Events

SURE Poster Fair & Celebration

The 2024 SURE Poster Fair & Celebration is almost here! Join us and learn about all the exciting research our first and second year engineering students have conducted.

Our 2022 Poster Fair was a big success!

Thank you to all of our students and to everyone who took part.

2024 SURE participants and projects

View all of the student projects below, or filter projects by department/major.

All Atmospheric ScienceChemical and Biological EngineeringCivil & Environmental EngineeringElectrical and Computer EngineeringMechanical EngineeringSchool of Biomedical EngineeringSystems Engineering
SURE presentor photo

Accessible Prosthetics Initiative

Adam Espinosa
My project focuses on reducing the financial burden of prosthetic limbs through innovative approaches. I will explore alternative materials and manufacturing techniques to lower production costs while maintaining quality. I also plan to integrate sustainability principles to minimize environmental impact and lifecycle costs. Through this multidisciplinary effort I plan to make prosthetic care more accessible, enhancing quality of life for individuals of lower income globally.
Department:
School of Biomedical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Kirk McGilvray
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Anion exchange membranes for hydrogen production

Jake Clare
I am using a cell created by a cathode and an anode, using this cell we can send electricity though an activated membrane in the hopes of finding the most efficient and cost effective form of hydrogen production.
Department:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Reza Nazemi
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Automated Imaging for single-cell gene expression

Kyle Finkel
The goal of this research project is to improve usability, test, fix problems, and document microscope control to be more efficient and improve usability for experimentalists. This will allow the user to clearer results and assist in their own studies.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Brian Munsky
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Biosensor Measuring Algae

Jasmine Cheng
Algae is being examined to explore alternative approaches to carbon management in Earth’s atmosphere at CSU. My research project is within a branch of this field that focuses on the growth and health of algae using a sensor- how to measure changes in the organisms and what those changes mean. I have been working to further develop the biosensor technology using Arduino, which includes observing the effect of algae concentration on its optical density in order to create graphical information that can be used to systemize the measurement of its health.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Ken Reardon
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Climate storyline analysis and scenario development for unilateral climate intervention

Brett Deas
Among nearly all climate scientists, there is no doubt that climate change is a real phenomenon that poses a threat to humanity and the Earth’s ecosystems in the future. However, given the lack of success in efforts to reduce anthropogenic carbon emissions, researchers have been looking into other climate intervention strategies to reduce the effects of global warming. One such climate intervention technique that has been growing in interest over the past decades is stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI). SAI is a geoengineering process involving the release of particles into the stratosphere to reflect some solar radiation back into space, cooling the planet. The purpose of this research project is to analyze climate data from Earth system models and understand the global and local impacts of different initial conditions in aerosol injection. This is accomplished through the use of both multi-ensemble and single-ensemble data sets.
Department:
Department of Atmospheric Science
Faculty Mentor:
Patrick Keys
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Computer Vision to Improve Air Quality Measurement

Trisha Hammen
Air pollution poses significant threats to public health and the environment, necessitating robust monitoring and assessment systems. Traditional methods of air quality monitoring rely on manual sampling techniques, which often suffer quality limitations when transporting samples and human error. To address these challenges there is a growing interest in the automation of lab techniques and developing more advanced methods of sorting samples. Over the course of the last few months, I worked under Associate Research Professor Christian L’Orange on the applications of computer vision in air quality monitoring. Needs that were addressed in the time frame included accounting for damaged samples which could impact data. This is particularly important when considering the amount of samples moving in and out of the lab, emphasizing the need for efficiency and accuracy from lab materials and technology. A specific focus of mine in the sample monitoring process was implementing a scanning system that would detect damage and sample errors, thus, automatically sorting the faulty samples separately from usable samples and data. This works in close collaboration with automated pieces already implemented in the lab including an arm mechanism that will manipulate the samples.
Department:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Christian L'Orange
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Custom Wire Harnesses for Vehicle Brake System Sensor Manipulation

Carson W. Matherly
This project, commissioned by Cummins for the Systems Engineering Department at Colorado State University, aims to develop an innovative "Truck-in-a-Box" system designed to replicate the electronic and sensor framework of a truck in a carry on sized carrying case(s). The core objective is to create a comprehensive simulation platform that allows for the input of simulated or false sensor values, thereby facilitating vehicle forensics studies and the investigation of man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. A particular focus of this project is the design and construction of a custom wire harness for the brake system, enabling the manipulation of sensor values both physically and digitally. This dual manipulation method allows for hands-on control via potentiometers for physical adjustments, as well as digital control through the sending of custom CAN (Controller Area Network) frames. This system aims to provide a valuable tool for understanding vehicle systems' vulnerabilities and developing countermeasures against potential cyber threats. By enabling precise control and simulation of sensor inputs, the project will contribute significantly to the fields of automotive cybersecurity and forensic analysis.
Department:
Department of Systems Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Jeremy Daily
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Cyanobacteria Stress Tolerance

Samantha Kupfner
A recent study knocked out a certain gene in a model industrial cyanobacterium that caused increased cell-cell clumping. The Peebles lab is taking this research one step further and studying whether this clumping is linked to increased stress tolerance. In addition to studying this knockout gene we also overexpressed a sugar transport gene identified to be important for clumping. Surprisingly, this decreased the clumping behavior but increased cyanobacteria survivability under drought stress. My project is designing and transforming a sugar transporter overexpression-only plasmid to better understand this unexpected behavior. Ultimately the goal is to understand how to increase the stress tolerance of industrial cyanobacteria to expand their usefulness producing petroleum alternatives.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Christie Peebles
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Detecting disease mutations through images

Alejandra Vasquez
In recent years, advances in cell segmentation have empowered the methodology to analyze several biological characteristics, such as cell shape,count,type, etc. Thus, there is still so much potential in this field that can significantly improve our society, such as getting a more quickly and accurately diagnosed of any disease. The aim of this research is to make significant advances in computational cytometry that can effectively detect disease by looking at any mutation or anomaly in the cells. The idea is that the computer can replicate the cell based on all the segmentation previously implemented and recognize any mutations in healthy cells. Thus, it will distinguish cells of different phenotypes based on the image alone.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Ashok Prasad
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Developing Next Generation Environmental Protection Systems

Lydia Iliev
Colorado's mining industry produces copious amounts of mining runoff and waste, such as tailings, that harm the environment if they're not contained. This research project aims to understand and develop barriers to contain this waste in a natural environment using sand, bentonite, and filters. By testing various permeants and ratios of sand and bentonite, the research aims to develop a barrier optimal for the containment of mine waste to protect the environment.
Department:
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Joe Scalia
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Development of High Power Laser System

Isabella Heydman
The Development of High Power Laser Systems lab focuses on developing the high energy diode pump ultra short pulse laser and the Peta-Watt Ti: Sa laser. The ultra-short pulse laser uses laser diodes to pump the laser and cryogenic cooling for a record high repetition rate and high power. Within the laser systems, mitigating damage is important to ensure optimal functionality. My involvement centers on damage prevention within the cryogenic cooling system. Liquid nitrogen is used to prevent overheating within the cooling system, so there must always be an appropriate amount of liquid nitrogen being used. I am creating an alarm system in tandem with a liquid nitrogen sensor that acts as a failsafe to guarantee the continuous and proper operation of the cryogenic system. Additionally, I am creating a shutter device that syncs with the entire laser system to minimize damage through precision pulse operation. Both of these projects focus on damage prevention to enable sustained functionality of the laser.
Department:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Jorge Rocca
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Development of High Power Laser Systems

Mason Kruckenberg
In the realm of high-powered laser system development, I focus on rebuilding oil-free vacuum motors crucial for project success. These motors are integral for maintaining required vacuum levels, vital for laser functionality. By refurbishing them, I ensure system reliability and efficiency. My tasks involve disassembling, inspecting, and reconstructing motors to meet performance standards.
Department:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Jorge Rocca
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Development of high powered laser

Tevis Parent
Energy needs for humanity are increasing and as such a more sustainable source of energy is required. The goal of this research is too develop a high powered laser used in creating nuclear fusion as a source of energy.
Department:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Jorge Rocca
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Development of Target Rotation Stage for Soft X-Ray Lasers

James M Laub
Lasers operate by pumping energy into a gain medium to create a population inversion. For visible light lasers, the gain medium can be glass or crystal, and the pumping can be done by another light source or electrical current. Soft x-ray lasers work in a similar way. One specific technique for generating a soft x-ray laser involves firing two infrared laser pulses onto a metal target to generate a line plasma which is the lasing medium. Optimal soft x-ray laser output is achieved when these pulses perfectly overlap on a fresh metal target spot. This project involves developing a rotating stage to move to a new spot after every laser shot, while also maintaining high stability for best soft x-ray laser operation.
Department:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Jorge Rocca
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Effects of Aerodynamic Loads on Photovoltaic Systems

Kevin Tran
The advancements of single-axis solar trackers has been brought on by the goal to reduce carbon emissions. In these advancements, trackers have been made cheaper but one of these ways to make them cheaper was to change the structure of these trackers. This has caused a sudden effect where these solar trackers are being damaged by wind loads from being in open fields where strong wind can be apparent. The point of this research is to investigate and understand the loads on these panels of different angles of attack in order to reduce the chance of damage by wind forces.
Department:
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Yanlin Guo
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Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis from Air and Water

Lauren Behar
Wastewater, especially in significantly agricultural areas, tends to accumulate ammonia and nitrogen pollution as a result of runoff and pollution. Although this pollution is generally harmful to the environment and organisms in the surroundings, it has the potential to be harnessed and reused. This process not only cleans polluted water, but can regenerate green ammonia/nitrogen-based fertilizers or clean energies when recovered. Especially because green ammonia is such a widely internationally produced chemical, finding ways to sustainably recover ammonia from wastewater can revolutionize fertilizer and renewable energy production. Using an electrochemical reactor cell, electricity can be sent through anode and cathodes plates to recover ammonia or nitrogen from water in various forms. Adjusting the charge and catalyst of the solution can improve the energy efficiency and ammonia recovery levels to make this the most efficient system possible.
Department:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Reza Nazemi
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Electrochemical Pathway for Direct Carbon Capture and Conversion

Bryce Anderson
As climate change has become a prominent concern to maintaining suitable global temperatures, immediate solutions are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this research project is to use chemical methods to transform carbon dioxide, the highest emitted greenhouse gas, into a more sustainable, alternative fuel. The process performed during experimentation is the electrochemical conversion of a gaseous compound or dissolved solution containing carbon dioxide. Through this process, an electrical current is applied to an electrochemical cell and an electrolyte containing carbon dioxide is cycled through the cell, allowing certain atoms and compounds to separate and reform into new products. One of these products, methanol, is the primary concern of this research project. The ultimate goal is to convert the maximum amount of a carbon dioxide solution into methanol, which is a fuel that is cleaner than diesel fuels. To achieve this objective, the research team must perform multiple experiments to determine how to modify the electrochemical processes performed and increase the efficiency to match the requirements of implementing this research into industrial processes.
Department:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Reza Nazemi
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Electrochemical Pathway for direct carbon capture and conversion

Gagandeep Sidhu
With the rise of climate change and increasing CO2 emissions, there have been many different approaches to mitigating these issues. Our research project aims to help mitigate climate change by capturing carbon and converting it to fuel through electrochemical processes. Through these electrochemical processes, we are able to take captured carbon and convert it into methanol, which can be used as a diesel fuel alternative. Not only are we looking to convert carbon into methanol, but we are also looking for the most efficient way to do so. By capturing and converting carbon, were hope to create a net zero carbon solution that helps mitigate climate change.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Reza Nazemi
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Electrochemical Pathway for direct carbon capture and conversion.

Brennen Betts
Carbon capture technologies were first introduced on a large scale in 1938. Over the past 90 years, significant progress has been made in enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of these technologies. In our laboratory, we are dedicated to optimizing these systems for cost efficiency while maintaining a high carbon capture rate. Our current focus lies in advancing the carbon conversion process. Specifically, our aim is to convert captured CO2 into methanol, a precursor that can be easily transformed into dimethyl ether—a viable diesel alternative. Through experimentation with various catalysts in our electrochemical reactor conversion chamber, our goal is to achieve an input of 2-3 volts of electricity with an output of 1 amp of current. Currently, we have made substantial progress, reaching approximately 0.6 amps, however, additional trials are planned to further refine our approach. Our overarching objective in conducting this research is to pave the way for the industrialization of this technology. We envision a future where this innovation not only helps mitigate excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere but also transforms CO2 into a valuable and useful product.
Department:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Reza Nazemi
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Engineering of cyanobacteria for fuel production

Laryssa Aragon
Currently, the method for growing and containing cyanobacteria for fuel production is in large bodies of water with a very low concentration of cells per liter. The aim of this research project is to grow cyanobacteria inside a gel matrix that can contain a high concentration of cells within a small area. This would drastically decrease the amount of water, land, and other resources needed to grow cyanobacteria and make biofuels cheaper and more efficient to produce.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Christie Peebles
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Engineering of phage to kill antibiotic resistant bacteria

Vincent Lan
The aim of the project is to genetically engineer bacteriophages, which are viruses that specifically target certain strains of bacteria to become their hosts, to aid in the reduction or eradication of bacteria in the clinical setting, such as in hospitals. The project intends to infect bacteria hosts such as E.Coli with modified bacteriophages that trigger apotheosis within the cell without causing it to lysis, as to contain the phage in the organism. The project's goal is ultimately to clean sections of hospitals that can be contaminated with super bacterial growth that are otherwise impossible to kill with antibiotics due to its resistance.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Christie Peebles
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Engineering stable microbial interactions

Alan Millan
Though often gone unnoticed, soil microbes are a significant application to the research of waste treatment and biochemical production. In my research in Dr. Chan's lab, we are studying the growth curve of these soil microbes and their interaction with the bacteria Bacillus subtillis. We have used an automatic pipetting machine to organize the different bacteria in a 96-well plate, so that we can analyze the growth curve with the help of laser technology.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Joshua Chan
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Engineering the exoenzyme expression of B. Subtilis

Dillyn Morton
This work is part of an Army Research Office project aiming at modeling and testing the stability of microorganisms engineered to degrade complex polymers in soil microbial communities. Specifically, we will construct Bacillus subtilis strains to monitor exoenzyme expression and its evolution in soil microbial communities.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Joshua Chan
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Flagellar forces generated by spermatozoa

Lydia Seese
The aim of this research is to 3-D image active spermatozoa and use these images to calculate the flagellar forces generated by spermatozoa. Research about sperm cells and their movements is incredibly limited, so a goal of this research is to expand the information currently available. This information could be incredibly valuable in understanding male fertility and potentially aiding in fertility treatments as well the creation of a male birth control.
Department:
School of Biomedical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Diego Krapf
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GPU-accelerated computational study of block copolymer self-assembly

Tyler Siwek
Block copolymers are a type of macromolecule used everywhere in daily life with a wide range of material applications and physical properties. The aim of this research is to model the self assembly of different structures made from combining chains of polymers through computer simulation. By simulating these molecules, this research looks to better understand the interactions between different types of polymers and how that affects the final physical properties of the macromolecule.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Qiang WANG
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Graphical Display of Large Truck Metrics

Henry Potts
As large trucks have improved with technology, further and further changes made to the electrical systems have brought great increases in reliability, but also increased vulnerabilities. Due to this, SystemsCyber has been working to increase knowledge of these vulnerabilities. However, for those people who don't wish to use their products for research purposes, and only wish to for personal use, that is where this project comes in. This project is to help maintainers, drivers, owners, and so on to be able to have real-time diagnostic metric data available to them as fast as possible.
Department:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Jeremy Daily
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Growing algae on flue gas: efficient

Ghadeer Saeed Alamoudi
This research project focuses on maximizing the absorption of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from flue gas emitted by power plants using algae cultivation. The initial approach employs a membrane system allowing gas-liquid contact within algae ponds, aimed at utilizing the CO2 for algae growth. Efforts are underway to enhance this method and explore alternative techniques for more efficient CO2 utilization and sustainable product creation. The study experiments with a two-way membrane method for improved gas-liquid interaction and a random packing column that offers ample surface area for efficient gas absorption, despite cost and maintenance challenges. Additionally, a novel approach using a Venturi meter for high-pressure liquid-gas contact is under trial, showing promise for increased process efficiency. This work is pivotal in developing scalable, cost-effective methods for CO2 capture and algae-based product generation, contributing significantly to environmental sustainability and carbon footprint reduction efforts.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Ken Reardon
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Healthcare in Focus: Analyzing Eye Tracking Patterns in Health Records

Michelle Vasquez
Clinicians face high cognitive loads as they provide care and documentation adds to that. Cognitive overload can contribute to mistakes in documentation and can reduce patient healthcare quality. Eye tracking can be used to estimate and detect patterns in cognitive load as it measures indicators such as fixations and saccades. The study aims to increase the accuracy of electronic health records and decrease the cognitive load of clinicians in emergency departments utilizing eye-tracking data and artificial intelligence aided analysis. Areas of interest during a simulated documentation process that will help find the correlation between attentionality and EHR fields. Success of pilot study will indicate the potential of AI to automate electronic health record documentation and support clinicians in completing their tasks.
Department:
Department of Systems Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Steve Conrad
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High-Throughput Cell Transformations: Evaluating the Assembly Effects of Multiple Plasmids

Morgan Roscoe
The COVID-19 outbreak required quick vaccine development to provide resistance to the fast spreading disease. This demonstrated the benefits of developing vaccines in a short timeframe. However, while the mRNA vaccine was successful, it has limitations in its required storage temperatures and production bottlenecks. Plasmids represent a great template for vaccine production as they are easier to modify, can self-replicate within cells, and are stable at room temperature. The aim of this research project is to evaluate better methods for plasmid assembly, transformation into E. Coli, DNA purification, and sequencing to test upwards of 96 samples at one time. Direct applications of this research include the high-throughput assembly of multiple plasmid samples, which can be used to identify potential novel vaccine candidates faster than before. These plasmids could have use in oncolytic therapy, as anti-cancer agents, and/or gene therapy.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Jean Peccoud
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Hydrogen Electrolysis Scale-Up Facility

Natalie Bradmon
Hydrogen has become a focus of the CSU's decarbonization efforts at the Powerhouse campus. This project focuses on the physical installation of the equipment, the creation of safety and risk mitigation procedures, and the assessment of system performance for hydrogen electrolysis. The hydrogen produced will be used for studies at the CSU Powerhouse and contribute to developing generation, end-use, and vehicle-based technologies.
Department:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Bret Windom
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Ice Nucleating Particles

Kelton Ayars
Atmospheric conditions cause different forms of weather to occur. For a rain drop to form, it must reach a certain temperature where it freezes. Ice nucleating particles are particles in the air which lower the temperature that the water freezes in the air. The purpose of this experiment was to compare and analyze the amounts the Ice Nucleating Particles (INP) collected from Crested Butte Surface Atmosphere Integrated Field Laboratory and understand the effects these particles had on precipitation and weather. This information can be compared to a large data base of particles that have been collected from all of the world. A better understanding of these particles can help predict future weather and atmosphere changes.
Department:
Department of Atmospheric Science
Faculty Mentor:
Russell Perkins
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Ice Nucleating Particles sampled at varying altitudes outside of Crested Butte CO

Oren Dutton
As climate change continues to worsen, the study of atmospheric particles known as Aerosol, has become an increasingly important area of research. This research project aims to sample and analyze air from varying altitudes near Crested Butte ski resort in order to produce a spectrum of the aerosol present. Specifically looking at Ice Nucleating Aerosol, tiny particles ranging from organic particles such as pollen, to metallic particulates, that provide the catalyst for the formation of ice crystals in the air and thus clouds. Additionally, by comparing sampling methods, we hope to analyze and identify the differences and similarities between methods.
Department:
Department of Atmospheric Science
Faculty Mentor:
Russell Perkins
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Improving Trans-Cinnamic Acid Production in Cyanobacteria

Marion Moore
As the demand for greener energy alternatives has grown, cyanobacteria have become an attractive option for the production of biofuel due to their photosynthetic nature and low resource needs. This research project aims to increase the production of phenylalanine, an aromatic amino acid which is known to be a precursor to trans-Cinnamic acid, via chemical mutagenesis and overexpression of the gene aroH in the cyanobacteria species Synechocystis.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Christie Peebles
SURE presentor photo

Lasers and Mechnical Engineering

Yubu Kc
Research on how lasers work in mechanical engineering is crucial for understanding the principles underlying laser-based technologies and their applications. Lasers, with their coherent and monochromatic light, offer unique advantages in various mechanical engineering domains. One significant advantage is their ability to perform precise material processing tasks such as cutting, welding, and engraving with exceptional accuracy and speed. This precision enables the fabrication of intricate mechanical components with tight tolerances, leading to improved product quality and performance. Additionally, lasers find extensive use in non-destructive testing, surface engineering, and additive manufacturing processes, revolutionizing traditional manufacturing techniques. However, along with their benefits, lasers also present certain challenges and limitations. High initial investment costs, maintenance requirements, and safety concerns related to laser radiation are some of the disadvantages associated with laser technology. Furthermore, the interaction of lasers with different materials can result in thermal effects, distortion, or undesirable microstructural changes, affecting the mechanical properties of processed components. Despite these challenges, research in laser-based mechanical engineering remains crucial for advancing manufacturing capabilities, enhancing product design flexibility, and improving overall efficiency. By addressing fundamental questions about laser-matter interactions, optimizing process parameters, and developing innovative laser-based techniques, researchers can unlock new opportunities for applications across diverse mechanical engineering sectors, driving technological innovation and economic growth.
Department:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Jorge Rocca
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Machine Learning for Modeling Wind, Hydrokinetic, and Wave Energy Systems

Hung Thang
There are many types of wind turbines that give out energy, however, the process in selecting the location and the type of wind turbine requires more steps than people might assume. We can utilize machine learning and coding tools to predict and model a system where the conditions are met and are ideal. The main goal of wind-based energy systems is to maximize power capture from incoming wind while reducing the structural dynamic loads. Finding the right balance between high annual energy production with minimized building and operating costs is crucial to create an economically viable energy solution. It is also important especially for floating offshore wind turbines where if they fail, could be costly. There are factors in how you can control the system, with the most important one being the controller that acts as the brain of the system and determines how much energy to let in and adjust the parts on the system based on environmental status, inputted by manually or automatically.
Department:
Department of Systems Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Daniel Herber
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Mitigating Mineral Scaling in Membrane Desalination by Protein Coating

Abby Rafert
Membrane desalination is the process in which salt and minerals are removed from water. Climate change continues to reduce the supply of freshwater leading to the development of various desalination technologies that harvest purified water from unconventional sources (i.e. brackish water, seawater, wastewater). The efficiency of membrane desalination is greatly impacted/reduced by organic fouling–the accumulation of organic substances (i.e. bacteria, algae) on the surface of the membrane used in desalination–and mineral scaling–minerals in the water that begin to solidify and form deposits on the surface of the membrane used in desalination. Therefore the purpose of this research is to investigate how protein coating can be used to reduce the effects of mineral scaling and organic fouling in order to improve the efficiency of membrane desalination.
Department:
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Tiezheng Tong
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Modeling Anaerobic Digestion

Siri Stenmark
Anaerobic digestion has become a promising approach for making useful products out of wastes. Though it is usually used for methane production, the production of volatile fatty acids from waste has gained more attention because of their application as biofuel precursors. Current models are unable to reliably predict the anaerobic digester’s performance for the production of volatile fatty acids; thus to address this issue, this research has introduced a new model for anaerobic digestion called, "ADToolbox". This biochemical model uses computational workflows to create a graphical user interface that allows users to interact with the model and view what happens within a system of anaerobic digestion.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Joshua Chan
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Modular Tensegrity Robot

Quincy Humphrey
The Modular tensegrity project's goal is to develop robots that can adapt to many different environments/tasks. It accomplishes this using a soft tensegrity structure that can be compressed and contorted using strings and wires that run through the body of the robot. It can also connect with other robots using a gripper on the end and they can move and work together as one robot. There are many different applications that a robot like this could be used for and the goal is to make a robot that can fulfill as many applications as possible.
Department:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Jianguo Zhao
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Nanostructured Targets and X-ray Diagnostics for High Power Laser Systems

Owen Geiss
This project focuses on the structured materials and diagnostics needed for high intensity laser-matter interactions. These interactions have a wide range of applications including laboratory astrophysics, high energy particle beam generation, and fusion. More specifically, the research conducted this semester centered around growth of nanostructured targets and the development of an x-ray spectrometer. The nanostructured targets of interest are metal nanowires and the research conducted includes chemical synthesis, nanowire growth, and quality verification using a Scanning Electron Microscope. The X-Ray spectrometer is filter based (multiple differently filtered channels) and is designed to provide information about the plasma ionization state and the degree of laser coupling into the target. Key steps for the x-ray spectrometer include CAD design for a high vacuum environment, CNC machining, filter selection, and testing/data analysis. The spectrometer and targets will be fielded on the few-cycle beam line currently under construction at the Engineering Research Center.
Department:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Jorge Rocca
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Not All Heroes Wear Capes, Some Have Engineering Degrees

Aaliyah Escalera
Engineering has become a hot topic among career choices. While thousands of incoming undergraduates claim engineering as their major, barely half of them actually move on to becoming graduates in this field and the numbers are only dwindling. Through survey and research, the purpose of this project is to get to the bottom of what is transitioning and turning these students away to in turn showcase what it authentically means to be an engineer!
Department:
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Pinar Omur-Ozbek
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Optimizing Renewable Energy Systems

Austin Knolmayer
Finding renewable energy sources has been a major problem for engineers over the past few decades. I worked on type of renewable energy system that incorporates a Wave Energy System (WEC). The basic premise is to put floating buoys into the ocean and attach them to a generator the ocean floor. Waves would then push the buoys up and down turning the generator and creating clean energy. The idea is quite underdeveloped so I helped with developing the code for the process to work. By making a giant optimization code in MATLAB the algorithm was able to output an estimated power that accounted for wave height, period, location, Buoy height, buoy radius and many more factors that involved using 30 years of wave data. Hopefully the program and research for a company to invest into WEC and allows for a better energy harvesting system.
Department:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Daniel Herber
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Optimizing Thermocouple Performance in Outdoor Environments

Keshav Joshi
The research project aims to address the challenge of maintaining optimal thermocouple performance in harsh outdoor environments to facilitate air pollution data collection. Methods such as a cooling fan, UV paint, and implemented shade protection to prevent overheating and mitigate extreme temperatures. The project involves developing a measurement platform to compare different heat mitigation options and project their efficacy across varying environments throughout the year. Through hands-on experience in the SURE program, the researcher aims to apply data analysis, experimental design, and thermocouple functionality understanding to contribute to ongoing research efforts and future endeavors.
Department:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Christian L'Orange
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Porting Virtual Reality Experiences to Mouse and Keyboard Control

Ryan Severin
Virtual reality can serve as an unparalleled tool for teaching, especially in fields where physical hands-on study can prove dangerous to either the student or the subject(s) being studied. However, a significant portion of people cannot use virtual reality due to various disabilities. The aim of this project is to author the rule book on how to successfully port these experiences to mouse and keyboard control, while preserving the intended learning experiences.
Department:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Marie Vans
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PrasadLab: Detecting disease mutations through cell imaging

Skylar Stephan
Cell function is highly related to cell shape. The shape of a cell is determined by its cytosekelon which also effects nuclear shape. We are able to dye those two components of a cell being the nucleus and myosin as well as actin to be able to do florescent imaging. Those images allow for use to view the effects of the cell shape and see how it can relate to disease. The aim of this lab is to create a software that can get cell images and detect diseases to help diagnose or prevent them.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Ashok Prasad
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PVA hydrogels for TMJ cartilage replacements

Zoe Blair
Roughly 30 million Americans suffer from TMD, with limited options for surgical interventions. Historically TMJ replacements have failed and causes horrific side effects. The aim is to create a TMJ cartilage prosthetic using PVA hydrogels, using various forms of increasing stability like freeze thaw cycles and cross-linking.
Department:
School of Biomedical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Kirk McGilvray
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Quantification of mRNA Expression in Response to Dexamethasone

Emika Buschow
Steroids, which are commonly prescribed to control inflammation and related pathologies, have well-documented side effects that are associated with long-term use. Glucocorticoids suppress inflammation by activating glucocorticoid receptors, which translocate to the nucleus and induce transcription of various genes, including Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1 (DUSP1). In this research project, we measure and analyze the number and subcellular location DUSP1 mRNA following exposure to the synthetic glucocorticoid, Dexamethasone (Dex). We employ fluorescence microscopy with single-cell-single-molecule inexpensive fluorescence in situ hybridization (smiFISH) to quantify the DUSP1 transcriptional response, and we use the Stochastic System Identification Toolkit (SSIT) to build mathematical models that capture these response dynamics. Our integration of single-cell experiments with precise quantitative computational models enhances our predictive understanding for cellular anti-inflammatory mechanisms, which could help future efforts to design safer and more effective steroidal treatments for inflammation.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Brian Munsky
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Quantifying Unsaturated Characteristics of Asphalt and Concrete

Tito Salcido Rascon
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are a class of chemicals used in a wide variety of commercial products. Among these products are aqueous film forming foams, or AFFF, which are used as fire suppressants. Historically, AFFF has been used at Air Force bases and airports for fire-fighting practice. The repeated application of AFFF on runways and test pads has resulted in numerous sites with concrete and asphalt containing high concentrations of PFAS. PFAS have been shown to cause several negative health effects. The way that PFAS move through asphalt and concrete is dictated by the unsaturated characteristics of these construction materials. Therefore, it is critical to be able to quantify the unsaturated behavior of asphalt and concrete. This research aims to apply methods for measuring the unsaturated characteristics commonly used for soils to asphalt and concrete. A pressure plate extractor and a chilled mirror hygrometer will be used to create soil water characteristic curves (SWCCs) for asphalt and concrete. The SWCCs will aid in determining how PFAS might affect human health and the environment.
Department:
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Joe Scalia
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Quantitative Systems Pharmacology and Toxicology- Mirtazapine Pharmacokinetics

Jady Sharp
My goal as part of the Quantitative Systems Pharmacology and Toxicity research group is to create an in silico pharmacokinetic model to map the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of the drug mirtazapine in cats.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Brad Reisfeld
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Rapid Compression Machine Combustion Research

Logan Rosebrock
In an ever-changing world, we have been striving to reduce emissions caused by natural gas burning apparatuses. This research aims to investigate and understand more sustainable fuels for existing natural gas architecture. The fuel currently being researched is a hydrogen and methane mixture that burns very cleanly compared to natural gas. We are working to understand its properties and ways to work around all of its quirks.
Department:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Bret Windom
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Real-time Mechanical Stimulation of Porous Bone Regeneration Scaffolds Within a Cell Culture Environment

Maddie Potter
The presence of strain in the body is vital for bone health and growth. This phenomenon is frequently seen in astronauts who, despite rigorous exercise in space, face a decrease in bone density. Strain plays an equally important role in the act of bone regeneration. In an ideal world, long bone tissue would regenerate in a rapid and uniform manner. For this to be possible, the tissue must be exposed to a compressive and torsional strain of, ideally, 2%. Without strain, regeneration can be significantly delayed and inconsistent which can create significant issues. Inside the body of a patient undergoing long bone regeneration, strain is consistently present as the host walks and moves. These movements create the ideal strain environment for bone tissue growth. This research project aims to create a mechanism that, when used in tandem with the lab’s current bioreactors, cell culture environments, and the Incudyn machine, introduces 2% torsional and compressive strain into a cell culture environment, creating a more ideal environment for bone tissue regeneration.
Department:
School of Biomedical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
David Prawel
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Solar Trackers amidst high winds and wind-related natural disasters

Andrew White
Sustainable energy has become an incredibly vital investment to not only our generation but future generations, as fossil fuels become increasingly scarce. Optimizing energy output from solar panels is the entire goal of this research project. This problem seems simple at first, angling the solar panel to face the sun in an optimal direction, but the wind makes this much more complicated. My project has dealt with the simulation side of things for the entirety of my work thus far, but I hope to be a part of analyzing the data after we finish running all of the simulations. Currently, I have been using software such as Jupyter Notebook, Alpine HPCs, OpenFOAM, and Matlab. The HPCs are " High Processing Computers" and they are needed to run the entirety of our simulations. CSU and Boulder each only have one, so we have been connecting to each intermittently to run our simulations. After running the simulations the data is plotted into Matlab so it can be analyzed better. Overall we aim to get the most energy possible out of any and all conditions, allowing for solar energy to become a leader in optimizing the use of sustainable energy.
Department:
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Yanlin Guo
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Stress Strain Mechanical Bone and Scaffold Testing

Liam Yeiter
Bone requires a certain amount of constant stress to sustain growth—about 2% depending on a bone’s dimensions. In order to test our scaffold, I am creating a device that is capable of testing the strength of the scaffold in torsion and compression. This process involves 3D printing and the use of CAD programs.
Department:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
David Prawel
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Surface Roughness of different Substrates and films

Sarah Sadler
To better aid further laser and optics research, the components of the laser path and measurements must be made as efficient as possible. The aim of this research project is to measure the surface roughness of different substrates and differentiate between numerous scatterings and how they affect laser voltage. By finding these values, lasers that operate through these substrates can become more precise, and be used to better any future research or calculation.
Department:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Jorge Rocca
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Three-dimensional super-resolution imaging of whole cells

Bram Copeland
Capturing 3d super-resolution imaging of sperm cells to gain a better understanding of how the cell reacts when exposed to different proteins. We are using a 3d resolution imaging technique called ThunderSTORM. Through a software called Image J, we are able to create a 3-dimensional reconstruction of these cells.
Department:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Diego Krapf
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Three-dimensional super-resolution imaging of whole cells.

D’andre Rogers
In the space of microbiology there remains much to learn and lots of information to gather. On of the main roadblocks in this process is visualization of things on this scale. Due to the way light functions the photography of single cells is rather difficult. This research project seeks to use a revolutionary technique of using certain fluorescent agents combined with laser excitation and camera astigmatism to capture depth information of cells and use it to reconstruct high resolution 3D pictures and models that are highly applicable to a number of studies due to the detail achieved.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Diego Krapf
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Turbine Exhaust Gas Recirculation

Ethan Smith
The US Navy has ambitions goals to cut down their carbon emissions. As part of this effort, we have been tasked to create an exhaust gas recirculation system to help pair with a carbon capture system for the turbine engines that are present on aircraft carriers and destroyers.
Department:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Bret Windom
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Using Coding-Based Modeling to Refine a High-Throughput Plasmid Assembly Pipeline

Mark Kappus
The COVID-19 vaccine was rapidly developed to protect people during the pandemic. This is an mRNA vaccine which is synthesized from plasmids. However, mRNA is unstable at room temperature and can be difficult to manufacture. This work focuses on the use of plasmids. Plasmids are not only more stable than mRNA but can be more easily designed and manufactured. Historically, the process of vaccine design is slow, low-throughput, and expensive, where produced candidates are rarely successful. This research uses a modeling approach to identify potential candidates and simulate thousands of variants at one time. By focusing on the initial design, we can identify successful candidates prior to lab testing, allowing for a guided testing approach. The main goal of this research project is to design and produce multiple plasmids to speed up the front end of plasmid production more effectively and efficiently. The use of coding to influence design is just one of many optimization measures that was used to guide the physical assembly and testing of plasmids.
Department:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Jean Peccoud
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VetVR program

Isaac Meza Salazar
For our research project, our vision is to enhance Veterinarian student training and practice. After many years of traditional textbook studying we have gotten to the point where we can create a virtual experience for these Veterinarian students so they can get the maximum experience. Our objective is to carry out a virtual world that will act like a real-life experience for Veterinarian students. Students will be able to carry out real-life task that may occur in a Veterinarian Hospital. Our goal is to replace the traditional textbook and writing and replace them in the virtual world because what's better practice than actually doing the things you're learning?
Department:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Marie Vans
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Virtual Reality for Education

David Chen
The growing popularity of Virtual Reality is evident, and the possibilities of such technology has been explored in the recent decade. The ability to utility VR for teaching purposes, particularly in the medical field, can help give students hands-on experience, with all the same feedback and none of the risk. Our project is working on VetVR, a VR training simulator for aspiring veterinarians. The simulator is built with the Unity game engine and has a wide variety of different procedures the user has to walk through that apply to real-life veterinarian tasks, such as administering anesthesia, drawing blood, and checking heartrate to name a few. Our team realized the limitations of building our project solely for VR system. Not all students or medical education institutions may have access to VR, or the risk of motion sickness may be too large to be reliable. This semester, the focus shifted to converting all the precision VR controls to keyboard and mouse, since more people have access to a computer than a VR system. We wanted to figure out how to emulate the movement, procedures, and precision controls to still accurately teach students how to properly perform each and every procedure through keyboard and mouse.
Department:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor:
Marie Vans