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Contact:
Christine MacLeod
Associate Director, Undergraduate Initiatives
ECG 125A
480.727.8713
furi@asu.edu
FURI is being made possible by the generous endowment of Mr. Ira A. Fulton and The Fulton Investment.
More Info
Finding a mentor and research opportunities
What students and faculty are saying about FURI
Mentors wanting to advertise their research interests should mail the information to furi@asu.edu.
Connect to a Mentor & 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 mail the info to furi@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 a 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 % 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.
For more information, please contact either Prof. R Pfeffer, Department of Chemical Engineering, email: robert.pfeffer@asu.edu, phone: 965-0362 or Prof. J. Lin, Department of Chemical Engineering, email: jerry.lin@asu.edu, phone: 965-7769.
System Reliability Modeling and Monitoring
The 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 in the summer of 2008. 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.
Dr. Rong Pan
Department of Industrial Engineering
Phone: (480) 965-4259
Email: rong.pan@au.edu
Flexible Electronics
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 and mechanical testing of various flexible circuits fabricated at the Flexible Display Center. (http://flexdisplay.asu.edu) The goal is to determine the robustness of the flexible circuits when repeatedly bent, stretched, abraded, immersed etc. Students from a variety of engineering disciplines are welcome to apply for this inter-disciplinary project. (U.S. citizenship required)
David R. Allee, Associate Professor
Dept. of Electrical Engineering
GWC 234 or Flexible Display Center
Tel: 480-965-6470
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.
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.
Kaushal Rege
Department of Chemical Engineering
ERC 283
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 other departments are welcome to apply.
Hongbin Yu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering
phone: (480) 965-4455
email: yuhb@asu.edu
Biomedical Informatics
Students with computer science and/or engineering experience can learn the research process by working on cutting-edge biomedical informatics problems, including the discovery of triggers and treatments for high profile diseases, including various cancers. No prior biological knowledge is needed and research problems are flexible to the student's interest.
Research Information (click to view)
Michael Verdicchio, PhD Student, FURI Alumnus
School of Computing and Informatics
mv@asu.edu
Development and characterization of the next generation of nuclear fuel
Research Information (click to view)
Kirk Wheeler, Graduate Research Associate
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Smart Product Design, Human Robot Interaction, Educational Technology, Tangible Media Arts
Research Information (click to view)
Dr. Winslow Burleson
Arts, Media and Engineering and Computer Science Engineering
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.
Bryan Vogt, Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
ERC 279
Tempe, AZ 85287
Tel: 480.727.8631
bryan.vogt@asu.edu
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.
Bryan Vogt, Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
ERC 279
Tempe, AZ 85287
Tel: 480.727.8631
bryan.vogt@asu.edu
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 in the EE department 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 EE undergraduate students with good background in electric networks and systems, and with a strong passion for energy are encouraged to contact:
Dr. Raja Ayyanar
ERC 587
Department of Electrical Engineering
(480) 727-7307
rayyanar@asu.edu
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.
Keith E. Holbert, Ph.D., P.E., Associate Professor
Electrical Engineering Department
Arizona State University
P.O. Box 875706
Tempe, AZ 85287-5706
Voice: (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.
S. D. Rajan, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
ECG 252
Ph: (480)965-1712, Fax: (480)965-0557
http://ceaspub.fulton.asu.edu/structures
Water reuse and natural systems to reclaim wastewater for both potable and non-potable uses
Dr. 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 these processes occur in soils and wetlands. He has also begun to develop novel biological reactors based on his findings with natural systems. Dr. Fox also evaluates brine concentrate disposal strategies since the accumulation of salts is a major impediment to sustainable water reuse.
Peter Fox, Director-National Center for Sustainable Water Supply
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Arizona State University
PO Box 5306 Tempe, AZ 85287-5306 480-965-1734
Fax: 480-965-0557, Peter.Fox@asu.edu, http://www.fulton.asu.edu/~civil/ncsws/NCSWS.html
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.
Dr. Seungchan Kim, Asst Professor
Computer Science and Engineering
dolchan@asu.edu (480) 727-8833.
Materials Science Engineering
Research information (click to view)
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 in the spring of 2005 will be involved in characterizing the performance of the nascent Fulton Computational Grid. 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. All Fulton School majors will be considered.
Dan Stanzione, PhD
Director, Fulton School High Performance Computing
dstanzi@asu.edu
Information and Systems Assurance Laboratory
Dr. Nong Ye
Information and Systems Assurance Laboratory
Research opportunities for IE, CSE, and EE Undergraduates
nongye@asu.edu
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education
Dr. Veronica A. Burrows
Associate Director, CRESMET and Professor in Chemical and Materials Engineering
burrows@asu.edu, (480) 965-4557