Analyze and Compare Penn State Official Websites for Performance and Security Vulnerabilities
Websites are one of main mediums of communication these days. Faculty, staff, students and others visit university websites for important information. They often browse them using their mobile phones. But how accessible are they? Are they mobile friendly? How do different PSU campuses' website stand when it comes to performance (and security) issues? Using free-to-use tools this project will analyze and compare Penn State official websites and suggest performance (and possibly security) improvement suggestions.
Duration: Fall 2021, Spring 2022
Faculty: Ishtiaque Hussain ([email protected])
Pulsars Studies with Radio Astronomy
Pulsars are the remnants of exploding giant stars. Because pulsars rotate rapidly they produce a periodic signals (pulses) that can be detected with large radio telescopes. In our projects, we use a 20 meter diameter radio telescope at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia to detect pulsars. Our research projects support three goals: searching for undiscovered pulsars, studying the properties of pulsars and using collections of pulsars as a galaxy size gravitational wave detector.
Requirements: Competency in Algebra and Trigonometry. Experience with EXCEL and some background introductory physics is preferred. Advanced projects are aided by an introductory knowledge of python.
Duration: Fall 2021, Spring 2022
Faculty: Ann Schmiedekamp ([email protected])
Terrestrial and astronomical signal detection with a small radio telescope
We are constructing small, portable radio telescopes. The project involves detecting radio signals and trying to characterize their source. We are interested in distinguishing astronomical signals from signals from technology and other Earthly sources.
Requirements: Completed algebra and trig courses.
Duration: Fall 2021, Spring 2022
Faculty: Carl Schmiedekamp ([email protected])
Surface Defects Detection and Classification on Metallic Parts
Inspection of metallic parts is a challenging task and has demands in a variety of manufacturing quality control applications. Computer visions are typically used for the purpose of inspection, in particular, for detection, recognition, and classification surface features representing manufacturing imperfections. This research focuses on developing algorithms for detection, extraction, and fuzzy assessment of surface conditions that are based on the fusion of surface attributes such as texture, defect-shape, color, surface contrast, etc. We will artificially plant surface defects, e.g. dents and scratches on nominally smooth surfaces. By training a machine learning framework, we should identify how a fusion of the aforementioned surface characteristics can be used to extract quantitative information about these artificial defects.
Requirements: Proficient in python programming, Knowledge in OpenCV – image processing is a plus.
Project duration: Fall 2021, Spring 2022
Faculty: Vinayak Elangovan ([email protected])
Text Summarization
Text summarization refers to techniques of shortening lengthy sections of text to create a comprehensible summary representing pertinent information outlined in the document. This research focuses on investigating and developing various text summarization algorithms developed by past researchers, identifying the pros and cons of those techniques and establishing a problem statement to open up more research opportunities in this area. An algorithm should be developed and tested to address the concerns of the investigated techniques.
Requirements: Proficient in python programming
Project duration: Fall 2021, Spring 2022
Faculty: Vinayak Elangovan ([email protected])
Analyzing Data in Opioid Overdose Database
We developed an opioid overdose database over the last two years. Now we would like to analyze the data inside this database. Students will be working with the professors involved in this project and query the database to extract valuable data for research purposes. Previous students involved in this project has successfully hired by companies that use databases in their daily operations. Students will gain valuable data retrieval skills in this particular project.
Requirements: A- or better in IST 210, GPA 3.0 or above.
Project duration: Fall 2021, Spring 2022
Faculty: Sabahattin Ozden ([email protected]), Glenn Sterner ([email protected])
Design of CubeSat Prototype and High-Altitude Test via Weather-Balloon
CubeSats, miniature satellites with only one liter in volume, are gaining interests as these palm-size spacecraft offer ways to do space science cheaply. Our ACURA students would design, build, and test the prototypes of CubeSat. Depending on the background of the students, the students would (1) use Arduino microcontroller to design mechatronics features, (2) conduct lab test and weather-balloon flight tests, and/or (3) create 3D drawings of the CubeSat structure (using SolidWorks or Fusion 360) for 3D printing or CNC machining. The students involved in this project will submit technical reports by the end of the second semester.
Requirements: Cumulative GPA must be 3.5 or above. Majors considered are (1) engineering pre-majors who intend to pursue aerospace or mechanical engineering and who already completed MATH141, CHEM110, and PHYS211, or (2) computer science or IST major at sophomore standing or above.
Project duration: Fall 2020 and Spring 2021
Faculty: Masataka Okutsu ([email protected])
Synthesis of novel gamma-butyrolactones
Our laboratory recently completed the total synthesis of the phenolic natural product Cinncassin A1, a gamma-butyrolactone that has potential as a neuroprotective agent. We are investigating the preparation of synthetic analogues of this substance for future biological study to determine their activity.
Requirements: Students who are interested in chemistry research are welcome to apply. Requirements for consideration include completed course work in CHEM 210, 212, and 213 with a grade of B or better.
Project duration: Fall 2021 and Spring 2022
Faculty: Ahmed Nuriye ([email protected])
Transition metal-mediated oxidative rearrangement reactions
We are investigating the use of transition metals as promoters of oxidative rearrangement reactions in sulfur and sulfoxide systems. The goal of the investigation is to devise new reaction technologies to be used in the synthesis interesting and complex molecules.
Requirements: Students who are interested in chemistry research are welcome to apply. Requirements for consideration include completed course work in CHEM 210, 212, and 213 with a grade of B or better.
Project duration: Fall 2021 and Spring 2022
Faculty: Ahmed Nuriye ([email protected])
Using Augmented Reality to Build Virtual Warehouses
We will develop virtual warehouses using augmented reality on IPhone and Android phones. These virtual warehouses can be used to test innovative warehouse layouts before building them physically. Students will learn about Augmented Reality and JavaScript which are the important for many employers on these days. Also students will gain experience in academic writing as well as warehouse design if they want to stay in academia. We already have a working prototype and students will be enhancing this working prototype.
Requirements: Successful completion of IST 240 or IST 242, GPA 3.0 or above.
Project duration: Fall 2021, Spring 2022
Faculty: Sabahattin Ozden ([email protected])
5G Networking for Supporting Edge Computing
5G networking is expected to be a core technology for supporting edge computing, which deploys distributed cloud-like capabilities at the network edge for enhancing cloud service performance. In this project, we plan to study how to integrate 5G networking and edge computing, the two latest developments in the fields of networking and computing, with a holistic vision for supporting a wide variety of applications in the future Internet.
Requirements:
basic knowledge of networking -- IST 220
basic programming skill -- IST 140 or CMPSC 131
Project duration: Fall 2021 and Spring 2022
Faculty: Qiang Duan ([email protected])
Sensing technologies for a better society
Applying sensing technology to assist people with vision impairment. Applying software and hardware engineering for art conservation applications. Both electrical engineering and software engineering will be applied in this research.
Requirements: 3.0 GPA, programming background, good work ethic, creativity, intellectual curiosity, and self-discipline.
Duration: Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023 (no requirement to present in fair in Apr 2022)
Faculty: Yi Yang
Program Development to analyze Transmission Electron Microscopy
Microscopic imaging, which provides real-time information about matter, is critical for understanding the relationships between structure and properties in materials research. Retrieving relevant information on morphology, size, distribution, intensity, and other attributes from microscopic photographs of various objects at various scales is a time-consuming operation.Deep learning, on the other hand, has shown considerable promise in applications on complex systems due to its capacity to extract important information automatically. Deep learning approaches on imaging analysis have recently been used by researchers to discover structures and uncover the link between microstructure and performance. In this project students will develop a program with Dr. Elangovan Vinayak to analyze Dr. Burcu Ozden's TEM images. Dr. Ozden will explain the images and information needs to drawn from these images. Dr. Vinayak will mentor students to develop the analysis program.
Requirements: proficiency in python programming
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022
Faculty: Burcu Ozden ([email protected])
ECC: Elliptic Curve Cryptography
The project will be to develop an application using open source C++ libraries that support elliptic curve cryptography to perform speed and performance measurements on different bit strengths and operating systems.
Requirements: Knowledge of C++ CMPSC 121 and CMPSC 122
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022
Faculty: Joseph Oakes ([email protected])
Dynamic Fish Schooling Modeling
Schools of fish are often modelled to find configurations that find the speed, minimize drag, or maximize efficiency. These rigid configurations do not account for the dynamic behavior of a school of fish. The project intends to expand on the boids animation technique by embedding a simplistic computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model onto the swimmers to compare different types of cooperative games that may arise in a school. The computational project will have two major components: the definition of a simple CFD model via model reduction techniques and a quantitive comparison of different swimming goals.
Requirements: Should be comfortable programming in Python/Julia; successful completion of MATH220
Project duration: Fall 2021, Spring 2022
Faculty: Nate Wagenhoffer ([email protected])
Optimizing Aziridination of Alkenes to Develop an Instruction-Friendly Experiment
Aziridines are important functional functional group in organic synthesis. Making this functional group in an undergraduate laboratory course would provide students a valuable learning experience. This project will explore techniques for synthesizing aziridines with the goal of developing a synthesis that is simple, timely, and inexpensive. Students will learn experimental techniques and analytical methods (thin layer chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared.
Requirements: Successful completion of CHEM 112 & 113. Enrollment in or completion of CHEM 210 & 212 would be beneficial.
Project duration: Fall 2021, Spring 2022
Faculty: Kevin Cannon ([email protected])
