The Joule Fellows will play an important role in the research programs, performing measurements, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting the results in a report that will become part of the deliverables of the research project. Faculty advisors and the graduate students will serve as caring and dependable research guides for the Fellows.

Click on any research field to view its description and details.

1. Estimate contaminant uptake and toxicity to aquatic organisms
   
   • Faculty: Dr. Tim Vadas 
   • Description: A Joule fellow would help set up experiments to estimate contaminant uptake and toxicity to aquatic organisms. This would involve the sampling protocols for water freshwater stream samples and analysis for organic matter and trace metals; organic matter and trace metals analysis and interpretation of data; macroinvertebrate assessment in the stream to determine stream health. The fellow would review papers on contaminant uptake and toxicity, and help conduct experiments on Copper and Zinc uptake into periphyton and mayflies from streamwater.
2. Examine how to enhance the treatment of nitrogen and metals in stormwater effluent from a stormwater detention basin by discharging that water to the floodplain
   • Faculty: Dr. Tim Vadas 
   • Description: A Joule fellow would help with a field experiment to examine the how-to enhance treatment of nitrogen and metals in stormwater effluent from a stormwater detention basin by discharging that water to the floodplain. Two plots are established in a local floodplain where stormwater will be pumped and intensive sampling events will occur following storm events. A fellow would help with the sampling events and the analysis of samples following each event, as well as establish experiments in the lab to look at what soil amendments are most favorable to enhancing treatment of nitrogen and metals in the floodplain.
3. Investigating the biomechanics of collagen and cartilage
   • Faculty: Dr. David Pierce
   • Description: Isolating single components of biological tissues can increase the understanding of individual contributions of these components to the overall mechanical integrity of the tissues. Articular cartilage is a highly hydrated tissue comprised of a solid matrix of networked collagen fibers and densely packed proteoglycans with only a scattering of living cells to maintain this matrix. To investigate fiber-network mechanics Joule Fellows will perform tensile testing on thin specimens of collagen networks isolated from bovine cartilage. We will also start collecting data from full-joint compression testing to connect weight-bearing movements to intra-tissue mechanics using digital image correlation (intra-tissue level) and force data (joint level). Ultimately, we will generate novel data and analyze these to establish quantitative conclusions.
4. STEAM Solar Tree – The Learning Tree (Virtual Project)
   • Faculty: Dr. Jasna Jankovic
   • Description: STEAM Solar Tree is a solar tree that is being built at UConn, with the target completion in May 2021. Our diverse team of engineers, scientists, artists, and social scientists is planning, designing, and building the tree, that is envisioned to serve as a multidisciplinary research instrument, teaching tool, and most importantly a beautiful, functioning clean energy-harvesting power source that would promote social interactions and understanding through public engagement. This Joule Fellow and daVinci project will involve the participation of the teachers in “Micro-projects” where they will propose, plan, design, and test a small project related to the tree. The project could be the design of a solar tracking system, or a virtual lecture about the tree or clean energy, a short movie about solar power, or anything else that the participant is interested in. The teacher will also participate in our regular STEAM Team meetings. We will develop a plan on how
     to include the “Micro-projects” in the teachers’ classroom environment.
5.  Project TBA
   • Faculty: Dr. Marisa Chrysochoou
   • Description: 
6. Harnessing biological communities to remove plastic nanoparticles from wastewater (UConn & Avery Point Campus)
   • Faculty: Drs. Evan Ward and George McManus
   • Description: This project connects to an ongoing NSF-funded project looking for ways to use the filtration power of aquatic grazers to remove plastic particles from wastewater during treatment. The
     Joule Fellow will conduct laboratory experiments on plastic particle uptake by the protozoan community in the wastewater and subsequent removal by freshwater mussels that feed on the protozoa. Samples will be collected at the Storrs wastewater treatment plant for experiments to be conducted at the Avery Point marine campus.
7. The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)   
   • Faculty: Dr. Yi Zhang
   • Description: The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected more than 120 million individuals worldwide, resulting in the death of more than 2.7 million people as of March 2021. Based on the available data and published reports, most people diagnosed with COVID-19 exhibit no or mild symptoms and could be discharged home for self-isolation. About 20% of them will progress to a severe disease requiring hospitalization and medical management. Currently, there is a lack of effective methods and technologies for healthcare providers to remotely monitor patients’ clinical conditions at home, evaluate their disease progression, and predict clinical deterioration for timely medical interventions. This multidisciplinary project aims to create a new route to improve the COVID-19 recovery outcome by providing an at-home smart monitoring system.
8. Automated Variable Temperature Hall Mobility Setup
   • Faculty: Dr. Helena Silva
   • Description: Automation of a parameter and precision LCR meter, moving permanent magnet fixture, and heating stage, electrical contacts, for characterization of charge carrier concentration and mobility in semiconducting thin films. The Joule Fellow will be trained on the different instruments and measurements required and the basics of Labview Programming. The automation will include modifying an existing Labview code to control the LCR meter or Parameter Analyzer. The Joule Fellow will learn about charge carriers in metals and semiconductors and the Hall effect and will be able to demonstrate this effect in the classroom using a power supply, a multimeter, and a permanent magnet. Hall effect is a very interesting phenomenon with many applications in science and industry.
9. Cloud Device for 3D Cell Culture, Observation, and Manipulation
   1. Faculty: Dr. Kazunori Hoshino
   2. Description: We will design and test a cell culture platform to characterize the growth and formation of microtissues. Specifically, we plan to observe the differentiation of stem cells, the growth of cancer cells, and the development of fish embryos to study the process of tissue/organ development. The platform will be connected to the internet, and 3D development of cells and tissues can be observed from anywhere in the world. We will remotely control a micromanipulator through the internet and study the mechanical characteristics of growing microtissues. Teachers will develop teaching materials they will use back in their classes. Materials should fit their curriculums and teaching modules. Suggested topics include but not limited to: observation of cell/tissue/embryo differentiation (biology/chemistry), analysis of cancer drug responses (biology/chemistry), mechanical characterization of tissues (physics/chemistry), and design of robotic manipulators and imaging tools (robotics/engineering).
10. PEARL (Power Electronics & Drives Advanced Research Laboratory)
    Faculty: Dr. Ali Bazzi
    Description: Joule Fellowship program at PEARL (Power Electronics & Drives Advanced Research Laboratory) begins to familiarize fellows with the basics of electricity, power electronics and machines for its practical applications and is supplemented with thorough hands on experience of measuring equipment and electrical components. After building the prerequisite background in basic electrical concepts, we work on hardware projects.The projects include:
    • Getting familiar with electrical equipment
    •  Arduino programming
    • Power electronics
    • Motor control

The 2019 program will be postponed to Summer 2021

1. Cloud Device for 3D Cell Culture, Observation, and Manipulation 
   • Faculty: Dr. Kazunori Hoshino
2. Investigating the biomechanics of collagen networks within human/bovine articular cartilage
   • Faculty: Dr. David Pierce
3. Developing a novel platform for teaching programming of models for nonlinear elastic materials
   • Faculty: Dr. David Pierce
4. The Biomechanics of Visceral Pain
   • Faculty: Dr. Bin Feng
5. Design and Construct an Autonomous Quadcopter
   • Faculty: Dr. Shalabh Gupta
6. Advanced shape-memory alloys for structural resiliency
   • Faculty: Dr. Arash Zaghi
7. The Life Cycle of Trade-Wind Cumulus Clouds
   • Faculty: Dr. Georgios Matheou
8. Lipid Nanocomplex Enhancing Fluorescence
   • Faculty: Dr. Mu-Ping Nieh
9. Designing Nanocarriers for Carbon-Derived Materials
   • Faculty: Dr. Mu-Ping Nieh
10. Hydrogen Production by Steam Electrolysis
    • Faculty: Dr. Prabhakar Singh

1. Clean Energy Through Fuel Cells- From Nanoparticles to Cars
   • Faculty: Dr. Jasna Jankovic
2. Cloud Device for 3D Cell Culture, Observation, and Manipulation
   • Faculty: Dr. Kazunori Hoshino
3. Investigating the biomechanics of human/bovine cartilage: Combining mechanical and histological assessments
   • Faculty: Dr. David Pierce
4. Advanced Power Electronics and Drives Laboratory (APEDL)
   • Faculty: Dr. Ali Bazzi
5. Understanding pain and pain management: bioelectricity of the nervous system and electrical neuromodulation
   • Faculty: Dr. Bin Feng
6. Design and Construct an Autonomous Quadcopter
   • Faculty: Dr. Shalabh Gupta

2017

1. Low-Cost Solar Cells
   • Faculty: Dr. Alexander Agrios
2. Building a Solar Photovoltaic Energy System: Panel Characterization, Power Electronics, and Control
   • Faculty: Dr. Ali Bazzi
3. Understanding pain and pain management: bioelectricity of the nervous system and electrical neuromodulation
   • Faculty: Dr. Bin Feng
4. Cloud device for 3D cell culture, observation, and manipulation
   • Faculty: Hoshino Kazunori
5. Persuasion in the Context of Cyber Security
   • Faculty: Mohammad Khan
6. Effect of Design Rules on the Cost of 3D-Printed Components Designed with Topology Optimization
   • Faculty: Julian Norato
7. Thermal and Electrical Energy Interconversion
   • Faculty: Dr. M. Pettes
8. Electrochemical Energy Storage in Batteries
   • Faculty: Dr. M. Pettes
9. Investigating the biomechanics of human/bovine cartilage: Combined mechanical testing and microscopy imaging
   • Faculty: Dr. David M. Pierce
10. Electrochemical sensing in paper-based microfluidics and their clinical applications
    • Faculty: Savas Tasoglu
11. Selective Adsorption of Sulfur Species for the Production of Environmental Diesel
    • Faculty: Dr. Ioulia (Julia) Valla

1. 3D printing of Inexpensive, Portable, Cell-phone Based Microscopy and Cell Separator as an Educational Tool
2. Self-Assembled Lipid-Based Nanoparticles for Biomedical Purpose
3. Cloud device for 3D cell culture, observation and manipulation
4. Selective Adsorption of Sulfur Species for the Production of Environmental Diesel
5. Thermal and Electrical Energy Interconversion
6. Building a Solar Photovoltaic Energy System: Panel Characterization, Power Electronics, and Control
7. a)Biomechanics of human cartilage b)Multi-axial shear testing
8. Earthquake Engineering
9. Smart Ocean Wave Power Generator for Ocean Microgram (not offered this year)

1. Design a smart sensor network for detection of moving targets in a building or urban environment
2. Design a 3-D underwater robotic simulation platform based on existing software package
3. Seismic Performance of Modular Buildings
4. Building and optimizing a thermoelectric waste-heat generator using advanced nanomaterial components
5. Smart Ocean Wave Power Generator for Ocean Microgrid
6. Smart Microgrid for Supplying Clean, Resilient and Low Cost Electricity
7. Cloud device for 3D cell culture, observation and manipulation.
8. Self-Assembled Lipid-Based Nanoparticles for Biomedical Purpose
9. Algorithms for Discovering the Genetic Basis of Complex Traits
10. Smartphone Sensor Data for Depression Screening
11. EEG Signal Analysis to Evaluate Memory Performance
12. Multihazard Resilient Infrastructure Group: Characterization of Hybrid Composite Material
13. Investigating Design for Manufacturing Rules for Components Designed with Computational Topology Optimization and Fabricated via Fused Deposition Modeling

1. The significance of carbon and coke formation in catalytic processes
2. Novel chemical-looping systems
3. Electron beam melting process modeling and experiment
4. Mechanical characterization of tissues using ultrasound technique
5. Building a Solar Photovoltaic Energy System: Panel Characterization, Power Electronics, and Control
6. Inkjet and 3-D Printing: From Flexible Electronics to Human Organs
7. Multihazard Resilient Infrastructure Group
8. Electrochemical Devices for Energy and Fuels
9. Lithium Ion Battery Characterization for Energy storage systems
10. Modeling of Ocean Wave Generation Systems
11. Machine Learning Approach to Predicting Power System Blackout
12. Biomass conversion to Energy
13. RET Project
14. Single Step Manufacturing of Low Catalyst Loading Electrolyzer MEAs
15. Phase-change Memory

1. Nanostructures for low-cost solar energy conversion
2. Biogeography of Protozoa
3. Understanding Nanoparticle-Laden Interfaces for Better Emulsion Formulations
4. Kinetic Behavior of Enzyme Catalyzed Starch Decomposition
5. Battery Energy storage systems (BESS)
6. Investigation of Oxidation Kinetics using Carbon Blacks and Diesel Engine Soot for efficient Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) Operations
7. Converting wood (lignocellulosic biomass) to liquid fuels (deoxygenated bio-oils)
8. Processing of Waste CO2 to Solid Carbon and Liquid Fuels
9. Controlling Hydrophobicity through Nanostructure Design

1. Biofuels from Non-Food Feedstocks
2. Converting wood (lignocellulosic biomass) to liquid fuels (deoxygenated bio-oils)
3. Energy Harvesting from Structural Vibrations
4. Evaluation of Novel Porphyrin Dyes in Low-Cost Solar Cells
5. Making High Value Chemical with Low Energy Input
6. Measurement of surface coating contamination by optical methods
7. Nanfabrication for Sustainable Energy
8. Performance Analysis of Micro Heat Pipes
9. Renewable Energy Power Conversion System
10. Sustainable Hydrogen Production from Renewable Bio-derived Fuels
11. Investigation of Thermal and Electrical Properties of Geologic Materials
12. Pore Scale Effects of Microbes on Soil Water Retention

1. 3-D Imaging of Flame Emission Using Narrow-Depth of Field Optics
2. Biofuels and Protein-Based Plastics
3. Directed Conditioning of Proton Exchange Membranes to Improve Conductivity
4. Electrochemical Reactor for Spontaneous Power Conversion and CO₂ Capture
5. Environmentally Friendly Hydropower Generation
6. Functionalized Nanomaterials for Electro-oxidation of Alcohol
7. Nanodesign of Surfaces for Sustainable Energy
8. Novel Processes and Materials for Water Treatment and Desalination
9. Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) Development for Hydrogen Production
10. Thermoelectric Generators for Waste Heat Recovery and Solid-State Refrigeration

1. Biofuels Production Engineering
2. Characterization of Anion Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells
3. Characterization of Flame Dynamics for use in Power Generation Systems
4. Composite Membranes for Hydrogen Extraction from Renewable Fuels
5. Computational Fluid Dynamics with Practical Fuels
6. Dynamic Effects and Optimization in Charging and Power Utilization
7. Effect of Nano-Scale Material Characteristics on Water Management in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
8. Pore Structure Characterization of Fuel Cell Electrodes
9. Quantitative Imaging and Data Analysis of Combusting Flows in a Jet Engine
10. Scrubbing of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide to Synthesize Biofuel
11. Supercritical Fluids for Synthesis of Catalytically Active Materials