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 …

Intersectional Predictors Of Early Mathematics Identity Among Underrepresented Engineering-Interested Students, Douglas D. Havard, Adriana Quirós-Arauz

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This study examines the intersectional factors influencing early mathematics identity development among underrepresented secondary students (grades 9-10) with aspirations in engineering. Mathematics identity is a well-established predictor of long-term persistence in engineering, making its early formation critical to understanding student retention in the engineering pipeline. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner's bioecological framework, this study situates learning within nested layers of influence. Using data form the nationally representative High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09), which includes over 23,000 9th-graders, a hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted. The analysis examined intersections of race and gender identity across 16 variables spanning individual, micro-, meso-, …

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 …

Rattler Notehub, Emily Medlin

Posters - 2025

Students lack diverse and comprehensive study materials that help develop effective learning. More specifically, students at St. Mary’s may find that study material outside of class are not as effective or not relevant to what was taught in class. This leads to prolonged study sessions or completely missing information that was taught when the student was absent. Rattler NoteHub tries to accomplish giving access to students to collaborate, find supplement resources and promote efficient studying.

Rattler NoteHub is a full-stack website that was initially developed as a Software Engineering project. Since then, the website has expanded its functionality to better …

Predicting Battery Efficiency: A Theoretical Approach, Haiti Schafers

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The Kansas ElectroRally Races continuously demand faster electric vehicles (EV). When designing a vehicle one of the most important components is the battery. This study was designed to find the following; What is the optimal throttle percentage to run a 36V 20Ah (768Wh) LiFePO4 Rechargeable Battery Pack[1].

The optimal throttle percentage was found with methods detailed in a different section. Based on the performance of the older cars this study choose to focus on 50% and 70%, while obtaining other relevant data to further that inference.

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 …

Scalable Mxene-Based Textile Supercapacitors, Abaigeal Aydt

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The demand for flexible and wearable energy storage devices for portable applications has led to the exploration of textile-based supercapacitors (TSCs). TSCs will allow for the creation of a new class of energy harvesting and storing technology directly into our clothing and will require using non-toxic and/or biocompatible materials. This will result in a greener and more sustainable path to address the challenges at the nexus of energy, mobility, and sustainability. To fabricate a TSC, a yarn made of fibers, such as wool or cotton, is coated with MXene flakes; MXenes are composed of transition metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides …

Web Application For Simulation Of An Agent-Based Model In Netlogo3d, Chris Davis Perumal, Abraham Nofal, Benedict J. Kolber, Rachael Miller Neilan

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

Agent-based models (ABMs) are computer simulation models for studying systems of autonomous agents. Modelers often use specialized software like NetLogo to develop ABMs, but this software poses barriers to researchers in other disciplines with no prior programming experience. To address this issue, we developed a web application that allows users to simulate our ABM via a web browser, eliminating the need for the user to download and use specialized software. While presented in the context of a specific ABM, our approach can be applied to other ABMs to enhance accessibility. The ABM presented here was developed in NetLogo3D. The model …

Aircraft Leasing And Its Effects On Ireland's Airline Sector, Aaron Christian, Jeanne Sumrall

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The aircraft leasing industry sits at the heart of Ireland’s aviation sector, making Ireland the global leader in the business. The presence of major leasing companies’ headquarters, including Avolon, SMBC and AerCap, in Ireland, allows for country to benefit from these companies’ revenue. In return, Ireland provides the companies with supportive tax and regulatory frameworks that benefit the aviation sector. The research on this topic explores different ways aircraft leasing contributes to airline efficiency through cost reductions and fleet modernization while minimizing financial risks associated with aircraft acquisition by utilizing computer programs. Operational modeling has become an essential tool for …

Mentoring To Retain Engineering Students And Graduates, Carly Schiene, Thomas Ford, Gail Lee

Purdue Road School

ITE has identified work force development as one of three key issues facing engineering firms today; yet, as many as 50% of all graduate engineers may leave the engineering profession within 10 years of graduation. Mentors and mentees will discuss the role that mentorship can play in engineering student and graduate engineer retention in the work force.

Raising Awareness About Hydrographic Careers Through Sea-Going Opportunities, Juliet Kinney, Rochelle Wigley, Sara Cardigos, Fahima Bellabad, Larissa Marques Freguette

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

There is a worldwide shortage of hydrographic personnel (van Wegen, 2021, Hydro International 2008).  Calls for action to address this issue include the IHO’s Hydrography at Sea opportunities, while intiatiative such as Seabed 2030 are bringing broader attention to the field and helping to catalyze new discussions and partnerships in hydrography (IHO, 2024).  The global sea floor mapping community needs to develop a broader workforce pipeline.  We would like to highlight the importance of providing time at sea and leadership opportunities in developing a robust workforce.  We start with an overview of a selection of current exchange and training programs …

03.17.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

SPA director Andrea Rich

ARC Nomination Deadline Extended

State Of The Grid: Cybersecurity Best Practices For The Utility Industry, Corban Garcia

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Developing a strong cybersecurity posture is essential for protecting critical infrastructure, especially in the utility industry. This study analyzes a multi-layered cybersecurity approach that integrates risk management, technology, governance, and workforce training. Based on an examination of industry literature, six key steps were identified. These include assessing security posture, developing policies, implementing security controls, employee training, incident response planning, and regular audits. Each step plays a vital role in mitigating cyber threats and ensuring operational resilience. A comparative analysis of cybersecurity frameworks and real-world incidents highlights the necessity of proactive security strategies. Without these foundational steps, organizations face greater risks …

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.

Creating A Framework To Develop Project-Based Platforms To Support Engineering And Technology Education, Casey Daniel Kidd

Doctoral Dissertations

Engineering education has evolved over the last few decades to increasingly include project-based learning (PBL) throughout the curriculum to give students more hands-on experience. However, there can be a hesitancy from faculty and instructors to move from traditional lectures to PBL-based curricula. Research has been conducted to identify barriers to research-based instructional strategies (RBIS), which include PBL. However, this research does not go into depth about the specific barriers for these individual RBIS. Furthermore, it has been found that the adoption of a new practice within a community has more success through a propagation paradigm, where the change agents are …

Evaluating Educational Benefits Of A Custom Cyber Game: ‘Hvac Attack!’, Jillian S. Valente

Theses and Dissertations

Cyber competition and conflict remain an enduring concern for the Department of Defense (DoD). Positive control of cyberspace is crucial across the vast diversity of military operations and supporting activities. Military members play an important role in cyber prevention, detection, and remediation, but most receive relatively little training outside of the annual Cyber Awareness Challenge. Particular career fields within the DoD may benefit from specialized training in cybersecurity, in particular the civil engineering (CE) community supporting critical infrastructure protection. Prior research has suggested that game-based learning (GBL) can be beneficial for teaching cyber concepts.

How Does An Air Force Instructor Analyze Officer Occupational Competencies And Translate Them Into Professional Development Courses?, Julia A. Howard

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how Air Force instructors translate officer occupational competencies into professional development courses. The study aims to address a pressing need to align Civil Engineer education with the Department of the Air Force objective of competency based education in the midst of changing operational demands. The methodology uses expert elicitation, thematic analysis, qualitative and quantitative statistics to formulate a curriculum development methodology. Data collection involved an expert elicitation from subject matter experts in the Civil Engineer career field. This data helped to pair 32E competencies with course learning objectives. The expert opinions provided insight into where civil engineering …

Saudi Arabian Universities' Need For A Nuclear Security Educational Textbook: A Systematic Review, Faisal Bin Nasser Sarbaland, Takaaki Sakai

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Nuclear security education is a critical element in ensuring the safe and responsible use of nuclear energy, particularly in countries like Saudi Arabia, where the demand for energy is increasing. This systematic review explores the current needs for nuclear security educational materials in Saudi Arabian universities, focusing on the development of a specialized textbook for this purpose. The review addresses the increasing global demand for nuclear security professionals and highlights the gaps in educational resources available in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Using a thematic analysis of existing educational programs and curricula from various international institutions, the paper …

02.24.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Collaborate Opportunity

SEC Faculty Travel Grants

Participant Support Cost Resources

Introduction To Drones, Shawn Barstow, Justin Wyatt Clawson, Shalyn Drake, Eric Galloway, Michael Pate

All Current Publications

Unmanned aircraft have advanced so much that they are completing tasks and integrating into all aspects of our lives. They deliver, survey, collect data, and complete assigned tasks with more efficiency and lower cost than many currently used techniques. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completely supports UAS in the National Airspace System (NAS) and continually updates information in this new and exciting field. This fact sheet will help you identify how you can legally fly drones and become an integral part of aviation’s vast and ever-progressing world.

02.17.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

SOP Research Day

02.10.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Community Engagement Recognition

Generative Ai For Synthetic Data Creation: Building Mastery-Focused Educational Datasets, Tapiwa Amion Chinodakufa, Khandaker Mamun Ahmed

SDSU Data Science Symposium

Synthetic data is artificially generated data that mimics the statistical properties of real world data without exposing sensitive information. It is used in analysis, research, and deployments. Educational technology (EdTech) is an area where synthetic data can solve the problems of data scarcity, privacy concerns, regulatory compliance, bias reduction, data quality, data integrity, and cost efficiency. Our research aims to generate synthetic educational dataset by leveraging generative AI techniques such as Autoencoder, variational autoencoder and Copula-GAN. Our experimental results shows the significant progress in generating educational dataset and represents the data distribution of synthetic and real data.

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.

Impact Of A Kinesthetic Learning Model On Architecture, Engineering, And Construction (Aec) Knowledge In African American Middle School Girls, Mercy F. Fash, Andrea A.N Ofori-Boadu

Journal of Research Initiatives

This study examines the impact of a femalized Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Kinesthetic Learning Model (fAEC-KLM) intervention on the AEC knowledge of African American middle school girls. Fourteen (14) middle school girls completed both pre- and post-surveys and tests that assessed their knowledge of AEC concepts, including roles and responsibilities, gender and racial diversity, and salary benefits. Paired-sample t-tests were utilized to evaluate statistically significant differences in knowledge before and after fAEC-KLM intervention. Results showed notable improvements in students' knowledge of AEC salary and benefits, as well as the underrepresentation of females, particularly African American females, and AEC roles and …

Near-Peer Student-Run Virtual Stem Summer Camp: Lessons Learned, Andrew Lee, Jeremy Reynolds, Margaret Reynolds, Freda Li, Lubjana Beshaj

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The United States Military Academy is uniquely positioned to contribute to our nation’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) outreach initiatives. As one of the country’s most highly regarded undergraduate engineering schools, the institution receives a steady influx of Cadet near-peer mentors who volunteer to lead STEM modules. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person STEM workshops for the better part of 2020-2021, the Center for Leadership and Diversity in STEM adeptly transitioned to a virtual platform. Informed by research on STEM education and delivery, the Center successfully executed its signature summer camp event in a virtual format for two …

In Memoriam - Nora Sabelli: Master Orchestrator Of Grant Programs And Mentor For Advancing The Interdisciplinary Learning Sciences Field, Eric Hamilton, Jeremy Roschelle, Roy Pea, Barbara Means, Louis Gomez, Kim Gomez, Nancy Butler Songer

Education Division Scholarship

On Friday, September 6, 2024, the learning sciences field lost a giant in Dr. Nora Sabelli, 87 years old, a personal mentor to many researchers and an inspiration to so many learning scientists and STEM leaders. Nora’s first professional career was as a computational chemist, and later she became a passionate leader in research for improving STEM education. Nora’s time as a senior program officer at the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Education and Human Resources (EHR) directorate was legendary; she was a force of nature who reshaped funding priorities for stronger science and a stronger connection of science to education …

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

Critical Components Of Successful Cross-Race Mentoring Relationships: Perspectives Of Mentees And Mentors, Sylvia L. Mendez, Jennifer A. Tygret, Anneke Bruwer, Comas Haynes

The Qualitative Report

This intrinsic case study (Stake, 1995) explores the critical components of successful cross-race mentoring relationships from the mentees and mentors involved in the Increasing Minority Presence within Academia through Continuous Training (IMPACT) mentoring program. Stakeholders across academia need to better understand what facilitates successful cross-race mentoring, due to the underrepresentation of senior and emeriti faculty of color in engineering. Interviews with 16 Black engineering faculty mentees and 14 primarily White emeriti mentors were analyzed inductively and resulted in three interconnected themes: (a) self-awareness and empathy create trusting, honest conversations; (b) mentee career advancement must be core to the relationship; and …