The Undergraduate Research Forum and Awards was held last Friday in the DCC, showcasing undergraduate student projects. Projects entered by individual students or teams of students were judged for awards of first through third place in one of two categories—theoretical research or applied design research.
A total of 45 projects were on display, a significant increase from last year, with 35 of the projects led by individual students. The projects varied in subjects, but science was the most popular, having 20, followed by engineering, with 19. Architecture and H&SS had five projects and one project, respectively.
Student participants in the URFA were required to create a poster detailing their project and were given five minutes to explain their project to a panel of judges. Judging was done by faculty representatives from each of the schools and emphasis was placed on what students had mentioned as being important. “Students suggested that the judging criteria for the poster presentations be applicable, regardless of school or major,” said Barbara Ruel, Director, Women’s Programs in Engineering, and judge for the URFA. “The focus of the judging should be on the quality of the poster and on the oral presentation.”
In the theoretical research category, Mitch Mailman ’05 was awarded first place for “Study of Spin-Polarized Conductance in Carbon Nanowires,” Nicholas Dolinsky ’06 won second place for “Surface Analysis of Epitaxial Chromium Nitride Films,” and Mark Furler ’05, Seth May ’05, and Jessica Leone ’05 took third place for “Integration of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) in Monte Carlo Transport Solutions.”
In the applied design research category, Jason Coutermarsh ’06, was awarded first place for “Rensselaer Mobile Studio,” Samit Shah ’05 received second place for “Effect of Ethanol on F-actin Distribution in Axonal Growth Cones: The Role of Rac1 GTPase,” and Sejal Amin ’07 took third place for “Re-Evaluation of Horseradish Peroxidase Inhibitors for the Detection of Multiple mRNAs Using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization with Tyramide Signal Amplification.”
Coutermarsh, first-place winner in the applied design research category, said his research project “started out as a very small programming task, and it just kept getting bigger.” His project, entitled “Rensselaer Mobile Studio,” aimed “…to create a single piece of hardware which, when connected to a computer, will have all the functionality of a full-scale electronics studio classroom.” Additionally, students would be able “to perform hands-on labs and experiments outside of the classroom environment, facilitating a new level of real-world experience.”
Many students not participating in the URFA came out to view the projects, hear the explanations given by the student participants, and ask questions alongside interested professors. “It was very interesting to see the wide range of research that RPI’s undergrads are pursuing,” said Coutermarsh of the URFA, “but it came during an especially busy time during the semester.”
“The quality of the posters and the presentations were top-notch, and our judges would have liked to have spent more time with each candidate who was exceptionally well prepared,” Ruel added. “With feedback from student entrants, we will evaluate how to improve the Forum for next year.”
