PhD Proposal Defense - Travis Allen
A Doctor of Philosophy Proposal Defense Entitled:
Superposition of Rotating Magnetic Dipoles for Induction-based Manipulation of Conductive Nonmagnetic Objects with Application in On-orbit Servicing
By: Travis Allen
Location : MEK 3350
Committee Members:
Jake Abbott (Chair)
Tucker Hermans
Shadrach Roundy
Kam Leang
Andrew Petruska
Defense Proposal Summary:
There is a growing interest in the use of robotics to perform on-orbit servicing to refuel, repair, or upgrade space assets, and to capture and remove derelict objects from orbit. Many of these objects were not engineered to be manipulated, many are fragile, and many are tumbling in an uncontrolled way. In order for a resident space object (RSO) to be safely captured by a servicing craft, it is desirable that the RSO first be "detumbled," meaning decelerated to the point that its angular velocity with respect to the servicing craft is near zero. In some cases, the tumbling rate of an RSO or the collision risk between the object and the craft ma…
Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, November 17, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
MS Thesis Defense - Zachary Jonathan Olson
A MASTER’S THESIS Defense Entitled:
Head-Mounted Surgical Robots Afford the Precision Required for Improved Big-Bubble Formation in Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty
By: Zachary Jonathan Olson
Date: Wednesday, 11/19/25
Time: 5:00pm
Location: MEK 3350
Committee Members:
Jake Abbott (Chair)
Alan Kuntz
Brian Zaugg
Defense Summary/ Abstract: Corneal transplants are common surgeries performed 40,000 - 50,000 times in the US every year. Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) is a corneal transplantation technique that preserves the patient’s inner corneal layers, offering better outcomes and lower rejection rates than the common full-thickness transplants. However, the most common DALK method, the Anwar big-bubble technique, requires the surgeon to place a needle within a depth window of just over 100 micrometers, near the limits of human precision. Even minor head movements by the patient can cause surgical failure.
This research investigates a new approach in which a high-precision teleoperate…
Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Executive Committee Meeting
Executive Committee Meeting
For Dept. Chairs Only.
Campus Locations: Warnock Engineering Building - John and Marva (WEB). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, November 21, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Mechanical Engineering Funding Panel – Finding Success with Large Grants
Campus Wide Event: No.
Friday, November 21, 2025, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM.
Spring 2026 - Open enrollment
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, November 24, 2025.
Holiday: Thanksgiving Break (Nov 27 - Nov 30)
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Thursday, November 27, 2025 – Sunday, November 30, 2025.
Fall 2025 Full Term - Last day to reverse CR/NC option
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, November 28, 2025.
Fall 2025 Second Half - Last day to reverse CR/NC option
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, November 28, 2025.
Fall Design Day 2025
Design Day is an opportunity to share our Senior Design Showcase with the public. Seniors work in groups with mentors to design and test projects. Come see prototypes in action and learn about what is being built.
Alternate Location: Union Ballroom. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
Mechatronics Competition
Inspired by the all-time best-selling video game Minecraft, robots will compete to earn points by mining raw materials (wood, stone, iron, diamonds), which they can deliver to their treasure chest or use to craft items. Robots can earn bonus points by crafting items such as pickaxes, swords, and shields, which will also upgrade their ability to mine materials and defend themselves from dangerous creatures.
Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Fall 2025 Full Term - Classes end
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Thursday, December 4, 2025.
Fall 2025 Second Half - Classes end
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Thursday, December 4, 2025.
Fall 2025 Full Term - Reading day
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, December 5, 2025.
Fall 2025 Full Term - Final exam period (Dec 8 - Dec 12)
Academic Deadlines
For more info: https://registrar.utah.edu/academic-calendars/index.php#exams.
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, December 8, 2025 – Friday, December 12, 2025.
Goldwater Scholarship Deadline
$7500 in undergraduate funding for outstanding STEM students interested in pursuing a research Ph.D and career in a STEM field
Eligibility:
1) Be a sophomore or Junior
2) Be involved in STEM research
3) Demonstrate academic excellence\\
4) Intend to pursue a research Ph.D in STEM
5) Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, December 12, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Holiday: Holiday Recess (Dec 13 - Jan 4)
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Saturday, December 13, 2025 – Sunday, January 4, 2026.
Executive Committee Meeting
Executive Committee Meeting
For Dept. Chairs Only.
Campus Locations: Warnock Engineering Building - John and Marva (WEB). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, December 19, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Fall 2025 - Grades due
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, December 22, 2025.
Spring 2026 - House Bill 60 registration
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, December 29, 2025.
Holiday: New Year’s Day
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Spring 2026 First half - Classes begin
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, January 5, 2026.
Spring 2026 Full Term - Classes begin
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, January 5, 2026.
Spring 2026 First half - Last day to add, drop, audit, and elect CR/NC
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, January 9, 2026.
Spring 2026 First half - Last day to wait list
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, January 9, 2026.
Spring 2026 Full Term - Last day to add without a permission code
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, January 9, 2026.
Spring 2026 Full Term - Last day to wait list
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, January 9, 2026.
Spring 2026 - Deadline to apply for graduation
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, January 16, 2026.
Spring 2026 - Tuition payment due
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, January 16, 2026.
Spring 2026 Full Term - Last day to add, drop, audit, and elect CR/NC
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, January 16, 2026.
Executive Committee Meeting
Executive Committee Meeting
For Dept. Chairs Only.
Campus Locations: Warnock Engineering Building - John and Marva (WEB). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, January 16, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Holiday: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, January 19, 2026.
Spring 2026 - Census Deadline
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, January 26, 2026.
Spring 2026 First half - Last day to withdraw from classes
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, January 30, 2026.
Summer 2026 - Class schedule available
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, February 2, 2026.
Summer 2026 - Registration dates available
Academic Deadlines
Event Categories: Academic & Holiday. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, February 9, 2026.