Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Projects for AY 2024-2025

The Discovery Learning Apprenticeship (DLA) Program allows undergraduate engineering students to earn hourly wages (currently $16/hour) while engaging in research with faculty and graduate students. You’ll work alongside graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty as collaborative partners on original research. We find that students bring a fresh perspective to the research team while also learning from their more experienced partners.

Apprenticeship positions announced in March
Applications are accepted through mid-May for academic year 2024-2025
Students may work up to 300 hours in these positions over the course of the academic year
- Average of 10 hours per week over 30 weeks in the academic year
Attend several mandatory seminars and submit a project summary in the fall

Projects are listed by department or program. Review the "desired major" section of each project for eligibility to apply.

Aerospace Engineering Sciences Applied Mathematics ATLAS Institute Chemical & Biological Engineering Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Space Grant Consortium Computer Science Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering Engineering Education Environmental Engineering Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics & Society Integrated Design Engineering Mechanical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering Sciences

Developing Countermeasures for Piloted Lunar Landing

Project Description

Upcoming lunar landings are likely to involved the astronaut crew in some role (e.g., selecting landing points, monitoring propellant remaining, avoiding hazards, or controlling vehicle roll, pitch, and/or descent). To perform these roles, astronauts must avoid spatial disorientation, in which they incorrectly perceive vehicle orientation or motion. Here we aim to develop and assess a countermeasure system that will help detect when a pilot may be disoriented in order to trigger an active countermeasure. An active countermeasure system aids the pilot when needed, but does not place additional burden on the astronaut during an already high workload period. To develop this system, we will perform a series of ground-based experiments to properly understand the impact of the gravity transition on orientation perception and pilot control. The student will help perform human subject experiments, including recruitment, testing using our human-rated motion devices, and data analysis.

Requirements: The student should be available for 3-4 hour blocks at least 1-2 times per week as our human subject testing requires a block period of time.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Architectural Engineering, Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Torin Clark, Faculty
Email: torin.clark@colorado.edu

Taylor Lonner, Graduate Student
Email: taylor.lonner@colorado.edu

Distributed Meteor Radar Calibration

Project Description

The goal of this project is to develop and deploy a novel new technology for detecting meteors using a system of multiple antennas and multiple receivers. We are looking for students who are interested in instrumentation, hardware development, field deployments, and radio systems, with strong software skills being a plus. The project will focus on system calibration and will also provide an opportunity to work with hardware and conduct fieldwork. (See https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10484798 for a project reference).

Requirements: Students should be able to spend 2-3 hours twice a week in our lab on east campus in the Smead Aerospace Building. Meeting times are flexible but should be between normal working hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Strong programming skills are recommended, Python preferred. Familiarity with Linux or software defined radios is a plus.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Scott Palo, Faculty
Email: scott.palo@colorado.edu

James Monaco, Graduate Student
Email: james.monaco@colorado.edu

Energetic Particle Precipitation Event Classification Using Machine Learning

Project Description

Earth's magnetic field extends far into space, causing energetic charged particles to be captured and funneled into two donut-shaped regions surrounding the earth known as the radiation belts. The particles in the radiation belts are dangerous both to humans and electronics. As such, it is crucial to understand the processes that fill up and drain the radiation belts (called 'source' and 'sink' processes).

This project aims to assist in understanding these processes by using energetic electron data from the ELFIN CubeSats to identify various drivers of 'energetic particle precipitation' (EPP) – one of the main sink processes for the radiation belts. The project will use machine learning and artificial intelligence methods to characterize and classify EPP events recorded on the ELFIN CubeSats. This classification will aid in understanding the causes of individual EPP events, and connect them to driving processes, thereby contributing to a better understanding of radiation belt dynamics.

Website:

Requirements:

Must have taken PHYS 1120 or equivalent, or be taking course in the fall
Must have taken introductory coding course (e.g. ASEN 1320, CSCI 1300, etc.)
Must be willing to learn or be familiar with Julia (programming language)
Prior experience with AI not required

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering,Applied Mathematics,Computer Science,Engineering Physics

Contact

Robert Marshall, Faculty
Email: robert.marshall@colorado.edu

Julia Claxton, Graduate Student
Email: julia.claxton@colorado.edu

GPS/GNSS performance/accuracy improvements in the Android Mobile Phone

Project Description

Google has contributed toward the exploration of improving the GPS/GNSS performance within the Android Mobile phone through its past "Decimeter Challenge" (most recently: https://www.kaggle.com/competitions/smartphone-decimeter-2023).

The RF & SatNav Laboratory (/lab/rf-satnav/) has extensive experience in working with the GPS/GNSS within Android phones and with Google and is continuing to explore how to improve Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) in mobile platforms.

Participating students would be expected to have a strong programming background (C/C++/Matlab/Python are all possible as well as Java, ideally with Android Studio Development). GPS/GNSS experience is not required but definitely helpful. We expect to explore advanced signal processing of the measurements, use of the inertial sensors (gyro, mag, accel). Also interested in developing servers to aggregate data across multiple platforms for broad situational awareness.

Have a look at this for more details: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN8IZgRJBSM

Website: /lab/rf-satnav/

Requirements: None.

Contact

Dennis Akos, Faculty
Email: dma@colorado.edu

GPS/GNSS Software Defined Radios

Project Description

The RF & SatNav Laboratory (/lab/rf-satnav/) has a long history of innovating software defined radios for GPS/GNSS. Although GPS is *everywhere* it and it global counterparts (GLONASS, Beidou, and Galileo) can be problematic: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gps-is-easy-to-hack-and-the-u-s-has-no-backup/

This project is to improve and "harden" GPS and satellite navigation. And many different directions are possible: (a) working with the antennas & radio frequency (RF) front ends; (b) Embedded programming like that in the Xilinx Zynq (FPGA work); (c) furthering the signal processing algorithms to make the GPS/GNSS result more accuracy and processing faster(SIMD and GPU implementations); (d) developing server tools to collect GPS/GNSS receiver data across multiple platforms and assess situational awareness.

No experience with GPS/GNSS is required, however the candidate should be experienced in programming under Linux and proficient with C/C++, Matlab (or Python), and development tools (git, VCode, ...)

Website: /lab/rf-satnav/

Requirements: None.

Contact

Dennis Akos, Faculty
Email: dma@colorado.edu

Human-Autonomy Teaming: Experimental Design and Execution

Project Description

This project explores the interactions between multiple humans and autonomous agents working together to achieve complex objectives, emphasizing trust and communication in non-dyadic teams (i.e. teams of more than two members). The specific motivation of the research is to develop an understanding of the trust dynamics that occur when a human operator cannot directly interact with the autonomous system, only with another human operator who controls that system. Such interactions have not been previously studied in the literature.

We seek an undergraduate student who is interested in gaining experience in human subjects testing, and scientific research more generally, through assisting with various aspects of our project. Specific duties the student can expect to perform include recruiting and training participants, and participating in experimental sessions. Additionally, there likely will be opportunities to contribute to software development (most likely in Unity / C#), data analysis, methodology development, and the creation of technical publications detailing the results of the study. The student will be supported by a graduate mentor and faculty advisor.

Requirements: The ideal candidate would have experience or interest in some or all of the following areas, although these are not strictly required qualifications:

Interacting with and training novice individuals to understand a complex system
Software development (ideally Unity / C#) & version control software (Git)
Data analysis (ideally in R, MATLר, or Python)
Technical writing
Junior or senior class standing at the start of the 2024-25 academic year

Contact

Katya Arquilla, Faculty
Email: katya.arquilla@colorado.edu

Joseph Hesse-Withbroe, Graduate Student
Email: joseph.hesse-withbroe@colorado.edu

Investigations into Spacecraft Charging: Simulating Large Spacecraft in a Vacuum

Project Description

When exposed to the energetic plasma of the space environment, a spacecraft will gain an electrostatic potential. The charging behavior of each spacecraft depends on its size, shape, materials, and other physical properties. Our research explores how spacecraft charge when exposed to energetic plasma through both computer simulations and vacuum chamber experiments. For this project, you would be conducting investigations into secondary electron generation, external circuits, or other factors as they relate to spacecraft charging. This project may involve vacuum chamber and electron gun experiments.

Website:

Requirements:

Proficiency with coding in Matlab
Understanding of basic circuit fundamentals
Experience using hardware

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Hanspeter Schaub, Faculty
Email: hanspeter.schaub@colorado.edu

James Walker, PhD Student
Email: James.WalkerIii@colorado.edu

MAXWELL CubeSat Test & Integration

Project Description

MAXWELL is a 6U CubeSat that is part of the Air Force Research Laboratory's University Nanosat Program 9. MAXWELL’s mission objectives include a demonstration of high-rate downlink by the Bluefin radio, a commercially available high-rate X-band transmitter, as well as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) over X-band downlink. The team has also partnered with the GNSS/GPS Development & Analysis Laboratory to characterize a chip scale atomic clock (CSAC) for deep-space applications, as well as ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ-based MMA Design to demonstrate their Tape Deployable High Gain Reflect-array Antenna (T-DaHGR), a 1U high gain X-band antenna. We are looking for a student to support the integration and test elements of the project. This may include testing and integrating various avionics hardware to the Engineering Development Unit (EDU), creating and updating test procedures & results, and supporting preparations for MAXWELL’s Pre-Integration Review in late Fall 2024. The key areas of need for the project are testing & integration of ADCS hardware such as sun sensors, reaction wheels, torque rods, etc., as well as system-level integration and testing with various subsystems.

Website: /project/maxwellcubesat/

Requirements: Students should be available to participate in a team with core work time from 2:00pm to 3:50pm on Mondays and Wednesdays to be held in the Smead Aerospace building. Students should show the ability to work independently, follow instructions, and pay attention to detail.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Scott Palo, Faculty
Email: scott.palo@colorado.edu

Andrew Swackhamer, Graduate Student
Email: Andrew.Swackhamer@colorado.edu

Metrics and Models to Infer Trust in Human-Autonomy Teaming

Project Description

In this project, we perform a lot of hands-on research via human subject testing! Participants interact with a simulated autonomous system (via a computer-screen-based task) and we simultaneously collect a lot of neurophysiological (such as fNIRS and EEG) and psychophysiological (ECG, EDA, respiration, and eye-tracking) data . Students assisting with this project will primarily be assisting with human subject testing, where they will be expected to interact with participants in our experiments and set up sensor hardware and software. A secondary task will be assisting in data analysis of the physiological data. We have specific data analysis goals on this project, but I would be happy to assist the student in analyzing the data with their own personal study goals, so long as it is aligned with the goals of the project. We'd also be happy to have the student present their own research at a conference (for example, NASA Human Research Program Investigator's Workshop) or something similar.

Website: /bioastronautics/laboratory-equipment#lab_equipment-884

Requirements: No specific courses are required for human subject testing, but the student should have knowledge of MATLר in order to assist in data analysis. The experiment has not been setup yet, but typically human subject testing requires at least 2 hours, so the student will be expected to be available for at least 2 hour chunks at a time.

Contact

Sarah Leary, Faculty
Email: sarah.leary@colorado.edu

Multiagent Reinforcement Learning for Spacecraft Tasking

Project Description

Advances in spacecraft autonomy are necessary to complete complex missions across large constellations of satellites. Our research studies the use of reinforcement learning to generate autonomous, scalable solutions for spacecraft tasking. We are developing exciting neural network solutions to provide autonomous on-board scheduling decisions where the network is trained offline using a high-fidelity, flight proven simulation framework.

This project will involve training and evaluating agents for spacecraft autonomy, as well as developing an open source spacecraft simulation environment for reinforcement learning.

Website: http://hanspeterschaub.info/research-ML.html

Requirements: Looking for

Experience with Python development and git
Interest in or experience with machine learning or reinforcement learning
Basic familiarity with space systems

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Hanspeter Schaub, Faculty
Email: hanspeter.schaub@colorado.edu

Mark Stephenson, Graduate Student
Email: mark.a.stephenson@colorado.edu

Multi-Environment Virtual Training for Long Duration Exploration Missions

Project Description

The Bioastronautics Laboratory in the Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences is conducting experiments to study virtual reality (VR) for astronaut training. As part of these experiments, we have developed a VR Martian surface EVA trainer to develop skills necessary for driving a rover on the Mars surface and using a robotic arm to repair hardware. The first part of the project will have the DLA student update the Unity simulation to add new training features. The second part of the project will have the DLA student assisting in collecting data during human subject testing and helping with data analysis.

The DLA student will attend weekly team meetings with professors and graduate students in addition to their time working on the project itself.

Requirements: Students who apply for this project must have experience with Unity development. Additionally, any of the following skills would be good to have for the project:

Experience coding in C#
Experience working on software with multiple people at the same time
Experience conducting human subject research
Experience with Git, GitHub, or other version control and repository systems
Experience with Robot Operating System

Contact

Allie Anderson, Faculty
Email: apanders@colorado.edu

Savannah Buchner, Graduate Student
Email: Savannah.Buchner@colorado.edu

Multi-site Fabry-Perot Interferometer Measurements of Thermospheric Neutral Wind

Project Description

This NSF funded project is looking to study the thermosphere dynamics using a network of Fabry-Perot Interferometers. in South America. Currently one of those instruments is located at ASEN to be upgraded, tested, and eventually deployed to northern Argentina. One student will focus on the signal processing of the FPI data and to analyze in conjunction with radar data in Peru. Another student will focus on the upgrade the instrument, the automation of the data processing flow from different station and to perform potential wind field reconstructions from different stations.

Website:

Requirements:

Should haven taken courses on algebra, parameters estimation and python programming.
Should have followed classes in space weather and aeronomy.
Capable of using large databases and web and software development.
Should be available to work in 5-hour blocks.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Luis Navarro Dominguez, Faculty
Email: luis.navarro@colorado.edu

Arunima Prakash, Graduate Student
Email: arunima.prakash@colorado.edu

Orbiting Clock Testbed

Project Description

The COMPASS lab is currently conducting several research projects involving the use of low size, weight, and power (SWaP) clocks in space. We are developing a laboratory testbed based on software defined radios (SDR) that can be used to characterize clock performance and to simulate different clock behaviors. These currently include introducing clock frequency and phase jumps to test the effectiveness of jump and failure detection algorithms. A new feature we are interested in investigating is inducing frequency shifts to simulate the relativistic and environmental effects a clock operating in Earth orbit or cislunar space would experience. This feature is very relevant for understanding the operation of proliferated communication and navigation and sensing systems in LEO and for long range navigation signals supporting lunar missions.

The DLA student will have the opportunity to build upon the existing system capabilities and to develop the newly proposed features. Once complete we will work with other researchers in aerospace and physics to integrate this capability into an RF simulation for navigation receiver testing and other potential applications.

Requirements: Students must have an interest in space-based timing and navigation systems, knowledge of satellite orbits and modern physics topics covered in Physics 2170, plus some background in GNU Radio or other SDR programming.

Contact

Penina Axelrad, Faculty
Email: penina.axelrad@colorado.edu

Physiological Signal Capture for Situation Awareness Estimation

Project Description

Future autonomous systems will enhance human operator performance by working alongside them as teammates. This project seeks to develop predictive models of situation awareness (SA) that could enable autonomous systems and displays to adapt to an operator's current state. To do this, we are capturing psycho- and neurophysiological signals from human operators as they fly a simulated aircraft and complete related cognitive tasks. We then develop predictive models of situation awareness based on physiocognitive features. Your project will have you engaged in each step of this process including investigating SA literature, interacting with participants and applying physiological sensors, processing data, and building statistical models.

Requirements: Availability for at least one 4-hour block during the week, though more is preferred. Proficiency with MATLר. An interest in cognition and working with people.

Contact

Torin Clark, Faculty
Email: torin.clark@colorado.edu

Kieran Smith, Graduate Student
Email: kieran.smith@colorado.edu

Space Weather Atmospheric Reconfigurable Multiscale Experiment CubeSat

Project Description

The Space Weather Atmospheric Reconfigurable Multiscale Experiment (SWARM-EX) is a highly collaborative, NSF-sponsored mission to develop and launch three CubeSats in order to advance formation flying and swarm technologies while addressing outstanding aeronomy and space weather questions. With a nominal launch date in Q4 2025, the SWARM‐EX pathfinder mission uses three 3U CubeSats with a low-rate UHF radio, a high-rate X-Band data downlink, and a scalable propulsion system to demonstrate the key technologies of on-board autonomy, inter-satellite links, propulsion, and multiuser communications.

We are looking for a student to support the integration and test elements of the project. This may include testing and integrating various avionics hardware to the Engineering Development Unit (EDU), creating and updating test procedures & results, and supporting preparations for SWARM-EX’s Pre-Integration Review in Early Fall 2024.

Responsibilities include system and subsystem level testing, performing a fit check on the model, developing test procedures and supporting environmental testing.

Website: /aerospace/academics/graduates/graduate-projects/2022-2023-projects/space-weather-atmospheric-reconfigurable

Requirements:

Strong interest in cubesat assembly, integration and testing or related fields
Students should be available to participate in-person in core work time from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on Mondays and Wednesdays to be held in the Smead Aerospace building on east campus.
Demonstrate the ability to take initiative, work independently and follow instructions as well as pay attention to detail

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Scott Palo, Faculty
Email: scott.palo@colorado.edu

Rick Marcusen, Graduate Student
Email: Rick.Marcusen@colorado.edu

Transitions in availability of visual cues on human spatial orientation percepti

Project Description

Humans perceive their spatial orientation (how they are oriented and move in space) using multiple sensory cues, including visual and vestibular (in the inner ear). Pilots must properly perceive their spatial orientation during transitions in the availability of visual cues (e.g., flying into or out of clouds). Here, we aim to quantify the time course of changes in orientation perception during and immediately following transitions in the availability of visual cues (both losing visual cues and gaining them). The student will help perform human subject experiments in which participants are moved in a motion devices (stimulating the vestibular system) and are provided visual cues (using a virtual reality headset), and report their motion and orientation perception. The subject will help recruit subjects, perform experiments, and analyze data.

Requirements: The student should be available for 2-3 hours at a time, at least once or twice per week, as our human subject tests require extended blocks.

Contact

Torin Clark, Faculty
Email: torin.clark@colorado.edu

David Temple, Post Doc
Email: david.temple-1@colorado.edu

xGEO Robust and Adaptive Space Domain Awareness (xRADAR)

Project Description

The Bioastronautics Research Group in the Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences is conducting a series of experiments exploring how a virtual reality (VR) interface can potentially help human operators more intuitively understand the complex visualizations necessary for orbital trajectory and complex mission design. As part of these experiments, we will be developing a virtual reality environment which can visualize orbits and enable human-in-the-loop orbit trajectory optimization.

The student will assist in VR program and model development, depending on their background and capability. The student may also assist in collecting data from our pilot experiments and help process and clean the data. The SPUR student will attend weekly meetings with professors and graduate students in addition to working in the laboratory on the research.

Requirements:

Necessary:

Completed at least 1 undergraduate course in computer programming
Interest in virtual reality development, human factors design, and orbital dynamics

Highly Preferred:

Experience with Unity, C#, and/or Python
Experience working on software with multiple people at the same time
Experience conducting human subject research

Contact

Allie Anderson, Faculty
Email: allison.p.anderson@colorado.edu

Jana Cuberovic, Graduate Student
Email: jacu5965@colorado.edu

Applied Mathematics

CODE:SWITCH Assessment: Collaborative Data Science Education with Humanities

Project Description

This project advances a bold rethinking of the undergraduate introduction to data science course. The animating insight is that essential data science competencies complement--and benefit by being integrated with--core humanities competencies. This project will test the hypothesis that fully integrating statistics with technology, computation, and the humanities in the classroom will improve student learning and will attract students to the field who otherwise might not think of themselves as data scientists.

This project’s goal is to assess these new approaches for teaching data science that effectively incorporate perspectives of both STEM and humanities disciplines. AHUM 1825 is an introductory data science course developed to provide future data science and STEM majors with qualitative reasoning skills that are traditionally taught in the humanities, provide future humanities majors with an on-ramp to further study of data science, and provide all students with statistical and computational skills they can apply in future courses and in the workforce.

The DLA student will analyze a variety of datasets to answer the question: How well did AHUM 1825 achieve its objectives?

Desired Majors: Applied Mathematics, Computer Science

Contact

Eric Vance, Faculty
Email: eric.vance@colorado.edu

David Glimp, Faculty
Email: david.glimp@colorado.edu

Interdisciplinary Collaboration Across Cultures

Project Description

Professor Vance spent the 2023-24 academic year in Indonesia on a Fulbright Fellowship. His research was to translate his innovative ASCCR framework for teaching and learning collaboration into Indonesian language and culture. ASCCR stands for Attitude, Structure, Content, Communication, and Relationship, which are five essential components of interdisciplinary collaboration. This framework was developed in the United States; how relevant is it in other countries and cultures? With help from Indonesian researchers, the framework was translated into Indonesian and used to teach interdisciplinary collaboration to 88 statistics and data science undergraduate students at IPB University in Indonesia.

The purpose of this DLA project is to assess how effective the new Indonesian framework is for learning collaboration skills. The DLAs will analyze student and domain expert survey responses, as well as conduct some text mining analyses, to evaluate which aspects of the framework were most beneficial for students and which could be improved. The DLAs’ work will be part of an academic paper about the effectiveness of this approach to teaching interdisciplinary collaboration across cultures.

Contact

Eric Vance, Faculty
Email: eric.vance@colorado.edu

Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis (LISA) and TETRIDS

Project Description

LISA is the Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder. We are concluding a five-year study of how well LISA educates and trains effective interdisciplinary data scientists.

The DLA student(s) involved in this project will work as LISA collaborators while analyzing several datasets to answer two primary research questions:

RQ1: To what extent are LISA students effective interdisciplinary data science collaborators? RQ2: Which aspects of the LISA training model are most effective for educating and training interdisciplinary collaborators?

The data are a mix of quantitative and qualitative data from student and domain expert surveys and project summaries.

Desired Majors: Applied Mathematics, Computer Science

Contact

Eric Vance, Faculty
Email: eric.vance@colorado.edu

Ellery Galvin, PhD Student
Email: ellery.galvin@colorado.edu

ATLAS Institute

Digital Initiation: Empowering Youth for Healthy Online Living

Project Description

The "rite passage" project aims to provide a transformative initiation experience for youth aged approximately 12-13 years old, guiding them through a structured journey of six weeks. The DLA student(s) will play a crucial role in designing and implementing the gamified aspects of the project / experience. Specifically, they will be responsible for developing interactive modules, creating engaging content, and ensuring the game card design is intuitive and accessible for the target audience. The DLA student(s) will collaborate with the project team to integrate educational materials on the neurobiology and addictive design of smartphones and social media platforms into the digital platform. Their role will involve researching best practices in gamification, user experience design, and youth engagement to inform the development process. By taking ownership of this aspect of the project, the DLA student will gain hands-on experience in digital content creation, instructional design, and project management, contributing to their professional development while directly impacting the success of the "rite passage" initiative.

Website:

Requirements: Seeking students with skills in game design, content creation, video editing, user experience research, and / or youth outreach and engagement.

Contact

Annie Margaret, Faculty
Email: annie@colorado.edu

Exploring Sustainable Materials with an Open-Source Biofibers Spinning Machine

Project Description

Smart textiles integrate electronic materials (e.g. metals) into textiles structures and are widely used to create soft and conformal electronic systems in fashion, robotics, and medicine. However, smart textiles pose significant environmental challenges because they combine two highly toxic waste streams: textile waste and e-waste. In an effort to address environmental challenges brought on by smart textiles, we’ve developed a desktop machine—similar to a 3D printer—that enables prototyping and experimenting with sustainable bio-based fibers. Fiber properties can be tuned and the resulting fibers can be combined to create yarns for smart textiles. Importantly, these fibers can be easily dissolved, enabling electrical components to be recovered and recycled.

We’ve developed several material formulations to create biofibers that have increased strength and different colors (ranging from yellow to shades of green). The goal of this project is to experiment applying other materials to biofibers as a post-processing step to make them conductive and/or elastic. We are aiming to publish the results of this work at a conference in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).

Website:

Requirements:

We’re very interested in working with highly-motivated students. The ideal candidate should have one or more of the following:

Familiarity with digital fabrication technologies (e.g., 3D printing)
Experience with materials development and/or chemistry lab experience.
Experience with materials testing (e.g., tensile strength)
An interest in sustainability, green chemistry, human-computer interaction (HCI).

When reaching out to us, please provide a CV/resume and describe any relevant experience.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Michael Rivera, Faculty
Email: mrivera@colorado.edu

Eldy Lazaro Vasquez, Graduate Student
Email: eldylazaro@colorado.edu

Long-term nti-photocarcinogenic efficacy of invisible intradermal ink in murine

Project Description

This study will test the hypothesis that intradermally implanted UV-absorptive nanoparticles made of bemotrizinol-doped PMMA inhibit photocarcinogenesis associated with ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in female, SKH-1 hairless mice skin using a solar simulator.

The DLA will assist the co-PI in performing the study and will be involved in irradiating mice, documenting data and tumor development, and analyzing of said data. The DLA must be comfortable with working with lab animals and assisting with this research.

Requirements: The student must have taken biology and organic chemistry 1 - additional experience in data analysis is a plus. Student must be willing to work with a live animal study and reliability and being on-time is a must.

Desired Majors: Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Creative Technology & Design

Contact

Joshua Coffie, Faculty
Email: joshua.coffie@colorado.edu

Carson Bruns, Faculty
Email: Carson.bruns@colorado.edu

Mechanical Design for Advancing Open-Source Biofibers Spinning Customization

Project Description

Smart textiles integrate electronic materials (e.g. metals) into textiles structures and are widely used to create soft and conformal electronic systems in fashion, robotics, and medicine. However, smart textiles pose significant environmental challenges by combining two highly toxic waste streams: textile waste and e-waste. To address environmental challenges brought on by smart textiles, we’ve developed a desktop machine—similar to a 3D printer—that enables prototyping with sustainable bio-based fibers. Fiber properties can be tuned and the resulting fibers can be combined to create yarns for smart textiles. Importantly, these fibers can be easily dissolved, enabling electrical components to be recovered and recycled.

In this project, you will work with us to design and explore modifications to our machine that can unlock new types of fiber customization (e.g, nozzles with custom cross-sections to create fibers that have different luster/refractive properties/mechanical behavior; or custom collectors to selectively expose fibers to different [conductive] coatings). We are aiming to publish the results of this work at a conference in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).

Website:

Requirements:

We’re very interested in working with highly-motivated students. The ideal candidate should have one or more of the following:

Strong experience in mechanical design/CAD and fabrication
Strong experience prototyping functional parts, particularly with 3D printing
Experience using, debugging and modifying 3D printers.

Before applying, please reach out and provide a CV/resume, a link/PDF to your portfolio, and a description of any relevant experience.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Michael Rivera, Faculty
Email: mrivera@colorado.edu

Xin Wen, Graduate Student
Email: xin.wen@colorado.edu

Project Description

PRISM - Personal Relationship Improvement for Social Media

The PRISM project focuses on exploring the impact of specific social media behaviors on individual mental health outcomes. Participants engage in a four-week social media challenge, reflecting on their current social media habits, setting personal goals for change, and self-reporting their progress all while engaging with educational content about the relationship between neurobiology and addictive design features of smartphones/social media. This product aims to provide a holistic understanding of the complex relationship between social media consumption and mental wellbeing by leveraging education, reflection, and agency for positive, self-directed change.

Students supporting this project will work on designing and developing an online platform where participants will engage with PRISM surveys, educational materials, and reflection prompts.

Seeking students with skills in design, user research, data analysis, and / or full stack web development.

Website:

Requirements: Seeking students with skills in design, user research, data analysis, information science, and / or full stack web development. Must be able to commit to weekly meetings with the team.

Desired Majors: Applied Mathematics, Architectural Engineering, Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Annie Margaret, Faculty
Email: annie@colorado.edu

Nick Hunkins, Graduate Student
Email: nicholas.hunkins@colorado.edu

Chemical & Biological Engineering

Assessing changes in conductive polymer thin films for energy applications

Project Description

I am working on polymer thin films that can be used for energy applications such as batteries or hydrogen generation. Specifically, I am using synchrotron x-ray characterization techniques to examine changes in structure during charging of the material. The student will be involved in assessing how different electrolytes (propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate etc.) affect the polymer film structure during charging. This will involve learning electrochemistry as well as various characterization techniques such as AFM, XPS, and GIWAXS. They will charge the film and then characterize it to understand how much it swells, where the intercalating ion is, etc. Depending on how long the student stays, their interest, and their schedule, the student will likely travel with me to a national lab (e.g. Brookhaven National Lab in New York) to perform experiments at a synchrotron.

I will mention also that I am very interested in integrating energy justice into my research. If there is a student who is interested in incorporating topics such as environmental/social/energy justice, science communication, outreach etc. into their engineering research this would be a great project for them!

Requirements: A lot of the topics involved in this project (e-chem, x-ray characterization) are new to even graduate students entering the lab. So I don't expect much prior knowledge just a willingness to learn!

Contact

Michael Toney, Faculty
Email: michael.toney@colorado.edu

Characterizing organic electronic films for environmentally friendly batteries

Project Description

Organic batteries are a promising alternative to current battery technology that requires significant extraction of resources. In this project we will be using a variety of characterization techniques to better understand the doping of a polymer film. The characterization techniques include spectroelectrochemistry and both lab and synchrotron x-ray source techniques. Travel to synchrotrons in New York and California is an option in this project. Students will develop an understanding of how annealing temperature and ion changes changes the structure and electrochemical properties of a conductive polymer film.

Requirements:This is not an actual requirement but I would love a student who is interested in integrating energy justice into a their project!

Contact

Michael Toney, Faculty
Email: michael.toney@colorado.edu

Casey Davis, Graduate Student
Email: Casey.m.davis@colorado.edu

Collisions of Liquid Coated Particles

Project Description

Collisions and flows of wet particles (i.e., solid particles coated with thin liquid layers) occur in a variety of natural (e.g., avalanches, river sediments, and landslides) and industrial (e.g., filtration, particle coating, and agglomeration) processes. Most of the experimental studies in this domain have been limited to normal and oblique collisions between a sphere and a wetted plane, between two wetted spheres and head-on colinear collisions of three wetted spheres Thus, there exists a gap in literature, for experimentally investigating the dynamics of oblique collisions of three wetted spheres. In the current project, the student will perform experiments involving oblique collisions of three (or more) wet spheres. They will also perform video analysis using MATLר to track the motion of individual spheres and use those experimental data to validate the theory developed by the Davis group for demonstrating oblique collisions between three wet spheres. Through this project, they will obtain a degree of proficiency in doing both experimental work and computational modeling of such wet-particle systems using the principles of microhydrodynamics and transport phenomena.

Requirements: This project requires prior knowledge in fundamental fluid dynamics and solid mechanics. Prior experience with experiments is preferred. A background in coding though desired is not necessary. Furthermore, a basic understanding of calculus and linear algebra would help.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Creative Technology & Design, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Robert Davis, Faculty
Email: robert.davis@colorado.edu

Souradeep Roychowdhury, Graduate Student
Email: souradeep.roychowdhury@colorado.edu

Droplet Motion in Microschannels

Project Description

The motion of deformable drops in microchannels has various applications, including targeted drug delivery, lab-on-a-chip devices, micro-chemical reactors and generation of emulsions. As droplet microfluidic applications become more sophisticated, fundamental understanding of the physics of drop motion in bounded domains is important for designing such systems. This project involves the study of viscous flow through narrow channels and the motion of tiny particles/droplets suspended in them. We will investigate the motion of small drops subjected to a background flow consisting of viscous fluid in a flow cell. As it flows through the channel, the droplet deforms due to viscous forces. The dynamics of the drops will be studied experimentally through imaging and 2D velocimetry. The experiments will be conducted in flow-cells of different geometries, including straight, constricted, and bifurcated structures. The experimental results are then compared with theoretical results simulated using our in-house numerical solver for the Navier-Stokes equations at low Reynold’s number. Interested students will be guided to work on drop experiments and image processing.

Requirements: The student should have taken courses in physics, chemistry and mathematics. Courses in computer programming and fluid mechanics are desirable but not required.

Contact

Robert Davis, Faculty
Email: robert.davis@colorado.edu

Rajarshi Chattopadhyay, Graduate Student
Email: rajarshi.chattopadhyay@colorado.edu

Understanding Lithium-Ion Solid-State Batteries and Energy Justice Concepts

Project Description

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are poised to meet the rising demand for high energy density electrochemical energy storage and safety in lithium-ion battery technology, a crucial aspect for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles to decarbonize transport. The solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer arising from chemical incompatibility between the lithium anode and solid-state electrolyte poses a significant hurdle due to high resistance to ion transfer resulting in poor performance and cyclability of promising solid-state electrolyte materials. Therefore, this project pairs electrochemical techniques with operando x-ray characterization measurements to quantify the structural and chemical properties of the SEI to inform interfacial engineering and improve overall battery performance. The student will learn how to assemble batteries and run electrochemical experiments in a glove box as well as take XRD measurements requiring data processing for analysis. The student will also research energy justice concepts to promote the equitable deployment of this sustainable energy technology (promoting inclusiveness, sourcing materials, recycling capabilities, etc.)

Requirements: I would like a student that is motivated to do research and excited to be in an innovative and collaborative environment. I would also like them to want to continue research in the energy and sustainability space and be able to take the skills they learn with them to the R&D sector or graduate school. A sophomore or junior would be preferred that has a decent class standing (not failing anything). Energy and environmental justice concepts will be a part of this research, so it is encouraged that the student be passionate in this area. Most importantly, I want them to have fun with the work! Someone who is really interested in the research and sees it not as a job but exciting and impactful will be much more successful. I am fairly flexible with a student's schedule, but it would be nice for them to at least have 3 hours at a time to work on the project.

Desired Majors:

Contact

Michael Toney, Faculty
Email: michael.toney@colorado.edu

Kelsey Uselton, Graduate Student
Email: kelsey.uselton@colorado.edu

Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering

Civil engineering vs. climate extremes

Project Description

In this project, the DLA will lead the development of 5 short courses (each 2 hr long) covering the theme of "Civil Engineering vs. climate extremes". The students will lead the literature review, data collection, abstraction, and final presentation of case studies exemplifying how civil engineers adapt new strategies to combat climate changes. The course will be targeting at high-school students, aiming to use non-technical language to present the innovative civil/geotechnical engineering solutions to improve building resilience and to help reduce carbon footprint. Potential topics include: 1) GIS-based risk assessment for climate change adaptation; 2) New Orleans levees – from Katrina to Ida; 3) conserving energy through thermo-active foundations; 4) permanent carbon storage in geological media; and 5) alternatives of concrete for reduced carbon footprint. The final deliverable will be the course syllabus, course slides, course activities, and the collected data / literature base. If successful, the student and the PI will have chance to deliver these lectures in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Science Discovery summer programs.

Requirements: Applicants are preferred to have a civil engineering background at the junior or senior level, with strong writing and oral communication skills. Able to understand engineering drawings. Have a minimum GPA of 3.3. Skills in editing animations/videos/photos are bonus.

Desired Majors: Applied Mathematics, Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Creative Technology & Design, Engineering Physics, Integrated Design Engineering

Contact

Yida Zhan, Faculty
Email: yida.zhang@colorado.edu

Climate and Topography: Using ocean temperatures to predict mountain snowpack

Project Description

This study aims to investigate how the relationship between remotely-sensed sea surface temperature (SST) and snow-water equivalent depth (SWE) data varies on a kilometer-scale resolution within small watersheds in high elevation locations in select regions of the Western United States, including the Rocky Mountains in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ and the Sierra Nevada in California. We would like to relate this variation to elevation, location relative to prominent crests and latitude/longitude within the larger region. We will also consider long-term shifts in the locations of prediction regions, areas of the oceans where SST anomaly is highly predictive of SWE at a given land location, as well as shifts in the correlative strength of these prediction regions.

Requirements: Computer programming skills are a major plus--interest in handling and processing geospatial datasets and climate model outputs

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Ben Livneh, Faculty
Email: ben.livneh@colorado.edu

Jeremy Barroll, Graduate Student
Email: jeremy.barroll@colorado.edu

Design and Construction of an Integrated Insulated Phase-Change-Material Panel

Project Description

Assist in designing and building a prototype of an integrated panel that combines phase change material (PCM) with insulated layer that allows air to be preheated or precooled before supplied to heat pump (HP) for further processing to heat and cool buildings. The integrated PCM-HP panel would be a plug-in envelope system for new and existing buildings.

Requirements:

Knowledge of heat transfer and mechanial systems including heat pumps
Able to work in laboratory setting.

Contact

Moncef Krarti, Faculty
Email: moncef.krarti@colorado.edu

Nicholas Clements, Faculty/Lab Manager
Email: Nicholas.Clements@colorado.edu

Engineering a Unit Test Cell for Facade and Heat Pump Performance Evaluation

Project Description

Buildings are responsible for about 40% of the total energy use in the US, and improving building energy efficiency is an important component of reducing carbon emissions to address climate change. This project will refine a method of test for evaluating the performance of building facade materials and heat pumps, and their interactions, using a previously developed "Unit Test Cell". The project will evaluate the current performance of the Unit Test Cell and modify the experimental setup to address known issues, such as short cycling of the heat pump. This project will involve engineering analysis of thermal systems, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics, applying these concepts to deliver a functioning testbed. We aim to use the modified Unit Test Cell in academic and industry-funded research, such as to evaluate for performance of dynamic insulation, phase-change materials, and heat pumps using next generation refrigerants (e.g., transcritical CO2). The project will be based in the Larson Lab in the architectural engineering department.

Website: /ceae/larsonlab

Requirements: Familiarity with heat transfer and fluid dynamics is highly encouraged. Basic understanding of heat pumps is encouraged. Interest in learning heat transfer and fluid dynamics modeling tools, as well as an ability to do hands-on testbed construction and modification are highly recommended.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering,Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Nicholas Clements, Faculty
Email: nicholas.clements@colorado.edu

Moncef Krarti, Faculty
Email: moncef.krarti@colorado.edu

Enhancing Engineering Students’ Innovation Self-Efficacy

Project Description

This research explores a learning environment that may foster innovation in engineering curriculum. In this study, the innovation self-efficacy of undergraduate engineering students in a target course before and after a curricular intervention was studied. A design mentor and an education mentor outside of the course supported the students through their engineering design process. During the start and end of this curricular intervention, a survey was administered to measure students’ shift in: 1) Innovation Self-Efficacy, 2) Innovation Interests, and 3) Innovative Work. Formal feedback from the mentors will be utilized in interpreting the survey outcomes. Through this ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ DLA program, the quantitative data generated from these surveys will be used to inform the qualitative data analysis and focus groups. The DLA student will assist the team in coding focus group data and publication).

Requirements: Students with a background in any engineering and applied science program could apply for this position and are highly preferred if experienced in statistical data analysis.

Contact

Azadeh Bolhari, Faculty
Email: azadeh.bolhari@colorado.edu

Angela Bielefeldt, Faculty
Email: angela.bielefeldt@colorado.edu

Evaluating Risk Management Approaches in Drinking Water Utilities

Project Description

Both the E. coli outbreak in Walkerton, Ontario, and the widespread lead contamination in Flint, Michigan, act as devastating reminders of the consequences of failure to manage risks at drinking water utilities. To reduce these failures and enable the continued delivery of safe water, we are investigating the combinations of factors that lead to successful risk management. Risk management involves the identification of contamination sources, control barriers, and indicators that the control barriers are working.

We conduct case studies with utilities across Canada. Case studies involve review of water quality data, analysis of regulations, and interviews with staff at drinking water utilities. We incorporate technical, social, and regulatory aspects of risk management into our work to ensure that we understand the full picture of each utility. The DLA student will compare regulatory approaches across Canada and analyze water quality data and reports from utilities. If time permits, the DLA may also review and analyze interviews. They will learn how to use qualitative research to solve complex engineering problems and how engineering approaches are impacted by policy.

Requirements:

Ability to collect information independently using various resources available (e.g., library, public databases)
Regular communication with the GRA and professors on progress on tasks

Desired Majors: Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering

Contact

Amy Javernick Will, Faculty
Email: amy.javernick@colorado.edu

Karl Linden, Faculty
Email: Karl.linden@colorado.edu

Emma Wells, Graduate Student
Email: emma.wells@colorado.edu

Exploring Innovation Self-Efficacy in Neurodiverse Engineering Students

Project Description

Incorporating inclusive practices into engineering curricula is crucial for enabling neurodivergent students to reach their full potential in the workforce. This research study aims to leverage the unique strengths of marginalized neurodivergent engineering students. The study explores the innovation self-efficacy of engineering students who self-identify as neurodiverse before and after a curricular intervention known to enhance innovation self-efficacy. The intervention was implemented in an environmental engineering target course. A previously validated survey was utilized, and of the 47 responses on the pre-survey, 13% of the students self-identified as neurodiverse, with an additional 19% indicating they may be neurodiverse. Interestingly, a higher percentage of female students in the course identified as neurodiverse compared to male students (23% vs. 5%). The quantitative data from these surveys, collected through the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ DLA program, will be further analyzed to inform the qualitative phase of the research, including designing focus group questions, conducting interviews, and analyzing the data.

Requirements: A student with a background in any engineering and applied science program could apply for this position and is highly preferred if experienced in statistical data analysis. Neurodivergent students are highly encouraged to apply.

Contact

Azadeh Bolhari, Faculty
Email: azadeh.bolhari@colorado.edu

Angela Bielefeldt, Faculty
Email: angela.bielefeldt@colorado.edu

Identifying enablers & barriers to implementing successful water reuse projects

Project Description

Climate change, a growing population & changing demands necessitate creative ways to use our existing water supplies. Water reuse is one way to address challenges with availability, however, water reuse projects have had mixed success. This EPA-funded project seeks to understand the combination of factors (e.g., social, regulatory, financial, geographical elements) that enable water reuse projects to be successfully implemented & operated. To do this, we are conducting case studies of successful & attempted (but not successful) projects across the country. The selected DLA student will work with the Ph.D. student to compile case study reports for each water reuse project based on data collected from interviews, project documentation & contextual information and will help calibrate the presence & extent of different factors in case studies by assigning values for each case, contributing to a cross-case analysis that will enable us to determine the pathways that enable successful water reuse implementation. The DLA student will gain crucial understanding of water reuse engineering as well as social (qualitative) research approaches to be poised as a multi-dimensional problem-solver.

Website: /lab/gpo/research-projects/sustainable-water-sanitation-and-hygiene-wash/understanding-and-unlocking

Requirements:

Interest in learning how social and regulatory policies, in addition to technologies, contribute to successful projects, including the analysis of qualitative data such as interview scripts, media articles, and policy documents
Ability to collect information independently using various resources available (e.g., library, census)
Regularly communicating with and updating the GRA and professors on progress on tasks

Desired Majors:

Contact

Amy Javernick Will, Faculty
Email: amy.javernick@colorado.edu

Prakriti Sardana, Graduate Student
Email: prakriti.sardana@colorado.edu

Online Implementation of an Automated Energy Audit Tool

Project Description

Assist in the online implementation of an automated energy auditing tool that allows homeowners based on basic input data including utility data to develop a set of energy efficiency measures to reduce energy consumption and utility bills as well to electrify their homes based on predefined constraints including budget level and the power capacity of their electrical panel.

Requirements:

Good programming skills and experience.
Flexible hours.

Contact

Moncef Krarti, Faculty
Email: moncef.krarti@colorado.edu

Phani Vadali, Graduate Student
Email: phani.vadali@colorado.edu

ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Space Grant Consortium

Great Lunar Expedition for Everyone (GLEE)

Project Description

The Great Lunar Expedition for Everyone (GLEE) is a scientific and technological mission that is developing small and inexpensive sensor packages (LunaSats) that can be deployed on the surface of the Moon, in order to provide a platform for students from around the world to actively do lunar science (https://www.glee2023.org/). To enable students from varying levels of institutions and countries around the world to realize the dream of doing lunar science, LunaSats are based upon an easily accessible and open source architecture (Arduino). These LunaSats will be delivered to the surface of the moon via a student designed deployment module on a lunar lander as the delivery vehicle. GLEE is a unique opportunity for students to work on a lunar mission, developing and testing hardware and software that will be flown on a lunar lander flight in the near future. DLA Students will be assigned to a GLEE sub-team (electronics, science, avionics, structures, systems) that aligns with their background and interest.

Website:

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Barbra Sobhani, Faculty
Email: barbra.sobhani@colorado.edu

Computer Science

Adaptive responses of honeybee swarms to environmental perturbations

Project Description

Honeybee swarms, made up of a queen bee and thousands of workers, hang suspended from structures in nature for periods ranging from hours to several days while they search for a new hive. During this time, the swarm is subject to wind, rain, and temperature changes. We will investigate how swarms adapt their global structure to buffer against these environmental perturbations. Timelapse x-ray computed tomography will enable us to see beyond the surface of the three-dimensional, opaque swarm to observe the dynamic internal architecture. We will characterize the spatiotemporal changes in the structure of the swarm and develop image processing methods to track the motion of bees throughout the swarm. Informed by experiments, we will develop a model to elucidate how individual bees utilize local information to generate adaptive changes to the swarm’s global structure in response to environmental perturbations. This project will primarily involve image processing, data analysis, and model development. This project will integrate concepts from physics, computer science, applied mathematics, and engineering.

Website:

Requirements: Some experience with either python or matlab is necessary. Experience with image processing, classical computer vision, or machine learning for computer vision would be relevant but is not required.

Contact

Orit Peleg, Faculty
Email: orit.peleg@colorado.edu

Danielle Chase, Post Doc
Email: danielle.chase@colorado.edu

Algorithm development for atmospheric and cryopsheric satellite data analysis

Project Description

The student(s) will be contributing to development of algorithms for detection of faint aerosols

(from wild fires, volcanic eruptions and other hazards) in CALIPSO and ICESat-2 satellite lidar data. The projects are interdisciplinary in nature: All students are developing cutting-edge mathematical algorithms, together with the advisor. The student(s) should be interested in science applications, climate science, environment, have some background in tis or be interested in learning. Depending on progress/interest, each student can work on a computer science focus with an applied science focus in addition. We can take 1-3 students.

Requirements:

Strong mathematical skills required. Knowledge of a programming language (python preferred), some coding experience. Interest in science (atmospheric science or glaciers and ice sheets). Good work ethic always helps. Good grades are always a plus.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering

Contact

Ute Herzfeld, Faculty
Email: ute.herzfeld@colorado.edu

Thomas Trantow, Research Associate
Email: Thomas.trantow@colorado.edu

Computational Tinkering with Youth and Families at Libraries and Museums

Project Description

Through our focus on computational tinkering, we aim to broaden the styles of engaging with computing, providing a more social, physical, and cross-disciplinary alternative to more dominant ways of teaching computing that focus on planning and optimization of a single solution. In our work, computing is not only about acquiring computational skills and knowledge, but about being able to express ideas, interests, and identities to imagine and build new futures and worlds.

In this project, we work with facilitators, or informal learning educators, at libraries and museums to experiment with traditional materials and crafts along with computing tools for children like such as the Scratch programming environment and the micro:bit. We aim to introduce children and their families to computing in personally and socially meaningful ways by designing culturally responsive activities.

Website:

Requirements: Students must have be able to work 10 hrs/week. We invite students who enjoy experimenting and creating with both arts and crafts materials (e.g. paper, textiles, print making) in addition to playing with computing tools. Students do not need technical expertise as much as a willingness to learn and explore together with our team. Students must be able to work independently as well as to work in a team of people with diverse interests and backgrounds. Ability to speak Spanish fluently is a plus as we work with many Spanish-speaking families in the Boulder and Denver area.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Ricarose Roque, Faculty
Email: ricarose@colorado.edu

Machine Learning Compared to Intelligent Algorithms in Satellite Data Analysis

Project Description

This is a challenging modern project situated at the intersection of computer science (ML) numerical mathematics (algorithms) and sciences (physically constrained ML methods and their applications). The student(s) will work with the advisor on specific smaller topics, involving development and application of different types of neural networks, creation of labeled data sets, applications in atmospheric sciences or glaciology. They will also, or alternatively, apply/further develop auto-adaptive algorithms for feature detection in satellite data. Discussion with the advisor or Research Associate prior to application is strongly suggested. This is an interdsiciplinary project. We can take 1 or 2 students.

Requirements: These are internships for students of computer sciences, mathematics/applied math, or related disciplines (physics, engineering).

Strong mathematical skills and programming skills required. Python needed. The ML classification library you'll be working with is written in pytorch.
Interest in science required. A science course or two would be a plus, but is not required.
Knowledge of satellite remote sensing can be learned during the internship.

Contact

Ute Herzfeld, Faculty
Email: ute.herzfeld@colorado.edu

Thomas Trantow, Research Associate
Email: Thomas.trantow@colorado.edu

Sensing Sustainability: Engaging Middle Schoolers in Food-Tech Solutions!

Project Description

In this project, we delve into the innovative realm of programmable sensor technology, focusing on the Micorbit platform and its potential applications in addressing critical food sustainability challenges. The DLA will be responsible for exploring how microbit can be a powerful tool for engaging middle school students in rich CS and AI concepts.

This project will allow middle school students to explore various facets of food sustainability. From monitoring soil moisture levels to tracking environmental conditions affecting crop growth, the possibilities are vast. Through interactive experiments and projects, students will not only grasp the theoretical concepts behind the technology but also witness how it can be applied to tackle pressing issues in agriculture and food production. Furthermore, this exploration will highlight the interdisciplinary nature of programmable sensor technology, bridging the gap between STEM education and environmental sustainability. The DLA will be responsible for various aspects of the technology, including programming the micro:bits to sense different environmental data, working with Google Teachable Machines, and testing them to solve a problem.

Website: /program/schoolwide-labs/computational-thinking-classroom-resources-ct-integrated-storyline-units

Requirements: Students must have basic programming skills and be interested in exploring block-based programming and sensor technology, such as micro:bit. They should be able to meet weekly/bi-weekly and communicate their findings effectively. They should also be ready to explore problems and research them. Finally, they should be willing to work closely with a group of researchers.

Contact

Tamara Sumner, Faculty
Email: sumner@colorado.edu

Srinjita Bhaduri, Graduate Student
Email: srinjita.bhaduri@colorado.edu

Simulating Recommender System Architectures

Project Description

Recommender systems are a ubiquitous part of online experience, personalizing interactions in social media, streaming services, news, e-commerce and more. Recommender systems are usually part of a monolithic system designed to provide recommendations to users based on algorithms defined by system designers. Our research group is exploring alternative models of recommendation that are more amenable to democratic governance. In this project, the student will work with a Python-based computational tool Google RecSim to simulate different architectural configurations of recommender systems and conduct experiments using real-world and synthetic data.

Website:

Requirements: Python programming ability required. Knowledge of machine learning, esp. reinforcement learning a plus.

Desired Majors: Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design

Contact

Robin Burke, Faculty
Email: robin.burke@colorado.edu

Anas Buhayh, Graduate Student
Email: anas.buhayh@colorado.edu

Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering

Computational Electromagnetics using FDTD; Simple Approach for Higher Accuracy

Project Description

Objective: Developing a simple approach to accurately model irregularly shaped conductors within a Computational Electromagnetics numerical solver called Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method. Existing techniques are generally insensitive a conductor’s orientation within an FDTD subcell, which limits their accuracy. The more accurate techniques generally rely on advanced equations that are harder to understand and to code. The simple approach will rely on trigonometry to preserve orientation within FDTD, which is hoped to achieve good accuracy within coarsely meshed domains, allowing exiting computing resources to handle larger sized simulations.

Potential Applications: Simulating multiscale electromagnetics problems, such as wireless communications channels, using smaller computers. Simulating wideband electromagnetics problems such as high-speed digital signal interaction.

Starting with the initially developed equations for two-dimensional simulation models, student will conduct several experiments to test their validity and robustness. Student will extend the equations to three-dimensional FDTD simulations. Student will have freedom to chose some applications.

Requirements: Good knowledge of Maxwell’s equations and boundary conditions. Good grasp of Calculus III. An introductory class into ordinary differential equations. Some programming experience, MATLר preferred.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics

Contact

Melinda Piket-May, Faculty
Email: melinda.piket-may@colorado.edu

Mohammed Hadi, Faculty
Email: Mohammed.hadi@colorado.edu

Computational Electromagnetics using the FDTD method for High Speed Design

Project Description

Objective: Investigating the nuances of injecting sources within a Computational Electromagnetics numerical solver called the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method. Existing techniques can cause numerical errors when applied within cylindrical and spherical coordinate systems. Understanding the source of these errors would allow finding adjustments to eliminate them and make source injection more robust.

Potential Applications: Obliquely oriented modal excitation within high-speed digital circuits. Scattering studies due to near-field source locations. Oil and Gas borehole simulations.

Expected Student Contribution: Starting with the initially tested ideas on two-dimensional simulation models, student will extend the formulation and testing to more realistic three-dimensional simulation models. Student will apply the tested techniques on one or more of the potential applications mentioned earlier. Student will also have the freedom to chose a different application to suit their own interests.

Requirements: Good knowledge of Maxwell’s equations and boundary conditions. Some programming experience, MATLר preferred.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Melinda Piket-May, Faculty
Email: melinda.piket-may@colorado.edu

Mohammed Hadi, Faculty
Email: Mohammed.hadi@colorado.edu

Data Curation and Discovery for Synthetic Biology

Project Description

Synthetic biology designed systems have many applications in areas including environmental, man- ufacturing, sensor development, defense, and medicine. However, currently the progress and useful- ness of synthetic biology is impeded by the time required for literature studies and the replication of existing but poorly documented work. This project proposes to move away from post-hoc and towards integrated curation to create truly digital publications. This research has two main research aims: 1) the creation of an integrated curation framework and 2) the development of a search framework that takes advantage of the curated data provided by the interface. Upon completion of these aims, we will have made it easier for authors to submit genetic design information in accordance with the FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) principles, and thus, enabling the ability of researchers to search for sequences and related genetic designs. The SPUR student on this project will work on software tools for data curation (SeqImprove), data storage (SynBioHub), and/or data discovery (SBOLExplorer).

Project website:

Requirements: Experience with programming using Python, Java, and/or Javascript would be beneficial.

Hosting the following students: ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder Student, Community College Student (from ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ)

Desired Majors: Applied Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemical & Biological Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Integrated Design Engineering

Contact

Chris Myers, Faculty
Email: chris.myers@colorado.edu

Chunxiao Liao, Graduate Student
Email: Chunxiao.Liao@colorado.edu

Digital Backbone for Synthetic Biology

Project Description

The Myers research group at the University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder is developing a comprehensive plan for storing and sharing data for the Army Center for Synthetic Biology. This digital backbone will be composed of an instance of the SynBioHub data repository, and it will be coupled to various software tools via its API to both curate data being generated by the other participants, as well as provide easy access to participants for further analysis. The software tools used will include Cello, iBioSim, SynBioSuite, Excel2SBOL, Synbict, among others. The digital backbone will be connected to experimental data storage systems (BioMADE, Flapjack and Experimental Data Depot). Robust data management practices are crucial to promote a reproducible design-build-test-learn (DBTL) cycle for synthetic biology (SynBio) applications. These data management practices are built upon a set of software tools to capture information, data standards to encode the information in machine-readable formats, and digital repositories to support data sharing. The SPUR student on this project will be testing and refining this workflow using data from our collaborators.

Project website:

Requirements: Experience with software languages such as Python and/or Javascript would be beneficial.

Hosting the following students: ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder Student, Community College Student (from ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ)

Contact

Chris Myers, Faculty
Email: chris.myers@colorado.edu

Gonzalo Vidal, Post Doc
Email: gonzalo.vidalpena@colorado.edu

Safety & Performance Guarantees for Large-Scale Systems

Project Description

Broadly, this project supports ongoing research that develops control policies (rules/algorithms that use sensor data to decide how to actuate a system in real time) - for large scale systems. A motivating example of interest is a satellite constellation - a group of small satellites that cooperates to maintain a desired configuration. Constant communication between each satellite and a ground station on earth quickly becomes intractable as the number of satellites or distance from Earth increases. "Distributed control strategies" overcome this by enabling the satellite group to control itself without constant oversight from this ground station, but they require inter-satellite communication and local computation, introducing a new set of challenges. This project studies the challenge of guaranteeing safety and performance even with limited communication between the satellites or if one satellite or communication link fails. This work is primarily theory-based. Day-to-day, a student should expect to work on mathematical guarantees with pencil and paper, perform some numerical simulations, and develop some code to assist with analysis, working with the PI and current grad students.

Requirements: Student must have taken a course in linear algebra. Having taken a course in control theory would be helpful, but not completely necessary.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Emily Jensen, Faculty
Email: ejensen@colorado.edu

Sample holder design for multi-qubit measurements of superconducting qubits

Project Description

In recent years, research on superconductor-based quantum computers made significant strides toward realizing universal quantum computers. The currently developed processors containing 50-100 qubits define the beginning of the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era, where - for the first time in the history of science – we can explore the frontiers of quantum computation in practice. In our laboratory, we design superconducting circuits containing multiple qubits, which must be shielded from environmental noise. The goal of this project is to use Inventor to design the enclosure for superconducting quantum circuits containing multiple input and output channels. These elements will provide thermal and radiofrequency shielding for the quantum processor. After designing the parts, the elements will be machined in an external professional shop (by professionals), and the student can test the sample holder at low temperatures with a working quantum computer.

Website: /lab/gyenis/

Requirements: Familiarity and experience with Inventor or similar 3D design software. GPA: 3.8 or above.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Andras Gyenis, Faculty
Email: andras.gyenis@colorado.edu

Pablo Aramburu, Graduate Student
Email: Pablo.Aramburu@colorado.edu

SynBioHub3 - An Interactive Genetic Design Repository

Project Description

Synthetic biology has the potential to lead to new or more efficient production of medicines, fuels, and other important compounds. Crucial to the success of synthetic biology is effective standards for the storage and sharing of genetic design knowledge between researchers and institutions. This project will develop SynBioHub3, an interactive data repository that will accelerate the pace of discovery and innovation for this critical emerging field. The SPUR student on this project will work on testing and documentation for SynBioHub3.

Project website:

Requirements: Experience with programming with Python, Java, and/or Javascript would be beneficial.

Hosting the following students: ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder Student, Community College Student (from ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ)

Contact

Chris Myers, Faculty
Email: chris.myers@colorado.edu

SynBioSuite: A Tool for Improving the Workflow for Genetic Design and Modeling

Project Description

Synthetic biology research has led to the development of many software tools for designing, constructing, editing, simulating, and sharing genetic parts and circuits. Among these tools are SBOLCanvas, iBioSim, and SynBioHub, which can be used in conjunction to create a genetic circuit design following the design–build–test–learn process. However, although automation works within these tools, most of these software tools are not integrated, and the process of transferring information between them is a very manual, error-prone process. To address this problem, this work automates some of these processes and presents SynBioSuite, a cloud-based tool that eliminates many of the drawbacks of the current approach by automating the setup and reception of results for simulating a designed genetic circuit via an application programming interface. The SPUR student on this project will be adding new features to the SynBioSuite tool to enable wider support of modeling and analysis capabilities.

Requirements: Programming experience with languages such as Python, Java, and Javascript would be beneficial.

Project website:

Hosting the following students: ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder Student, Community College Student (from ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ)

Contact

Chris Myers, Faculty
Email: chris.myers@colorado.edu

Gonzalo Vidal, Post Doc
Email: gonzalo.vidalpena@colorado.edu

Engineering Education

Advancing Excellence in the Lattice Scholars Program

Project Description

Are you a Lattice Scholar interested in contributing to the improvement and promotion of the Lattice Scholarship program? Do you want to help share the stories of student success for future cohorts Lattice Scholars and the College? In this DLA research apprenticeship, you'll collaborate closely with the Lattice team to explore critical questions surrounding the program's effectiveness in both its first and second years, including identifying valuable seminar content and skills, devising strategies for future implementation, assessing perceptions of success, and determining resource needs. You will gain hands-on experience crafting data analysis methodologies for educational research, including survey design, focus groups, and interviews with enrolled Lattice students. Your contributions will shape the program's evolution, informing future enhancements and student support mechanisms. You will also have the option to publish and present a paper on your research at a regional educational conference. Join us in uncovering insights and driving positive change in engineering education and the Lattice Scholars program.

Requirements: Lattice Scholars only

Contact

Mindy Zarske, Faculty
Email: malinda.zarske@colorado.edu

Phil Courey, Faculty
Email: philip.courey@colorado.edu

Environmental Engineering

Inactivation of Drinking Water Pathogens using UVC LEDs

Project Description

The quality of drinking water can change substantially from the time it leaves the treatment plant to the time it reaches consumers' tap. This project involves using emerging UVC LED technologies to combat the growth of pathogenic bacteria within drinking water distribution systems to help ensure safe drinking water. The student will help run bench-scale experiments on UV disinfection of bacteria, utilizing basic microbiology techniques such as cell culturing and enumerating bacteria. The work consists of a lot of in-person lab work with setting up experiments with pumps, tubing, reactors, and different influent feeds, running the experiments over multiple days, and then collecting results by enumerating bacteria within the reactors. The student involved in this project should have interest in microbiology, drinking water, and treatment systems.

Requirements: The student should preferably have taken a microbiology course and a science course with a lab component. They should be able to work in at least 3 hour time blocks.

Desired Majors: Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering

Contact

Karl Linden, Faculty
Email: karl.linden@colorado.edu

Madison Ferrebee, Graduate Student
Email: madison.ferrebee@colorado.edu

ISOVERSE – open-source data tools for stable isotope data

Project Description

The ISOVERSE is an open source software solution that is changing the way researchers work with stable isotope data. This powerful toolkit has applications in fields as diverse as environmental science, archaeology, astrobiology, forensics, and medicine. If you're excited about programming, streamlining scientific research and making data more accessible, this could be the perfect project for you!

Your Role as a DLA Student Researcher: You'll be an integral part of the ISOVERSE development team, working on a specific focus area that aligns with your interests and skills.

Some potential tasks:

Data Input, Cleaning and Validation: Develop functions and procedures to read data from instrument file formats, and ensure the quality and consistency of stable isotope data coming into the ISOVERSE software.
Visualization and Reporting: Create user-friendly ways to visualize stable isotope data within ISOVERSE. Design templates to help researchers generate clear and informative reports.
Module Testing and Refinement: Work hands-on with ISOVERSE modules (isoreader, isoprocessor, isoconnector, isoexplorer, isoorbi).
Explore Ways for Cloud Integration (CloudAccess Keyword)

Website:

Requirements:

Students must have prior experience in scientific programming (in any language) and a strong interest in working with the R language and environment for statistical computing and graphics. They should be available to co-work in person on the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder East Campus in two 5-hour blocks most weeks.

We're looking for someone who is:

Passionate about data analysis, scientific tools, or open-source software development.
Excited to develop intuitive, user-centered software that makes complex processes more widely accessible.
Familiar with at least one common scientific programming language (ideally R, Python, or Matlab). A strong background in a compiled general purpose programming language (C, C++ or Rust) is also useful but not required.
Eager to learn and collaborate in a small research team.

Contact

Cajetan Neubauer, Faculty
Email: caj.neubauer@colorado.edu

Sebastian Kopf, Faculty
Email: sebastian.kopf@colorado.edu

Sustainable and Resilient Health Care: Dialysis Life Cycle Environmental Impacts

Project Description

Lidar is a pivotal tool for data acquisition and analysis of Earth's atmosphere and is a growing technique in this field. Our group operates atmospheric lidar at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, studying the middle and upper atmosphere. This proposal is an opportunity for an undergraduate student to process and analyze said lidar data.

This project will have an undergraduate researcher develop code to turn Rayleigh scattered photons from our Antarctic Na Doppler lidar into atmospheric parameters like density and temperature, which will involve combining lidar/atomic physics with complex data processing techniques. The researcher will then explore gravity waves in the data, analyzing variability, energy transport, and spectra under guidance of a PhD student. They will then present results at the 2025 CEDAR workshop, and work with the PhD student on a publication comparing the Na Doppler data to the co-located Fe Boltzmann lidar.

The proposed lidar project aims to help an undergraduate female student looking to explore the field of remote sensing. Generating new results, this project will aid our research and contribute to our understanding of the atmosphere above Antarctica.

Website:

Requirements:

Mathematics, statistics, and basic physics classes should have been taken.
Computer programming capability.
Some familiarity with lidar remote sensing and the atmosphere science.

Contact

Xinzhao Chu, Faculty
Email: xinzhao.chu@colorado.edu

Jackson Jandreau, Graduate Student
Email: Jackson.Jandreau@colorado.edu

Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics & Society

Electrifying ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ: Past and Present Environmental Hazards

Project Description

Electrification is an important part of a global transition away from fossil fuels. Today, the shift to electric cars, heat pumps, and the expansion of nuclear power are all rapidly growing industries. However, implementing this transition requires complicated ethical decisions from researchers, practitioners, and engineers and the origins of contemporary debates have long histories. In ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ the state’s mining past, patterns of settlement, and at times contentious relationship with federal regulators complicate efforts at truly ethical energy transition.

To address these important questions, the student researcher would help locate important "sacrifice zones" - places contaminated by energy development - as well as identify key people, dates, policies, and catalysts for ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ’s energy transition. The daily workflow would include examining news sources, archives, and academic literature, possibly conducting site visits with the PI (when geographically possible), and possibly interviewing constituents. The end result would be a list of compelling narratives/issues for a proposed book project as well as a public-facing website identifying key locations and issues.

Requirements:

While a significant portion of the work can be done digitally, students must have the ability to travel to Boulder for regular meetings with the PI. Ideally, student will have an interest in the social and ethical implications of engineering development and/or energy technology

Contact

Sarah Stanford-Mcintyre, Faculty
Email: sarah.stanfordmcintyre@colorado.edu

Name, Graduate Student
Email: email@colorado.edu

Integrated Design Engineering

Integrated Design Engineering – Amplifying Student and Alumni Narratives

Project Description

Wondering how Integrated Design Engineering (IDE) students harness their unique experiences to navigate internship and career pathways? Interested in contributing to the enhancement and promotion of engineering pathways in the College?

In this project, you'll collaborate with IDE faculty to document and analyze narratives from undergraduate and alumni students. Together, we will explore related projects around the university, create a platform for showcasing student stories, and analyze the stories for common themes and unique opportunities that inspire student success. Gain hands-on experience in human-centered research design, including surveys and interviews with engineering peers. This research will help highlight the diverse internship and career pathways available to engineering students, celebrate individual achievements and inspire prospective students and their families. Your work can culminate in an optional research publication at a regional or national conference, influencing the future landscape of engineering education and practice by advocating for diversity, inclusion, and the boundless possibilities within the IDE program and College of Engineering.

Requirements: None.

Desired Majors: Integrated Design Engineering

Contact

Mindy Zarske, Faculty
Email: malinda.zarske@colorado.edu

Dan Godrick, Faculty
Email: daniel.godrick@colorado.edu

Universal Design & Sustainability in Engineering Projects Courses

Project Description

Have you taken an Engineering Projects course? How was your experience working on the design process with other engineering students? Looking back, could you have made your project more sustainable? Are you interested in making an impact in design projects experiences for all students?

In this DLA, you will work with Integrated Design Engineering (IDE) faculty to identify a research question you’d like to investigate related to universal design and sustainability in projects courses. Together we’ll design a research strategy, explore relevant background literature, then analyze projects courses related to the research question and see what we can learn based on the analysis. Along the way you will gain experience designing data analysis in an educational research study, with potential to develop and facilitate surveys, convene focus groups ,and conduct interviews with enrolled engineering students. You will also have the option to publish and present a paper on your research at a regional or national educational conference.

Requirements: Must have taken one of the GEEN projects courses (1400, 2400, or 3400)

Contact

Mindy Zarske, Faculty
Email: malinda.zarske@colorado.edu

Joany Tisdale, Faculty
Email: Joan.Tisdale@colorado.edu

Mechanical Engineering

Biodegradable polymers based on glucose and plant-based materials

Project Description

At the Emergent Nanomaterials Laboratory (ENL) we work at the forefront of materials research and come up with exciting applications for novel polymeric soft materials.

We work on a biodegradable material, called cyclodextrin. It is formed when glucose molecules come together to form a ring. The cavity in this ring resembles a lampshade and can host different molecules within it. By threading a polymer chain through cavities of multiple cyclodextrins, we synthesize a molecular necklace called polyrotaxane.

By chemically modifying polyrotaxanes, we alter their physical & mechanical properties, making them recyclable. We use biomass-derived chemicals for such modifications, contributing to green chemistry.

The DLA student will synthesize polyrotaxane compositions, fabricate samples, and test & analyze chemical & mechanical properties. The student shall present their progress to the research group once per semester and attend weekly group meetings alongside DLA program requirements.

Website:

Requirements: GPA of 3.0+; CHEM 1113 & 1114, or CHEN 1201 & 1211 required; CHEM 1133 & 1134 desired; organic synthesis experience desired; expected work in lab: 8-10 hrs/wk

Desired Majors: Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering

Contact

Carson Bruns, Faculty
Email: Carson.Bruns@colorado.edu

Aseem Visal, Graduate Student
Email: asvi1829@colorado.edu

Project Description

Research indicates that many engineers and designers are ill-equipped to evaluate or make design decisions that consider a complete spectrum of social impacts, such as considerations of well-being, stakeholder inclusion and equity, and community livelihoods and empowerment. Engineering and design fields have evolved to improve our predictability of solutions (i.e., how likely a solution will achieve its goals) by applying advancements in the natural sciences to design methodology. However, we lack the ability to accurately predict the social outcomes of future solutions and have not explored the application of social science advancements to design systematically. Available strategies also lack effective evaluation of long-term social impacts of technologies and often fail to apply lessons from past evaluation into future design practice. This project will collect data to identify existing best practices and gaps in design for social impact methodologies and frameworks. The research assistant will perform a systematic literature review and conduct interviews with practitioners and academics to identify relevant design methodologies and educational trends.

Website: /lab/burlesonglobaldesigngroup/

Requirements:

The following are encouraged for undergrad applicants:

Students who have taken one or more design courses
Students with experience in human-centered design principles or design for well-being techniques (or, students who are especially excited and interested to learn these principles)
Experience with qualitative data collection and analysis (or, students who are especially excited and interested to learn these techniques)
Experience and skill engaging with others (e.g., conducting interviews)
Ability to self-organize

Contact

Grace Burleson, Faculty
Email: grace.burleson@colorado.edu

Design and Fabrication of Novel Vascular Grafts

Project Description

Vascular grafts play a critical role in the contemporary management of a wide range of clinical conditions, including atherosclerosis, aneurysm, congenital malformation, vasculitis and stroke. The use of synthetic polymer for graft fabrication, however, has been associated with thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia, resulting from platelet accumulation, blood clotting and tissue overgrowth, respectively. Therefore, there remains a substantial unfulfilled need for regenerative materials that provide long-term patency of vascular grafts. Herein, we are developing regenerative vascular implants or implant coatings made of electrospun co-axial nanofibers. Building on our existing fabrication process, we are further examining how several manufacturing parameters influences implant materials properties, which are important for the preclinical translation. In particular, the addition of an amphiphilic stabilizer and anticoagulants are being explored for their respective impact on increasing the layer adhesion and hemocompatibility performance of implant materials.

Requirements: Student must have taken a biomaterials or biochemistry or physiology or an equivalent course, have a good class standing, and be available to work in two 5-hour blocks,

Desired Majors: Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Creative Technology & Design, Engineering Physics, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Wei Tan, Faculty
Email: wei.tan-1@colorado.edu

Aurora Battistella, Graduate Student
Email: aurora.battistella@colorado.edu

Effort landscapes in motor learning

Project Description

In dynamic environments, we learn to modify our movements. These adjustments are related to learning and accommodating a new energetic landscape while reducing movement error. Learning changes in response to many factors, including reward and punishment and the reduction of error is accompanied by a reduction in metabolic cost. Does effort reinforce or impair learning? In this study, we will explore the effects of an effort cost that is dependent on movement error. This project is an opportunity to work in human research at the intersection of engineering, neuroscience, and behavioral economics. As a research student on this project, you will help collect and analyze movement data for a robotic reaching study. Over the semester, you will support and then run your own data collections. Using your own data, you will visualize and quantify differences in reaching movements. Over the course of the semester, you will collaborate with your mentor to analyze data and develop a paper. You will also have the opportunity to attend a research conference. We will welcome you into the lab team and be introduced to ongoing projects in the Neuromechanics Lab.

Requirements: Experience with MATLר or Python is strongly preferred. Flexibility to work in 90-120 minute blocks in order to collect data is required. Great for students with an interest in psychology, human behavior and or human research.

Contact

Alaa Ahmed, Faculty
Email: alaa@colorado.edu

Rachel Marbaker, Graduate Student
Email: rachel.marbaker@colorado.edu

Investigating physical properties of particulate matter for indoor air quality

Project Description

The Vance Lab at the University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder specializes in indoor and outdoor air quality investigations, with a special focus on aerosols or particulate matter (PM). PM can range from a few nanometers to micrometers in size and can be generated from a variety of sources, from vehicles to cooking and chemical processes. PM can affect the human respiratory system, cardiovascular health, and even brain activity. In fact, some studies have linked exposure to PM to stress and brain aging. Thus, it is important to characterize emissions of PM from everyday sources and mitigation strategies. The student working in our lab will perform experimental laboratory research to measure size distributions of PM as well as other physical properties. The work may include a field component in addition to the primary laboratory research, as well as data analysis & data visualization. This student will work alongside a PhD student who is leading the project.

Website: /lab/vance

Requirements: Undergraduate ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder engineering student, self-motivated and willing to explore and learn new technical skills, including operating research-grade instrumentation. Applicants must have great attention to detail and be careful with lab work. Students who are rising juniors and seniors are strongly encouraged to apply. The student must be able to physically lift a 15-lb weight load on occasion. Basic knowledge and interest in continuing to learn Excel and MATLר is required. Because the project includes both experiments and data analysis of the experimental data, the student must be willing to spend approximately equal amounts of time working in the lab and working on their computer.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Marina Vance, Faculty
Email: marina.vance@colorado.edu

Sofie Schwink, Graduate Student
Email: sofie.schwink@colorado.edu

Investigating the impact of K-12 projects on engineering identity development

Project Description

The research project will advance knowledge regarding the adaptation of cutting-edge university research tools for environmental monitoring into high school classrooms with an expected impact on enriching high school student developmental and learning outcomes that contribute to students’ forming an engineering identity. The Discovery Learning apprentice would use observations, interviews and surveys to investigate an educational infrastructure for supporting engineering identity formation in an outreach program in rural ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ high schools. Data analysis will include quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques. The research questions are: How do aspects of the outreach program’s educational infrastructure support rural high school students’ participation in and identification with engineering? How does conducting locally relevant environmental monitoring contribute to rural students’ engineering identity development?

Website: /aqiq/

Contact

Daniel Knight, Faculty
Email: daniel.knight@colorado.edu

Angela Bielefeldt, Faculty
Email: angela.bielefeldt@colorado.edu

Measuring the Chemistry of Potential Wildfire Accelerants

Project Description

Building materials, plants, and other objects all release volatile chemicals, especially under elevated temperatures. These compounds can be flammable and potentially accelerate ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ. In this project, we seek to identify potential volatile chemicals released from plants and from building materials that could accelerate the spread of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ. These chemicals will be tested using two different experiments in pyrolytic reactors to test how these compounds react under heated environments. The student will learn how to run reactor experiments using our two different diagnostic techniques (Photo ionization mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). The students will then analyze the data and determine experimentally how these compounds break down and what byproducts will be formed from their decomposition. This information will be used to help build chemical models for their combustion in wildfire environments and help understand how volatile compound emissions may affect wildfire spread.

Requirements: Student must be junior or senior standing and have taken Thermodynamics and a chemistry class. Students must be available to work in 3+ hour blocks to be in lab.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Nicole Labbe, Faculty
Email: nicole.labbe@colorado.edu

Jas Shahanand, Graduate Student
Email: jas.shahanand@colorado.edu

Modeling Jet Fuel Ignition

Project Description

Airplanes, like cars, can stall while flying in the air. In planes, this is called flameout. This project seeks to understand how the mechanism for ignition changes when at altitude, compared to the ground. In this project, you will assist a graduate student in developing a chemical model for jet fuel ignition so we can numerically test how the chemical physics of ignition changes at the extreme conditions of flameout. The students will use basic thermodynamics principles to predict the chemical reactions possible for prototypical fuel molecules and calculate rates using established code packages. These rates will be assembled in a model and used in reactor codes to understand how the ignition chemistry may or may not change.

Requirements: Students should have taken Thermodynamics and can work at least 1 3-hour block per week.

Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Nicole Labbe, Faculty
Email: nicole.labbe@colorado.edu

Pray Shah, Graduate Student
Email: pray.shah@colorado.edu

Modeling the transport and dispersal of robotic jellyfish in wavy flows

Project Description

Next-generation bioinspired underwater vehicles are a promising tool for oceanography and environmental monitoring by using advantageous evolutionary traits from nature. For example, jellyfish are the most energy-efficient organism in the animal kingdom. Bioinspired robots that model jellyfish could benefit from similar fluid-structure interactions, e.g., vortex-vortex interactions, for enhanced locomotion. This project will explore the motion of robotic jellyfish in wavy flows, relevant for coastal and surface conditions. By adapting mathematical models that describe the fluid dynamics of particles in waves, we aim to develop theory to calculate the motion of inertial, hemiellipsoidal particles (i.e., jellyfish robots) in a linear wave field. The student will model different morphological and kinematic parameters, depth in the water column, and wave parameters to determine the robot’s orientation and position. Additional work will incorporate the robot’s own motion in the flow. Because jellyfish are planktonic (primarily carried by currents) success will determine the feasibility of deploying jellyfish robots in waves or whether these robots can be used only in pelagic waters.

Website:

Requirements: The project will involve computational models using MATLר and/or other programming skills. Prior experience in MATLר, Python, and fluid mechanics preferred.

Contact

Nicole Xu, Faculty
Email: nicole.xu@colorado.edu

Optimizing the morphological and kinematic parameters of robotic jellyfish

Project Description

Jellyfish-inspired soft robots are a promising tool for ocean monitoring to track markers of climate change and observe natural animal behavior. Because jellyfish are energy-efficient swimmers (as shown in fluid dynamic mechanisms, including vortex-vortex interactions), bioinspired underwater vehicles can offer advantages such as enhanced energy efficiency and prolonged persistence for ocean applications. This project will explore the optimal body morphology and kinematics of robotic jellyfish using a theoretical model and experimental methods. First, the student will conduct parameter sweeps by modeling a robotic jellyfish as a hemiellipsoid, using an in-house hydrodynamic jetting model (MATLר) to determine swimming speed as a function of geometric and time-dependent variables. Additional work will incorporate paddling behaviors and body flexibility into the swimming model. Next, the student will build physical jellyfish microrobots (composed of a flexible body, actuators, and external power supply) to conduct experiments in a tank to validate the model. Success in this project can lead to more complex jellyfish robots with enhanced capabilities for real-world deployment.

Website:

Requirements: The project will involve both computational models using MATLר and experimental methods to build swimming robots. Prior experience in MATLר, robotics, and fluid mechanics preferred.

Contact

Nicole Xu, Faculty
Email: nicole.xu@colorado.edu

Prescribed burning impacts in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ - Field and Lab Measurements

Project Description

Wildfires and their environmental and social impacts are growing in the US. Prescribed (Rx) burning involves carefully planned fires set under controlled conditions, and can be an effective fuel management technique to reduce wildfire hazards. While Rx burning can reduce wildfire impacts, this management approach also entails its own risks, including the risk that a Rx burn will “escape” and start a wildfire, and risks associated with exposure to smoke for nearby communities and Rx burning implementers. Our team is undertaking measurements of air quality impacts from Rx burns with a focus on indoor and outdoor measurements of smoke using our research group's custom air monitors, called the pod. You and others from our team would coordinate visits to study particpant's homes before (perhaps during) and after Rx burns to set up pods, take health measurements (lung function tests, blood pressure etc.) and analyze the results with the larger team. There are many datasets you could use to answer your study research questions for your DLA project. If you like to travel, be outside and collect scientific data in the field - this position has all of that!

Website:

Requirements: Ideally, for the field component of the postion, a candidate would be willing to travel any day of the week with as little as 48 hours notice - this is due to how unpredictable Rx burns conditions can be. Travel would be in the state of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ and would typically be 1-2 days in duration. A candidate with a driver's license and vehicle capable of driving year round in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ would be preferred but not required.

Contact

Evan Coffey, Faculty
Email: evan.coffey@colorado.edu

Mike Hannigan, Faculty
Email: hannigan@colorado.edu

Sean Benjamin, Graduate Student
Email: Sean.Benjamin-1@colorado.edu

Thin Coating for Metallic Vascular Stents

Project Description

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. Coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular diseases are the three most common Cardiovascular disease conditions and are often treated with a vascular stent. More than two million people get some type of vascular stent implanted each year and failure rates for different stenting procedures can vary from 5% to a staggering 75% in the 1st year. Depending on the anatomic location of the diseased blood vessel, metallic stents can vary in their geometrical and structural designs but still share similar failure points: restenosis (lumen narrowing induced by vascular injury and inflammation) and thrombosis (blood clotting). Our coatings offer a unique solution to reduce the inflammation and thrombogenicity associated with vascular stents. Through the integration of precision polymer chemistry and micro-structure design, we aim to further optimize the interation between a metallic stent and blood vessel.

Requirements: Student must have taken a biomaterials or biochemistry course, have a good class standing, and be available to work in two 5-hour blocks,

Desired Majors: Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Creative Technology & Design, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Contact

Wei Tan, Faculty
Email: wei.tan-1@colorado.edu

Richard Johnson, PRA
Email: richard.d.johnson@colorado.edu

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