Engineering Commons^™

Graduate School Blog - April 2025 Volume 1, Cynthia Haynes

UofM Grad School Blog

The April 2025 UofM Graduate School Blog highlights a month full of events, stories, and celebrations, beginning with Dr. Deborah Tollefsen’s personal graduate school journey, shared during the “Is Graduate School Right for Me?” virtual workshop an inspiring narrative of resilience, mentorship, and finding purpose through education. This edition also spotlights Graduate Student Appreciation Week, featuring a robust lineup of events such as a virtual town hall, resume and job market workshop, student social and awards ceremony, study session, and social dinners all designed to support, celebrate, and connect the UofM graduate student community. With opportunities to hear from …

Identifying Contributing Factors Of Black American Females’ Long-Term Persistence In Stem Education: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Chandra T. Oaks-Garcia

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain insights into contributing factors that have shaped the experiences of eight Black American females who pursued STEM education as they persisted from the secondary education setting to their collegiate setting in a STEM major. This qualitative phenomenological study collected data through in-depth semi-structured interviews with Black American female juniors and seniors studying at four different four-year institutions, all pursuing degrees in STEM-related fields. Demographic surveys and memo writing were incorporated to enhance the data analysis. To explore the lived experiences of Black American females in STEM education and identify factors that contributed …

Women Overcoming Barriers In Stem: How Mentors, Allies, And Sponsors Assist Career Trajectories In Higher Education, Leila Romeo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the personal narratives of women in STEM in both public and private higher education institutions within various roles. Specifically, the researcher aimed to determine the following: (a) if mentors/allies influence the career trajectories of women in STEM in higher education institutions and (b) if mentors/allies aid in the support of women in STEM in higher education institutions. The researcher used semistructured interviews with a narrative analysis to determine areas of struggle for the sample within their careers and how mentors, allies, and sponsors were present throughout their careers to help the women overcome these challenges. Data …

03.31.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

NIH Transition to Common Forms

NIH Implementation of New Initiatives and Policies

Correlation Of Socioeconomic Characteristics And Maintenance Level Of Houses In Mass Housing Scheme In Ilorin, Nigeria, Oladimeji Samuel Bolaji, Abubakar-Kamar Tayo Aishat, Adeyemi Olabanji Lukman, Arosanyin Mofeoluwa Victor

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

It is a common belief that certain behaviors are influenced by a person's social level. This claim is taken to apply to housing maintenance in any society, whether it is owned or rented. The aim of this study is to identify the socioeconomic indicators that are most predictive of the maintenance level of houses in mass housing schemes in the metropolis of Ilorin, Nigeria. Both primary and secondary data were used in this investigation. Qualitative and quantitative data through structured questionnaires administered on 1125 household heads constituting 27% of the sample frame were collected from sixteen (16) mass housing schemes …

03.17.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

SPA director Andrea Rich

ARC Nomination Deadline Extended

Collaborative Ai: Oer Materials For Exploring Ai As A Partner Rather Than A Tool, David Smith

Open Educational Resources

The Collaborative AI Open Educational Resource (OER) explores how artificial intelligence can act as a creative and analytical collaborator rather than a tool. Centered on the Balanced Blended Space (BBS) framework and the philosophy of the Center for Holistic Integration (CHI), the OER includes curriculum materials, theoretical models, and live research environments. It offers an interesting approach to blending physical, virtual, and conceptual spaces through shared human–AI agency and invites ongoing participation in interdisciplinary meta-projects.

Wright State University's Celebration Of Student Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities From Thursday, March 13, 2025, Wright State University

Celebration of Undergraduate & Graduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities Abstract Books

The student abstract booklet is a compilation of abstracts from students' oral and poster presentations at Wright State University's Celebration of Student Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities on March 13, 2025.

Float Element Design, Bryn Lewis

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

I have spent the last three years as a Design team member of Cal Poly Rose Float, the last year as a Design Lead. As a member of the design team, I followed blueprints, bent pencil steel into shape, and welded those pieces together. I worked as part of a team, and eventually led my own small team. Cal Poly Rose Float teaches its members many skills and abilities. Not just bending and welding metal, but also teamwork and leadership skills. However, it doesn’t teach us everything. Every leadership member gives input on the overall theme and design of the …

Danzens: A Toolkit For Sensing, Labeling And Visualizing Dance Movements, Yanelly Mego, Concepción Valdez, Hector M. Camarillo-Abad, Franceli L. Cibrian

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Wearable technology offers new opportunities for analyzing complex movements like dance, where precision, coordination, and feedback are key. In this demo, we present DanZens, a novel toolkit for real-time motion analysis in dance, leveraging wearable sensors to provide accessible and actionable feedback. Combining DanceTag to capture and annotate movements with DanceVis to visualize performance differences, DanZens uses Sony Mocopi sensors to analyze motion and generate intuitive heat maps through Dynamic Time Warping (DTW). This system enables precise, cost-effective comparisons between two people doing dance-related movements, offering personalized feedback and eliminating the need for expensive biomechanical labs. Designed to advance pervasive …

Harmonicthreads – An Interface That Supports Accessibility In Musical Interaction, Ellie Nguyen, Miyuki Weldon, Franceli L. Cibrian

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Traditional musical instruments often can create boundaries due to their cost, training, mobility, and cognitive requirements, making musical expression inaccessible. To address this challenge, we developed HarmonicThreads, a novel pervasive computing interface consisting of a responsive, flexible fabric. HarmonicThreads provides a tactile and auditory experience, allowing users to easily create and control sounds. Using embedded sensors and real-time processing, HarmonicThreads interprets the user's natural movements and interactions to create adaptable musical outputs. This enables context-aware musical interaction, demonstrating the potential of pervasive interfaces in reducing barriers and making musical expression more accessible.

02.24.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Collaborate Opportunity

SEC Faculty Travel Grants

Participant Support Cost Resources

02.17.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

SOP Research Day

Exploring Generative Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Applications In Fashion: Ethical Concerns In Human-Like Technology, Melissa Kathryn Gonzalez

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Design Thinking Process Leads To Prototype, Rouri Takahashi

CAFE Symposium 2025

This project follows the Design Thinking Process and involves the development of an innovative, zippered small pouch designed with unique interlocking. The idea and design are entirely original, inspired by the principles of the Interlock system. I would like to present my steps through the current prototype.

02.10.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Community Engagement Recognition

Inclusive Space For Everyone Door Sign (Printable 8.5 X 11 Inch), Joan H. Robinson

Open Educational Resources

This is a printable 8.5 x 11 inch door sign for faculty, staff, and administrators to let people know it is an inclusive space for everyone. For improved visibility, print with a color printer and cut along the dotted line.

See also: 11 x 17 inch door sign.

Evolution Of Lyrics Of Egyptian Songs In The 20th Century, Omar Abdelrafe

The Undergraduate Research Journal

Despite the extensive research by western countries on the song lyrics, almost nothing is known about the evolution of Egyptian song lyrics. The previous studies in the U.S. and U.K. revealed that lyrics were more pessimistic as time passed. In this study, 1891 Egyptian songs from 1920 to 2022 were analyzed using a sentiment analysis tool while searching for offensive words and retrieving their popularity scores from Spotify. The results aligned with those of the other regions in which the negativity of songs and the percentage of songs containing offensive words increased. However, there is a substantial increase in neutral …

01.27.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Data Science for Addiction Research

UM research and related activities as a new presidential administration transition occurs

01.21.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

SmartTech MS Advanced Manufacturing Prize

Mileage Rate Increases

Meth Mortality Rate Increases

One Heart, One Vessel: Unraveling The Mystery Of Truncus Arteriosus, Claudette C. Artiles

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

No abstract provided.

What’S New In Esophageal Atresia Treatment?, Alexandra N. Jimenez Gonzalez

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

No abstract provided.

01.13.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

NIH Public Access Policy Update

Procurement Information for Award Spending online course announcement

National Sea Grant Law Center funding

A Value-Based Hbim Framework For Adaptive Reuse Of Heritage Buildings: A Case Study Of Bayt Yakan, Ayman Samy, Alaa E. El-Habashi, Al-Moatazbellah Al-Behiery

Journal of Engineering Research

This paper presents a value-based Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) framework for assessing the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings. The framework integrates key heritage values criteria -authenticity, integrity, significance, and adaptability- into HBIM, allowing for structured decision-making that balances heritage preservation with contemporary operation. Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), different adaptive reuse scenarios are evaluated in HBIM Environment to ensure that interventions respect the building's authenticity, integrity, and significance while meeting sustainable operational needs. The case study focuses on Bayt Yakan, a 17th-century heritage building in Cairo, where three adaptive reuse scenarios—continued use as a library, conversion into a hotel …

Interfaces Gráficas Y Género: Impacto En Discursos Normativos, Marco V. Ferruzca, Paulo C. Portilla, Juan Villegas, Román A. Mora

GDI. Revista de investigación de Género, Diseño e Innovación

El diseño de interfaces gráficas de usuario generalmente considera una reflexión sobre propiedades vinculadas a aspectos visuales como el color, las imágenes, la tipografía, etc. Asimismo, algunos aspectos del usuario se ponen también a consideración como su edad, cultura, experiencia, género, entre otros. Sin embargo, la noción de género sólo se reduce a un binarismo para definir si la interfaz gráfica encaja en la categoría mujer u hombre. Muy pocos investigadores se han detenido a profundizar en el discurso heteronormativo que puede desprenderse de la interpretación de significado de una interfaz gráfica como consecuencia de la interrelación entre usuariogénerocomputadora. El …

Perspectiva De Género En La Animación: Desafíos Y Logros En La Industria, Carmen Pérez González, Luis Mayo Vega

GDI. Revista de investigación de Género, Diseño e Innovación

La perspectiva de género en la industria de la animación se centra en los desafíos y logros que enfrentan las mujeres en este campo. Se identifican los principales obstáculos que afrontan las directoras de animación, evidenciando un aumento en la representación femenina a lo largo de los años, aunque aún lejos de alcanzar la igualdad. Se destaca la importancia de incluir voces femeninas en la investigación académica para promover una representación equitativa. La metodología analiza informes recientes que evalúan la participación de mujeres en la industria y se recopilan recomendaciones de directoras destacadas para fomentar la equidad de género. Los …

Cultural Society Branding, Gabriella Nieves, Katie Parrish

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Cultural Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring curiosity, improving education, and embracing diversity in our community. The presenters were tasked with creating a new brand identity for Cultural Society, as well as for its AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) History Museum, where people can learn about AAPI history, cultures, and impacts in Rhode Island. The branding was developed in a way that represents Cultural Society's values of creativity, personal action, learning without borders, personal growth, and resilience. Shortly after graduation, one presenter was hired part-time by Cultural Society to design environmental graphics and promotional items for the …

Stowable Communication Board For Wheelchair Users, Andrew Peet, Harrison Ullucci, Aaliyah Couto

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Communication boards are essential tools for individuals who use wheelchairs, experience speech limitations, are paraplegic, or quadriplegic. These simple and affordable devices enable them to effectively express their needs and interact with their environment. Traditional communication boards often present accessibility challenges due to restrictive placement and ergonomic constraints. This prototype integrates a motorized folding mechanism, so the board can be stowed when not in use and includes a selection of boards that can be swapped out. It is designed to enhance the usability and accessibility of communication boards while maintaining the width and mobility of the wheelchair. The prototype incorporates …

Sharing The Stage With The Future: Humans And Robots Together At Last, Donna L. Clevinger

Honors in Practice Online Archive

This essay presents a co-curricular collaboration bringing ancient comedy to a modern audience. Students and faculty at a large, public R1 university combine art and engineering to create a STEAM-based approach to theatrical production. The author describes how integrating classical text, creative expression, and transformational technologies demonstrates that collaboration between disciplines can produce gains for each, fostering advancements and human understanding that would be unattainable independently. Script writing, casting, stage production, and outcomes are presented.

Swosu Research And Scholarly Activity Fair 2025, Swosu Office Of Sponsored Programs

SWOSU Research and Scholarly Activity Fair Programs

On behalf of the members of the University Research and Scholarly Activity Committee (USRAC) and the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) — welcome to the Thirty-Third SWOSU Research and Scholarly Activity Fair!

This year’s event features 99 poster presentations and 9 oral presentations, showcasing the work of over 170 student and faculty researchers, writers, presenters, artists, collaborators, and faculty sponsors. These presentations represent a wide array of scholarly and academic activity from across SWOSU’s academic community, including the Departments of Art, Communication, and Theatre; Allied Health Sciences; Biological Sciences; Business; Chemistry & …