Every summer, a number of research hungry students participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research in Energy and Sustainability (SURES)
Program. This year, 12 students are participating in the program.
Freddy Acre is working on bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane chitosan composite for wound healing applications. John Brogan is researching marketing campaigns for recycling. Carson Britt is exploring molecular structures of promising acceptors for organic photovoltaics. Grace Cammarn is completing CWRU’s greenhouse gas inventory for the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment requirements. Sharon Chen is conducting analysis of mechanical loads from wind forces on the NorthWind 100 Wind Turbine on the CWRU Campus. Ian Ferre is working on an ultra-affordable foot-pedal generator for low load applications. Aviva Gersovitch is researching the possibility of banning bottled water on campus. Kelly Hacker is looking into harnessing solar energy to reduce the nonrenewable energy consumption of the CWRU Rooster House. Elizabeth Hodges is exploring data science and analysis of NIR spectra of Marcellus Shales. Colin Leiberman is creating modeling of semiconductor nanowire growth based on Phase Field Theory. Tricia Oyster is working on aluminum doped zinc oxide modification to optimize longevity in photovoltaic applications. Matthew Patten is researching renewable energy through completion of a wind turbine. Davis Zabiyaka is looking into the lifetime and degradation science of photovoltaic minimodules. Ryan Zienert is conducting accelerated testing of solid oxide fuel cells.
Students gain important research experience, network with professionals and attend a number of related speakers and field trips.
John Brogan, Grace Cammaran and Aviva Gersovitch are working directly with the Office for Sustainability on a daily basis for their research projects.
Story by Maureen Wise