For some students at Missouri University of Science and Technology, summer doesn’t mean a break from learning. Over a dozen students are getting hands-on research experience as part of the Summer Scholars Program.

Participating students are matched with professors and assist them with ongoing research projects for 25 hours per week during the eight-week summer session. In the spring of 2024, the students will present the results of this research as part of Missouri S&T’s Undergraduate Research Conference.

In addition to research experience, the students will participate in weekly professional development seminars covering topics related to research and graduate school. They will also complete a course for at least three credit hours. For more information about this and other hands-on learning programs, please visit experientiallearning.mst.edu.

The following students and professors are participating in the program:

• Logan Banker, a senior in aerospace engineering from Columbia, Missouri, will work with Dr. Davide Vigano, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, on “Tomographic PIV System for Supersonic Wind Tunnel Application.”
• Noah Brown, a first-year student in mechanical engineering from Leslie, Arkansas, will work with Dr. David Lipke, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, on “Additive Manufacturing of Ceramic Matrix Composites.”
• Tylor Cheatham, a junior in environmental sciences from Rolla, Missouri, will work with Dr. Dev Niyogi, professor of biological sciences, on “Phosphorus Cycling in Urban Ponds in Rolla.”
• Akira Durbin, a first-year student in psychology from St. Robert, Missouri, will work with Dr. Amy Belfi, assistant professor of psychological science, on “Music and Autobiographical Memory in Everyday Life.”
• Charles Green, a sophomore in biological sciences from Kansas City, Missouri, will work with Dr. Chen Hou, associate professor of biological sciences, on “Metabolic Economy of Cellular Biosynthesis, Defense, Repair, and senescence.”
• Harrison Hawxby, a sophomore in chemistry from Edmond, Oklahoma, will work with Dr. Garry Grubbs II, associate professor of chemistry, on “A Novel Microwave Spectrometer for Phase and Chiral Coherent Quantum Control.”
• Kaitlin Miles, a sophomore in chemistry from Griggsville, Illinois, will work with Dr. Klaus Woelk, associate professor of chemistry, on “Industrial Methanol Synthesis Evaluated by Magnetic Resonance Relaxation.”
• Gunner Shanks, a first-year student in mechanical engineering from Rolla, Missouri, will work with Dr. Jonghuyn Park, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, on “3D-Printed Wearable Batteries.”
• Aaron Spillars, a senior in aerospace engineering from California, Missouri, will work with Dr. Xiaosong Du, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, on “Deep Learning-Based Efficient Global Optimization Framework with Novel Infilling Criteria for Aerodynamic Design.”
• Briannah Tiarks, a transfer student in environmental engineering from Rolla, Missouri, will work with Dr. Joel Burken, department chair and Curators’ Distinguished Professor of civil, architectural, and environmental engineering, on “Amendment-Assisted Enhanced Revegetation for Doe Run Mining: Designing, Establishing, and Monitoring of Pilot Scale Field.”
• Rowan Torbitzky-Lane, a junior in computer science from Fenton, Missouri, will work with Dr. Genda Chen, Robert W. Abbett distinguished professor of civil engineering, on “Horizontal Hyperspectral Imaging Characterization.”
• Ashton Ventura, a junior in metallurgical engineering from Carthage, Missouri, will work with Dr. Mario Buchely, Roberta and G. Robert Couch assistant professor of materials science and engineering, on “Next Generation Alloy Development for Scanning Induction Hardened Bearings.”
• Sage Wood, a junior in biological sciences from Jefferson City, Missouri, will work with Dr. Robin Verble, associate professor of biological sciences, on “Evaluations of Wildland Firefighter Environmental Health.”

About Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System and located in Rolla, Missouri, Missouri S&T offers 101 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top 10 universities for return on investment, according to Business Insider. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.