REU Projects
Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences:
- Metal-organic framework (MOF)-based heterogeneous photocatalysts (Dr Pravas Deria)
- Computational catalysis for energy and environmental applications (Dr. Qingfeng Ge)
- Enhancing NMR and MRI with Hyperpolarization (Dr. Boyd Goodson)
- Chiral brush polymers for enantiomeric analysis (Dr. Matthew E. McCarroll)
- (Dr Sean Moran)
- Lithography and patterning of molecules and nanoparticles using Nanotubes
- Super-high resolution of cellular processes and reactions using microlenses; and Self-assembling and self-generation of microparticle-based devices (Dr. Punit Kohli)
- Cyclopenta-fused-Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (CP-PAH) Based Electron Acceptors ( Dr Kyle Plunkett)
- Computational studies of nanoparticles as fuel cell catalysts (Dr. Lichang Wang)
- Rapid Protein Mixture Fractionation on RF Plasma Polymer Modified Sample Stages with Analysis by MALDI Mass Spectrometry (Dr. Gary Kinsel)
- Thin Film Deposition for Energy Storage in Electrochemical Supercapacitors (Dr Ian Suni)
- Rational Design and Synthesis of Small Molecule based Materials for Solar Cell and Photodynamic Therapy applications (Dr Lichang Wang and Dr Kyle Plunkett)
- Developing Impedance-Based Biosensor for ALS Peptide Biomarkers (Dr. Mohtashim Shamsi)
There are almost 50 neurodegenerative diseases caused by the expansion of short nucleotide sequences in the human gene. The expansion of such repeat mutations results in the production of toxic proteins in the cell that eventually attack our neuromuscular system and cause myriad of neurodegenerative conditions. ALS is a rare disease that can lead to death at an early age and is transferrable to the young generation. Current methods of detection are expensive and tedious. We are developing impedance-based immunoassays for such biomarkers, which can be eventually translated to small flexible point-of-care devices. In this summer, we will be testing our developed system in patient-derived serum. The success of the project will lead to huge development in the field of neurodegenerative diagnostics.
Biological Sciences:
- Development of new techniques to access the bioavailability of organic contaminants (Dr. Michael Lydy)
- Engineered enzymes to enhance selective degradation of PET to original monomers (Dr. Lahiru N. Jayakody)
Physics:
- High performance computer simulations for understanding the thermoelectric properties of Si/Ge nanowire configurations (Dr Thushari Jayasekera)
- Synthesis and Characterization of Ferromagnetic Alloy Nanowires (Dr. Saikat Talapatra)
-
Materials Synthesis and Optical Characterization of Heterointerface Formed By Organic Single Crystal and Two-dimensional Semiconductors (Dr. Bumsu Lee)
- Magneto-optical properties of highly spin-polarized thin films (Dr. Mazumdar, Dipanjan)
The REU student will participate in the growth and characterization of magnetic thin-film heterostructures and spintronic memory devices. In this interdisciplinary project, the student will learn how materials research can address current industry and technology demands and how a material property translates into a working, room-temperature device. At the fundamental level, the student will understand how size, structure, and topology can influence the physical properties of electronic and magnetic materials. The student can experience several experimental methods ranging from thin-film growth to structural analysis to physical property and device measurements (magnetoresistance, Hall effects, magneto-optics). The student may also participate in theoretical projects dealing with electronic structure and topological properties of magnetic materials.
Engineering:
- Using supercomputers to better design nanoscale devices.
- TCAD modeling of a low-power (green) transistor.
- Why do LEDs degrade over time? (Shaikh S. Ahmed)
- Production of metallic nanoparticles and its application in water treatment field or renewable energy production Dr Jia Liu
- Electrospinning of Ceramic Nanofibers (Dr Kanchan Mondal)
- Fluid dynamics properties and performance of nanofluids (Dr. Emmanuel Nsofor)
- Center for Advanced Friction Studies (Dr. Peter Filip)
- Cellular Mechanism of Otoprotective Effects on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (Dr. Chilman Bae).
- Performance Evaluation of 3D Printed Architectured Sandwich Panels for Lightweight Structureundergraduate/research-opportunities/reu/Website-Project-Description_Nilufar.pdf (Dr. Nilufar Sabrina)