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EUREKA! 2020 Faculty Research Proposals Updated 3/10/2020

Project Title: Application of Data Driven Models to Forecast Flooding Events Mentor: Dr. Vidya Samadi Department: Agricultural Sciences Project/Faculty URL: http://ssamadi.com/ Project Description:

This internship project focuses on simulating water resource systems in the Carolinas. The students will work on the application of a new package, "FAIS" (Flood Analytics Information System) developed using an NSF grant to gather real-time flood data from different web servers. The students will work closely with the faculty and her graduate students to: i) elaborate dataset formatting and preparation, ii) stimulate interest on Data Analytics and web data gathering, iii) implement the FAIS package to gather the data, iv) gain experience with coding and data retrieval from multiple remote websites, and v) motivate students to pursue education in an interdisciplinary STEM field of information technology and civil engineering. The design and construction of educational modules are proposed for research activities such as learning how to code in python and how to gather flood real time data from various web servers. These will allow the students to learn the importance of informatics and technology in engineering related research.

Student Involvement:

The intern(s) will work on my ongoing research project funded by NSF and will develop a model to simulate flooding events in South Carolina. The intern(s) will also be trained to study the impacts of flooding on critical infrastructure, agriculture, and the environment. They will also contributing to data gathering and archiving research works and learn how to disseminate data at open source cyberinfrastructure such as GitHub.

Opportunities:

The intern(s) will be presenting the results at Clemson research conference, the SC Academy of Science, and other related meetings. It is expected that the intern(s) will be co-authoring research paper with grad students and the faculty member.

Required Skills:

Prior knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office is required. Knowledge about coding, programming, and managing GitHub is a plus. Research Location: Institute of Environmental Toxicology - Pendleton Off-Campus: Yes Transportation: Students can travel from the main campus to the Water Center via the Clemson Area Transit (CAT) bus: www.catbus.com

EUREKA! 2020 Faculty Research Proposals

Project Title: Mobility Assistance and Assistive Technology Research Mentor: Dr. Bing Li Department: Automotive Engineering Project/Faculty URL: http://cecas.clemson.edu/autonomy Project Description:

The goal of this research is to develop mobility assistance and assistive technologies to provide automated mobility or augment mobility safety for people who are in need. For example, a participant sits on an automated wheelchair and it brings the participant from indoors to outside via the autonomous vehicle. Finally, the wheelchair and vehicle will work together to provide accessibility to the person to augment mobility and safety capabilities.


The research intern(s) will be involved in research prototype development. They might work on mechanical retrofitting as well as hardware and software development individually or with peers in a team, under the supervision of the faculty and Ph.D. students.

Opportunities:

Students are welcome to conduct future research in the Lab. Required Skills:

Students must have basic skills of computer-aided design or programming experience. Research Location: Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) - Greenville Campus Off-Campus: Yes Transportation: Students can travel from the main campus to CU-ICAR via the Clemson Area Transit (CAT) bus: www.catbus.com


Project Title: Electrically-Assisted Manufacturing Methods Mentor: Dr. Laine Mears Department: Automotive Engineering Project/Faculty URL: www.clemson.edu/manufacturing-lab Project Description:

Electrically assisted manufacturing is the use of electric current to augment existing manufacturing processes for softening metals and allowing easier or faster forming or joining. The effects of an electrical current on metals have been well documented in the SmartState Manufacturing Lab; however, this information now needs to be translated into applicable processes. It has been shown that electrical application can improve the efficiency and capabilities of existing manufacturing infrastructure. This project will explore various ways to implement electrically assisted manufacturing into joining, deformation, and heat treatment processes.


The interns will be responsible for researching relevant manufacturing processes, formulating hypotheses of the effects expected to be observed, developing testing plans, and carrying out experiments (either experimentally or in simulation). The students will act under the direction of one or more graduate students along with the professor; however, students will be encouraged to develop their own ideas related to electrically assisted manufacturing.

Opportunities:

Students may continue their research as an undergraduate student in the SmartState Lab, and will be well-prepared to perform in the future as a graduate student. The student will also gain valuable experience and understanding in the manufacturing field which will differentiate them in consideration for future jobs in the area.

Required Skills:

CNC programming/familiarization is preferred; experience with electric systems and governing models is also preferred. Hands-on familiarity with tools and experimental setup is necessary.

Research Location: Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) - Greenville Campus Off-Campus: Yes Transportation: Students can travel from the main campus to CU-ICAR via the Clemson Area Transit (CAT) bus: www.catbus.com


Project Title: Wearable Sensing for Vehicle Assembly Mentor: Dr. Laine Mears Department: Automotive Engineering Project/Faculty URL: www.clemson.edu/manufacturing-lab Project Description:

The current evolution of Smart and Digital Manufacturing entails interconnectedness of machines, robots, and software systems to provide a web of data for optimization of operations and decision-making in control rules. One element that has been neglected in the formation of this paradigm is the human element. The SmartState Manufacturing Lab has established a test factory that mimics vehicle assembly, a value-adding process that is largely only semi-automated or fully manual. In this research, the effect of smart technologies on the human experience in manufacturing is studied, and wearable sensing and feedback systems are designed to actively provide human data to the Smart Manufacturing network as well as information back to the human in real time. This project will explore design and testing of wearable electronics, the integration of such data sources with automated sensing, and modeling of system health.


The interns will be responsible for prototyping wearable designs using embedded systems (e.g., Arduino, Raspberry Pi) and producing and analyzing data sets in various scenarios (e.g., manual assembly processes, working with robots). Interns will work with MS and PhD students on existing projects, and may also support aligned education efforts with Greenville Tech.

Opportunities:

Students may continue their research as an undergraduate student in the SmartState Lab and will be well-prepared to perform in the future as a graduate student. The student will also gain valuable experience and understanding in the manufacturing field which will differentiate them in consideration for future jobs in the area.

Required Skills:

Preferred is experience with Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or similar embedded system data and processing, along with C++ or Python programming familiarization. Knowledge with state estimation and uncertainty quantification, with signal processing would be important. We are trying to use mathematical tools to extract information from sometime noisy signals.

Research Location: Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) - Greenville Campus Off-Campus: Yes Transportation: Students can travel from the main campus to CU-ICAR via the Clemson Area Transit (CAT) bus: www.catbus.com


Project Title: Developing an Antibacterial, Non-Adhesive Wound Dressing Contact Layer for Infection Management Mentor: Dr. Jordon Gilmore Department: Bioengineering Project/Faculty URL: http://cecas.clemson.edu/smartlab/GilmoreHome.html Project Description:

The S.M.A.R.T Lab in Clemson's Bioengineering Department aims to conduct research in smart wound dressings and cell culture optimization. This particular project will focus on developing a textile-based smart wound dressing. The primary focus of the work will be the development of a non-adhesive skin-contact layer for infection management. Prior research has been conducted on developing the antimicrobial contact layer; however, it has been shown that fibroblast cells typically prefer to attach to the knitted scaffold. The goal of this project is to prevent cell adhesion to the contact layer in order to allow for new granulation tissue to repair and remodel the wounded area, as well as to prevent harm to the new tissue during dressing changes.


Research interns will first be introduced to the medical textile industry by observing polymer and fiber processing in Rhodes Research Center, Olin Hall, and/or the Textile Technology Center at Gaston College. Following, interns will then develop a primary layer of solution-blow-spun chitosan to sit upon the antimicrobial layer. Interns will then become familiar with cell and bacterial culture. From there, they will do a series of cell and bacterial assays to determine biocompatibility, cell adhesion, and bacterial inhibition respectively. Interns will meet on a daily basis with their Principal Investigator (PI) to discuss product development, problem management, and professional development for future research opportunities.

Opportunities:

Upon the completion of their experience, further research, Creative Inquiries, and Research Experience for Undergrads (REUs) within the Bioengineering department are definite possibilities. This particular project would allow interns to be competitive for graduate school as well as industry experience in the fields of Biomedical and Material Science and Engineering.


Required Skills: Although previous cell and bacterial culture experience are not required for this project, basic laboratory skills, such as pipetting, microscopy, and measuring mass are preferred. Interns must have a solid background in biology and chemistry. Additionally, familiarity with Microsoft Excel is needed to perform data analysis.

Research Location: Rhodes Hall - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Mighty Mites Mentor: Dr. Sharon Bewick Department: Biological Sciences Project/Faculty URL: https://bewicklab.weebly.com/ Project Description:

The ATBI has, to date, recorded 304 species of mites, including 48 (>15%) that are new to science in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Little is known, however, about how this richness is distributed. Some of our preliminary results suggest that mite abundance and potentially diversity may be higher at high elevations. This is important from a conservation standpoint. In particular, if mites are more abundant or more diverse at high elevations, then they may be at particular risk from climate change. That is, mites may be more susceptible than other groups to the so-called 'escalator to extinction,' wherein species found only at the tops of mountains become stuck and cannot move higher up the mountain to cooler locations as temperatures warm. We will be looking at mite abundance and diversity in a series of litter samples from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In particular, students will sort arthropods from litter samples and will learn to identify the mites. Students will then look at which samples have the most mites and the most mite 'morphospecies' (different looking mites). Students will learn basic metrics of diversity and use these to try to compare the number and the number of species of mites as a function of elevation. This will provide preliminary evidence for how mite diversity is distributed across Great Smoky Mountains National Park and whether mites are, in fact, more abundant and more diverse at the tops of mountains. Depending on interest, weather, and timing of collections, there may be opportunities to do a few days of field work in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.


Students will sort litter arthropods and will learn to identify those that are mites. Students will then sort mites based on overall appearance, or 'morphospecies.' Particularly interested students could even begin to learn to key out mites to family, genus, species, etc. Depending on interest, there may be opportunities to participate in collecting trips to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, although this is not guaranteed. Students will also learn about basic metrics of diversity, and will learn to analyze their data using linear regression and other statistical techniques.

Opportunities:

Continued work in the Bewick lab is encouraged for students who enjoy their experience. Students who have become comfortable processing litter samples would also be encouraged to select their own projects and research questions, if interested, and these would, ideally, lead to publications. Longer term, opportunities in third and fourth year to participate in UPIC programs or to conduct Honors Thesis work would also be encouraged.


Required Skills: Students must have strong fine motor skills, since manipulating mites under the microscope requires precision and can be difficult. They should also have attention to detail, since differences among 'morphospecies' are often small, and require patience and the ability to notice small variations across specimens. They must be comfortable in the field and the ability to hike long distances (15 miles) if participation in collecting trips is of interest (not necessary). Use of a microscope and Microsoft Excel would be nice, but are not necessary.

Research Location: Jordan Hall - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Genetic Basis of Craniofacial Malformations in Phelan McDermid Syndrome Mentor: Dr. Kara Powder Department: Biological Sciences Project/Faculty URL: https://karapowder.wordpress.com/ Project Description:

Our faces are perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of our identity. Faces develop through a multi-stage process where complex gene regulation controls cell specification, migration, growth, and differentiation. Alteration of any of these processes produces normal variation that defines our unique faces or clinical malformations. Facial anomalies are among the most common birth defects. This project will focus on a rare disease, Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. While we know this syndrome results from deletion or alteration of chromosome 22, the genetic basis of facial malformation in patients is unknown. EUREKA! researchers will determine facial phenotypes resulting from mutation of genes commonly deleted in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome using a zebrafish animal model.


With assistance from a lab technician and graduate students, EUREKA! researchers will lead an investigation of the role of one gene during facial development in zebrafish. The project will involve assessment of genotypes via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and phenotypes via histological staining of facial bones and cartilage, followed by microscopic imaging and quantifying facial shape. Additionally, EUREKA! researchers will also become familiar with research being done in the Powder lab on cichlid fishes, which have evolved an unparalleled range of craniofacial differences that correlate with feeding and are critical for their evolution.

Opportunities:

EUREKA! researchers may be offered a position to join the Powder lab for up to their entire time at Clemson. Required Skills:

A knowledge of molecular biology and PCR is recommended. Research Location: Life Science Facility - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Enhancing Production of Therapeutic Antibodies by Control of Cellular Stress Response Mentor: Dr. Mark Blenner Department: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Project/Faculty URL: http://proteinengineering.sites.clemson.edu/ Project Description:

The majority of biopharmaceuticals are produced in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. Improving the production rates of these cell lines can lead to cheaper drugs and more rapid development of novel therapeutics; however, the genetic modifications needed to improve productivity are unclear. Several chemical additives are known to improve the productivity of CHO cells, but often at the cost of product quality, which can render a therapeutic molecular less effective. In this project, we are exploring combination of productivity enhancers and stress inhibitors that improve productivity without sacrificing quality.


Research interns will be actively involved in measuring mRNA and protein levels using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blot. This involves growing mammalian cell cultures, harvesting cells, purifying RNA, performing quantitative PCR, running SDS-PAGE, performing western blots, and analyzing data. They will further learn to do mammalian cell suspension culture and setup screening experiments.

Opportunities:

The research projects in my lab will generally have a long life span; therefore, long term research opportunities are plentiful. My hope is that interns enjoy their research experience and continue working with me, and with my group for their years at Clemson. All work in the lab is likely to contribute to a peer-reviewed publication, and authorship potential exists for motivated researchers. Several prior EUREKA! students continued their research during the academic year. Other opportunities include potential to attend scientific meetings, interacting with AMBIC members, and future industrial internship opportunities.

Required Skills:

Interns do not need any specific skills or experiences, but the intern should be highly motivated and interested in chemical engineering, bioengineering, biomolecular engineering, genetic engineering, or biochemistry.

Research Location: Earle Hall - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Computationally Guided Design of Materials Mentor: Dr. Rachel Getman Department: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Project/Faculty URL: http://computationalcatalysis.sites.clemson.edu Project Description:

Do you ever wonder what it specifically it is about a material that makes it work the way it does? That is what our group strives to uncover. We use computational techniques to model material function and to predict material compositions that can optimize performance. Projects currently available involve optimization of catalysts, which are materials that accelerate the rates of chemical reactions without being consumed themselves, and magnetic nanoparticles, which have wide applications spanning from nanodevices to biomedicine. In each project, we are using software both to calculate material properties and to simulate performance. Material optimization is done using machine learning based on data points from our collaborators and that we generate ourselves.


EUREKA! students will use Clemson University's high performance computing cluster, Palmetto, to generate property predictions. In some cases they will also use tools such as machine learning to identify optimal properties and material compositions. They will also discuss results with our collaborators (experimental and computational) at Clemson University and elsewhere.

Opportunities:

Students are always welcome to continue their research in the group, through Creative Inquiry, Special Projects, or Departmental Honors Research.

Required Skills:

Students should be proficient at using their personal computers and be interested in learning new computational skills. Students who enjoyed their high school chemistry courses are also well-suited for this research.



Project Title: Sustainable Building Materials for Energy Efficient Housing Mentor: Dr. Chris Kitchens Department: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Project/Faculty URL: https://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/chbe/people/kitchens_c.html Project Description:

This project is focused on the development of greener alternatives to current residential housing building materials. Structural Insulated Panel Systems (SIPS) are emerging as an alternative form of residential construction that can significantly increase energy efficiency and decrease build time. Currently the SIPS materials consist of oriented strand board (OSB) as the structural component. OSB is composed of wood chips and often a phenyl formaldehyde resin which have health concerns and are very flammable. We are working with a company, Jet Products, to develop new magnesium oxide based cement wallboards for structural applications. The focus of this research will be to make these cement boards and test their properties for building applications, including strength, chemical composition, and fire retardant properties.


EUREKA! students will work with Dr. Kitchens and other members of his research group which consists of graduate research assistants and undergraduate research students. The graduate and undergraduate students will provide day to day assistance in the lab and train the EUREKA! students on laboratory practices and synthesis techniques used in the lab. After the first week in the lab, the students should be able to synthesize materials on their own. The students will then characterize these materials and analyze the results.

Opportunities:

Following the EUREKA! Program, students will have the opportunity to continue this research or related research in Dr. Kitchens' research group as an undergraduate researcher during the semesters and following summers. Opportunities exist through the Creative Inquiry program, Honors Research, or as an hourly paid researcher. Continuation of the research is strongly encouraged and students are not required to major in Chemical Engineering for these research opportunities. The EUREKA! students will be able to learn about these research opportunities from other undergraduate researchers in the lab over the summer.

Required Skills:

Qualified students should be interested in science and comfortable working in a chemistry laboratory. Students should be comfortable working with other students as well as independently. Enthusiasm, scientific creativity, and a love of science are a must.



Project Title: Bacteria-Inspired Design of Molecules to Bind Iron and Lanthanide Metals Mentor: Dr. Julia Brumaghim Department: Chemistry Project/Faculty URL: https://chemistry.sites.clemson.edu/brumaghimgroup/ Project Description:

Siderophores are organic molecules secreted by bacteria to bind iron they need to survive. Because of the very low solubility of iron, siderophores must bind Fe(III) with exquisite affinity. Enterobactin is a widely studied siderophore, with the highest-known stability constant for Fe(III) binding. Recently, enzymes that require lanthanide ions for activity were discovered in Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum (Mf) bacteria. Little is known about how Mf bacteria sequester and transport lanthanides as Ln(III) ions for use in enzymes, but similar to iron, there is strong evidence that Mf bacteria secrete a siderophore-like molecule, a "lanthanophore", to selectively sequester environmental lanthanides. The goals of this research project are to: 1) synthesize and characterize potential lanthanophore compounds, starting with those based on enterobactin, 2) determine Ln(III) binding affinities and metal selectivities of these metal binding compounds, and 3) examine these compounds as potential antimicrobial agents in bacterial studies. The overarching goal is to create lanthanophores based on enterobactin that are easy to synthesize using traditional organic synthesis methods and have substantially increased affinity for Ln(III) over Fe(III) binding. This project will be part of a collaboration with Dr. Modi Wetzler (also in the Chemistry Department).


Working with a second-year graduate student, the EUREKA! student will learn the techniques of organic synthesis and purification as they apply to metal-binding molecules. In addition, the student will learn typical characterization techniques such as mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy so that they can determine whether their synthetic reactions were successful in generating the desired products.

Opportunities:

Successful students will have the opportunity to continue this project in the research lab as undergraduates. Previous EUREKA! students have also presented their research results at scientific conferences and even become coauthors on scientific publications from the research group.

Required Skills:

Some knowledge and interest in chemistry is desirable, although we take care to teach on the job. Enthusiasm for making new molecules is a must!

Research Location: Hunter Chemistry Laboratory - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Nanoparticle Light-Harvesting Antennas for Nano Imaging and Sensing Mentor: Dr. Jason McNeill Department: Chemistry Project/Faculty URL: http://www.clemson.edu/science/departments/chemistry/people/faculty/mcneill.html Project Description:

The project is focused on design of novel molecular architectures for ultra-small nanoparticles with unique optical properties for imaging and sensing in complex cellular structures. The light-emitting particles light up individual protein molecules and complexes, tracking the motion, function, and interactions of proteins in cellular membranes and inside cells, providing a molecule-level view of life processes. While the eventual applications of the nanoparticles are for biology and advanced materials, the project is focused on nanoparticle preparation and characterization, building an understanding of the nanoparticles and their interactions with molecules in order to tailor them to specific imaging and chemical sensing challenges.


The intern or team will learn how to prepare nanoparticles by a flash mixing process, and then image individual nanoparticles in a laser fluorescence microscope. This could involve sophisticated image data analysis using custom software algorithms. Students will also characterize the properties of light emitted by the nanoparticles using a fluorescence spectrometer. Fundamental molecular processes occurring on very fast (picosecond) timescales will be investigated using ultra-short pulses from a laser. Some of the processes will be modeled using molecular modeling software. If time permits, advanced cellular imaging experiments at the Clemson Light Imaging Facility will be performed.

Opportunities:

The experience could lead to an extended undergraduate research project, and should provide skills and experience in nanotechnology, laser spectroscopy, and microscopy.

Required Skills:

We are looking for students with strong chemistry, physics, and mathematical skills. Some computer programming interest or experience as well as experience with solving mathematical problems using computer software would be helpful. Basic familiarity with optical microscopes or optics is a plus.

Research Location: Hunter Chemistry Laboratory - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Characterization of Lunar Regolith Simulants and Their Feasibility for In Situ Resource Utilization Mentor: Dr. Qiushi Chen Department: Civil Engineering Project/Faculty URL: http://cecas.clemson.edu/geomechanics/ Project Description:

NASA is building a plan to "put boots on the Moon" by as early as 2024, and eventually, to establish the first permanent American presence and infrastructure on the Moon. A key component is learning to use in situ resources, in particular, lunar regolith, to develop infrastructure that can support human exploration activities. This project aims to improve our understanding of lunar regolith simulants, and to explore their feasibility as building materials.


The research interns will work as a team and work closely with the faculty mentor and graduate student. The interns will (1) gain in-depth understanding of and be able to explain scientific challenges facing current and future NASA Moon exploration mission, as related to the use of in situ resources; (2) learn and be able to perform mechanical and physical experiments to characterize selected lunar regolith simulants; (3) process and analyze experimental data; and (4) improve technical reading, oral, and written skills through literature survey, project presentation, and report.

Opportunities:

There are two ways for students to get continuous involvement in this research: 1) through the faculty mentor's creative inquiry project (#1016 Martian and Lunar Soil Simulants - Characterizations and Feasibility as Building Blocks); and 2) through the fellowship and paid internship opportunities offered annually by NASA SC Space consortium (https://scspacegrant.cofc.edu/scholarships-and-fellowships).

Required Skills:

Students should be familiar with Microsoft Office suites, which will be used for research report and presentation, data processing, and visualization; be able to learn new software and experimental procedures.

Research Location: Lowry Hall - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles Mentor: Dr. Yunyi Jia Department: Department of Automotive Engineering Project/Faculty URL: http://cecas.clemson.edu/cra/ Project Description:

Develop advanced technologies to boost the development of robotics and autonomous vehicles. The technologies include perception and sensing systems to monitor the environments, planning, and control algorithms to control the robot/vehicle, machine learning algorithms to enhance the robot/vehicle performance, and human-machine interfaces to enable natural interactions between humans and robots/autonomous vehicles.


The research intern will be guided by the professor and work with a group of graduate students on the project. Opportunities:

Students can keep working as research assistants in the lab. Required Skills:

Students must have a knowledge of programming. Research Location: Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) - Greenville Campus Off-Campus: Yes Transportation: Students can travel from the main campus to CU-ICAR via the Clemson Area Transit (CAT) bus: www.catbus.com


Project Title: Micro-Particle Circulation in a 3D Microfluidic Channel Network Mentor: Dr. Pingshan Wang Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering Project/Faculty URL: https://pwang75.wixsite.com/wang Project Description:

Radio frequency (RF) sensing is a promising technique for cell-based drug screening and label-free identification of biological cells. In a miniature RF sensor, cells need to circulate in a microfluidic channel network . This project will study the circulation process and develop methods for controllable cell transport in a closed system. We will design 3D microfluidic networks, build them with 3D printing techniques, examine their performance with polystyrene particles, and identify structures suitable for compact RF sensor applications. Then, we will integrate the obtained microfluidic channel networks with RF sensing electrodes and test the RF sensor performance with yeast cells.


The research intern will work with a PhD student on a daily basis. The intern is expected to lead the efforts on 3D network design, 3D printing of the designed devices (interact with Mr. Timothy Pruett at the Watt Family Center), and experimentally study particle transport in the devices. The intern is expected to work with the PhD student and conduct yeast cell transport study in an RF sensor.

Opportunities:

The Principal Investigator (PI) intends to apply for a creative inquiry course for the students if they want to continue doing research. Required Skills:

The student should have AP Physics, AP Chemistry, and/or AP Biology. Experience with microscopes and CCD cameras or quick learning of them is needed.

Research Location: Flour Daniel - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Swarm Robots Mentor: Dr. Yongqiang Wang Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering Project/Faculty URL: http://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/ece/faculty_staff/faculty/ywang.html Project Description:

Biologically-inspired swarm robotics communication/control strategy will be developed. Neurons can achieve synchronized firing with amazing robustness and scalability via exchanging simple identical pulses. Using a similar mechanism fireflies can achieve synchronized flashing. Our group has systematically studied the cooperation mechanism of interacting neurons and designed a bio-inspired cooperation mechanism for swarm robotics. Based on the developed mechanism, students will use six ground robots in the lab to achieve various cooperative tasks. Such multi-robot based cooperative tasks have broad applications in flight formation, industrial automation, surveillance, and intelligent transportation, to name only a few.


Students will use six ground robots in the lab to achieve various cooperative tasks. Opportunities:

Students will be offered the opportunity to continue do research in the lab. Required Skills:

There are no specific skills required for this project. Students will be taught what they need to know in the lab. Research Location: Flour Daniel - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Assessing Carbon Emissions of Timber Harvesting Operations Mentor: Dr. Patrick Hiesl Department: Forestry and Environmental Conservation Project/Faculty URL: https://www.clemson.edu/cafls/faculty_staff/profiles/PHIESL Project Description:

The goal of this project is to work towards a better understanding of the fuel consumption and associated carbon emissions of common timber harvesting operations in South Carolina. Multiple logging businesses will be visited to gain information on machine productivity in different stand conditions. Of particular interest are fuel consumption and carbon emission of biomass chipping operations that provide raw materials for the energy market, such as wood pellets.


The intern will collect and summarize data collected from multiple harvest sites. Part of the interns duties will be to perform time studies using appropriate software and techniques that will be taught. The intern will also analyze fuel consumption of harvesting equipment and link values with carbon emission values.

Opportunities:

The successful intern may be able to stay on as a technician to continue helping with the project. The intern may co-author a journal article. Required Skills:

Students should have good Excel skills and some knowledge of harvesting operations is preferable. Research Location: Clemson Experimental Forest & Lehotsky Hall - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: Yes Transportation: When students conduct research in the Clemson Experimental Forest, they will ride in a state lab vehicle driven by professor or graduate student from campus to the forest.


Project Title: Crop Genetic Engineering for Enhanced Tolerance to Various Abiotic Stresses Mentor: Dr. Hong Luo Department: Genetics and Biochemistry Project/Faculty URL: http://www.clemson.edu/cafls/faculty_staff/profiles/hluo Project Description:

Environmental stress is one of the most important factors impacting agriculture production. Development of novel molecular strategies to genetically engineer important crops will lead to new cultivars with beneficial new traits, enhancing crop yield. This project focuses on manipulation of expression of several stress-related candidate genes in transgenic rice and turfgrass plants to achieve enhanced plant performance under adverse environmental conditions such as drought and salt stress, improving agriculture production and economy.


The research intern will work with graduate students and the post-doc researcher to actively participate in all aspects of the research project, including chimeric gene construction, plant transformation and gene functional characterization. The interns will be expected to become independent in conducting the assigned research after initial training by working together with other senior lab members.

Opportunities:

The students could continue their research in the lab, gain more research experience, and have opportunities to present research data in professional meetings and publish their discoveries.

Required Skills:

No specific skills are required for the intern to start the project. The interns will be trained in the lab and learn basic molecular and cell biology techniques including DNA RNA extraction, DNA cloning, plasmid construction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), plant tissue culture and plant genetic transformation.

Research Location: Biosystems Research Complex (BRC) - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Characterization of Mutated DNA Repair Genes Mentor: Dr. Michael Sehorn Department: Genetics and Biochemistry Project/Faculty URL: https://www.clemson.edu/science/departments/genetics-biochemistry/people/profiles/msehorn Project Description:

Each intern is given an individual DNA repair gene. The intern will use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to introduce mutations into their gene that are reported to be found in cancer in humans. Once the intern has mutated their gene, they will sequence the mutated gene to ensure that only the desired mutation is present. Next, the intern will optimize protein expression of the mutated gene. The intern will then purify the protein that was made from the mutated gene and will biochemically compare its activities to the unmutated version of the gene to see if the mutation affects the activity of the DNA repair gene.


The interns will do the work described in the Project Description guided by graduate students and the Professor. The progress of the project is dependent on how much the intern puts into the project. The intern will learn to purify DNA, conduct PCR, induce bacteria to express their protein, and purify it. We show the intern how to do these processes. Then we observe the intern doing the processes, providing assistance if needed. Lastly, we let the intern do the processes by themselves. They can of course ask someone for guidance should they need it. By the end of the internship, the student will be able to do these techniques without any assistance.

Opportunities:

If the student enjoys the research and gets along with the people in the lab, we will ask the student to join the lab for the entire time the student is at Clemson, giving the student 4+ years of research experience.

Required Skills:

There is no requirement for specific skills. We will teach the intern the skills they need to complete their project. Research Location: Life Science Facility - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: AI in Biomedicine: Prediction of Novel Human Disease Genes by Genomic Data Mining Mentor: Dr. Liangjiang Wang Department: Genetics and Biochemistry Project/Faculty URL: https://www.clemson.edu/science/departments/genetics-biochemistry/people/profiles/liangjw Project Description:

In the human genome, most genes actually do not encode proteins; they are non-coding RNA genes. The largest class of non-coding genes is known as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are transcripts greater in length than 200 nucleotides, but with no protein-coding capacity. While some lncRNAs have been demonstrated to be key regulators of gene expression and 3D genome organization, most lncRNAs are still uncharacterized. We have thus been developing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning approaches for the functional annotation of human lncRNAs through mining the vast amount of genetic and genomic data ("biological big data"). Our recent studies demonstrate that genomic data mining can give insights into RNA functions and provide valuable information for experimental studies of candidate lncRNAs. This research project will focus on the identification and functional analysis of novel candidate lncRNAs associated with human diseases, including intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). ID and ASD are clinically and genetically heterogeneous complex disorders, affecting up to 3% and 1% of the human population, respectively. ID is characterized by diminished intellectual capacity and adaptive reasoning, whereas ASD is recognized by impaired social communications and restrictive or repetitive behavior. Both disorders originate in early childhood, and involve a large number of genes essential for normal brain development and function. However, in most cases of ID or ASD, the specific genetic factors of the disorders are still unable to be determined. Until recently, only protein-coding genes were studied for their involvement in ID and ASD. It is thus likely that many of these disease-causing genetic factors may reside in lncRNAs, which are enriched in the brain. The research interns will learn how to build machine learning models for candidate disease gene prediction, and then utilize publicly available genetic and genomic data to further characterize and prioritize the candidate lncRNAs. The high-priority candidates identified in this project can not only provide new insight into the roles of lncRNAs in genetic brain disorders, but may also be further developed as biomarkers.


Research interns will be directly involved in the project. Each intern student, under the supervision of a graduate student, will learn how to build a machine learning model for candidate disease gene prediction and prioritization. They will also contribute to the further evaluation and curation of novel candidate lncRNAs associated with genetic brain disorders.

Opportunities:

The data analysis skills learned through this project can be useful for future careers in bioinformatics, genomics, human genetics, and precision medicine.


Required Skills:

Research interns are expected to have good computer skills and understand the basic concepts of genetics. Although prior experience with computational research is not required, the interns are expected to be willing to learn computer programming and basic machine learning techniques used in genomic data mining.

Research Location: Life Science Facility - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Revised Anderson Historic District, Anderson, SC Mentor: Dr. Christa Smith Department: History and Geography Project/Faculty URL: http://www.clemson.edu/caah/departments/history/people/facultyBio.html?id=538 Project Description:

The Anderson Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Typical of district nomination documents of this vintage, the inventory of contributing properties is incomplete. It is estimated that less than half of the properties are accounted for at this time. The absence of a comprehensive inventory for this district makes it more difficult to identify contributing properties when this information is needed, for example, when an owner is interested in applying for rehabilitation tax credits.


As a team, students will produce an updated inventory list of existing properties with a map and photographs within the current district boundaries. This will involve deed searches on approximately 5 properties per student and archival research at both the Anderson County library archives and Clemson University library archives. There will only be a few trips over to Anderson over the summer. Most days will be spent at Cooper Library in Clemson.

Opportunities:

The students may have the opportunity to help re-write the National Register nomination for The Anderson Historic District. This will lead to a publication with the National Register of Historic Places.

Required Skills:

Experience with GIS software and creating story maps would be useful, but not necessary. The City of Anderson has some interactive web mapping available and any intern must be willing to learn how to navigate mapping software to create a basic map for this project. Knowledge of basic photography (exposure, shutter speed, etc.) would also be helpful.

Research Location: Anderson County Library - Anderson and Cooper Library - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: Yes Transportation: When students visit at the Anderson County Library a few times over the project, they will ride in a state lab vehicle driven by professor or graduate student from campus to Anderson.


Project Title: Synthesis of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications Mentor: Dr. Thompson Mefford Department: Materials Science and Engineering Project/Faculty URL: https://www.meffordresearch.com Project Description:

We are currently developing a therapeutic technique for the treatment of bacterial infections and cancer. This technique is based upon the introduction of magnetic nanoparticles to diseased tissue. These particles are then irradiated with an alternating magnetic field causing the particles to heat. This applied heat will damage the surrounding tissue and promote cell death. The student involved in this project will be synthesizing magnetic nanoparticles and polymers for use in this application.


Our laboratory works on a team effort approach. The students involved in this project will be integrated into existing work. For example, the student will be trained on the proper synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles, and the measurement of their heating efficiency. Following training the participants will be given a unique challenge within the project for them to solve. In the past this has been developing new techniques for non-destructive characterization of materials, testing frequency response to temperature, and measuring the effects of viscosity.

Opportunities:

Based on performance, students will be given the opportunity to continue on their projects during the school year for either credit or salary. Previous participants have used their EUREKA! experience in our labs as a springboard toward other REU programs.

Required Skills:

A successful student will have a strong background in chemistry and an eagerness to learn. In addition, the student must be willing to work individually as well as in a team. Good communication skills (both speaking and writing) are also important.

Research Location: Advanced Materials Research Laboratory (AMRL) - Anderson Campus Off-Campus: Yes Transportation: Students can travel from the main campus to the AMRL via the Research Park Shuttle: https://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/parking/transit/research-park.html


Project Title: Microfluidic Mixing via Electrothermal Flow Circulations Mentor: Dr. Xiangchun Xuan Department: Mechanical Engineering Project/Faculty URL: https://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/me/people/faculty/xuan.html Project Description:

Microfluidics-based lab-on-a-chip devices have been increasingly used in point-of-care technologies for various chemical and biomedical applications. Because of the small scale, fluid flows become laminar in microfluidic devices leading to slow diffusion-dominated mixing of samples. This project is going to investigate the electric field-driven microfluidic mixing of nanoparticles via Joule heating-induced electrothermal flow circulations.


I will take two research interns for this proposed project. One will be working on the experiment and the other will be working on the simulation, both under the supervision of my PhD student. The two research interns will collaborate and have knowledge of each other's work.

Opportunities:

I hope the research interns can continue working in my lab for at least the fall semester to complete the experiment and simulation. I expect to have a journal paper from this project.

Required Skills:

Research interns should be interested engineering-related areas. No other skills or experience are required. Research Location: Flour Daniel - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Experimental and Computational Cardiovascular Research Mentor: Dr. Ethan Kung Department: Mechanical Engineering / Bioengineering Project/Faculty URL: http://www.cmerl.com Project Description:

In this project students will design, construct, and test devices that can improve the capabilities of a benchtop experiment that generates realistic pressure and flow waveforms mimicking human cardiovascular system. The ultimate purpose of such experiments is to provide a realistic benchtop environment that can be used to test cardiovascular medical devices. The project may extend to computational modeling of the cardiovascular system and related medical devices. The basic science aspect of the research may include experiments investigating the fundamental behaviours of water.


Students will come up with ideas and design solutions relating to how to generate proper pressure and flow in an experiment. They will implement a combination of actuators and sensors to realize the design solution in a physical construction of the device prototype. They may also perform experiments, computer simulations, and data analyses to answer scientific or clinical questions. The computational models that we employ include low-order circuits models and high-order 3D finite element models.

Opportunities:

Students are welcome to continue related research in Creative Inquiry or summer research. Required Skills:

Students must have the ability to learn to use new engineering software and hardware, and be able to learn basic data processing and coding in Matlab. The ability to grasp new scientific concepts is also helpful.

Research Location: Flour Daniel - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Atomic Cross Sections for Astrophysics Mentor: Dr. Joan Marler Department: Physics and Astronomy Project/Faculty URL: http://iontrapping.sites.clemson.edu/ Project Description:

Highly charged ions (HCIs) are atoms in which all or most of the electrons have been stripped off. The remaining few (or one) electrons exist in the presence of the strong electric field generated from the nucleus. While HCIs are rare on Earth, they are commonplace in the universe, particularly in the high temperature and pressure environments of stars and solar winds. Understanding how to read the photon signature from interactions of HCIs with neutral gases in the universe gives information on the density, temperature, and constituents of both. This project will study HCIs created by an intense electron beam in the Clemson University Electron Beam Ion Trap. Specifically we will study, in detail, their interactions with neutral gases that are present in comet tails and other planetary environments.


I am interested in two research interns. They will join a team of 3 PhD students and potentially 2 current undergraduate students. I work in close collaboration with another faculty and his group. We will be beginning an experimental program of measuring charge exchange (i.e. capture of one of the electrons from a neutral atom by an HCI). The students will work together to collect data as a function of HCI velocity and for different neutral targets. Students will be involved in the analysis of the data using codes written in the group or writing their own code. I anticipate the students will be involved in the design of supporting apparatus for the project.

Opportunities:

I regularly have undergraduate students perform research with me for academic credit (PHYS 2900) during the academic year. Required Skills:

The interns will be trained in all skills they will need for the research project. Familiarity with python computing language may be helpful but is not required.

Research Location: Kinard Laboratory of Physics - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Understanding the Role of Silicon on Alleviating Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Tree Fruit Mentor: Dr. Juan Carlos Melgar Department: Plant and Environmental Sciences Project/Faculty URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUrYPuJuUhc Project Description:

Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust. While it is not described as an essential nutrient for plants, numerous research publications in the last decade have proven it improves stress tolerance to abiotic (e.g. drought) and biotic (e.g. fungal diseases) stresses. However, research on the effect of silicon on perennial fruit crops is almost non-existent. A previous trial performed at our lab in Fall 2019 demonstrated foliar applications of Si improved tree water use under water stress, and provided some clues on the possible physiological mechanisms that could be responsible for this enhanced performance. In this project, the intern will participate in a study that aims to increase our understanding on i) the physiological mechanisms that Si activates to increase tolerance to water stress (objective 1); and ii) the role of Si on improving postharvest disease management for reducing fruit losses and, thus, food waste (objective 2). The intern will work on two experiments: the first experiment will be carried out with potted trees grown in a shade house (objective 1); for the second experiment we will use fruit from mature peach trees.


The intern will work together with the Principal Investigator (PI), Juan Carlos Melgar, on both experiments. The experimental trees will be located at the Clemson University Musser Fruit Research Center, which is Clemson's experimental fruit farm and located in Seneca, 15 minutes from campus. Then, lab analyses and data management will be carried out at our lab located on campus, at the Biosystems Research Complex (BRC). The intern is not expected to drive to the experimental farm Musser Fruit Research Center. Dr. Melgar has a state vehicle (truck) that either him or any of the graduate students in his lab drive to the experiment station daily during the summer. Thus, the intern will be welcome to come with us. If the interns prefer to use their car, that is fine too. We normally leave from Campus in the morning (around 8 am) and be back on Campus around noon. While Dr. Melgar will be the main supervisor, the intern will work closely to several graduate students, and may be supervised by one of them for certain activities. For instance, these graduate students are very knowledgeable on and are very familiar with some of the measurements that the intern will take. Thus, for some of these activities, the intern may be supervised either by Dr. Melgar or by one of the graduate students. These graduate students have their own projects, but they often help each other with their experiments and learn from each other. Furthermore, at the Musser Fruit Research Center and at the BRC, the student will interact with other graduate students and members of the


Peach Team, which is an interdisciplinary group of researchers that work on peaches from different approaches (physiology, pathology, breeding, etc.).

Opportunities:

Other than the described opportunities for presentations and publications, the student could be invited to give a seminar at the Plant and Environmental Sciences seminar series. If the student is interested, we could discuss the opportunity of attending and presenting this results at some other scientific meetings.

Required Skills:

Basic knowledge of plant biology is desirable (not required). The most important aptitude required is eagerness and willingness to learn about plant physiology. For data management, knowledge of Microsoft Excel is required. Basic knowledge on statistics is desirable (otherwise, the intern will be taught what is needed for performing statistical analyses) We will have field experiments, so outdoor work is expected. Nevertheless, our routine for the days that we have field work is to start early and finish with the field work by around 10 - 11 am, in order to avoid the heat of the day.

Research Location: Musser Fruit Research Center - Seneca and Biosystems Research Complex (BRC) - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: Yes Transportation: When students conduct research at the Musser Fruit Research Center, they will ride in a state lab vehicle driven by professor or graduate student from campus to the center.


Project Title: Climate Resilient Crops for Food Security Mentor: Dr. Sruthi Narayanan Department: Plant and Environmental Sciences Project/Faculty URL: https://www.clemson.edu/cafls/faculty_staff/profiles/skutty Project Description:

Climate models predict continued warming and increased frequency, duration, and intensity of droughts across the southeast U.S. Between 2000 and 2018, South Carolina experienced drought [Moderate (D1) - Exceptional (D4)] every year except 2014. In 2015, 35 counties in South Carolina were declared as primary disaster areas due to drought by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Our research focuses on understanding crop response and adaptation to changing environmental conditions (water and temperature) in order to develop climate resilient crop varieties. In this summer, we will be evaluating soybean, peanut, and cotton varieties for their performance under drought and heat stress conditions. We will also evaluate the effect of cover crops (crops that provide a ground cover and improve soil organic matter content) on conserving soil water and improving soil health.


The research interns will work with the graduate students and take part in the on-going research projects. The interns will work with the graduate students in designing the lay out for soybean field trials, planting, maintaining the field studies by various operations including irrigation and pest control and conducting a controlled environmental experiment on cotton physiology. The interns will assist in collecting data on important plant physiological traits including photosynthesis using sophisticated equipment and latest technology, monitoring in-situ root growth and development using cameras installed in the field, and measuring soil water content using probes. The interns will also work with the graduate students to maintain a cover crop field research, collect data on soil water content and soil health, harvest cover crop biomass, and process them in the laboratory. The intern will get an opportunity to work as part of a team, experience how actual crop science research projects are designed and maintained, and how research data are collected. The projects will continue even after the summer; there is a possibility for the interns to continue working on the same projects in the Fall semester as well. The interns will have fun going out to the field (Pendleton, SC; 15 minute drive from campus) and work on a plant project out in the field in nice summer weather with other students.

Opportunities:

They will get an opportunity to continue research in our lab (depending upon their performance in the summer). In the long run, there is a potential opportunity for a graduate research assistantship, if the student demonstrates potential for a researcher.


Required Skills: Passion for plant science, ability to work as a team, and interest to work in the field and grow crops is required for this project.

Research Location: Simpson Research and Education Center - Pendleton and Biosystems Research Complex (BRC) - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: Yes Transportation: When students conduct research at the Simpson Research and Education Center, they will ride in a state lab vehicle driven by professor or graduate student from campus to the center.


Project Title: Automatic Genomic Information Extraction from Online Resources Mentor: Dr. Xia Jing Department: Public Health Sciences Project/Faculty URL: https://www.clemson.edu/cbshs/faculty-staff/profiles/xjing Project Description:

This project will include a student programmer who will explore the feasibility and challenges in building an automatic information extraction prototype. The prototype will focus on the extraction of clinically actionable genomic information from several online publicly accessible resources such as PharmGKB, CliniGen, OMIM, and FDA Pharmacogenomic Biomarkers. Genomics information is critical in developing individualized care plans or forming personalized clinical decisions. Clinically actionable genomics information is a critical component in realizing precision medicine. However, one bottleneck in delivering precision medicine is to provide precise and clinical relevant genomics information continuously, conveniently, and in a timely manner. The ever-growing genomics knowledge resources provide a huge challenge to the current manual extraction process. An automatic information extraction tool has the potential to play a significant role in realizing precision medicine. The output of the automatic extraction tool can be utilized in broad applications in health care delivery such as a structured knowledge source for individualized clinical decision support. We have made significant progress in selecting, comparing available publicly accessible resources, and extracting clinically actionable genomics knowledge manually. The student will utilize the existing manual extraction results and controlled terminologies to explore the feasibility of developing a prototype guided by the supervisor. The student needs to have proficient programming skills and experience to fulfill the role. The position will provide hands-on experience for the student to obtain experience in natural language processes, terminology services, automatic information extraction, and the freedom to pursue creative solutions during the process.


The student will set up a routine work schedule during the project period. The specific work schedule can be discussed with the supervisor based on the student's course load. The student needs to (1) extract clinically actionable genomics terminologies via UMLS; (2) build a pipeline to extract the terminologies from UMLS automatically; (3) participate in prototype design and feasibility exploration; (4) set up a development environment to build the information extraction prototype (a customized Web crawler) where the extraction can start from one web page or one PDF file until to the granularities of one paragraph or relevant sentences; (5) adjust the configuration of the prototype to test the tool in multiple resources; and (6) update the prototype and possibly other tasks related to building the prototype.

Opportunities:

Students may have chances to present in professional conferences in health informatics (if the results are noticeable and the submission can be accepted). Students also have chances to be a co-author in manuscripts prepared from this project.


Required Skills:

Ideally, the candidate should be a computer science or computer engineering major. The student should have a good understanding of programming and database management and should have prior hands-on experience in applying such knowledge in real-world projects or course assignments. The student should be able to use Python, MySQL, MS Access, JavaScript, and PHP proficiently. Strongly preferred characteristics of the candidate include being detail-oriented, possessing a strong work ethic, being a self-starter, and having the capability to solve problems.

Research Location: Edwards Hall - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No


Project Title: Virtual Hand Motions Mentor: Dr. Sophie Joerg Department: School of Computing Project/Faculty URL: https://computing.clemson.edu/vcl/people.html Project Description:

Seeing one's own hands moving in Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that is just starting to be available for home users. However, the accuracy of such tracking devices has not been evaluated yet. Our lab hosts a state-of-the-art optical motion capture system that allows us to accurately track hand motions in real-time. In this summer project, we want to investigate the perception of errors in hand motions. We want to investigate how accurate the newest devices are and we want to know if tracking errors or inaccuracies matter when performing tasks, communicating, or playing games in VR.


The research interns will need to learn how to use the motion capture and VR technology. They will help create applications in VR with the game engine Unity 3D. They will then run an experiment with participants performing tasks, and (with help) evaluate their results. Nearly all of these tasks will be performed in teams.

Opportunities:

They are welcome to continue working with me in the Fall semester. Required Skills:

Students need to be interested in technology and programming. They need good problem-solving and debugging skills. They need to be able to communicate and follow a research protocol.

Research Location: McAdams Hall - Clemson Campus Off-Campus: No

Project Title: Application of Data Driven Models to ...€¦ · The interns will be responsible for...

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