Engineering Commons^™

Balancing Science And Society; Onkalo Paves The Way As The First Deep Geological Repository, Abigail Preston

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Finland’s Onkalo facility, the world’s first operational deep geological repository (DGR) for spent nuclear fuel, represents a rare and instructive success in the global challenge of long-term nuclear waste management. In contrast to stalled initiatives like Yucca Mountain, a proposed DGR first proposed in the 1970’s in the United States, Onkalo offers critical insights into the conditions that enable progress in this technically and politically complex and intertwined domain. Through an analysis of archival documents, national policy frameworks, safety case materials, and interdisciplinary social science literature, four key contributors of success emerge: Finland’s historically stable and pragmatic approach to nuclear …

Exploring Interactive Robotic Music Therapy Systems For Rehabilitation: A Survey Paper, Hector A. Salinas Gordillo

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Interactive robotic music therapy introduces an innovative opportunity, where human guided musical interaction with robotic systems can create adaptive and engaging therapeutic experiences. This survey explores the current state of research at the intersection of robotics, music, and rehabilitation, focusing on emerging technologies such as human robot interaction methods and system designs that help enable real time, interactive music therapy.

Potential patient groups include individuals undergoing motor or cognitive rehabilitation, such as those recovering from stroke, living with Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, or other motor impairments, as well as individuals with developmental disorders or limited mobility.

Traditional rehabilitation exercises may …

Workstation Redesign, Mclean Dowell, Anna Seville, Luz Corral Parra, Farah Talib

Senior Design Project For Engineers

Tellerex is a leading ATM refurbishing and repair company operating from Atlanta, Georgia. Due to its rapid growth, the company is facing challenges pertaining to their parts repair and refurbishing lab. Tellerex aims to fulfill orders by 4:00 pm on the day they are placed, guaranteeing their clients same-day shipping. Orders often build up throughout the day, causing lab technicians to stress, rush through orders, and lose organization.

Tellerex has requested our help regarding one of their repair/refurbishment labs. Our goal is to redesign the lab workspace through human ergonomics and Lean Six-Sigma principles. The company wants us to create …

Mechanistic Modelling And Parameter Estimation Of Heterogeneous Catalytic Synthesis Of Green Fuel, Rasheed U. Owolabi, Obinna P. Anele, Mohammed A. Usman

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Investigation of the kinetics and mechanistic modelling of biodiesel synthesis through the reaction of castor oil with methanol under catalyzed conditions was carried out in this study. The reaction mechanisms of the Eley-Rideal, Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson, and Hattori type were employed to identify the rate-determining or controlling step of the reaction. Thirteen rate expressions were developed for reactant adsorption, product desorption, and surface chemical reactions. The experimental data from Sanchez-Cantu et al. were used to validate the models, and the best-fitting model and parameter estimation were evaluated using SAS and MATLAB software. From the results, the Eley-Rideal mechanism with glycerol desorption as …

Jer-2021 Assistance To The State Water Resources Research Institute Program (Year 1 Of 5) For The 104(B) Program, David Tarboton

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Bcser: Learning Analytics For Process-Driven Computer Programming Assignments, Hamid Karimi

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Philosophy Of Culinary Arts: Reading Truth Through Language And Taste, Devi Dwi Purwanto, Aji Prasetya Wibawa, Syaad Patmanthara

Bulletin of Culinary Art and Hospitality

The development of Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology has transformed the way we analyze and understand culinary arts through a digital approach. NLP enables the transformation of empirical and sensory culinary knowledge into structured data that can be analyzed computationally. This technology opens up opportunities to explore the relationships between ingredients, techniques, and flavors in culinary arts, as well as to represent culinary reality in a more organized form. This study aims to identify how NLP can represent the relationships between ingredients, techniques, and flavors in culinary arts and their impact on the structure of culinary knowledge from an epistemological, …

Spike Timing Depended Plasticity Produces Unsupervised Learning Of Synergistic Muscle Feedback In A Synthetical Neural Network, Mark Allen Pupkiewicz

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates how type Ia feedback from muscle spindles can be organized into groups representing agonistic muscle pairs through Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity (STDP). A single degree of freedom joint is actuated with four biologically modeled muscles forming two agonistic pairs. In order to emulate the sensory dynamics of biological muscle spindles, sensors in the model record the active length and velocity states of each muscle, the two primary factors eliciting type Ia afferent responses. In biological networks, synapses from Ia sensory neurons frequently activate interneurons representing agonistic muscle sources. This research investigates whether this organization can emerge in …

Collaborative Research: Fair + R: Building The Future Of More Reproducible Water Research Through Community Best Practices, Software Tools, Cohort Building, And Policy Change., James H. Stagge, David E. Rosenberg, Sierra Young

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This project aims to create a pathway towards a future, ten years from now, when a majority of published research across geosciences is not only FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), but reproducible by a third party. Building on the Center for Open Science framework for cultural change, this project is organized around four scaffolded goals: improving infrastructure and tools, building community support, aligning incentives, and minimizing barriers to policy change. We will systematically analyze 300-500 publications from leading hydrology and water resources journal to quantify changes in reproducibility rates since 2017 and identify the tools and practices that best …

Space Agriculture: A Comprehensive Systems-Level Review Of Challenges And Opportunities, Hassan Fazayeli, Aaron Lee M. Daigh, Cassandra Palmer, Santosh Pitla, David Jones, Yufeng Ge

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

As humanity prepares for prolonged space missions and future extraterrestrial settlements, developing reliable and resilient food-production systems is becoming a critical priority. Space agriculture, the cultivation of plants beyond Earth (particularly on the Moon and Mars), faces a constellation of interdependent environmental, biological, and engineering challenges. These include limited solar radiation, elevated ionizing radiation, large thermal variability, non-Earth atmospheric pressures, reduced gravity, regolith substrates with low nutrient-holding capacity, high-CO₂/low-O₂ atmospheres, pervasive dust, constrained water and nutrient availability, altered plant physiology, and the overarching need for closed-loop, resource-efficient systems. These stressors create an exceptionally challenging environment for plant …

Nsf Engineering Research Center For Advancing Sustainability Through Powered Infrastructure For Roadway Electrification (Aspire), Regan Zane, Christopher Fawson, Antje Graul, Marvin W. Halling

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Wg-2413 Remote Sensing Of Wine-Grapevine Transpiration For Improving Vine Water Status, Alfonso Faustino Torres

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Shine: Understanding The Relationships Of Photospheric Vector Magnetic Field Parameters In Solar Flare Occurrences Using Graph-Based Machine Learning Models, Shah Hamdi

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Cfd Modeling Of Flows Measured At The West Crack Breach Of Great Salt Lake, Som Dutta

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Career: Novel Direct Current Power Distribution For Large-Scale Electrified Transportation Charging, Hongjie Wang

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Collaborative Research Bpe Track 2: Disability Dcl - Capturing Narratives That Characterize Neurodivergent Strengths And Weaknesses, Marissa A. Tsugawa

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Wasatch Front Multi-Modal Corridor Electrification Plan, Regan Zane

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

How Novices Write Code: Discovering Best Practices And How They Can Be Adopted, John Martin Edwards

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Improving Profitability Of Small And Medium Sized Farms Though Economic Optimization Of Wheel-Line Irrigation, John B. Barker, Ryan A. Larsen, Matt A. Yost

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Coaxial Electrospinning As A Promising Technique For Fabricating Advanced Materials For Energy Storage Applications, Yakubu Adekunle Alli, Abayomi Bamisaye, Akinsanmi S. Ige, Rabi Elabor, Oluwatobi Ife-Adediran, Adanlawo Olayinka Samson, Samuel Oluwadadepo Oni, Alfred Yeboah, Owolabi Mutolib Bankole, Dele Peter Fapojuwo, Adeniyi Sunday Ogunlaja

Michigan Tech Publications

As the demand for efficient, high-performance energy storage systems intensifies, the need for innovative materials that can enhance energy density, power output, and cycle stability has become paramount. Coaxial electrospinning, a versatile nanofabrication technique, has emerged as a powerful method for producing advanced core-shell nanofibers with tailored properties specifically designed for energy storage applications. This review delves into the principles of coaxial electrospinning, highlighting its advantages over conventional fabrication techniques in creating multifunctional materials for batteries and supercapacitors. By manipulating the core and shell compositions, coaxial nanofibers offer superior ion/electron transport, mechanical stability, and electrochemical performance. The review discusses the …

Engineered Multifunctional Drug-Loaded Dendrimer Nanoparticles For Glaucoma: Triple Mechanism Via Antioxidant Activity, Iron Chelation, And Enhanced Ocular Transport, Burhan Ates, Ashish Trital, Vimalin Jeyalatha Mani, Lei Xu, Jonathan Kenlee, Nuran Ercal, Hu Yang

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this study, we developed multifunctional nanoparticles based on polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers functionalized with caffeic acid (CA) and poly (ethylene glycol) maleimide (PEGM) for the topical delivery of hydrophobic antiglaucoma drugs brimonidine (BM) and betaxolol (BX). The PAMAM-CA and PAMAM-CA-PEGM conjugates exhibited antioxidant and iron-chelating activities in a dose-dependent manner. BM- and BX-loaded dendrimer nanoparticles produced using a multi-inlet vortex mixer showed uniform spherical morphology (∼80 nm by TEM) and hydrated sizes of ∼135-144 nm by DLS. Both nano formulations demonstrated high cytocompatibility with human corneal epithelial cells and were nonirritant in the HET-CAM assay, with PEGM further improving cytocompatibility. …

Smart Pireps: Leveraging Technology To Simplify Pilot Weather Reporting In General Aviation, Emma Hellwege

Honors Projects

This honors project examines how emerging aviation technologies can support or automate components of Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPs) to improve reporting accuracy, reduce pilot workload, and increase participation within the general aviation (GA) community. PIREPs provide essential real-time weather observations—such as turbulence, icing, and visibility—that supplement automated systems and enhance situational awareness for pilots, air traffic control, and meteorologists. However, reports are vastly underutilized due to workload constraints, inconsistent training, voice-only submission methods, and technological disparities across the GA fleet.

Through a structured analysis of federal aviation documentation, sensor capabilities, human factors research, and recent advancements in automation, this study …

Engr 204 – Electrical Circuits Project Assignment: Exploring A Key Concept From The Textbook, Liubov Kreminska

Open Educational Resources

This assignment requires students to select a major concept from the ENGR 204 Electrical Circuits textbook and explore it through historical research, conceptual explanation, problem-solving, and real-world application. The project is structured to promote understanding through multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression, following Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. Students will describe the history and importance of the chosen concept, explain its main ideas using written or visual aids, solve representative and advanced problems related to the topic, and demonstrate how the concept appears in real-world engineering contexts. The submission must include clearly labeled sections, supporting visuals or simulations, …

Engr 204: 8-Week Op-Amp Major Project Series, Liubov Kreminska

Open Educational Resources

This submission outlines a collection of electronic design projects that can be completed within an 8-week timeframe, progressing from beginner-friendly circuits to advanced real-world applications involving op-amp design. Each project includes a week-by-week plan, required equipment, and key technical challenges. Through these projects, students gradually develop competence in signal processing, circuit stability, noise reduction, calibration, filter design, audio electronics, and bio-signal amplification. The structured timeline ensures systematic learning while allowing hands-on experimentation, troubleshooting, and refinement. The projects serve both as academic exercises and as practical foundations for more advanced electronic system design.

Optimizing Xo Throughput At Imerys, Derek Beasley, Brennan Chandler, Baris Erarslan, Cynthia Grogin

Senior Design Project For Engineers

This project is conducted in collaboration with Imerys to optimize the performance of the VSI (Vertical Shaft Impactor) system at their Plant 4 facility, focusing on improving the production of XO, a fine material used in products such as textured coatings, acid neutralization, and water filtration systems. The VSI operates continuously, producing several materials at the Marble Hill, Georgia location, including #1 Chip, #2 Chip, OZ, XO, Z, and 30–50. The main focus of this project is to increase the throughput of XO, as it requires both throughput improvement and product quality consistency to meet growing market demand. Imerys’ quality …

Iphone-Based Image Refocusing, Katie Jeong, Daniel Niu

Electrical and Systems Engineering Capstone Design Projects

In this project, we show that we can change the focus of a picture after we take it by using real optical physics instead of fake software blur. Modern phones try to create “portrait mode” effects, but those results are often not physically correct. Our approach uses multiple photos taken from slightly different positions to figure out the directions that light rays came from in the scene.

To collect the photos, we move an iPhone sideways on a slider in small, precise steps. Since we know exactly how far the phone moved for each picture, we can track how objects …

The Safety Kuznets Curve: Context In Occupational Safety, Andy Knickerbocker

ASEM Capstones

2025 ASEM 620 Capstone Project

Integrating A “World -Class” Safety System Into Diverse Teams, Mark D. Keller

ASEM Capstones

2025 ASEM 620 Capstone Project

Dynamic, Reconfigurable, And Hierarchical Biosynthetic Composites Via Collagen Self-Assembly Within Highly Crowded Microgel Pastes, Elif Narbay, Abbygail Caine, Sanika Pandit, Gabrielle Montgomery, Marion Harper, E. Daniel Cárdenas-Vásquez, Hatte Hamilton, Megan Hicks, Daniel Mattar, Kyle Choy, Marco Bisoffi, L. Andrew Lyon

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

The fabrication of a new class of biomimetic biomaterials is reported using nanostructured microgel pastes formed from “overpacked” assemblies of ultrasoft poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) microgels and their composites with collagen. Despite the solid-like nature of microgel pastes, collagen fibrillogenesis is robust and rapid, with a 3D collagen network forming throughout the paste volume. Structural organization within the composite is interrogated via a suite of microscopy methods, while rheological characterization provides insight into the static and dynamic mechanical properties of the materials. Long-range fibrillogenesis is enabled by local crowding, dynamics, and spatial reconfigurability of pastes at the …

Strategies For Prolonging Ventricular Action Potential Duration Without Increasing Transmural Dispersion Of Repolarization, Candido Cabo

Publications and Research

Dispersion of repolarization results from a non-homogeneous recovery of excitability in cardiac tissue, and it is an important factor in arrhythmogenesis because it could lead to the initiation and maintenance of a variety of arrhythmias. Antiarrhythmic agents that prolong action potential duration (APD) by selectively blocking specific ion channels (like IKr) often increase dispersion of repolarization, which could result in a pro-arrhythmic risk. In this report, using computer models of the action potential of human epicardial, mid-myocardial, and endocardial myocytes, we have identified strategies to prolong APD without increasing transmural dispersion of repolarization. The first strategy, which involves blocking several …