SAE Foundation Presents FEV-Sponsored Stefan Pischinger Young Industry Leadership Award

AUBURN HILLS, MI -- May 20, 2015: FEV North America, Inc., announced today that the SAE Foundation's Stefan Pischinger Young Industry Leadership Award has been presented to Dr. Maria Cristina Herrera, Caterpillar, Inc., and Dr. Scott Curran, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. FEV North America, Inc. president and CEO Patrick Hupperich made the announcement. The award was presented at the SAE Foundation annual banquet on May 19, 2015 at the Masonic Temple, Detroit, Mich.

The Young Industry Leadership Award is presented annually to promote careers in the engineering community by recognizing young men and women, ages 35 and under, who have achieved major accomplishments and show significant potential for leadership growth.

"The need for highly qualified STEM talent is increasing in our industry, but we face an uphill battle to replace an aging technical workforce with talented and well-trained young professionals that can carry our country's industries into the future," said Hupperich. "Tonight's awardees reflect the kind of professional and leadership skills that will be necessary to guide our industries and ensure that our companies remain competitive on a global stage. We are gratified that the SAE Foundation has recognized Dr. Herrera and Dr. Curran as individuals who will sustain this industry for many years, while mentoring and leading the next generation of engineering talent."

Sponsored by FEV North America, Inc., a leading developer of vehicle and advanced powertrain systems, the award is named for Prof. Stefan Pischinger, president and CEO of the FEV Group, headquartered in Aachen, Germany. He also serves in a parallel role as the director of the Institute for Internal Combustion Engines (VKA) at the Aachen University of Technology (RWTH), in Aachen, Germany.

Dr. Maria Cristina Herrera

Dr. Herrera, a senior engineer at Caterpillar, Inc., established herself as a strong leader the moment that she started her career at the company, leading a global, cross-functional team charged with the creation of a technology roadmap for a multibillion-dollar business opportunity. In delivering the technology roadmap, Dr. Herrera led a team to define a progression of technology developments, including four new technology projects.

Past accomplishments also include the documentation of a tire simulation process that enabled accurate machine load predictions, and the completion of numerous product improvement projects involving structural evaluations and fatigue analysis on final drives, machine concepts and earthmoving blades. The latter projects led to breakthrough improvements in FEA processes for Fatigue of Light Fabrications and Bolted Joints that have become standard industry practices.

Dr. Herrera has been recognized with numerous awards, and has earned accolades from supervisors and peers alike.

Dr. Herrera is active in mentoring within Caterpillar and, in association with the SAE, led the first two Capstone Projects with Universidad de Ingenieria y Tecnologia in Peru, and is also a member of several professional societies. She attended the Universidad De Los Andes (Columbia), receiving a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and a Master's and Doctorate of Geotechnical Engineering.

Dr. Scott Curran

Dr. Curran joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) as a post-masters research fellow in 2009, following an internship in the Fuels, Engines, and Emissions Research Center. He became a member of the ORNL research and development staff in 2012.

Currently, Dr. Curran is the principal investigator for two advanced combustion engine programs and leads a research team with responsibility for several Department of Energy (DOE) milestones related to the development of advanced combustion concepts and the investigation of fuel effects on advanced combustion.

The DOE recognized Dr. Curran's efforts in 2013 for his leadership in transitioning RCCI combustion from a single cylinder to a multi-cylinder engine using bio-renewable fuels.

Actively involved in the SAE, Dr. Curran received the SAE Forest R. McFarland Award in 2015 for developing a new SAE young professional's initiative to improve the interaction of young SAE members with leading SAE professionals. He has received numerous other awards both through SAE and through voluntary activities. Dr. Curran has been an SAE member since college, and was involved with AWIM activities at the DOE Advanced Vehicle Technical Competition both as a student and as an advisor.

Dr. Curran received a Ph.D. in Energy Science and Engineering, and Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Mechanical Engineering form he University of Tennessee.