FURI Mentor Research

connect to a mentor and research opportunities

These professors would like to mentor FURI students. Please contact the faculty member below for more information. Mentors wanting to advertise research opportunities should e-mail the information to furi@asu.edu.

The separation and capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) from flue gas streams have been identified as high priority research areas in an effort to overcome global warming. However, the separation of CO2 using aqueous amine solutions such as monoethanolamine (MEA) or diethanolamine (DEA) in an absorption tower is very expensive and highly energy intensive. Hence, we are studying the use of nanostructured silica aerogels enriched with amines as a solid adsorbent to remove CO2 from a gas stream. Aerogels are very light weight, have an extremely high surface area per unit mass, a high porosity with a large and open pore structure and are robust enough to be fluidized. Rather than configuring the aerogels in a packed bed, where much of the adsorbent surface area is unavailable and there is a concentration gradient present because the gas is not well mixed, we plan to carry out the sorption experiments in a gas-fluidized bed containing CO2. Before doing the fluidized bed experiments, we will first synthesize amine-modified aerogels using the sol-gel process and measure their adsorption properties using a micro-balance.

Interested undergraduate chemical engineering students, please contact Professors Robert Pfeffer, robert.pfeffer@asu.edu, or Jerry Lin, jerry.lin@asu.edu.

Biosensor design and development
Our lab group in the Center for Bioelectronics and Biosensors at The Biodesign Institute focuses on the development of new medical diagnostic devices such as biosensors. Some of our current projects include noninvasive glucose monitoring devices for diabetics, and biosensors for measuring biomarker arrays related to progressive diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease or fungal disease such as Valley Fever. We are looking for enthusiastic freshmen and sophomore students interested in learning about fabrication techniques, sensor design, electrochemistry, biochemistry, materials science, circuit design or electroplating. 

Interested students, please contact Professor Jeffrey La Belle, jeffrey.labelle@asu.edu.

Separation of oil and other organic contaminants from water using inverse fluidization of hydrophobic aerogels
One of the most challenging environmental problems today is the removal of oil and other organic contaminants from industrial wastewater and storm water. With support from an NSF grant and a major industrial company (Cabot Corporation), we plan on using nanostructured, hydrophobic aerogel granules as an adsorbent/absorbent to remove a variety of organic contaminants such as oil, ethanol and chlorinated hydrocarbons from water in a fluidized bed. Since they are hydrophobic, the aerogels’ surface will attract organic molecules and repel water. Aerogels also have the lowest density and highest surface area per unit volume of any solid. They consist of tangled, fractal-like chains of molecules about 3–4 nm in diameter, which form a solid structure surrounding air-filled pores that average about 20 nm. Despite their extremely high porosity of 95 percent or greater, the chains themselves are rigid so that aerogels can be fluidized. However, since the aerogel density is much smaller than that of water, fluidization is carried out inversely, i.e., the flow of contaminated water is downwards. We will first conduct experiments to study the equilibrium and kinetics of adsorption of a variety of soluble and insoluble organic contaminants in water by aerogels of different properties, and size ranges and use the data to construct adsorption isotherms. These results will be used in understanding and developing the fluidized bed process. Chemical or environmental engineering undergraduate students interested in doing experimental research will receive broad training in particle technology, nanotechnology, separation processes and environmental science.

Interested students, please contact Professors Robert Pfeffer, robert.pfeffer@asu.edu, 480-965-0362 or Jerry Lin, jerry.lin@asu.edu, 480-965-7769.

System reliability modeling and monitoringThe project is for the student to study the techniques used for modeling system reliability and apply them on applications in the photovoltaic industry or the semiconductor industry. The student is expected to learn general reliability concepts, Monte Carlo simulation and software for reliability analysis. Designing control charts for monitoring system degradation processes is another topic that the student may do the research on. On this topic, the student will study the integration of statistical process control and preventive maintenance. In addition, with a funding from the National Science Foundation, the student will have an opportunity to visit the National University of Singapore. The primary purpose of this funding is to provide the student hands-on experience of global education, international research collaboration, as well as cultural exchanges.

Interested students, please contact Professor Rong Pan, rong.pan@au.edu, 480-965-4259.

Flexible electronics: electrical stress testing
A rapidly emerging area in the semiconductor industry is flexible electronics - circuitry fabricated on flexible plastic or flexible stainless steel instead of a rigid silicon substrate. Applications range from flexible displays for curved surfaces or integrated into clothing to flexible medical bandages. This project will involve the electrical testing of various flexible thin film transistors (TFT) including amorphous silicon, nanocrystalline silicon, organic and ZnO TFTs. (http://flexdisplay.asu.edu) The goal is to characterize the electrical degradation of various thin film transistors to enable the prediction of complex circuit degradation. The TFT characteristics are then incorporated in custom computer aided design tools. For those with strong programming backgrounds, projects are also available modifying the code for the custom computer aided design software (US citizenship preferred).

Interested students, please contact David R. Allee, GWC 234 or Flexible Display Center, allee@asu.edu, 480-965-6470.  

Flexible electronics: radiation testing
A rapidly emerging area in the semiconductor industry is flexible electronics - circuitry fabricated on flexible plastic or flexible stainless steel instead of a rigid silicon substrate. Applications range from flexible displays for curved surfaces or integrated into clothing, to flexible medical bandages. This project will involve the radiation testing of various flexible thin film transistors including including amorphous silicon, nanocrystalline silicon, organic and ZnO TFTs. (http://flexdisplay.asu.edu) The goal is to characterize the degradation of various thin film transistors in the presence of radiation in preparation for the use of flexible electronics in space. For those with strong circuit backgrounds, projects are also available to design and test flexible circuits that are radiation hardened by design (U.S. citizenship required).

Nanoscale therapeutics for advanced cancer disease
Recent developments in nanotechnology can have a tremendous impact on therapeutics and diagnostics for a variety of diseases. Our group’s interests lie at the interface of nanotechnology and advanced cancer disease with an emphasis on the development of multifunctional therapeutics and combination treatments. We are also uncovering fundamental mechanisms that tumor cells employ in the intracellular processing of nanoparticles and nanoparticle-based therapeutics. The interdisciplinary nature of this research will involve training in cellular engineering, biological interactions, and materials science and chemistry. Students from all engineering disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Interested students, please contact Kaushal Rege, ERC 283, kaushal.rege@asu.edu, 480-727-8616.

Novel combination therapies for advanced cancer disease
The complexity associated with advanced cancer disease necessitates repeated administration of radio/chemotherapy in part due to sub-optimal efficacies of administered drugs. The higher efficacies of targeted combination therapies have resulted in their emergence as powerful alternatives to ‘single agent’ therapies. Our research involves the discovery and mechanistic evaluation of novel combination treatments using naturally-occurring small molecules, peptides and proteins. This research will involve training in biomolecular and cellular engineering. Students from all engineering disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Interested students, please contact Kaushal Rege, ERC 283, kaushal.rege@asu.edu, 480-727-8616.

Synthesis and characterization of inorganic nanowires
One-dimensional nanostructures such as inorganic nanowires have attracted increasing interests as they could provide exciting building blocks for nanoscale electronic devices and bio- chemical sensors. The ability to synthesize these nanostructures using chemical strategies could provide broad applications. In addition, the chemical strategy would allow the fabrication of functional structures into one-dimensional nanowires.  This project will seek the synthesis of metallic hetero-structures along the nanowires, as well as the characterization of their structural, electrical and magnetic properties.  Students from all engineering disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Interested students, please contact Hongbin Yu, yuhb@asu.edu, 480-965-4455.

Bioinformatics/computational systems biology
I am looking for an undergraduate researcher to mentor as he or she works on cutting-edge problems in the multidisciplinary fields of bioinformatics and computational systems biology. Neither previous research experience nor a biological background is necessary. Specifically, the student would choose a research problem in the modeling of biological systems by gene regulatory networks. This large and far-reaching problem comprises skill sets from biology, mathematics, statistics, probability and computer science, so it may appeal to students from a variety of backgrounds. Interested students must contact AND meet with me at least four weeks prior to the posted FURI application deadline in order to successfully develop a competitive research proposal.

Candidate students must have 2.50+ GPA, two semesters of calculus (MAT 271 or equivalent), one computer programming class (any language, college or high school) and some knowledge of probability and statistics (it can be informal). Ideal candidate students have 3.00+ GPA, at least one probability and/or statistics course, Java (or other object-oriented language), experience in one or more college courses Matlab, basic knowledge of cellular biology (What is DNA? What is a gene? etc.), and the ability to devote three consecutive semesters to FURI. If interest remains majoring in computer science, computer systems engineering, or biomedical informatics. Selected student may receive these opportunities: collaboration with Computational Systems Biology Lab at ASU (http://sysbio.fulton.asu.edu), as well as other units including computing and informatics, computer science and biomedical informatics. Collaboration with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (http://www.tgen.org), use of the TGen/ASU supercomputer (http://www.asu.edu/research/tgen/research.html), collaboration with the Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayo.edu), workspace/workstation in the Brickyard building on 7th and Mill.

About The Mentor
My name is Michael Verdicchio and I am a third-year doctoral student studying computer science, specifically its application to biomedical informatics. I was a part of the FURI program while I was an undergraduate, and it is what propelled me to graduate school and helped me choose my career plan. My e-mail address is mv@asu.edu, and my Web site is http://www.michaelverdicchio.com.

Development and characterization of the next generation of nuclear fuel
Research Information
Interested students, contact Kirk Wheeler, graduate research associate, mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Smart product design, human robot interaction, educational technology, tangible media arts
Research Information
Interested students, contact Professor Winslow Burleson, arts, media and engineering and computer science engineering, winslow.burleson@asu.edu.

Directly patternable polymer nanocomposites
The properties of polymeric substances can be readily modified through addition of filler materials. Specifically, functionality can be imparted to the composite by incorporation of a small fraction of nanoparticles. This work will examine the potential of forming light emitting quantum dot-polymer composites with photo-definable structures towards the development of new display technologies. The work will be interdisciplinary involving synthesis, lithography, and morphological and optical characterizations.

Interested students, contact Bryan Vogt, ERC 279, bryan.vogt@asu.edu, 480-727-8631.

 

Mechanics of polymers on the nanoscale
Advanced photolithography is central to the production of modern microelectronics. The microelectronics industry depends upon the stability of polymeric nanostructures formed photolithographically to produce microprocessors with ever decreasing feature sizes. As the size of these features approach the molecular size of the photoresist polymer, it is expected that the physical properties will change. This research will fundamentally examine how the mechanical properties of polymer depend upon the physical dimensions of the specimen. This is a highly interdisciplinary project that will involve developing skills in film formation, mechanical measurements, atomic scale imaging and image analysis. Students from other engineering departments are welcome to apply.

Interested students, contact Bryan Vogt, ERC 279, bryan.vogt@asu.edu, 480-727-8631.
 
Research on electrical models and power electronic converters for grid interface of fuel cells
A major component of the emerging hydrogen economy is the fuel cell that converts the energy stored in hydrogen to electrical energy (and reverse conversion through electrolysis). The power electronics research group invites undergraduate students, through the FURI program, to pursue their honors thesis in the area of grid interface of fuel cells. The research involves developing suitable electrical models for fuel cells and developing suitable power converter topologies to optimize the power conversion efficiency. The proposed work involves analytical, simulation and experimental components. The power electronics laboratory has state-of-the-art facilities for research in switch mode power conversion including a 1.2kW fuel cell system complete with instrumentation for research and development.

Interested electrical engineering undergraduate students with good background in electric networks and systems, and with a strong passion for energy are encouraged to contact Professor Raja Ayyanar, ERC 587, rayyanar@asu.edu, 480-727-7307.
 
Monte Carlo modeling and simulation for radiation field characterization
Space is a harsh environment, which includes significant radiation levels. Radiation effects on materials and electronics are an important consideration to spacecraft engineering. The radiation environment can be simulated during ground testing using radioactive sources such as gamma-emitting Cobalt-60. The objective of this research is to characterize the radiation fields inside a Gammacell via numerical (Monte Carlo) modeling and simulation. This work will be accomplished using a large-scale, state-of-the-art Monte Carlo computer code capable of tracking the (3-D) spatial and energy features of the gamma radiation.

Interested students, contact Keith E. Holbert, 480-965-8594, Fax: 480-965-3837.

Using fabrics for aircraft engine containment system
(1) Sponsor: FAA. Topic: Using Fabrics for Aircraft Engine Containment System. This FAA-sponsored project involves a mix of experimental work as well as computer simulations. An undergraduate student can participate in either area or both assisting graduate students who are already working on the project.

(2) Sponsor: VisionQuest LLC. Topic: Computer Simulation of LASIK Surgery. The project involves simulating what happens to the cornea, hence the vision characteristics of a patient, when the LASIK surgical plan is implemented. An undergraduate student will be assisting VisionQuest-employed engineers on building the computer models and analyzing the pre- and post-surgical results.

Interested students, contact Professor S. D. Rajan, ECG 252, http://ceaspub.fulton.asu.edu/structures, 480-965-1712, fax: 480-965-0557.

Water reuse and natural systems to reclaim wastewater for both potable and non-potable uses
Peter Fox does research on water reuse and natural systems to reclaim wastewater for both potable and non-potable uses. The majority of his research focuses on sustainable biological processes and the understanding of how these processes occur in soils and wetlands. He has also begun to develop novel biological reactors based on his findings with natural systems. Fox also evaluates brine concentrate disposal strategies since the accumulation of salts is a major impediment to sustainable water reuse.

Interested students, contact Peter Fox, Director-National Center for Sustainable Water Supply, peter.fox@asu.edu, 480-965-1734, fax: 480-965-0557.

Bioinformatics and computational systems biology
Students can work with faculty on real-world bioinformatics and computational systems biology research and learn how engineering and computer science skills can be used to advance biomedical science such as cancer diagnosis and/or gene regulatory networks.

Interested students, contact Professor Seungchan Kim, dolchan@asu.edu, 480-727-8833.

Materials science engineering
Research information
Interested students, contact: Nipun Agarwal, doctoral student, research associate in materials science and engineering, nipun@asu.edu, 480-703-8546.

High performance computing initiative
The Fulton High Performance Computing Initiative (HPCI) is looking for motivated undergraduate students interested in the application of parallel and cluster computers to large scale simulations in science and engineering. Students will be exposed to parallel programming with the Message Passing Interface (MPI), performance measurement, grid computing and scientific computing. Students will be expected to have basic programming skills in C, Java or FORTRAN. 

Interested students, contact Dan Stanzione, director, Fulton School High Performance Computing, dstanzi@asu.edu.

 

Information and systems assurance laboratory
Research Information
Research opportunities for industrial engineering, Computer System Engineering, and electrical engineering undergraduates.

Interested students, contact Professor Nong Ye, Information and Systems Assurance Laboratory, nongye@asu.edu.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics education 
Professor Veronica A. Burrows, associate director, CRESMET, Chemical and Materials Engineering, burrows@asu.edu, 480-965-4557.