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2007 Undergraduate Summer Research Experience
Students.
The Program
Approximately ten learning opportunities will be
available for the Summer of 2008. The assignments of
research areas will be based on individual interests as
expressed on the application form attached. The areas of
research offered and the project numbers to use on the
application are as shown. The starting and ending dates
are May 27 to August 1, 2008. You will want to arrive in
Cleveland prior to May 27th. This is an opportunity to
work intensely with faculty on cutting edge research.
They will contact you in advance as well as on a weekly
basis concerning your progress. A graduate student will
be available to give daily guidance on methodology in
your research, your notebook and the organization and
presentation of your data. Participants are required to
attend one group meeting per week to discuss their
projects and other career-enhancing topics. Following a
poster presentation of your research at the end of the
experience, a 7-10 page final report will be required.
You will receive as much guidance as you need on your
presentation. A first payment of $2,500 will be
available early in the program. You will receive your
remaining portion of the stipend ($2,500) when the
requirements of the program are met.
The Projects
- Develop novel techniques to fabricate optical
polymers with a nanoscale layered structure, and to
characterize the optical properties of these unique
materials. Use Case’s state-of-the-art multilayer
co-extrusion facility to fabricate elastomer/elastomer
and elastomer/polymer glass layers on the nanometer
scale, selecting polymers with large refractive
index differences to achieve selective reflections.
Faculty Sponsors: Eric Baer and Anne Hiltner
- Develop structure-property relationships in
applications ranging from the prediction of fracture
and failure in applications ranging from engineering
structures, fuel cell membranes, and implantable
medical devices. A wide range of mechanical,
thermal, and spectroscopic techniques will be used
to study materials under simulated use conditions.
From this information, you can help develop and
commercialize improved, next generation materials
which broadly benefit society. Faculty Sponsors:
Anne Hiltner and Eric Baer
- New macromolecular architectures will be
prepared using dynamic synthesis of complex
porphyrin arrays. The goal of this work is to
develop efficient routes to molecular Cages, Grids
and other complex structures. Learn and practice
standard synthetic and supramolecular chemistry
techniques as well as analytical techniques such as
NMR, UV, HPLC, IR and DSC. Faculty Sponsor:
Stuart Rowan
- Development of synthetic routes toward new
polymer architectures, namely polycatenanes (linear
interlocked rings). Organic, organometallic and
supramolecular synthetic techniques will be utilized
to achieve this goal. Work in an interdisciplinary
group, while learning standard synthetic chemistry
techniques as well as analytical techniques such as
NMR, IR, GPC, HPLC and DSC. Faculty Sponsor:
Stuart Rowan
- Synthesis and characterization (electronic
properties) of conjugated polymer networks. This
project aims to create polymer materials with high
electrical conductivity which can then be used in a
wide range of devices. Faculty Sponsor: Christoph
Weder
- Composites of inorganic fillers, including clay
aerogels, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes, and
photoluminescent metal oxide nanoparticles and a
wide range of organic polymers will be explored.
Determination of how/why inorganic fillers become
compatible with organic polymers, and demonstration
of enhanced polymer properties resulting from Hybrid
polymer/inorganic composites are the goals of this
project. Faculty Sponsor: David Schiraldi
- Develop elastomeric networks in the presence of low concentrations of nano-sized clay platelets using various covalent crosslinking methods, such as end-linking reactions and ultraviolet radiation. The goal of this research is to investigate the effect of crosslinking mechanism, precursor molecular weight, degree of crosslinking, and filler concentration on the mechanical behavior of these materials with potential applications as novel
hydrogels and shape memory materials. Faculty Sponsor: LaShanda Korley
- Development and testing of new materials
for fuel cell applications will involve preparation
of new organic polymers for membranes, as well as
new supported platinum nanoparticles. These
materials will be evaluated under conditions which
closely match those of operating fuel cells.
Faculty Sponsors: Thomas Zawodzinski, David
Schiraldi, Christoph Weder, and
Morton Litt
- Simulation of the effects of flow geometry and
operating conditions on distributive mixing
efficiency and on the potential structures of
two-phase systems generated as a result of mixing.
Students will be exposed to the use of fluid
dynamics software packages in solving problems in
polymer processing. Faculty Sponsor: Ica
Manas-Zloczower
Download the application form
Please mail or fax
your application materials to:
Dr. David Schiraldi
Dept. of Macromolecular
Science & Engineering
Case Western Reserve
University
2100 Adelbert Road
Cleveland, OH 44106-7202
Tel: (216) 368-4243; Fax:
(216) 368-4202
Information about Summer Housing
Students pictured include: Christine Ander (SUNY Fredonia), Eric Arndt (CWRU), Jerica Bell (Fisk), G. Connor Evans (CWRU), Michael Gehl (R-H), Jared Griebel (CWRU), Matthew Hagy (CWRU), David Hill (Fisk), J. Casey Johnson (CWRU), John King (SUNY Fredonia), Kevin Lamison (CWRU), Sean Lemke (ONU), Samuel Long (R-H), Thomas Martz (PSU-E), Rami Mikati (CWRU), Nick Moon (CWRU), Karla Moore (Fisk), Janet Ondrake (ONU), Charles Sing (CWRU), , Jane Spikowski (CWRU), Steven Vesole (CWRU), Rocco Viggiano III (PSU-E), and Paul Yanzer (UWEC) along with Prof. David Schiraldi.
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