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CORVALLIS - Annette von Jouanne, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Oregon State University, has been honored as the most outstanding young faculty member in the nation in her field of study.

Von Jouanne received the Outstanding Teacher Award for 2005 from Eta Kappa Nu, a national honor society for electrical and computer engineers. This 100-year-old organization, dedicated to recognizing academic achievement and distinguished personal accomplishment, gives the award annually to one faculty member under 35.

Von Jouanne, who has been at the university since 1995, specializes in power electronics and energy systems at the OSU School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. She is co-director of the Motor Systems Resource Facility, the highest power, university-based energy systems laboratory in the U.S. Her research includes power electronic converters, power quality, adjustable speed drives, hybrid electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems.

Recently, von Jouanne has been one of the university's leaders in the development of ocean wave energy as an important new contributor to the nation's energy needs. Some sites off Oregon have been identified as the most promising in the United States for research and development of this technology.

"Our wave energy research program involves several enthusiastic undergraduate and graduate students, and is receiving international development interest," von Jouanne said. "Our students are very excited to be making a strong, positive impact toward improving our energy future."

Innovative research such as this feeds back into the classroom, von Jouanne said, and fosters an excitement for learning at all levels.

"Receiving this award was a tremendous honor," she said. "It's already a privilege to work with and mentor students as they transition into their careers, and to encourage and experience their enthusiasm for life and their goals."

A recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER award and other honors for her research, von Jouanne has also been named a "Celebrated Woman Engineer" by the National Academy of Engineering.

OSU has an ongoing program to encourage more women and minorities to pursue careers in engineering, and the university has succeeded in significantly increasing the number of female students - in part by making aggressive efforts to involve all students in original research and internship work experiences.