The Department of Mechanical Engineering is excited to welcome Dr. Pedro Huebner. He is joining the department as a Lecturing Assistant Professor this fall. He is part of the Systems Engineering initiative, helping drive the certificate program and future growth for Systems Engineering at the U.
Dr. Huebner is a Brazilian national who received his B.S. in Production Engineering at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, in the southern part of Brazil. His senior year, he had the opportunity to complete a year of study at North Carolina State. He then went on to get his M.S. and Ph.D. from NC State.
Dr. Huebner’s research has focused on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. As an industrial engineer, his interests have been on investigating the potential applications of additive manufacturing (3D print) process in the fabrication of biological tissues. His projects have included the design (CAD), manufacturing (CAM), and regenerative potential (in vitro, in vivo) of 3D printed scaffolds and cellular constructs that promote the regeneration of orthopedic tissues, including the knee meniscus, the osteochondral complex of the knee joint, and the temporomandibular joint.
With the start of the semester, Dr. Huebner will be focused on instruction and program development of the Systems engineering initiative. He hopes to not only build on what exists now but also expand offerings to a master’s degree and undergraduate programming.
“This program is a huge deal and one of the strongest reasons for me to relocate to Utah,” said Huebner. “The department has an incredible team of staff and faculty members that have what is needed to succeed. I am confident that everything will go according to plan, so we get this Systems initiative expanded into even more programs.”
After three years as an Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Huebner is excited to experience the beautiful landscapes and mountainy outdoors of Utah. He is also looking forward to the U’s students and colleagues in the department.
“I am very happy to have joined the University of Utah,” said Huebner. “I am about to explore what is perhaps my greatest challenge in my professional and academic careers. Bringing my family (Raven, my husband, and Panqueca, our quadruped) to Utah already feels like the best decision we could have made. Looking forward to working with you! Oh, and if you have a recommendation for a unique restaurant to try, please let me know!”