Research Opportunities

In addition to a vibrant, graduate-level research program, we offer many opportunities for undergraduate research. Such recent topics include micro devices, materials fabrication, fuel cells and molecular-level design, among others. Students have the opportunity to present their work at regional and national conferences as well as become co-authors in refereed journal publications. Performing undergraduate research is one of the most successful roads to graduate school for an M.S. or a Ph.D. A number of our recent B.S. graduates have continued their graduate studies at Tech, while others have entered graduate programs at universities including Georgia Tech and MIT.

Recent Undergraduate Research Projects:

2006:

Advisor: Pedro E. Arce

• Jennifer Pascal - “Electrokinetic-based Drug Delivery in Skin-Mediated Approaches”
• Hope Sedrick (co-advised with Dr. H. Stretz) - "The Effect of Charged Nanoparticle Channels on the Analysis of Proteins by Gel Electrophoresis"

Advisor: Joseph J. Biernacki

• Melissa Boner - "Electrical Field Flow Fractionation"
• Dakota Brown - "Revisiting Thermoporometry: Characterizing the Meso-Pore Structure"
• Cody Heathcock - "Frequency Effects Of Pulsed Electric Field Flow Fractionation"
• Wesley MacDonald (co-advised with D. Visco) - “Diffusion in Polystyrene Films”
• John Raulston - "Revisiting Thermoporimetry: The Peak at -37 ^oC for Hydrated Cement Paste"

Advisor: Holly A. Stretz

• Hope Sedrick (co-advised with Dr. P. Arce) - "The Effect of Charged Nanoparticle Channels on the Analysis of Proteins by Gel Electrophoresis"
• Fred Uphoff - "The Effects of Compression Stress on a Clay Nanocomposite"

Advisor: V . R. Subramanian

• Matthew Ervin - "Matrix Inversion"
• Robert K. Phillips – "Approximate Solutions for Electrochemical Models"
• Mark McKinney - "Numerical Routines for Battery Models in C++"

Advisor: Donald P. Visco, Jr.

• Wesley MacDonald (co-advised with J. Biernacki) -“Diffusion in Polystyrene Films”

Advisor: Chunsheng Wang

• Jason Miller - "Mixed electronic/ionic conductive BiTiVOx catalyst for Fuel Cell Applications "

Advisor: Martha Wells (Dept. of Chemistry)

• Ben Taylor - "Measuring Oxidants Generated in Contaminated Water When Passed Through a Pulsed Power System"

2005:

Advisor: Pedro E. Arce

• Jennifer Pascal - “Electrokinetic-based Drug Delivery in Skin-Mediated Approaches”

Advisor: Joseph J. Biernacki

• Kurt Johanns – “Thermoporosimetry of Cement-based Materials"
• Wesley McDonald (co-advised w/ Dr. D. Visco) - "Diffusion in Polystyrene Films"
• Jordan Nguyen – “Measuring Blast Furnace Slag Hydration Rates Using a SEM Image Analysis Technique”
• Jacob Platfoot (co-advised w/ Dr. D. Visco) - “Modeling Diffusion of Gases in Polystyrene Foam”
• Steven Shultz (co-advised w/ Dr. D. Visco) – “Modeling Diffusion of Gases in Polystyrene Foam”

Advisor: V . R. Subramanian

• Robert K. Phillips – “Approximate Solutions for Electrochemical Models”

Advisor: Donald P. Visco, Jr.

• Crystal Childers – “I-QSAR Studies Using Signature on COX-2 Inhibitors”
• Wesley McDonald (co-advised w/ Dr. J. Biernacki) - "Diffusion in Polystyrene Films"
• Jacob Platfoot (co-advised w/ Dr. J. Biernacki) - “Modeling Diffusion of Gases in Polystyrene Foam”
• Robyn Rawlings – “I-QSAR Studies Using Signature on DHFR Inhibitors”
• Steven Shultz (co-advised w/ Dr. J. Biernacki) – “Modeling Diffusion of Gases in Polystyrene Foam”

Advisor: Chunsheng Wang

• Richard Lawson – “Polymer-ceramic composite membrane for fuel cell applications”
• Shannon Wroblewski – “Pt-based alloy catalysts for fuel cell applications”

2004:

Advisor: Dr. Joseph J. Biernacki

• Jeremiah Batiste – ”Image-based Strain Measurements in Cement-based Materials”

Advisor: Donald P. Visco, Jr.

• Jesse Easterling – “Validation of the SLEOS Model used for Polyols and Blowing Agents”

2003:

Advisor: Dr. Joseph J. Biernacki

• Justin Bender – “Combustion Synthesis of MoSi 2 /SiC Composites”
• Bryan Divilbiss – “Production of Ti 3 SiC 2 /SiC Composites”
• Carl Parnham – “Kinetics of Ti 3 SiC 2 Synthesis”
• Dixie-Ann Sinnette – “Characterization and Modeling of a Micro CO Sensor”