We are excited to announce the appointment of Professor Bruce Gale as the new chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah. Faculty and students praise professor Gale for his accessibility and for being someone who creates a supportive environment enabling ideas and insightful problem solving discussions.
Gale and his research group explore the application of microfluidic devices to medicine and biology. His research is highly collaborative and ranges from bacteria and virus detection to rapid DNA analysis to miniature medical devices. He is especially known for developing a range of microfluidic particle and cell separation devices.
Since joining the department as an assistant professor in 2001, Gale has a long list of university-wide and department academic achievements. This past spring, he was recognized as one of two honorees in the entrepreneur category for his 2017 work, “Optofluidic Device for Genetic Screening.” Plus he received the TVC “Star” Award in 2016. The Department of Mechanical Engineering has recognized him with multiple researcher of the year awards, and Dr. Gale was named the 2014 Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Distinguished Mentor by the University of Utah Graduate School. Additionally, he has multiple teaching commendations from the College of Engineering.
On the administrative side, Gale is the Director of the State of Utah Center of Excellence for Biomedical Microfluidics, co-founder of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center (MEP), has served as Director of the College of Engineering Nanofab for the past five years, and has been Chair of the University Conflict of Interest Committee for nine years.
“I am excited and grateful to be able to build on the rapid growth that professor Tim Ameel has enabled, and see an amazing future for the Mechanical Engineering Department as our young faculty continues to grow and mature. A “Golden Age” of research and educational excellence is developing and I look forward to working with the faculty, staff, and students to make it happen.”
Gale has published over 300 scientific publications including 120 journal publications and 6 book chapters reporting his research. He has been PI or Co-PI on more than $40M in research, training, and teaching grants. He has also graduated 44 research assistants while at the University of Utah, including 20 Ph.D. students. He regularly has undergraduate students working in his lab.