NDnano Undergraduate Research Fellowships (NURF)
Summer 2012 Project Summaries

NDnano serves University mission through summer undergraduate research program

In 2012, NDnano awarded undergraduate research fellowships (NURF) to 47 students, including five students who returned to the program for a second year.

Below, the students have each prepared a summary of their research project, including skills they acquired or publications/posters that resulted from their project.

Each student applied, was selected, and received a $5,000 stipend to work for 10-weeks with one of the NDnano-affiliated research teams. The fellowship experience included time and learning opportunities inside and outside the lab, including safety and equipment training, simulations and experiments, a seminar series, and the chance to showcase their work at the summer undergraduate research symposium.

The NURF program is not limited to Notre Dame students. As such, the 2012 NURF roster also included students from Saint Mary's College, Purdue College of Technology, Mercer University, Saint Anselm College, and Brigham Young University. For the second year, the NURF program also welcomed students from schools abroad: Fudan University (China), Tianjin University (China), St. Stephen's College (India); three schools in Ireland - Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, and Dublin City University; and Pazmany Peter Catholic University (Hungary).

The participation of students from Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork was made possible through the support of the Naughton Fellowship Exchange Program, which, along with the Clark Family Summer Ireland endowment, also funded summer research in Ireland for five Notre Dame students.

Interested in applying? Check back in January 2013 for information on next year's program. For more information, contact Heidi Deethardt.

Also: 2011 NURF project summaries

PHYSICAL LIMITS TO COMPUTATION

Project: High-speed transistor testing
NURF recipient: Joshua Donati
School: Purdue College of Technology
Major: Electrical Engineering Technology | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. Patrick Fay
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Ultra-low energy computations
NURF recipient: Tim Bontrager
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Electrical Engineering | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. Gregory Snider
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Characterization and fabrication of CMOS circuits
NURF recipient: Matt Donahue
School: Saint Anselm College
Major: Physics | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. Gregory Snider
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Design of nanomagnet logic devices
NURF recipient: Dan Cole
School: Purdue College of Technology
Major: Electrical Engineering Technology | Class of 2013
Faculty mentors: Prof. Wolfgang Porod and Prof. György Csaba
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Design of nanomagnet logic devices
NURF recipient: Kevin Haughan (Naughton Fellow)
School: Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)
Major: Computer and Electrical Engineering | Class of 2013
Faculty mentors: Prof. Wolfgang Porod and Prof. György Csaba
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Building a Kerr effect device for nanomagnet measurements
NURF recipient: John McPhee
School: Purdue College of Technology
Major: Electrical Engineering Technology | Class of 2012 (Dec.)
Faculty mentors: Prof. Wolfgang Porod and Prof. György Csaba
Project summary [pdf]

Project: On-chip spin waves for computation
NURF recipient: Chris Newman
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Electrical Engineering | Class of 2013
Faculty mentors: Prof. Wolfgang Porod and Prof. György Csaba
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Design of domain-wall based computing devices
NURF recipient: Adam Papp
School: Pazmany Peter Catholic University (Hungary)
Major: Computer Engineering | Class of 2012
Faculty mentors: Prof. Wolfgang Porod and Prof. György Csaba
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Silicon micromachining for terahertz waveguide circuits and components
NURF recipient: James Phillips
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Electrical Engineering | Class of 2014
Faculty mentors: Prof. Lei Liu, Prof. Huili (Grace) Xing, and Prof. Patrick Fay
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Study of power/performance characteristics of nanomagnet-based circuits
NURF recipient: Fiona Edwards-Murphy (Naughton Fellow)
School: University College Cork (Ireland)
Major: Electrical and Electronic Engineering | Class of 2013
Faculty mentor: Prof. Sharon Hu
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Electrical characterization of ion transport in planar graphene/PEO:LiClO₄/graphene structures
NURF recipient: Joshua Vahala
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Electrical Engineering | Class of 2014
Faculty mentors: Prof. Alan Seabaugh and Prof. Susan Fullerton
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Electrical properties of graphene transistors
NURF recipient: Ziqi Zhang
School: Saint Mary's College
Major: Philosophy and Computer Engineering | Class of 2015
Faculty mentor: Prof. Alan Seabaugh
Project summary [pdf]

Project: On-chip lasers
NURF recipient: Anthony Erdman
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Physics | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. Mark Wistey
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Application-level hardware with magnetic logic
NURF recipient: Oisin Brogan (Naughton Fellow)
School: Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)
Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering | Class of 2013
Faculty mentor: Prof. Mike Niemier
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Application-level hardware with magnetic logic
NURF recipient: Craig Cahillane
School: University of Notre Dame
Majors: Physics and Computer Engineering | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. Mike Niemier
Project summary [pdf]

NEW MATERIALS AND NANOSTRUCTURES

Project: Plasma jets for nanomaterials synthesis
NURF recipient: Adam Talbot
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Chemical Engineering | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. David Go
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Synthesis of hybrid cellulose/metal nanocomposites
NURF recipient: Brittany Hark
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Chemical Engineering | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. Abhijit Biswas
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Protein detection in solution using surface enhanced Raman scattering
NURF recipient: Adelia Tuse
School: Saint Mary's College
Majors: Chemistry and Chemical Engineering | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. Zachary Schultz
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Ion transport in a solid polymer electrolyte between 2-D graphene surfaces
NURF recipient: Samuel Leung
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Chemical Engineering | Class of 2015
Faculty mentors: Prof. Susan Fullerton and Prof. Alan Seabaugh
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Aligning conductive pathways in solid polymer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries
NURF recipient: Dean Schaetzl
School: Purdue College of Technology
Major: Electrical Engineering Technology | Class of 2013
Faculty mentors: Prof. Susan Fullerton and Prof. Alan Seabaugh
Project sumary [pdf]

Project: Direct bandgap dilute carbides
NURF recipient: Sean Baur
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Electrical Engineering | Class of 2013
Faculty mentor: Prof. Mark Wistey
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Synthesis of PdxCu1-x nanocatalysts with well-controlled size and shape
NURF recipient: Qiuting Guo
School: Tianjin University (China)
Major: Chemical Engineering | Class of 2012
Faculty mentor: Prof. Franklin Tao
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Synthesis of nanocatalysts
NURF recipient: Alex Wang
School: Fudan University (China)
Major: Chemistry | Class of 2013
Faculty mentor: Prof. Franklin Tao
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Emission dynamics of electronic molecules
NURF recipient: Kyle McCall
School: University of Notre Dame
Majors: Physics and Honors Mathematics | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. Alexander Mintairov
Project summary [pdf]

ENERGY-HARVESTING TECHNOLOGIES

Project: High-performance solar cell fabrication
NURF recipient: Stephen Kim
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Electrical Engineering | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. Patrick Fay
Project summary [pdf]

Project: High-performance solar cell fabrication
NURF recipient: Keith Marrero
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Mechanical Engineering | Class of 2013
Faculty mentor: Prof. Patrick Fay
Project summary [pdf]

Project: CdS quantum dots based solar cells
NURF recipient: Jerrin Thomas George
School: St. Stephen's College (India)
Major: Chemistry | Class of 2012
Faculty mentor: Prof. Prashant Kamat
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Optimization of lithium ion batteries using nanostructured graphene composites as cathode materials
NURF recipient: Tim Siegler
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Chemical Engineering | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. Prashant Kamat
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Sprayable nanocomposite coatings for large-area carbon capture and storage
NURF recipient: Michael Ashley
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Chemical Engineering | Class of 2013
Faculty mentor: Prof. Abhijit Biswas
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Generating hotspots: Experiments and modeling of surface enhanced Raman detection
NURF recipient: Kasie Knapper
School: Mercer University
Majors: Chemistry and Psychology | Class of 2013
Faculty mentor: Prof. Zachary Schultz
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Operando studies of nanoparticles for exploring new surface chemistry and structure at the nanoscale under reaction conditions
NURF recipient: Mark Leong
School: University of Notre Dame
Majors: Chemical Engineering and Economics | Class of 2013
Faculty mentor: Prof. Franklin Tao
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Synthesis of nanostructure materials for bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices
NURF recipient: Anthony Krenselewski
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Chemical Engineering | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. Luis Fernandez-Torres
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Synthesis of novel semiconductor nanostructures
NURF recipient: Amy Garde (Naughton Fellow)
School: University College Cork (Ireland)
Major: Energy Engineering | Class of 2013
Faculty mentor: Prof. Luis Fernandez-Torres
Project summary [pdf]

NANO-BIOELECTRONICS

Project: Detection of counterfeit pharmaceuticals with paper analytical devices (PADs)
NURF recipients: Michael Benvenuti
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Physics in Medicine | Class of 2013
Faculty mentors: Prof. Marya Lieberman and Prof. Toni Barstis
Project summary [pdf]

Project: PAD fabrication and image analysis
NURF recipient: Michael Hunkler
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Mechanical Engineering | Class of 2015
Faculty mentors: Prof. Marya Lieberman and Prof. Toni Barstis
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Inexpensive paper-based tests for determining the quality of pharmaceuticals
NURF recipient: Shannon Huey
School: Brigham Young University
Major: Chemistry | Class of 2013
Faculty mentors: Prof. Marya Lieberman and Prof. Toni Barstis
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Surface acoustic wave devices for chemical analysis of counterfeit pharmaceuticals
NURF recipient: Sara Dale
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Chemical Engineering | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. David Go
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Lab-on-a-chip molecular binding detection with terahertz waves
NURF recipient: Nicole McMillan
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Chemical Engineering | Class of 2014
Faculty mentors: Prof. Lei Liu and Prof. Li-Jing Cheng
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Nanoscale bioengineering of bone-inspired, all-natural bionanocomposite scaffolds for bone substitutes and tissue regeneration
NURF recipient: Gary Blackburn (Naughton Fellow)
School: Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)
Major: Mechanical Engineering | Class of 2013
Faculty mentors: Prof. Abhijit Biswas and Prof. Gyorgy Csaba
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Nanoscale bioengineering of bone-inspired, all-natural bionanocomposite scaffolds for bone substitutes and tissue regeneration
NURF recipient: Tim Scott
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Mechanical Engineering | Class of 2013
Faculty mentors: Prof. Abhijit Biswas and Prof. Gyorgy Csaba
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Engineering multifunctional nanoparticles to overcome drug resistance in multiple myeloma
NURF recipient: Will Cusick
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Chemical Engineering | Class of 2013
Faculty mentor: Prof. Basar Bilgicer
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Optically addressed nanoarray for biosensing
NURF recipient: Truong Pham
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Chemical Engineering | Class of 2014
Faculty mentor: Prof. Hsueh-Chia Chang
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Development of laser transmission spectroscopy as a bio-molecular detection system
NURF recipient: Adrienne Chabot
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Science Pre-Professional | Class of 2013
Faculty mentors: Prof. Steve Ruggiero and Prof. Carol Tanner
Project summary [pdf]

Project: On-chip coherent beam combining with quantum cascade lasers
NURF recipient: Nicholas Castro
School: University of Notre Dame
Major: Electrical Engineering | Class of 2013
Faculty mentor: Prof. Anthony Hoffman
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Low-cost and portable DNA detection device
NURF recipient: Lucas DelaFuente
School: University of Notre Dame
Majors: Electrical Engineering and Arabic | Class of 2013
Faculty mentor: Prof. Scott Howard
Project summary [pdf]

Project: Optical quilt packaging
NURF recipient: Thomas Butler
School: Dublin City University
Major: Applied Physics | Class of 2012
Faculty mentor: Prof. Scott Howard and Prof. Anthony Hoffman
Project summary [pdf]

ETHICAL, LEGAL and SOCIETAL IMPLICATIONS / ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH and SAFETY

Project: Ethical, societal, and health implications of complex engineered nanomaterials - A life cycle approach
NURF recipient: Sean McGee
School: University of Notre Dame
Majors: Biology and Music | Class of 2014
Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Eggleson
Project summary [pdf]

Also: 2011 NURF project summaries

10.12.12