Kunihiko Taira, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been selected for the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program for fiscal year 2016. According to the Office of Naval Research website, "The program's objectives are to attract outstanding faculty members of Institutions of Higher Education (hereafter also called 'universities') to the Department of Navy's (DoN's) research program, to support their research, and to encourage their teaching and research careers."

This award is also listed by the National Research Council as a Prestigious award.