Academics

Undergraduate Research

Chair: Sanat Kumar, 801 Mudd, 212-854-4453

Opportunities

• engineering of protein molecules using recombinant DNA technology

• protein purification and protein analysis

• mathematical modeling of metabolic networks

Research in this laboratory will involve experimental studies in protein engineering. Molecular biology tools and techniques will be used including genetic engineering, electrophoresis, chromatography, and assay development. Academic credit and work study are available. Students should be prepared to commit at least 8 hours per week in exchange for academic credit.

Contact: Professor Scott Banta, , 820 Mudd, 212-854-7531

 

Opportunities

• advanced materials research: behavior of macromolecules in solution; adsorption and self-assembly of macromolecules and nanoparticles; characterization of materials for pharmaceutical applications

These projects all involve experimental studies and require at least 6 hours per week commitment. Opportunities are available to study new/unique synthetic materials, mainly macromolecular (i.e., polymeric), for potential applications as advanced coatings, sensors, and thin films. Other projects address characterizing materials used in drug manufacture, packaging, and delivery. Participants learn experimental methods and are responsible for systematic application of the methods, data reduction, and reporting of results. Projects can be undertaken for academic credit or may involve sponsored internships.

• computing: computer simulation of molecular systems; data analysis; software development; Web page development

Projects are available to exploit computing skills for materials research, teaching, or Internet applications. Participants normally enroll for academic credit, but work study and internships may be available. Familiarity with Windows- and/or UNIX-based operating systems is necessary, and depending on the project, knowledge of computing languages/software packages (e.g., Fortran, C, Mathcad, IDL) and/or Web-development tools (e.g., html) is also necessary.

Contact: Professor Chris Durning, , 801 Mudd, 212-854-8161

Opportunities

• polymer science and related chemical topics

• structure and dynamics of thin films at interfaces

• characterization of dendridic polymers adsorbed on surfaces

• interactions of dendrimers with vesicles

This opportunity involves paper study, mathematical projects, library research, mechanical or electrical assembly, and activities related to materials science and organic chemistry. Students should be prepared to commit 6 hours per week in exchange for academic credit ( CHEN E3900: Undergraduate research project). Students should have knowledge of Fortran and have completed CHEN E3010: Principles of chemical engineering thermodynamics.

Contact: Professor Carl Gryte, , 801 Mudd, 212-854-2470

Opportunities

• chemical patterning of polymer surfaces

• decoration of biomaterial surfaces with cell adhesion ligands

• gas separation membranes prepared from silicon oxides

• polymeric surfactants for supercritical carbon dioxide

These activities include experimental laboratory work such as polymer synthesis, analysis of soft material surfaces and properties, construction of novel instrumentation for characterizing polymeric materials, as well as some theoretical calculations of polymer properties. Students should be prepared to commit 6–8 hours per week to attain academic credit.

Contact: Professor Jeff Koberstein, , 801 Mudd, 212-854-3120

 

Opportunities

• study of transport phenomena in microfluidic flow of blood

• modeling and simulation of cell capture in microfluidic arrays

The laboratory can host three undergraduate students at most at any one time; students seeking long-term associations are preferred. The first opportunity involves both experimental and modeling work associated with the development of a blood-processing device (artificial kidney). The second opportunity involves use of computational flow modeling (CFM) to simulate cell capture in a system designed to recover fetal cells from maternal tissue. It carries the possibility of a summer internship with a collaborating California company. Any academic credit and/or wages are normally available only after a probationary period that may be as long as an academic year. The weekly time commitment will be at least 10 hours. Previous employment, not necessarily professional, is desirable. Students must have a GPA of 3.3 or higher.

Contact: Professor Edward Leonard, , 801 Mudd, 212-854-4448; laboratory: 1033 Mudd (212-854-3007); http://www.columbia.edu/~leonard

Opportunities

• biology of the cell and applications: fusion and crossing of cell membrane barriers; viral defense and drug delivery strategies; cell healing; intracellular trafficking; the immune system; evolution

• computer projects: developing interactive Web-based learning interfaces; JavaScript modules for dynamic graphic visualization; Web site development

Activities will entail a weekly time commitment of 4 hours or more. Both academic credit and remunerative positions available. Term-time and summer positions available.

Contact: Professor Ben O’Shaughnessy, , 1006 Mudd, 212-854-3203

 

Opportunity

• electrochemistry, with applications in fuel cells, corrosion or metallization of electronic, magnetical, or mechanical devices

This opportunity involves primarily experimental work in support of doctoral research projects. The work will provide exposure to basic electrochemical experiments and may involve some optical and electronic microscopy. Some opportunities may exist for enhancing the group’s software infrastructure. Students should be prepared to commit approximately 6–8 hours per week in exchange for academic credit ( CHEN E3900: Undergraduate research project). Work-study opportunities may exist.

Contact: Professor Alan West, , 801 Mudd, 212-854-4453