May 13, 2008

Program draws young researchers from around world to Purdue

The research projects are part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, or SURF, that allows students to work directly with Purdue faculty researchers. The program will begin May 19.

"One of the goals of SURF is to introduce undergraduate students to the concept of graduate and postgraduate research," said Melba M. Crawford, assistant dean of engineering research and director of the SURF program. "This gives these students the opportunity to work with university professors and researchers in a way they might not have been able to during the academic year."

Crawford said 190 students will be involved this year, including those from Purdue and 21 other universities and colleges in the United States. Students from Finland, Ireland and Mexico will participate as part of the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) program. The SURF program was named the IAESTE Employer of Year in 2007 for its work with international students. In addition to the IAESTE participants, students from the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and the Indian Institute of Technology in India are participating this year.

In addition to the on-campus program, Craig Bouis, a Purdue junior in chemical engineering from Piney Flats, Tenn., will conduct his research this summer in the Building and Fire Research Laboratory in suburban Washington, D.C., as part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology SURF program.

Some of the research projects during the summer program at Purdue include:

* Using polymers to get brain tissue to respond after a traumatic brain injury (School of Chemical Engineering).

* Developing a new vehicle propellants system for future space flight (School of Mechanical Engineering).

* Creating a unified culvert rating system along Indiana roadways to help with road maintenance (School of Civil Engineering).

* Recording the oral history of engineers influenced by the Neil Armstrong moon landing in 1969 (School of Engineering Education).

* Researching climate change in Indiana and its effects on the agricultural industry (School of Atmospheric Sciences and Department of Agronomy).

* Investigating the link between plant traits and cellulose ethanol productivity (School of Agricultural and Biological Engineering).

The SURF program was founded in 2003 through a gift from Purdue alumnus Patrick Wang. It was expanded through the sponsorship of the Intel Foundation, Chrysler Corp., Fluor Foundation, and the Purdue colleges of Engineering, Agriculture and Science. Participating Purdue colleges include Engineering, Science, Agriculture, Science and Pharmacy. Students in the program receive a $3,600 stipend and attend weekly professional development seminars in addition to their full-time research experience.

Writer: Clyde Hughes, (765) 494-2073, jchughes@purdue.edu

Source: Melba M. Crawford, (765) 496-3224, mcrawford@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Details on each of the research projects and contact information for students involved are available by contacting Clyde Hughes, Purdue News Service, at (765) 494-2073, jchughes@purdue.edu

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