Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska, an Ohio State University engineering professor has become the first woman from the university to be named to the National Academy of Engineering.
Grejner-Brzezinska, a professor in the department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering was one of 876 new members to receive the honor this year. Election to the academy is a prestigious honor and one of the highest professional distinctions an engineer can receive. Those who are elected honored for having made outstanding outstanding contributions to “engineering research, practice or education,” and to “the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.”
Originally from Poland, Grejner-Brzezinska came to Ohio State to study geodetic science. She went on to earn a Ph.D as well as become a faculty member at the College of Engineering. Her many other accomplishments include serving as chair for the department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering as well as serving as president of the Institute of Navigation (ION).
Her election makes her the 13th faculty member from Ohio State to be elected. Her early research led to the building of more reliable GPS navigation which eventually allowed for navigation systems to be built in to today’s smartphones. Recently, she and her research teams have constructed navigation systems relying on AI and image-based navigation. These systems have allowed for autonomous vehicle navigation and positioning in difficult environments where GPS signals may not be readily accessible.
Grejner-Brzezinska hopes her award is an inspiration to young female engineers. “I have been there—not thinking that I can make it,” she said. “But what I can tell you is that some of my best students have always been women. And it means a lot to me to show the younger women that we can do it. I would say to them: ‘You are all doing the right thing. Just trust your abilities and trust your work.’”
