Research has long been an important part of ECST, with generations of faculty and students contributing to discovery, innovation, and the advancement of their fields. Over time, the college has continued to expand opportunities for faculty and students to engage in meaningful research and strengthen the infrastructure and support that make this work possible. Few people have contributed more to strengthening and expanding that culture than Professor Arturo Pacheco-Vega.
A professor of mechanical engineering at Cal State LA since 2008, Pacheco-Vega is an internationally recognized researcher in thermal-fluid sciences, system control, and energy optimization. He has led or contributed to more than $17.5 million in externally funded research and mentored more than 80 undergraduate and graduate students.
His impact, however, extends well beyond his own research.
Through more than a decade of leadership in NSF-funded research centers, Pacheco-Vega has helped strengthen ECST's research capacity while creating opportunities for faculty across disciplines to develop their research programs, build collaborations, pursue external funding, and engage students in meaningful research experiences. He served as associate director and later director of the NSF CREST Center for Energy and Sustainability (CEaS) and today serves as principal investigator and director of the NSF CREST Center for Advancement toward Sustainable Urban Systems (CATSUS).
Mentorship has been central to that work. Welson Kwan, Interim Chair of Civil Engineering, describes the impact of the CREST Center on his own career:
“The CREST Center has had a tremendous impact on my academic career.”
Kwan credits its sustained support with enabling faculty and students to pursue long-term, high-impact research, increasing the visibility of Cal State LA research, and providing students with research experiences comparable to those at R1 universities. Chris Bachman, Chair of Mechanical Engineering, has similarly highlighted Pacheco-Vega's ability to bring together faculty from many disciplines in funded research, including some of the college's newest faculty.
For Pacheco-Vega, supporting the success of others is at the heart of the work.
“What brings me the greatest satisfaction is seeing the success of our faculty and students.”
He describes research as a foundational part of the academic experience, creating opportunities for discovery, collaboration, professional growth, and innovation while helping students develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in their future careers.
That commitment can be seen across ECST today: in faculty developing and expanding their research programs, students working alongside faculty as researchers, collaborations spanning disciplines and institutions, and graduates carrying their research experiences into advanced study and industry.
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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 22,000 students and has more than 260,000 distinguished alumni.