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Opportunities for Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students and faculty to participate in undergraduate research programs in chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics have started on campus. Also, work has commenced on projects for industry clients at Rose-Hulman Ventures, located at the Institute's South Campus.
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Starting Undergraduate Research: Seventeen
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students are working through Aug. 15
with faculty on projects in the college's Interdisciplinary Research
Collaborative. |
Seventeen students are working through Aug. 15 with faculty on projects involving biomedical engineering, polymer chemistry, molecular biology, environmental biology, computational biology, inorganic biochemistry and biophotonics through Rose-Hulman's Interdisciplinary Research Collaborative (IRC). Students participating in the program include Brett Anderson, Cody Austin, Carly Baehr, Rachelle Cobb, David Cooper, Ross Heskett, Evan Jones, Marsha Krisenko, U. Stutay Monga, Michael Montalbo, Michele Mumaw, Tiffany Parrott, Sarah Rosbottom, Harrison Sand, Kathryn Sernett, Kirk Thompson and Robert Williamson. The IRC, supported by the Office of Academic Affairs and Lilly Endowment Inc., is coordinated by Mark Brandt of the Department of Chemistry and Peter Coppinger of the Department of Applied Biology and Biomedical Engineering. Other faculty mentors for student projects are Jameel Ahmed, Bruce Allison, Ella Ingram, Michael Lannoo, Scott McClellan, Penney Miller, Daniel Morris, Jennifer O'Connor, Yosi Shibberu, Bill Weiner and Allen White. Also in the chemistry department, four students are working with department head Michael Mueller on undergraduate research in biofuels, sponsored by Hoosier Biodiesel Company of Evansville, Ind. Matt Colchin, Ben Collins, Doug Hale and Liz Malola will examine creating fuel mixes of ethanol/biodiesel and butanol/biodiesel for spark ignition engines. The research team will also investigate electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen as an augment fuel to run a spark ignition engine, according to Mueller. Another project includes examining new processes for making biodiesel and glycerin from a variety of fats. Research will be conducted on campus and at Rose-Hulman Ventures. Meanwhile, in Crapo Hall, two teams of four students from throughout the country have started working collaboratively in the Department of Mathematics' Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, supported by the National Science Foundation. This marks the 19th year for the program. A team led by mathematics professor David Finn is exploring "the shape of a cookie", a problem involving geometric analysis (differential geometry and partial differential equations) that concerns the shape assumed by a sessile drop (the "cookie dough") on a flat surface (the "cookie sheet"). Professor Kurt Bryan's team is conducting research on the "discrete logarithm problem," which is closely related to cryptographic applications. In addition to the technical program, the REU participants will engage in a companion program to develop their oral and written mathematical communication skills, as well as collaborative and other professional skills. This will be accomplished through required oral presentations, written technical reports, and a close, positive working environment among the participants and the program faculty. The bulk of the work will take place in the "Theorodrome", the computer laboratory/workplace devoted to the REU, and in adjoining classrooms. At Rose-Hulman Ventures, 80 students have started working on 22 projects for industry clients, under the supervision of project managers. These projects provide valuable educational opportunities for the students, according to Bill Kline, associate dean for professional experiences and director of Rose-Hulman Ventures.
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