Dr. Zelalem Bedaso, Geology, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Umesh Haritashya, Geology, College of Arts and Sciences

Project overview:

Glaciers are the largest reservoir of freshwater and most important part of water resources in some mountainous regions of the world. Glacial and snow melt water are used for drinking water, agricultural purposes and hydropower production. However, future availability of those resources is threatened by recent global warming, which leads to a substantial reduction in mountain glaciers. To evaluate the role of glaciers in the hydrologic system and assess its future impact on the hydrologic cycle, measuring meltwater contribution is required. The project will employ a multidisciplinary approach (i.e., geochemical and hydrological) to estimate the contribution of meltwater to surface and groundwater. The study area is in six alpine/subalpine basins in the Rocky Mountain, National Park, North West of Colorado. The main objective of the project is to estimate the contribution of meltwater to surface runoff and groundwater recharge, which are an integral part of the water resource. The student project involves:

1. Literature review and compiling isotope and hydrologic data.
2. Water isotope data analysis.
3. Establishing isotope end-members for glacier/snow, meltwater, rivers, groundwater, and rainfall
4. Mass balance modeling/ two or three end-member mixing model to characterize the contribution of meltwater to rivers and groundwater.
5. Hydrograph separation.
6. Satellite data analysis.

Research Experience:

This is a unique project that involves isotope, hydrology, remote sensing analysis, and mentorship. The student will have access to the high-quality instrument-and-software from two different labs and faculty personnel. The student's development will be significantly enhanced through a program of structured mentoring activities. The goal of the co-mentorship is to provide the skills, knowledge, and experience to prepare the student to excel in his/her career path. The research mentoring plan emphasizes opportunities to learn a number of career skills such as handling critical field data, extracting data from the satellite imageries, writing research results, communicating with faculty and possibly other visiting researchers.

Selection criteria:

Students are required to take at least one introductory geology course, have basic computer skills including Microsoft Word and Excel. Priority will be given to students with GIS, remote sensing knowledge and excellent writing skills.

Dr. Amy Neidhard-Doll, Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering
Dr. Justin Biffinger, Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

Project overview:

Commercially available wearable electronics capable of monitoring human physiological signals are becoming increasingly popular for healthcare, fitness, and military applications. In all of these applications, the sensors or the electronic devices are powered through either conventional batteries, or radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting techniques. These methods have several disadvantages. Conventional batteries are often bulky in size, and require frequent replacement or recharging. RF power harvesting techniques require that the RF power source or transmitter be placed in close proximity with the substrate. These options are not feasible in situations where the end user (for example, an injured soldier behind enemy lines) requires prolonged or remote use of the device.

This ISE Summer Collaborate Research Project (CoRPs) involves basic and applied research leading to a new method to power wearable electronics using inkjet or aerosol printed micro cells of conductive, biocompatible inks such as zinc and silver on textile-based fabrics or flexible substrates. These micro cells, when moistened with a biological electrolyte such as sweat, saliva, or blood, activate electrochemical reactions that generate electrical current sufficient to power wearable electronic sensors and devices, such as a heart rate monitor or GPS navigator. The main focus of the proposed research is the development and experimental testing of biocompatible binders for conductive inks used to create the micro cells on various substrates using inkjet and aerosol printing techniques, as well as methods to combine micro cells that result in increased power generation. These inkjet-printed textile-based batteries will be tested as viable power sources through assembly of simple circuits that include various types of sensors.

Research Experience:

The student will benefit from the unique expertise of each mentor and the experience that they both bring to this cross-disciplinary problem in electrochemistry. The student will have the accelerated opportunity to engage in basic research, while also participating in the application of this newly acquired knowledge to a real-world engineering design problem for a new device that has potential for commercial development. We will also be focused on publishing a manuscript in a peer-reviewed journal where the student would write and contribute to its completion as the summer term ends and the fall begins. The publication could be about the binders or substrates, creating the batteries, connecting several batteries into stacks on the fabrics, or the maximum discharge rates that can be achieved. They will be exposed to both the formation of the inks and the fabrication of the battery supports and testing.

Selection criteria:

Chemistry, Pre-Medicine, or Electrical Engineering undergraduate majors preferred; U.S. Citizen preferred (for collaboration with AFRL laboratories); completion of basic undergraduate chemistry course is required; experience with basic circuit design or interest in electronics preferred.

Dr. Madhuri Kango-Singh, Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Pothitos Pitychoutis, Biology,College of Arts and Sciences

Project overview:

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a devastating form of primary brain cancer with poor prognosis. Cooperative interactions between the heterogeneous glioma cells are thought to promote glioma growth and invasion; however the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Capitalizing on the similarities between mammalian and Drosophila glial cells, clinically relevant Drosophila Glioblastoma models have been established that coactivate the genetic lesions most commonly associated with human gliomas, and closely mimic human glioma.

Using these glioma models, we propose to study (A) how mutations found in human patients impart therapy resistance, and (B) find chemical inhibitors (drugs) that reduce tumor volume/growth in Drosophila models. In addition, for the drugs that show an inhibitory effect, the students will test a range of concentrations to determine the sensitivity and dose-dependent effects. The goal is to identify drugs (or combinations of drugs) that effectively reduce the tumor burden (and not cause toxic effects). As part of this project, the student is expected to participate in a chemical screen where drugs (FDA approved) are tested in Drosophila glioma for their potential to inhibit glioma growth. This project involves working at developmental time points, learning skills to identify developmental stages, dissection of glioma brains and imaging techniques.

Research Experience:

The glioma models and screens are performed in the Kango-Singh lab. The student will learn the initial skills in the Kango-Singh lab- the mentoring will be done by Dr. Kango-Singh and the Graduate students in the lab. Following the first 2 weeks the student will meet the co-mentor – Dr. Pitychoutis is a Neuro-pharmacologist regularly (ideally once every 2 weeks) to discuss effective doses, combining drugs to find the poly-pharmacological profiles that impact glioma inhibition. Overall, these experiences are expected to teach students both qualitative and quantitative skills that include experimentation and data analysis – something that will enhance their skill-set in the long term for interests beyond University of Dayton.

Selection criteria:

Students interested in cancer research and in gaining hands-on experience in experiential research are encouraged to apply. No particular experience is required but if you are motivated to learn laboratory skills like imaging, microscopy, fine tissue manipulation and expression profiling of genes and proteins through various molecular biology and histology techniques, you are encouraged to apply.

Dr. Pothitos M. Pitychoutis, Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Katia Del Rio-Tsonis, Biology, College of Arts and Sciences; Miami University

Project overview:

In the context of this collaborative, interdisciplinary research project our team at the University of Dayton (Dayton, OH) and Miami University (Oxford, OH) will assess the neurochemical underpinnings of retinal regeneration in the chick embryo. Specifically, the selected University of Dayton undergraduate student will gain experience with the chick embryo retinal regeneration model, as well as with ex vivo neurochemical techniques to quantify neurotransmitter levels (i.e., dopamine, serotonin, glutamate) in the chick embryonic brain. Ex vivo neurochemical analysis will be conducted using state-of-the-art high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with coulometric detection. This project is part of a wider collaboration between the Del Rio-Tsonis lab (Miami University, Oxford, OH) and the Pitychoutis lab (University of Dayton, Dayton, OH) to explore the neurochemical basis of regeneration.

Research Experience:

The proposed interdisciplinary experiential learning project will offer hands-on, inquiry-based learning and will provide a University of Dayton undergraduate student with the opportunity to develop a unique conceptual understanding of standard research techniques used in neuroscience and regeneration. The successful applicant will get the chance to work with a cutting-edge regeneration model in the context of an existing collaborative project between the Del Rio-Tsonis and the Pitychoutis labs to assess the effects of regeneration in the brain using different animal models.

Selection criteria:

The successful applicant should have demonstrated interest in the fields of neuroscience and/or regeneration, prior laboratory research experience, and be proficient with the use of HPLC analytical techniques. 

Dr. Ju Shen, Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Benjamin Kunz, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences

Project overview:

The Big Goal: This project aims to facilitate caregiving activities by advancing the capabilities of robotic interfaces with virtual reality (VR) headsets to provide socio-emotional support for various groups of people, e.g. senior adults. Ultimately, a user with a VR headset would interact with a robotic caregiver rendered as a virtual character. Robotic behavior will be regulated to successfully meet the users' needs by leveraging adaptive vision and VR algorithms. Using existing multi-modal sensing tools, the caregivers will promptly access decision-making services and relevant information about the socio-emotional states of a target user. This project will augment human-robot communication with physical interactions and dynamic virtual view rendering to meet socio-emotional needs on demand. The project encompasses the development, testing and evaluation of the integration of a robot arm and VR technology that regulates robotic behavior according to the users' input.

Implementation:

In most caregiving scenarios, a physical interaction between a user and a robot arm would occur when a user stretches his/her arm toward the robot and physically touches the robot arm. For this project, the implementation goal is to dynamically map the detected robot arm to a virtual content rendered on the VR headset. To detect and localize the physical contact, we plan to use three low-cost Kinect (RGB-D) cameras that are mounted around the capture environment to estimate user’s body pose from allocentric perspectives (i.e. third-person view); an infrared light sensor is utilized for detailed hand gesture capture and recognition from egocentric perspective (i.e., first-person view). The system hardware setting is straightforward.

However, achieving the desired automatic human and robot interaction is challenging. First, to accurately generate realistic perspective views, we need to acquire correct 3D scene geometry and the user’s viewpoint positions. Second, the user’s body poses need to be detected and tracked in real-time. Third, to effectively produce user-robot interactions with the surrounding virtual environment, the system should be able to handle coordinate synchronization, collision detection by incorporating physical properties, such as object contours, and weight. Our primary efforts for the summer are leading student in designing, implementing, and optimizing the system by identifying each module individually using existing VR and sensing tools and collectively integrating them.

Research Experience:

The goal is to not only provide students with a research experience in VR and robotics, but also to engage them with projects related to perceptual/social psychological model of visual-spatial perception. As students proceed in the research, they will see the development of their design in a 3D environment step by step and experience how the virtual model impacts the perceptual cognitive processes. Once they have completed the development of their design, they can wear a VR headset (such as Oculus) to interact with and experience their design in a virtual environment. Students will learn the connections between VR and cognitive processes and behaviors. Overall the project will:

1. introduce students to concepts, research design, data collection, and problem-solving in the integration of robotic equipment and virtual reality systems.
2. provide an existing sensing platform for students to program, together with robotic APIs and vision tools
3. train students’ problem-solving and algorithm designing abilities through human-robot interactions and conducting human subject survey.

Selection criteria:

Some programming experience (e.g. c, c++, or python) is advantageous.

Amit Singh, Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
Muhammad Usman, Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences

Project overview:

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disorder with no cure to-date, manifests as gradual decline in cognitive functions and finally the death of the patient. It is the sixth leading cause of mortality in US. In AD, accumulation of hydrophobic human amyloid-beta-42 (Aß42) plaques triggers neurodegeneration (death of neurons) by unknown molecular-genetic mechanism. Drosophila, with large repository of genetic tools and similar genetic makeup to humans, is used to model human disease. We developed a humanized fly model where we mis-express high levels of human-Aß42 polypeptides in various tissues, which exhibits AD-like neuropathology in nearly 100% flies.

The rationale of this project is to study the role of high and low sugar diet on the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Nearly 21 million Americans have diabetes. The majority have Type 2 Diabetes, where too much sugar remains in the blood, which over time damages organs including brain. We will use our Drosophila model to ascertain the role of sugar levels in the diet on onset and progression of AD. We have developed fly mediums where sugar levels can be regulated. We will culture our human-Aß42 expressing flies on these cultures and will analyze eclosion rate, life expectancy, neurodegenerative phenotypes. We will also discern what happens to the frequency of neuronal death in various sugar diets.

Previous studies from our lab has identified several biomarkers for onset and progression of neurodegeneration; we will compare expression of these biomarkers under different sugar levels to determine the effect. These studies will provide evidence for the relation between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease. These studies will require statistical analysis and mathematical approaches to derive rescue percentages of neuronal population from neurodegeneration as a function of sugar dosage in the fly food.

Selection criteria:

The project requires disciplined individuals with a desire to learn modern biological techniques, as well as statistical and mathematical approaches. A basic aptitude in biology and mathematics will be a great help to understand the project and prior training in handling Drosophila may be an added advantage.

Research Experience:

The student will be exposed to Drosophila genetics, microscopy, immunohistochemistry, statistical analysis and mathematical modeling. The student will develop a skill set of presenting research as lab presentations and also learn to present data as posters. The undergraduate researcher will be encouraged to present his/her research in Ohio Miami Valley Society of Neuroscience meeting at Miami University in summer and also participate in undergraduate 2019 Summer Science Research Symposium. The contribution from the undergraduate researcher will be duly acknowledged in the future publications from the lab.

Dr. Denise G Taylor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering
Dr. Jeffrey L. Kavanaugh, Biology, College of Arts and Sciences

Project overview:

Protection of Dayton’s river resources are dependent in part on how urban land surfaces clean or pollute, slow or speed the passage of rainwater into the storm sewers that discharge to our local waterways. Use of a publicly available runoff model could provide a screening tool for estimating the effect on stormwater discharge due to improvements in land surface characteristics. With guidance from the project mentors, the student will use publicly available aerial view maps to categorize engineered surfaces (buildings, pavement) and vegetated surfaces (plants or disturbed soil) expected to influence runoff.

Field work will confirm portions of the aerial mapping. These characterizations become the input to a user-friendly stormwater runoff model. Initial tasks will include sensitivity of the model to data resolution. For selected Dayton drainage areas, the model will be used to determine percentage of land covered by each category of surface type. The model will then be used to assess the effect of a series of surface change scenarios such as changes in plantings, permeable pavings, or other “green infrastructure” options. After the initial evaluations are completed, the student researcher will have the flexibility to choose a related depth topic of choice. Examples include further inquiry into biomass effects, investigating permeability settings for built (engineered) settings, or preliminary correlations to previous water quality field samples.

Selection criteria

Instructions for use of the model software will be provided. The student should be comfortable conducting additional independent exploration of the model. A reliable personal computer is required. Computer modeling interest and GIS interest is advantageous, but no experience is required.

Research Experience

The main benefit of this project will be direct involvement in a local issue. This project will take a “one water” view, combining important concepts from the natural environment and the built environment. During the summer, the student will have opportunities to meet with City of Dayton water quality professionals, and explore different career paths associated with water quality issues. We hope that this project also fosters an interest in additional GIS or modeling training in the future.

Dr. Erick S. Vasquez, Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering
Dr. Kenya Crosson, Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering
Dr. Garry Crosson, Chemistry, College of Arts and Science

Project overview:

Wastewater streams could contain many undesired products, including pharmaceuticals, food additives, pesticides, disinfectants, and so on. In the past few years, various mechanisms have been used and proposed for the removal of chemical compounds from water using a variety of natural adsorbent materials such as plant-based materials. In this study, we seek to prepare a magnetic bio-based composite made of lignin and iron oxide nanoparticles capable of absorbing bisphenol compounds dispersed in water. Previous studies have shown the efficacy of lignin materials as a natural adsorbent for various organic molecules; hence, this study will focus on developing a membrane or a composite structure capable of separating bisphenol compounds from water.

Due to the added magnetic properties, it is expected that the composite, or membrane, can be recovered with ease from the aqueous stream with the aid of a commercially available rare-earth magnet. Various tests will be carried out at different conditions such as pH, temperature, time and concentration conditions to assess the efficacy of the composite. Also, this research will use an HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) equipment to determine the bisphenol adsorption efficiency of the proposed composite structure. Through this work, a variety of experimental techniques and mathematical models will be used to test the adsorption efficacy of the generated lignin/magnetic composite. This research experience is a collaboration between the departments of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Chemistry, and Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Dayton.

Research Experience:

The student will spend one month in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering in the design and the fabrication of a composite structure. Options will be provided but the student will be responsible for the design. Dr. Vasquez will provide insights and feedback to this project and will aid in procuring materials and consumables for the production of the prototype. In the remaining part of the program, adsorption studies will be assessed by Dr. Kenya Crosson and Dr. Garry Crosson. Dr. Kenya Crosson will help in the experimental setup to conduct the pH, time, and temperature dependent adsorption studies and Dr. Garry Crosson will help the student with the HPLC testing and data analysis. Dr. Vasquez will also support the student as necessary. The student will gain a unique experience collaborating across units in Chemistry, Environmental and Civil Engineering, and Chemical and Materials Engineering.