Lin Named Mielnik and Harding Professor
August 19, 2016
Ching-Long Lin, the new Edward M. Mielnik and Samuel R. Harding Professor in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, spoke of his love for his work and his appreciation for this honor.
“This is an incredible day to celebrate!” declared Alec Scranton, dean of the University of Iowa College of Engineering. An appreciative audience had gathered in the Senate Chamber of the Old Capitol on August 19 to witness the investiture ceremony for engineering faculty member and researcher Ching-Long Lin, who was named the new Edward M. Mielnik and Samuel R. Harding Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. UI Provost P. Barry Butler and College of Engineering Dean Alec Scranton presented Lin with a medallion to signify the honor.
Butler, who is also executive vice president of the university, noted that even in a community of outstanding academics such as the one we enjoy at the University of Iowa, “There are people who stand out above others.” Lin is such an individual, Butler said. Scranton emphasized the importance of excellent faculty to the life of the university. “You’re only as good as your people,” he said.
Lin, who joined the UI faculty in 1997, told the assembled audience of his love for the state of Iowa and the university. “Iowa City is my home,” he said. Lin thanked his family, his faculty colleagues and mentors, and the donors, C. Allan Poots and Jennifer R. Niebyl, M.D., who made the new named professorship possible.
“I am grateful for this honor, but even more so, I am thankful for the work itself,” Lin said. “I am fortunate to be able to say that I truly love my work—mentoring students and conducting exciting, meaningful research.”
Ching-Long Lin (center) wears the medallion signifying his new status as the Edward M. Mielnik and Samuel R. Harding Professor in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, while Dean of Engineering Alec Scranton (left) and UI Foundation President Lynette Marshall applaud to show their approval.
Lin is part of a project to develop a digital model of the human lung, supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He focuses on the interactions among pulmonary airflow, lung mechanics, and cell response, with the goal of understanding the human airway defense system in healthy and diseased lungs.
Lin is also professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, and currently serves as departmental executive officer of his department. In addition, he is an IIHR research engineer, as well as professor in the graduate program in Applied Mathematical and Computational Sciences.
