Research Experience for Undergraduates program offers unique opportunity
| Published: 07/29/2008 |
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Nine undergraduate students from around the country were selected to participate in Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), an innovative summer program at Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). As part of the REU program, students researched projects advancing state-of-the-art applications in the biomedical, aerospace, architectural, manufacturing, composite, biomolecular and electro-optical industries.
Work by seven of the students was funded by the National Science Foundation and MSOE's Rapid Prototyping Consortium. This intensive, 10-week program brought students and faculty together to solve a problem or find a new use for the technology known as rapid prototyping.
The other two students' work took place in MSOE's Engineering Research Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP), and was funded by the National Science Foundation and National Fluid Power Association. MSOE's involvement in the CCEFP amplifies its already significant work in fluid power, applying new technologies to the field. MSOE and research students integrate new technologies such as rapid prototyping, sensors, nanotechnology and tribology plus contamination analysis in fluid power to advance understanding of these areas.
Students conducted research, took field trips to visit professionals and problem solved with advisors, teammates and other resources. They participated in poster sessions, group discussions, research documentation, learned new software, attended Rapid Prototyping Consortium meetings, made presentations, built models, designed and completed experiments and wrote research papers.
Participants
Mara J. Bechwar, UW-Platteville, Computer Information Systems
Hometown: West Bend, Wis.
Project: Using Rapid Prototyping to Model Groundwater Data
Jacob Bolda, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Architectural Engineering
Hometown: Butte des Morts, Wis.
Project: Rapid Prototyping: A Sustainable Design Aid
Whitney L. Burton, University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Biology
Hometown: Hendersonville, Tenn.
Project: Designing a Scaffold for High Density Cell Mammalian Growth
Elizabeth A. Ehrke, Case Western Reserve University, Engineering Physics
Hometown: Pewaukee, Wis.
Project: Optimization of a Catalyst for the Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide
Ryan H. Haislmaier, UW-Whitewater, Physics
Hometown: Whitefish Bay, Wis.
Project: Investigation of the Thermophysical Properties of Recycled Polyamide Materials Used in Selective Laser Sintering
Sung Kwon, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Biomedical engineering
Hometown: Beaver Dam, Wis.
Project: Creating an Accurate 3-D Model of the Human Brain
Angela J. Mason, Austin Peay State University, Physics
Hometown: Clarksville, Tenn.
Project: Low Cost Water Contamination Sensor Using Absorption
Ambie Z. Mobula, University of Arizona, Biosystems Engineering
Hometown: Silver Spring, Md.
Project: Designing a Fluid Cell for an Atomic Force Microscope Using Rapid Prototyping
Dan Schick, Ripon College, Chemistry and Physics
Hometown: Nashotah, Wis.
Project: Compatibility Testing of Hydraulic Fluid Additives