First-Year Fralin Undergraduate Research Fellowship Project List by Topic Area

Project Number: 24-8
Academic College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department: Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise
Topic Area: Computer-Biology Interface
Secondary Topic Area: Infection and Disease
Research Project Title: Interactive Gene Expression Atlas for Prader-Willi Syndrome Patients, Families, and Researchers
Research Project Brief Description: We have developed an interactive atlas of gene expression with a dynamic user interface using the Minerva suite of software tools. TIFF images of gene expression patterns from the brain are used to show overlaid patterns of gene expression for researchers, parents, and patients with PWS to explore how gene expression changes with the PWS condition. The site is hosted on the Virginia Tech Libraries Digital Repository as an open access website and free for everyone to view and use. The person working with us will add additional stories for the open-access site, and analyze usage statistics on site visits.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: Students will learn or already have Python programming skills, which are needed for image upload and management on the library website. They will work with the library and laboratory team members in a cross-disciplinary project that includes monthly group meetings. They will assess usage statistics and help us consider methods to increase visits to the site. At the end of the semester, students will have data to present from a project that interfaces computer science and biology.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: We have several goals for mentoring. First, we plan to help the student learn about the scientific aspects of the projects such as spatial biology, and brain anatomy. Next, we will train the student about the microscopic images they are seeing and the types of data information these images contain. We want to student to also understand the broader impact of their work to the Prader-Willi patient community, and scientists.  Weekly or bi-weekly meetings will be scheduled to discuss progress and next steps in details, with encouragement for open communication and questions outside of any scheduled time.

Project Number: 24-20
Academic College: Engineering
Department: Biological Systems Engineering
Topic Area: Computer-Biology Interface
Secondary Topic Area: Food and Nutrition
Research Project Title: Hyperspectral imaging and machine learning for rapid quantification of fish quality and safety
Research Project Brief Description: This project aims to develop machine learning algorithms for non-destruction quantification of histamine (toxic compound) and Vitamin D (nutrients) in fish.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: Data Collection and Preprocessing: Gather a comprehensive dataset of fish samples with known histamine and Vitamin D concentrations. Develop protocols for non-destructive data acquisition (e.g., spectroscopy, imaging techniques). Preprocess and clean the collected data to ensure quality and consistency.  Feature Extraction and Selection: Identify relevant features from the non-destructive measurements that correlate with histamine and Vitamin D levels. Implement feature selection techniques to determine the most informative attributes for prediction.   Model Development: Design and implement machine learning algorithms suitable for quantifying histamine and Vitamin D levels. Explore various model architectures (e.g., neural networks, random forests, support vector machines) to find the most effective approach. Develop separate models for histamine and Vitamin D prediction, if necessary. Model Training and Optimization: Train the developed models using the prepared dataset. Optimize model hyperparameters to improve prediction accuracy and generalization. Implement cross-validation techniques to ensure robustness of the models.   Performance Evaluation:  Establish appropriate metrics for assessing the accuracy and reliability of the predictions. Evaluate the models' performance on a separate test dataset. Compare the non-destructive method's results with traditional destructive testing methods.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: My overall approach to mentorship is rooted in the belief that effective mentoring requires a balance of guidance and autonomy. I aim to provide a supportive environment where the student feels comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas, and taking calculated risks. At the same time, I believe in challenging students to push beyond their comfort zones and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Specifically for this project, I plan to begin by assessing the student's current knowledge and skills related to machine learning, food science, and analytical techniques. This will help me tailor my mentorship approach to their individual needs. I will then work with the student to develop a clear project timeline and set of milestones, ensuring they understand the overall objectives and their role in achieving them. Regular meetings will be a key component of my mentorship plan. I envision weekly one-on-one sessions to discuss progress, address challenges, and plan next steps. These meetings will also serve as an opportunity for the student to practice presenting their work and receiving constructive feedback. Throughout the project, I will encourage the student to take ownership of specific tasks and make decisions, while being available to provide guidance and support when needed. I believe this approach will help develop their confidence and independence as a researcher. I also plan to introduce the student to relevant literature and encourage them to stay current with the latest developments in the field. This will involve guiding them in critical reading of scientific papers and discussing how to apply new knowledge to our project.

Project Number: 24-21
Academic College: Engineering
Department: Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
Topic Area: Computer-Biology Interface
Secondary Topic Area: Infection and Disease
Research Project Title: Enabling Technology Critical for Ramen Spectroscopy in Malawi
Research Project Brief Description: Raman Spectroscopy (RS) can be used to identify a number of health conditions in Malawi. Critical to RS is use of high quality glass vials costing $2 each, a barrier to use in a low resource environment. The robotic elements of 3D printers have been shown to be repurposed for the process of staining microscope slides. Arduino or Raspberry Pi microprocessors can be programmed to control 3D printers, and can include cameras needed to examine vials to ensure that they are clean. Parts needed to hold the vials in place while being cleaned can be 3D printed.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: Integrate existing technologies to rinse, clean, dry and verify that vials are ready for use. The goal is a fully functional device that includes documentation that will enable students to build devices for use in Malawi.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: The student will be provided with all materials and space to explore this challenge. We have a team of faculty who possess the skills to provide guidance for successful completion of this challenge. I will meet with the student on a weekly basis as we discuss progress and set goals for the following week. I view mentorship as a partnership where I provide guidance and open doors for student success. My goal for each student is completion of a project worthy of successful presentations and publications.

Project Number: 24-22
Academic College: Engineering
Department: Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
Topic Area: Computer-Biology Interface
Secondary Topic Area: Natural Environments
Research Project Title: Biomechanics of animals
Research Project Brief Description: Our lab studies how animals work from a biomechanical perspective. That means that we use fundamental tools of engineering, physics, and math to understand how an animal’s form relates to its function. Our main focus is on snakes and insects, but we also study other animals: for instance, we are currently trying to understand how flying squid jump out of the water and fly the air. We do lots of research on snakes, centered on flying snakes and their relatives: how do they fly through the air? How do they jump? What limits other snakes from gliding?
Specific Research Goals for the Student: We understand that most freshman don’t have a lot of research experience, if any. Our goal is to expose the student to the types of things that are involved in research, including experimental data collection, data analysis, problem solving, and presenting. In working on animal biomechanics, typically a student will learn to handle animals as well as technical equipment like high-speed cameras and motion capture systems.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: It takes experience in the lab to be able to lead a project, so we don’t expect a new lab member to start out with their own project. Instead, we partner students with more experienced researchers, having them help with ongoing lab projects. Typically that means that on a day-to-day basis, the new lab member will be working with a Ph.D. student or postdoctoral researcher. (‘Postdoc’ means they’ve recently earned their Ph.D.) That said, as the head of the lab I am involved in all mentoring, so new lab members will also be interacting with me.

Project Number: 24-26
Academic College: Engineering
Department: Engineering Education
Topic Area: Computer-Biology Interface
Secondary Topic Area: Communicating Concepts
Research Project Title: Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Understand Causal Reasoning and Decision-Making
Research Project Brief Description: This project will use generative artificial intelligence to detect and understand how individuals reason about causality and make decisions. In this work, we will design, test, and implement novel generative AI workflows to analyze causal reasoning and decision-making expressed in writing and speech from human subjects across a range of domains and subjects.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The research goals for the student are to determine which models, algorithms, and workflows are most effective for analyzing causal reasoning and decision-making in human subjects. The student will learn about generative AI, causal reasoning, and decision-making. The student will also gain experience in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: My plans for mentoring the student are to provide guidance and support throughout the research process. This will include regular (weekly or bi-weekly) meetings to discuss progress, troubleshoot issues, and provide feedback. I view mentorship as a collaborative process, where the student and I work together to achieve the research goals. The student will also interact with other members of the research team, including graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, although I will be the primary mentor for this project.

Project Number: 24-37
Academic College: Science
Department: Department of Geosciences
Topic Area: Computer-Biology Interface
Secondary Topic Area: Natural Environments
Research Project Title: Utilizing Predictive Powers of Machine Learning to Improve Life-Detection Efforts in Mars-Analog Environments
Research Project Brief Description: This project seeks to leverage predictive capabilities of machine learning to make minor improvements to current life-detection strategies in Mars-Analog environments. To do so, the student will create a classification and a regression model to predict organic carbon abundance from Mars-analog hypersaline lake mineralogy data using the python programming language.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: My specific research goal for the student is to equip them with transferrable skills in data science techniques applied to earth and planetary science problems. The students can expect to learn the fundamentals of supervised machine learning and computer programming in the python language. Additionally, the student will be introduced to earth science, specifically astrobiology, concepts.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: My mentorship philosophy is based around student-oriented mentoring. Student-oriented mentoring allows the student to engage in their own curiosities and passions, ultimately, building knowledge pillars for them. This approach promotes a purposeful learning experience for the student and me. Using this approach, I apply methods associated with learner-oriented teaching such as active learning, cooperative learning, and inductive teaching and learning. I believe it is my responsibility to understand who my students are and identify their individual knowledge gaps so that I can both challenge students who are passionate and have a clear grasp on concepts while simultaneously helping struggling students succeed.

Project Number: 24-39
Academic College: Science
Department: Statistics
Topic Area: Computer-Biology Interface
Secondary Topic Area: Natural Environments
Research Project Title: Transfer Learning on Graph Neural Networks for Wildfire Prediction
Research Project Brief Description: This interdisciplinary project aims to investigate the utility of topological methods for improving transfer learning on graph neural networks for detection and prediction of wildfires, using NASA remote sensing data, as well as quantification of the associated uncertainties.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The tasks will include literature review, software development, conducting numerical experiments. assessment of pros/cons of the developed algorithms, and, depending on the progress, participation in preparation of a research manuscript and/or presentation of the research findings at a conference.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: The project will include weekly meetings with the primary faculty mentor, in addition to the group meetings with other team members.

Project Number: 24-42
Academic College: Vet Med
Department: Population Health Sciences
Topic Area: Computer-Biology Interface
Secondary Topic Area: Infection and Disease
Research Project Title: Development of a Phone App for a Clinical Study on Herpes Simplex Virus
Research Project Brief Description: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes lifelong infection that reactivates to cause recurrent disease, such as cold sores and genital herpes. We are planning a clinical study to determine how hormone levels affect HSV recurrences in women. We have specific questions we need to ask study participants through a phone app. The student will develop a phone app that can be used by study participants, with specific elements required by the clinical study, working closely with the PI, with opportunities to learn about public health, clinical, and laboratory studies and techniques.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The student will develop a phone app that can be used by study participants, with specific elements required by the clinical study.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: The student will work closely with the PI, meeting regularly to discuss the project, although much of the project can be done remotely.

Project Number: 24-43
Academic College: Vet Med
Department: Population Health Sciences
Topic Area: Computer-Biology Interface
Secondary Topic Area: Infection and Disease
Research Project Title: Medical Illustrations of Anatomy and Nervous System for Publication and Presentation
Research Project Brief Description: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes lifelong infection that reactivates to cause recurrent cold sores and genital herpes. HSV infects neurons that sense pain and itching around the face and genitals. Although illustrations are available to show some aspects of the anatomy and how the virus infects these areas, more specific illustrations are needed. The student will create detailed anatomical medical illustrations for scientific publications and presentations, working closely with the PI, with opportunities to learn about public health, anatomy and physiology, and laboratory studies and techniques. Being able to create animations and design web sites would also be helpful.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The student will create detailed anatomical medical illustrations for scientific publications and presentations, working closely with the PI.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: The student will work closely with the PI, with regular meetings to discuss the project, although much of the project can be done remotely.

Project Number: 24-4
Academic College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department: Food Science and Technology
Topic Area: Food and Nutrition
Secondary Topic Area: Lab Skills
Research Project Title: Strawberry Antioxidants in Virginia-grown Strawberries
Research Project Brief Description: Strawberries are not only delicious, but contain lots of health-promoting antioxidants! In this project, we are evaluating the antioxidant content of two different varieties of strawberries grown in Virginia over 7 different weeks of the 2024 harvest season to see how the variety and harvest timing affect the antioxidant content.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: There are 3 main goals for the student:

1. learn basic analytical lab skills,
2. assess antioxidants in strawberries using the Folin assay, and
3. understand the importance of research and how it fits into the "big picture".

Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: Students interested in research should be self-motivated. Research is a joint endeavor that we all work on together. The student will work directly with me and my graduate students to complete the project, with the goal of developing skills and a research product that the student can take ownership of and proudly present as "their" research project.

Project Number: 24-5
Academic College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department: Food Science and Technology
Topic Area: Food and Nutrition
Secondary Topic Area: Lab Skills
Research Project Title: When Good Beer Goes Bad
Research Project Brief Description: This research will examine how microbes (bacteria, yeast) spoil beer. The overall goal is to characterize how spoilage microbes grow and metabolize compounds in beer to produce some not so tasty compounds (off-flavors).
Specific Research Goals for the Student: Specific goals of this research project include (i) identification of parameters (inoculation concentration, time, temperature) necessary for different spoilage microbes to spoil beer, and (ii) assessment of the sensory properties of spoiled beer.  Students can expect to learn (i) basic microbiology, (ii) experimental design, and (iii) basic principles of brewing.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: My mentorship philosophy is goal-oriented: What will benefit the student to have on their resume to help them get to the next step in their career? One of my top priorities is to have students tell me what their professional goals are during our first meeting so that we can design a research experience to help them get tangible items on their resume (for example: presenting their research, publications, study design experience, etc.) I am personally motivated to mentor students on this project because we would like to use the results to design an experiment that will be used in the undergraduate course that I teach (food micro). I will meet with the student individually (bi-weekly) to discuss study design, research methodology, and professional/career development. A graduate student in my lab will be with the undergraduate student in the lab at all times to help the student carry out the research project (training, waste management, lab safety) while also mentoring the student on graduate school experiences. Additional mentoring support will come from my colleague Dr. Herbert Bruce (the FST undergraduate student advisor and instructor of Applied Brewing Science and Engineering course) who will help with the project design and execution.

Project Number: 24-6
Academic College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department: Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise
Topic Area: Food and Nutrition
Secondary Topic Area: Surveys and Data Analysis
Research Project Title: Effect of acute low energy availability (LEA) on determinants/markers of iron status in female runners
Research Project Brief Description: Low Energy Availability (LEA; or consuming less calories than needed) is a common problem in some athletes, particularly female athletes in certain sports. LEA often goes hand-in-hand with low iron status, but the stress of LEA can interfere with detection of common markers of iron deficiency. This project will utilize previously collected data in female runners with 5-days of experimentally induced LEA to attempt to better understand markers of iron status under these conditions.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: Assist in data entry and analysis, Learn to conduct a targeted literature review. Gain skills in critical analysis of literature and in scientific writing.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: The student will work with me and a recently graduated doctoral student weekly during lab meetings and bi-weekly for individual guidance and discussion.

Project Number: 24-7
Academic College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department: Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise
Topic Area: Food and Nutrition
Secondary Topic Area: Surveys and Data Analysis
Research Project Title: Ultra processed foods and iodine status in middle-aged adults
Research Project Brief Description: Iodine status in the U.S. population is generally thought to be adequate, which is commonly attributed to use of iodized salt. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, however, have indicated a downward trend in the iodine status of the US population since 2007 that has paralleled an upward trend in consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), which are high in salt but not iodized salt. This study will measure the iodine content of two standardized diets, one high in UPF and the other containing “homemade” recipes and no UPF for 6-weeks on iodine status.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: Assist in data entry and analysis, Learn to conduct a targeted literature review. Gain skills in critical analysis of literature and in scientific writing.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: Meet with the students weekly during lab meeting and at least bi-weekly for individual feedback on project.

Project Number: 24-44
Academic College: Vet Med
Department: Population Health Sciences
Topic Area: Infection and Disease
Secondary Topic Area: Lab Skills
Research Project Title: Effect of epinephrine on HSV 1 and 2 LAT mutants in latent infections
Research Project Brief Description: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes lifelong latent infection that reactivates to cause recurrent disease. Stress causes HSV1 to reactivate, causing cold sores or genital herpes. If one viral gene, the latency associated  transcript (LAT), is deleted, HSV1 does not reactivate in response to stress. For this project, the student will use several different HSV1 viruses with deletions in LAT to map the genetic region responsive to epinephrine. The project involves primary neuronal cultures, infecting cells with viruses, treating infected neurons with epinephrine, and performing plaque assays, working closely with a PhD student.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The student will use several different HSV1 viruses with deletions in LAT to map the genetic region responsive to epinephrine. The project involves primary neuronal cultures, infecting cells with viruses, treating infected neurons with epinephrine, and performing plaque assays, working closely with a PhD student.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: The student will work closely with a PhD student on this project, and also with the PI when working with live virus.

Project Number: 24-36
Academic College: Science
Department: Biological Sciences
Topic Area: Lab Skills
Secondary Topic Area: Infection and Disease
Research Project Title: How to work with recombinant proteins in a lab setting
Research Project Brief Description: Students will be trained in expression, purification and handling of recombinant proteins. The function of purified proteins will be evaluated using biophysical and biochemical methods. Students will be exposed at high-resolution techniques and a real-world research lab, exposing their work in local and national conferences.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: Students will be trained in biochemistry and biophysics of proteins, specifically those involved in intracellular trafficking.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: Students are mentored by me and by the graduate students from my research team. Students are expected to participate in research discussions and present their work at lab meetings.

Project Number: 24-38
Academic College: Science
Department: Physics
Topic Area: Lab Skills
Secondary Topic Area: Computer-Biology Interface
Research Project Title: Use Physics Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) to Solve the Young-Laplace Equation
Research Project Brief Description: The Young-Laplace equation relates the pressure difference across a fluid-fluid interface to the shape of the interface and has wide applications in capillary phenomena, including those occurring biological systems. In this project, students will learn how to use physics informed neural networks (PINNs) to solve the Young-Laplace equation in several processes of capillary action and then apply the solutions to quantify the capillary force on nano-sized objects and in nano-channels exerted by a liquid-vapor interface. Students will be trained on the physics of capillary action, the basic ideas of machine learning algorithms and neural networks, and programming with Python.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The student will learn, under the guidance of my graduate students and me, how to write a Python code to implement physics-informed neural networks to solve the Young-Laplace equation under various boundary conditions that are relevant to capillary action encountered in many realistic situations.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: We will train the student on the basic physics of capillary action and programming skills in Python. The student will also learn the basic ideas underlying machine learning and neural networks. The student will participate in active research in soft matter and biological physics that can potentially lead to publications. The student will be treated as an intern that may one day grow into a STEM researcher.

Project Number: 24-19
Academic College: Engineering
Department: Aerospace and Ocean Engineering
Topic Area: Material Science
Secondary Topic Area: Natural Environments
Research Project Title: Satellite microcontrollers and circuit boards: build, test, operate
Research Project Brief Description: Learn to solder (through-hole and surface-mount) circuit boards designed to fly in space onboard nanosatellites. Command and control assembled circuit boards using a serial protocol interface. Gain familiarity with Python and C programming languages to extend and modify microcontroller capabilities. Opportunities to modify circuit board design using KiCAD tools. Design and execute test deployments to evaluate circuit board readiness before flight.
Specific Research Goals for the Student:

1. Surface-mount solder microcontrollers and passive components to unpopulated PCBs and demonstrate functionality using unit tests
2. Learn and understand the serial command protocol for operating the satellite circuit boards
3. Broaden satellite capabilities by extending and modifying the operating protocol
4. Design and execute real-world tests to evaluate satellite capabilities

Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: The goal of mentorship is to help foster new skills with the mentee. Successful mentorship requires regular meetings and communication. Project goals should be flexible in order to support maximum success.

Project Number: 24-27
Academic College: Engineering
Department: Materials Science and Engineering
Topic Area: Material Science
Secondary Topic Area: The Built Environment
Research Project Title: Development of Low Cost, Austenitic, Ductile Irons
Research Project Brief Description: Ductile irons can be easily cast into complex shapes. Austenitic ductile irons have numerous desirable properties, such as excellent fatigue life and high energy absorbing capability. Nickel is typically used to produce austenitic ductile iron but is expensive. This projects aims to replace nickel with manganese and aluminum.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: Ductile irons can be easily cast into complex shapes. Austenitic ductile irons have numerous desirable properties, such as excellent fatigue life and high energy absorbing capability. Nickel is typically used to produce austenitic ductile iron but is expensive.  This projects aims to  replace nickel with manganese and aluminum.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: The students will work with me and other undergraduate students on this project. The foundry is inherently dangerous so extensive safety training (online and in-person) is required. I will personally supervise/mentor the students at the foundry and my undergraduate team will primarily support the students when doing materials characterization. The students will be invited to participate in professional society conferences and foundry plant visits.

Project Number: 24-28
Academic College: Engineering
Department: Materials Science and Engineering
Topic Area: Material Science
Secondary Topic Area: The Built Environment
Research Project Title: Advanced High Strength Steel
Research Project Brief Description: Advanced high steel steels are being developed for automotive applications. These steels must have high yield strength, high ductility, and low cost since they are primarily used in applications that require high energy absorption, such as vehicle crush zones.

Project Number: 24-1
Academic College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department: Biochemistry
Topic Area: Natural Environments
Secondary Topic Area: Lab Skills
Research Project Title: How do mosquitoes respond to climate change?
Research Project Brief Description: The student will be involved in a project dealing with adaptations (behavioral, physiological) of invasive mosquito species to climate change
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The student will perform behavioral and physiological assays on mosquitoes. They will acquire various technical skills beyond knowledge on disease vectors insects.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: Communication is key! We will have weekly meetings and communication by email. I will provide guidance and training so the student can learn to work independently and acquire critical technical skills

Project Number: 24-10
Academic College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department: School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Topic Area: Natural Environments
Secondary Topic Area: Lab Skills
Research Project Title: Testing the resistance of mutants of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana to amino acids
Research Project Brief Description: We have identified Arabidopsis mutants that are resistant to two amino acids. The goals of the project are (1) to quantitatively assess the resistance of the mutant to the 20 amino acids; (2) assess the genetic segregation of the mutations in the mutant’s progenies. The plants will be brown in solution containing the amino acids in sterile conditions, and the growth will be scored after two weeks.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The students will learn to work in sterile conditions, which could be used for working with any other organism (not only plants), keep track of the results and synthesize the findings in PowerPoint slides. The student will also be exposed to genetics analyses of organism, and learn how to link phenotype and genotype.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: I will personally train and supervise the student. We will meet weekly to discuss past results, revise goals and set up experiments. The student will practice presentation of their results to the lab members at regular lab meetings.

Project Number: 24-2
Academic College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department: Biological Systems Engineering
Topic Area: Natural Environments
Secondary Topic Area: Lab Skills
Research Project Title: Finding the organic matter recipe to reduce streambank erosion.
Research Project Brief Description: Prior work by my research group has shown that adding organic matter to streambank soils increases erosion resistance. To turn this knowledge into practical use, more information is needed on the effectiveness of different types and amounts of waste organic materials that are readily available. This laboratory study will involve setting up multiple combinations of waste type and amount to be added to soil and then testing the soils for erodibility. Recommendations for stream restoration designers will be made based on the results of this study.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The goal of this project is to evaluate different sources and amounts of waste organic matter (wood chips, paper, etc.) on soil erodibility, with the ultimate goal of developing recommendations for use in the stream restoration industry.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: Research is essentially experiential learning - no one fully understands research until they have been through the entire process once. Therefore, I believe the best way to mentor a new student is to give them the big picture (an overview with the ultimate endpoint) and then step them through the process. I meet with students regularly and include them in my research group meetings, so they have interactions with graduate students and can observe and participate in discussions we have about ongoing projects.

Project Number: 24-3
Academic College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department: Entomology
Topic Area: Natural Environments
Secondary Topic Area: Infection and Disease
Research Project Title: Mosquito management and the diseases they vector
Research Project Brief Description: Project will focus on changes of toxicity of insecticides to mosquitoes that are resistant or infected with arboviruses (e.g., La Crosse Virus, West Nile Virus, Zika Virus, etc.)
Specific Research Goals for the Student: Studies will include toxicity bioassays and electrophysiology experiments
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: one on one

Project Number: 24-9
Academic College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department: School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Topic Area: Natural Environments
Secondary Topic Area: The Built Environment
Research Project Title: Investigating planting methods of improved St. Augustinegrass and Centipedegrass cultivars
Research Project Brief Description: This project will evaluate various vegetative-propagation methods for improved cold-tolerant, cultivars of St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) and Centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) to identify successful strategies for establishment. These two species are warm-season turfgrasses, like bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) which is already widely-utilized in lawns throughout the Mid-Atlantic, but they exhibit greater shade tolerance and lower maintenance requirements. New, improved varieties of St. Augustinegrass and Centipedegrass, at maturity, have demonstrated improved winterhardiness, similar to that of bermudagrass. This project will evaluate improved cultivars of these species to identify how propagative methods and the timing of planting impacts successful lawn establishment in the mid-Atlantic region.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The student will learn the fundamental basics of experimental design and the implementation of the scientific method. They will also learn how turfgrasses are significantly, impacted by environmental conditions and how investigating planting methods can positively contribute to the green-industry in terms of promoting sustainability, reducing inputs, and conserving natural resources.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: I will be assisting the student throughout the entirety of the duration of the project, and I will also make a deliberate effort in meeting weekly with them to discuss project progress, both in data-collection processes/tasks and in manuscript writing. Mentorship is a fundamental key to the student getting the most of out this research experience.

Project Number: 24-24
Academic College: Engineering
Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Topic Area: Natural Environments
Secondary Topic Area: Infection and Disease
Research Project Title: Rapid detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli in the soil
Research Project Brief Description: The goal of this project is to develop a rapid detection method for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in soil samples using digital PCR. This method allows for qualification of pathogens with low abundance in environmental samples. This project is important to detect, predict, prevent, and respond to global health threats caused by bacterial pathogens of an environmental origin.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The participating student will learn basic molecular biology skills, such as DNA extraction and digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and data analysis and visualization skills using programming languages, such as R and Python.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: I view mentorship as a collaborative process where both the mentor and mentee learn and grow together. Within this project, my goal is to empower the student to achieve their full potential, contribute meaningfully to the microbiological research, and prepare for future academic and professional success. Specifically, the student will work closely with me and/or a graduate student. Regular meetings will be implemented to ensure the optimal learning outcomes of the student applicant.

Project Number: 24-35
Academic College: Science
Department: Biological Sciences
Topic Area: Natural Environments
Secondary Topic Area: Food and Nutrition
Research Project Title: Bacteriophages of the soybean symbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens
Research Project Brief Description: Soybean is an important crop and the most common source for vegetable oil. The symbiotic bacterium Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens is found in leguminous root nodules, where it fixes atmospheric nitrogen and ultimately stimulates soybean growth. Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, are the most abundant biological entity on earth and important factors in shaping ecosystems including during bacteria-host interactions. However, very little is known about bacteriophages infecting symbiotic rhizobia. This is particularly true for the soybean symbiont and only a few Bradyrhizobium phages have been described. We will isolate B. diazoefficiens phages from soybean nodules and characterize their interaction with their host.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The student will isolate lytic phages from soybean nodules that have been collected in August 2023. The student will use published protocols to extract phages from crushed nodule material and propagate them on the B. diazoefficiens host. The student will then characterize the phage host range and also analyze the host’s requirements by performing infectivity assays with different host mutant strains. The student will also be able to analyze the phage microscopically in collaboration with the Egelman lab at UVA. Overall, the student will be learning basic and advanced microbiological techniques.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: The student will be mentored primarily by a graduate student in the Scharf lab. However, I will be intimately involved with the mentoring of the undergraduate researcher. I will develop the research plan together with the graduate mentor, specifically taking into account the freshman status of the student. We will ensure that the student learns the required techniques efficiently. I will have meetings with the undergraduate and the graduate student to ensure everything is moving smoothly. The student will be required to attend weekly lab meetings to familiarize themselves with projects undertaken by other laboratory members. To develop communication and presentation skills, students will present at our lab meetings and also at on-campus symposia and conferences. Presentations will be practiced with my research group, which will also mediate peer-mentoring.

Project Number: 24-40
Academic College: Vet Med
Department: DBSP
Topic Area: Natural Environments
Secondary Topic Area: Infection and Disease
Research Project Title: The role of titan cells in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans
Research Project Brief Description: Cryptococcus neoformans causes deadly meningitis in severely immunocompromised individuals. When causing disease, a subset of Cryptococcus cells enlarges to generate Titan cells that dwarf the immune cells that would normally contain and kill the pathogen. In this project we will explore genes important for Titan cell production and how they influence Titan cell formation.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The student will learn basic microbiology, cell biology, and genetics  techniques that are widely applicable across disciplines. In addition, the student will learn about host-pathogen interactions and explore models of human disease.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: The student will work closely with a lab member to learn both techniques and develop a conceptual understanding of the project. The student will perform their own experiments under the guidance and supervision of a more senior lab member (postdoc) with the goal of developing confidence and independence.

Project Number: 24-41
Academic College: Vet Med
Department: Population Health Sciences
Topic Area: Natural Environments
Secondary Topic Area: Infection and Disease
Research Project Title: The Dog Aging Project: exploring the environmental factors that influence healthy aging in companion dogs
Research Project Brief Description: The Dog Aging Project is a long-term nationwide study that collects data on more than 50,000 throughout their lifetime. We use these data to understand factors that are related to positive health outcomes for dogs and then leverage this information to better understand how humans might age better, too.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: We are an active lab and we present and publish frequently. The student can expect to conduct a research project using already collected data that will be published either alone or as part of a larger research manuscript. Student will be listed as an author.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: We have a robust that meets regularly. Lab meeting schedules will incorporate the student's availability and they will be expected to attend. Other members of the lab - postdoc, PhD students, MS students, will be available to assist with support as necessary/desired. 
 

Project Number: 24-46
Academic College: Science
Department: Geosciences
Topic Area:  Natural Environments
Secondary Topic Area:  Surveys and Data Analysis
Research Project Title: Biological evolution across a critical transition in Earth history
Research Project Brief Description: In this project, we examine the fossil record across the Proterozoic-Phanerozoic boundary at ~540 million years ago to understand the extinction of Ediacaran organisms and the evolutionary radiation of skeletal animals.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: The main goal is to process and analyze geological samples that have been collected from Mongolia and Canada, to sort and identify microfossils, and to analyze the evolutionary pattern across the Proterozoic-Phanerozoic boundary. The main focus is the extract, sort, and identify microfossils; to photograph them using light and electron microscopy; and to carry out statistical analysis of these microfossils. A student may focus on one particular aspect of the research.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: Students will work with a professor and a graduate student on a regular basis (e.g., weekly). They will be trained in lab safety, light microscopy, electron microscopy, simple statistical analysis, as well as presentation skills. They will participate in weekly lab meetings of the research group.

Project Number: 24-11
Academic College: Architecture, Arts and Design
Department: Architecture
Topic Area: The Built Environment
Secondary Topic Area: Surveys and Data Analysis
Research Project Title: Enhancing Architectural and Design Education through VR and AR Technologies
Research Project Brief Description: The integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) into architectural education offers transformative opportunities for teaching and learning. This project aims to explore the use of VR and AR to enhance the visualization, interaction, and comprehension of complex spatial concepts in design and architecture schools. Given the limitations of traditional 2D drawings and physical models, VR and AR technologies provide a dynamic and immersive approach to understanding and interacting with 3D environments. This research seeks to bridge the gap between conventional teaching methods and cutting-edge technology, fostering a deeper understanding of architectural spaces.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: Participation in this project will equip the student with valuable skills and experiences:  Technical Proficiency: Gain hands-on experience with advanced VR and AR technologies. Research Skills: Develop competencies in conducting academic research, including data collection, analysis, and reporting. Innovative Thinking: Enhance ability to think creatively in applying new technologies to solve educational challenges. Collaborative Experience: Work as part of a dynamic research team, improving communication and teamwork skills.
Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: The mentorship plan for the VR/AR architectural education project emphasizes structured guidance, skill enhancement, and nurturing independent critical thinking. Regular meetings will facilitate ongoing dialogue, ensuring the student remains aligned with the project goals and feels supported in their challenges. Training will focus on the practical application of VR and AR technologies, equipping the student with advanced tools that extend beyond traditional architectural practices.  The mentorship will also encourage creative independence, urging the student to propose innovative solutions and engage deeply with the cutting-edge technology at hand. This approach aims to foster confidence and self-sufficiency. Career development discussions and networking opportunities will also be integral, helping the student to navigate future professional pathways in architecture and technology.  Overall, the mentorship philosophy is built on a foundation of mutual learning, aiming to inspire and challenge the mentee while supporting their personal and professional growth. This comprehensive approach ensures the student not only acquires new technical skills but also applies them effectively to push the boundaries of architectural education, preparing them for a successful career in a rapidly evolving field.

Project Number: 24-15
Academic College: Architecture, Arts and Design
Department: Architecture
Topic Area: The Built Environment
Secondary Topic Area: Computer-Biology Interface
Research Project Title: Developing an AI-Based Design Process for using AI as a Design Tool
Research Project Brief Description: In recent years, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into architecture has offered new avenues for creativity and efficiency in the design process. AI has the potential to revolutionize the way architects approach complex problems, offering tools that can analyze large datasets, optimize design parameters, and even generate novel design processes. This project seeks to explore the incorporation of AI into the architectural design process, aiming to develop a systematic approach that leverages AI's capabilities to enhance creativity and innovation by using AI as a design tool and not just as a tool for representation.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: he undergraduate student will gain valuable experience and skills, including:

1. Exposure to AI in Design: Learn about cutting-edge AI technologies and their applications in architecture. Through the use of Stable Diffusion and Control Net.
2. Research Methodology: Develop skills in conducting academic research, including literature reviews, data analysis, and documentation.
3. Technical Skills: Gain hands-on experience with AI tools, programming, and data management.
4. Collaborative Experience: Work in a research team environment, contributing to a significant project that bridges technology and design.
5. Problem-Solving Abilities: Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills by addressing real-world design challenges with AI.

Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: Mentorship, to me, is about fostering a supportive and collaborative environment where the mentee feels empowered to learn, grow, and take risks. It is a two-way relationship where both mentor and mentee can learn from each other. I view mentorship as an opportunity to guide someone not just in their academic or professional pursuits but also in their personal development. It is about helping them build confidence, resilience, and the skills necessary to navigate their career paths.

Project Number: 24-23
Academic College: Engineering
Department: Building Construction
Topic Area: The Built Environment
Secondary Topic Area: Material Science
Research Project Title: Circularization of Construction Product Manufacturing Waste
Research Project Brief Description: Manufacturing modular construction products such as structural insulated panels generates volumes of multi-material waste that is difficult to recycle cost-effectively. Existing practice requires cutting apart scraps to recover valuable components while paying to dispose of the remains. This study will review panelized building designs to model waste generation from panel fabrication. The aim is to find alternatives to in-house waste processing via identifying complementary uses for panel waste in various forms as valuable input to other industrial or construction processes. If successful, the outcome would convert production waste from a liability into a value stream for panel manufacturers.
Specific Research Goals for the Student: Upon successfully completing this research, student will be able to:

1. Identify dimensions of panel cutoffs based on building design documents;
2. Create inventory of panel cutoffs by building type and descriptive parameters;
3. Quantify costs and benefits of current scrap recycling process;
4. Use pattern recognition algorithms to identify project types with high-value waste; and
5. Communicate progress, challenges, and results both orally and in writing to project team members.

Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: I believe effective research mentoring requires not only demonstrating and modeling useful task-specific skills, but also anchoring research experiences within a more general context where students may later be able to adapt those skills to other situations. In this project, critical context includes learning to interact safely and appropriately with stakeholders in a manufacturing environment and understanding the business drivers underlying the research goals. Depending on the level of skill already possessed by the student, mentoring will include direct interaction with me or manufacturing staff to develop outlines of written documents or spreadsheet tools, demonstrations of unfamiliar processes (e.g., how to review design documents, how to document operational processes and estimate costs, etc.). Weekly meetings would involve review of progress from previous week, addressing any problems or challenges, and setting goals for the next week. Student would be expected to participate in and give brief progress updates to the research team at periodic team meetings as well.

Project Number: 24-25
Academic College: Engineering
Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Topic Area: The Built Environment
Secondary Topic Area: Natural Environments
Research Project Title: From Science Fiction to Reality: How Will Flying Cars Change Future Transportation?
Research Project Brief Description: This research aims to understand the impact of urban air mobility (UAM) or flying cars in urban and rural areas in the USA. Urban air mobility or air taxi services will start transporting passengers as soon as January 2026. Therefore, it is evident how this emerging mobility service will impact the existing mode choice behavior and who the potential customers will be. and possible vertiport (heliport) locations. We will use AI and Machine learning to understand this demand. This new mobility option will change the landscape of future transportation.
Specific Research Goals for the Student:

1. Literature review
2. Data Analysis
3. Report Writing

Plans for Mentoring the Student and How the Faculty Views Mentoring: I will meet with the student once every week for one hour. I will teach the student the skill set necessary to be successful in this project.