Department of Mechanical Engineering
Chair: Professor Y. Lawrence Yao, 236 Mudd, 212-854-2887
• design of instrumentation for testing soft tissues
• software development for joint modeling and computer-assisted surgery
Student participants will be involved in the testing of biological soft tissues for the determination of material and tribological properties, and in the design of instrumentation for performing such measurements. Possible credit or remuneration, 12 hours per week term-time, and full time during the summer.
Contact: Professor Gerard A. Ateshian, , 220 Mudd, 212-854-8602
• carbon nanotubes: synthesis, device fabrication, and applications
• nanotechnology for solar energy and fuel cells
• nanofabrication for biological applications
Activities include a variety of experimental work, including nanofabrication, materials synthesis, and electronic/mechanical texting, in the four areas listed above. A commitment of 10 hours per week term-time and 20–35 hours per week during the summer is expected. Students will interact with graduate students, faculty, and staff. The opportunity may provide academic credit (MECE E3900) or hourly wages during the summer.
Contact: Professor James Hone, , 240 Mudd, 212-854-6244
• mechanical properties of nanocrystalline thin films
• fracture and deformation phenomena
Opportunities exist to be involved with laboratory work to develop novel nanostructured materials for use in active devices as well as to understand the mechanics of material deformation and failure at the micrometer and nanometer length scales. Students can participate for academic credit or for financial remuneration. Minimum time requirement is 10 hours per week during the academic year and more during the summer.
Contact: Professor Jeffrey Kysar, , 244 Mudd, 212-854-7432
• multifunction platforms, desalination
• sensors for energy and environmental applications
• MEMS, microfabrication
These opportunities involve one or more of analysis, laboratory work, design/ fabrication/testing of sensors, database management, data visualization, and library research. They may carry academic credit and/or remuneration, possibly through the Federal Work-Study Program. The weekly time commitment is 10 hours per week term-time and 20–35 hours in the summer. Long-term involvement of at least two semesters and a summer is desirable.
Contact: Professor Vijay Modi, , 220 Mudd, 212-854-2956
• medical robotics: review and surgical studies for ongoing medical robotic applications. Work will require participating in weekly meetings, progress reports,
and performing literature review
• machine design: computer aided design of mechanisms and robotic devices
• programming: software integration for control purposes
• programming: software applications for computer vision and basic registration methods
• applied math: applications of variational calculus, harmonic analysis, and algebraic geometry for mechanism design
• surgical studies/research on new applications (for biomechanics students;
projects will be suggested based on the background of each candidate)
The general requirement is a commitment of 10 hours per week. Possible remuneration toward credit for courses MECE E3900 and MECE E3901: Honors tutorial in mechanical engineering.
Contact: Professor Nabil Simaan, (use subject title "undergraduate research," otherwise will be filtered as spam), 234 Mudd, 212-854-2957; http://www.columbia.edu/~ns2236
• photonic crystal nanostructures for optics
• nanoelectromechanical devices for photonics and electronics
• nonlinear and nonclassical optics in nanostructures
• silicon nanophotonics
• metamaterials nanofabrication
Significant opportunities for motivated junior and senior students who are willing to commit 10 hours per week, for academic credit (MECE E3901: Honors tutorial) or possible remuneration. Research projects range from numerical computations, engineering design, nanofabrication, experimental characterization, and physical measurements. Students will interact with our team of faculty, staff, and graduate students.
Contact: Professor Chee Wei Wong, , 246 Mudd, 212-854-427; http://www.columbia.edu/cu/nanohv
• laser forming
• nontraditional manufacturing
Paper study, analytical and experimental work, and computer analysis. A minimum time commitment is 10 hours per week, more in the summer, which may entail academic credit and/or work-study eligibility
Contact: Professor Y. Lawrence Yao, , 236 Mudd, 212-854-2887; http://www.columbia.edu/mrl