Dr. Robert Bishop is the founder and president of the USF Institute of Applied Engineering (IAE). The IAE provides a place for students, faculty, and industry to collaborate on projects that can improve life in Florida and around the world. He leads a team across all colleges at USF with the goal of creating new businesses, jobs, and technologies for corporations and entrepreneurs. He is also the Dean of Engineering at the University of South Florida, a metropolitan research university located in the heart of Tampa Bay.
The USF Institute of Applied Engineering
The USF Institute of Applied Engineering (IAE) is an interdisciplinary research center focused on solving problems related to engineering, technology, and business. With a team of expert researchers and business partners across the state, we collaborate with businesses and governmental agencies to create innovative, practical solutions.
Our work focuses on three key areas: big data analytics, advanced manufacturing, and sensors & controls. The IAE also provides industry-specific services tailored to the organization’s needs.
Decision making as a leader
When you’re the leader, you have the power to make decisions that will change the direction of your company — and those decisions can be scary. The best leaders know that they don’t have to make decisions alone. You can use a range of tools to help you decide what is best for your business, whether you are in a startup stage or are an established business owner.
Gather Information
The first step in any decision-making process should be to gather as much information as possible. This is especially true with big decisions that will impact your business long term. You need to understand the situation before making an informed decision fully.
Dr. Robert Bishop always considers the worst that will happen when making a decision. The decisions always have to be ethical. He always keeps the business at the back of his mind when making decisions as CEO and President.
The future of engineering
There are exciting developments around the corner in the world of engineering. New research and emerging technologies have the potential to revolutionize the way we live, work, and play.
Here are three areas of engineering where progress is being made:
Bionics
Bionics is the study of artificial body parts that can be used as replacements for biological systems. The field has grown rapidly in recent years as medical researchers attempt to understand better how prosthetics can improve lives.
Nanotechnology
In the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale, nanotechnology promises a wide range of advancements that could benefit consumers and industry alike. For example, nanotech materials could be used in cars to make them lighter and more fuel-efficient.
Robotics
Robots are increasingly being used in factories and warehouses to perform tasks that are too dangerous or too mundane for humans. And while there’s currently little evidence that robots will begin taking jobs from humans anytime soon, it’s clear that their role in the industrial landscape is expanding rapidly — a trend that will likely continue as robotics technology improves.
