Dr. Greg Mowry Describes Current Research Activity

Research on Breast Cancer Surgery

Breast cancer is devastating and affects many women. Dr. Greg Mowry and D. Deepa (shown at right in the lab) are part of a research team working with the Mechanical Engineering Department at University of Minnesota on breast cancer surgery. The goal of the research is to evaluate the feasibility of conducting in situ MRI guided, minimally invasive laser surgery to remove breast tumors in breast cancer patients. With this method we hope to extract breast tumors with intact borders and no leakage of tumor cells to the lymphatic and circulation system. We also hope to minimize both the surgical procedure and the recovery process. Deepa is a 4-year Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota while Dr. Greg Mowry is an assistant professor in the School of Engineering at the University of St. Thomas.

Applied Laser Research

Lasers are used in a variety of material applications from welding to thin-film deposition. The laser processing lab in OSS LL11 is well equipped and capable of handling a variety of laser processing, laser optics and optical research and design challenges. Mowry's current research with Preco Laser, which is the latest in a series of projects involving companies such as Lasag Industries, Boston Scientific, St. Jude Medical, Innovative Laser Technology and Laserdyne, involves material processing applications with high power fiber lasers. This type of research has also been a favorite with many students who have gone on to very successful careers in optics and laser systems.

Alternative Energy Research

For the past 4 years, Mowry has been actively involved in multiple wind and biofuel research project both internationally and nationally. All of these projects have engaged many undergraduate researchers. Significant international wind projects have included efforts in Moldova and Tanzania. Moldova imports approximately 95% of its energy. The wind project in Moldova, in cooperation with the Technical University of Moldova in Chisinau, assessed the wind potential of the country. For the wind project in Tanzania, which supports the Dodoma Tanzania Health Development, Mowry is part of a team that is installing a 20 MW wind farm – the first of its kind in Tanzania. One of several innovations that have come out of this work is a method of erecting grid-size wind turbines without the use of a crane. Another wind project is being sponsored by the Horizontal Wind Company. This collaborative research with Dr. John Abraham involves advanced CFD analysis of the unique wind turbine being developed by Horizontal Wind and also engages an undergraduate student researcher. In addition to these projects, Mowry is also leading several efforts in developing single user biodiesel systems, using the MCGYAN process, along with the design of stand-alone electrical power blocks that can reliably run on almost any liquid fuel. The MCGYAN biodiesel project, which is a joint project between UST and Augsburg College, currently involves 8 undergraduate students and two faculty members. Two of the students are under the direction of Dr. Arlin Gyberg from the Augsburg College Chemistry Department while the other six UST engineering students work under Mowry's guidance. All of these projects inherently address issues of environmental stewardship and sustainability.

(Oct. 10, 2008)