From Left to Right: Ahmad Najafi, PhD, Jennifer Atchison, PhD, Aviel Chaimovich, PhD, Sorin Siegler, PhD and Aspasia Zerva, PhD
Drexel Engineering is pleased to announce one tenure award with promotion,
two faculty promotions, and two emeritus appointments for the 2024 academic
year. These accomplished engineers bring valuable expertise and
achievements that will continue to enrich the college’s academic
environment.
Ahmad Najafi, PhD, receives tenure and promotion to associate professor in mechanical
engineering and mechanics. Joining Drexel in 2017, Najafi’s research spans
biomechanics, applied mechanics, and computational science. He is a
recipient of the NSF CAREER award and multiple Drexel honors.
Jennifer Atchison, PhD, has been promoted to associate teaching professor of mechanical
engineering and mechanics. A Drexel alumna and faculty member since 2018,
she has earned several teaching awards and is the founder of “I am ME!,” supporting women in mechanical engineering.
Aviel Chaimovich, PhD, was promoted to associate teaching professor in chemical and
biological engineering. Chaimovich joined Drexel in 2019 after holding
positions as an Alexander von Humboldt Guest Scientist at the Max Planck
Institute of Colloids and Interfaces and as a Research Fellow at the Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research.
Additionally, two faculty members transition to emeriti status:
A member of Drexel’s faculty since 1982,
Sorin Siegler, PhD’s research encompasses ankle biomechanics, total joint replacements, and
human motion analysis. His ankle replacement work, funded by the Coulter
Foundation, led to a successful start-up company. Siegler holds 14 US
patents, many covering orthopedic treatment innovations, including a 2019
patent for a total ankle replacement with an anatomically-fitted talar
component. He received the 2024 College of Engineering Outstanding
Innovation Award.
Joining Drexel in 1989,
Aspasia Zerva, PhD, is an expert in structural engineering, focusing on earthquake
engineering, engineering seismology, and probabilistic methods. In 2022, she
was appointed to the National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee
(NCSTAC) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
reporting directly to Congress. Zerva received the 2015 College of
Engineering Outstanding Service Award.