in May 2014. He has maintained an excellent academic record while devoting a significant amount of time and energy to his numerous leadership, volunteer, research and publication activities.
Garrison's research involves modeling of electricity grids and incorporation of large-scale energy storage to aid in higher penetration of renewable energy resources. He has published five articles in peer-reviewed technical conference proceedings and one peer-reviewed article in the American Institute of Physics' Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy (July 2011 edition).
Community Service
He has participated in, planned, and led many community service activities including Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, Explore UT, Encounter with Engineering, Engineering Day at the Mall, and Engineering Day at the Museum, all of which involved hands-on activities to foster excitement about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) concepts.
Service to ASME
As an ASME member, Garrison was UT Austin's Student Section community service coordinator (2005-07), vice president (2007-08), and president (2008-09). As vice president, he began reaching out to the Central Texas Section (CTS) to build a more sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship. As president, he envisioned and helped develop both a student paper contest and a student scholarship hosted and funded by the CTS. Garrison served on the CTS Executive Committee and as college relations chair. Starting in July 2010, he advanced to CTS secretary, vice chair and chair, a position he currently holds. In January 2011, he became the official liaison between the UT Student Section and the national ASME organization. Garrison won first place in the Central Texas Student Paper Contest in 2009, was named Young Mechanical Engineer of the Year in 2010 by the CTS, and received Honorable Mention for his research poster at the 2011 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition.
Honors
Garrison is also a member of Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society; Pi Tau Sigma, the International Mechanical Engineering Honor Society; Kappa Theta Epsilon, the National CO-OP Honor Society; UT Austin's section of Engineers for a Sustainable World and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers; UT Austin's Engineering Leadership Team; Central Texas Discover Engineering; and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Among his other honors, Garrison received the UT Mechanical Engineering Department Graduate Recruitment Service Award (2010) and a Cockrell School of Engineering Graduate Student Leadership Award (2011). He has received several fellowships, including the Thrust 2000 Fellowship from the UT Austin Cockrell School of Engineering.
What's next?
After graduation in May, Garrison is planning to work in industry or at a national lab in the energy sector. His focus is on the electricity market, renewable energy and energy storage.
Video Interview (see in YouTube)
Jared Garrison joins Soren Maloney, early career engineer and member of the ASME Board on Career Development at the 2013 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exhibition to discuss Jared's accomplishments including being honored with the 2013 Old Guard Early Career Award. Jared shares some advice for other early career engineers and engineering students as he reflects on his professional background; ASME volunteer leadership roles, research in alternative energy systems; and involvement in community outreach initiatives like STEM and Mentoring efforts.
