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| Vol. 19, No. 3 | Sept. 16, 1999 |
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| Vol. 19, No. 3 | Sept. 16, 1999 |
While simultaneously pursuing his master's and doctoral degrees at UD, Martin Müeller-currently the president of an electronics development firm in Germany- published three journal articles and was awarded two U.S. patents.
His research helped Alcoa Corp. to nondestructively inspect large aluminum composite parts used in military equipment. Specifically, he devised mathematical algorithms that extend conventional tomographic imaging systems, which have traditionally been limited by small detection apertures, usually smaller than 1 meter.
"In the very near future," Müller said recently, "I'm confident that I will be able to construct a prototype of a tomographic scanner that utilizes some of the advanced features I developed at UD. This will take the effort I had made at UD full circle, so that I can make use of all the knowledge I had gained there and transform it into an advanced product."
Müller was an extraordinary student, but not unique among those who have participated in a student-exchange program involving UD and Germany's Esslingen University, says Gonzalo Arce, chairperson of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE).
Müller "exemplifies the caliber of students we can recruit through this exchange program," Arce said. "The quality of graduate-level research is of primary importance to our program. The exchange program allows us to recruit top-notch German students who make a significant difference in terms of our research output."
Spearheaded by faculty member Kenneth Barner of ECE, the UD/Esslingen exchange program recently was formalized to provide new research opportunities for additional graduate students at both institutions.
"We expect three new students per year to enter the program," Barner explained. "It's a two-year program, so once we're up and running, that will give us six students per year: three first-year students, and three second-year students."
The electrical and computer engineering department has grown dramatically in recent years, Arce said. Enrollment has "quadrupled over the past five years," he said, and the department's research budget is approaching $5 million annually.
Much of that success can be attributed to outstanding graduate students like Jorg Schwenbous. A Fulbright scholar now working for Sony Corp., Schwenbous investigated "high-definition" or digital television technologies while pursuing a master's degree at UD. His mathematical algorithms ultimately could help ensure sharper images, by allowing HDTV users to switch from one viewing format to another, Arce explained.
The student exchange program will be funded by the German government, through an agency known as DAAD (German Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst); and by matching funds from UD's College of Engineering and ECE, as well as external grants. 
-Ginger Pinholster
