Research Scholars Program

Kaelyn Badura

(Dr. Mei Zhang) – Mechanical Engineering

• Investigating laser-CNT interactions as a mechanism of oxidation for the fabrication of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and the modification of GNR surface morphology
• NT oxidation molecular dynamics modeling
• Creating, characterizing, and optimizing composite and carbon nanotube based stretchable conductors

Olivier Barbier

(Dr. Tarik Dickens) – Computer Engineering

• Semi-automation of mechanical machine
• Link national instrument software with the mechanical testing unit for convenient data acquisition

Khanh Bui

(Dr. Richard Liang/Dr. Ayou Hao) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• Mechanical testing and analysis of carbon nanotube (CNT) composites

Mary Burkett

(Dr. Chad Zeng) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• Characterization of polymers by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
• Manufacturing of AFM and TEM auxetic polyurethane and COC CNT nanocomposite foam samples
• Analysis of AFM image data for topology and phase morphology

Alexis Caldwell

(Dr. Tarik Dickens) – Computer Engineering

• Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes
• Setup The MiTE system using electrical equipment/hardware
• Fabricate parts using the RIDFT and mechanical test them using the MiTE system

Christopher Chiros

(Dr. Richard Liang/Dr. Ayou Hao) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• Carbon nanotube (CNT) composite sample preparation
• Water-jet cutting for samples and composite molds

Hyun Bin (Shawn) Cho

(Dr. Richard Liang/Dr. JG Park) – Electrical Engineering

Jeremy Chupp

(Dr. Jhunu Chatterjee) – Chemical Engineering

• Chitosan-Based Polymer Electrolyte
• Magnetic Buckypaper composites
• Fabrication of biosensor materials

Jeremy Cox

(Dr. Tao Liu) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Garrett Ellanson

(Dr. Jhunu Chatterjee) – Chemical Engineering

Eduardo Fernandez

(Dr. Okenwa Okoli) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• Manufacturing multi-scale composites
• Continued development of the displaced foam dispersion method

Rebecca Gebert

(Dr. Richard Liang) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• Continuous alignment of carbon nanotube (CNT) buckypaper
• Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of buckypaper and CNT composites

Leon Gonzalez

(Dr. Jhunu Chatterjee) – Chemical Engineering

• Electrochemical analysis of carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes for use in biosensors

Michiaha Ivey

(Dr. Richard Liang) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• 3D printer design and build
• Additive manufacturing controller board communication

Christina Kale

(Dr. Mei Zhang) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Morgan Lampley

(Dr. Richard Liang) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• Carbon nanotube (CNT) and carbon fiber based composite sample preparation and storage

Shaquille Lewis

(Dr. Jhunu Chatterjee) – Chemical Engineering

• Synthesis of magnetic carbon nanotube (CNT) buckypaper

Taniwa Ndebele

(Dr. Tarik Dickens) – Mechanical Engineering

• Mold development for CT testing
• Design improvement and material innovation for test variation in crack propagation failure

Kelechi Ogbinna-Amu

(Dr. Richard Liang) – Biomedical Engineering

• Electrical testing and analysis of carbon nanotube (CNT) based composites

Henry Papa

(Dr. Jhunu Chatterjee) – Chemical Engineering

• Modification of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for enhanced electrochemical sensor performance
• Application of CNT electrochemical sensor for detection of various biomolecules

Sebastian Para

(Dr. Richard Liang) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• Design and print electronic circuits and devices on flexible surfaces
• Determine the parameters and characteristics for which printed components would meet the desired criteria

Jigar Patel

(Dr. Jhunu Chatterjee)

Adam Satchell

(Dr. Tarik Dickens) – Pre-engineering (TCC)

• Europium D4 TEA synthesis
• Comparison of EuD4TEA mechanical and triboluminescent properties to commercial ZnS:Mn
• Production efficiency of triboluminescent materials

Kari Schwartz

(Dr. Richard Liang) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• Thermogravimetric (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) testing and analysis of carbon nanotube (CNT) based composites and buckypaper

Maria Agustina Toso

(Dr. Chad Zeng) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• Manufacturing and modeling of piezoelectric foams to maximize piezoelectric coefficient
• Integration of COC piezoelectric foam into energy harvesting devices

Kaue Tozzi

(Dr. Richard Liang) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• Developing cost efficient fused deposition modeling additive manufacturing.
• Recycling and reusing spent FDM support material to create greener 3D printing processes.
• Expanding repertoire of 3D printable materials.

Ever Velasquez

(Dr. Okenwa Okoli) – Chemical Engineering

• Fabrication of 3D Photovoltaic Micro-wires for structural health monitoring systems
• Hybrid interface utilization of inorganic semi-conducting PV materials and organic materials
• Implementation of sensor networks for detection of triboluminescence for composite degradation

Kenneth Veliky

(Dr. Richard Liang) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• Carbon nanotube (CNT) buckypaper manufacturing with various suspension methodologies such as paraffin wax
• Mechanical, electrical, thermal and morphological characterization of buckypaper and CNT composites

Raelon White

(Dr. Richard Liang/Dr. Ayou Hao)

• Carbon nanotube (CNT) composite sample preparation
• CNT composite density analysis

Kaivon Williams

(Dr. Tarik Dickens)

• Construction of water soluble molds for composite material fabrication
• Experimentation with triboluminescent materials

Darcelle Wilson

(Dr. Richard Liang/Dr. JG Park) – Chemical Engineering

Francois Wolmarans

(Dr. Mei Zhang) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• Carbon nanotube (CNT)-graphene hybrid foam deformation mechanical and electrical behavior
• Application of novel CNT-graphene foams for pressure sensor applications

Paola Zerbini

(Dr. Richard Liang) – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

• Microtome cutting process of carbon nanotube (CNT) based composites for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis