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Impact of Prof. Tarek M. Sobh, Ph.D., P.E., at a community support event.

Honorary Awards, Awards, Scholarships & Merits

  • Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. October 18, 2023. Recognition of contribution to the Metro Detroit Community.
  • Certificate of Special Senatorial Recognition. October 18, 2023. Recognition of commitment to strengthening the Michigan economy.
  • Distinguished Leadership Award, Industrial Engineering and Operation Management Society (IEOM), October 10-12, 2023.
  • Most Powerful Detroit Leaders Award, DBusiness Magazine, July 2023.
  • Order of the Engineer, 2022.
  • Fellow, Engineering Society of Detroit, 2022.
  • Certificate of Appreciation. 19th International Conference on Remote Engineering and Virtual Instrumentation (REV 2022), February 28-March 2, 2022.
  • Detroit 500 Award, DBusiness Magazine, 2022.
  • Consulate general of Egypt achievement award letter, April 2021.
  • Acknowledgement by Springer Publishers for ranking amongst their top downloaded eBooks authors from 2012 to 2021.
  • Distinguished service award, University of Bridgeport, 2020.
  • CT ACE Women’s Network (CTAWN) 2019 Friend of Women in Higher Education Award, March 2019.
  • IEEE Region 1 Technological Innovation (Academic) Award, September 2019.
  • Nominee, National Teacher Award, American Society for Engineering Education, January 2019.
  • Awarded, UB Distinguished Service Award, April, 2016.
  • Nominated for the Debra W. Stewart Award for Outstanding Leadership in Graduate Education, January, 2016.
  • Gold CQIA Innovation Prize, 29th Annual Conference, The CQIA innovation prize, a division of the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Inc., for the CISSE: First Online Research Engineering Conference in the World, June, 2015.
  • Forensic Exhibit at the Wonderworks Indoor Amusement Park, April, 2015.
  • Entrepreneur Innovation Awards CTNext, Connecticut’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, 2015.
  • Nominated, for The Connecticut Science Center STEM Achievement Award, February 2015.
  • ASEE Northeast Section Engineering Professor of the year 2015 Award, February 2015.
  • Member, IBM Partner World , Global Entrepreneur, October, 2014.
  • Connecticut Innovations – Entrepreneur Innovation Award – 2014.
  • Connecticut Quality Improvement Award – “E-Proctor” Face Recognition App 2014.
  • 2013 Tech Company to Watch Award, 7th Annual Connecticut Innovation Summit Awarded to Facechecks, A Connecticut Startup Company [Founding Partner] November 2013.
  • Appreciation and Gratitude Award, Saudi Students Club at The University of Bridgeport, 2013.
  • Commendation, University of Bridgeport Board of Trustees, May 2013.
  • Connecticut Quality Improvement Award – “Dorm Security” Face Recognition App 2013.
  • Silver Medal Award, The Connecticut Quality Improvement Award; Awarded to Facechecks, A Connecticut Startup Company [Founding Partner] June 2013.
  • Member, Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE), February 2011.
  • Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Computer Science. Unanimously named by the University of Bridgeport Board of Trustees, February 2010.
  • Fellow, African Academy of Sciences, elected in December 2009.
  • American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) 2008 – Professional Recruitment Regional Award.
  • Named Director, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technologies (CCAT) Center for Robotic Simulation (2008).
  • First Place, American Society for American Education (ASEE) Zone 1 meeting, Student Research Poster supervision, West Point, NY, March 2008.
  • $2.4 million in scholarships – University of Bridgeport and the Connecticut Pre-Engineering Program (CPEP), December 2007.
  • ASEE Award, Campus Representative, (2007).
  • ASEE Section Winner for Professional Recruitment (2007).
  • Honorary membership – Arab Healthy Water Association (AHWA) (2007).
  • Nominated for the Connecticut Medal of Science (2007).
  • Nominated for Membership in the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) (2007).
  • Member, Phi Kappa Phi, National Honor Society, since March 2006.
  • “A Tool for Data Structure Visualization and User-defined Algorithm Animation”, by Chen, Tibrewal and Sobh, in the Journal of STEM Education, was noted as the number one referenced article in the history of the Journal.
  • “Online Automation and Control: An Experiment in Distance Engineering Education”, Sarosh Patel and Tarek Sobh, presented at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) New England Section Conference, March 2006, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, was voted as the “Best Paper in Session”.
  • University of Bridgeport Service Award, 2006.
  • Nominated for the Connecticut Medal of Science (2005).
  • Honorary Membership, Delta Mu Delta (The National Honor Society for Business Administration, Connecticut Theta Delta Chapter), for exceptional performance and achievements in leading and managing the School of Engineering as a business unit at the University of Bridgeport from 1999-2002.
  • AMSE Honorary Life Membership awarded October 1999.
  • World Automation Congress (WAC 98) Best Paper Award, for the paper entitled: “Automated Tolerance Specification Across Sensing, Design and Manufacturing,” Alaska, May 1998.
  • Chosen by Schlumberger Oil Company for an international summer internship in 1987 (one of two selected from among 1500 junior engineering students in Alexandria University.)
  • International Student Exchange Fellowship for Computer Research in Denmark, 1991.
  • University of Pennsylvania Research Fellowship, 1989-1991.
  • University of Pennsylvania Teaching Fellowship 1988.
  • Alexandria University Scholarship, for academic achievements, 5 times, 1983-1988.
  • Degree of Honor, Alexandria University, 1988.
  • Member, Tau Beta Pi (The National Engineering Honor Society.)
  • Member, Phi Beta Delta (The International Honor Society, Alpha Omicron Chapter.)
  • Member, Sigma Xi (The National Scientific Research Society.)
  • Member, Upsilon Pi Epsilon (The National Honor Society for the Computing Sciences, Connecticut Delta Chapter.)
  • Certificates of Merit and Victoria College Cups from Victoria College, for academic and extracurricular achievements 1979-1983.

Supervised Students Honorary Awards, Scholarships & Merits

Supervised over 50 award-winning undergraduate and graduate students in various competitions, fellowships and scholarship venues. Some of the supervised student merits include:

  • National Phi Kappa Phi Award
  • National Upsilon Pi Epsilon Award
  • Sigma Xi Research Award
  • Charles Reed Award
  • University of Bridgeport Dean’s Award
  • University of Bridgeport Computer Science Academic Achievement Award
  • Top University of Utah Research Fellowship
  • American Society of Engineering (ASEE) Annual Northeast Conference student paper contest
  • American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Northeast Conference Student Poster Contest
  • Connecticut Innovations Award
  • University of Bridgeport Academic Achievement Award in Computer Engineering
  • University of Bridgeport Academic Achievement Award in Electrical Engineering

A sample of very recent student awards:

  • Winner, Entrepreneurial Innovation and Leadership, Reem Alattas, 2019 CT Women of Innovation Awards® (WOI)
  • Competition Finalist, Electrical Vehicle Battery Change System (EVBCS), Mohamed Mohamed, Khaled M Elleithy and Tarek Sobh, “Valeo Innovation 2018”, Paris.
  • Finalist for Best paper Award, IEEE International Conference on Mechatronics and Automation (ICMA 2018), Reem Alattas, Sarosh Patel and Tarek Sobh, “Task-Based Design of Modular Robots: Evolutionary Approach”.2018.
  • Reem Alattas , AAAEA, Arab American Association of Engineers and Architects (AAAEA) received the 2018 scholarship award.
  • 2nd Place, Graduate Poster Award, Kishore Thota and Almat Raskaliyev, “GPS Based Attitude Determination and Verification Using A Serial Robotic Arm”, 2016 Northeast Section Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, 2016.
  • 1st Place, Graduate Student Paper Award, Peter Zeno, “Emulating the Functionality of Rodents” Neurobiological Navigation and Spatial Cognition Cells in a Mobile Robot.”, 2015 Northeast Section Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, 2015.
  • 1st Place, Graduate Paper Award, Tamer Abukhalil and Madhav Patil, “UBSwarm: Design of a Software Environment to Deploy Multiple Decentralized Robots”, 2014 Zone 1 Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, 2014.
  • 2nd Place, Graduate Paper Award, Sithisone Kalaya, Hussain A. Alhazmi, “Mobile Robots Exploration and Mapping in 2D”, 2014 Zone 1 Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, 2014.
  • 1st Place, Graduate Student Poster Award, Sarosh Patel, “Task Based Design of Serial Manipulators”, 2014 Zone 1 Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, 2014.
  • 3rd Place, Graduate Student Poster Award, Mahdav Patil and Tamer Abukhalil, “Design of a Software Environment to Deploy Multiple Decentralized Robots”, 2014 Zone 1 Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, 2014.
  • Honorable Mention, Doctoral Student Poster Award, Peter Zeno, “Emulating the Functionality of Rodents” Neurobiological Navigation and Spatial Cognition Cells in Mobile Robot”, 2015 Faculty Research Day, 2015.
  • 3rd Place, Graduate Student Poster Award, Mahdav Patil and Tamer Abukhalil, “UB Robot Swam System: Design and Implementation”, 2014 Faculty Research Day, 2014.
  • Honorable Mention, Graduate Student Poster Award, Carlos Munoz, “Object Tracking Using Autonomous Quad Copter”, 2014 Faculty Research Day, 2014.

Professional Memberships

  • Member, Advisory Board, Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District (DSSD), 2015-2020.
  • Member, Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC), 2013-2020.
  • Member, American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) Engineering Deans Council (EDC), 1999-2020.
  • Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 1988-1991 (Student Member), 1991-1997 (Member), 1997-present (Senior Member).
  • Senior Member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), 1996-present.
  • Senior Member of the American Society of Quality Control (ASQC), 1995-1997 (Member), 1997-present (Senior Member).
  • Founding Member, Society for Industrial Computing.
  • Member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 1988-present.
  • Member of the IEEE Computer Society, 1988-present.
  • Member of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, 1988-present.
  • Member of the IEEE Computer Society Technical Committee on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence (PAMI).
  • Member, the IEEE Control Systems Society (CSS) Computer-Aided Control Systems Design (CACSD) Technical Committee (TC) for investigating emerging languages, algorithms, tools, standards and processes to support industrial control systems engineering.
  • Member of the Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF), 2005-present.
  • Member of the Association of Egyptian American Scholars, 2005-present.
  • Member of the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), 1988-present.

University Committee Memberships

  1. Founder, University of Bridgeport Division of Commercialization and Venture Creation, 2017-2020.
  2. Founder, University of Bridgeport National Academy of Engineering Grant Challenges Scholars Program, 2016-2020.
  3. Founder, University of Bridgeport Summer Undergraduate Scholars Program, 2016-2020.
  4. Founder, University of Bridgeport Division of Business Development and Outreach, 2012-202.
  5. Founder, University of Bridgeport Faculty Research Day (FRD) 2010-2020.
  6. Member, University Senate Executive Committee, 2009-2020.
  7. Founder, University of Bridgeport Seed Money Grant Program, 2009-2020.
  8. Member, President’s Cabinet, 2008-2020.
  9. Member, University of Bridgeport/CT Innovations Business Incubator Board, 2008-2020.
  10. Member, University Intellectual Property Board, 2008-2020.
  11. Chair, University Graduate Council, 2007-2020.
  12. Member, University Faculty Research Council, 2007-2020.
  13. Founder, University of Bridgeport Graduate Studies and Research Division, 2006-2020.
  14. Search Committee Chair, UB, Dean, School of Business, 2006.
  15. Committee Member, UB, Internationalization Committee, 2006-2020
  16. Search Committee Member, UB, Associate Dean, School of Business, 2005
  17. Search Committee Member, UB Director of Career Services, 2005.
  18. Member, UB Development Committee, 2004-2005.
  19. Chair, University Technology Task Force, 2002-2020.
  20. Member, University Planning Review Board, 2002-2020.
  21. Member, Undergraduate Education Council, 2002-2020.
  22. Member, University Senate Standing Committee on Development, 2002-2020.
  23. Member, School of Arts and Sciences Dean Search Committee, 2-12/2002.
  24. Member, President Advisory Council, 2000-2020.
  25. Member, University Planning Council, 2001-2020.
  26. Member, Provost Council, 2000-2020.
  27. Member, University Senate (Senator), 1999-2020.
  28. Member, School of Professional and Continuing Education Dean Search Committee, 5-10/2001.
  29. Member, University of Bridgeport Graduate Academic Standards Committee, 1999-2000.
  30. Committee member, UB NEASC outcomes assessment committee, 1999-2000.
  31. Committee Member, Mechanical Engineering Faculty Hiring Committee, 1999.
  32. Member, University of Bridgeport Core Curriculum Commission, 1998-2000.
  33. Committee Member, School of Engineering Merit Pay Committee, 1998-1999.
  34. Committee member, School of Engineering Distinguished Teacher Award Committee, 1998.
  35. Committee member, University of Bridgeport NEASC Self-Study Committee on University Planning and Evaluation, 1997-1998, and 2001-present.
  36. Committee member, Internship Program Director Search Committee, University of Bridgeport, 1997.
  37. Committee Member, Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Hiring Committee, 1996-1999.
  38. Committee member, School of Engineering Committee on the Industry Advisory Board development, 1996-1998.
  39. Committee member, Charles E. Reed Scholarship Award selection committee, University of Bridgeport, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

IEEE Committee

  • Chairperson and Founder of the Prototyping Technical Committee of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, 2000-2002.
  • Chairperson and Founder of the Discrete Event Dynamic Systems (DEDS) Technical Committee of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, 1992-1999.
  • Invited committee Member, the IEEE Control Systems Society (CSS) Computer-Aided Control Systems Design (CACSD) Technical Committee (TC) for investigating emerging languages, algorithms, tools, standards and processes to support industrial control systems engineering.
  • Nominee, Administrative Committee (AdCom) of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, to serve three year terms starting January 1996, 97, 98, and 2001.