Burge receives Vanderhoef Faculty Award

By Sarah D'Iorio

Published June 28, 2021

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Matt Burge.
“Matt’s dedication to the department and our students through his initiatives offering experiential learning opportunities, improving the aerospace engineering lab, and mentoring undergraduates are some of the reasons why he is so deserving of the award. ”
Francine Battaglia, Professor and Chair
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Matt Burge, assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, has received the 2020-2021 Vanderhoef Faculty Award.  

The award is given to a faculty member in the MAE department who makes the extra effort to coach, mentor and provide support for students.

“Matt’s dedication to the department and our students through his initiatives offering experiential learning opportunities, improving the aerospace engineering lab, and mentoring undergraduates are some of the reasons why he is so deserving of the award,” said Francine Battaglia, professor and chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. 

Burge earned his PhD in mechanical engineering at UB in 2017 and has served as a faculty member in the department since completing his degree. His research interests include experimental fluid mechanics, bio-inspired propulsion for autonomous vehicle design, unsteady vortex dynamics, fluid-structure interactions, and STEM pedagogy.

Alum and MAE Department Advisory Board member John Vanderhoef, BS ’79, Mechanical Engineering, established the award as a way to encourage and reward faculty and staff who spend the extra time to make a difference in the lives of their students. Vanderhoef currently serves as the CEO of Mechanical Dynamics & Analysis.