WE Local Collegiate Competition Past Recipients
2017 WE Local Collegiate Competition Finalists
Undergraduate Finalists
- Amanda McKnight, University of New Haven
Generation of Biofuels from Catalytically Treated Biomass Using Semi-Batch Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor - Andrea Sajewski, Duquesne University
Photoacoustic flow cytometry using bacteriophage for rapid identification of bacterial infection - Anna Mercaldi, University of New Haven
Synthesis of Nitric Oxide Releasing Polymers - Catherine O’Hearn, West Virgina University
Light Extraction Efficiency Enhancement of III-V Nitride Based LEDs through Periodic Plasmonic Structures
Graduate Finalists
- Erica Stevens, University of Pittsburgh
Expanding the possibilities for magnetocaloric materials with additive manufacturing: an exploratory study - Renee Oats, Michigan Technological University
Evaluating Structural Performance of Infrastructure Beams Using Digital Image Correlation as a Condition Assessment Tool - Sarah Robb, Carnegie Mello University
Disruptive Medical Device ROI Prediction Tool
Undergraduate Finalists
- Allyce Froning, Western Washington University
Ergonomic Surgical Body Support System - Margarita Kovalchuk, California State University, Sacramento
Influence of wind on hydrodynamics of constructed Delta wetlands
Graduate Finalists
- Sanjana Das, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Nanotechnology for Water-Less Cleaning of Solar Panels - Patricia Thompson, Iowa State University
Development of an Economic Framework for the Proactive Identification of Traffic Safety Countermeasures - Phylicia Cicilio, Oregon State University
Resiliency, Reliability, and Protection of Nome, Alaska’s Microgrid using Archival Utility Data - Coral Taylor, University of Nevada, Reno
Surfactant Effects on Direct Contact Membrane Distillation
2018 WE Local Collegiate Competition Finalists
Undergraduate Finalists
- Kaylie Sheehan, University of North Texas
The Effect of Piezoelectricity on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation - Victoria Ruszkowski, Oklahoma State University
Self-Folding of Smart Materials Title of abstract
Graduate Finalists
- Katelynn Harmon, Oklahoma State University
Smart Skins for Diabetic Patients
- Mujan Seif, University of Michigan
Stochastic modeling of the effects of structural randomness on the mechanical behavior of nanoporous materials: revealing the role of network coordination state - Yen Nguyen, Oklahoma State University
Modeling of Extracellular Matrix Degradation in a Metastatic Tumor Microenvironment Using CompuCell3D
Undergraduate Finalists
- Jiyoung Hwang, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
UAV Research – CFD Studies in Venturi Wing Design - MaiQuyen Nguyen, The University of Texas at Austin
Three-Dimensional Mechanical Testing of Breast Tissue
Graduate Finalists
- Monica Chirdula, University of Oklahoma
Upgrading Biomass Derived Compounds to Petrochemical Intermediates: Selective Conversion of 4-Pentenoic Acid to Olefins or Diolefins - Sanjana Das, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Nanotechnology for Water-Less Cleaning of Solar Panels
Undergraduate Finalists
- Brianna Phibbs, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Wind Turbine Foundation Loadings and Tower Moment - Maya Makhlouf, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Examining the Effect of a Paradigm-Relatedness Problem-Framing Tool on Idea Generation - Renae Kurpius, University of Iowa
Connecting the Dots: A New Method to Determine Radiation Yield during EB Polymerization Reactions via Raman Spectroscopy
Graduate Finalists
- Caymen Novak, University of Michigan
Breast cancer cells exhibit enhanced proliferation, invasion, PLAU expression and chemoresistance when exposed to fluid shear stress in an innovative 3D bioreactor - Hadallia Bergeron, Northwestern University
Low-Power Electronics in Two-Dimensions: Direct Growth of Monolayer MoS2 on Ultrathin Al2O3 - Megan Beck, Northwestern University
Self-Aligned van der Waals Heterojunction Diodes and Transistors - Sarah Robb, Carnegie Mellon University
Predicting the Potential for Breakthrough Health Technology: Is it Possible?
Undergraduate Finalists
- Alyssa Escoto, Ohlone Community College
Vertical Farming - Maria Laquian, Ohlone Community College
Drone system for the Detection of Landmines, and TNT contamination - Noor Radi, Ohlone Community College
The AirPlant Farming System : Utilizing Drone Technology to Remediate Desertification - Riannon Smith, Oregon State University
Transplanting a bacterial immune system: Design, construction, and expression of a multi-subunit Type IV CRISPR system
Graduate Finalists
- Dorcas Kaweesa, The Pennsylvania State University
Quantifying the Impact of Functionally Graded Materials on the Fatigue Life of Material Jetted Specimens - Jamie Kunnappally, University of Texas at Dallas
Effect of Medial Thighplasty on Oxygen and Metabolic Consumption Rates in a Transfemoral Amputee during Sustained Overground Walking Bouts - Jessica Doto–Rodriguez, University of Washington
Delta- and proteorhodopsin-based bioprotonic devices for light-controlled conversion of protonic to electronic currents - Margot Farnham, University of Delaware
Tribological Rehydration in Response to Mechanical Injury - Phylicia Cicilio, Oregon State
Load Model Placement for Reliability
Undergraduate Finalists
- Jui Hanamshet, Drexel University
Using Radio Frequency Identification based Real-Time Locating System for Bellyband motion signal filtering - Mannika Kshettry, Drexel University
Multiple Antenna based Motion Detection for Infant Respiration Data using Bellyband System - Maria Chernova, The City College of New York
Quantifying the Dynamics of Antibody Adsorption at the Air-Water Interface
Graduate Finalists
- Bethany Almeida, Brown University
Influencing the physical and chemical microenvironment to control mesenchymal stem cell differentiation - Bridget Hegarty, Yale University
Gene expression of fungal communities in damp buildings: implications for human health - Jenna Ditto, Yale University
Unveiling the chemical complexity of atmospheric organic aerosol - Kristina Macro, University at Buffalo
Progress toward a Multi-Objective Decision Support System for Integrating Green Infrastructure into Urban Planning - Ria Corder, North Carolina State University
Using Rheology to Quantify the Efficacy of an Enzymatic Treatment for Uterine Fibroids
2019 WE Local Collegiate Competition Finalists
Undergraduate Finalists
- Castine Donoff, Messiah College
Rapid Orthotics for CURE Kenya - Emma Vogan, Messiah College
Implementing a system for 3D printed prosthetics and orthotics - Haley Antoine, Cornell University
Tissue Engineered 3D Constructs for Modeling Ductus Arteriosus Closure - Karli Sutton, Duquesne University
Creating a Waste-Negative 3D Printing Recycling System - Katelynn Vega, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Disc Degeneration Biomechanics
Graduate Finalists
- Pratyush Mishra, Iowa State University
Morphological Instability Mechanism Leading to Formation of Self-Organized Porous Anodic Oxides - Taylor Oeschger, Cornell University
Microfluidic Chip for Rapid Sepsis Diagnosis at the Point of Care - Temitope Runsewe, Texas State University
Stochastic Models for Planning Distributed Wind Generation based on Data Analytics
Undergraduate Finalists
- Darnisha Crane, The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Measurement of Forces on a Flapping Wing Micro Aerial Vehicle - Heather Hofstee, University of Central Florida
Analog Oven-Control Circuit for a Thin-Film Piezoelectric on Substrate Microelectromechanical Systems Oscillator - Madison Wojciechowski, Penn State Berks
The Use of Advanced Additive Manufacturing Techniques to Design, Optimize, and Characterize an Orthopedic Support - Morayo Ogunsina, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Memory “Lookup” Architecture in Processing in Memory Computing – A New Approach To Near Memory Architecture - Sophia Bakar, Duquesne University
Fluoride Removal from Water using 3D Printed Filters
Graduate Finalists
- Armana Huq, Florida International University
Application of Connected Vehicle Technology to Mitigate Secondary Crashes - Hyunjin Kim, University of California, Santa Barbara
Portable Optical Detector for Point of Care Diagnostics - Kazi Tasneem, Vanderbilt University
Modeling Chemical Transport in PDMS-based Organ-on-Chip Microsystems
Undergraduate Finalists
- Allison McMinn, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Tomosynthesis Image Reconstruction for Early Breast Cancer Detection - Faith Gantz, University of North Texas
Thermo-mechanical Processing Ni-rich NiTiHf High Temperature Shape Memory Alloy - Gabriella Marie, University of Kentucky
Design of a Cooling Jacket for a Thermal Vacuum System - Katherine Moody, University of Kentucky
The effect of fibrous geometry on thermomechanical behavior of phenolic impregnated carbon ablators for use in thermal protection systems - Skylar Mays, University of Kentucky
Stochastic modeling of the effects of structural randomness on the mechanical behavior of 3D printed metals
Graduate Finalists
- Isabella Sanders, Georgia Institute of Technology
Strategic Market Deployment Planning: Farm to Table Logistics Platforms - Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, Texas State University San Marcos
A Multi-stage Stochastic Programming Approach for Prepositioning of Relief Supplies. - Quihua Duan, Penn State university
Spectrally selective photothermal film effects on windows heating energy savings - Udaysree Buchupalli, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Ethereum blockchain community ATM
Undergraduate Finalists
- Ha Tran, University of North Texas
Major Improvement of Level of Development Specification for Cold-Formed Steel Framing Construction - Madeline Groettum, The Catholic University of America
Cyclic Voltammetry as a Detection Mechanism for Electrode Coatings - Nika Levtchin, University of Minnesota
The Analysis of Historic Paper using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy to Determine Trace Metal Composition for Preservation Purposes - Sophia Becker, Colorado School of Mines
13C-MFA in a Fast Growing Limonene Producing Cyanobacterium
Graduate Finalists
- Chrysm Watson Ross, University of New Mexico
Troll Hunter: Understanding Swarm Behavior in Social Networks - Sepideh Kianbakht, Colorado School of Mines
Shutdown Controller for a Segmented Ultralight Morphing Rotor Wind Turbine - Taylor Ludeke, University of California, Los Angeles
Optimal Control for Autonomous Oscillation
Undergraduate Finalists
- Kyla Burrill, University of Portland
Efficiency of Constructed Wetlands for Nutrient Removal - Sejal Shah, University of Delaware
Orthogonal Superimposed Perturbation on Shear Thickening Fluids for Sports Equipment and Medical Devices - Sydney Robinson, The University of Rhode Island
Utilizing Peptides in Order to Lower the Electric Field Necessary for Electroporation of Cancer Cells
Graduate Finalists
- Ehdieh Khaledian, Washington State University
Using network science approaches to build high resolution tree of bacterial phyla and detect Horizontal Gene Transfer - Cecilia Klauber, Texas A&M University
Improving Power Grid Awareness during Geomagnetic Disturbances
2020 WE Local Collegiate Competition Finalists
Undergraduate Finalists
- Alyson Dizon, California State University, Los Angeles
Aqueous pH-neutral Flow Batteries - Aziza Almanakly, Princeton University
Electron Transport on Thin-Film Superfluid Helium with Voltage-Controllable Thickness - Jovanna Fazzini, Harvard University
An Expanding Foam-Fabric Orthopedic Cast - Lauren Seubert, Messiah College
A 3D Printing System for an Orthopedic Hospital in Kenya
Graduate Finalists
- Carrie Sanford North Carolina State University
Flux Balance Analysis of Metabolic Models for the Optimization of Sugar Co-Metabolism by Acetogenic Autotrophs - Fatema Zohra, Texas State University
Combining Rain Harvesting System (RHS) with Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) - Krisha Samir Mehta, Arizona State University
HomeNet: Layout Generation of Indoor Scenes from Panoramic Images Using Pyramid Pooling - Lael Wentland, Oregon State University
Towards Personal Health Monitoring: Optimizing Reaction Conditions in a Paper-Based Phenylalanine Test - Ria Ghosh, University of Texas at Dallas
Custom-made Real-time Field Testing Platform for Accelerated Advancements in Cochlear implant and Hearing Aid Algorithms
Undergraduate Finalists
- Alexandra Richey, Arizona State University
The roles of scientific papers cited by direct-to-consumer stem cell businesses in the Southwest US - Ceira Dawson, University at Buffalo
Temperature-dependent response of soils in tunnel lining interaction during fire events - Hardi Sura, Purdue University
Analysis of open-source datasets for plant classification using convolutional neural networks - Morgan Bishop, Utah State University
Identification of Murine Fecal Samples According to Diet by Fluorescence from Raman Spectroscopy
Graduate Finalists
- Aleksandra Kalinowska, Northwestern University
Abduction loading affects motor coordination in individuals post stroke, suggesting it could be used for performance-based robot-aided rehabilitation. - Ishita Tandon, University of Arkansas
Two Photon Excited Fluorescence Microscopy Metrics are Sensitive to Early Calcific Aortic Valve Disease Progression In Vitro and Ex Vivo - Lori Caldwell, Utah State University
Developing a Mobile System to Visualize Fluid Flow in Hands-On Undergraduate Finalists Laboratories - Paige West, Virginia Tech
Effective Online Engineering Education Strategies Using Learning Analytics - Wei-Chiao Huang, University of Buffalo
A Potent Malaria Vaccine Adjuvant Based on Spontaneous Nanoliposome-Antigen Particleization
Undergraduate Finalists
- Jillian Saunders, Drexel University
Fragile X granules localize near axonal plasma membranes independent of the Fragile X protein FMRP - Magdalene Lee, The University of Alabama
Super-Resolution Visualization of Peptide Self Assembly using Alexa-488 Dye - Mariah Mook, East Carolina University
Reinforcement Learning for a Data-Driven Insulin Pump
Graduate Finalists
- Catherine Snyder, University of Michigan
Fabrication of non-spherical and multiphasic particles with independent control of particle size, shape and chemistry - Isabella Sanders, Georgia Institute of Technology
Strategic Market Deployment: Farm-to-Table Platforms - Katelyn Greene, Wake Forest University
Measuring Lumbar Muscle Changes with Long-Duration Spaceflight using Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Qiuhua Duan, Pennsylvania State University
Thermal performance and condensation risk of single-pane glazing with low emissivity coatings - Zahra Davoudi, Iowa State University
Intestinal Organoids Containing PLGA Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Undergraduate Finalists
- Rebekah Forshey, Messiah College
Creation of a Biomechanical Model and Force Sensor System to Test the Forces Exerted by a Novel Clubfoot Maintenance Brace - Kay Laura Sindabizera, Messiah College
The Prosthetic Knee Project - Olivia Wanless, Kettering University
Social Responsibility and Safety in Autonomous Vehicle Development - Makini Valentine, New York City College of Technology
Validation of Downscaled Satellite Land Surface Temperature in Urban Areas using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and In-situ Applications
Graduate Finalists
- Erin Evke, University of Michigan
Wearable Kirigami-based sensor patch for rehabilitation of shoulder joint injuries - Ogochukwu Enekwizu, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Vapor supersaturation controls the properties and impacts of atmospheric soot - Kara DiNatale, Kansas State University
Optimization of a batch reactor process using statistical analysis - Gabriella Marie, University of Kentucky
Thermal Properties Measurements of Bourbon Barrel Staves - Chinasa Okolo, Cornell University
Smartphone-Based Object Detection for Medical Analysis
Undergraduate Finalists
- Rachael Gold, University at Buffalo
Lumped Parameter Modeling of Space Tethered Net With Nodes Inside of Threads - Sarah Koep, North Dakota State University
Modification of Granular Activated Carbon using Natural Citric Acid from Citrus aurantiifolia for Enhances Fluoride Removal from Drink Water
Graduate Finalists
- Courtney Keiser, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Mechanically Optimized Aortic Stent-Grafts - Riannon Smith, University of Iowa
Development of Sprayable, Thermoreversible Hydrogels for Burn Wound Applications - Pratyasha Mohapatra, Iowa State University
A Novel Strategy for Developing Ultrahigh Efficiency Relaxor Antiferroelectric Ceramics for Energy Storage Application
