Research Programs for Undergraduates

For U-M Students

Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering (SURE)

For U-M undergraduate students, SURE offers summer research internships to outstanding undergraduate students who have entered or completed their junior year by the time of their internship. Participants have the opportunity to conduct 10-12 weeks of full-time summer research with some of the country’s leading faculty in a wide range of engineering disciplines. The program provides opportunities for students to assess their interests and potential in pursuing research at the Masters or PhD level in graduate school. All participants must apply online through the SURE website. Accepted applicants from the University of Michigan receive guidance from a faculty advisor in a College of Engineering research facility, a stipend of $5,000, attend regular meetings and seminars, and submit an abstract or other designated assignment to showcase their summer research experience. Learn more about SURE.

Please note:

• Chemical Engineering does not require any additional documents other than a resume.
• Chemical Engineering faculty each develop their own processes for selecting candidates to join their labs. As such, faculty may contact candidates as part of their decision-making process.

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)

The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) creates research partnerships between first and second year students, and faculty, research scientist, and staff from across the University of Michigan community. All schools and colleges are active participants in UROP,thereby providing a wealth of research topics from which a student can choose. Begun in 1988 with 14 student/faculty partnerships, today, approximately 1200 students and over 700 faculty researchers are engaged in research partnerships. Learn more about UROP.

For Undergrads At Other Universities

Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP)

For non-U-M undergraduate students, SROP offers summer research internships to outstanding undergraduate students who have entered or completed their junior year by the time of their internship. Participants have the opportunity to conduct seven to eight weeks of full-time summer research with some of the country’s leading faculty in a wide range of engineering disciplines. The program provides opportunities for students to assess their interests and potential in pursuing research at the PhD level in graduate school. All participants must apply online through the SROP website. Accepted applicants receive guidance by a faculty advisor in a College of Engineering research facility, a stipend of $4,500, room and some board, travel allowance, GRE Test Prep, weekly seminars and workshops, produce a short YouTube video of their summer research project and/or experience, and potential attendance at a Big Ten CIC Research Symposium. Learn more about SROP.

For department information, contact Ms. Susan Hamlin, ChE Graduate Program Assistant, at hamlins@umich.edu.

SURE/SROP Projects

The application deadline is January 20, 2023. We will contact you when the list has been updated with instructions for our internal ChE-specific selection process.

All participants must apply online through the SURE website.

Projects by Researcher

Sharon Glotzer

More information about Professor Glotzer’s projects can be found at the Glotzer Research Group

Glotzer Project 1: Computational studies of self-assembly at the nanoscale
Assist in computational studies of molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations to explore fundamental properties of self-assembly at the nanoscale. Projects are varied and students will be matched with researchers based on skills, interests and current timeline of the projects.  Simulations are run on high performance computing clusters at UM and national resources such as NSF ACCESS. Students will learn to run simulations, analyze results and use a formal framework for managing data.  Some knowledge of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics is helpful but not strictly required.
Research mode: In person

Glotzer Project 2: Developing tools in Python for simulations, analyses and data management of soft matter simulations
Assist in the development of open-source software packages for nanoparticle and soft matter simulations in use by many research groups inside and outside of the University of Michigan.  In this project, you will learn standard molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo particle simulation techniques and grow your professional software development skills. Software packages are written using Python, C++, so basic prior knowledge of at least one of these is required. Prior Python users will have the opportunity to learn C++ if they wish, and vice versa.
Research mode: In person

Jovan Kamcev

Project 1: Understanding ion transport in charged polymer membranes
Charged polymer membranes are used in various applications for water purification (e.g., reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, etc.) and energy generation and storage (e.g., fuel cells, batteries, etc.). In these applications, the role of the membrane is to control the rates of transport of various species (e.g., ions, water, etc.). One avenue to improve these applications is to develop better performing membranes, and this would be facilitated by improved understanding of how the polymer structure impacts the transport properties of the membrane. In this project, the student will synthesize new polymer membranes and characterize their transport properties in an effort to make connections between the polymer structure and transport. Improved understanding of this issue will enable the rational design of new, high-performance membranes for water and energy applications.
Research mode: In person

Nicholas Kotov

Project 1: Engineering Multifunctional Nanocomposites for Energy Storage Applications

Project Description: The realization of beyond lithium-ion technologies mainly relies on the development of novel multifunctional materials. Our team focuses on developing aramid nanofiber (nanoscale version of Kevlar) based nanocomposites and fabricating strong, ion-conductive, and thermostable membranes to enhance the safety and performance of next-generation batteries. We look for highly motivated undergraduate teammates to get hands-on experience in nanocomposite fabrication, material characterization, battery assembly, and electrochemical tests. Please do not hesitate to reach out for further information. 
Research mode: In lab

Joerg Lahann

Lahann Project 1: Multicompartmental Polymer Nanoparticles via Electrohydrodynamic Co-jetting
Nanoparticles are an attractive technological platform for a multitude of biomedical applications including drug delivery, tissue engineering, biosensing, and diagnostics. In the Lahann lab we fabricate multicompartmental particles via a process known as electrohydrodynamic co-jetting; we can incorporate multiple functionalities into these particles in a combinatorial fashion, allowing for the ability to produce a wide array of particles with diverse capabilities. We are looking for motivated and diligent students who would learn a variety of skills and work on various aspects of our projects, including manufacturing particles and post-fabrication processing, including chemical modifications. We are also looking for students who are interested in the testing of such particles in human cell lines.
Research mode: In person

Lahann Project 2: Protein Nanoparticles for the Delivery of Gene Therapies and Small Molecule Therapeutics.
Current research in drug delivery attempts to address the delivery of multiple therapeutics with distinct pharmacokinetics, sustained release over a set period of time, and fabrication of novel nanoparticles as carriers for targeted delivery. Through electrohydrodynamic co-jetting, our group has thus far been able to display the fabrication of multi-compartmental, biodegradable protein nanoparticles capable of delivering both gene therapies. The undergraduate student will be involved in the manufacturing, as well as further processing, of the nanoparticles and the subsequent testing of their efficacy in vitro.
Research mode: In person

Lahann Project 3: Liquid Crystal Directed Nanofiber Growth via CVP for Biological and Materials Applications
Using the techniques of CVD (chemical vapor deposition) and CVP (chemical vapor polymerization) we have developed a method for generating nanofiber films which adopt properties sympathetically from a liquid crystal (LC) substrate. These fibers display wide range of properties based on manufacturing conditions, LC species, and monomer selection. These systems are being actively developed for a variety of applications to include: cell and tissue engineering, electronic, optical, antifouling, adhesion, and antibiofouling. The student will learn how to set up and operate the CVD system to prepare samples and grow nanofibers. The student will also learn how to characterize surface chemistries, image nanostructures, and assess application functionality. With these main skills, the student will participate in a series of experiments to create fibers made of different materials. Characterization includes techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Optical Microscopy, Ellipsometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The potential to learn cell handling and analysis techniques will also exist.
Research mode: In person

Lahann Project 4: Surface-engineered Fibronectin Scaffolds for Cell, Tissue, and Organoid Research
The project investigates shear induced formation of highly aligned fibronectin scaffolds. This alignment allows cells to experience an environment very similar to the extracellular matric (ECM) of a natural environment. Within this project there are studies of the intrinsic properties of the engineered ECMs (eECMs), cell migration and growth, cell differentiation, tissue formation, and organoid development. Commercially available These substrates will be used to explore the effects of orientation, matrix porosity, mechanical properties, and chemical availability of cofactors. These results will enable us to understand the reasons behind the success of these eECMs in with differing manufacturing parameters and chemical modifications. Additionally, matrices will be characterized by FTIR, optical spectroscopies, optical imaging, mechanical testing, and through laser scanning confocal microscopy. Applications are mostly biomedical- tissue engineering, cancer stem cell culture, hESC and iPSC culture. The student will be responsible for the production and characterization of matrices and the subsequent interactions with cellls. They will get hands-on experience in the techniques listed above and will familiarize themselves with the chemical and biochemical aspects of the research question. They will gain knowledge of basic biopolymer chemistry and cell biology and will be able to hone their understanding further by interacting with graduate students, collaborators and by taking part in group meetings.
Research mode: In person

Lahann Project 5: Surface Engineering for Biomedical and Materials Applications
Biomolecular interactions with synthetic surfaces are important in diverse biomedical fields including medical device implants, microfluidic sensors, marine fouling, and tissue engineering. In the past, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) polymerization has been used to fabricate thin polymer films with robust mechanical and physical properties. The impact of CVD surface properties on biomolecular interactions will be assessed via a myriad of techniques such as ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The student will be involved in all aspects of experiments from fabrication to characterization to data analysis. They will also participate in weekly research group meetings if their schedule permits it and will have the opportunity to work with senior graduate students.
Research mode: In person

Lahann Project 6: Area-Selective Surface Manipulation via Chemical Vapor Deposition Polymerization
In this project, a sterically hindered polymer precursor is activated and deposited in its monomeric form by way of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and polymerized on the substrate surface. The study is being undertaken to understand the selective property of the reactive species on two conventional electronics substrates based on processing conditions. The ultimate goal of this work is to provide additional mechanistic knowledge which can be applied to the controlled deposition into specific geometries. Applications to be considered are area selective deposition for the following areas: microchip manufacturing, lab-on-a-chip, nano- and micro-patterned surfaces, surface polymer trapping, and layer-by-layer surface manufacture using polymeric systems. The students will get to know the basics and gain experiences in chemical vapor deposition and surface characterizations, involving FTIR, XPS, Ellipsometry, AFM, and SEM.
Research mode: In person

Ronald Larson

Project Larson 1 – Polyelectrolyte Simulations
Polyelectrolytes (PEs) widely exist in life, such as DNA/RNA, and they have many applications in fields such as drug delivery, sewage treatment. However, we do not understand most of the aspects of how PE molecules behave, not only because there are too many variables controlling the PE phenomena, but also PE system is strongly correlated due to electrostatic interaction, dipole-dipole interaction, hydrogen bonding, and so on. Here we are interested in understanding the fundamentals of PE complexes using via all-atom or coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. The project will involve learning the molecular dynamics software package GROMACS, and directly simulating complex formation by oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. The results will be compared to experiments and theory.
Research mode: In person

Project Larson 2 – Polyelectrolyte phase behavior and rheology
Polyelectrolytes (PEs) widely exist in life, such as DNA/RNA, and they have many applications in fields such as drug delivery, underwater adhesives, food additives and others. When polyelectrolytes of opposite charge are mixed, they form complexes or “coacervates” with unusual flow properties, including high viscosity and gel-like structure important for their applications, and important in the structure of biological cells. The project is to mix well-defined polyelectrolyte and measure their properties experimentally, especially their flow properties using a mechanical rheometer. The work will be guided by a Ph.D. student and will train the student not only in polyelectrolyte physics and technology, but also in the measurement of properties of viscous solutions and gels.
Research mode: In person

Andrej Lenert

Project Lenert 1: Multicomponent aerogels for solar thermal applications
Silica aerogels are an exciting alternative to conventional solar thermal collectors for use in concentrated solar power. They are one of the most thermally-insulating materials and they can also be optically transparent. Our goal is to develop a facile synthesis procedure that improves their properties by coating them with a second material: one that is capable of suppressing infrared radiative losses while also maintaining high optical transparency. This project will provide experience in wet lab chemistry and material characterization, and also provide knowledge in conductive and radiative heat transfer.
Research mode: In person

Sasha Cai Lesher-Pérez

Project Title: Thermoplastic microfluidic flow cells to test drug cycling in tissue culture in vitro systems 
Objective and Methods: Microfluidic devices enable researchers to more closely mimic cellular and tissue native microenvironments, by controlling the volume of liquid and providing something more representative to what cells see in the body. This size scale also ensures that as researchers we can toggle between diffusion driven molecular exchange and perfusion of the system in order to control the fluidic makeup.  Most devices, however, are made by a soft elastomer material (PDMS) which has been ubiquitously used within microfluidic systems. PDMS’ low-scale manufacturing and hydrophobic absorption make it non-ideal to work with different drugs and hormones, that are hydrophobic in nature, such as cancer therapeutics or reproductive hormones. The hydrophobic nature of a large amount of the molecules of interest limits our ability to evaluate these therapeutics as the molecules are often absorbed into the material. This project aims to develop a robust, simple, and scalable production strategy of cell and tissue culture devices in thermoplastic materials which would not absorb molecules of interest. In developing these thermoplastic devices, the goal is to increase the ease and generation of devices in which we can relatively complex cell and tissue culture systems, such as organ-on-chip models, but do it within plastic housing that is compatible with the drugs we want to test in the devices.  

Responsibilities: The main task for the student is to translate pre-existing device designs from one material (PDMS) to a thermoplastic (Polystyrene and/or Cyclic Olefin Copolymer)  to ensure cells can be easily cultured in the new devices, and that the drugs of interest do not adsorb into the materials. This work will likely require the use machining plastics, hot embossing,  fluorescent microscopy, and cell culture. Students will be trained in all the basic techniques necessary for this project including 3D designing and modeling; prototyping; soft lithography fabrication, microscopy and absorption analysis, and cell/tissue culture.
Research mode: In person

Rebecca Lindsey

Lindsey Project 1: Simulation-guided optimization of membranes for sustainable ammonia synthesis
Sustainable fertilizer production is critical for feeding the earth’s ever-growing population. However, current processes used for industrial production of ammonia (a key component in fertilizer) is far from energy efficient. To help overcome this grand challenge, we use simulations to help guide design of the “next generation” of nanoporous membrane materials used as, e.g., catalytic supports for ammonia synthesis and “filters” for separating ammonia from reactants and by products.
Research mode: In person

Lindsey Project 2: Machine learning for “quantum accurate” simulation on large scales
Atomistic simulations rely on models that describe how system energy changes as the atoms within it move around. Historically, these models have either been based on quantum mechanical methods (which allow very accurate simulation of 100s of atoms), or molecular mechanical models (which allow relatively low accuracy simulation of millions of atoms), limiting utility of atomistic simulations. To overcome this challenge, we develop machine learned models that allow us to simulate with “quantum accuracy” on the large time and length scales accessible to molecular mechanics approaches. Ultimately, these advances allow us to study complicated chemistry-driven processes on scales directly overlapping with what experiments can probe, and let us watch how these systems evolve atom-by-atom. Students working on this project will have the opportunity to learn how to generate these models, and to contribute to advancements in our machine learning framework.
Research mode: In person

Lindsey Project 3: Understanding nanocarbon synthesis under extreme conditions
Suddenly subjecting a carbon rich material “precursor” to extreme temperatures and pressures can drive formation of interesting and technologically relevant nanomaterials. In fact, “detonation synthesis” (whereby the material precursor driven to explode) is industrial process by which nanodiamonds are formed, when large quantities are needed. However, this process is dangerous, messy, and far from tunable. Instead, our group uses computer simulations to learn how we can apply similar principles to synthesize new and exotic nanocarbon particulates in a precise way (e.g., using lasers that allow us to drive materials to the relevant temperature and pressures in a finely controlled way) and to understand the fundamental chemistry and physics driving this process.
Research mode: In person

Albert Liu

Liu Project 1: Energy harvesting for distributed electronic systems
Electricity is the central energy currency in artificial programmable systems, akin to the role ATP plays in biological systems. Next-generation off-the-grid electronic systems call for alternative modes of energy harvesting. With numerous engineering possibilities in areas like circulating medical diagnostic devices and remote sensors in previously inaccessible locations, the Achilles’ heel for such an electronic system at an extremely small length-scale has by and large been the energy constraint.

While there has been tremendous progress toward improving the energy and power densities for traditional energy storage devices such as microbatteries and supercapacitors, their disadvantageous volumetric scaling poses fundamental constraints on important energy metrics that limit the application space of these electricity-demanding on-board electronics. To bridge this energy gap, we explore different liquid-based energy harvesting methods more broadly known as the ‘solvo-voltaic’ effect, a phenomenon whereby various local energy inputs are converted into electricity within a quantum-confined nanostructure (e.g., single-walled carbon nanotube, or SWCNT) by virtue of interactions with the surrounding solvent molecules. This technique stands out as a promising candidate to complement existing energy generation schemes like the photovoltaics, whose utility is diminished where visible light is not present, such as in the body.
Prerequisites: Wet lab experience, MATLAB simulation
Research mode: In person

Liu Project 2: Nanopore-electroporation for electronic-device-to-cell communication
Decentralized (unit-to-unit) communication enables neighboring electronic devices to transmit and receive information between one another. This also opens up the exciting possibility for artificial electronic devices to ‘communicate’ with adjacent biological cells – a prospect that could change the current landscape of human-machine interaction, as well as that of precision medicine for local intervention of pathological cellular processes. Recently, the use of a vertically aligned nanoporous membrane was used to localize the electroporation of cells cultured on top of this membrane. Electroporation only occurs at the nanopore-cell junction directly above the membrane, where the externally applied electric field is concentrated and magnified, limiting the disruption of the cell membrane and preserving cell viability. Meanwhile, the macromolecular cargo can be accelerated in a charge-specific manner inside the vertically aligned nanopores, determined by the polarity of the external electric field, and be effectively “injected” into the cells. This bypasses the slow diffusion process in traditional electroporation which greatly enhances the delivery efficiency and specificity of desired macromolecular cargos. The use of these “electric-field-focusing” nanoporous membranes as site-specific nanopore-electroporators opens up the type of format cells can be electroporated in while also minimizing the negative effects of traditional electroporation.
Prerequisites: Wet lab experience, MATLAB simulation
Research mode: In person

Liu Project 3: Low-power nano-electronic circuits and their incorporation into colloidal particles

Arming nano-electronics with mobility extends artificial systems into traditionally inaccessible environments. Our previous efforts have established that carbon nanotubes (1D), graphene (2D) and other crystalline materials with well- defined lattice structures can be incorporated into polymer microparticles, granting them unique electronic functions. The resulting colloidal electronic ‘cells’ (ca. 100 μm in diameter), comprised of microscopic circuits connecting artificial ‘organelles’ (e.g., generators, sensors, logic gates, etc.), combine the modularity of modern electronics with the characteristic mobility found in dispersive colloidal systems. They perform autonomous functions integrating optical energy harvesting, chemical detection and digital memory recording – all within a form-factor no larger than biological cells.

Nano-electronic materials enable low-power circuit elements that are critical for the power management of colloidal electronics. There are many different nano-electronic modules one can incorporate into the colloidal electronic platform. One example of such low-power circuit elements that we work on is the memristor. Hailed as one the four fundamental circuit elements (together with resistors, capacitors and inductors), memristors (or ‘memory-resistors’) are two-terminal electrical resistors that possess two interchangeable memristance states: ON and OFF. We seek to advance the designs for energy efficient memristive channels – aimed to minimize the amount of energy needed for memristors to switch between ON (conductive) and OFF (insulating) states.
Prerequisites: Wet lab experience, MATLAB simulation
Research mode: In person

Liu Project 4: Functional self-assembly of distributed devices into integrated electrical networks
Functional self-assembly is the autonomous organization of components into task-oriented systems. The ability to overcome the entropic barrier to form hierarchical structures is an essential process in biology as well as the overarching objective of colloidal robotics. The goal is to develop higher order organizations of colloidal robotic devices with spatial heterogeneity, exhibiting ensemble-level functional utilities that push the limit of traditionally inanimate systems at the microscale. Specifically, we will leverage recent advances in both top-down (e.g., additive 3D printing) and bottom-up (e.g., guided self-assembly) techniques for colloidal robotic device integration in a distributed manner.

Biology is replete with examples of dynamically assembled structures such as flocks of birds or foraging ant colonies. Translating these versatile organizations into inanimate systems requires an understanding of how dissipation of energy can lead to the emergence of ordered structures from disordered components. Because the components in dynamic self-assembling systems interact with one another nonlinearly, their behavior is often complex. As an early example, we fabricated a system of chemo-mechanical relaxation oscillators that exhibit an emergent self-synchronized rhythmic beating at the micro-scale. This complex system-level oscillation emerging from particles sharing a deceptively simple physical design exhibits highly tunable frequency. This simple chemo-mechanical oscillator provides a widely accessible experimental design to probe how rhythmic beating could come about amongst early multi-cell organisms, and illustrate how primitive entities could self-synchronize and exhibit complex collective behaviors.
Prerequisites: Wet lab experience, MATLAB simulation
Research mode: In person

Eranda Nikolla

Nikolla Project 1: Controlled synthesis of high surface area nonstoichiometric mixed metal oxides for hydrogen generation from water
Non-stoichiometric mixed metal oxides (e.g., perovskites, double perovskites, Ruddlesden-Popper (R-P) oxides…) are redox and thermally stable materials largely characterized by the oxygen non-stoichiometry in their structure. The latter is a key factor in providing excellent ionic conductivity to this family of materials, enabling their application as promising heterogeneous catalysts for a number of relevant reactions to energy and chemical conversion and storage. One application of these oxides is that of catalyzing oxygen electrochemical reaction related to H2 generation from water. Electrolysis of water provides a sustainable pathway toward storing electrical energy from renewable sources in the form of chemical bonds. The objective in this project is to use reverse microemulsion and hydrothermal syntheses to control the surface area and nanostructure of nonstoichiometric mixed metal oxides for effectively catalyzing the electrochemical reactions involving oxygen.  Previous experience in a wet lab is preferred.
Research mode: In person

Greg Thurber

Project Thurber 1: Testing Simulation Software for Antibody Drug Conjugate Pharmaceutical Development
Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are a rapidly growing class of cancer therapeutics with 7 new approvals in the past 4 years. These agents use a cancer cell-binding monoclonal antibody attached to a potent small molecule drug ‘payload’ to target chemotherapeutic drugs to the tumor while avoiding some of the toxic side effects of traditional chemotherapy. However, these agents are very difficult to develop since they do not follow the typical pattern of either small molecule (chemotherapy) drugs or antibodies. Our lab has developed sophisticated computer simulations to track the distribution of ADCs within tumors and follow the release of the payload and killing of cells. These programs allow users to quickly and inexpensively test a large number of ADC properties to improve the efficiency of drug development. At its core, the program applies chemical engineering principles to drug development. For example, rather than a chemical reactant diffusing to the center of a catalyst pellet, the ADC is diffusing to the middle of a tumor. While many of these simulations require supercomputing power to run, we have developed a simplified version for use on a typical desktop computer for more widespread use. The purpose of this project will be to test the predictions of the simplified model version relative to the more sophisticated model and, more importantly, compare the results to published efficacy studies. The results can also be scaled to humans to compare predictions with the currently FDA-approved drugs. The program uses a graphical user interface developed in Matlab, so previous Matlab experience is recommended. The student will learn background information on how drug simulations are run, test the accuracy of predictions using preclinical and clinical data, and ensure the user interface is intuitive and easy to use.
Research mode: In person