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2008 George Washington Carver
Research Program
Internship Descriptions

 

Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Land Use Influence on Physical, Chemical and Biological Attributes of Streams
Dr. Brian E. Haggard, Mentor

Watershed land uses have a profound influence on the physical and water quality characteristics of streams, and the changes in these attributes can be easily measured.  The undergraduate research assistant will collect physical data on the fluvial channel morphology (i.e., shape), water samples to evaluate chemical concentrations (i.e., water quality chemistry), and or biological organisms to evaluate biodiversity (i.e., water quality biology).  At least nine streams will be identified and sampled during the first three weeks of the project, and the remainder of the project period will involve data analyses and report writing.  The undergraduate research assistant will be expected to provide some general labor in the laboratory to support field work and lab analyses.

Biological Sciences
INBRE
Dr. David Paul, Mentor

The Arkansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (Arkansas INBRE) is funded by a grant from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), under the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  The IDeA program was established for the purpose of broadening the geographic distribution of the NIH funding for biomedical and behavioral research.  The Arkansas INBRE builds on the successful Arkansas Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN) program that was established in 2001 under a grant from NCRR.  The Arkansas BRIN established a statewide network that links Arkansas institutions of higher education to establish a statewide infrastructure in support of a growing effort to build a biomedical research capacity in Arkansas.  There are positions available specifically for GWCRP students.  This internship is 10 weeks with a different funding package.  Applications should be made to the GWCRP.  This internship is only available to Arkansas residents.

Chemical Engineering
The Development of Antibody Microarrays for Screening of Disease Biomarkers
Dr. Shannon L. Servoss, Mentor

This project focuses on the development of antibody microarrays for screening of disease biomarkers, and eventually for early diagnosis.  The project currently available is synthesizing non-fouling coatings for antibody microarrays.  The selected summer intern will be engaged in:  (1) the synthesis of poly-N-substituted glycines, or peptoids, using an automated peptide synthesizer, (2) characterization and purification of the peptoids using high-pressure liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, and (3) testing of the surface coatings for antibody microarray performance.

Chemical Engineering
Investigation of the Replacement of Ion Exchange Resin in Gallo Process with Continuous Electrodeionization
Dr. Jamie Hestekin, Mentor

Precipitation in grape juice is a huge problem at Gallo.  They have found that bi-polar electrodialysis works well to solve this problem, however, selectivity and expense remain a problem.  Wafer enhanced electrodeionization could help solve this problem.

Chemical Engineering
Fundamental Determination of Wafer
Thickness on Transport
Dr. Jamie Hestekin, Mentor

Wafer enhanced electrodeionization has been used in low level organic acid removal.  No fundamental study on the effect of wafer thickness has been made.  This project is an attempt to perform that fundamental study.

Chemical Engineering
The Production and Separation of Green Solvents with Innovative Ionic Liquid Electrodeionization
Dr. Jamie Hestekin, Mentor

Esterifications are difficult because of equilibrium.  This new process, with new membrane materials, would allow for continuous esterification without build-up of water.

Chemical Engineering
Electrodeionization Wafers for Biobatteries
Dr. Jamie Hestekin, Mentor

The production of glucose into electricity is being explored by many people.  We think we have a novel take on this because we will be able to produce electricity while removing ions, thus preventing build-up.

Chemical Engineering
Butyric Acid Yield Enhancement by Separation of Fermentation Broths and Continuous Electrodialysis
Dr. Jamie Hestekin, Mentor

Butanol has some great advantages, unfortunately, is very difficult to make.  We feel that using membrane separations combined with the separation gives us some unique advantages.

Chemical Engineering
Development of a Membrane Process for Sterilizing Grape Juice Concentrates
Dr. Jamie Hestekin, Mentor

Sterilizing grape juice via membranes has been demonstrated at the University of Arkansas. 

This project will go one step further and try to show this on large scale and with concentrates.

Chemistry REU
Dr. David Paul, Mentor

This REU is funded by the National Science Foundation, and application must be made directly to the program.  They have positions available specifically for GWCRP students.  This internship is a 10-week internship with a different funding package.  For more complete, application information, please visit their website at http://chemistry.uark.edu/1197.htm

Civil Engineering
Use of Colloidal Silica Grout to Contain and Repair Leaks in Buried Pipelines
Dr. John McCartney, Mentor

An undergraduate student participating on this research project will obtain hands-on experience in building physical models of buried pipes in sand layers, and will perform tests to evaluate leakage from the pipe before and after application of colloidal silica.  The quality of sealing a leak in a buried pipe with colloidal silica will be assessed by pumping liquids through the pipe under a range of pressure. Non-reactive dyes can be used to assess patterns in the infiltration of grout and leakage from the pipe. Variables that can be investigated include the size of the hole in the pipe, the gel-time of the colloidal silica (by changing the electrolyte concentration), and the type and density of soil surrounding the pipe. This experimental information can be used to verify models of leakage from a pipe into surrounding soil. The results of this study will not only help operators of pipelines maintain aging facilities, but will help improve the health and safety of workers and maintain a clean environment.

Computer Science/Computer Engineering
Miniaturized RFID Reader System Configuration
Dr. Jai Di, Mentor

Radio frequency identification (RFID) uses radio signals to automatically identify objects with a no-contact, non-line-of-sight, and invisible system. A RFID system consists of tags, readers, printers, computer networks, middleware, and databases. Among these components, RFID readers are known to be bulky in size and complex in configuration and control. Recently Intel® has announced its new UHF RFID Transceiver R1000, which is a single chip integrated over 90% of the circuits required for a RFID reader. This project is to explore the configuration and control of R1000, utilizing Intel’s development kit. The goal is to investigate how to control R1000 through user’s PC, how to communicate with RFID tags, and how to modify the communication protocol.

Crop, Soil & Environmental Science
Helping Farmers Manage their Land and
Protect Water Quality
Dr. Andrew Sharpley, Mentor

Assist in team research evaluating the impacts of agricultural management on surface quality in the Illinois River Watershed, Northwest Arkansas.  The research will involve laboratory and on-farm experiments, will use state-of-the-art rainfall simulation and monitoring equipment, and lead to reporting results in spreadsheet, graphic, and written form.  The main chemicals of concern in this research are phosphorus and nitrogen, which are found naturally but also added to farm land in fertilizers and manures.  The intern will gain firsthand experience in internationally-recognized research on environmental risk assessment and how to help farmers manage their land and protect water quality.

Crop, Soil & Environmental Science
Dr. Nilda Burgos, Mentor

The internship in this area will include research in a combination of the following areas:

  1. Herbicide efficacy and crop safety for sweet sorghum with and without irrigation.
  2. Herbicide efficacy and crop safety for cowpea.
  3. Field scale gene flow in rice.
  4. Gene sequencing of weedy (red) rice
  5. AFLP fingerprinting and gene sequencing of Palmer amaranth
  6. Sequencing of the ACCase gene of diclofop-resistant ryegrass
  7. Mechanisms of resistance to glyphosate in ryegrass

Electrical/Computer Engineering
Automated Design of Asynchronous NULL Convention Digital Circuits
Dr. Scott C. Smith, Mentor

This summer project involves porting the NCL CAD tools developed for the Mentor Graphics platform to the Synopsys and Cadence platforms. The successful applicant will have experience in C-language programming and VHDL. Familiarity with Mentor Graphics, Synopsys and/or Cadence is a definite plus. For more information on NCL, please visit the following website: http://comp.uark.edu/~smithsco/CCLI_async.html.

Food Science
Masterfoods REU
Dr. Navam Hettiarachchy, Mentor

This REU is funded by Masterfoods/Institute of Food Technologies and application must be made directly to the program.  They have positions available specifically for GWCRP students. This internship is a 10-week internship with a different funding package.  For more complete, application information, please visit their website at http://www.foodscience.uark.edu

Hospitality and Restaurant
Management/Agriculture Education
Food Service Operators’ Impact Awareness and Importance Perception of Bioterrorism Towards Preventive Measures
Dr. Godwin-Charles Ogbeide, Mentor

The primary purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between foodservice operators’ impact awareness, perception of the possibility of bioterrorism attack, and the importance perception of the preventive measures towards the practice of suggested preventive measures. In addition, strong emphasis will be placed on the motivating factors that influence foodservice operators to practice the preventive measures against bioterrorism attack.

Industrial Engineering
Building an online RFID lab for education and experimentation
Dr. Nebil Buyurgan andDr. Justin Chimka, Mentors

Project goals include increased understanding of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology across engineering disciplines, and improved student attitudes about education. Objectives include building an internet-based learning environment, where online users remotely control laboratory equipment to conduct RFID experiments. The environment should also include more traditional educational materials and a forum for communication among students, academics and industry partners.  A summer intern might assist with software programming, hardware installation, system testing, and/or educational materials development.

Mechanical Engineering
Development of Artificial Flying Insects and Birds
Dr. Adam Huang, Mentor

Currently, Dr. Huang is working on the development of the sensor-actuator membrane wings required for providing the propulsion, controls, and sensing needs for artificial flapping flyers (birds and insects).  The propulsion and controls techniques of flapping wings are well known due to the plethora of open-literature focused on the kinematics of natural flapping flyers.  However, the ability to sense and provide gust response remains a difficult but necessary scientific and engineering understanding and accomplishment toward the realization of a true ornithopter.  The applications of such ornithopters are wide-ranging, from search-and-rescue missions to providing reconfigurability and mobility for large sensor arrays in confined and difficult to reach places required by police and military special forces. 

Mechanical Engineering
REU
Dr. Matt Gordon and Dr. Joseph Rencis, Mentors

This REU is funded by the National Science Foundation, and application must be made directly to the program.  They have positions available specifically for GWCRP students.  This internship is a 10-week internship with a different funding package.  For more complete, application information, please visit their website at  http://comp.uark.edu/~jjrencis/REU

Microelectronics-Photonics REU
Professor Ken Vickers, Mentor

This REU is funded by the National Science Foundation, and application must be made directly to the program.  They have positions available specifically for GWCRP students.  This internship is a 10-week internship with a different funding package.  For more complete, application information, please visit their website at http://microep.uark.edu

Music (voice)
Dr. Eddie W. Jones, Mentor

The student interning in music will continue studying his/her primary applied instrument. The student will also conduct research in a favorite research area. This may be a favorite composer or a favorite composition by a specific composer. The student will observe voice lessons and may, depending on experience, be given the opportunity to teach a lesson. The outcome will be a public presentation of a short lecture-recital.

**Music applicant MUST submit a recording of his/her singing two songs in contrasting styles. (CD preferred, but tape accepted) **

Physics REU
Dr. Linn Oliver, Mentor

This REU is funded by the National Science Foundation, and application must be made directly to the program.  They have positions available specifically for GWCRP students.  This internship is a 10-week internship with a different funding package.  For more complete, application information, please visit their website at http://www.uark.edu/depts/physics/reu05/index.html

A Critical Analysis of Applied Democracy in Academic Decision-Making
Dr. Michael Miller, Mentor

This is an opportunity for an undergraduate student to become part of the Higher Education Program during the summer of 2008 to explore and research student participation in academic governance.  The research strand is an on-going project that began in 2003 and has encompassed a variety of individual projects related to faculty, staff, student, and trustee governance in what has commonly been referred to as ‘community governance.’ The student will work in the cataloging and inventorying of collective bargaining agreements and will collect and conduct a content analysis of student government constitutions. 

Student Interest Areas: Education, particularly higher education, Student development and leadership, political science or public administration, representation and civic engagement.

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