Dr. Robert Landers, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at UMR, was recently selected to receive a 2004 M. Eugene Merchant Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).

The awards, presented to 13 recipients, recognize significant achievements and leadership in the field of manufacturing engineering by engineers under the age of 35.

Landers earned his bachelor of science degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1990, his master of engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 1992, and his doctorate degree from the University of Michigan in 1997. All three degrees were in mechanical engineering.

Landers accepted his current teaching position at UMR in 2000 and joined the Intelligent Systems Center at UMR as a research investigator in 2001. His technical interests are in the areas of manufacturing and controls.

Landers is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, SME and Pi Tau Sigma.