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 2019 and Spring 2020
Faculty: Sabahattin Ozden ([email protected]), Glenn Sterner ([email protected])
An Intelligent Automated Visual Inspection System
Quality Inspection (QI) helps manufacturing industry determine whether a product meets a required standard. The massive repetition nature of QI arises a demand for RPA (Robotic Process Automation). While QI of most manufacturing products has a clear standard, it is possible that we can train robots to identify defects and classify as accepted or rejected products. A camera source shall be used to capture images of the objects and the images are processed to detect the surface defects. The main objective of this project is to develop image processing functions to detect and classify the surface defects. The developed system shall mimic the operations carried out in industry for automating a visual inspection system.
Requirements: Python programming
Project duration: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020
Faculty: Vinayak Elangovan ([email protected])
BLOCKCHAIN : Hyperledger Fabric
Hyperledger fabric: Students will learn different types of blockchain and authorization and delegations methods for access control. This research will explore different threat models in blockchain system.
Requirements: GPA 2.8 or Above
Project Duration: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020
Faculty: Bharat Rawalkshatriya ([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 2019 and Spring 2020
Faculty: Masataka Okutsu ([email protected])
Digital sensing in eye related applications
We develop hardware such as handheld measuring devices and wheelchairs that assist people with vision problems. Both electrical engineering and software engineering will be applied in this research.
Requirements:
1. Good hardware and programming skills.
2. GPA > 3.5
3. Highly motivated and can work independently
Project duration: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020
Faculty: Yi Yang ([email protected])
Digital strategies in art application
We explore and develop both hardware and software methods to assist the conservation of art. The research covers electrical engineering, programming such as blockchain, image processing, software engineering.
Requirements:
1. Intensive programming background
2. GPA > 3.5
3. Can work independently, and highly motivated.
4. Preference giving to students who plan to finished the CS degree at Abington, but not required.
Project duration: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020
Faculty: Yi Yang ([email protected])
Edge Computing in 5G Networks -- Performance Evaluation
This project is to study the performance of Edge Computing in the emerging 5G Networks. We plan to apply a simulation tool to evaluate mobile application performance in various networking scenarios in order to identify the main impact factors on edge computing performance.
Requirements: IST 220 (networking) and IST 242 (Java Programming)
Project duration: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020
Faculty: Qiang Duan ([email protected])
Effects of High-Dose Ascorbate (Vitamin C) on gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) cells
This project will investigate the anti-proliferative effects of high-dose vitamin C (ascorbate) on gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) cells. We will also investigate possible mechanisms for the anti-proliferative effect which may include the production of oxygen radicals (like hydrogen peroxide) and induction of apoptosis.
Requirements: Usually I do not take on research students until they have successfully completed BIOL 230W. (This project is not taking more students in fall 2019.)
Project duration: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020
Faculty: Thomas Mcguire ([email protected])
Exfoliation of 2D materials
The primary goal of this project is to study the electrical and optical properties of 2-dimensional (2D) materials. This project involves setting up an experimental station here at Penn State Abington campus to prepare 2-D materials before electrical and optical measurements, which will be held at University Park Campus and here at Abington. The projects proposed here are purposefully designed for participation by undergraduate researchers and will teach them the essential physics and engineering concepts as they learn to think like engineers and answer questions concerning 2D materials. Recently, two-dimensional materials have become one of the most popular materials to study in many areas of engineering. It is significant for engineering students to involve in experimental research activity here at Abington Campus to be competitive when they transfer to UPark Campus. Having basic knowledge of 2-D materials, being able to identify and exfoliate 2-D materials will help undergraduate students at Abington to find an undergraduate research project when they transfer to the UPark Campus. This research may require students to travel to University Park.
Requirements: To be eligible for this project students should successfully complete their introductory math, physics, and chemistry courses. GPA of 3.00 or above is preferred. Students should be available to travel University Park for some part of the experiments. First-year students who took the AP class might also be eligible. Looking for students who are interested in material science and optics.
Project duration: Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021
Faculty: Burcu Ozden ([email protected])
Lobster: Location-Based Survey on Things Users Require
Ever craved for a Subway sandwich or other restaurants in the middle of the highway just to realize that the nearest one is far away? Ever wondered how many more people may have searched for the same thing at the same location? How about: at Penn State Abington, many students require the same thing that the administration is simply not aware of? Wouldn't it be great if we had a platform that can gather location-based need for people and display it for all? That way, Subway owners would know where to open their next franchise and PSU-Abington authority would know how to serve the students better. This project will build such a platform!
Requirements: Should have taken CMPSC 131 and CMPSC 132 course. Good in programming, self-motivated to learn new technology
Project duration: Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021
Faculty: Ishtiaque Hussain ([email protected])
Pulsar Radio Astronomy
Pulsars are the remnants of exploding giant stars. Because pulsars rotate rapidly they produce a periodic signal (pulses) that can be detected with large radio telescopes. 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
Project duration: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020
Faculty: Dr. Ann Schmiedekamp ([email protected]), Dr. Carl Schmiedekamp ([email protected])
Strength and fit testing of 3D printed lower extremity prosthetic sockets
Lower limb prostheses help patients with limb loss to regain walking function. A prosthesis is typically made up of a socket, pylon, and foot. The socket is responsible for connecting the other components to the body and has a large influence on comfort and safety. The socket is custom fabricated and is labor, time intensive and messy. 3D-printing a socket can potentially improve on all of these aspects of socket fabrication. Early work has shown positive results, for check sockets, but methodologies are not well described. Equally importantly, mechanical testing to ensure adequacy of the socket has not been reported – though commercial fabrication options are available. A local P&O facility approached us to bring the entire socket fabrication in-house using 3DP and eventually to use 3DP sockets as definitive sockets. Our Objectives are: 1) to use the jigs we designed and built previously to mechanically test the strength and integrity of the 3DP socket for check and definitive use and 2) to continue to develop a method to assess how well the 3DP socket fits the residual limb mold.
Requirements: None - I'm open to students participating in either 2 or 3 semester ACURA
Project duration: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020
Faculty: Mukul Talaty ([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 2019 and Spring 2020
Faculty: Ahmed Nuriye ([email protected])
The Cosmological Red Shift: Does Our Current Cosmological Theory Violate Conservation of Energy?
The energy in physics is always divided into kinetic and potential energy. Gravity between the stars and galaxies is attractive and the gravitational potential energy between two massive objects of masses M and M’ is greater the distance between the two objects. According to the standard interpretation of the Hubble law, the further away the distant galaxies are from us the greater are their kinetic energies. Combining this with the statements in the previous paragraph leads to the conclusion that the total mechanical energy between galaxies must increase with increasing distance between them: a violation of conservation of energy!
Requirements: Lots of interest in the subject and in physics and mathematics!
Project duration: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020
Faculty: Patrick Moylan ([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 2019 and Spring 2020
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 2019 and Spring 2020
Faculty: Sabahattin Ozden ([email protected])