Dawson to Head Clemson Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Darren M. Dawson, McQueen Quattlebaum Professor in the Holcombe Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been named chair of the department. A member of Clemson’s College of Engineering and Science faculty since 1990, he presently leads the robotics and mechatronics laboratory.
Dawson received a B.S. in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1984. He then worked for Westinghouse as a control engineer. He returned to the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1990.
“Darren Dawson brings a unique skill set to the department. His industrial experience, combined with his outstanding research contributions, gives him a unique perspective,” said Esin Gulari, dean of the College of Engineering and Science.
Research interests include nonlinear control techniques for mechatronic systems, such as electric machinery, robotic manipulator systems, overhead cranes, magnetic bearings, vision-based systems, mobile platforms (underwater vehicles, surface ships, satellites, aircraft, etc.) and mechanical friction.
Dawson has authored or co-authored one graduate textbook, five research monographs, four book chapters and more than 165 journal papers. He has directed 29 Ph.D. dissertations and 51 master's theses.
Dawson has received a number of national and university awards for his work, including the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award (1994), the National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award (1994), the McQueen-Quattlebaum Faculty Achievement Award (1994), the Georgia Institute of Technology Council of Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni Award (1995), the Sigma Xi Excellence in Research Award (1995), the Clemson University Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research (1997), the Centennial Professorship (2000), and the Murray Stokely Award for Excellence in Teaching (2003).
In the spring of 2007, Dawson was an inaugural co-recipient of the college’s Collaboration Award, which recognizes a team of two or more faculty that has demonstrated exemplary and synergistic collaboration in research or teaching and has made notable contributions to the college. He was recognized for his efforts in the area of nanomaterials and mechatronic-based nanomanufacturing.
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