ChE Undergraduate Research

Undergraduates have the opportunity to work with innovative professors conducting cutting-edge research, They can gain hands-on experience by becoming an Undergraduate Research Assistant (URA) as early as their second semester.

Students can earn coursework credit and be paid for research. URA assignments are made, or renewed, at the beginning of each semester, Interested undergraduates should contact their professor of interest regarding available positions. The McKetta Undergraduate Advising Office in CPE 2.706 is a helpful resource.

Here are a few ChE undergraduate researcher profiles:

“I am currently working on a project to develop an oral vaccination delivery system. The system takes advantage of a protein called invasin that bacteria use to invade the body through certain cells (M cells) in the intestines” –Kevin Kaczorowski, Senior, Research focus: Bioengineering .  Learn what advice Kevin gives to students who want to start doing research early.

“The most memorable breakthrough in my research came when my colleague Son Hoang and I successfully modified hydrothemal synthesis of TiO2 nanowires and increased the aspect ratio of the nanowires by more than five times!” –Siwei Guo, Senior, Research focus: Photoelectrochemistry  Discover why Siwei’s research at the university can help change how engines are powered.

“Once you start working in a lab, ask as many questions as you can. Not all professors have undergraduates working in their labs, so if your professor does, it means he wants you there to learn something. Take full advantage of this.” –Alexandra Bailey, Junior, Research focus: Cellular and Metabolic Engineering.  Alexandra plans on using her research experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Discover where she wants to take her career after college.

“Blocking copolymers is one possible future path for microelectronic patterning. We are focused on finding and developing block copolymers that can self-assemble with perpendicular, nano-scale features.” -Leon Dean, Junior, Research interest: Polymers. Find out more on Leon Dean’s lab role and ground-breaking research in polymers.

Undergraduate Research

Undergraduates have the opportunity to work with some of the most innovative professors to conduct cutting-edge research and gain hands-on experience by becoming an Undergraduate Research Assistant (URA) as early as their second semester.

Students can earn coursework credit and be paid for independent studies. URA assignments are made, or renewed, at the beginning of each semester and interested undergrads should speak with the undergraduate advisor, or their professor of interest, about available positions. See profiles of current URA’s below to find out what life in the lab is like.

“I am currently working on a project to develop an oral vaccination delivery system. The system takes advantage of a protein called invasin that bacteria use to invade the body through certain cells (M cells) in the intestines”–Kevin Kaczorowski, Senior Bioengineering.Learn what advice Kevin gives to students who want to start doing research early.

“The most memorable breakthrough in my research came when my colleague Son Hoang and I successfully modified hydrothemal synthesis of TiO2 nanowires and increased the aspect ratio of the nanowires by more than five times!”–Siwei Guo, Senior Photoelectrochemistry. Discover why Siwei’s research at the university can help change how engines are powered.

“Once you start working in a lab, ask as many questions as you can. Not all professors have undergraduates working in their labs, so if your professor does, it means he wants you there to learn something. Take full advantage of this.” –Alexandra Bailey, Junior Cellular and Metabolic Engineering.Alexandra plans on using her research experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Discover where she wants to take her career after college.

“Blocking copolymers is one possible future path for microelectronic patterning. We are focused on finding and developing block copolymers that can self-assemble with perpendicular, nano-scale features.”-Leon Dean, Junior Polymers.Find out more on Leon Dean’s lab role and ground-breaking research in polymers.