Photo-IsaacsJacqueline A. Isaacs
Associate Professor
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Northeastern University

Research

Currently, I work with the Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing (CHN) and lead the research thrust on societal implications of nanotechnology.  CHN is an NSF funded Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC), a collaborative effort among several university partners (Northeastern University, the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, the University of New Hampshire, and Michigan State University) and the Boston Museum of Science. The CHN was awarded one of two team Aspiration Awards at NU in 2005. Our collaborations on societal implications have led to the formation of the Nanotechnology and Society Research Group (NSRG), which works to address the impact and ramifications of nanomanufacturing technology.  As the NU Education Coordinator for the CHN, I help to organize educational opportunities for students at various levels of education. Our Center includes summer research programs for teachers (RETs) and for undergraduates (REUs).  The Museum of Science in Boston is partnered with CHN to teach K-12 students about nanomanufacturing.  The Boston MOS has a continuing partnership with the Harvard NSEC, for which many learning modules on nanomaterials have been created, and MOS has been selected to lead the Nanoscale Informal Science and Engineering (NISE) Network - to engage the public in issues related to nanotechnology .

My research pursuits at Northeastern University, funded initially by a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, have focused on environmental and economic issues in advanced materials processing.  This is my continued research focus within the CHN - to review the Life Cycle Assessment of the various processes under development and to assess any alternatives to find a more environmentally benign process or product.  This work was initiated with an NSF grant (NER) grant to explore and compare process alternatives for the manufacture of carbon nanotubes.  The issues related to these types of investigations in the auto industry are discussed in an article in the Northeastern University Magazine. This field of research has evolved to be called "Environmentally Benign Design and Manufacturing".  Research interests in powder metallurgy have connected me with efforts at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where in 1997 I became an adjunct in the Metals Processing Institute (MPI).

I also lead a team of researchers (engineers, multimedia specialists, game designers, and educational assessors) who are working to redesign an educational game called Shortfall!.   This game encourages students to role play in teams representing an automotive supply chain.  They make decisions based on technological, economic and environmental tradeoffs within a production facility.  This work is initiated with an NSF grant to assess the extent of learning through this interactive multimedia.

I maintain an affiliate position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Materials Systems Laboratory (MSL) within the Center for Technology, Policy and Industrial Development (CTPID), where I originally learned to develop analysis tools for decision making in this arena.  Collaborations with departmental colleagues in the Industrial Engineering Group include the Laboratory for Responsible Manufacturing (LRM).

Teaching

    • MIE U340 Introduction to Materials Science (Undergraduate course)
    • MTM G370 Environmental Issues in Manufacturing and Product Use (Graduate course)

I am actively involved in improving teaching effectiveness through the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as a mentor in the Essential Teaching Seminar program.  I have also been part of a team of NU faculty that  worked to improve the overall educational experience of engineering freshmen through the GE Master Teacher Program.  In 2000, I received a Northeastern University Excellence in Teaching Award, and remain dedicated to helping students learn.

Service

During the 2005-2006 academic year, I will serve the university through participation on two committees that report to the Faculty Senate: the Ad Hoc Committee on the Calendar and the Special Committee on Faculty Development.  The Ad Hoc Committee on the Calendar is charged with determining the effectiveness of the recent calendar change to a semester-based system with two summer sessions. The Faculty Development Committee is charged with assessing the currency and usefulness of the TCEP evaluation system, and to recommend such changes as may be appropriate -- from relatively small changes involving individual questions and the current manner of processing the forms, to the replacement of the entire system by another, either by subscribing to another currently available system or by developing our own, proprietary system.

I serve the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering as a member of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and of the Assessment Committee, which is responsible for preparation of the ABET Accreditation report.

Selected Publications

  1. D. E. M. May† and J. A. Isaacs, “Economic Comparison of Ferrite and NdFeB Magnets for Automotive Applications”, Materials and Manufacturing Processes, Vol. 19, No. 4, (2004) 777-787.
  2. J. A. Boon†, J. A. Isaacs and S. M. Gupta, “End-of-Life Infrastructure Economics for “Clean Vehicles” in the U.S.”, Journal of Industrial Ecology, Vol. 7, No. 1, (2003) 25-45.
  3. J. A. Isaacs, “Managing Student Group Projects in an Introductory Materials Science Course”, Journal of Materials Education, Vol. 22, Nos. 1-3 (2003) p.84.
  4. J. E. Boon†, J. A. Isaacs and S. M. Gupta, "Economic Sensitivity for End of Life Planning and Processing of Personal Computers", Journal of Electronics Manufacturing, Vol. 11, No. 1, (2002) 81-93.
  5. J. L. Maziarz† and J. A. Isaacs, "Techno-Economic Analysis of P/M HIP Processing", Powder Metallurgy, Vol. 45, No. 1, (2002) 10-13. (Winner Student Paper Contest)
  6. A. Diaz-Triana† and J. A. Isaacs, "Environmental Perspectives for the U.S. Powder Metallurgy Industry", International Journal of Powder Metallurgy, Vol. 38, No. 6, 2002. (Invited)
  7. J. A. Boon†, J. A. Isaacs and S. M. Gupta, “Economic Impact of Aluminum Intensive Vehicles on the Recycling Infrastructure”, Journal of Industrial Ecology vol. 4, no. 2, (2000), pp.117-134.
  8. J. H. Nadler†, J. A. Isaacs and G. J. Kowalski, “Hydrodynamic Modeling of a Continuous Metal Matrix Composite Fabrication Process as a Cylindrical Array”, Materials Science and Engineering A297/ 1-2 (2000), pp 132-137.
  9. D. A. Chiango†, J. A. Isaacs and S. A. Miller, “Economic Analyses of Metal Powder Production by Rotating Electrode Processes”, International Journal of Powder Metallurgy, May/June 2000, vol. 36, no.4, pp. 49-56.
  10. C. A. Geffen† and J. A. Isaacs, “Economic and Environmental Tradeoffs in New Automotive Painting Technologies”, SAE Transactions – Journal of Materials and Manufacturing, vol. 107, section 5 (1998) pp. 945-952.
  11. N. Wildern† and J. A. Isaacs, “Total Cost Analysis of Pollution Prevention in Automotive Electrocoating”, SAE Transactions – Journal of Materials and Manufacturing, vol. 107, section 5 (1998) pp. 953-958.
  12. J. A. Isaacs and S. M. Gupta, “Economic Consequences of Increasing Polymer Content on the US Automobile Recycling Infrastructure”, Journal of Industrial Ecology, vol. 1, no. 4, (1997) pp. 19‑33.
  13. S. M. Gupta and J. A. Isaacs, “Value Analysis of Disposal Strategies for Automobiles”, Computers and Industrial Engineering, vol. 33, no. 1, (1997) pp. 325-328.
  14. F. R. Field III, J. A. Isaacs and J. P. Clark, “Life-Cycle Analysis of Automobiles: A Critical Review of Methodologies”, Journal of Metals, vol. 46, no. 4, (1994) pp. 12-16.
  15. F. R. Field III, J. A. Isaacs and J. P. Clark, “Life-Cycle Analysis and Its Role in Product and Process Development”, International Journal of Environmentally Conscious Design and Manufacturing, vol. 2, no. 2, (1993) pp. 13-20.

† Graduate student authors

Students / Alumni: Degree Dates and Thesis Titles

    1. Zeynep Damla Ok Ph.D. August 2008: Assessment of Environmental Tradeoffs in Nanomanufacturing
    2. Meagan Healy M.S. August 2006: Economic and Environmental Assessment of Nanomanufacturing
    3. Anil Tanwani M.S. August 2005: Carbon Nanotube Production: An Economic and Environmental Assessment of Alternative Technologies
    4. Radha Gundimeda M.S. September 2004: Environmental Assessment of the Competing Technologies: Powder Metal versus Polymer Materials
    5. Jessica Corriere M.S. June 2003: Short Fall: An Educational Game on Environmental Issues in Supply Chain Management
    6. Darth M. May M.S. June 2003: Viability of NdFeB Magnets for Use in the Automotive Industry
    7. Sai S.Vajha M.S. June 2003: Economic Assessment of Iron Powder Production
    8. Adriana Diaz-Triana Ph.D. September 2001: A Streamlined Life Cycle Approach to the Environmental Assessment of the U.S. Powder Metal Industry
    9. Jane Boon Ph.D. December 2001: Economic Viability of U.S. Recycling Infrastructures
    10. John Maziarz MS June 2001: Techno-Economic Analysis of P/M Hot Isostatic Pressing
    11. Scott Daniels MS June 2001: Design of Data Acquisition Systems for Real-Time Control and Off-Line Statistical Modeling of the Plasma Rotating Electrode Process for Metal Powder Production
    12. Mehul N. Shah, MS June 2000, Opportunities and Threats for Powder Metallurgical Processing: An Economic Assessment of Alternative Technologies
    13. Dan A. Chiango, MS June 1998, Economic Analyses of Rotating Electrode Processes for Metal Powder Production
    14. Jason H. Nadler, MS June 1998, Analytical Modeling to Optimize Production of Aluminum Matrix Composite Wire
    15. Shannon L. Sampson,   MS September 1997, Processing Parameters and Mechanical Properties of Continuous Alumina Fiber Reinforced Aluminum Wire

Masters Projects and Degree Dates

    1. Michael Freitas M.S. June 2004: Economic and Environmental Assessment of Powder Metal Injection Molding for Small Components
    2. Jamin Shah M.S. June 2003, “Regulations for Computer Recycling”

Undergraduate Honors Theses and Degree Dates

    1. Christine Laliberte BS June 2003, “Utilization of a P/M Technical Cost Model to Assess Economic Trends in Part Complexity”
    2.  Walter Coyle BS June 2001, “Economic Comparison of Machining to P/M Production of Gears”
    3. Alin Moss BS June 1998, “Heat Treatment of Metal Matrix Composite Wires”


Contact Information

Mailing Address:
MIE Department
334 Snell Engineering Center
Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue
Boston MA 02115

Telephone: (617) 373-3989

Fax: (617) 373-2921

Email: jaisaacs@coe.neu.edu

MIE Department

College of Engineering

Northeastern University