Missouri State University's Missouri Space Grant Page
The Missouri Space Grant Consortium
is a collaboration of Missouri Universities.
The mission of the Missouri Consortium of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program is to maintain and enhance, through the State's research universities and corporate partners, the Nation's workforce capabilities in aerospace and space related science, engineering, and technology; and to aid in the dissemination of NASA related information to students, faculty, researchers, and the general public.
The specific goals of the Consortium are to inspire, motivate, recruit,
educate, and train students at all academic levels to help meet
Missouri's and NASA's need for skilled, knowledgeable, diverse, and
high-performing professional scientists, engineers, technologists, and
educators in the fields of interest to NASA.
Accepting applications for NASA interns until
April 29, 2023.
The announcement is here (PDF format)
To apply complete: 1)
an application (in Word format or
here for pdf format), 2) submit a one page statement expressing
interest in the internship and in pursuing a career in a field of interest
to NASA (astronomy, space science, planetary geology, etc.), 3) an
official current transcript, 4) one or two letters of reference.
Re-applying interns only need to submit numbers 1 and 3.
REQUIREMENTS: You must be a US citizen, have a GPA of 3.0 or above, and you will have to
submit a paper (during March) and attend and present (a talk) at the Missouri Space Grant meeting in Rolla (expenses paid)
during April.
2023-2024 Undergraduate Research Projects
(Choose up to three for your application)
LONG LIST THIS YEAR, BE SURE TO LOOK AT ALL THE OPTIONS
- Project AB1: Distances and
age of selected open clusters.
The ultimate goal of the project is to estimate precise distances and age of several open clusters that are observed either from the space or ground. These parameters are essential in a broader context, i.e. to calibrate a distant ladder in our Galaxy, and to employ isochrones to study stellar evolution as well as to derive the most important stellar parameter, i.e mass. Students may choose from a selection of independent sub-projects, e.g.:
- - multicolor photometry of eclipsing binaries in wide orbits will be observed from Baker Observatory; proposals for spectroscopic telescopes will be prepared and submitted to collect spectroscopic data in order to measure radial velocities of binary components; the most precise distances can be measured with this method
- - isochrones in the color-magnitude as well as color-rotation_period will be fitted to observational data; age and distances can be derived
- - variability survey using the Baker Observatory and TESS space data of a selection of open clusters will be performed; cluster variable members are suitable for studying of individual members
- - Gaia astrometry will be used to derive independent measure of distances
Students can learn one or more of the followings skills: photometric and perhaps spectroscopic data collection, CCD data processing including extinction and photometric system transformation, data mining, machine learning, cluster membership assignment, isochrone fitting, Phoebe modeling. They will work in a team work environment.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Andy Baran
This project is accepting students for the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Project AB2: Testing evolutionary models of hot subdwarfs.
Hot subdwarfsHot subdwarfs can be studied using asteroseismology, i.e stellar pulsations to infer their interiors and evolution. The students have opportunity to work not he following sub-projects:
- - search for variable hot subdwarfs in the TESS space data along with the mode identification and binary star analysis
- - matching observed long-period pulsation periods with those calculated from the MESA and GYRE, using already prepared grid of models; best fit models describe the interior and evolution of studied stars
- - Baker Observatory monitoring of short-period pulsators to detect rotationally split modes
- - building Observed-minus-Calculated diagrams of eclipses and pulsations to find additional bodies in star or planetary systems
- - deriving Galactic population membership of new pulsating hot subdwarfs found in either TESS space data or ground data taken at Baker Observatory to define correlations between pulsation content and metallicity
- - finding hot subdwarfs coming from non-degenerate evolutionary channel from a photometric survey and searching for their pulsations using Baker Observatory
Students can learn one or more of the followings skills: photometric data collection, CCD data processing including extinction, data mining, machine learning. They will work in a team work environment
The advisor for this project is Dr. Andy Baran
This project is accepting students for the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Project TB1: Quantum materials with superconductivity: discovery and growth
The goal of the project is to grow quantum materials that exhibit superconductivity, using a molten-bath method. Superconductivity - the flow of current with zero resistance - is among the most sought-for properties in materials and can revolutionize future electronics. We will focus on growing intermetallic and possibly metal oxide materials, use x-ray diffraction to find their structures, and explore their properties with Raman and magnetometry.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Tiglet Besara
This project is accepting students for the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Project TB2: Hard magnetic materials: discovery and growth
The goal of the project is to grow new materials that exhibit magnetism, using a molten-bath method. Magnetism is ubiquitous in modern technology: permanent magnets, data storage devices, nanoparticles in biotechnology, and spintronics, to name a few. We will focus on growing intermetallic magnetic materials, use x-ray diffraction to find their structures, and explore their magnetism with Raman and magnetometry.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Tiglet Besara
This project is accepting students for the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Project KG: Fabrication and Characterization of 2D Heterostructure of Graphene and Transition Metal Oxides
Recently, graphene and other 2D materials including transition-metal dichalcogenide (LTMD) and transition-metal oxides (TMO) have been the subject of significant research in both academic as well as industrial laboratories worldwide due to wide range of applications such as single molecule gas detection, ballistic transistors, optical modulators, and many others. The ultimate success of heterostructure devices critically depends on the structural stability with improved physical properties of these 2D materials, and their interfaces. The overall goal of the proposed research is to understand the structure, electronic, optoelectronic, and magnetic properties of 2D materials and the interfaces of heterostructures consisting of various 2D materials such as graphene, layered transition-metal Oxides, and other 2D materials.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Kartik Ghosh.
This project is accepting students for summer 2023 and the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Project DM: Large Temperature-Range Physical Computational Model to Predict Lithium Ion Battery Performance
Lithium ion batteries have been a major focal point for a wide variety of applications, owing to their low weight, high capacity, and long cycle life. However, in lower temperature settings, their feasibility becomes limited due to lower electrolyte conductivity and sluggish kinetics. This is critical in energy storage applications for space exploration, where temperatures as low as -80°C must be considered. This work will seek to develop a simplified computational model aimed at establishing better connections to existing studies on Li-ion batteries at variable temperatures. The key objective of this study is to capture the essential temperature-dependent physics while keeping the model to a 0-D or 1-D transient. Ultimately, the goal of this study will be to better bridge the gap between all temperature ranges covered in computational models: lower ranges for military/space applications, mid-ranges for commercial electric vehicle use, and higher ranges in geothermal and industrial plants. Effective management of the heat generated during the operation of the battery will also be considered.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Daniel Moreno
This project is accepting students for the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Project SM1: Orbit and Climate Perturbations of Habitable Zone Exoplanets from Outer Massive Planets in Solar-type versus M star systems
Recent simulations of planet formation in the habitable zones around solar type (FGK) stars and M dwarf stars in the presence of outer giant planets indicate that outer planets influence the delivery of water and other volatiles to the habitable zone region during the last stages of planet formation and that this process differs for low mass versus Solar type stars. This project will involve conducting and using results from analytical and numerical simulations of planet-planet gravitational interactions and terrestrial planet climate evolution to assess to what degree outer massive planets formed beyond a system's snowline induce orbit and climate perturbations on formed planets residing in the habitable zone of Solar-type and M stars. The intern will compare between perturbations to the habitable zone planets residing in Solar type versus M star systems. The intern will also participate in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and have opportunities to contribute to any publications and/or presentations resulting from this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Sarah Morrison.
This project is accepting students for summer 2023 and the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Project SM2: Outer Jupiter-like Planets and their Influence on Inner Planet In Situ Formation
The most common planets within 1 AU of a star are a few Earth radii in size, dubbed 'super Earths', and these planets exhibit a wide range of compositions and orbit properties. Yet our Solar system lacks a super Earth, and potentially the presence of Jupiter played a role. This project involves investigating the role a distant giant planet could play on in situ planet growth conditions within a few AU from the host star. This project will involve using and analyzing results of dynamical simulations of planetesimal mergers under a wide range of formation conditions that produced super Earths in the absence of a giant planet and assessing whether the presence of a distant planet would produce a different outcome through analytic and computational methods. This project aids in the interpretation of multi-exoplanet systems discovered and characterized during the Kepler/K2 missions and the ongoing mission of NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. The intern will also participate in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and have opportunities to contribute to any publications and/or presentations resulting from this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Sarah Morrison.
This project is accepting students for summer 2023 and the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Project MR1: Understanding hot horizontal branch (subdwarf B) stars using TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) and Kepler space telescope data
This project would work with photometric data collected with space telescopes (K1, K2, & TESS), which are ideal to study pulsating stars. These stars are intrinsically variable and change their brightness according to surface motions caused by stellar oscillations. This is similar to Earth's seismology. The intern will be responsible for compiling properties of pulsating horizontal branch stars and then applying the tools of asteroseismology to use the pulsations to determine stellar properties. As a result he/she will contribute to publications and other presentation of results derived during this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
This project is accepting students for summer 2023 and the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Project MR2: Determining masses and radii of compact horizontal branch stars.
This project would use archival data from Gaia, SDSS, and other photometric sources to determine radii and masses of hot horizontal branch (subdwarf B) stars. ESA's Gaia space telescope has now provided parallax distances for millions of stars, including hundreds of subdwarf B (sdB) stars. Archival photometry, particular from the Sloan Digitized Sky Survey (SDSS) can be combined with distances to do spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting to determine stellar radii. Combined with surface gravity from spectroscopy, this can provide masses. The range of masses can then be used to determine horizontal branch masses and evolutionary status. Python programming is required for this project. You would not need to know Python up front, but would have to learn it to work on this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
This project is accepting students for summer 2023 and the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Project MR3: Modeling late-evolution (horizontal branch) stars using MESA and GYRE.
MESA is a modern stellar evolution and GYRE can be used to determine the pulsation structure of model stars produced with MESA. The goal of this project is to produce hot horizontal branch (subdwarf B) stars using MESA and then examine their pulsation structure to be compared with observations. MESA and GYRE are text-based code that runs in Linux using Python wrappers. This project will also include our collaborators in Valparaiso, Chile and possibly in UW Madison, Wisconsin.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
This project is accepting students for summer 2023 and the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Project RS: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-DRIVEN VIRTUAL AUTONOMOUS MATERIALS DISCOVERY OF STRUCTURAL ALLOYS FOR SPACE EXPLORATION
NASA has embarked on the human exploration mission ARTEMIS to Moon and Mars (2022-2028). Key to this mission is the successful development of reusable SpaceX Starship whose structural alloys are made of the 300 series of stainless steels. Up till now, there has not been a comprehensive model that allows us to assess both the mechanical integrity and environmental resistance of these alloys at an atomic level. Further, this also limits our capability to engineer these alloys so that they can excel at the extreme temperature range (-185 to 650oC) they must endure (during lift off and reentry). The project will use Artificial Intelligence to create a virtual autonomous protocol that would assess both the mechanical integrity and the corrosion resistance of the alloys and explore the compositional space in the vicinity of these alloys to seek optimum compositions.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Ridwan Sakidja.
This project is accepting students for summer 2023 and the 2023-2024 academic year.
PAST PROJECTS
2022-2023 Undergraduate Research Projects
(Choose up to three for your application)
- Project DC: Experimental Studies of Volatile Fractionation in the Early Solar System
The evolution of early solar system bodies is not always well understood. In many cases, a wide array of processes could be responsible for the observations that are currently made. To place constraints on the possibilities, it is necessary to conduct laboratory experiments, designed to simulate the environment of early solar system objects. We will be building high-temperature ultra-high vacuum devices to melt and analyze materials that stand in for planetesimals from the early solar disk. The work will be primarily experimental, using equipment common to condensed-matter laboratories.
The advisor for this project is Dr. David Cornelison.
This project is accepting students for the 2022-2023 academic year.
- Project TB: Discovery and Exploration of New Quantum Materials
The goal of the project is to grow new quantum materials that exhibit magnetism or superconductivity, using a molten-bath method. Magnetism is ubiquitous in modern technology: permanent magnets, data storage devices, nanoparticles in biotechnology, and spintronics, to name a few. Superconductivity - the flow of current with zero resistance - is among the most sought-for properties in materials and can revolutionize future electronics. We will focus on growing intermetallic magnetic materials, use x-ray diffraction to solve their structures, and explore their properties with a magnetometer.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Tiglet Besara.
This project is accepting students for the 2022-2023 academic year.
- Project GM: Tracking magma accumulation and evolution in the Andean Central Volcanic Zone
This project will focus on young volcanic rocks composite volcano complexes in the Andean Central Volcanic Zone of Chile and Bolivia (Aucanquilcha, Ollagüuruncu, San Pedro-Linzor, Licancabur, Lazufre and Lascar) linked closely in space and time, to address the processes and timescales leading to the buildup of magma and eventual volcanic eruption. The primary intent of this project is to investigate how accumulated magma is stored and evolves over time in thick continental crust.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Gary Michelfelder.
This project is accepting students for summer 2022 only.
- Project SM1: Jupiter-like Planets and their Influence on Inner Planet Demographics and System Architectures
With large surveys from the Kepler/K2 and TESS missions, our census of exoplanets within 1 AU of their host stars grows more complete down to planets about the size of Earth. Correlations between outer giant planets and inner super-Earths are emerging as important constraints on planet formation theories, but the observational census of outer planets in nearly all currently known planetary systems are still ongoing. This project involves using the orbit architectures and planet demographics of inner planets produced during dynamical simulations of in situ formation in the presence of an outer giant planet to make predictions for expected demographic trends in systems containing an outer Jupiter-like planet and ones that do not. This project will involve examining these simulated planet populations in the context of the actual observed exoplanet populations, including the Solar system planets. This project aids in the interpretation of multi-exoplanet systems discovered and characterized during the Kepler/K2 missions, the extended mission of NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, and provides predictive insight for exoplanet characterization with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The intern will also participate in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and have opportunities to contribute to any publications and/or presentations resulting from this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Sarah Morrison.
This project is accepting students for summer 2022 and the 2022-2023 academic year.
- Project SM2: Jupiter-like Planets and their Influence on Inner Planet In Situ Formation
The most common planets within 1 AU of a star are a few Earth radii in size, dubbed 'super Earths', and these planets exhibit a wide range of compositions and orbit properties. Yet our Solar system lacks a super Earth, and potentially the presence of Jupiter played a role. This project involves investigating the role a distant giant planet could play on in situ planet growth conditions within a few AU from the host star. This project will involve using and analyzing results of dynamical simulations of planetesimal mergers under a wide range of formation conditions that produced super Earths in the absence of a giant planet and assessing whether the presence of a distant planet would produce a different outcome through analytic and computational methods. This project aids in the interpretation of multi-exoplanet systems discovered and characterized during the Kepler/K2 missions and the ongoing mission of NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. The intern will also participate in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and have opportunities to contribute to any publications and/or presentations resulting from this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Sarah Morrison.
This project is accepting students for summer 2022 and the 2022-2023 academic year.
- Project MR: Understanding horizontal branch stars using TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) and Kepler space telescope data
This project would work with photometric data collected with space telescopes (K1, K2, & TESS), which are ideal to study pulsating stars. These stars are intrinsically variable and change their brightness according to surface motions caused by stellar oscillations. This is similar to Earth's seismology. The intern will be responsible for examining TESS lightcurves to discover new pulsating horizontal branch stars and then applying the tools of asteroseismology to use the pulsations to determine stellar properties. As a result he/she will contribute to publications and other presentation of results derived during this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
This project is accepting students for spring 2023 only.
- Project RS: Accelerating materials design by using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
There has been a rapid adaptation of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms recently in many sectors of materials design. These approaches, for instance, allow for an accurate but fast assessment on the nature of the chemical bonding/interactions between atoms/ions whose information, in turn, can be used to design new or novel materials for a wide range of applications, including for structural or functional (i.e. optical, magnetic, or electronic) applications. The internship opportunity for 2022 -2023 (Summer, Fall and Spring) will allow a student to accelerate the materials design process, aided by AI, for a new set of structural/functional materials that are relevant to the materials research at NASA. The student will also get the opportunity to run large scale AI-driven atomistic simulations remotely at the supercomputer facility at the National Lab.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Ridwan Sakidja.
This project is accepting students for summer 2022 and the 2022-2023 academic year
2021-2022 Undergraduate Research Projects
(Choose up to three for your application)
- Project TB1: Topological semimetals: key to higher conductivity
The goal of this project is to discover new topological semimetals. The growth of single crystals will be done with flux methods. Topological semimetals are quantum materials that host so-called Dirac or Weyl fermions that reside on the surface and are topologically protected (impurities on the surface have no effect on the conductivity). Weyl fermions, in particular, are massless quasiparticles, giving rise to elevated conductivity. Potential applications include high mobility materials, spintronics, and low dissipation, among others. We will focus on growing topological semimetals, use x-ray diffraction to solve their structures, and explore their magnetism with a magnetometer.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Tiglet Besara.
This project is accepting students for summer 2021 and the
2021-2022 academic year.
- Project TB2: Discovery of new superconducting intermetallics
The goal of this project is to discover new superconducting intermetallics, utilizing a flux method to grow single crystals. Superconductivity - the flow of current with zero resistance - is among the most sought-for properties in materials and can revolutionize future electronics. Here, we will focus on discovering new intermetallic superconductors, use x-ray diffraction to solve their structures, explore their magnetism with a magnetometer, and measure their superconducting temperature.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Tiglet Besara.
This project is accepting students for the 2021-2022 academic year.
- Project DC1: Experimental Studies of Volatile Fractionation in the Early Solar System
The evolution of early solar system bodies is not always well understood. In many cases, a wide array of processes could be responsible for the observations that are currently made. To place constraints on the possibilities, it is necessary to conduct laboratory experiments, designed to simulate the environment of early solar system objects. We will be building high-temperature ultra-high vacuum devices to melt and analyze materials that stand in for planetesimals from the early solar disk. The work will be primarily experimental, using equipment common to condensed-matter laboratories.
The advisor for this project is Dr. David Cornelison.
This project is accepting students for summer 2021 and the
2021-2022 academic year.
- Project KG1: Fabrication of 2D Heterostructure of Graphene and Transition Metal Oxides
Recently, graphene and other 2D materials including transition-metal dichalcogenide (LTMD) and transition-metal oxides (TMO) have been the subject of significant research in both academic as well as industrial laboratories worldwide due to wide range of applications such as single molecule gas detection, ballistic transistors, optical modulators, and many others. The ultimate success of heterostructure devices critically depends on the structural stability with improved physical properties of these 2D materials, and their interfaces. The overall goal of the proposed research is to understand the structure, electronic, optoelectronic, and magnetic properties of 2D materials and the interfaces of heterostructures consisting of various 2D materials such as graphene, layered transition-metal Oxides, and other 2D materials.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Kartik Ghosh.
This project is accepting students for the 2021-2022 academic year.
- Project GM1: Tracking magma accumulation and evolution in the Andean Central Volcanic Zone
This project will focus on young volcanic rocks composite volcano complexes in the Andean Central Volcanic Zone of Chile and Bolivia (Aucanquilcha, Ollagüuruncu, San Pedro-Linzor, Licancabur, Lazufre and Lascar) linked closely in space and time, to address the processes and timescales leading to the buildup of magma and eventual volcanic eruption. The primary intent of this project is to investigate how accumulated magma is stored and evolves over time in thick continental crust.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Gary Michelfelder.
This project is accepting students for summer 2021 and the
2021-2022 academic year.
- Project SM1: Gravitationally Perturbed Habitable Zone Exoplanets Orbiting Solar Type and M Stars and Implications for Planet Climate Evolution
Recent estimates of how common planets are around solar type (FGK) stars and M dwarf stars from the Kepler mission suggest that there are differences in the typical number of planets and planet mass/radius for these different kinds of host stars. This project will involve using results from analytical and numerical simulations of planet-planet gravitational interactions to assess what orbit configurations of multi-planet systems around FGK or M stars can allow rocky exoplanets in these stars' respective habitable zones to have orbits conducive for maintaining steady, habitable climates. The intern will also participate in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and have opportunities to contribute to any publications and/or presentations resulting from this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Sarah Morrison.
This project is accepting students for summer 2021 and the
2021-2022 academic year.
- Project SM12: Distant Giant Planets and their Influence on In Situ Super Earth Formation
The most common planets within 1 AU of a star are a few Earth radii in size, dubbed 'super Earths', and these planets exhibit a wide range of compositions and orbit properties. Yet our Solar system lacks a super Earth, and potentially the presence of Jupiter played a role. This project involves investigating the role a distant giant planet could play on in situ planet growth conditions with a few AU from the host star. This project will involve using and analyzing results of dynamical simulations of planetesimal mergers under a wide range of formation conditions that produced super Earths in the absence of a giant planet and assessing whether the presence of a distant planet would produce a different outcome through analytic and computational methods. This project aids in the interpretation of multi-exoplanet systems discovered and characterized during the Kepler/K2 missions and the ongoing primary mission of NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. The intern will also participate in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and have opportunities to contribute to any publications and/or presentations resulting from this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Sarah Morrison.
This project is accepting students for summer 2021 and the
2021-2022 academic year.
- Project MR1: Understanding horizontal branch stars using TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) and Kepler space telescope data.
This project would work with photometric data collected with space telescopes (K1, K2, & TESS), which are ideal to study pulsating stars. These stars are intrinsically variable and change their brightness according to surface motions caused by stellar oscillations. This is similar to Earth's seismology. The intern will be responsible for examining TESS lightcurves to discover new pulsating horizontal branch stars and then applying the tools of asteroseismology to use the pulsations to determine stellar properties. As a result he/she will contribute to publications and other presentation of results derived during this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
This project is accepting students for summer 2021 and the
2021-2022 academic year.
- Project RS1: DEVELOPMENT OF INTERATOMIC POTENTIALS TO MODEL DEFORMATION OF STRUCTURAL ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
The project concentrates the development of atomic-based interatomic potentials to model the mechanical integrity of structural alloys or compounds commonly used for components in the rockets and mobile devices (such as helicopter) as a part of the interplanetary mission. These components are typically made of nickel-alloy plates/shields and being subject to extreme environments such as an extremely cold temperature (average temp. in Mars is -81 degrees F) and must survive dust particles generally 3 µm in diameter. Typical metals would plastically deform under ambient or elevated temperature due to the availability of dislocations motions. But, as the temperature is lowered, these materials may become brittle as some of the deformation mechanisms can not be activated at low temperatures any longer. To understand these changes, molecular dynamics simulations are needed, and an interatomic potential is required. The project is to help develop the interatomic potential models by parameterizing the key variables of the models. We will perform the calculations at the supercomputer clusters at the Berkeley National Lab.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Ridwan Sakidja.
This project is accepting students for summer 2021 and the
2021-2022 academic year.
- Project SB1: Applications of Machine Learning to Aid Microstructural Failure Analysis
The project concentrates on the application of Machine Learning (ML) to help identify an early detection of the microstructural failures as a preventive measure. Previous training project supported by MOSGC has shown that cracks within ideal microstructures can be successfully identified and classified by ML. With this project, we are extending the application toward more realistic failure scenarios whereby additional features normally found in microstructures such as pitting, compositionally and/or crystallographic-driven image contrasts and defects may mask the presence of cracks.
Advisors for this project are Dr. Ridwan Sakidja (Physics) and Dr. Sheryl Brahnam (Info Technology and Cybersecurity).
This project is accepting students for summer 2021 and the
2021-2022 academic year.
- Project YI1: RAPID INTERPRETATION OF INFRA-RED SPECTRA DATA BY CLUSTERING ANALYSIS AND MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUES
Infra-red spectroscopy measures the wavelengths of infra-red lights that are emitted, absorbed, or reflected by an object to extract information on the chemical composition and/or temperatures of the object. In this project, we will be exploring new computational approaches for automated interpretation of infrared spectra in NASA ECOSTRESS spectral library Version 1.0. Students with majors/minors in computer science, chemistry, or related field are strongly encouraged to apply. This project will involve either (1) coding of program for spectra analysis or (2) analysis of infra-red spectra in the library by using programs that have previously been developed for this project.
Advisors for this project are Dr. Keiichi Yoshimatsu (Chemistry) and Dr. Razib
Iqbal (Computer Science).
This project is accepting students for summer 2021 and the
2021-2022 academic year.
2020-2021 Undergraduate Research Projects
(Choose up to three for your application)
- Project TB1: Exploration of Thermoelectric Materials
Thermoelectrics are materials that allow for direct conversion between heat and electricity. They are useful for powering devices that cannot rely on other power sources, e.g., batteries or solar energy. NASA, e.g., uses thermoelectrics fueled by radioactive decay. There is a need for new thermoelectrics with better energy conversion efficiency and for optimization of existing ones. This project focuses on growing new thermoelectrics and understanding their structures. The focus will be on cage-like structures, which is a way to improve the thermoelectricity.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Tiglet Besara.
This project is accepting students for the
2020-2021 academic year.
- Project TB2: Growth of Single Crystalline Magnetic Materials
The goal of this project is to grow single crystals of new materials that exhibit magnetism, using a flux method (one element serves as the molten medium in which the growth happens). Magnetic materials are ubiquitous in modern technology: commercial permanent magnets, data storage devices, magnetic nanoparticles in biotechnology, and spintronics, to name a few. Here, we will focus on growing intermetallic magnetic materials, use x-ray diffraction to solve their structures, and explore their magnetism with a magnetometer.The advisor for this project is Dr. Tiglet Besara.
This project is accepting students for the
2020-2021 academic year.
- Project SJM1: Distant Giant Planets and their Influence on In Situ Super Earth Formation
The most common planets within 1 AU of a star are a few Earth radii in
size, dubbed "super Earths", and these planets exhibit a wide range of compositions and orbit
properties. Yet our Solar system lacks a super Earth, and potentially the presence of Jupiter
played a role. This project involves investigating the role a distant giant planet could play on in
situ planet growth conditions with a few AU from the host star. This project will involve using
and analyzing results of dynamical simulations of planetesimal mergers under a wide range of
ormation conditions that produced super Earths in the absence of a giant planet and
assessing whether the presence of a distant planet would produce a different outcome
hrough analytic and computational methods. This project aids in the interpretation of
multi-exoplanet systems discovered and characterized during the Kepler/K2 missions and the
ongoing primary mission of NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. The intern will also
participate in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and have opportunities to
contribute to any publications and/or presentations resulting from this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Sarah Morrison.
This project is accepting students for both summer 2020 and the
2020-2021 academic year.
- Project SJM2: Investigating the Influence of Warm Jupiter Formation and Evolution on Planetary Companions
In the past few years, more exoplanet systems containing Jupiter sized
planets at orbital periods less than ~100 days (dubbed "warm Jupiters") have also been found
to contain additional planets, unlike in "hot Jupiter" systems. How warm Jupiters form
at/migrate to their presently observed orbit distances from their host star is still an ongoing
discussion. This project will involve conducting and analyzing dynamical models of different
warm Jupiter "delivery" mechanisms in the presence of additional planets to examine what
mechanisms can produce the properties of observed warm Jupiters and their planetary
companions from the Kepler mission and ongoing NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey
Satellite mission. The intern will also participate in a collaborative, interdisciplinary
environment and have opportunities to contribute to any publications and/or presentations
resulting from this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Sarah Morrison.
This project is accepting students for both summer 2020 and the
2020-2021 academic year.
- Project SJM3: Gravitationally Perturbed Habitable Zone Exoplanets Orbiting Solar Type and M Stars and Implications for Planet Climate Evolution
Recent estimates of how common planets are around solar type (FGK)
stars and M dwarf stars from the Kepler mission suggest that there are differences in the
typical number of planets and planet mass/radius for these different kinds of host stars. This
project will involve using results from analytical and numerical simulations of planet-planet
gravitational interactions to assess what orbit configurations of multi-planet systems around
FGK or M stars can allow rocky exoplanets in these stars’ respective habitable zones to have
orbits conducive for maintaining steady, habitable climates. Then, the project will involve
assessing and comparing the likelihood that multi-planet systems with FGK or M dwarf host
stars observed by the Kepler mission may contain dynamically promising habitable zone
exoplanets to aid in the interpretation of multi-exoplanet systems discovered and
characterized during the ongoing primary mission of NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey
Satellite. The intern will also participate in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and
have opportunities to contribute to any publications and/or presentations resulting from this
project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Sarah Morrison.
This project is accepting students for both summer 2020 and the
2020-2021 academic year.
- Project MR1: Asteroseismology of horizontal branch stars using Baker and space-based data.
This project would work with photometric data collected with space telescopes (K1, K2, & TESS), which are ideal to study pulsating stars. We would also observe at Baker Observatory, to supplement the TESS data. These stars are intrinsically variable and change their brightness according to surface motions caused by stellar oscillations. This is similar to Earths seismology. The intern will be responsible for some observations at Baker Observatory, data reduction, and analyses. As a result he/she will contribute to publications and other presentation of results derived during this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
This project is accepting students for both summer 2020 and the
2020-2021 academic year.
- Project MR2: Transit timings of hot Jupiters.
This project would use Baker Observatory to measure transits of known transiting Hot Jupiters. The goal is to measure timing variations which can be caused by other planets or eccentric orbits. Will contribute data to ExoFOP (exoplanet follow-up program).
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
This project is accepting students for both summer 2020 and the
2020-2021 academic year.
2019-2020 Undergraduate Research Projects
- Project KG: Fabrication of Heterostructure of
2D Materials
Recently, graphene and other 2D layered transition-metal dichalcogenide (LTMD) materials MoS2, WSe2, NbS2, and HfS2 have been the subject of significant research in both academic as well as industrial laboratories worldwide due to wide range of applications such as single molecule gas detection, ballistic transistors, optical modulators, and many others. The ultimate success of heterostructure devices critically depends on the structural stability with improved physical properties of these 2D materials, and their interfaces. The overall goal of the proposed research is to understand the structure, electronic, optoelectronic, and magnetic properties of 2D materials and the interfaces of heterostructures consisting of various 2D materials such as graphene, layered transition-metal dichalcogenides, and other 2D materials.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Kartik Ghosh.
This project is accepting students for both summer 2019 and the 2019-20 academic year.
- Project MC: Lunar geologic compass for geologic mapping and surveying
High-resolution geologic mapping and surveying by lunar astronauts or rovers will be crucial for geologic exploration and resource surveying. Earth geologists rely on quantitative measurements of the orientation and attitude (“strike and dip”) to characterize the geologic architecture, identify geologic structures, and interpret the natural history of an area. On Earth, the orientation of geologic beds is measured with a magnetic geologic compass with better than 3° precision. The Moon, however, lacks a geomagnetic field, rendering this approach ineffective. We seek to develop a compact, handheld geologic compass for the Moon that will allow a single user (astronaut) to take survey-quality, quantitative orientation (strike) data (±1°). The proposed geologic gyrocompass will operate independent of a magnetic field and allow for the measuring of the attitude and orientation of geologic beds, leading to quantitative structural analysis of geologic features (e.g., impact structures, volcanic vents, dikes, fractures) and determination of lava and impact melt paleoflow directions. We will thus improve field capabilities for recognizing spatial trends in features and facilitate oriented sample collection. This project will require a student interested in learning (1) basic computer programming and (2) field geology. Students with majors/minors in geology and computer science (or related field) are strongly encouraged to apply.
Advisors for this project are Drs. Matt McKay and Tony
Clark.
This project is accepting students for both summer 2019 (geology only)
and the 2019-20 academic year.
- Project GM: Syn-Tectonic Volcanism in Southern New Mexico: Evolution of the Continental Crust Recorded by Magma
Andesite magmas are the dominant magmas in continental arc settings, but are relatively rare in extensional tectonic environments. In southern New Mexico, the largest volumes of andesite magmas erupted between 28 and 20 Ma. The timing of these eruptions occurs after the arc, and during the beginning of rifting. This project seeks to 1) quantify the volumes of magma erupted from small volume shield and stratovolcanoes in the Bearwallow Mountain Quadrangle, Catron County, New Mexico in order to drive further study into thermal and structural state of the crust; and 2) aid in geologic mapping of volcanic rocks and determine the geochemical diversity of andesite compositions in area.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Gary Michelfelder.
This project is accepting students for summer 2019 only.
- Project SM1: Dynamical Frenemies of Habitable Zone Exoplanets Orbiting Solar Type and M Stars
Recent estimates of how common planets are around solar type (FGK) stars and M dwarf stars from the Kepler mission suggest that there are differences in the typical number of planets and planet mass/radius for these different kinds of host stars. This project will involve using results from analytical and numerical simulations of planet-planet gravitational interactions to assess what orbit configurations of multi-planet systems around FGK or M stars can allow rocky exoplanets in these stars’ respective habitable zones to have orbits conducive for maintaining steady, habitable climates. Then, the project will involve assessing and comparing the likelihood that multi-planet systems with FGK or M dwarf host stars observed by the Kepler mission may contain dynamically promising habitable zone exoplanets to aid in the interpretation of multi-exoplanet systems discovered and characterized during the ongoing primary mission of NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. The intern will also participate in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and have opportunities to contribute to any publications and/or presentations resulting from this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Sarah Morrison.
This project is accepting students for the
2019-2020 academic year.
- Project SM2: Investigating the Influence of Warm Jupiter Formation and Evolution on Planetary Companions
In the past few years, more exoplanet systems containing Jupiter sized planets at orbital periods
less than ~100 days (dubbed "warm Jupiters") have also been found to contain
additional planets, unlike in "hot
Jupiter" systems. How warm Jupiters form at/migrate to their presently observed orbit distances from their host star is still an ongoing discussion. This project will involve conducting and analyzing dynamical models of different warm Jupiter "delivery" mechanisms in the presence of additional planets to examine what mechanisms can produce the properties of observed warm Jupiters and their planetary companions from the Kepler mission and ongoing NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite mission. The intern will also participate in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and have opportunities to contribute to any publications and/or presentations resulting from this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Sarah Morrison.
This project is accepting students for the
2019-2020 academic year.
- Project MR1: Asteroseismology of horizontal branch stars using Baker and space-based data.
This project would work with photometric data collected with space telescopes (K1, K2, & TESS), which are ideal to study pulsating stars. We would also observe at Baker Observatory, to supplement the TESS data. These stars are intrinsically variable and change their brightness according to surface motions caused by stellar oscillations. This is similar to Earths seismology. The intern will be responsible for some observations at Baker Observatory, data reduction, and analyses. As a result he/she will contribute to publications and other presentation of results derived during this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
This project is accepting students for both summer 2019 and the
2019-2020 academic year.
- Project MR2: Determining masses and sizes of sdB stars using GAIA data
This project is to determine masses and radii of subdwarf B (compact, pre-White Dwarf) stars. Data from GAIA provide distances and apparent brightness (or these may come from other sources), combined with spectroscopy, masses and radii can be determined using basic physical relationships. These quantities can then be compared to asteroseismic ones to examine pulsation relationship- mostly period spacings and rotation rates. Will also help obtain data at Baker Observatory for seismology/transit projects.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
This project is accepting students for both summer 2019 and the
2019-2020 academic year.
- Project MR3: Transit timings of hot Jupiters.
This project would use Baker Observatory to measure transits of known transiting Hot Jupiters. The goal is to measure timing variations which can be caused by other planets or eccentric orbits. Will contribute data to ExoFOP (exoplanet follow-up program).
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
This project is accepting students for both summer 2019 and the
2019-2020 academic year.
2018-2019 Undergraduate Research Projects
(Choose one or more for your application)
- Project RM: Molecular Dynamics Modeling
of Hydrous Anorthite and Andalusite Melts.
Water incorporation plays an important role in modifying the physical properties of hydrous silicate melts, such as enhancing the eruptive power of magmas in volcanoes and the transfer of elements associated with the movement of magmas in the Earth’s crust. Studies of water-melt interactions are crucial towards building a better understanding of the Earth’s water cycle and plate tectonics, which can also be useful to better conceptualize habitable zones of rocky exoplanets. Detailed structural data of silicate melts, such as anorthite and andalusite melts, that have water incorporated within are presently lacking. The objective is to perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of hydrous anorthite and andalusite melt systems. Taken together with our results for MD simulation results for the albite+H2O system, we will develop a better understanding of how water interacts with and modifies the structure and physical properties of silicate melts having either Na or Ca or lack thereof incorporated within their respective structures.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Robert Mayanovic.
This project is accepting students for both summer 2018 and the 2018-19 academic year.
- Project MM: Finding the pulse of a sleeping giant:
a field investigation to detect the Glacier Peak volcano magma chamber.
Glacier Peak volcano in the Washington Cascades last erupted around 1700 A.D. and the last 3 eruptions were ~400 years (±100 years) apart. Assuming this cyclic behavior continues, future eruptions may occur in the near future. Glacier Peak is one of the most remote volcanoes in the Cascades and is less studied and contains less monitoring equipment than other, equally active volcanoes in the area. Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, and Glacier Peak are similar in regards to seismic activity, where earthquakes are caused by the movement of subsurface magma. While 18 seismic stations monitor Mount St. Helens and 13 stations monitor Mount Rainier, only 1 station is present on Glacier Peak. In order to guide future studies and provide a baseline “pulse” of the volcano before any increase in eruptive activity, our team seeks an accomplished undergraduate student to 1) conduct a deep-field geophysical survey of Glacier Peak volcano to characterize the subsurface magma plumbing system and 2) aid the team in field geologic mapping to locate large geologic structures (faults) that may produce seismicity unrelated to magmatism at Glacier Peak.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Matthew McKay.
This project is accepting students for both summer 2018 and the 2018-19 academic year.
- Project SM: Fabricating Solid-State Lithium Ion Batteries using PLD
Our goal is to fabricate an all solid-state Li-ion battery using pulsed laser deposition. The battery consists of three parts: the anode, the cathode and the electrolyte. In this project, we will grow and characterize nano-graphite and nano-molybdenum oxides (to be used as anodes) and nano-lithium cobalt oxide (cathode) using pulsed laser deposition. Once the electrodes are fabricated, we will use PLD to deposit LiPON, a solid state electrolyte, widely used in Li-ion batteries. The half-cell reactions will measured using a galvanostat-potentiostat and all the parts will be put together a solid state battery fabricated by PLD.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Saibal Mitra.
This project is accepting students for the 2018-19 academic year only.
- Project RP: Observation of Yellow Supergiant Stars at Baker Observatory.
Survey a sample of YSG stars using CCD differential photometry in the visual wavelength band. Calibrate images using IRAF. Produce light curves of program stars and test for variability using Welch-Stetson Index. Search for periodicity in any stars found to be variable using Phase Dispersion Minimization. Determine location of program stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and whether variable or not. Map the limits of the Cepheid Instability Strip on the H-R diagram. Compare to theoretical evolutionary tracks for Cepheids in order to interpret the occurrence of non-variable YSG stars.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Robert Patterson.
This project is accepting students for the 2018-19 academic year only.
- Project MR1: Seismology of horizontal branch stars using Kepler and K2 space telescope data.
This project would work with photometric data collected with the Kepler space telescope, which are ideal to study pulsating stars. These stars are intrinsically variable and change their brightness according to surface motions caused by stellar oscillations. This is similar to Earths seismology. During Kepler's extended mission (K2), the telescope points at a new field every 3 months, providing a new data set for analysis. The intern will be responsible for data reduction and analysis. As a result he/she will contribute to publications and other presentation of results derived during this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
This project is accepting students for the 2018-19 academic year only.
- Project MR2: Determining masses and sizes of sdB stars using GAIA data
This project is to determine masses and radii of subdwarf B (compact, pre-White Dwarf) stars. Data from GAIA provide distances and apparent brightness (or these may come from other sources), combined with spectroscopy, masses and radii can be determined using basic physical relationships. These quantities can then be compared to asteroseismic ones to examine pulsation relationship- mostly period spacings and rotation rates.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
This project is accepting students for the 2018-19 academic year only.
- Project SI: Development of Mixed Reality Visualization Platform for NanoMaterials
The project is to develop interactive multiuser mixed reality visualization platform that would visualize large-scale atomic structures and dynamics in nanomaterials. This is a continuation of our project from the previous year whereby the virtual reality platform designed for a smaller size atomic model has been developed. Our goal is enable a multi-user environment of a mixed (virtual and or augmented) reality visualization tool (e.g. through the use of HoloLens) to elucidate the intricate and complex atomic structures and dynamics involved in nanomaterials. This can potentially also be used as an educational tool to introduce nanomaterials and nanotechnology in general.
The advisors for this project are Drs. Ridwan Sakidja and Razib Iqbal.
This project is accepting students for the 2018-19 academic year only.
- Project SE: Application of the hydrocode modeling to model low-angle terrestrial impacts
The project is to utilize the hydrocode modeling to model low-angle terrestrial impact. The modeling will be based on the recovery of shocked quartz, including abundant grains with multiple directions of planar deformational features (PDFs) which provides diagnostic evidence for a meteorite-impact origin for the mid-Mississippian in west-central Missouri which indicates an uplift located at depth in the central part of the main impact area and a potentially marine impact. Our goal is utilize the hydrocode modeling to understand the low-angle terrestrial impact with the help of high performance computing facility at the supercomputer clusters located in University of Texas-Austin as a part of NSF’s supported XSEDE program.
The advisors for this project are Drs. Ridwan Sakidja and Kevin Evans.
This project is accepting students for summer 2018 and/or the 2018-19 academic year.
Undergraduate Research Projects during 2017-2018
- Project RM: Molecular Dynamics Modeling of Hydrous Silicate Melts.
Water incorporated in silicate melts plays an important role in modifying their physical properties, such as enhancing the eruptive power of magmas in volcanoes and the transfer of elements (e.g., metals) associated with the movement of magmas in the Earth’s crust. Studies of water-melt interactions is crucial towards building a better understanding of the Earth’s water cycle and plate tectonics, which can also be useful to better conceptualize habitable zones of rocky exoplanets. At present, there are no detailed structural data of hydrous (i.e., with soluble water) silicate melts. The objective in this project is to make molecular dynamics simulations of hydrous silicate melt systems and to thereby develop a better understanding of how water interacts with and modifies the structure and physical properties of such melts.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Robert Mayanovic.
- Project MM: What do ancient meteor impacts tell us about how mountains are built?.
When meteorites impact the surface of the Earth, they quickly deform the surrounding rocks through faulting and folding, similar to that found in mountain belts. In mountain belts these processes take millions of years, while in meteorite impacts, the process lasts seconds. In southwestern Missouri, an ancient meteorite impact near Weaubleau and Osceola, MO is preserved and exposed extensively along Truman Reservoir. This project seeks to date the impact and characterize the amount of deformation that occurred around the impact site. The impact is thought to have occurred between 325 and 300 million years ago, but using radioisotopes we can determine a high-precision geological age for the impact. The project will then seek to identify faults and folds that occur on the flanks of the impact structure and calculate the amount of displacement and folding that has occurred. Since we know this deformation occurred very quickly (~30 seconds) we can calculate the rate at which these rocks deformed, which is difficult to do in long-lived mountain belts. The rate of deformation at the Weaubleau-Osceola impact structure will serve as an analogue for mountain building processes and provide insight into how quickly mountain belts form through geologic time.
Note that this project is academic year only.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Matt McKay.
- Project YS: Observation of Yellow Supergiant Stars at Baker Observatory.
Survey a sample of YSG stars using CCD differential photometry in the visual wavelength band. Calibrate images using IRAF. Produce light curves of program stars and test for variability using Welch-Stetson Index. Search for periodicity in any stars found to be variable using Phase Dispersion Minimization. Determine location of program stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and whether variable or not. Map the limits of the Cepheid Instability Strip on the H-R diagram. Compare to theoretical evolutionary tracks for Cepheids in order to interpret the occurrence of non-variable YSG stars.
(This project is academic year only.)
The advisor for this project is Dr. Robert Patterson.
- Project K2: Seismology of horizontal branch stars using Kepler and K2 space telescope data.
This project would work with photometric data collected with the Kepler space telescope, which are
ideal for studying pulsating stars. These stars are intrinsically variable and change their brightness according to surface motions caused by stellar oscillations. This is similar to
Earth's seismology. During Kepler's extended mission (K2), the telescope points at a new field every 3 months, providing a new data set for analysis. The intern will be responsible for data reduction and analysis. As a result he/she will contribute to publications and other presentation of results derived during this project.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
- Project RS: Modeling Development of Deformation Behavior in Layered Metallic Systems.
Mechanical properties for a variety of metallic systems can be altered through systematic deformation processes for example through rolling procedures. In most cases, more careful analyses, especially at atomistic level, on these systems are largely limited by the lack of the appropriate interatomic potentials essential to assess the deformation mechanisms. This project is aimed at developing atomistic modeling by means of molecular dynamics simulation to assess the compressive behavior due to rolling procedures of multi-component metallic system. The effort may also involve experimental verifications through materials characterization.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Ridwan Sakidja.
Undergraduate Research Projects during 2016-2017
- Project MB1: Engineering nanomaterials using block
copolymers
Various organic and inorganic nanostructures have been extensively investigated in the past and current decades for advanced microelectronic, optoelectronic industry and biotechnology. Among several approaches to achieve this goal block copolymers (BCPs) have received considerable attention recently, due to the inherent self-assembly property which can lead to various nanoscopic structures, like spheres, cylinders, bicontinuous gyroids, and lamellae, depending on the composition and chain architecture of the BCPs. In this research project the intern will be working in the laboratory to find out the precise experimental conditions for patterning sub-20 nm BCP nanostructures of different morphologies using solution processable method.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mahua Biswas.
- Project RSP: Observation of Yellow Supergiant
Stars at Baker Observatory
Survey a sample of YSG stars using CCD differential photometry in the visual wavelength band. Calibrate images using IRAF. Produce light curves of program stars and test for variability using Welch-Stetson Index. Search for periodicity in any stars found to be variable using Phase Dispersion Minimization. Determine location of program stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and whether variable or not. Map the limits of the Cepheid Instability Strip on the H-R diagram. Compare to theoretical evolutionary tracks for Cepheids in order to interpret the occurrence of non-variable YSG stars.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Robert Patterson.
- Project Plav: Precision Radial Velocity Exoplanet Survey
Precise radial velocity measurements are used to identify exoplanets around other stars. Dr. Peter Plavchan is using existing instruments and building new instruments to improve the sensitivity of the technique. The student intern will work on a project to roboticize and automate and array of small telescopes for light gathering from target stars, which will eventually be fed into fibers into a custom-built spectrograph. The student intern may also participate in observing with the NASA IRTF, MINERVA and MINERVA-RED observatories. Experience with Python, Matlab and/or IDL is a plus.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Peter Plavchan.
- Project MR1: Asteroseismology using NASA's Kepler
spacecraft data. This project would work with photometric data
collected with the Kepler space telescope, which are ideal to study pulsating
stars. These stars are intrinsically variable and change their brightness according to surface motions caused by stellar oscillations. This is similar to Earths seismology. During Kepler's extended mission (K2), the telescope points at
a new field every 3 months, providing a new data set for analysis.
The intern will be responsible for data reduction and analysis. As a result he/she will contribute to
publications and other presentation of results derived during this project.
This student would be half funded by a grant from the National
Science Foundation and/or NASA. This project can use multiple
students, which can include the summer.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
- Project MR2: Compact pulsating stars.
The Baker Observatory Robotic Autonomous Telescope (BORAT) is a project to obtain astronomical data without an astronomer present. The facility consists of a 16" Meade Telescope, an AstroHaven dome, Apogee CCD and filter wheel located at Baker Observatory.
This facility began obtaining data in January 2015 and is accumulating
data which needs to be processed. Students will learn to process astronomical
images and analyze these data. The current focus of BORAT is time-series
photometry of pulsating stars. Many stars pulsate (vibrate in a periodic way)
and we can use those pulsations to understand what is going on inside of stars even though we can only see the outsides of stars. This is similar to terrestrial seismology where we use Earthquakes to understand the Earth's insides.
In this case we will use data obtained with BORAT. The intern would be
responsible for processing the images and analyzing the resultant data
for pulsations. It is possible the intern may also remotely start up the
telescope in the evening and/or shut it down in the morning.
This student might be partially funded by a grant from the National Science
Foundation.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
- Project RS1: Thermo-mechanical Properties of Environmental Barrier Coatings (EBC)
The goal of the project is to perform an atomistic-based computational modeling to calculate the essential thermo-mechanical properties of four types of silicates that are currently being examined as coating materials for environmental protection (Environmental Barrier Coatings), namely Y2SiO5, Yb2SiO5, Y2Si2O7 and Yb2O2O7. The main materials properties that we will try to model are: 1) Thermal conductivity, 2) Coefficient of Thermal Expansion and 3) Elastic Constants.. The computational work will employ the supercomputer/Graphical Processing Unit work-station facilities at MSU/National Labs.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Ridwan Sakidja
- Project PB1: PhysBiz- Making physics fun for school
children. The department of Physics, Astronomy, and Materials
Science is a strong proponent of science education in secondary education.
This includes PhysBiz visits to area elementary schools;
Willard Science Explorers
for 5th grade students at Willard Intermediate School, and The
Constellation Club, which we host in the department. This intern might be
a physics student and/or an education student, who would generate
activities for these different outreach venues and to assist in their
implementation. Funds are provided for purchasing materials.
Advisors
for this project are Drs. Mike Reed, Becky Baker, and David Cornelison.
Undergraduate Research Projects during 2015-2016
- Project BO1: Baker Observatory Robotic Autonomous
Telescope (BORAT). BORAT is a project to obtain astronomical data without an astronomer present. The facility consists of a 16" Meade Telescope, an AstroHaven dome, Apogee CCD and filter wheel, weather station, and other hardware. The project runs using rts2 software, which needs heavy modification. Currently, the system is operable remotely and so many of the functions are running. Yet significant improvement is still necessary to make the facility useful.
A student will modify or replace software components to make the facility
obtain better data. Most of the code is written in Python and some in C++.
Advisors for this project are Drs. Lloyd Smith and
Mike Reed.
- Project MR1: Asteroseismology using NASA's Kepler
spacecraft data. Although the foremost goal of the Kepler mission is to hunt for extraterrestial Earths, photometric data collected with this spacecraft are ideal to study pulsating stars. These stars are intrinsically variable and change their brightness according to surface motions caused by stellar oscillations. This is similar to Earths seismology. The intern will be responsible for data reduction and analysis. As a result he/she will contribute to
publications and other presentation of results derived during this project.
This student would be half funded by a grant from the National
Science Foundation.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
- Project MR2: Compact pulsating stars.
The Baker Observatory Robotic Autonomous Telescope (BORAT) is a project to obtain astronomical data without an astronomer present. The facility consists of a 16" Meade Telescope, an AstroHaven dome, Apogee CCD and filter wheel located at Baker Observatory. This facility began obtaining data in January 2015 and is accumulating data which needs to be processed. Students will learn to process and analyze these data. The current focus of BORAT is time-series photometry of pulsating stars. Many stars pulsate (vibrate in a periodic way) and we can use those pulsations to understand what is going on inside of stars even though we can only see the outsides of stars. This is similar to terrestrial seismology where we use Earthquakes to understand the Earth's insides. In this case we will use data obtained with BORAT.
This student would be half funded by a grant from the National Science
Foundation.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
- Project PB1: PhysBiz- Making physics fun for school
children. The department of Physics, Astronomy, and Materials
Science is a strong proponent of science education in secondary education.
This includes PhysBiz visits to 2nd and 4th grade
classes in Springfield elementary schools; Willard Science Explorers
for 5th grade students at Willard Intermediate School, and The
Constellation Club, which we host in the department. We would like to have
one physics student and one education student, paired together to generate
activities for these different outreach venues and to assist in their
implementation. Funds are provided for purchasing materials. These positions
are partially funded by the PAMS department. Advisors
for this project are Drs. Mike Reed, Becky Baker, and David Cornelison.
- Project Plav1: Precision Radial Velocity Exoplanet Survey
Precise radial velocity measurements are used to identify exoplanetsa round other stars. Dr. Peter Plavchan is building new instruments to improve the sensitivity of the technique. The student intern will work on a project to roboticize and automate and array of small telescopes for light gathering from target stars, which will eventually be fed into fibers into a custom-built spectrograph. Experience with Python, Matlab and/or IDL is a plus.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Peter Plavchan.
- Project RP1: Observation of Yellow Supergiant
Stars at Baker Observatory Survey a sample of yellow supergiant (YSG) stars using CCD differential photometry in the visual wavelength band. Calibrate images using IRAF. Produce light curves of program stars and test for variability using Phase Dispersion Minimization and Welch-Stetson Index. Search for periodicity in any stars found to be variable. Determine location of program stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and whether variable or not. Map the limits of the Cepheid Instability Strip on the H-R diagram. Compare to theoretical evolutionary tracks for Cepheids in order to interpret the occurrence of non-variable YSG stars.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Robert Patterson.
- Project RS1: Computational modeling on fundamental properties of nano-based carbon composites
The project is to model the carbon-based assembly that is comprised of carbon nano-tubes/fiber using large-scale classical molecular dynamics. The goal is to identify and thus, evaluate critical factors that govern the physical and thermal properties of the carbon-complex composites particularly at elevated temperatures. In addition, we are going to assess the aging effect / degradation mode in these structures when they are exposed to aggressive (oxidative) environment. The student will have the opportunities to conduct a large-scale computational work in supercomputer clusters both at the National laboratories and in house computing facility at MSU (JVIC)
The advisor for this project is Dr. Ridwan Sakidja
Tailoring materials properties of novel carbon-complex structures comprised of carbon nanotubes and other nano-scale carbon based structures.
- Project RS2: Computational modeling on the thermal expansion in thermal barrier coatings
The project is to model the thermal expansion behavior of that high-temperature materials that are the main candidates for environmental barrier coating (EBC). The work aims at reducing the reportedly high anisotropy in the coefficient of thermal expansion typically found in these types of materials despite of their great promise as EBC. The student will have the opportunities to conduct a large-scale computational work in modeling the thermal coefficient expansion (CTE) at the supercomputer clusters both at the National lab and in house computing facility at MSU (JVIC).
The advisor for this project is Dr. Ridwan Sakidja
The crystal structure of
Y2SiO5, one of the main candidates for environmental
barrier coatings.
- Project RS3: Computational design and synthesis of corrosion resistant coatings
The project is to design and synthesize corrosion resistance coatings. The design will involve the use of atomistic-based modeling to model the formation of protective alumina layer and the use of thermodynamic modeling to optimize the synthesis parameters. The Aluminum-containing coating will be synthesized and tested for its oxidation and corrosion resistance at temperatures up to 1000oC. On the modeling aspect, the student will have the opportunities to conduct the computational work in supercomputer clusters both at the National laboratories and in house computing facility at MSU (JVIC)
The advisor for this project is Dr. Ridwan Sakidja
Left: Cros section of Al-rich protective coatings produced by pack cementation
process. Right: Schematic of the initial stage in the oxidation process on the surface (O = red atoms).
2014-2015 projects
- Project LD1: Green Fabrication of Graphene-Based
Supercapacitors with High Energy Density.
Graphene has recently been at the forefront of scientist's interest due to its many unique electrical and physical properties. As one of the very first true two-dimensional materials, its potential for use is virtually limitless. This project concerns the development of an environmentally safe process for graphene production as well as maximizing the desirable qualities of the substance. The intern would be responsible for assisting in the creation, characterization and manipulation of high quality graphene for use in the development of green super capacitors. Characterization methods include scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction, and experience in these techniques is useful but not required.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Lifeng Dong.
- KG1: Fabrication of 2D Materials Graphene and
Beyond using Pulsed Laser Deposition.
Recently, two dimensional (2D) materials graphene and other layered transition-metal dichalcogenide (LTMD) materials MoS2, WSe2, and NbS2 with novel physical and chemical properties have been the subject of significant research in both academic as well as industrial laboratories worldwide due to wide range of applications such as single molecule gas detection, ballistic transistors, optical modulators, and many others. High quality graphene, LTMD and their heterostructures will be fabricated and characterized using NSF funded state-of-the-art techniques such as pulsed laser deposition, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer, and Raman spectroscopy. The intern will assist in developing light weight electronic devices using 2D materials that can have potential applications in space science and technology.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Kartik Ghosh.
- Project SM1: Study of Lithium mobility in solid
state electrolytes.
Development of solid state Lithium-ion (Li+) is critical for efficient
energy storage in advanced batteries. We will use neutron scattering to
study the mobility of Lithium ion in solid state glassy electrolytes. The
neutron scattering experiments will be done at the University of Missouri
Research Reactor (MURR) at Columbia, Missouri and/or at National Institute
of Science and Technology in Maryland. The project may require some travel
to Columbia and even Maryland for data acquisition. The student will take
data and also analyze the results.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Saibal
Mitra
- Project RSP1: Observation and analysis of yellow supergiant stars at Baker Observatory.
Survey a sample of YSG stars using CCD differential photometry in the visual band. Calibrate images using IRAF. Produce light curves of program stars and test for variability using Phase Dispersion Minimization and Welch-Stetson Index. Search for periodicity in any stars found to be variable. Determine location of program stars on the H-R diagram and whether variable or not. Map the limits of the Cepheid Instability Strip on the H-R diagram. Compare to theoretical evolutionary tracks for Cepheids in order to interpret the occurrence of non-variable YSG stars.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Robert Patterson.
- Project Plav1: Found! M dwarf Debris Disks
M dwarfs have many small planets, but how they form presents a puzzle. One way to identify planet formation is through their infrared "excess" during the planet-building phase of a young star's life. A "debris disk" of dust is created from the collisions of planetesimals like comets and asteroids. For this project, Dr. Peter Plavchan has compiled an extensive collection of Spitzer Space Telescope MIPS observations of young and nearby M dwarfs. The intern would be responsible for deriving new Spectral Energy Distribution fits. Familiarity with scripted languages (Perl, Python) in a unix-like environment is a plus.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Peter Plavchan.
- Project Plav2: Precision Near-Infrared Radial Velocity Exoplanet Survey
Precise radial velocity measurements are used to identify exoplanets around other stars. Dr. Peter Plavchan has built new instruments to improve the sensitivity of this technique. The intern would apply our data pipeline to observations taken at the NASA IRTF telescope, and help with follow-up observations. Experience with Matlab and IDL is a plus.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Peter Plavchan.
- Project MR1: Asteroseismology using NASA's Kepler
spacecraft data. Although the foremost goal of the Kepler mission is to hunt for extraterrestial Earths, photometric data collected with this spacecraft are ideal to study pulsating stars. These stars are intrinsically variable and change their brightness according to surface motions caused by stellar oscillations. This is similar to Earths seismology. The intern will be responsible for data reduction and analysis. As a result he/she will contribute to
publications and other presentation of results derived during this project.
This student would also be half funded by a grant from the National
Science Foundation.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
- Project MR2: PhysBiz- Making physics fun for school
children. The department of Physics, Astronomy, and Materials
Science is a strong proponent of science education in secondary education.
This includes PhysBiz visits to 2nd and 4th grade
classes in Springfield elementary schools; Willard Science Explorers
for 5th grade students at Willard Intermediate School, and The
Constellation Club, which we host in the department. We would like to have
one physics student and one education student, paired together to generate
activities for these different outreach venues and to assist in their
implementation. Funds are provided for purchasing materials. These positions
are partially funded by the PAMS department. Advisors
for this project are Drs. Mike Reed, David Cornelison, and Becky Baker.
- Project MR3: K2: Kepler's Second Life- Presurvey.
This project would not likely use much Kepler data, but is
rather concerned with determining what Kepler should be looking at
during future pointings. Data would be obtained at Baker Observatory to search
for variable stars in possible future Kepler pointings. In addition, this
student would likely work on other data of compact variable stars. This
student would be half funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
The advisor for this project is Dr. Mike Reed.
2012-2013 projects
- Project ASB1: Asteroseismology using Kepler space data.
Although the foremost goal of the Kepler mission is to hunt for
extraterrestial Earths, photometric data collected with this spacecraft are
ideal to study pulsating stars. These stars are intrinsically variable and
change their brightness according to surface motions caused by stellar
oscillations. This is similar to Earths seismology. The intern will be
responsible for data reduction and analysis. As a result he/she will
contribute to publications and other presentation of results derived during
this project. A knowledge of Linux or Mac, scripting or programming is a plus.
Advisors for this project are Drs. Andy Baran and/or Mike Reed.
- Project ASB2: Reduction pipeline for CCD reduction.
CCD cameras are commonly used in observational astronomy. Images obtained by
CCD technique require special handling. Then need to be corrected for
instrumental effects and then star fluxes need to be extracted. Fluxes are
the final results and necessary to obtain a light curve for further
processing. A student will prepare a GUI reduction pipeline under Qt or
Python and will be given all algorithms (already implemented in Lazarus)
needed to prepare that program. A knowledge of Qt and C++ or Python is
required. A student will also use that program to deal with real data
learning how to calibrate, reduce and analyze ground-based CCD data. Advisor
for this project is Dr. Andy Baran.
- Project RSP1: Observation and analysis of yellow supergiant stars at Baker Observatory.
Survey a sample of YSG stars using CCD differential photometry in the visual band. Calibrate images using IRAF. Produce light curves of program stars and test for variability using Phase Dispersion Minimization and Welch-Stetson Index. Search for periodicity in any stars found to be variable. Determine location of program stars on the H-R diagram and whether variable or not. Map the limits of the Cepheid Instability Strip on the H-R diagram. Compare to theoretical evolutionary tracks for Cepheids in order to interpret the occurrence of non-variable YSG stars. Advisor for this project is Dr. Robert Patterson.
- Project MDR1: Binary subdwarf B stars using the Kepler
spacecraft and spectral data.
The Kepler spacecraft is continuously looking at several stars from space. Those stars in binaries (two stars orbiting each other) can have their light effected by the other star. We can measure those changes in the light and in addition, we will use spectroscopic data to measure the actual movements of the stars. This student could travel to Kitt Peak if we are allocated time in August/September. Advisors for this project are
Drs. Mike Reed and/or Andy Baran
- Project MDR2: Muticolor and/or time-resolved
spectroscopy of pulsating compact stars.
Many stars pulsate (vibrate in a periodic way) and we can use those pulsations to understand what is going on inside of stars even though we can only see the outsides of stars. This is similar to terrestrial seismology where we use Earthquakes to understand the Earth's insides. In this case we will use data obtained with our 3-CCD instrument GT Cam and/or time-resolved spectroscopy obtained at Kitt Peak. This student will likely travel to Kitt Peak to obtain the data.
- Project MDR3: Survey searching for variable stars.
Randomly looking at the sky, it is possible to detect new phenomena or new members of known types of variable stars. We already have lots of this sort of data and expect more from roboscope. This student would work on these data, searching for and interpreting new types of variable stars.
Student Success
(not a complete listing)
- Cory Padgett
(2022): Accepted to a graduate program at Clemson.
- Yadira Gaibor
(2021): Accepted to a graduate program at MIT.
- Meredith Vogel
(2021): Accepted to a graduate program at Florida International University.
- Shania Wolf
(2021): Accepted to a graduate program at Oklahoma University
- Kali Shoaf-Loughlin
(2021): Accepted to a graduate program at University of Maryland, Baltimore College
- Christopher Robledo
(2020): Received his Masters at MSU and
is now using that degree working at Brewer Science.
- David Beckwitt
(2020): Received his Masters at MSU and
then went to a doctoral program at Mizzou.
- Josh Kern
(2018): Now a graduate student at Clemson University.
- John Crooke
(2018): Masters degree from Ball State University now working at NASA's
Goddard Space Flight Center.
- Laura Ketzer
(2017): Completed her Masters in the european
Astromundus program and is now a graduate student in Germany.
- Shannon Dulz
(2017): Won a prestigious
National Science Foundation Fellowship for graduate school at Notre Dame.
Also attended conferences for the Division of Planetary Science,
American Astronomical Association, and EPSCoR collaboration meetings
at NASA Ames and NASA Glenn.
- Ryan Hall
(2016-2017): Attended
American Astronomical Association conferences in San Diego and Dallas.
Accepted to graduate program at Georgia State University.
- Heather Foster
(2012-2014): Observed at Kitt
Peak Observatory during March 2013 and February 2014; attended the
Hot Subdwarfs and Related Stars conference in May 2013 in Tucson. Co-author
on two proceedings papers. Second author on refereed journal paper. Featured
in a News-Leader article and a
radio
broadcast about her work with NASA's Kepler Spacecraft.
- Amanda Winans
(2012-2014): Accepted to a graduate
program in astronomy at Indiana University. On 2 refereed papers and 1
abstract. Observed at Kitt Peak observatory during February 2014. Accepted for
REU program, summer 2013 at Purdue University where she worked on LSST
programming. She is also featured in this
radio
broadcast.
- Laurel Farris
(2010-2012): Accepted to a graduate
program in astronomy at New Mexico State University.
Accepted for REU programs, summer 2011 and 2012; Featured
in a News-Leader article and
Cliff's Notes (MSU's Interim President);
Observed on the 4 meter and 2.1 meter telescopes at Kitt
Peak National Observatory; observed at Baker Observatory; contributed to 2
professional publications; presented at the American Astronomical Society
meeting in Austin during January 2012.
- Marcus Shadwick
(2011-1012): Observed on the 4 meter and 2.1 meter
telescopes at KittPeak National Observatory; observed at Baker Observatory.
- Lee Hicks
(2009-2013): one of the Baker
Observatory Robotic Autonomous Telescope developers; presented at a telescope
conference in Malaga, Spain during June 2011 and at the Mid-American Regional
Astronomy Conference in Kansas City during April 2011; contributed to 3
professional papers and several conference papers; observer at Baker
Observatory. Graduated with his Masters in Natural and Applied Science from
MSU in August, 2014. Currently working at Intuitive Web Solutions, LLC as
a software engineer.
- Aron McCart
(2009-2010): Graduated from MSU
with a Masters in Materials Science. Worked with materials scientists at
Johnson Space Center as part of MSU's epscor grant.
Currently working as a Research Scientist at Lockheed Martin.
- Matthew Thompson
(2009-2011): Currently working for Intuitive Web Solutions, LLC as software engineer;
presented at a telescope conference in Hawaii; contributed to 3 professional
papers; contributed to 5 conference papers; observed at Baker Observatory;
one of the developers of the Baker Observatory Robotic Autonomous Telescope.
- Justin Gilker
(2009-2011): Observed numerous times at Kitt Peak and MDM
observatories in Arizona; contributed to 4 professional papers and 6 conference
papers; became the lead scientist on the Baker Observatory Sub-minute Survey;
presented at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Washington, D.C. during
January 2010. Now a Software developer at Deer Valley Resort
- Amanda Quint
(2009-2011): Currently working for
Intuitive Web Solutions, LLC as a programmer;
presented at the Third Kepler Asteroseismology Workshop in Aarhus, Denmark
during June 2010; contributed to 9 journal papers using data from NASA's Kepler
spacecraft.
- Jennifer Bean
(2009-2011):
Studied abroad in
The Netherlands; contributed to 1 professional paper; presented at the
American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle during January 2011. Graduated
December 2014 from Mizzou with a Masters degree in Biophysics.
- Joe Eggen
(2004-2007): Received his doctorate
(astronomy) at Georgia State University; contributed to 8 professional
papers; presented at conference in Vienna, Austria; presented at
American Astronomical Society meeting during January 2009. Now working at NASA's
Goddard Space Flight Center.
- Grant Gelven
(2004-2007): Currently works at
Wells-Gelven Fractals, LLC; received his Masters in Physics from Washington
University in St. Louis in 2010.
- Shawn Poindexter
(2004-2005): Received his
doctorate in Astrophysics from The Ohio State University; currently
working at Facebook.
- Brian Brondel
(2002-2004): Received his
Masters (astronomy) from Indiana University; currently working for
a telescope contractor in Tucson, Arizona.
- Melissa Morris
(2001-2003): Received her
doctorate (astrophysics) from the University of Arizona. She now works for
NASA.