Undergraduate Students

Interning at Point Designs

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 01:51:27 +0000

Interning at Point Designs Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/16/2024 - 19:51

Hale Burke is an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering. She interned at Point Designs during summer 2024.

Hale Burke and fellow intern Zoe Struk

Where did you intern over the summer and what was exciting for you about that opportunity?

I was a Research and Development (R&D) Intern at Point Designs, manufacturing functional, highly durable prosthetic digits for people with partial hand amputations and presentations. This was an incredibly exciting opportunity for me because it gave me the chance to work in the prosthetics industry, a dream I’ve had for several years. I didn’t know much about partial hand prosthetics before this internship. However, now that I have gotten to design a digit myself, I have a deep interest and respect for this field.

What kinds of projects have you had a chance to work on over the summer?

This summer I was working on the design and development of a partial hand immediate post-operative prosthetic (IPOP) terminal device, specifically for a finger. IPOPs are short-term transitional devices that are ideally implemented into treatment within the first 30 days post-amputation. They traditionally feature lightweight sockets with minimally functional terminal devices to help patients adjust to using a prosthetic as soon as possible. They have been shown to reduce rates of prosthetic rejection, assist with the psychological distress of limb loss and greatly improve the lives of patients long-term.

Point Digit partial hand prosthetic image courtesy of Point Designs.

The device I designed is a passive positional prosthetic digit that can attach to a diagnostic socket using a curved interface at the bottom of the metacarpophalangeal joint. Its main purpose is to help patients reach their individual occupational therapy goals within the first few months following surgery.

Was there a particular challenge you encountered that really pushed you to learn something new?

During this internship, I had the opportunity to travel to the Amputation Rehabilitation Medicine & Surgery (ARMS) clinic in New Jersey to observe patient-clinician interactions at various stages post-operation. The main goal for this trip was to learn more about user needs and design considerations for the IPOP device. Working with an interdisciplinary team was super interesting, but presented challenges due to differences in how each group thinks about design. I had to learn how to take what I gathered from my conversations with hand surgeons, prosthetists and occupational therapists and turn them into design requirements for the device even when not provided with exact values to design for (weight, level of functionality, how much force the device can withstand, etc.).

What was it like to work at a startup? Were there any unique challenges or opportunities that came with being part of a new company?

I really enjoyed working at a startup. I had the opportunity to work on my own project and had the resources to prototype several iterations, try out different hardware and physically test my design. Due to the small size of the company, I was able to get regular, in-depth feedback on my work from my co-workers and quickly implement changes. Working at a startup also meant I got to meet and work with teams outside of the R&D space such as production and marketing. I found I was also able to form much deeper relationships with my co-workers than I would have been able to at a larger company because of how closely we worked together. I would love to work at a startup or small company again.

What advice do you have for other students interested in pursuing a similar opportunity?

My advice would be to go for it! Go out of your comfort zone and actively challenge yourself; that's where growth happens. I really enjoyed my experience at a startup because it allowed me to see so many aspects of a professional R&D engineering job. I learned about project management, production/product assembly, manufacturing processes, product development, design, rapid and professional prototyping, computational and numerical optimization, interdisciplinary communication and so much more. Additionally, I made so many meaningful connections with my coworkers because of how interconnected everyone was due to the small size of the company. You get out of this experience what you put in, so be willing to learn, grow and ask for help!

Hale Burke is an undergraduate student in mechanical engineering. She interned at Point Designs during summer 2024.

Off

Traditional

White

Interning at Ezalife

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 20:11:27 +0000

Interning at Ezalife Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 09/21/2024 - 14:11

Pranav Maddali

Pranav Maddalli is an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering. He interned at Ezalife during summer 2024.

Pranav Maddali

Where did you intern over the summer and what was exciting for you about that opportunity?

This summer, I interned at Ezalife LLC, a medical device company that specializes in securement devices for gastrostomy buttons. I’ve always been intrigued by the medical device industry and by being able to work with a startup. Working with Ezalife was a great opportunity for me to get my foot in the door and experience what design and manufacturing looks like in the medical device industry.

What kinds of projects have you had a chance to work on over the summer?

My project this summer was to create a new variation of Ezalife’s patented “Button Huggie” securement device. Throughout the summer, I used computer-aided design software (CAD) and 3D printers to develop and prototype Button Huggie ideas to be able to test them for safety and security. Being able to create multiple prototypes allowed me to understand how to properly design and test medical devices to clear them for a clinical setting. That was very important for this device because it directly impacts the safety and well-being of the children and infants that receive it.

What was it like to work at a startup?

Working with a startup was a great experience because it was something completely new to me that I had to adapt to. At first, it was difficult because there were so many new ideas and such a small team to talk about with them. As we moved through the summer, we started using video calls and chat tools more which helped a lot with more efficient and in-depth collaboration. Working with a startup also helped me understand that failure is not looked down upon; it is valued because it promotes growth and fosters new ideas, which are invaluable at a startup company. I’m aiming to use this mindset throughout the rest of my academic career and past it as well.

Button huggie image courtesy of Ezalife

How did what you learned look different than the way you learn engineering in class?

Working with Ezalife has allowed me to get hands-on experience with medical devices. Throughout school, I have mainly learned engineering in a theoretical way whether that be with models or different types of calculations. I haven’t been able to experience hands-on prototype work or experience 3D designs becoming tangible objects. Learning engineering with CAD software, 3D printers and my hands has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of design, different types of materials and manufacturability. I learned about multiple factors that could influence how medical devices fail and succeed, most of which I would not have been able to learn inside a classroom.

What advice do you have for other students interested in pursuing a similar opportunity?

I have two pieces of advice that I would like to share that really helped me get the most out of this opportunity. The first piece of advice is to ask questions. Asking questions is the best way to fully understand complex concepts, requirements and expectations. As an engineer, there is usually not much room for error, so asking questions to fully understand the problem at hand will allow you to create an efficient and effective solution.

My second piece of advice would be to not be afraid of failure. I’ve learned that failure in prototyping is valuable for engineers because it exposes flaws and limitations early in the design process. Understanding each failure helps lead to more innovation because each setback provides more insight and an effective solution in the end.

Pranav Maddalli is an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering. He interned at Ezalife during summer 2024.

Off

Traditional

White

Undergraduate research in the Ferguson Biomechanics and Biomimetics Lab

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Undergraduate research in the Ferguson Biomechanics and Biomimetics Lab Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 09/01/2024 - 00:00

Asaiah Gifford

Asaiah Gifford is an undergraduate student in mechanical engineering. She participated in the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) during summer 2024.

Final research presentation.

Where did you work over the summer and what was exciting for you about that opportunity?

This summer, I was an undergraduate researcher in the Ferguson Biomechanics and Biomimetics Lab through the CU SPUR program. I really enjoyed Mechanics of Solids with Professor Ferguson in the spring, which piqued my interest in her lab even though I didn’t have prior research experience. The different projects in the lab primarily involve bone and cartilage tissues and researching their mechanical behavior and properties. It was exciting to utilize concepts and processes we covered in Solids with such a focused application with positive impacts far beyond the lab.

What kinds of projects have you had a chance to work on?

I completed research under Oluwafunmilayo “Funmi” Adedokun, a materials science and engineering PhD student in the lab, assisting with a project focused on understanding the mechanical properties and material composition of murine (mouse) bones.

We had two separate sample groups which we prepared and collected data from: one of mice of four, 12 and 24 months of age, and another from a group of mice with deletion of a gene called α2δ1 (which is responsible for enabling bone cells to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli). We used Raman spectroscopy and nano-indentation to analyze how material composition and mechanical properties differed between the mice of different ages and mice with and without α2δ1.

What was it like to work in a research lab? Has the experience changed your idea of what research means in engineering?

It was satisfying to apply the concepts regarding mechanical properties that we touched on in class while also learning more about how the human body works. It gave me the chance to see why having a high-level understanding of mechanics is so important to do biological research in the Ferguson lab.

One of the most important parts of this opportunity was learning how to develop consistent testing procedures to ensure that the data we collected would be precise and accurate, meaning that every day there were places to apply engineering principles and problem-solving approaches.

What has been the most impactful part of your research experience?

Anterior-lateral portion of mid-diaphysis mouse femure cross-section. Taken using a Keyence Microscope to perform analysis of surface roughness to enable collection of Raman spectra.

Learning how to work efficiently when being faced with an immense learning curve was really important for me. For the project I worked on, I had to do a lot of literature review and training on different instruments in the lab for sample preparation and testing, so it was important to ask questions if I was ever unsure about something I was doing. Funmi was a great mentor and taking advantage of the chain of communication/collaboration among the people in our lab group made sure that questions never went unanswered or unexplored.

What advice do you have for other students interested in pursuing a similar opportunity?

Before the SPUR program, I lacked perspective on how much of what we learn as engineers has direct applications to so many scientific (especially biological) research fields. It’s important to be open minded to all types of lab opportunities, no matter how niche they seem, and I would highly recommend connecting with your (or other) professors about joining their labs for SPUR or DLA!

Asaiah Gifford is an undergraduate student in mechanical engineering. She participated in the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) during summer 2024.

Off

Traditional

White

Undergraduate research in the Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Bioinspiration

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 23:07:44 +0000

Undergraduate research in the Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Bioinspiration Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 07/31/2024 - 17:07

Jack Printup

Jack Printup is an undergraduate student in mechanical engineering. He participated in the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) during summer 2024.

Working in the lab assembling a fin prototype

Where did you work over the summer and what was exciting for you about that opportunity?

Over the summer I had the opportunity to work in the Laboratory for Advanced Materials & Bioinspiration (LAMB). This lab is run by Professor Francois Barthelat and is focused on research in materials science, currently with two major focus areas: Granular materials and bioinspired mechanisms. What drew me to this position was definitely my fascination with bioinspired robotics. The variety and versatility of life is as astonishing as it is beautiful, and I have always felt that if we engineers could harness even one percent of nature's adaptability, it could result in a total revolution within the field of robotics. However, doing so requires an unbelievable amount of research on the academic level. Incredibly, I can now consider myself a part of this field of research, thanks to this project, the LAMB lab and the SPUR program.

What kinds of projects have you had a chance to work on?

My main project in the lab has been designing a mechanical fish fin that utilizes a bioinspired structure that my mentor, Prashant Kunjam, is currently in the process of researching. I also have been helping out some of my labmates with manufacturing materials to perform experiments with. The process has definitely tested my design and manufacturing skills in really unexpected and unique ways.

Was there a particular challenge you encountered that really pushed you to learn something new?

Definitely. This was my first time trying to design a system from scratch, and so to achieve my desired result I needed to do a ton of research on prior artificial research designs. The thing is, being able to effectively read research articles is a skill unto itself and one that I still have not mastered!

Mechanical fish fin

Did you have any "aha!" moments when you realized that you could apply something that you'd learned in class?

When I was first trying to figure out how to design my mechanical fin, I was really struggling to find a way to create a mechanism that would pull from the same direction even when the fin was at an arbitrary angle. Then (after some helpful nudging from my grad mentor, Prashant) I remembered a fact that I learned in my statics class: the defining characteristic of a string is that it can only provide a force in one direction. Perfect! It was just what I needed to solve the problem, and has served as the cornerstone for the entire project ever since.

What was it like to work in a research lab? Has the experience changed your idea of what research means in engineering?

Working in a research lab is honestly an experience like no other. It was really eye-opening to see how much time and effort goes into advancing our understanding of the world around us, and knowing that there are many, many people putting in that effort every day. That being said, the main difference I’ve noticed between engineering as a field of research and engineering as an industry is the timeline. Research tends to move a bit slower than industry due to the exploratory nature of the work. From what I’ve seen, PhD students can spend months trying to perfect a single experiment and work in a lab for years before publishing their first paper in a journal. It’s tough work, but all the more rewarding for it.

What advice do you have for other students interested in pursuing a similar opportunity?

My advice on this is the same as everyone else who goes through SPUR: If you want to take part in the SPUR program like I did, make sure to reach out to the faculty members who post the projects you’re interested in. I know it takes a fair bit of time and effort to send all those emails, but it gives the faculty a chance to see just how enthusiastic about the project you are. The difference in the results you’ll receive is like night and day. Also, make sure to read up on the professors’ research before meeting with them!

Jack Printup is an undergraduate student in mechanical engineering. He participated in the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) during summer 2024.

Off

Traditional

White

An inside look: Interning at James Engineering

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:28:58 +0000

An inside look: Interning at James Engineering Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 10/16/2023 - 13:28

“I chose to study engineering because it is the perfect combination of creative problem solving and science, two things I love,” explains Gossett.

Off

Traditional

White

Faculty, staff and students celebrate diversity at the ME Fall Festival

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:17:27 +0000

Faculty, staff and students celebrate diversity at the ME Fall Festival Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 10/16/2023 - 09:17

Michael Lock Swingen

The Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering hosted its third-annual ME Fall Festival on Oct. 12. The event, sponsored by the department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Working Group, celebrates the diversity of cultures within the department.

ME faculty, staff and students gathered to share their own traditions, learn about their peers’ backgrounds and build community. The event also highlighted the holidays and observances that student groups and faculty recognize during the fall season.

Janet Tsai, associate teaching professor and chair of the DEI Working Group, explained the origins of the ME Fall Festival.

"The ME Fall Festival was inspired by the idea that there are lots of ways our students, staff and faculty mark the Fall season from Diwali and the Mid-Autumn Festival to Día de los Muertos and Halloween," Tsai said. "Timing the Fall Festival close to Indigenous People's Day also offers a chance to discuss ��񱦵�'s Land Acknowledgment and reconcile our local history with our current campus. The ME DEI Working Group has sponsored the Fall Festival for three years now, and it has become a highlight of our Fall semester here in Mechanical Engineering."

“After the summer of 2020, a lot of members of our department felt like we should be doing more in the area of diversity and inclusion,” said Tsai. “It was just people who wanted to start talking more and really trying to think about how we can make our department more welcoming and hospitable to everybody.”

The event had a land acknowledgment poster placed in the courtyard where the event was held and included a statement from the Center of Native American and Indigenous Studies suggesting action to address continuing inequities.

“These are great conversations for us to be having to make sure that people don't just read the land acknowledgement and feel like they're done, but actually try to engage,” said Tsai.

Event attendees participated in activities and games, including a raffle with a chance to win prizes and a cricket station where you could practice batting, which was hosted by The American Association of Engineers of Indian Origin (AAEIO). There was also homemade salsa made by lecturer Carmen Pacheco-Borden’s company Carmen’s Salsa, as well as coffee made from beans from around the world and brewed by students in the Design of Coffee course.

The ME Fall Festival offered student affinity groups an opportunity to increase their visibility across the department. Here’s what students had to say about their experiences in these organizations:

Jerry Nguyen, The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE): “Our main goal is to build community with Asian scientists and engineers. But we also offer professional development opportunities. Students get to go to national conferences and meet other people from other chapters and employers from all over the world. We also invite employers to our club meetings to talk to students and do professional development.”

Angelina Miller, Women of Aeronautics & Astronautics (WoAA) : “The club was created in spring of 2019 and was basically designed to help marginalized genders in the aerospace community to find a place where they can help meet other people and bring more of a community to them so that they don't feel alone. And we also try to offer a bunch of professional and technical opportunities for them to grow.”

--Pradyumna Rao, The American Association of Engineers of Indian Origin (AAEIO): “When I arrived in the United States from India, I made some mistakes as an undergraduate that I felt were unnecessary. With a little bit of guidance, with a little bit of support, I felt like I could have made more out of my academic experience. Our organization's aim is quite simple. We want to make sure that our members, when they come here, they can make the most inside the classroom as well as outside.”

--Isaac Chavarria,The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE): “We’re trying to help Hispanics have a connection to the professional world through either older students, alumni or professors. It’s proven that having a community helps you do better in school. Being able to offer that to other Hispanics and being the person who guides this society is such a blessing.”

The ME Fall Festival, sponsored by the department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Working Group, celebrates the diversity of cultures within the department.

Off

Traditional

White

Interning at Veolia Water Technologies

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 20:54:26 +0000

Interning at Veolia Water Technologies Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/30/2023 - 14:54

Heather Maclachlan is an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering. She interned at Veolia Water Technologies during summer 2023.

Heather Maclachlan

I interned at Veolia Water Technologies during summer 2023, working as a Quality Engineering Intern. Veolia Water Technologies has an Analytical Instrument sector located in Boulder, CO, where the main focus is developing, assembling, and distributing instruments that analyze total organic carbon (TOC) in water samples or solutions.

As a quality intern, I gained valuable insight to many aspects of industry, from working with software and manufacturing engineers to communicating with sales personnel and consumer databases. Throughout the internship, my role involved a lot of data analysis. I learned to use a software called Tableau to connect robust and varying data sources to display control charts necessary for quality tracking of the TOC analyzers as they work their way through test and calibration. I also used Tableau for constructing control charts of the QC Lab, which tests and tracks consumable production and quality.

Both of these projects were very valuable and pushed my learning as I had to individually teach myself how to use the software. I also completed a more hands-on project that involved validating the blank correction value that is currently used in the company's vial wash line. Throughout the internship, I discovered how integrated quality engineering is in almost every aspect of product production.

My advice for students starting their first internship would be to make as many connections with your coworkers as possible. I learned so much from asking managers in other departments about their backgrounds and what it is like to be in their role. From reaching out to an R&D engineer and having an informational interview with him, I learned that R&D may be an area of interest for me in the future. I’d also advise new interns to not be afraid to speak up. I learned that the company wants your feedback just as much as you want theirs, and if you have suggestions, they want to hear them!

Heather Maclachlan is an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering. She interned at Veolia Water Technologies during summer 2023.

Off

Traditional

White

Teamwork leads ��񱦵� Racing Team to victory at Formula SAE

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 15:53:04 +0000

Teamwork leads ��񱦵� Racing Team to victory at Formula SAE Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 07/24/2023 - 09:53

Michael Lock Swingen

The ��񱦵� Racing Team recently competed in the Formula SAE student design competition, rising above 101 other university teams from across the world to come in 20^th overall.

Put on by the Society of Automotive Engineers, the FSAE competition challenges students to design, build and race a car, all while adhering to a strict set of rules and guidelines that encourages them to create unique and innovative designs within those constraints.

Few expected that the ��񱦵� Racing Team, which includes more than 80 members who range from first-year to PhD students, would distinguish themselves this year, since the team was revived just three years ago after a long hiatus.

“Although we’re a new team, we are doing things the right way,” said Project Manager Joshua Hansen, “and trying to the push our university’s name in the right direction in what is a great worldwide competition.”

The four-day competition, which took place this year at the Michigan International Speedway, is a whirlwind event.

The competition is divided into two broad categories: dynamic events and static events. Static events involve technical inspections, presentations and design review, while the dynamic events involve skidpad, acceleration, autocross and endurance tests and races.

“You go from driving the car as fast as you possibly can, and then in 20 minutes, you’re in a design presentation, talking to a judge that knows way more than you do and getting grilled on your engineering decision-making,” Hansen laughed.

And the faster you get through one section or test of the competition, the quicker you can prepare for the next. In other words, time is of the essence.

Watch video of ��񱦵� Racing Team's car CB3 in action.

After being one of the first teams to pass the static technical inspection that confirms a car is safe and compliant with the rules and regulations, the ��񱦵� Racing Team fueled up their car and brought it to the tilt test. There, judges strapped down their car onto a moveable platform and tilted it at a 45-degree and then at a 65-degree angle, all while a driver was strapped into the seat.

As the judges checked the car for fuel leaks, the test also assessed the weight distribution and center of gravity of the car, verifying that it would not tip over until a specified angle of tilt is reached by the platform.

After that, the team moved on to noise inspection. According to FSAE rules and regulations, every car must be under 98 decibels at idle and under 110 decibels at two-thirds the car’s maximum speed.

At first inspection, the team failed the test. Every team has multiple attempts to pass a test, but it also means the team is slowed down and lacks time and preparation for other parts of the competition.

As the team wheeled their car over to their business presentation, Hansen had one of his team members take the muffler off the car, run it back to the paddock, repack it with fiberglass to dampen the sound, run it back to the business presentation and reinstall it on the car. After the business presentation, the team then wheeled the car back to the noise inspection and passed.

“It’s inspiring to have a team dynamic where everyone is dedicated to having the car perform at its best,” Hansen said.

With so many moving parts, Hansen said clear communication and teamwork were essential to the design and manufacturing processes of building the race car.

“For example, there can be 50-60 people working on the race car at any given time during the manufacturing process,” Hansen said. “It was important that we stayed organized throughout the entire process.”

The design of the race car was organized into three different sections: chassis, powertrain and aerodynamics. If the chassis is the skeleton, the powertrain is musculature system that includes the engine and any component that converts the engine’s power into movement.

Since the FSAE rules and regulations require all engines be under 710 cubic centimeters, every race car uses a motorcycle engine, with most teams using a one- or four-cylinder engine, depending on each team’s strategy on the power/weight ratio of their vehicle.

“Our car is unique because it uses a two-cylinder engine,” Chief Engineer Kayla Ployhar said. “With a two-cylinder, we can see torque across more of the RPM range of the car, while using less fuel at the same time.”

Their strategy paid off during the dynamic events of the competition. “For the acceleration race, we placed 15^th out of 121 teams,” Ployhar said. “That definitely proved our theory that we struck the right balance between having a light engine while still having a high amount of power.”

The team also placed 7^th in efficiency, 25^th in the endurance competition and 45^th in autocross.

“It blew me away how well the team did this year,” Faculty Adviser Jeff Knutsen said. “It made me proud that it was my school.”

For next year, the team hopes to develop an aerodynamics package for the car, while streamlining their design and manufacturing process as well. They also plan to lease an industrial space in Boulder that can house their shop and serve as their place of operations.

“I come from the older days of the team when our goals were just trying to qualify at the competition,” Ployhar. “It’s so exciting to see us go from that to being competitive.”

“You can never build the perfect car,” Hansen said. “But it’s that pursuit of perfection that makes it worthwhile.”

The ��񱦵� Racing Team recently competed in the Formula SAE student design competition, rising above 101 other university teams from across the world to come in 20th overall.

Off

Traditional

White

��񱦵� to offer new degree programs in robotics

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 20:43:24 +0000

��񱦵� to offer new degree programs in robotics Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 07/17/2023 - 14:43

The ��񱦵� will offer a master’s and doctorate program in robotics starting in the fall to meet the growing demand of students and the industry.

Off

Traditional

White

Western’s Rady school expands its programming

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 19:42:27 +0000

Western’s Rady school expands its programming Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 07/10/2023 - 13:42

Western Colorado University (WCU) is making strides in its engineering and outdoor industry programs, which local tourism and economic development experts think could make way for an economic boost for the Gunnison Valley and for the university.

Off

Traditional

White

Undergraduate Students

Interning at Point Designs

Off

Interning at Ezalife

Off

Undergraduate research in the Ferguson Biomechanics and Biomimetics Lab

Off

Undergraduate research in the Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Bioinspiration

Off

An inside look: Interning at James Engineering

Off

Faculty, staff and students celebrate diversity at the ME Fall Festival

Off

Interning at Veolia Water Technologies

Off

Teamwork leads ���񱦵� Racing Team to victory at Formula SAE

Off

���񱦵� to offer new degree programs in robotics

Off

Western’s Rady school expands its programming

Off

Teamwork leads ��񱦵� Racing Team to victory at Formula SAE

��񱦵� to offer new degree programs in robotics