Rob Stevens Headshot

Rob Stevens

Associate Professor

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Kate Gleason College of Engineering
rjseme@rit.edu
585-475-2153
Office Location
GLE-2167

Rob Stevens

Associate Professor

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Kate Gleason College of Engineering

Education

BS, Swarthmore College; MS, North Carolina State University; Ph.D., University of Virginia

Bio

Professor Robert Stevens received a B.S. with distinction in Engineering from Swarthmore College. He was involved with a series of research projects in the field of building science and energy efficiency in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. He received his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina State University, where he managed the research and solar thermal programs at the NC Solar Center from 1998-2001. In the fall of 2001 he returned to graduate school as an NSF IGERT fellow and completed his doctorate in the summer of 2005 in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Virginia. His doctorate work focused on using the transient thermoreflectance technique to measure thermal boundary resistances at room temperatures. He also developed molecular dynamic experiments to systematically explore interface thermal transport. He joined the Mechanical Department at RIT in the fall of 2005

Dr. Stevens’s research lab, Sustainable Energy Lab, has focused on measuring and modeling performance of thermoelectric modules and waste heat recovery systems for power generation applications. Stevens’ lab has developed a modeling tool for screening and optimizing thermoelectric waste heat recovery systems, a project funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. His lab is developing high temperature characterization techniques to measure performance of emerging thermoelectric devices currently under development. Stevens has been working with undergraduate and graduate students on an EPA seeded project focused on developing improved charcoal cook stoves using thermoelectrics for use in the developing world to reduce fuel consumption and improve air quality. 

Sustainable Energy Lab

For more information about Dr. Stevens, see his personal website.

Selected Recent Publications:

· Sandoz-Rosado, E., Weinstein, S., Stevens R.J. “On the Thomson Effect in Thermoelectric Power Devices” International Journal of Thermal Sciences (forthcoming)

· Sandoz-Rosado, E., Stevens, R. J, “Robust Finite Element Model for the Design of Thermoelectric Modules” Journal of Electronic Materials, Vol. 39, pp. 1848-1855, 2010.

· Sandoz-Rosado, E., Stevens, R. J, “Experimental Characterization of Thermoelectric Modules and Comparison with Theoretical Models for Power Generation” Journal of Electronic Materials, Vol. 38, pp. 1239-1244, 2009.

rjseme@rit.edu
585-475-2153

Select Scholarship

Published Conference Proceedings
Adhikari, Tejan and Robert J. Stevens. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Wireless Community Grid for Rural Communities." Proceedings of the IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference. Ed. IEEE. Seattle, WA: n.p., Web.
Huselstein, Samantha, Steven J. Weinstein, and Robert J. Stevens. "Prototype and Model of Passive Tropical Fruit Dryer Utilizing a Flexible Transpired Solar Collector." Proceedings of the Global Humanitarian Technology Conference. Ed. IEEE. Seattle, WA: n.p., Web.
Mahajan, Satchit B., Reginald D. Pierce, and Robert J. Stevens. "Characterizing High Temperature Thermoelectric Modules." Proceedings of the International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition 2013. Ed. ASME. San Diego, CA: ASME, 2013. Print.
Journal Paper
Schrlau, Michael G., Robert J Stevens, and Sara Schley. "Advances in Engineering Education Flipping Core Courses in the Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Curriculum"¯: Heat Transfer." Advances in Engineering Education 5. 3 (2016): 1-27. Print.
Stevens, Robert J., Steven J. Weinstein, and Karuna S. Koppula. "Theoretical Limits of Thermoelectric Power Generation from Exhaust Gases." Applied Energy 133. 15 (2014): 80-88. Print.
Pierce, Reginald D. and Robert J. Stevens. "Experimental Comparison of Thermoelectric Module Characterization Methods." Journal of Electronic Materials 44. 6 (2015): 1796-1802. Print.
Sandoz-Rosada, Emil J., Steven J. Weinstein, and Robert J. Stevens. "On the Thomson Effect in Thermoelectric Power Devices." International Journal of Thermal Sciences 66. (2013): 1-7. Print.
Published Article
Sandoz-Rosado, E., and R.J. Stevens. “Robust Finite Element Model for the Design of Thermoelectric Modules.” Journal of Electronic Materials, 39.9 (2010) 1848-1855. Print. *

Currently Teaching

MECE-301
Engineering Applications Laboratory
2 Credits
As a modification of the more “traditional” lab approach, students work in teams to complete an open-ended project involving theoretical and empirical analyses of an assigned system, applying engineering concepts and skills learned throughout prior courses. After successfully completing this course, students will have achieved a higher level of understanding of, and proficiency in, the tasks of qualitative treatment of real systems, development and implementation of analytical models, design and implementation of experimental investigations, and validation of results.
MECE-529
Renewable Energy Systems
3 Credits
This course provides an overview of renewable energy system design. Energy resource assessment, system components, and feasibility analysis will be covered. Possible topics to be covered include photovoltaics, wind turbines, solar thermal, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal. Students will be responsible for a final design project.
MECE-629
Renewable Energy Systems
3 Credits
This course provides an overview of renewable energy system design. Energy resource assessment, system components, and feasibility analysis will be covered. Possible topics to be covered include photovoltaics, wind turbines, solar thermal, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal. Students will be responsible for a final design project.

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