Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering
Participate in one ten-week-long research project.
Engage in hands-on experiments in state-of-the-art facilities with faculty mentors.
Develop research skills and problem solving abilities.
Get support from graduate student mentors and fellow participants.
Grow your professional and peer network.
Discover innovative solutions to society’s airborne challenges.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering at CSU will host ten undergraduate participants each summer over the next three years, offering each cohort a 10-week intensive research program that includes professional development. To achieve our program goals, we will pursue the following objectives:
1. Provide opportunities for a diverse cohort of undergraduate students to experience research, conceptualize complex human-natural interactions affecting the atmosphere, and understand the role of focused research in solving an interdisciplinary problem.
2. Foster skills required for success in STEM careers, including graduate study, through individual planning, person-to-person mentoring, and scheduled offerings for professional development.
3. Systematize a recruitment program that facilitates the participation of first-generation and non-traditional students in the research enterprise.
Summer Research Program participants will include a significant number of students from groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM, and who might otherwise lack high-quality research opportunities.
The CSU Mechanical Engineering Summer Research Program will:
1. Expand the US workforce in the area of area of airborne contaminants, which is of critical importance to all industries.
2. Generate research results that can lead to discoveries and innovations to address a complex challenge to well-being that is deeply entangled with human and natural activities, and help solve real-world problems.
3. Offer a diverse group of student participants an immersive environment conducive to high-level collaborations and exchanges.
Undergraduate students will spend 10 weeks pursuing individualized research projects.
The program will kick off with a weekend at the CSU Mountain Campus, where students and mentors will participate in team-building activities.
Week 1: students will be introduced to CSU’s Principles of Community, given a tour of the campus and lab facilities, trained on laboratory safety and protocols, and oriented to CSU library resources.
Weeks 2-9: and after research projects are underway, technology and professional development colloquies will be given by ME faculty and graduate students. Visits to local laboratories and companies will be spread out over the program to enhance the research experience while maximizing research productivity.
Weekly, group meetings will give the participants a chance to explain their projects and address questions from their peers.
The program will conclude with an IGNITE Event at which students will present their research to faculty mentors and graduate students.
80%
Time spent on research-related activities
10%
Time spent on professional development-related activities
10%
Time spent on foundational seminars
Principles of Community discussion
Laboratory safety practices
Lab notebook record keeping
Informal research meetings
Intellectual property and ethics issue discussions
Technical writing and presentation skill building
Resume-writing and interview skill building
Career panel discussion
The capstone event of our program will be an IGNITE event at which students will present their research to faculty mentors and graduate students.
Students will take the poster to their home institution and will be encouraged to present and display the poster for other students.
Students will continue collaborative work with mentors after the 10-week experience. Research mentors will maintain contact with students to help them prepare and present research results at regional and national engineering meetings and conferences.
The Summer Research Program will invite students to be informal mentors to new participants or to speak to groups to share their experiences in science and their career planning.
Renovated in 2014, the Colorado State University Powerhouse Energy Campus is located near the heart of downtown Fort Collins. The Powerhouse consists of a state-of-the-art 100,000 square-foot green building that is a model for sustainable building practices and innovative architectural design. In 2015, the campus was awarded the Platinum Level LEED certification from U.S. Green Building Council. The campus is a collaborative ecosystem of researchers, faculty, staff, students, and companies. It receives local, national, and global recognition for its interdisciplinary approach and groundbreaking work on engine technology, electric grids, biofuels, energy access in the developing world, and energy focused entrepreneurship. Research students will have desks in this building, and most faculty advisor laboratories are located here.
The Powerhouse serves as the headquarters of the Energy Institute. The Colorado State University Energy Institute is a horizontally-integrated organization within Colorado State University with a mission to develop energy and climate solutions at-scale that achieve global impact. The Powerhouse Energy Campus and the Energy Institute serve as a nexus point for multiple undergraduate research and educational opportunities including the CSU Energy Club, an undergraduate minor in Sustainable Energy, and the CSU Energy Institute Summer Internship Program.
A collection of multi-disciplinary and collaborative research labs have been developed at the Powerhouse Energy Campus, focusing on aerosols and air quality research. The capabilities in these facilities span from fundamental characterization of air pollutants to the development of new analysis techniques to the quantification of the health and climate impacts of air pollution. The facilities consist of over 3,500 ft2 of analytical laboratory space designated for research in aerosol technology and air pollution exposure assessment. A few of the key capabilities that will be available as part of the program include: a 1.0 m3 aerosol test chamber, emissions collection hoods, a chemical fume hood, electronics workbench for circuit prototyping and testing, an automated filter analysis robot (project #2) and over $1,000,000 in aerosol and air pollution analysis instrumentation. The resources in these facilities will be leverage for several of the projects, including #1, 2, 5, and 10.
The Laser Sensing and Diagnostics Centers focuses on laser-based measurement of gases, plasmas, and plasma-surface interactions for plasma science and electric propulsion applications. Research efforts include laser ignition of engines, laser combustion diagnostics, high-power fiber delivery, and laser sensing for environmental and health applications. The approximately 2,300 ft2 laboratory includes extensive equipment associated with laser diagnostics and spectral analysis. The laboratory will be leveraged to prepare the laser diagnostic systems to be used in project #3.
The Adaptive Robotics Laboratory aims to design and build novel, small, and adaptive robots that can reconfigure their shapes, structures, or functionalities to fulfill multiple tasks (e.g., walking, flying, swimming) in diverse environments (e.g., on land, in the air, or under water). The lab seeks to leverage mechanical and biological principles, novel materials, and dynamic control systems design cutting edge new designs. The Adaptive Robotics Laboratory partners with the Little Shop Of Physics program (an initiative run by the CSU Physics Department) to provide hands on demonstrations to inspire the interest of K12 students in STEM. The Adaptive Robotics Laboratory will be leveraged to build and test the miniature robots used in project #4.
Dr. Tami Bond is a professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department and Walter Scott, Jr. Presidential Chair in Energy and Environment. She leads and participates in cross-disciplinary research collaborations that address complex environmental problems. Her instructional work has emphasized teaching and curriculum development for sophomores and juniors, including guided exposure to extra-disciplinary concepts (1000+ students over 12 years). About 20 undergraduate students have participated in her research group. In the last decade, she has focused research mentoring on non-traditional participants, especially practitioners at non-profit organizations without engineering degrees or research background. Some of these partners have co-authored publications, while others create professional impact in policy. As an undergraduate, Dr. Bond was a returning student who self-supported her degree in Mechanical Engineering, beginning with community college and distance learning.
As PI for the program, Dr. Bond is responsible for organizing research projects and faculty mentors, expanding the recruiting program, designing the suite of professional development activities, and assessing and updating program activities. She will be closely involved with applicant selection. Dr. Bond’s appointment as Presidential Chair involves cross-campus and inter-campus organizing of faculty activities toward multi-investigator proposals, so her support includes only the increment needed to integrate a student program.
Dr. Christian L’Orange is a research assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. L’Orange is a licensed professional engineer and certified project management professional. He will be involved with student selection. Leveraging his 15+ years’ experience at Powerhouse Energy Campus, he will be a point of contact for students for logistical needs. He will lead student onboarding related to the facility including building safety and operation policies. He will mentor students in the professional conduct of research, particularly those relating to research and laboratory practices and project management, and will host weekly office hours to ensure regular guidance
Amanda Lager Gleason has a Master of Science in Education with a specialization in Higher Education Student Affairs, including training in multicultural counseling. She has nearly a decade of experience recruiting and advising undergraduate and graduate students in mechanical and other engineering majors, developing cocurricular programming for high achieving students, and advising national fellowship applicants on STEM awards. During the summer experience, she will organize and manage professional development opportunities. She will assist in maintaining schedules, disseminating outreach materials, and interfacing with the external evaluator for assessment procedures. She will collaborate with the website manager, organize recruiting activities and applications, and communicate decisions to applicants. She will assist incoming students with travel and housing arrangements.
Participating mechanical engineering faculty have extensive experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, are available for research project discussion and consultation, have been chosen based on their specialized research labs programs, and are committed to developing undergraduate researchers into future STEM leaders.
Receive one-on-one support from faculty mentors during the summer program and a continued connection to ensure your growth and success. Click the professors and labs to learn more!
Each research student will have a graduate student mentor, The mentor and student will work closely to define the scope of the student’s research work, develop research tasks, and ensure the student understands the research. The mentor will provide counseling as needed so the student can build on concepts learned in educational seminars and professional development seminars and activities.
Once a week, a graduate student mentor from a lab will meet in an informal setting with students to discuss his/her student experiences, lessons learned, suggestions, real-life process for graduate school preparation and acceptance, etc.
Summer Research Program participants will meet regularly for official activities. In addition, informal events such as hiking and whitewater rafting will be organized by the Site hosts. The CSU Graduate School offers many opportunities to network with students across campus in different research areas.
Summer Research Program students will participate in a series of group meetings where they can present their research (10-minute presentation plus 5-10 minute discussion) faculty mentors, graduate students, and each other. Students will give joint talks on student collaborations.
Application will go live on November 1, 2021 and will be accepted through February 15, 2022. Students will be notified by March 15, 2022.
Personal Statement | Unofficial College Transcript | Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Two References | Online Application
Questions? Contact Amanda Lager Gleason, Graduate Program Specialist
Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University is about using our knowledge of materials, energy, and health to solve society’s global engineering challenges.
Mechanical engineering at Colorado State University is about using our knowledge of materials, energy, and health to solve society’s global engineering challenges.
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