Faculty and Undergraduate Student Research Database

Dr. Cheng is looking for motivated undergraduate students to join his group. The students will participate in several projects funded by NSF, GLPF and UA. As an example, his group is developing new implantable material, sensors and machine learning algorithms in order to remotely monitor people with disabilities. The students should be familiar with engineering principles, programming and problem solving....

The Koh Lab is currently working on developing new surfactants with a variety of different structures to create high internal phase emulsion polymer foams (pHIPE). With this library of surfactants we need to characterizing interfacial tension and then utilize the highest performing surfactant to create adsorbent foams. This project will involve the fundamental characterization of the surfactants, with the additional project of building a suitable enclosure for the instrument, as well as the creation of pHIPE. Final aspects of this project will be the validation of adsorbency of the pHIPE using simple contaminants....

I am looking for a student who is interested in learning 3D modeling, CNC machining and extrusion molding. My lab has a very nice CNC machine, Tormach 440 (see here https://www.tormach.com/pcnc-440/). I plan to utilize this CNC machine to make plastic enclosures for the small wearable sensors. First, 3D models of enclosures and molds to make these enclosures need to be designed in Fusion 360 software. Then the molds need to be machined out of wax and tested. When the molds are fully tested, we will need to machine them from aluminum. The machined molds then will be used with a plastic extrusion machine to make enclosures. This is a rather involved project but a fun learning experience for anyone interested in advanced manufacturing....

The control of chemical transformation via catalysis is both an exceptional intellectual challenge and critically important to the Nation. Catalysis is central to energy production and utilization, to chemical manufacturing, to the minimization of environmental impact, and it has been arguably the single most important agent for sustainable development in the developing world. The revolutions in nanotechnology and high performance computing provide unprecedented new opportunities to elucidate the fundamental principles governing the control of chemical transformation by catalysts. Indeed, the coupling of theory, modeling and simulation with experiment will provide the most profound insights into catalyst behavior and thus enable the design ...

The participant(s) will review papers, perform big-data analyses and basic statistical tests, and generate a project report that may potentially be published in a journal....

Students can work on the following projects: 1. Novel approaches to simulation of nuclear track detector data for the MoEDAL experiment at the Large Hadron Collider using Generative Adversarial Networks 2. Position reconstruction of gamma and beta decays in the EXO-200 neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment using Convolutional Neural Networks Fluency in programming languages (Python and/or C, Linux OS) are required. Familiarity with deep learning technique and relevant software (PyTorch, Keras) are preferred. Access to GPU computing system will be provided...

Our lab (ADIE) is looking for passionate undergraduate students working together! Our lab ADIE (adaptive design of immersive e-learning lab) is currently studying how immersive learning technologies support marginalized learners in STEM education. Educational technology is an academic discipline that addresses ways to utilize technologies to make our society, world, and education better. We believe that engaging digital platforms (e.g., VR and digital games) can help underrepresented students to be involved in education with pursuing the value of diversity, inclusion and equity. For instance, the major research project that our lab is doing is the design and development of a digital game-based learning platform aimed to enhance integrat...

Use electronics circuit simulation software to design a dedicated low noise amplifier for novel detectors of elementary particles. Requires familiarity with relevant software (e.g., LTspice)...

Elucidation of the structure, function, and mode of action of metallobiomolecules.The elucidation of the structure, function, and mode of action of metallobiomolecules via: 1) spectroscopic, magnetic, kinetic and biochemical studies of the natural systems and 2) the synthesis and characterization of biomimetic inorganic complexes. Our research applies biochemical and synthetic and physical inorganic methods to characterize the function and properties of metallobiomolecules (naturally occurring molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, sugars, etc. that contain tightly bound metal ions). The presence of the metal ions gives these species unique magnetic and spectroscopic properties (such as color) that provide avenues (not available to t...

The Summers research lab is always looking for motivated undergraduate students who are interested in performing research at the interface of engineering, microbiology, and biochemistry. Students will work on one of several projects related to genetic engineering of bacteria and yeast, including: (1) Elucidation of how bacteria recognize and respond to caffeine in their environment (2) Development of tools to engineer bacteria and yeast (3) Engineering bacteria to create high-value chemicals (4) Engineering yeast cells to produce high-value chemicals Students should expect to spend 6-10 hours per week in the lab. A commitment of at least one academic year is requested, but ideally students will continue to perform research in the l...