Students, faculty perform cutting-edge research
By Rachel Bruce
Skiff Staff

Some faculty and students in the engineering department are all too familiar with research.

“(Engineering) faculty are expected to be involved in some research,” department chairman Walt Williamson said. “It is optional for students. All of our seniors are involved in a senior design project which involves some level of research.”

Williamson said he is beginning a project to improve a small unmanned flying airplane. He said his research entails consulting with NASA, the U.S. Navy and Sandia Labs on various topics.

W.A. Moncrief professor of engineering Ed Kolesar said research is an essential component of a professor’s career.

“Along with the teaching and service elements, it establishes the foundation that we build our professional careers on,” Kolesar said.

Kolesar is currently involved with research involving Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) and the ethyl alcohol microsensor. The MEMS device is just like a biological muscle that can expand and contract, so a polymer lens could function just like the human eye, allowing it to focus on near and far objects, Kolesar said.

“(Research) presents a special challenge — to do something that has not been done before, to contribute to society,” Kolesar said. Associate professor Tristan Tayag said he is conducting research with four undergraduate students.

“One of my research projects involves the use of optical techniques to measure the contraction of fibroblast cells,” Tayag said. “Fibroblast cells are found in the human body and migrate to the area of the wound. They attach themselves to the surrounding tissue and contract to prevent fluid loss and infection.”

The department encourages research opportunities in order to recruit students. According to the engineering Web site, students “won’t be sitting on the sidelines” and they can “gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge research fields.”

Senior lecturer Patrick Walter organizes and oversees the Capstone Design Project for seniors.

“I select and arrange the project with industry each year, negotiate a specification and stay involved with the senior engineering students on a day-to-day basis,” Walter said. “However, they can, should and do seek consulting help from any faculty in addition to myself as well as any other outside professional individual or resource.”

The senior engineering students are designing a system that they hope can be incorporated into Lockheed Martin’s manufacturing process. The goal is to create a measuring process to check the conformity of fasteners on the Joint Strike Fighter wing, Walter said.

“(Students) get to practice their writing skills and publish their research results,” Kolesar said. “They get to present their research findings at technical conferences and practice their verbal communication skills.”

Rachel Bruce