Engineering Commons^™

Durafold Premium: Composite Folding Table, Regan G. Harvey, Hendrik J. Welti, Parker D. Buth, Stadler J. Lucas, Grace Eischens

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Current folding table designs are made to be lightweight, but the table surface made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) can break and is not repairable. Our team designed the DuraFold Premium as an alternative to the traditional folding tables. The table surface and legs use a sandwich construction consisting of top and bottom face sheets made with carbon and glass reinforcing fibers in an epoxy resin system. In between the two face sheets is a honeycomb core material. This approach results in the DuraFold Premium being extremely durable while remaining lightweight. Over the past academic year, our team has been …

Carbon Club Carrier: A Lightweight Motorized Golf Pushcart, Tanner J. Conniff, Eric M. Courneya, Alex Hilo, Max R. Kauphusman, Luis M. Rodriguez

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The Carbon Club Carrier is a lightweight, motorized golf pushcart designed to enhance convenience and ease of use for golfers. Traditional golf push carts can be cumbersome and require significant effort to maneuver across varying terrain. Our design integrates a carbon fiber frame for durability and weight reduction, coupled with an electric push-assist motor to reduce strain on the user. The use of carbon fiber composite materials ensures a strong yet lightweight structure, optimizing portability and performance. The push-assist motor system is designed to provide variable-speed assistance, allowing golfers to move their clubs effortlessly across the course. The carrier is …

Sustainable Desalination: Carbon Capture From Reject Brine Using Uae Date Palm Leaf, Haneen Ahmed Abu Saifan

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The United Arab Emirates faces significant challenges in managing reject brine from desalination processes. Additionally, the energy-intensive nature of desalination contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). This study explores the potential of date palm leaf ash, an underutilized agricultural waste, as a sustainable material for brine desalination and CO2 capture. Date palm leaves were converted into ash through incineration at 550°C and 750°C, followed by chemical activation using potassium hydroxide. The study evaluated the ash's efficiency in removing key ions (Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, K+) from reject brine and capturing CO2, while optimizing process conditions using response surface …

A Novel Fixture Development To Characterize Compression After Impact Damage Of Unidirectional Thermoplastic Composite Laminates, Matt K. Ficker, Dominic L. Perez, Noah Misukanis, Luke E. Poglayen, Jacob Kosmoski

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Impact testing of unidirectional thermoplastic composite materials is a challenge due to the Mode I shear of the primary tows on the impact side. Thermoplastic composite products manufactured using laminate stacking are bonded together with films of polymer on both sides of oriented fiber in typically a cross-ply or quasi-isotropic stack. The resulting failure from the distortion field imposed by a hemispherical tup is debonding along the interface between layer 1 and layer 2 oriented in the layer 1 direction from impact site to edge of panel. This failure mode results when the sample is too small relative to the …

Measurement Of Groundwater And Contaminant Fluxes In Fractures Using A Combined System Of Passive Flux Meter And Multiport Sampler, Qasim Raza Khan

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Groundwater and contaminant movement in fractured rock aquifers is highly variable. Its dependence on fracture apertures and orientation as well as fracture network interconnectivity is not well understood. This poses a challenge to the measurement of groundwater and contaminant fluxes, especially when using open-hole techniques, which significantly alter natural flow conditions by connecting different fractures along an open borehole or a well. In this work, the use of Fractured Rock Passive Flux Meter (FRPFM) with invisible tracer and visible dye component to measure groundwater fluxes and identify geometric fracture parameters is explored through laboratory experiments. The invisible tracer component results …

Design And Evaluation Of Geopolymer Composite As A Potential Sorbent Of Heavy Metals From Water, Ebtesam Mohammed Alghafri

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Reducing the levels of heavy metals in water is crucial, given their severe environmental and health impacts. Various methods exist for heavy metals removal. Yet, they mostly come with multiple drawbacks, such as costly treatments and limited efficiency. Previous studies have found geopolymer to be a promising sorbent because it is synthesized using by-product materials, making it an eco-friendly and economically sustainable alternative. Limited studies explored the sorption potential of fly ash-slag blended geopolymers; none examined the effect of mix design factors synergically on sorption, mechanical properties, and durability, and few considered solution characteristics and operating conditions simultaneously. Therefore, this …

Selective Lithium Extraction Using Ion-Sieves From Geothermal Brine, Agyare Asante, Abigail Berardi, Jayla Standin, Elliott Walker, Ujjwal Pokharel, Sandeep Kumar

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Lithium (Li) is a critical component in modern green energy technologies, serving as the cornerstone for advanced batteries used in electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and portable electronics. To address the increasing global demand for lithium, this study explores the synthesis and performance of ion-sieve novel adsorbents derived from the spinel-type precursor Li₄Mn_4.5Zr_0.5O₁₂ (LMZO). The precursor was produced using an economical solid-phase reaction that involved lithium, manganese, magnesium, and zirconium salts. This was followed by a two-stage calcination process involving 200 K for 2 hours and 450 K for 24 hours. Acid activation …

Carbon Accountability Scores: A Process-Oriented Approach For Carbon Offsetting Using Ai Agents, Joshit Mohanty, Vaishali Vaishali

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Conventional carbon offset programs rely on quantified emissions to determine balancing requirements. While this approach offers a standardized means of measuring carbon output, it often provides industries with a loophole—allowing them to offset their emissions by purchasing equivalent credits for activities such as tree planting rather than tackling inefficiencies at the source. This research proposes a process-based framework called Carbon Accountability Scores (CA scores) to offer a proactive strategy for assessing and reducing carbon footprints. Instead of focusing on the mere balancing of emitted and sequestered carbon, CA scores integrate an organization’s operational processes into the calculation, thereby offering the …

Digital Thread: Bridging Macro–Micro Services In System-Of-Systems, Joshit Mohanty

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Organizations and industries increasingly rely on distributed services in decentralized environments—ranging from large-scale, system-of-system architectures to fine-grained, agent-based microservices. While this distributed paradigm offers flexibility and innovation, it presents critical challenges such as interoperability gaps, inconsistent data formats, and a lack of holistic oversight. Traditional integration approaches, including ad-hoc middleware or enterprise service buses, tend to solve these issues reactively. As a result, technical debt accumulates, stakeholder misalignments persist, and scaling to new demands becomes complex.

This research proposes digital thread (DT) as the unifying framework to create an authoritative source of truth: a continuous flow of information across the …

Meta-Clustering For Specialized Language Models: Enhancing Contextual Adaptation And Mitigating Hallucinations In Diverse Healthcare Environments, Joshit Mohanty, Vaishali Vaishali, Sandeep Kumar Nayak, Sumit Lahiri

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Large Language Models (LLMs) have significantly advanced conversational AI by enabling dialogic information-seeking and task execution across diverse domains. However, their extensive parameters and broad domain scope lead to “data hallucinations.” These shortcomings are particularly evident in dynamic and diverse environments like India’s healthcare sector, where myriad languages, regional practices, and cultural nuances demand specialized, localized expertise rather than one-size-fits-all generalist models. This paper introduces a meta-clustering framework that integrates Distilled Language Models (DLMs) and Small/Specialized Language Models (SLMs) with meta-learning principles to address these limitations. By drawing on evidence from works such as MedHalu and Med-HALT, the framework seeks …

Tamos: Task-Aware Multi-Agent Orchestrator System, Joshit Mohanty, Sandeep Kumar Nayak, Sumit Lahiri

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly at the core of multi-agent systems (MAS). However, the high resource demand, error propagation, and lack of adaptive evaluation mechanisms pose significant challenges in deploying these agentic solutions at scale. To address these concerns, this research proposes a Task-Aware Multi-Agent Orchestrator System designed to refine the agentic framework, categorizing tasks autonomously, assigning specialized evaluation datasets, and balancing token usage against functional effectiveness. This approach underscores robust data management, including AsyncHow, Mosaic AI, and Synthetic Preference Optimization (PO) corpora. Each dataset targets specific dimensions of agent performance, such as dynamic task decomposition and tool integration …

Graphtreemed: A Hybrid Graph-Tree Rag Architecture For Mission-Critical Medical Applications, Joshit Mohanty, Sandeep Kumar Nayak, Sumit Lahiri

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Studies within engineering management indicate that decision-making is often based on the cognitive processing of grouped and pictographic information clusters entangled with high-level pattern recognition. Similarly, graph-based retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures substantially improve diagnostic accuracy and interpretability, while tree-structured systems reduce critical misses through hierarchical reasoning. However, existing solutions often lack a unified framework that seamlessly integrates these two paradigms to address the multifaceted demands of mission-critical healthcare settings. This proposal introduces GraphTreeMed, a novel hybrid RAG architecture designed to harness the complementary strengths of graph-based and tree-based retrieval mechanisms, thereby advancing the safety and efficacy of clinical decision support …

Bayesian Belief Networks Approach To Prioritize Road Safety Mitigation Measures For Eco-Mobility Modes, Fatmah Mohamed Alyammahi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This study presents a novel approach to prioritizing road safety mitigation measures for eco-mobility modes in Abu Dhabi, employing a sophisticated Bayesian methodology integrated with cost-benefit analysis. The research addresses the pressing need for enhanced safety in sustainable urban transportation, focusing on pedestrians, cyclists, and users of micro-mobility devices. A comprehensive Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) model was developed, incorporating key variables influencing eco-mobility safety, including visibility, predictability, road curvature, obstructions, and lighting conditions. The model was constructed using a combination of historical accident data and Probabilistic reasoning. This approach allowed for the quantification of complex relationships between various risk factors …

A Parallel, Real-Time Fpga Implementation Of The Ccsds 123.0-B-2 Standard, Ruaa Ayman Saadi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Hyperspectral images are used in remote sensing scientific research and more, but they can reach hundreds of megabytes in size. This large number of datasets creates a problem with the limited storage capacity and bandwidth available on the satellite which in turn necessitates the use of hyperspectral image compression algorithms. The near lossless CCSDS123 hyperspectral algorithm provides a high compression capability, but it has some data dependencies in its predictor module that slows down the compression process. This Master of Science (MSc) thesis focuses on implementing a parallel, real-time FPGA based architecture of the near lossless CCSDS123 compression standard. The …

Disturbance Observer-Based Control For Power Converters In Renewable Energy Systems, Amulya Viswambharan

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Renewable energy systems face significant challenges in ensuring stability, efficiency, and reliability due to model uncertainties, unmeasured disturbances, and grid variabilities. This thesis addresses these challenges through the development and experimental validation of disturbance observer-based control (DOBC) strategies for power converters. The first study focuses on DC-DC boost converters, employing a backstepping-based DOBC to achieve zero steady-state error, robust stabilization, and compensation for control saturation without requiring anti-windup schemes. Experimental results confirmed the controller effectiveness under diverse load types and operating conditions. The second study presents a robust current control scheme for grid-tied inverters with LCL filters, combining state-feedback control …

Smart Traffic Intersections: Leveraging Isac And Millimeter-Waves For Advanced Vehicle Platooning, Mohammed Risal Thadathil

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The rapid advancement of self-driving cars is reshaping the transportation industry and accelerating the development of smart cities. Vehicle platooning, a key capability of autonomous vehicles, has the potential to enhance traffic efficiency, reduce congestion, and improve safety at intersections. However, maintaining platoon cohesion, minimizing latency, and optimizing traffic signal interactions remain significant challenges. This study addresses these issues by leveraging Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) technology with millimeter-Waves (mmWaves) signals to optimize platooning performance at traffic signal intersections. The research identifies gaps in existing Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication frameworks, particularly in managing platoon movements in urban traffic intersections. To bridge …

Hybrid Treatment Method Of Biofiltration Preceded With Advanced Oxidation Process For The Removal Of Emerging Contaminants From The Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent, Anjali Mohan Payathuparambil

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Renewable energy systems face significant challenges in ensuring stability, efficiency, and The global demand for potable quality water has been on a continuous rise. Consequently, water reuse is now considered as an alternative to significantly expand supplies of freshwater in communities facing water shortages. Most of the conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are not efficient in the removal of emerging contaminants from the water, which will cause serious issues to the environment, human and animal life. This research investigated the possibilities of treating wastewater for reuse. First, the feasibility of utilizing a biofiltration system without pre-treatment for removing emerging contaminants …

12 - Hydrogen Energy Lab, Xiaoyu Zhang

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Research Lab Showcase

01 - Design Of Ion-Sieve For Selective Adsorption Of Lithium From Geothermal Brine, Agyare Asante, Abigail Berardi, Jayla Standin, Elliott Walker, Alvin Spruill, Ujjwal Pokharel, Sandeep Kumar

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The growing demand for lithium-ion batteries necessitates efficient and sustainable lithium extraction technologies. Geothermal brines provide an alternative lithium source; however, their complex ionic composition challenges selective lithium recovery. Hydrogen manganese oxides (H₄Mn_4.5O₁₂) are widely studied as lithium-ion sieves due to their high selectivity for lithium ions. Still, its structural instability and manganese dissolution during adsorption-desorption cycles limit long-term performance. This study introduced zirconium (Zr) doping into the spinel-type Li₄Mn₅O₁₂ precursor through a one-step calcination process (450 °C for 24 hours at 10 °C min^-1), ensuring an …

Rfid Security For Iot Airport Infrastructure, Owen Guerra-Mondragon Saenz, Aaron Tulino, Benjamin Higgins, Philippe Shchetinin, Sawyer Hansen

Discovery Day - Prescott

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that uses active and passive tags to communicate via radio signals at various frequencies. Currently, it is being used in several applications in areas like merchandise tracking during transit, inventory management, access control for authorized personnel, and data sharing via Near Field Communication (NFC). RFID technology is used in airports to track both people (passengers and employees) and luggage. For employees, RFID helps control access to specific areas based on their role or hierarchy within the organization, allowing them to enter restricted zones based on their permissions. For passengers, RFID plays a crucial …

Why Do Different Llms Give Different Answers To The Same Question? Model Uncertainty And Variability In Llm-Based Intrusion Detection Systems Ranking, Charlise Calloway

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Large Language Models (LLMs) are increasingly applied across business, education, and cybersecurity domains. However, LLMs can yield varied outputs for the same query due to differences in architecture, training data, and response generation mechanisms. This paper examines model variability and uncertainty by comparing the responses of three LLMs—ChatGPT-4o, Gemini 2.0 Flash, and DeepSeek-V3--to a query on ranking practical intrusion detection systems (IDS). The analysis highlights key similarities and differences in the models’ outputs, offering insight into their respective reasoning and consistency.

Securing Biometric Data, Alyssa F. Carroll

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Biometric data has been widely adopted across various sectors, including digital identity, artificial intelligence (AI), border control, digital wallets, and national identification systems. While biometric identifiers—such as fingerprints, retina scans, and facial recognition—offer reliable and convenient authentication, they also raise significant concerns regarding privacy and security. This paper examines how biometric data is stored, the vulnerabilities it faces, and the most effective methods for safeguarding it. By highlighting the critical importance of biometric data protection, this study reviews current research on approaches, strategies, and policies that enhance security while preserving the functionality and efficiency of biometric systems.

Evaluating The Effects Of Oxidative Stress On Primary Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells, Sophia Hessami

Student Research Symposium

Introduction

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss worldwide, affecting 200 million adults over the age of 40

• Affects subretinal layers: retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), Bruch’s membrane, and choroid (Fig. 1)

Problem: Early mechanisms of AMD are not well understood; oxidative stress is often cited as a key contributing factor to the development of AMD.3 Current studies neglect to use primary RPE cells when investigating oxidative stress.

Oxidative Stress occurs when there is an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cellular antioxidant defenses

• Overabundance of ROS results in damage to tissue and …

Data Science For Engineers, Heidi Moulton

Student Research Symposium

30% of USU undergraduate students participate in some sort of research, and for engineering students this often means generating large amounts of data.

Data Science for Engineers is a series of four modules that introduce students to data processing, visualization, and graphing in the Python programming language using Pandas DataFrames and Juypter Notebooks.

The modules are intended for students with a basic understanding of programming in Python, specifically those who have taken CS 1400 Introduction to Computer Science.

Establishing Mixed-Biofilm Systems: To Transform Waste Into Value-Added Products, Jessica Silva Cuero

Student Research Symposium

The bioeconomy, which leverages biological agents such as microbes to convert waste (e.g., agricultural waste, wastewater, etc.) into valuable resources (Fig 1.), offers a sustainable solution to global waste challenges while generating new economic opportunities.

Measuring The Dynamics Of Snowflakes, Jameson Chamberlain

Student Research Symposium

Transport dynamics of small spherical particles are reasonably understood. However, there is a lack of research on the impacts of how a snowflake’s shape or morphology affects fall speed.

Effect Of Shear Stresses On Microalgae Biofilm Productivity, Tansley Mazurkiewicz, Jacob Watkins

Student Research Symposium

Algae harvested from the Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility was cultivated in nine 27-gallon Rotating Algae Biofilm Reactors (RABRs) to study the effect of shear forces on biofilm productivity. These bench- scale RABRs, with panel entry angles ranging from 0° to 90°, were designed using computational fluid dynamics. Each acrylic panel had dimensions of 0.220x2.5x12 inches with v-shaped grooves (each with an angle of 90°) running the length of each panel. Three depths of v- grooves were tested in triplicate, these depths being 0.055 in, 0.11 in, and 0.165 in. The RABRs were run with a peripheral velocity of 0.1225 …

Spray Science: Visualizing Droplet Behavior At Different Pressures, Phoenix Sestak

Student Research Symposium

Fluid mechanics is an important part of modern technology. Many designs in engineering are influenced by how we can manipulate fluids and their flows. One application of fluid manipulation can be seen in pressurized sprays. These sprays are present in industries like agriculture and transportation.

Reducing Biochemical Oxygen Demand In Carbon Rich Wastewater Using Rotating Algae Biofilm Reactors, J. Dietrich Storrer, Jared Maughan, Autumn Kirkham, Isaac Smart, Gavin Sherwood

Student Research Symposium

The USU Frulact Project aims to reduce the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in wastewater from the Frulact facility in Logan, Utah. By using Rotating Algae Biofilm Reactors (RABRs) combined with activated sludge, the project seeks to break down pollutants and lower BOD levels. This innovative system also explores the potential of algae for bioproducts. Ultimately, the project works toward cleaner water, healthier ecosystems, and sustainable solutions for wastewater treatment.

Low-Cost Orchard Vehicle Location Tracker, Kobe Yost

Student Research Symposium

GPS signal often fails under the canopy of orchards.

This research provides a solution to harvest location tracking without solely relying on the use of GPS.

Reliable speed and distance tracking results in accurate yield mapping and orchard management.