Tartans Immerse in Engineering Research at UC Irvine

Whether it was investigating the impact of fuel variability in natural gas on emissions, searching for ways to improve the corrosion resistance of gas turbine engines, or conceptualizing an affordable flight simulator chair, St. Margaret’s seniors spent their summer in the lab at the University of California, Irvine’s Samueli School of Engineering, gaining priceless research experience in fields that interest them.

The St. Margaret’s-Samueli School internship program is now in its 12^th year matching engineering and science students with a UC Irvine faculty member in a research area that aligns with their interests. Nine St. Margaret’s incoming seniors participated this year, spending six weeks at the UC Irvine lab over the summer. In addition to the experience and knowledge gained working alongside college engineering professors, the students also received college credit for their work.

The intensive internship culminated in September, when eight of the nine students presented their findings to faculty, administration, graduate students and parents at the UCI School of Engineering.

“Our students are so fortunate to once again be able to participate in these internships,” said Jennifer Ross-Viola, science department chair in the Upper School and the coordinator of this program. “Through this opportunity, our students gain an understanding of what collegiate-level research in engineering really is and how much time and energy goes into making even small advances in the field. In addition to the content they learn with regard to their projects, our students learned the persistence that is needed when the first, second, third, fourth or even fifth prototype doesn’t work. 

 

“Of course important learning goes on in trying to troubleshoot each new challenge that comes their way. To make these internships successful requires a great deal of commitment from the students who dedicated most of their summer to it, the support staff in the Samueli School of Engineering who coordinate the experiences, the professors who provide interesting projects for the students, and the graduate and undergraduate students who serve as mentors on these projects.” 

 

Here are the Tartans who presented at UCI last week:

Rose McCarver, working with Associate Professor Daniel Mumm: “Hot Corrosion on Gas Turbines” – Worked to find a way to improve the corrosion resistance of gas turbine engines.

Thomas Kwa, working with Associate Professor Brian Demsky: “Internet of Things” – Worked on phone localization and Cloud projects.

Will Rosenthal, working with Assistant Professor Michelle Digman: “Biomedical Engineering Lab: Digman Group” – Worked on developing an inexpensive electronic circuit; Also worked on developing an early screening method for Huntington’s disease.

Joshua Ong, working with Professor David Reinkensmeyer: “Pneumatic Flight Simulator Chair” – Worked on developing a low-cost flight simulator chair for consumer use.

Michael Rubenacker, working with Assistant Professor Michelle Digman: “Multi-D Phasor Analysis of Autofluorescence in Cells at Different Confluency Stages” – Tested and analyzed autofluorescence in cells.

James Swanson, working with Associate Professor Russ Detwiler: “Tracking Contaminant Flow Within a Tube” – Created an apparatus that can quantify tracer concentrations within a fluid transport system.

Jack Westhead, working with Professor Emeritus Scott Samuelsen: “Air Quality Impacts from the Introduction of Low Carbon Fuels in the Natural Gas System” – Investigated the impact of fuel variability in the natural gas system on emissions and air quality.

Charlie Smith, working with Professor David Reinkensmeyer: “Phone Case to Assist in Thumb Rehabilitation” – Designed a phone case that is easy to use, affordable and 3D printable.