Applied Engineering

Dr. Isaac Slaven

Education & Training

Doctor of Philosophy, Purdue University, Forestry and Natural Resources
     Dissertation: Technology Transfer for Improved Utilization of Wood Waste in the Central Hardwood Region
Master of Science, Purdue University, College of Technology
Bachelor of Science, Purdue University, Wood Products Manufacturing Technology

Conference Presentations

Recent Technical Presentations and Forums:

October 2018, International Association of Journals and Conferences, Orlando, FL: Examining the Effect of Curing Time on the Flexural Strength and Deflection Behavior of a Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mat, with Dr. Austin Cheney and James Proctor

November 2015, International Technical Rescue Symposium, Portland, OR: Examination of failure of fibers from synthetic rope with foreign inclusions using polarized light microscopy, with Dr. Barbara Carlsward

November 2015, Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA: Undergraduate research as a method to improve student retention, with Dr. Austin Cheney

November 2014, Association of Technology Management and Engineering Technology Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO. Predicting building thermal energy loss from the use of automatic door openers

November 2013, Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA: Opportunities in Using Mobile Pellet-Making Equipment for Energy Production, with Dr. Jerry Cloward

November 2013, Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA: Using Mobile Pellet-Making Equipment to Support Course Learning Objectives, with Dr. David Melton

November 2013, Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA: Using RFID Transponders in a Geological Application to Enhance Student Learning of Design Methodology, with Samuel Slaven

November 2013, Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA: Utilizing Faculty Advisor Models to Prepare Students for Successful Participation in an Increasingly Diverse Workforce, with Todd A. Bruns

November 2011, Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering Annual Conference, Cleveland, OH: Managing a High Risk Laboratory as a Learning Opportunity, with Glen D. Roberson

November 2011, Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering Annual Conference, Cleveland, OH: Simulating a Biofuel Production Internship in an On-campus Environment, with Dr. Douglas J. Schauer

March 2011, National Partnership for Environmental Technology Education, Knoxville, TN: Integrating Safety throughout a Wind Turbine Technician Training Program, with Ed Dennis.

October 2010, Association of Technology Management and Engineering Technology Annual Conference, Panama City Beach, FL: Developing an Effective Wind Turbine Technician Safety Program, with Ed Dennis

June 2009, Forest Products Society International Conference Technical Forums; Boise, ID: A Value Stream Mapping Analysis of Selected Wood Products Companies in Central America, with Dr. Henry Quesada-Pineda and Joanna Madrigal

June 2008, Forest Products Society International Conference Technical Forums; St. Louis, MO: A Supply Chain Management Approach to Integrating Wood into Bioenergy Production in Indiana

June 2007, Forest Products Society International Conference Technical Session Presentations; Knoxville, TN: Exploring the Feasibility of Indiana Wood Waste as a Feedstock for Ethanol Production

June 2007, Forest Products Society International Conference Technical Forums, Knoxville, TN: Exploring the Use of Indiana’s Logging Residues for Bioenergy Production

June 2007, Society of Wood Science and Technology Annual Convention Technical Forum, Knoxville, TN: A Methodology for Analyzing the Availability of Indiana’s Wood Residue as a Bioenergy Feedstock.

May 2007, Purdue University Center for Advanced Manufacturing Technical Forum, West Lafayette, IN: Feasibility of Using Logging Residue as a Biomass Feedstock.

Collaborative and Mentored Student Research Presentations:

March 2018, Drew Harris, EIU Student Research and Creative Activity Day (SRCAD), Charleston, IL, Developing a machine for cyclical testing of bolt assemblies.

March 2018, Connor Klinzing, EIU Student Research and Creative Activity Day (SRCAD), Charleston, IL, Comparative analysis of common framing nailed butt joints.

March 2018, James Proctor, EIU Student Research and Creative Activity Day (SRCAD), Charleston, IL, Tensile test of a commercially available geosynthetic cementitious composite mat.

April 2017, Fahad Alshammari, EIU Student Research and Creative Activity Day (SRCAD), Charleston, IL, The effect of painting chemicals on the strength of life-safety ropes

April 2017, Tina Bien, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, Employing polarized light microscopy to determine root causes in yarn failure in kernmantle life-safety rope manufacturing.

April 2017, Freskim Farizi, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, Does OSHA save lives?

April 2017, Taylor Fatheree, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, Comparative analysis of furniture dowel joint strength among various dowel styles.

April 2017, Kalvin Ferrill, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, The effects of light intensity and temperature on energy production in polycrystalline photovoltaic panels

April 2017, Korey Handler, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, Comparing long-term light intensity of incandescent and LED lighting sources

April 2017, Martina Karmakar, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, Performance testing of mobile device protective cases for impact reduction efficacy.

April 2017, Prasanna Koonireddy, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, Plastic usage in the United States

April 2017, Brett Lacey, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, Analyzing recent trends in a wind energy industry trade publication.

April 2017, Trey Leasher, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, Utilization of drone technology to improve tower worker safety and productivity.

April 2017, Jarrett Moore, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, Employing thermal imaging to vet product claims.

April 2017, Myles Murphy, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, Evaluation of disposable plate durability under various stresses

April 2017, Chirag Pansuriya, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, Assessment of syngas production from various biomass feedstocks.

April 2017, Gavin Peterson, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, The importance of maintaining safe amperage through residential cords.

April 2017, Vincent Roberson, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, The relative effectiveness of household lubricants for increasing drill battery life.

April 2017, Jennings Soccorso-McCoy, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, Determination of joint strength with combination glue and mechanical fasteners.

April 2017, Read Thomas, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, Determining the ill-effects of window cleaning solutions on life-safety ropes used in high-rise cleaning operations.

April 2017, Vamsi Vankayalapati, EIU SRCAD, Charleston, IL, The effect of heat treatment time on ultimate tensile strength of mild steel.

November 2016, Trey Leasher, ATMAE National Conference, Orlando, FL, Opportunities and barriers to employing drone technology on the productivity, quality, and life-safety in the telecommunication tower industry

April 2016, Garrett Creasor, National Council on Undergraduate Research, Asheville, NC, Design and Development of an Automated System used to Measure and Calibrate through Vibration Frequencies (accepted)

April 2016, Kenneth Barbee, National Council on Undergraduate Research, Asheville, NC, Performance Testing of Kernmantle Life-Safety Rope Under Various Weather Conditions (accepted)

April 2016, Ryan Naples, National Council on Undergraduate Research, Asheville, NC, Testing the Strength in Different Repurposed Fibers as Reinforcement for Concrete (accepted)

April 2016, Kenneth Barbee, 2016 Eastern Illinois University Student Research and Creative Activity Conference (EIU SRCAC), Charleston, IL, Performance Testing of Kernmantle Life-Safety Ropes Under Various Weather Conditions.

April 2016, John Morrell and Taylor Fatheree, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Design and Development of a Multiple-Stage Air-Pressure High-Speed Material Handling Device

April 2016, Andrew Bane, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Failure Rates of Various Steels under Hydraulic Pressure

April 2016, Daniel Stock, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Quantifying the Effects of Rope Grab Knots in Life Safety Applications

April 2016, Daniel Stock, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Quantifying the Effects of Nylon Rope Grabs in Life Safety Applications

April 2016, Nicholas Clayborn, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Implementation of a Reporting Strategy for an Improved Safety Culture

April 2016, Ryan Naples, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Testing the Strength in Different Repurposed Fibers as Reinforcement for Concrete

April 2016, Trey Leasher, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, The Effects of Cyclical Loading on the Performance of Clean and Silica Exposed Life Safety Ropes

April 2016, Irl Lemar, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Implementation of Combined Standard Operating Procedures and Job Safety Analysis Worksheets for Dining Services

April 2016, Andrew Bensyl and Dylan Koeppen, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Testing the Practice of High-Pressure Washing of Life-Safety Rope: Performance Evaluation

April 2016, Austin Halweg, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Rope Fiber Configuration by a High-Speed Camera

April 2016, Sam Miulli, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Predicting Inventory Requirements by Using Precipitation in the Weather Forecast

April 2016, Noah Przygoda, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Determining Safe Operating Amperages on Dry-Cell Batteries for Household Fire Prevention

April 2016, Holden Reel, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Control of Hazardous Energy in the EIU Construction Lab

April 2016, Daniel Zaklan, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Optimizing Steel Preheating Time for Oxy-Acetylene Cutting

April 2016, Amanda Bailey, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Justifying Interventions for At-Risk Student Based Upon Absences

April 2016, Andy Bane, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, An Analysis of the Effect Cutting Speed Has on Tool Temperature

April 2016, Dakota Ligon, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Examination of Soldier Rucking Performance with Respect to Body Mass Index (BMI)

April 2016, Judd Benson, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Balancing Wire Feed Rate and Weld Penetration for Optimized Production

April 2016, Nicholas Kelly, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Comparing Tips from Students and Non-Student for Delivery Drivers

April 2016, Sai Kumar Guniganti, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Examining Energy Losses in Extra High Voltage (EHV) Transmission Lines

April 2016, Daniel Stock, 2016 EIU SRCAC, Charleston, IL, Determining Predictability of Strength in Damaged Rigging Slings

March 2016, Daniel Stock, 2016 Chicago Area Construction Safety Council Conference, Oak Brook Terrace, IL, Understanding the Mechanisms by Which Synthetic Ropes and Slings Fail

November 2015, Stephany Fonseca, ATMAE National Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, Using Color-Fade Indicators as a Technique for a Proposed UV Dosimeter

November 2015, Daniel Stock, ATMAE National Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, The Effects of Finish Coating on the Hardness and Shock Strength on 4140 Steel

April 2015, Daniel Stock, Undergraduate Research Conference, Indianapolis, IN. Durability of Coatings in Firearm Finishes

April 2015, Victor De La Torre, Undergraduate Research Conference, Indianapolis, IN. Assessment and Recommendations for Harmful RF Radiation on EIU’s Campus

April 2015, Stephany Fonseca, LCBAS Research Symposium, Charleston, IL, Development of a UV Dosimeter for Applications on Synthetic Equipment

April 2015, Daniel Stock, LCBAS Research Symposium, Charleston, IL, Testing the Durability of Finishes on 4140 Steel

April 2015, Nathan Rhebergen, LCBAS Research Symposium, Charleston, IL, Testing the Efficacy of Rope Washing in Improving the Performance Strength of Life Safety Ropes

April 2015, Cody Robinson, LCBAS Research Symposium, Charleston, IL, The Effects of Wear Over Small-Radius Edges on the Strength of Life Safety Ropes

April 2015, Victor De La Torre, LCBAS Research Symposium, Charleston, IL, Determining the Irradiance of Harmful RF Radiation with Respect to Permissible Exposure Limits on EIU’s Campus

April 2015, Holden Reel, LCBAS Research Symposium, Charleston, IL, The Performance Effects of Common Truss-Fasteners Used in Residential Construction

April 2015, Dylan Koeppan, LCBAS Research Symposium, Charleston, IL, Comparing Laboratory Degraded Ropes with Field Rejected Ropes Using a Fatigue Machine

April 2015, Alexander Markwell and Brett Lacey, LCBAS Research Symposium, Charleston, IL, Evaluating the Return on Investment of a Homemade Wind Generator with Commercially Available Models

November 2014, Stephany Fonseca and Russell Melton, Association of Technology Management and Engineering Technology Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO. Quantifying detrimental effects on life safety rope

April 2014, Stephany Fonseca, 5th Annual School of Technology Student Research Symposium, Charleston, IL: Evaluation of Static Strength of a New Knot for Rope Access Applications.

April 2014, Craig Buscher, 5th Annual School of Technology Student Research Symposium, Charleston, IL: Estimating Building Thermal Loss through Automatic Doors

April 2014, Russell Melton, 5th Annual School of Technology Student Research Symposium, Charleston, IL: Producteev: A Project Management Software.

April 2014, Stephany Fonseca, National Council on Undergraduate Research, Lexington, KY, Performance Testing of a New Knot for Life Safety and Rope Access Applications

November 2013, Kent Martin, Association of Technology Management and Engineering Technology Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA: Collaborations with Campus Police Investigators to Teach Concepts for Research

November 2013, Pat Lyons, Association of Technology Management and Engineering Technology Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA: A Study of Regional Biomass Feedstock as Resources for Renewable Bio-energy

November 2013, Kent Martin, Association of Technology Management and Engineering Technology Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA: Application of Customer Service Techniques to Investigative Police Reporting

April 2013, Jason Ligotino & Chris Shuckhart, 4th Annual School of Technology Student Research Symposium, Charleston, IL: Static Testing a New Knot for Industrial Access Applications

April 2013, Robert Raschke, 4th Annual School of Technology Student Research Symposium, Charleston, IL: Individual Implications of Using Wind Energy: Which Wind is Right for You?

April 2013, Jacob Hixson, 4th Annual School of Technology Student Research Symposium, Charleston, IL: Techniques for Producing Biomass Pellets with Mobile Equipment

April 2013, Jacob Hixson, 4th Annual School of Technology Student Research Symposium, Charleston, IL: Using Mobile Equipment to Produce Pellets: Manuals that Support Course Learning Objectives

April 2013, Kent Martin, 4th Annual School of Technology Student Research Symposium, Charleston, IL: Teaching Research Concepts Through Collaboration with Campus Police Investigators.

Recent Invited Presentations and Lectures:

November 2016, OSHA-10 General Industry, Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering, Orlando, FL (gratis)

October 2015, OSHA-30 Construction, EIU School of Technology Applied Engineering and Technology students, Charleston, IL (gratis)

April 2015, OSHA-30 Construction, EIU Construction Club RSO, Charleston, IL (gratis)

February 2015, OSHA-10 Construction, National Association of Tower Erectors Annual Conference, Orlando, FL

February 2015, Competent Rigging and Signaling, National Association of Tower Erectors Annual Conference, Orlando, FL

February 2014, Rigging and Signaling for Qualified Riggers, National Association of Tower Erectors Annual Conference, San Diego, CA

October 2013, Technology Innovation from a History of Energy Crises, The 1st EIU Symposium on Science and Technology, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL

December 2012, Using Student Groups to Build Student Interest and Retention, Ivy Tech Community College Advising, Lafayette, IN

October 2010, A Total Productive Maintenance Approach to Wind Turbine Maintenance. Purdue University, IT 381: Total Productive Maintenance

July 2010, Identifying an appropriate skill set for wind turbine technicians, Windiana 2010 Conference, Indianapolis, IN

January 2010, Training the Green Workforce, Statewide Energy Curriculum Workshop, West Lafayette, IN

July 2009, Development of a Relevant Wind Energy Technology Program, Windiana 2009 Conference, Indianapolis, IN

April 2009, Addressing the Wind Energy Supply Chain Needs with Relevant Curriculum, Northeast Indiana Wind Energy Supply Chain Workshop, Fort Wayne, IN

Publications

Slaven, I. & Cheney, A. (2016). Employing Industrial Partnerships to Increase Preparation of Students through Undergraduate Research. ATMAE Whitepaper, August 2016.

Slaven, I. & Carlsward, B. (2015). Examination of failure of fibers from synthetic rope with foreign inclusions using polarized light microscopy. Proceedings: International Technical Rescue Symposium, Portland, Oregon.

Slaven, S., Slaven, I.& Anders, A. (2014) A new gripping and binding device (GABI) greatly improves preparation of natural clasts for RFID tracking. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 140(12), 06014017.

Slaven, I. & Dennis, E. (2012). Developing a Wind Turbine Safety Course for Wind Technician Training Programs. Professional Safety: The Journal of the American Society of Safety Engineers, February, 44-49.

Schauer, D., Slaven, I. & Roberson, G. (2011). Clean Energy As a Platform for Interdisciplinary Collaboration at a Technology Driven Institution. JIT: Journal of Industrial Technology, 27(2).

Slaven, I., Haviarová, E., & Cassens, D. (2011). Properties of Wood Waste Stored for Energy Production. Purdue Extension ID-421-W, Bioenergy Series. Available at http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ID/ID-421-W.pdf.

Quesada-Pineda, H., Haviarová, E., & Slaven, I. (2009). A Value Stream Mapping Analysis of Selected Wood Products Companies in Central America. Journal of Forest Products Business Research, 6.  Available at http://www.forestprod.org/jfpbr-online.html.

Šimek, M., Haviarová, E., Slaven, I. (2008). Tuhost a únosnost excentrického kování u rohových nábytkových spojů [Trans: Cam Connector Stiffness and Load Capacity of Furniture Corner Joints]. In Nábytok 2008. DF, TU vo Zvolene: TU vo Zvolene, s. 1-10., ISBN 978-80-228-1839-1 [Conference in Zvolene, Slovokia].

Slaven, I., Haviarova, E, & Ileleji, K (2008). Sources of wood and wood residues for bioenergy production in Indiana.Industrial Biotechnology, (4)1, 64-66. [Reprinted from 2007 extension publication.]

Funding & Grants

Grants, Funded Research, and Awards

Achievement and Contribution Award 2017 – Teaching, Faculty award for teaching achievements at Eastern Illinois University

FY 2017 Redden Fund Grand, Student Engagement at the Chicago Area Safety Council, $1500

FY 2016 Redden Fund Grant, Employing OSHA-30 Certifications into Multidisciplinary Curriculum” $1500

Faculty Research and Creative Activity Grant 2015-16, Analyzing the effect of bending performance using synthetic microfibers to reinforce concrete, $500 with Dr. John V. Cabage

International Technical Rescue Symposium Registration Grant, Examination of Failure of Fibers from Synthetic Rope with Foreign Inclusions Using Polarized Light Microscopy, $405, with Dr. Barbara S. Carlsward

Provost’s Award for Undergraduate Faculty Mentor 2014-15, Award for mentoring undergraduate research students

Council on Faculty Research 2015, Employing observed photodegradation in ink pigments as a safety indicator in synthetic life safety equipment, $3360

Achievement and Contribution Award 2015 – Research, Faculty award for research achievements

FY2015 Redden Fund Grant, Demonstrating Rigging Safety for Applied Engineering and Technology Students, $1495

FY2015 Redden Fund Grant, Measurement and Testing in Safety for Technology Professionals, $1500

Faculty Research and Creative Activity Grant 2014-15, A comparative analysis on projected return on investment of homemade and commercially available small wind generators. $1000,

Faculty Award for Interdisciplinary Research (FAIR) 2014-15 Performance comparison of field-rejected life-safety rope and laboratory simulated defects, $2500, with MSG Michael Gately and CPT Daniel Alix

Proposal Initiative Fund FY2015, The Development of Synthetic Application Failure Effect Testing and Investigation Program (SAFETIP) for Improved Safety Training and Accident Investigations, $7500

Provost’s Award for Undergraduate Faculty Mentor 2013-14, Award for mentoring undergraduate research students

Sponsored research, funded research contracts for investigating effects of ultraviolet light on polymer materials used in safety applications, minimum $2500.

Faculty Research and Creative Activity Grant 2013-14, The influence of building geometry in impacting thermal energy loss through open doors. $1000,

Faculty Award for Interdisciplinary Research (FAIR) 2013-14, Performance Testing of Knots for Military and Rope Access Applications, $2500, with MSG Michael Gately and CPT Daniel Alix.

FY 2014 Redden Fund Grant: “Renewable Energy for Off-Grid and Tactical Applications,” equipment grant for $1,475.

FY 2014 Redden Fund Grant: “Applications of Industrial and Construction Safety Measurement Equipment,” equipment grant for $1,340.

FY 2014 Redden Fund Grant: “Material Testing Applications for Industrial Rope Access and Fall Protection Safety,” equipment grant with Dr. David Melton for $1,350.

FY 2014 Redden Fund Grant: “CTE STEM Education Wind Tunnel Testing Project,” equipment grant led by Dr. Jerry Cloward for $1,495.

National Science Foundation: Co-PI. Grant on developing curriculum and research on biomass renewable energy at Eastern Illinois University. $199,441.

Agriscience and Technology Education Center Collaboration in Agriculture-Based Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy in Denmark. Funding to do research and mentor two students in various renewable and sustainable energy sites in Denmark. Approximate funding total for Ivy Tech segment: $17,500.

Smart Grids: Key Personnel. Grant for $4,700,000 project with multiple institutions for overall “smart grid” development in Indiana. Collaboration with Purdue University and Ivy Tech.

Electric Vehicle: Key Personnel. Grant for a $7,000,000 project with Purdue University, Notre Dame University, Indiana University and Purdue University at Indianapolis, and Ivy Tech Community College at Lafayette for development of consortium of research and application in the development of electric vehicle technologies. Ivy Tech segment: $1,200,000.

Battery Technician: Key personnel. Award for $150,000 grant to create a concentration for battery technicians at Ivy Tech Community College at Lafayette.

SAIL (Study Abroad and International Learning) Grant: Principle Investigator with Dr. Edie Schmidt, Purdue University College of Technology. $6,000 grant for development of a sustainable program for international study. Additional funding was awarded for a total of $10,000 in funding for the project.

Frequently Taught Courses

Machine Design
Safety
Applied Research in Technology
Energy Technology
Renewable Energy Systems

Research & Creative Interests

Strength degradation of life safety equipment and materials
Energy Efficiency

Professional Affiliations

ATMAE: The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering
AWEA: The American Wind Energy Association
NATE: National Association of Tower Erectors