Project Roster 2014

Improving Energy Efficiency via Alternative Energy Methods

Proj. Leader: Daniel Broberg (Materials Science and Engineering) and Evan Runnerstrom (Materials Science and Engineering)

Energy access is the single most important problem faced by man in the modern era. Current methods of generating energy often rely on resources which have adverse effects on the environment due to their toxic nature, which motivates a large amount of modern research to find cleaner methods of providing energy for the expanding world population.

This research project will allow students to explore a few ways in which exotic scientific effects are able to either generate clean energy (through solar energy) or recapture waste heat (through thermoelectric devices). The students will access the viability of these different routes and conjecture to what extent these devices would be able to improve the output of the American power system.

Exploring Patterns in Nature (Math Kitties)

Proj. Leader: Julia Sullivan (Education) and Manuel Sabin (EECS)

Students will study different objects in nature and record and predict patterns. The students will then go to the Botanical Garden and notice which plants follow which patterns. Students will derive the golden ratio and create formulas for their patterns.

Exploring Molecular Pathways through Insulin Signaling in

C. elegans

Proj. Leader: Fahima Mayer (Endocrinology), Dena Block (Integrated Biology), and Maureen Berg (Integrated Biology)

What factors affect lifespan? If you’re eaten by a lion, or if you get sick, etc, you’ll have a shorter lifespan. If you can outrun the lion, you’ll live long! We’ll use soil nematodes called C. elegans to find out more about the molecular basis of lifespan.

Network Analysis of Pandemic

Proj. Leader: James Arnemann (Physics) and Katelyn Arnemann (Neuroscience)

We will interactively explore how network analysis can be applied strategically to prevent disease outbreak in the board game Pandemic.

The Effects of Distraction on the Brain: Implications for Texting and Driving

Proj. Leader: Nicole Swann (Neuroscience) and Ian Greenhouse (Neuroscience)

We all know how frustrating it can be while driving to be cutoff by a reckless driver, only to see that they are obliviously texting on their phone. It is widely thought that distraction caused by secondary tasks (such as texting, looking at GPS, etc.) can be dangerous and even fatal when driving. Students will systematically test this hypothesis, but measuring the degree of impairment while engaged in different distractors. After brainstorming the distractors to test, students will conduct an experiment meant to simulate driving where subjects have to respond with a foot pedal response (‘brake’ or ‘accelerator’) to various stimuli (‘pedestrian’, ‘green light’, etc.) presented with a computer controlled task. Reaction time to these stimuli will be calculated while each subject is engaged in different kinds of distraction (paying attention, texting, watching GPS, etc.). Statistical tests will be conducted comparing the different conditions and we will discuss the brain mechanisms involved in responding to the stimuli and how distraction can be minimized.

An Exploration of Dynamical Systems Using Video Feedback

Proj. Leader: Guy Isley (Neuroscience)

We'll use video feedback loops as a medium in which to explore some key concepts from dynamical systems theory such as fixed points, limit cycles, and chaos.

Genetically Modified Organisms: What's the Big Deal?

Proj. Leader: Justine Chia (Molecular Cell Biology) and Sally Zhen (Chemical Engineering)

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms whose genetic composition has been directly altered by humans with a special set of technologies. Much controversy has arisen over the issue of genetic modification, because of the associated costs and benefits. The GMO status of a product can be confirmed by detecting the presence of a specific regulatory DNA sequence. Genetic engineers use a small number of regulatory sequences (promoter and terminator sequences) to control the expression of the inserted genes, so these sequences are common to the majority of genetically modified crops. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis, we can test for the presence of a specific sequence of DNA. The status of genetic modification is indicated by the presence or absence of a band amplified DNA on a gel.