A Unique Experience
Educating and developing students into productive, proactive engineers
is the underlying philosophy of the Undergraduate Research Program at
UD-CCM, an internationally recognized center for composites science education,
composites research, and technology transfer. As active contributors in
UD-CCM's multidisciplinary research teams, students interact with visiting
students, affiliated faculty, and researchers from industry, government
agencies, and other universities in the United States and abroad. Consequently,
working at UD-CCM provides a practical, hands-on engineering experience
that employers find an attractive asset.
For example, UD-CCM's Advanced Materials Intelligent Processing Center
(AMIPC), a designated Center of Excellence, provides students the opportunity
to design, fabricate and work with state-of-the-art automated liquid composite
molding systems. In particular, UD-CCM's Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer
Molding (VARTM) workcell is a national test-bed for building intelligent
manufacturing systems that use sensors and software developed at UD-CCM.
In the Composite Materials Research (CMR) and Composite Materials Technology
(CMT) programs, also designated Centers of Excellence, students work with
UD-CCM and Army Research Laboratory researchers on developing lightweight
composite armor, multifunction hybrid composites, and nanomagnetic composites.
Candidates selected by UD-CCM are awarded a University scholarship and
participate in a research program under the advisement of an UD-CCM-affiliated
professor from one of UD's Science and Engineering Departments: Chemical,
Civil & Environmental, Electrical and Computer, Materials Science,
and Mechanical Engineering. For example, the Affordable Composites from
Renewable Research (ACRES) group, under the direction of Dr. Richard Wool,
professor of Chemical Engineering, investigates the use of soybean, flax
and other natural fibers for use in manufacturing environmentally friendly
composites for hurricane-resistant housing and automotive parts. Faculty
from the Department of Physics and College of Business and Economics are
also affiliated with UD-CCM.
For students who want to experience working in a state-of-the-art composites
environment, UD-CCM's 34,000 square-foot Composites Manufacturing Science
Laboratory contains some $7 million worth of equipment. Featuring 12 labs
and a composites machine shop, students working on UD-CCM research teams
perform experiments that include synthesis, chemical and mechanical characterization,
processing, sensing and control as well as composites performance evaluation.
Because of the nature of its interdisciplinary research, students also
have access to the entire gamut of UD's Science and Engineering facilities
and equipment resources.
Students gain additional research knowledge by attending UD-CCM's weekly,
staff-led research reviews. By participating in their own undergraduate
research review at the end of their term, students learn to deliver oral
presentations of their work and construct research posters, preparing
students for future graduate work in the field. Students participating
in the Undergraduate Research Program are also eligible for the Outstanding
Senior Award recognizing research and service contributions presented
during UD's Honors Day. Student achievements are recognized in CCM's annual
poster book, which provides additional information on the broad range
of funded programs and specific project details under investigation at
UD-CCM.
Students may learn more about undergraduate research and projects at UD-CCM
by contacting the CCM Director, Dr. John W. Gillespie, Jr.
Dr. John W. Gillespie, Jr.
Director, UD-CCM
Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering and
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
201 Composites Manufacturing Science Laboratory
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716
phone: (302) 831-8702
fax: (302) 831-8525
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