Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research PROGRAM DIRECTOR Dr. Risa Robinson rjreme@rit.edu

PURPOSE The purpose of this mentored research program is to grow research and increase the population of potential future graduate students who may pursue research in the faculty’s lab.

OVERVIEW FOR BULLETIN The goal of this course is to introduce students to the research methods process in an immersive research team environment. This course is offered as a 1-credit independent study to be completed in one semester. Students may accumulate three 1-credit experiences to satisfy an course elective for students in the mechanical engineering department (Please check with your home department to see how this course might apply to your degree). Students will be supervised by a PhD student on a project directly related to activities in the faculty’s lab, attend weekly lab meetings with other student researchers at the undergraduate and PhD levels and present their work weekly and at the end of the semester. Undergraduate students should register for MECE 599 and graduate students (MS/MEng students including dual degree students) will register for MECE 799. There will be a limited number of seats available. Department approval is required.

This course is ideally suited for students, undergraduate or graduate, who is interested in actively learning about the research process.

(i) undergraduate students who may be interested in pursuing a master’s degree,(ii) honors students who need honors credit as a degree requirement for the honors program(iii) MEng students who are interested in exploring a project with paper topic,(iv) MEng students who are interested in converting to an MS

HOW TO REGISTER If you are interested in working in a lab, please contact the PhD Mentor associated with the project of lab of interest to set up a meeting. The PhD Mentor will discuss the project and make sure there is a good fit between your experiences and the project scope, and to edit the project description as needed. The PhD Mentor and the mentee will complete a Mentored Research Application, which will include a finalized Mentored Research Project Description (in the format provided). The form will be signed by the PhD Mentor, the mentor’s faculty advisor, and the student mentee. The department head will approve the application. There may be a limited number of seats available depending on the semester and availability of PhD Mentors.

RESEARCH PROJECTS (LIST ATTACHED) Please see the attached list of projects. Faculty members along with PhD students have proposed projects that can be completed in one semester, for 1 credit, at a work load of nominally 3 to 5 hours per week, including meetings and independent work. Projects are directly related to and supportive of activities important to the faculty member’s overall research goals. After meeting with the mentors, projects may be re-scoped to match the student’s background and preparation.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES 1. In the first meeting (preferably week 1 of the semester), the PhD Student Mentor will meet with

the research group of mentees (~3 students) to introduce each project, provide, applicabletraining materials such as lab safety, human subjects, etc., outline expectations.

2. PhD Student Mentor will meet with the research group of mentees weekly. The Mentor willconduct this meeting similar to the way their faculty members conduct weekly meetings, suchthat student mentees are learning how to be independent and accountable for weekly progress.Written weekly reports are expected either as a word document or a power point slide.

3. PhD Student Mentor will meet with each mentored student in a weekly one-on-one meeting toprovide input and guidance on their research project. Students are expected to keep a log bookand notes from these weekly meetings.

4. 50% through semester, the PhD Student Mentor will present the outline for each student’s endof semester report and presentation.

5. During finals week, the PhD Student Mentor will organize a one-hour mini-symposium. Eachresearch student will have 20 minutes to present their research outcomes to the audience ofpeer research students, PhD Student Mentors, and faculty advisors. Mentors and peers willevaluate student presentations based on the PhD in Engineering Presentation Rubric.

6. The PhD Student Mentor will provide a written performance evaluation and graderecommendation for each research student to the faculty advisor. The faculty advisor will makefinal grading decision and provide the grade in an email to Jill.

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research PROJECT TITLE: Synthesis and Characterization of Protic Ionic Liquids

NAME OF THE LAB: Tribology Laboratory

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: In the Tribology Laboratory, we focus on the study of the principles of friction, wear, and lubrication of interacting surfaces in relative motion. We are developing advanced eco-friendly lubricants and lubricant additives to effectively reduce friction and wear of engineering systems. In particular, we are developing new families of Protic Ionic liquids (PILs), which are organic salts with low melting points, to be used as lubricant and lubricant additives. Our research goal is to reduce friction and wear of mechanical components and prolong their service life, which in turn to help save the overall consumption of energy and reduce the economic losses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: PILs can be easily synthesized through proton transfer from a Brønsted acid to a Brønsted base. They can form stable ordered layers in liquid state on metal surface due to electrostatic interactions with the surfaces to protect them against friction and wear. This project seeks to synthesize and characterize a new series of halogen-free PILs by combining methanesulfonic acid with three bases (Ethanolamine, N-methyl ethanolamine, and N,N’-dimethylethanolamine) with varying basicity, respectively. Molecular structures of the new PILs will be characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The ionic conductivity of each PIL will be performed to measure the degree of ionization of a PIL.

SKILLS NEEDED Undergraduate students of any level in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Chemistry are encouraged to apply for this project.

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED You will have the opportunity to develop the following skills: experimental design, materials characterization, trouble shooting, and data analysis.

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) • Faculty Advisor: Dr. Patricia Iglesias pxieme@rit.edu Tel: 585-475-7694 Office: 09-2179• PhD Mentor: Hong Guo hxg6557@g.rit.edu Tel: 585-483-2898 Lab: Tribology Laboratory 09-2385

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research PROJECT TITLE: Investigation of the Lubricating Abilities of Protic Ionic Liquids as Additives in Steel-aluminum Contact

NAME OF THE LAB: Tribology Laboratory

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: In the Tribology Laboratory, we focus on the study of the principles of friction, wear, and lubrication of interacting surfaces in relative motions. We are developing advanced eco-friendly lubricants and lubricant additives to effectively reduce friction and wear of engineering systems. In particular, we are developing new families of Protic Ionic liquids (PILs), which are organic salts with low melting points, to be used as lubricant and lubricant additives. Our research goal is to reduce friction and wear of mechanical components and prolong their service life, which in turn to help save the overall consumption of energy and reduce the economic losses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: (300 WORDS) In this project, three previously synthesized hexanoate-based PILs with different ammonium cations (2-hydroxyethylammonium 2-ethylhexanoate, 2-hydroxymethylammonium 2-ethylhexancate, and 2-hydroxydimethylammonium 2-ethylhexanoate) will be studied as lubricant additives to a mineral oil, and a commercially available lubricant under steel-aluminum sliding contact mode. The frictional tests will be carried out using a ball-on-flat reciprocating tribometer at room temperature. After the tests, the morphology of the worn balls will be observed and obtained by an optical microscope. A profilometer will be applied to get the 3D morphology of the wear track. In addition, an optical microscope will be used to observe and measure the wear-track width, and then calculate the wear volume.

SKILLS NEEDED Master students in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science are encouraged to apply for this project.

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED You will have the opportunity to develop the following skills: experimental design, trouble shooting, and data collection and analysis.

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) • Faculty Advisor: Dr. Patricia Iglesias pxieme@rit.edu Tel: 585-475-7694 Office: 09-2179

• PhD Mentor: Hong Guo hxg6557@g.rit.edu Tel: 585-483-2898 Lab: Tribology Laboratory 09-2385

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research PROJECT TITLE: Study of Physicochemical Properties of Protic Ionic Liquids Being Used as Lubricant Additives

NAME OF THE LAB: Tribology Laboratory

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: In the Tribology Laboratory, we focus on the study of the principles of friction, wear, and lubrication of interacting surfaces in relative motions. We are developing advanced eco-friendly lubricants and lubricant additives to effectively reduce friction and wear of engineering systems. In particular, we are developing new families of Protic Ionic liquids (PILs), which are organic salts with low melting points), to be used as lubricant and lubricant additives. Our research goal is to reduce friction and wear of mechanical components and prolong their service life, which in turn to help save the overall consumption of energy and reduce the economic losses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: (300 WORDS) Tribological properties of lubricants are closely related to their physicochemical properties, such as viscosity, density, or decomposition temperature. In this project, 1 wt.% of three previously synthesized PILs (2-hydroxyethylammonium 2-ethylhexanoate, 2-hydroxymethylammonium 2-ethylhexancate, and 2-hydroxydimethylammonium 2-ethylhexanoate) will be added to a base mineral oil and to a commercially available lubricant, respectively. The thermal stability, viscosity and density of each mixture, will be evaluated. In addition, wettability on steel and aluminum surfaces will be determined by measuring the contact angle at different temperatures.

SKILLS NEEDED Master students in Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, and Chemistry are encouraged to apply for this project.

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED You will have the opportunity to develop the following skills: experimental design and operation, trouble shooting, and data collection and analysis.

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) • Faculty Advisor: Dr. Patricia Iglesias pxieme@rit.edu Tel: 585-475-7694 Office: 09-2179

• PhD Mentor: Hong Guo hxg6557@g.rit.edu Tel: 585-483-2898 Lab: Tribology Laboratory 09-2385

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research PROJECT TITLE: Language Translation of Ecological Momentary Assessment and Tobaccos Use Questionnaires

NAME OF THE LAB: Respiratory Technology Lab At RTL, we study the influence of tobacco product characteristics (e.g. flavor, nicotine concentration) on instantaneous smoking behavior (e.g. puff flow rate, duration, volume), on emissions produced (e.g. amount of smoke), on consumption behavior (e.g. cumulative volume, cigarettes per day), and ultimately how all these factors impact health outcomes of the tobacco user. We have developed personal use monitors (wPUM) that can capture instantaneous smoking behavior as the user smokes in their natural environment. We also developed phone application to collect data about users’ behaviors, emotions, bio-signals, and their environments. Using the collected data and the smoking machines developed at RTL, we are able to emulate the user’s smoking sessions and capture the generated smoke for chemical analysis. From this we are able to know how much nicotine and other harmful or potentially harmful constituents the tobacco user inhaled.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: Questionnaires are an essential part of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). They are used to collect data about subjects’ behaviors and their environment. Multi-language questionnaires are required in studies which target samples from wide background societies with various languages. Multi-language questionnaires provide means to communicate with the participants in their native (preferred) languages, which improves their understanding of the questions and subsequently the accuracy of the collected data. In this project, multi-language questionnaires for tobacco use and health purposes are designed. The questionnaires are to be used in a phone application that is been developed at the RTL lab. The application is a general-purpose surveying tool which will be used in EMA studies in combination with other hardware devices such as the wPUM (captures smoking behavior) and other bio-signals monitors. The tasks of the perspective students who join this project will be designing and translating questionnaires to various languages. As an option they will write questionnaires in apps standard survey’s description format as JSON file.

SKILLS NEEDED Bilingual (or more) in technical English and other languages such as Spanish, Portugese, Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, German, Italian, French, etc. Basic skill in designing questionnaires and basic understanding of coding are desired.

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED Students will develop basics of engineering research and experiment design, basic coding skill (JSON, Java and/or MATLAB). They will also practice data collection, analysis, and documentation.

CONTACT PERSON PhD Mentor: Qutaiba Saleh, qms7252@rit.edu, Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Edward Hensel, echeme@rit.edu

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research PROJECT TITLE: Characterization of the Power Electronics of Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) Devices

NAME OF THE LAB: Respiratory Technology Lab

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: At RTL, we study the influence of tobacco product characteristics (e.g. flavor, nicotine concentration) on instantaneous smoking behavior (e.g. puff flow rate, duration, volume), on emissions produced (e.g. amount of smoke), on consumption behavior (e.g. cumulative volume, cigarettes per day), and ultimately how all these factors impact health outcomes of the tobacco user. We have developed personal use monitors (wPUM) that can capture instantaneous smoking behavior as the user smokes in their natural environment. We also developed phone application to collect data about users’ behaviors, emotions, bio-signals, and their environments. Using the collected data and the smoking machines developed at RTL, we are able to emulate the user’s smoking sessions and capture the generated smoke for chemical analysis. From this we are able to know how much nicotine and other harmful or potentially harmful constituents the tobacco user inhaled.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT E-cigarettes are gaining increasing attraction by tobacco users. The Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS)is an important part of any e-cigarette. It contains most parts of the device such as battery, voltage converter,and other control electronics. It controls the amount of power and thus the vape or smoke that goes intousers’ mouth/lung. While the basic theory of operation might be similar on most of the commercially availableENDS, the internal designs and detailed operations vary among brands. Studying and analyzing the powerelectronics of the ENDS is important to develop clear understanding of influence of this product on users’behavior and ultimately health. It also reveals vital information to make educated legislative decisions. In thisproject, power electronics of a number of off the shelves ENDS devices will be analyzed. This project is part ofan ongoing project that is been conducted at RTL.

SKILLS NEEDED Students with experience and/or interest in electrical circuits. Coding skills would be helpful.

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED Students will develop their skills in power and voltage analysis of electronic circuits and Reverse engineering. They will learn basics of engineering research and experiment design. They will also practice data collection, analysis, and documentation.

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) PhD Mentor: Qutaiba Saleh, qms7252@rit.edu, Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Edward Hensel, echeme@rit.edu

PROJECT TITLE: Characterization of a Programmable Hookah Smoking Machine

NAME OF THE LAB: Respiratory Technologies Laboratory (RTL)

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: At RTL, we study the influence of tobacco product characteristics (e.g. flavor, nicotine concentration) on instantaneous smoking behavior (e.g. puff flow rate, duration, volume), on emissions produced (e.g. amount of smoke), on consumption behavior (e.g. cumulative volume, cigarettes per day), and ultimately how all these factors impact health outcomes of the tobacco user. We have developed personal use monitors (wPUM) that can capture instantaneous smoking behavior as the user smokes in their natural environment. Using the collected data and the smoking machines we have developed, we are able to emulate the user’s smoking sessions and capture the generated smoke for chemical analysis. From this we are able to obtain the quantity of nicotine and other harmful or potentially harmful constituents inhaled by the tobacco user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: The objective is to characterize a custom-built programmable hookah smoking machine (PES-2) for several operational parameters under various usage conditions. The smoking machine is used for generating and capturing smoke produced from a hookah. It can be programmed to simulate puffs of specific flow rates and durations. The puff flow rate is controlled using a closed-loop feedback PID controller. The end goal is to publish the findings in a journal article. The specific aims are: i) Design and carryout experiments to characterize the performance envelop of the machine, ii) Develop an ASTM style protocol from the methodology used, iii) Create a flow diagram of the machine, iv) Start preparing a journal article based on the results obtained. This project is part of an ongoing process of characterizing the various RTL-developed research-enabling technologies.

SKILLS NEEDED First year or above mechanical engineering undergraduate student with interest in fluid dynamics, data acquisition, and real-time machine control.

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED The student will gain experience working in a funded research laboratory. They will be given the opportunity to design and carry out experiments to systematically characterize a machine on several operational parameters and compile the methodology into an ASTM style protocol. The student will also develop an understanding of basic PID controller design and tuning.

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) PhD Mentor: Shehan Jayasekera (gbj6142@rit.edu), Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Risa Robinson (rjreme@rit.edu)

PROJECT TITLE: Investigating the Effect of Tobacco Smoking on Instantaneous Heart Rate

NAME OF THE LAB: Respiratory Technologies Laboratory (RTL)

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: At RTL, we study the influence of tobacco product characteristics (e.g. flavor, nicotine concentration) on instantaneous smoking behavior (e.g. puff flow rate, duration, volume), on emissions produced (e.g. amount of smoke), on consumption behavior (e.g. cumulative volume, cigarettes per day), and ultimately how all these factors impact health outcomes of the tobacco user. We have developed personal use monitors (wPUM) that can capture instantaneous smoking behavior as the user smokes in their natural environment. Using the collected data and the smoking machines we have developed, we are able to emulate the user’s smoking sessions and capture the generated smoke for chemical analysis. From this we are able to obtain the quantity of nicotine and other harmful or potentially harmful constituents inhaled by the tobacco user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: The objective is to analyze previously collected heart rate data from tobacco users to determine whether heart rate changes prior to, during, or after tobacco smoking. Heart rate data was collected using Hexoskin wearable respiratory monitors that were worn by tobacco smokers while they were smoking. The project will involve organizing large datasets and analyzing them to find patterns in heart rate relative to smoking behavior. The specific aims are: i) Organize the dataset and create algorithms for extracting and analyzing the data, ii) Analyze the heart rate data and find any correlation between puff incident and heart rate.

SKILLS NEEDED Third year or above engineering undergraduate student, or related major with interest in biosignal analysis. Ability to create MATLAB scripts to read, analyze, and plot data.

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED The student will gain experience working in a funded research laboratory. They will also gain experience analyzing real biosignals.

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) PhD Mentor: Shehan Jayasekera (gbj6142@rit.edu), Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Risa Robinson (rjreme@rit.edu)

PROJECT TITLE: Investigating the Pressure Drop vs Flow Rate Characteristics of Several Tobacco Products

NAME OF THE LAB: Respiratory Technologies Laboratory (RTL)

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: At RTL, we study the influence of tobacco product characteristics (e.g. flavor, nicotine concentration) on instantaneous smoking behavior (e.g. puff flow rate, duration, volume), on emissions produced (e.g. amount of smoke), on consumption behavior (e.g. cumulative volume, cigarettes per day), and ultimately how all these factors impact health outcomes of the tobacco user. We have developed personal use monitors (wPUM) that can capture instantaneous smoking behavior as the user smokes in their natural environment. Using the collected data and the smoking machines we have developed, we are able to emulate the user’s smoking sessions and capture the generated smoke for chemical analysis. From this we are able to obtain the quantity of nicotine and other harmful or potentially harmful constituents inhaled by the tobacco user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: The objective is to investigate the pressure drop versus flow rate characteristic of several tobacco products, including various models of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and hookah. A lab-built smoking machine will be used to generate puffs of specific flow rates. Pressure drop measurements will be made using analog pressure transducers. This investigation will shed light on the relationship between tobacco product pressure drop characteristic and smoking behavior of the user. The results of which will be published in a journal article. The specific aims are: i) Data collection: collect the pressure drop across each tobacco product as a function of flow rate, ii) Data analysis: for each product obtain a plot of pressure drop versus flow rate and calculate the flow coefficient, iii) For each product, review academic and social literature and find any indication of typical user smoking behavior, iv) Attempt to classify the various tobacco products based on results from ii) and iii).

SKILLS NEEDED Second year or above mechanical engineering undergraduate, or related major, with interest in fluid dynamics and has taken a fluid mechanics course. Ability to analyze data and create plots. MATLAB experience would be helpful, but there will be opportunity to develop skills during the project.

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED The student will gain experience working in a funded research laboratory. They will develop skills related to robust data collection using research-grade equipment, including controls, sensors, flow meters, MATLAB, Excel, and become proficient with calibrating devices and efficient data analysis.

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) PhD Mentor: Shehan Jayasekera (gbj6142@rit.edu), Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Risa Robinson (rjreme@rit.edu)

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research

Project Description NAME OF THE LAB: Discrete Microfluidics Laboratory (DMFL)

DESCRIPTION OF THE LAB: In the DMFL, we study the physics of microscale droplets. In a single droplet, the interactions of the fluid, suspended particles, and any applied electric fields are highly coupled and complex. Our goal is to understand these interactions and to leverage the physics of microdroplets for innovative advancements in current technologies. Potential applications range from healthcare to printing to manufacturing and more. In a typical water droplet, an outward evaporative flow carries material to the edge and deposits it in a "coffee-ring" pattern. This is problematic in printing operations where a uniform coating of ink is desirable, such as in the fabrication of flexible electronics.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: This project focuses on how to fabricate and test the properties of a variety of hydrophobic surfaces. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is widely used for fabricating lab on chip devices. PDMS is made by mixing two compounds together (like an epoxy). The properties of the final compound can be altered by changing the mixing ratio of the two compounds. In this project, you will make different PDMS mixtures and spin coat them onto devices before examining their physical properties (e.g. thickness, hydrophobicity, contact angle hysteresis, etc.). You will then examine how the droplet behaves under electrowetting by measuring the change in the hydrophobicity and contact angle hysteresis. If time permits, you will also use these devices to examine how application of an electric field alters the pattern left by evaporating droplets in an effort to design a rapid detection system for sepsis, a potentially life threatening condition that results from an overactive immune response.

SKILLS NEEDED: 1, Basic lab safety training. 2, Data collection and analysis.

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED: 1, Basic lithography technique. 2, Use software to analysis the data. 3, Learn how to use contact angle measure tools.

CONTACT PERSON: Xi Li, email: xl1832@rit.edu

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research

Project Description NAME OF THE LAB: Discrete Microfluidics Laboratory (DMFL)

DESCRIPTION OF THE LAB: In the DMFL, we study the physics of microscale droplets. In a single droplet, the interactions of the fluid, suspended particles, and any applied electric fields are highly coupled and complex. Our goal is to understand these interactions and to leverage the physics of microdroplets for innovative advancements in current technologies. Potential applications range from healthcare to printing to manufacturing and more. In a typical water droplet, an outward evaporative flow carries material to the edge and deposits it in a "coffee-ring" pattern. This is problematic in printing operations where a uniform coating of ink is desirable, such as in the fabrication of flexible electronics.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: In a typical water droplet, an outward evaporative flow carries material to the edge of the droplet to create a "coffee-ring" pattern. This is problematic in printing operations where a uniform coating of ink is desirable, such as in the fabrication of flexible electronics. This project is focused on how the application of electric fields to the droplet during evaporation changes the resultant deposition pattern from evaporating droplets. In this work, you will examine how changing the material inside the droplet (e.g. polystyrere and titanium dioxide particles of various size and concentration) changes the resultant deposition pattern. We are also interested in seeing how a newly discovered electro de-wetting mechanism affects how particles move in evaporating droplets. You will visualize droplets during evaporation by recording overhead (fluorescent microscope) and side-view (goniometer) images before analyzing how particles are deposited on a surface (fluorescent microscope). We aim to leverage the understanding developed in this project to help design and create a novel rapid medical diagnostic test for life threatening conditions like sepsis.

SKILLS NEEDED: 1, Basic lab safety training. 2, Data collection and analysis.

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED: 1, Basic lithography technique. 2, Use software to analysis the data. 3, Learn how to use contact angle measure tools. 4, Learn how to use the florescent microscope to record data.

CONTACT PERSON: Xi Li, email: xl1832@rit.edu

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research

Project Description NAME OF THE LAB: Discrete Microfluidics Laboratory (DMFL)

DESCRIPTION OF THE LAB: In the DMFL, we study the physics of microscale droplets. In a single droplet, the interactions of the fluid, suspended particles, and any applied electric fields are highly coupled and complex. Our goal is to understand these interactions and to leverage the physics of microdroplets for innovative advancements in current technologies. Potential applications range from healthcare to printing to manufacturing and more. In a typical water droplet, an outward evaporative flow carries material to the edge and deposits it in a "coffee-ring" pattern. This is problematic in printing operations where a uniform coating of ink is desirable, such as in the fabrication of flexible electronics.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: Lab-on-a-Chip devices are an emerging technology that seek to reduce medical costs by making state of the art laboratory testing more accessible through miniaturization and automation. Often, these devices are microfluidic in nature, leveraging the improved mass transport and relative strength of surface tensions forces at small scales. This project is to test the effectiveness of digital microfluidic (DMF) devices for use in DNA assembly. You will use cleanroom fabricated devices and / or fabricate low cost devices using inject printers. This project will be performed in collaboration with Nuclera Nucleics a British Biotech startup company. In this project, you will learn to manipulate droplet motion using electric fields, while performing biological and non-biological protocols. DNA ligation (assembling two small pieces of DNA into one large piece) is one biological protocol you will perform. A non-biological protocol of interest is repeated actuation of high salt concentration solutions to determine the longevity of the devices.

SKILLS NEEDED: 1, Basic lab safety training. 2, Data collection and analysis. SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED: 1, Data analysis (fluid handling & DNA gel electrophoresis). 2, Experimental design. 3, Technical communication (written / oral). CONTACT PERSON: Xi Li, email: xl1832@rit.edu

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research PROJECT TITLE: Design and Manufacturing of a Multifunctional Nanosensor Interface

NAME OF THE LAB: Nano-Bio Interface Laboratory (NBIL)

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP The NBIL investigates several aspects critical to the interface of nanotechnology and biology, including nanomanufacturing, nanomanipulation, technology-biology interactions, and biomedical applications. Through this work the NBIL seamlessly integrates biological and artificial systems at the micro-/nanoscale. The NBIL aims to create cutting-edge nanobiotechnology, advance knowledge in nanoscience and biology, and train the next generation of scientists and engineers at the interface of nanotechnology and biology. The NBIL utilizes researchers and scientists at all levels (high school to post-doctoral) and with diverse expertise (engineering, chemists, biologists) to tackle pressing challenges in biomedicine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT A focus of the NBIL has been investigating a needle-like multifunctional nanoprobe as a tool for biomedical sensing applications. This tool will be capable of electrochemically quantifying biologically significant molecules (biomolecules) within individual living cells. The quantification of intracellular biomolecules is a critical step in understanding cellular processes, communication, and disease pathology. This research will culminate in a tool which will allow the biomedical community to answer questions on the roles of specific biomolecules in cell processes and disease pathology. The nanoprobes are designed to be compatible with standard laboratory electrochemical and cell physiology equipment. To this end, this project seeks to develop a holder which enables convenient coupling of the nanoprobe to a pressurized fluid source and potentiostat to enable simultaneous fluid ejection and electrochemical sensing from the probe tip. This project will focus on designing, fabricating, and testing such a holder.

SKILLS NEEDED Year level: Freshman Majors: Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, and Microelectronics Engineering and Engineering Technology

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED This project will enable students to develop the following skills: engineering drawing, computer aided design, traditional (e.g., Lathes, CNC, laser cutter) and additive manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing). The project will also expose students to nanomaterials, nanomanufacturing, nanoscale characterization, electrochemistry and biomedical topics (e.g., living cells, biomolecules, cell injection).

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) Mentor: Olivia V. Scheibel, ovs8379@rit.edu Faculty Sponsor: Michael G. Schrlau, Ph.D., mgseme@rit.edu

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research PROJECT TITLE: Growing Cells on Carbon Nanotube Arrays

NAME OF THE LAB: Nano-Bio Interface Laboratory (NBIL)

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP The NBIL investigates several aspects critical to the interface of nanotechnology and biology, including nanomanufacturing, nanomanipulation, technology-biology interactions, and biomedical applications. Through this work the NBIL seamlessly integrates biological and artificial systems at the micro-/nanoscale. The NBIL aims to create cutting-edge nanobiotechnology, advance knowledge in nanoscience and biology, and train the next generation of scientists and engineers at the interface of nanotechnology and biology. The NBIL utilizes researchers and scientists at all levels (high school to post-doctoral) and with diverse expertise (engineering, chemists, biologists) to tackle pressing challenges in biomedicine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT A focus of the NBIL has been investigating carbon nanotube arrays as a means transfecting, or delivering molecules, into single living cells. Carbon nanotube arrays are capable of transfecting tens of thousands of cells quickly and efficiently. These arrays overcome a major obstacle in biomedicine because they can quickly and efficiently deliver a wide variety of cargo, such as DNA, protein and nanoparticles, into important and hard-to-transfect cell types, including T-cells, stem cells, and neurons, in order to treat disease and repair damage caused by trauma. The nanotube arrays are manufactured using a template-based process developed in the NBIL and consists of a surface with millions of open-ended carbon nanotubes protruding from the template. To this end, this project seeks to understand how well cells grow and proliferate on the carbon nanotube arrays. This project will focus on maintaining healthy cell cultures, growing cells on the surface of the nanotube arrays, and characterizing cell health and attachment on the arrays versus standard cell culture surfaces.

SKILLS NEEDED Year level: Freshman Majors: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering and Engineering Technology, Biology, Biotechnology

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED This project will enable students to develop the following skills: Cell culture and maintenance, optical and fluorescence microscopy. The project will also expose students to nanomaterials, nanomanufacturing, nanoscale characterization and biomedical topics (e.g., living cells, biomolecules, transfection).

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) Mentor: Olivia V. Scheibel, ovs8379@rit.edu Faculty Sponsor: Michael G. Schrlau, Ph.D., mgseme@rit.edu

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research PROJECT TITLE: Template-Based Synthesis of Carbon Nanotube Arrays

NAME OF THE LAB: Nano-Bio Interface Laboratory (NBIL)

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP The NBIL investigates several aspects critical to the interface of nanotechnology and biology, including nanomanufacturing, nanomanipulation, technology-biology interactions, and biomedical applications. Through this work the NBIL seamlessly integrates biological and artificial systems at the micro-/nanoscale. The NBIL aims to create cutting-edge nanobiotechnology, advance knowledge in nanoscience and biology, and train the next generation of scientists and engineers at the interface of nanotechnology and biology. The NBIL utilizes researchers and scientists at all levels (high school to post-doctoral) and with diverse expertise (engineering, chemists, biologists) to tackle pressing challenges in biomedicine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT A focus of the NBIL has been investigating carbon nanotube arrays as a means transfecting, or delivering molecules, into single living cells. Carbon nanotube arrays are capable of transfecting tens of thousands of cells quickly and efficiently. These arrays overcome a major obstacle in biomedicine because they can quickly and efficiently deliver a wide variety of cargo, such as DNA, protein and nanoparticles, into important and hard-to-transfect cell types, including T-cells, stem cells, and neurons, in order to treat disease and repair damage caused by trauma. The nanotube arrays are manufactured using a template-based process developed in the NBIL that integrates nanostructures into a hand-held platform without the need for cumbersome nanoassembly. To this end, this project seeks to develop robust, scaled-up template-based synthesis processes so that thousands of carbon nanotube arrays can be made in one week. This project will focus on designing, fabricating, and testing fixtures that increase the throughput of current established manufacturing processes.

SKILLS NEEDED Year level: Freshman Majors: Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial, and Microelectronics Engineering and Engineering Technology

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED This project will enable students to develop the following skills: engineering drawing, computer aided design, traditional (e.g., Lathes, CNC, laser cutter) and additive manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing). The project will also expose students to nanomaterials, nanomanufacturing, nanoscale characterization and biomedical topics (e.g., living cells, biomolecules, transfection).

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) Mentor: Olivia V. Scheibel, ovs8379@rit.edu Faculty Sponsor: Michael G. Schrlau, Ph.D., mgseme@rit.edu

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research PROJECT TITLE: Inverted Droplet Ejection via Electrowetting

NAME OF THE LAB: The Discrete Microfluidics Laboratory (DMFL)

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: In the DMFL, we study microscale droplets. Physics at this scale is a little different than in larger systems, because area forces such as surface tension tend to dominate over body forces. Within a single droplet the interactions among the fluid, suspended particles, the surface beneath, and the surrounding environment are highly coupled and complex. Our goal is to understand these interactions and leverage the physics of microdroplets to develop innovative microfluidic solutions for a variety of applications. Current focuses include using electric fields to control particle deposition in evaporating droplets, developing digital microfluidic (DMF) devices to assemble protein chains for DNA synthesis, and developing 3D DMF devices capable of complex routing operations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: This project seeks to examine how droplet ejection via electrowetting is impacted by orientation. This process is critical for 3D DMF devices, as it allows droplets to be transferred between opposite plates. Previous experiments in the DMFL have examined ejection of a droplet upward into the air from a device. Here, pendant droplets will be ejected downward. The student will have the opportunity to develop a modified experimental setup for inverted actuation and then use it to eject droplets. Results will then be compared previously collected non-inverted data.

SKILLS NEEDED General skills: Communication, critical thinking Major(s): Any

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED This project will allow students to experience firsthand what working in an academic research lab is like. In addition to designing and performing experiments, students will also be able to improve their technical writing and speaking as they report on their progress and ultimately present their findings.

CONTACTS PhD Mentor – Collin Burkhart, ctb6973@rit.edu Faculty Sponsor – Dr. Michael Schertzer, mjseme@rit.edu

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research PROJECT TITLE: Droplet Ejection via Electrowetting from Inkjet-Printed Devices

NAME OF THE LAB: The Discrete Microfluidics Laboratory (DMFL)

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: In the DMFL, we study microscale droplets. Physics at this scale is a little different than in larger systems, because area forces such as surface tension tend to dominate over body forces. Within a single droplet the interactions among the fluid, suspended particles, the surface beneath, and the surrounding environment are highly coupled and complex. Our goal is to understand these interactions and leverage the physics of microdroplets to develop innovative microfluidic solutions for a variety of applications. Current focuses include using electric fields to control particle deposition in evaporating droplets, developing digital microfluidic (DMF) devices to assemble protein chains for DNA synthesis, and developing 3D DMF devices capable of complex routing operations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: This project seeks to eject droplets from inkjet-printed DMF devices. Printed single-electrode devices have previously been used to eject droplets using a manually inserted ground wire. The next step is to eliminate the need for a wire and demonstrate detachment from a coplanar, multi-electrode device. The student will first characterize feature resolution limits of printed devices. Minimum feature spacing is not typically a concern in traditional microfabricated DMF devices, but it will play a critical role in the printed devices used here. A coplanar design with optimized feature sizes will then be printed and used to eject droplets without the need of a ground wire.

SKILLS NEEDED General skills: Communication, critical thinking Major(s): Any

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED This project will allow students to experience firsthand what working in an academic research lab is like. In addition to designing and performing experiments, students will also be able to improve their technical writing and speaking as they report on their progress and ultimately present their findings.

CONTACTS PhD Mentor – Collin Burkhart, ctb6973@rit.edu Faculty Sponsor – Dr. Michael Schertzer, mjseme@rit.edu

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research PROJECT TITLE: Particle Deposition under Electrowetting

NAME OF THE LAB: The Discrete Microfluidics Laboratory (DMFL)

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: In the DMFL, we study microscale droplets. Physics at this scale is a little different than in larger systems, because area forces such as surface tension tend to dominate over body forces. Within a single droplet the interactions among the fluid, suspended particles, the surface beneath, and the surrounding environment are highly coupled and complex. Our goal is to understand these interactions and leverage the physics of microdroplets to develop innovative microfluidic solutions for a variety of applications. Current focuses include using electric fields to control particle deposition in evaporating droplets, developing digital microfluidic (DMF) devices to assemble protein chains for DNA synthesis, and developing 3D DMF devices capable of complex routing operations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: This project seeks to examine how particles deposit from evaporating droplets while subjected to electrowetting. Particle deposition is key feature in a number of medical diagnostic tests. Using electric fields, deposition can be controlled to improve testing accuracy and repeatability. Here, droplets of different colloidal materials will be evaporated while subjected to different degrees of electrowetting to characterize how it influences the final patterns. Students will have the opportunity to develop a series of experiments, analyze the results, and compare to previously collected data in the DMFL.

SKILLS NEEDED General skills: Communication, critical thinking Major(s): Any

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED This project will allow students to experience firsthand what working in an academic research lab is like. In addition to designing and performing experiments, students will also be able to improve their technical writing and speaking as they report on their progress and ultimately present their findings.

CONTACTS PhD Mentor – Collin Burkhart, ctb6973@rit.edu Faculty Sponsor – Dr. Michael Schertzer, mjseme@rit.edu

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research Project Description to be Used for Recruiting (maximum 1 page)

PROJECT TITLE: Development of porous coatings using electrodeposition technique for pool boiling enhancement

NAME OF THE LAB: Thermal Analysis, Microfluidics, and Fuel Cell Lab

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: Since its inception in 1990, the RIT Thermal Analysis and Microfluidics lab has been driven by a keen desire to examine the fundamental phenomena related to microscale fluid mechanics and dynamics. Starting with detection of micron-sized bubbles under various flow conditions, the lab has grown and expanded its research capacity to envelop a wide range of thermal and microfluidic applications. It has conducted some pioneering work on bubble visualization and theoretical model developments for flow boiling in minichannels and microchannels?

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: This project will involve an in-depth understanding of the electrodeposition process and will focus on effect of parameters on the heat transfer performance. This project will also involve the two-phase heat transfer i.e. pool boiling testing of these porous surfaces. The student will gain hands on experience withcharacterization (contact angle measurement, Laser confocal microscope), testing, assembly, data analysisand LabVIEW. Majors: ME, ChemE, Chemistry, MTSE.

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) Mentor: Alyssa Recinella Advisor: Dr. Satish G. Kandlikar (sgkeme@rit.edu)

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research Project Description to be Used for Recruiting (maximum 1 page)

PROJECT TITLE: Pool boiling testing with enhanced surfaces

NAME OF THE LAB: Thermal Analysis, Microfluidics, and Fuel Cell Lab

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: Since its inception in 1990, the RIT Thermal Analysis and Microfluidics lab has been driven by a keen desire to examine the fundamental phenomena related to microscale fluid mechanics and dynamics. Starting with detection of micron-sized bubbles under various flow conditions, the lab has grown and expanded its research capacity to envelop a wide range of thermal and microfluidic applications. It has conducted some pioneering work on bubble visualization and theoretical model developments for flow boiling in minichannels and microchannels?

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: This project will involve the testing of the various CNC machined surfaces. The goal of the study is to identify the effect of increased surface area and the modified geometry on the pool boiling heat transfer. The student will be able to develop the skills to perform experimental study and associated data analysis. Also, vapor bubble analysis will be done using a high-speed camera, LabVIEW program, and Laser confocal microscope. Majors: ME, MFG, ISEE

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) Mentor: Alyssa Recinella Advisor: Dr. Satish G. Kandlikar (sgkeme@rit.edu)

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research Project Description to be Used for Recruiting (maximum 1 page)

PROJECT TITLE: Demonstration and working of a plate distillation column

NAME OF THE LAB: Thermal Analysis, Microfluidics, and Fuel Cell Lab

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: Since its inception in 1990, the RIT Thermal Analysis and Microfluidics lab has been driven by a keen desire to examine the fundamental phenomena related to microscale fluid mechanics and dynamics. Starting with detection of micron-sized bubbles under various flow conditions, the lab has grown and expanded its research capacity to envelop a wide range of thermal and microfluidic applications. It has conducted some pioneering work on bubble visualization and theoretical model developments for flow boiling in minichannels and microchannels?

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: In this project, the student will design and manufacture a small plate distillation column which can operate on a smaller scale in the lab. Majors: ME, ChemE, Chemistry, MTSE.

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) Mentor: Aranya Chauhan and Alyssa Recinella Advisor: Dr. Satish G. Kandlikar (sgkeme@rit.edu)

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research Project Description to be Used for Recruiting (maximum 1 page)

PROJECT TITLE: Development of pool boiling setup with clear visualization

NAME OF THE LAB: Thermal Analysis, Microfluidics, and Fuel Cell Lab

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: Since its inception in 1990, the RIT Thermal Analysis and Microfluidics lab has been driven by a keen desire to examine the fundamental phenomena related to microscale fluid mechanics and dynamics. Starting with detection of micron-sized bubbles under various flow conditions, the lab has grown and expanded its research capacity to envelop a wide range of thermal and microfluidic applications. It has conducted some pioneering work on bubble visualization and theoretical model developments for flow boiling in minichannels and microchannels?

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: This project will focus on design and manufacturing of the pool boiling heat transfer test setup. The student will gain hands on experience with various machining techniques. This provides an opportunity to learn Solidworks CAD software for modeling and assembly. The student will learn to design experimental setup considering the manufacturability and assembly of parts. Majors: ME, MFG., ISEE

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) Mentor: Aranya Chauhan Advisor: Dr. Satish G. Kandlikar (sgkeme@rit.edu)

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research Project Description to be Used for Recruiting (maximum 1 page)

PROJECT TITLE: Single phase heat transfer testing in a micro-gap configuration

NAME OF THE LAB: Thermal Analysis, Microfluidics, and Fuel Cell Lab

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: Since its inception in 1990, the RIT Thermal Analysis and Microfluidics lab has been driven by a keen desire to examine the fundamental phenomena related to microscale fluid mechanics and dynamics. Starting with detection of micron-sized bubbles under various flow conditions, the lab has grown and expanded its research capacity to envelop a wide range of thermal and microfluidic applications. It has conducted some pioneering work on bubble visualization and theoretical model developments for flow boiling in minichannels and microchannels?

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: This work will involve the testing on the flow boiling test setup in which a single-phase heat transfer study will be conducted. This will allow the student to gain experimental knowledge related to high heat dissipation using water. Such technique is currently employed in electronics, batteries, and solar panel cooling. Majors: ME, MFG., ISEE

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) Mentor: Aranya Chauhan and Alyssa Recinella Advisor: Dr. Satish G. Kandlikar (sgkeme@rit.edu)

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research Project Description to be Used for Recruiting (maximum 1 page)

PROJECT TITLE: Design and modelling of air bubble induced single-phase cooling system

NAME OF THE LAB: Thermal Analysis, Microfluidics, and Fuel Cell Lab

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: Since its inception in 1990, the RIT Thermal Analysis and Microfluidics lab has been driven by a keen desire to examine the fundamental phenomena related to microscale fluid mechanics and dynamics. Starting with detection of micron-sized bubbles under various flow conditions, the lab has grown and expanded its research capacity to envelop a wide range of thermal and microfluidic applications. It has conducted some pioneering work on bubble visualization and theoretical model developments for flow boiling in minichannels and microchannels?

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: This project will involve the design and fabrication of an air manifold for the testing of single-phase cooling.systems. This involves designing in SolidWorks and conducting experimental study. Majors: ME, MFG., ISEE.

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) Mentor: Aranya Chauhan Advisor: Dr. Satish G. Kandlikar (sgkeme@rit.edu)

Mechanical Engineering Mentored Research Project Description to be Used for Recruiting (maximum 1 page)

PROJECT TITLE: Simulation of thermal aware 3D architecture using microchannel cooling

NAME OF THE LAB: Thermal Analysis, Microfluidics, and Fuel Cell Lab

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH LAB OR RESEARCH GROUP: Since its inception in 1990, the RIT Thermal Analysis and Microfluidics lab has been driven by a keen desire to examine the fundamental phenomena related to microscale fluid mechanics and dynamics. Starting with detection of micron-sized bubbles under various flow conditions, the lab has grown and expanded its research capacity to envelop a wide range of thermal and microfluidic applications. It has conducted some pioneering work on bubble visualization and theoretical model developments for flow boiling in minichannels and microchannels?

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: This simulation study will involve single phase cooling of a 3D architecture to dissipate heat fluxes using microchannels heat sink. The simulation software Fluent, and Icepack will be used. Majors: ME, CE, EE, MicroE.

CONTACT PERSON (PHD MENTOR AND FACULTY SPONSOR) Mentor: Aranya Chauhan Advisor: Dr. Satish G. Kandlikar (sgkeme@rit.edu)