Francis Vanek

Francis M. Vanek

Senior Lecturer
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Hollister Hall, Room 307

Biography

  • Born in Ithaca, NY, 2/12/67
  • BA (Asian Studies), Cornell University, 1991 
  • BE (Mechanical Engineering), Cornell University, 1991 
  • MS (Systems Engineering), University of Pennsylvania, 1995 
  • Ph D (Systems Engineering), University of Pennsylvania, 1998 
  • Faculty of Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1998-2001
  • Faculty of Cornell College of Engineering, 2001-present

Research Interests

  • Energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions from freight transportation systems
  • Feasibility of alternative energy systems
  • Integration of transportation energy supply and renewable energy systems
Research Group Members

Teaching Interests

  • Transportation systems  
  • Energy efficiency and renewable energy 
  • Green building 
  • Small-scale solar cooking and baking for developing countries

Service Interests

  • Outreach to local schools and community organizations for sustainable energy solutions 
  • Support for efforts to develop renewable energy, especially solar, wind, and biomass, in Ithaca and Tompkins County 
  • Support for development of solar cooking especially in Nicaragua and other Central American countries 
  • Outreach on behalf of Ecovillage at Ithaca community (resident since 2002) to share experience with environmentally friendly technologies on behalf of students and the general public 
  • Member of energy committee of President Skorton's Committee for a Sustainable Campus, Chair: Prof. Jeff Tester 
  • Faculty co-advisor with Nadine Porter for Cornell Yoga Club

Selected Publications

  • Vanek, Francis, Lou Albright, Lars Angenent, Mike Ellis, Dave Dillard. 2021. Energy Systems Engineering: Evaluation and Implementation - 4th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  • Vanek, Francis, Lars Angenent, James Banks, Ricardo Daziano, Mark Turnquist. 2014. Sustainable Transportation Systems Engineering. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  • Ingvarsson, Audun , Julien Pestiaux, Francis Vanek. 2011. "A Global Assessment of Hydrogen for Future Automotive Transportation: Projected Energy Requirements and CO2 Emissions." International Journal of Sustainable Transportation 5 (2): 71-90.
  • Vanek, Francis, Peter Jackson, Richard Grzybowski. 2008. "Systems Engineering Metrics and Applications in Product Development: A Critical Literature Review and Agenda for Further Research." Systems Engineering 11 (2): 107-124.
  • Vanek, Francis, Louis Vogel. 2007. "Clean energy for green buildings: an overview of on- and off-site alternatives." Journal of Green Building 2 (1): pp. 22-36.

Education

  • BE (Mechanical Engineering), Cornell University, 1991
  • BA (Asian Studies), Cornell University, 1991
  • MS (Systems Engineering), University of Pennsylvania, 1995
  • Ph D (Systems Engineering), University of Pennsylvania, 1998

Websites

Research Group Members

Graduate Students