DETROIT - Two Wayne State University professors have been elected as fellows of the Society of Automotive Engineers. John M. Cavanaugh, professor of biomedical engineering and a resident of Royal Oak, and King Hay Yang, professor of biomedical and mechanical engineering and a resident of Bloomfield Hills, are among an elite group of SAE members who have achieved this distinction since its establishment in 1975. The "fellow" membership grade recognizes and honors long-term members who have made a significant impact on society's mobility technology through leadership, research and innovation.

In his 25 years at Wayne State, Cavanaugh has extensively researched trauma biomechanics and spinal disorders. His published work has addressed side impact of the human shoulder, thorax, abdomen and pelvis as well as brain injury, cervical spine injury and low back pain. Cavanaugh is associate director of the WSU Bioengineering Center and associate chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Yang's research interests include injury biomechanics, contact impact biomechanics and bone fracture biomechanics. His most recent research involves detailed modeling of the human body from head to toe in efforts to investigate mechanisms of injury related to motor vehicle collisions. He is director of the WSU Bioengineering Center.

Cavanaugh and Yang will be recognized at the SAE World Congress to be held April 13-15 at Cobo Center in Detroit.

The College of Engineering, with more than 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students, offers a wide range of fully accredited engineering disciplines. Its well-respected graduates represent a large force in Michigan industry and the engineering field.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.