Undergraduate Opportunities

The department offers a Senior Thesis Option as part of its course work. Senior Thesis students work for two consecutive semesters at 2 credit hours per semester on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Students are expected to complete a written thesis as well as poster and oral presentations that highlight the progress of their research. The Senior Thesis is listed as CHEN 4010 (first semester) and CHEN 4020 (second semester), and this two-semester sequence may be substituted for Chemical Engineering Laboratory 2 (CHEN 4130).

In order to qualify for Senior Thesis, students must:
    1) Complete Chemical Engineering Laboratory 1 (CHEN 3130) with a grade of B or better.
    2) Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30.
    3) Develop a project that is endorsed by a faculty research advisor.
    4) Receive the approval of the Department's Senior Thesis Instructor (Professor Stoykovich).

Senior Thesis applications can be obtained in the ChBE office (ECCH 111) or by clicking here.
Students interested in Senior Thesis can contact Professor Mark Stoykovich for more details.
Senior Thesis Guide is also available for student as a reference to time lines and resources.

Who Provides Payment?

1. Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program (DLAP) - Students may also find a research position through application to the College of Engineering's DLAP.
2. Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) - Students may apply for financial assistance through UROP; the UROP office is located in Norlin S430, and their phone number is 303.492.2596. 
3. Bioscience Undergraduate Research Skills and Training (BURST) program: . The BSI office is in Porter B058, and the phone number is 303.492.8230.
4. Faculty - Some faculty have research grants specifically designed to support undergraduates.

How Do You Get Started?

1. Peruse the Research by Area webpage and determine which research areas are of interest to you.
2. After determining a research area, read more about the ChBE professors working in that area by clicking on their names. To later demonstrate your depth of knowledge, read the abstract/introduction of one of two of their papers.
3. Talk to upperclassmen about their research experiences.
4. To increase your desirability, apply for funding through DLA, UROP, or BURST.
5. Meet with Career Services to polish up your resume.
6. Send an email with your resume to the professor(s) of interest. Indicate why you would like to work in their lab, whether or not you have DLA/UROP/BURST funding, and whether or not you would consider starting out without pay. Ask to schedule a short appointment. Talk to their graduate students if possible to determine whether or not there is any need for an undergraduate researcher.
7. If desired, follow up a few days later with another email or office visit to quickly introduce yourself. Do not be discouraged if multiple follow-ups are required.

Angela Helstern: Many different types of medical devices are used in the body (i.e. tissue, pace makers, ect.). The implants effectiveness can be reduced by immune responses by the body. This response forms a collagen shell around the implant, changing how it performs its function. My research hopes to prevent this immune response by attaching PEG with degradable linkers to proteins in hope of suppressing macrophage response. As the protein is released, factors in the gel scaffold will allow tissue to grow or tissue function to be enhanced. Other factors will determine how quickly the protein is released to allow the proper rate of recovery to be achieved in the patient.

Dan Bates: Two major issues involving protein based theraputics are the stability and immunogenicity of the drugs in packaging. My research project has focused on the behavior of large protein therapeutics in the presence of water-silicone oil mixtures. The information that we are gathering has implications which may affect how protein based drugs are formulated and packaged into syringes. The ultimate goal of the research, and Prof. Randolph's group, is to help ensure that these amazingly helpful proteins remain safe and effective as they move from production to administration to patients.

Keith Beers: Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor (MIS) sensors can be used to detect the concentration of hydrogen gas in a flow system. The presence of other gases like carbon dioxide and acetylene can change the nature of this response. My research looks at the effects of hydrogen sulfide exposure to this change in response. Monte Carlo simulation code is being developed to describe these surface processes in hopes of better understanding the chemical basis for the change in response of the sensor.

Klarika Douves: In a patient with pathological pain, the spinal glial cells overproduce pro-inflammatory immune system messengers. The protein IL-10 has been shown to suppress the inflammation, temporarily reducing pain. My research uses a model of IL-10 and attaches PEG to the protein, improving stability and survivability in the body. The bioactivity and half-life of PEGylated model protien relative to unPEGylated both in vitro and in vivo will be characterized, and any conclusions drawn can be used to improve the effectiveness of IL-10 treatments.

Margarite Parker: Water is a potential source of hydrogen for a clean burning fossil fuel alternative. However, generating hydrogen with minimal environmental impact is a difficult task. My research involves reacting water vapor with a zinc catalyst to generate hydrogen gas. We are taking the partial pressure of hydrogen to determine the actual amount produced, compared to what would be produced in an ideal reaction, and ascertain the temperature and flow rates that would produce the best results. Optimization of these parameters would allow for the highest amount of hydrogen to be products as possible, bringing us one step closer to a cleaner way to generate energy.