Home

Pericytes could inspire a new species of supercomputer

A group of engineering and philosophy researchers are looking to the cells’ little-known clustering behavior for computing inspiration.

An interdisciplinary team is working on a computer based on the pericyte, a type of cell found in the brain, including (front row, from left) Moody Awad, Atharva Agashe, Noel Naughton, Suyi Li, Jun Wang, Aporva Khairnar, Yogesh Phalak, (back row, from left) Johannes Riemenschneider, Amrinder Nain, Ziyang Zhou, Benjamin Jantzen, and Gil Hersch. Photo by Alex Parrish for Virginia Tech.

One department. Three programs.

Engineering Mechanics

Mechanical Engineering

Nuclear Engineering

Senior Design Capstone Expo is Friday, May 2, from 1 to 4 PM at the Lane Stadium South Endzone Concourse.

Alumni

Industry

Undergraduate students

Graduate students

Department news briefs

Article Item

Virginia Tech Baja SAE brings home wins from Arizona , article
Article Item

Major Nuclear Reactor Accidents Presentation Series: 4 , article
Article Item

Major Nuclear Reactor Accidents Presentation Series: 3 , article
Article Item

Major Nuclear Reactor Accidents Presentation Series: 2 , article
Article Item

Major Nuclear Reactor Accidents Presentation Series: 1 , article
Article Item

Mueller research collaboration featured in New York Times , article
Article Item

Video: Virginia Tech Motorsports 2025 , article
Article Item

Vehicle systems student chapter takes STEM on the road , article

Page 1 of 39 | 310 Results

Mechanical Engineering in the news

Article Item

Category: academics Mary Kasarda honored with emerita status , article
A member of the Virginia Tech community for more than 27 years, Kasarda made significant research contributions in the fields of rotor dynamics, active magnetic bearings, vibration control, high-speed turbomachinery, smart buildings, structural health monitoring, and engineering education.
Article Item

Category: impact Firefighting without PFAS, expert explains , article
For decades, PFAS, which stands for polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been a staple in firefighting foams because of their ability to smother liquid fuel fires. But as concerns over their environmental and health impacts grow, researchers are racing to find safer alternatives.
Article Item

Category: research Problem-solving cells called pericytes could inspire a new species of supercomputer , article
A group of engineering and philosophy researchers are looking to the cells’ little-known clustering behavior for computing inspiration.
Article Item

Category: impact Where the rubber meets the test track: Kevin Fuller pairs his passions for racing and research , article
A 35-year career at Michelin put Fuller ‘90 in the driver’s seat countless times. He found his way to the test track through racing and an education in engineering.
Article Item

Category: academics Mark Paul named fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers , article
As director of the Computational Science and Engineering Lab, Paul has bridged the disciplines of engineering, physics, nanoscale technology, biology, and more.
Article Item

Category: impact A Hokie-dipped partnership , article
Founded by alumnus Marion Smith '61 and run by three generations of Hokies, Whitley's Peanut Factory found itself coming up short when it came to filling orders for its famous hand-dipped chocolatey peanut clusters. After a chance encounter with two brothers from the College of Engineering, a tasty partnership developed.