August 27, 2009

Bryan Adam Blakeney. Download image.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - University of Alabama (UAB) Biomedical Engineering major Bryan Adam Blakeney has been named the Alabama Society of Professional Engineers (ASPE) 2009 Engineering Student of the Year. The award winner is chosen from the top engineering students at Alabama universities.

Blakeney, 21, from Gulfport, Miss., is the son of Dr. Bryan and Karen Blakeney. He is the latest of five consecutive UAB engineering students to receive this award.

Blakeney's statewide recognition follows his receipt of two UAB awards. During the 2008-09 academic year, he was named the UAB Biomedical Engineering Student of the Year and also received the UAB School of Engineering Dean's Award for Most Outstanding Student.

Blakeney was a member of a team that had its research on nanomaterials that could regenerate human tissue published in the June issue of Biofabrication magazine.

"Adam is truly deserving of this honor," said Timothy Wick, Ph.D., chairman of the UAB Department of Biomedical Engineering. "His level of research has far exceeded the traditional undergraduate output and has led to the development of a new method to create truly three-dimensional scaffolds for tissue engineering.

"Adam's clever thinking and collaboration with Assistant Professor Ho-Wook Jun, Ph.D., to develop this new technology has great potential to revolutionize the field of tissue engineering," Wick said.

About UAB

The UAB School of Engineering offers students real-world experience while they train in one of its degree programs, which include the only undergraduate biomedical engineering program in Alabama. Students experience cutting-edge research opportunities, industry co-ops and unique internships generated by the school's commitment to interdisciplinary learning.