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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.

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Working towards decarbonization with the power of ammonia

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 01:34:39 +0000

Working towards decarbonization with the power of ammonia Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/24/2024 - 19:34

Jatinder Sampathkumar

Jatinder Sampathkumar is a PhD graduate from Mechanical Engineering and is currently working on new renewable energy technologies at Amogy.

Jatinder Sampathkumar

Tell us about your current role. What are you working on?

I am a senior systems engineer at Amogy, where I facilitate collaboration between the research and development (R&D) and product development teams. I’m part of the team responsible for designing, packaging, manufacturing, testing and integrating our product's hardware elements. I collaborate closely with our customers to understand their specific needs and interface with certification and regulatory bodies to ensure our products meet safety standards and help shape new regulations for ammonia-powered systems.

What makes ammonia interesting as an energy source?

Ammonia, a century-old chemical produced from hydrogen and atmospheric nitrogen, has traditionally served as a fertilizer precursor. It has a superior energy density compared to hydrogen and existing battery chemistries and can provide a carbon-neutral solution for transporting and storing clean energy. Technological advancements including efficient ammonia cracking, direct ammonia propulsion and hybrid fuel blends have opened new avenues for its use in transportation. The existing infrastructure, public familiarity and technological maturity of ammonia from its agricultural applications also contribute to its potential as an energy source.

What kinds of applications are a good fit for Amogy's technology? Where do you see it making an impact?

Currently, the shipping industry is responsible for 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions through its annual consumption of 300 million tons of fossil fuels, making it a key focus area for Amogy's products. Amogy recently sailed the world's first carbon-free, ammonia-powered vessel, marking an important step in demonstrating the capabilities of carbon-free sustainable solutions. Our technology can also be easily adapted for electricity generation in other sectors, such as stationary power generation for critical infrastructure sites, off-grid or remote locations and port-side applications.

How does what you do now connect back to your work as a PhD student?

My research with the Labbe and Boulder Experimental Electronics and Manufacturing (BEEM) labs focused on designing and manufacturing miniature flow devices for evaluating sustainable fuel candidates at the molecular level. I dedicated significant time to applying core mechanical engineering principles to enhance existing experiments that assess the chemical behavior of these fuels. I continue to apply this expertise at Amogy, where we translate experimental findings and theoretical models into practical product capabilities. My experience in the graduate design program has also been instrumental in equipping me with the tools to tackle design challenges from a user-centric perspective. It has emphasized the importance of iterative design as we move from ideation to the operational deployment of products.

What advice do you have for students interested in working on new, more sustainable energy sources?

Sustainable energy development is an urgent global priority, particularly as we strive to combat climate change and diversify our energy sources. One of the most essential skills to cultivate is curiosity. Staying informed about the rapidly evolving energy landscape is crucial. Understanding which technologies are being explored and identifying key sectors for diversification can drive meaningful progress. Engaging in interdisciplinary learning is also vital, as creating sustainable solutions requires collaboration among individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Jatinder Sampathkumar is a PhD graduate from Mechanical Engineering and is currently working on new renewable energy technologies at Amogy.

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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.

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Bridging Colorado and Mongolia through science and cultural exchange

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:43:54 +0000

Bridging Colorado and Mongolia through science and cultural exchange Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/12/2024 - 09:43

The Science-Engineering Inquiry Collaborative in Rural Colorado program, led by mechanical engineer Dan Knight, has been conducting programming in Colorado public schools for more than 10 years. In June, Knight and two students — one undergraduate and one graduate — finally embarked on a long-awaited trip to Ulaanbaatar.

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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 �� 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.

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Designing the human experience: Lessons from an internship with Lucid Motors

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 14:10:53 +0000

Designing the human experience: Lessons from an internship with Lucid Motors Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/28/2024 - 08:10

At her internship, Carlota Serrano was able to apply the skills she is developing at ��, such as engaging in human-centered design research, while also learning from the best ergonomists to create meaningful and user-friendly products.

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Mechanical engineers developing new padding design to improve crash safety, protective equipment

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 17:11:48 +0000

Mechanical engineers developing new padding design to improve crash safety, protective equipment Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/23/2024 - 11:11

In an interview with Denver 7 News, Rob McCurdy shares his team's work to develop a new padding design to help protect things from big impacts

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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.

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Two graduate students earn major defense fellowships

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 20:13:20 +0000

Two graduate students earn major defense fellowships Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/23/2024 - 14:13

Jeff Zehnder

Two University of Colorado Boulder mechanical engineering PhD students have earned prestigious 2024 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowships.

Alexander Hedrick and Carly Rowe have each been awarded the Department of Defense honor, which provides three year fellowships to promising young scientists and engineers.

The program, established by Congress in 1989, provides fellowships to up to 500 people across the United States annually and is designed to promote education in science and engineering disciplines relevant to the Department of Defense.

Find out more about our honorees and their research below.

Alexander Hedrick

3rd Year PhD Student

Advisor:Kaushik Jayaram
Lab: Animal Inspired Movement and Robotics Laboratory (AIM-RL)

The goal of my research is to advance the capabilities of insect-scale robots. Insects, like many larger animals, are capable of a wide range of abilities like running, walking, jumping, flying, grasping, fitting through tight gaps, and locomoting across different types of surfaces. Inspired by these, many larger scale robots are beginning to execute a number of different actions. However, unlike insects, robots at this scale are typically designed to perform one behavior and fail to accomplish even a close variation of the intended task. Since insect-scale robots are limited by size, weight, and power restrictions, many designs and solutions that work on larger robots cannot be scaled down to insect size. By leveraging shape-morphing and tuned body compliance, I hope to increase the capabilities of these miniature robots in dynamic, unstructured environments without significantly trading-off for size, weight, or power.

Carly Rowe

2nd Year PhD Student

Advisor:Greg Rieker
Lab: Precision Laser Diagnostics Laboratory

My research focuses on laser absorption spectroscopy using mode-locked mid-infrared frequency combs to simultaneously measure velocity, temperature, pressure, species mole fraction, and mass flux with low uncertainty and high resolution in a scramjet combustor. There are currently no diagnostic tools that can simultaneously measure all of the relevant chemical species that are interacting in the combustor of a hypersonic combustion engine, including water vapor, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and hydroxide. The fluxes of these chemical species are not well known which inhibits computational fluid dynamics (CFD) developers from improving the physics in their models and propulsion engineers from understanding combustion performance. The data provided by the DCS on the chemical species fluxes at different locations in the combustor will inform CFD developers and propulsion engineers and enable the design of sustainable hypersonic engines. My research will aid in fundamental combustion understanding of hypersonic systems, support the study of internal transitional and turbulent wall-bounded flow which is an important pre-requisite for generating sustainable hypersonic flight, and fuel the Air Force’s basic research objective of developing novel measurement techniques that enable accurate and rapid data collection of physical and chemical flow parameters in extreme environments such as hypersonic engines.

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ME alumnus breaks record in Pikes Peak racing competition

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +0000

ME alumnus breaks record in Pikes Peak racing competition Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 06/23/2024 - 00:00

During last year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Gardner Nichols (MechEngr'16) set the record in the electric production truck division in his 2022 Rivian R1T. This year, he shattered his previous mark.

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