Research Opportunities

Experience: Investigate the impact of spectral modification on the growth and yield of sweet bel pepper.

Description: Are you passionate about sustainable agriculture, plant science, or greenhouse technology? The Purdue Student Farm is offering a research assistantship for an undergraduate student to participate in a cutting-edge study on spectral modification and crop performance. Project Overview: This research investigates the effect of various greenhouse films—UbiGro versus industry-standard—on the growth and yield of sweet bell peppers. The study will be conducted in two adjacent caterpillar tunnels at the Purdue Student Farm on the West Lafayette campus. Data collected will include: light intensity and quality; air and soil temperature; plant height and development; weekly harvest yields (both marketable and unmarketable); and light use efficiency (biomass per PAR received). Why Get Involved? -Gain hands-on experience in experimental design and data collection. -Contribute to Extension programming and public outreach. -Use project data for your Capstone course or independent study. -Co-author peer-reviewed journal article.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: One

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Dr. Petrus Langenhoven plangenh@purdue.edu

Experience: Learning for humanoid robot whole-body control

Description: Humanoid robots have the potential to assist humans in daily life, factories, and disaster response. For robots to work safely and effectively alongside people, they must be able to understand and respond appropriately to human actions and preferences. Although modern robots can already walk, balance, and navigate complex environments, making them interact naturally and safely with humans remains a major challenge. This summer project will focus on studying how humans interact behaviorally with humanoid robots and exploring simple methods to make this interaction more intuitive and trustworthy. The student will help design and conduct experiments using Purdue’s Digit humanoid robot, observing how humans respond to different robot behaviors (e.g., speed, distance, or gesture style). Using collected data, the student will analyze patterns in human comfort, trust, and cooperation. Depending on the student’s background, additional tasks may include: (1) Implementing simple control or perception algorithms for the robot in simulation or hardware, (2) Analyzing human-robot interaction data using Python or MATLAB, and (3) Assisting with demonstrations or visualization of robot behaviors. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the project, the student will gain experience in: (1) Fundamental principles of human–robot interaction, (2) Hands-on work with a humanoid robot (Digit), (3) Experimental design and data analysis, and (4) Basic programming for robot control or behavioral analysis.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 3-4

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Dr. Yan Gu yangu@purdue.edu

Experience: Experimental Solid Particle Erosion Testing

Description: Sand and other particulate are unavoidably ingested into aeroengines operating in harsh environments. Within a compressor, Solid Particle Erosion increases tip losses and degrades aero performance. Current understanding of this erosion is derived from single particle impacts or rig-dependent empirical testing. The project will focus on assembling and running our ground-based test facility to study erosion at flight relevant conditions in Zucrow Labs Building 9. Possible research tasks include facility assembly, performance mapping, optical diagnostics, particle flow verification, CAD (NX), P&ID (Visio), component sourcing, coding (Python), etc.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 2

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Mrs. Amy Chang amychang@purdue.edu

Experience: Characterization of Liquid Sprays in a Small-Scale Annular Gas Turbine

Description: Liquid fuel injection plays a critical role in the performance of small-scale gas turbines. During ignition, the droplet size distribution of the injected fuel strongly influences combustion. This project focuses on quantifying and optimizing the spray distribution using a custom-built test rig designed to replicate realistic engine operating conditions. Experimental techniques such as backlit imaging and digital in-line holography are used to characterize the spray and particle size distributions.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 1

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Mr. Amogh natunatua@purdue.edu

Experience: Reactive transport in porous media, learning underground heterogeneities

Description: Reactive transport in permeable porous media plays a crucial role in a wide range of applications from carbon sequestration and geothermal energy production to artificial aquifer recharge. Chemical interactions between fluids and solid structures change the microscale morphology of porous media, affecting transport properties and flow conditions at the reservoir scale. This project focuses on building machine-learned surrogate models trained on high-resolution pore-scale data to investigate heterogeneities in reaction rates and morphology in underground layers and their effects on transport properties and flow in geological formations. Students will gain hands-on experience working with parallel models, generating and analyzing datasets, and training neural network models that capture history-dependent behavior.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 2

This experience will occur: June, July, August

Send resumes to: Assistant Professor Mina Karimi karimi2@purdue.edu

Experience: Acoustic Metamaterial for Contactless Particle Manipulation

Description: Acoustic Metamaterials offer unprecedented way for sound field control. In this project, the student will be exposed to the field of acoustic metamaterials, and use these concept to design acoustic tweezers that manipulate particles without contact.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 2

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Dr. Junfei Li junfeili@purdue.edu

Experience: Automated computational fluid dynamics with large language models

Description: We seek research assistants who can use open source large language models such as Llama and Gemma to control fluid dynamics simulations in the OpenFOAM software. The idea is to built an agent that can use queries from a user, for a particular simulation, to automate the meshing, solution, debugging, and visualization procedure.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 1

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Professor Romit Maulik rmaulik@purdue.edu

Experience: Machine Learning-Based Adaptive Experimental Design of Compostable TPS Filament

Description: This summer research program investigates the design-processing-performance relationships of compostable thermoplastic starch (TPS) filaments for fused-deposition modeling (FDM). Participants will (i) formulate TPS systems with controlled plasticizer and additive contents; (ii) fabricate filaments via gelatinization and benchtop extrusion; (iii) quantify printability and resulting structure-property metrics (diameter tolerance, porosity, tensile properties, moisture uptake); and (iv) integrate these data into an adaptive experimental design workflow. The workflow employs machine learning and Bayesian optimization to efficiently explore high-dimensional formulation and printing parameter spaces and to identify Pareto-optimal settings that maximize mechanical performance and print quality subject to compostability constraints. Students will receive training in EHS procedures, TPS processing, FDM process characterization, mechanical testing, data curation, and reproducible analysis in Python. Anticipated outcomes include a curated open dataset, validated surrogate models, “plug-and-print” parameter cards, and a conference poster or draft manuscript. The project is suited to students with interests in sustainable polymers, additive manufacturing, optimization, and data-driven materials discovery.

Campus: Indianapolis

Number of Students Needed: 2

This experience will occur: June, July, August

Send resumes to: Associate Professor Andres Tovar tovara@purdue.edu

Experience: Efficient and sustainable water technology

Description: Water and energy are tightly linked resources that must both become renewable for a successful future. However, today, water and energy resources are often in conflict with one another, especially related to impacts on electric grids. Further, advances in nanotechnology, material science and artificial intelligence allow for new avenues to improve the widespread implementation of desalination and water purification technology. Our lab’s project aims to explore nanofabricated membranes, light-driven reactions, artificial intelligence control algorithms, and thermodynamic optimization of systems. Our projects include hybrids of reverse osmosis desalination with renewable energy (solar, wind, and hydro), as well as other topics such as filtration, water treatment, and water vapor harvesting. The student(s) will be responsible for fabricating membranes, building hydraulic systems, modeling thermal fluid phenomenon, analyzing data, and/or implementing control strategies in novel system configurations. The lab also works on separation processes for water in air, including HVAC dehumidification and removing aerosols. More information here: www.warsinger.com

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 3

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: PhD Student Sudharshan Anandan sanandan@purdue.edu

Experience: Host-Guest Interaction to Enable Stable Redox Flow Batteries

Description: Redox flow battery is a highly scalable stationary energy storage solution to enhance the stability, resilience, and cost-effective performance of our power grid. However, the long-term stable practice of redox flow battery is often compromised by the irreversible cross-permeation of energy-bearing materials. In this project, we aim to exploit host-guest interactions to retain these materials via competition with the cross-permeation that is caused by insufficient repulsive Donnan exclusion. The host molecules will form strong binding forces with the energy-bearing molecules leading to coordination structures that have decreased permeation rates.

Campus: Indianapolis

Number of Students Needed: 1

This experience will occur: June, July

Send resumes to: Assistant Professor Xiaoliang weiwei304@purdue.edu

Experience: microfluidic manipulation of biological samples

Description: This project involves the following components: 1. design, fabricate and testing microfluidic devices using engineering princinples; 2. integrate microfluidic device with electronics for signal collection and processing using machine learning and programming 3. tailor the microfluidics and electronics for specific biomedical application

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 2

This experience will occur: June, July, August

Send resumes to: Professor Li Zhan lizhan@purdue.edu

Experience: cryogenic preservation of living biological systems

Description: This project aims at developiong novel technologies to cryopreserve living biological samples and involves the following: 1. design, fabricate and test microfluidic device for automonous manipulation of liquid 2. develop fast cooling and rewarming methods using liquid nitrogen 3. validation of the design with biological samples

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 2

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Professor Li Zhan lizhan@purdue.edu

Experience: The effects of fitness, exercise, and menstrual cycle on cognition and emotion

Description: The Physical Activity and NeuroCognitive Health (PANCH) lab is conducting a research project to investigate the effects of menstrual cycle on cognition and emotion and how fitness and exercise can improve the premenstrual cognitive and emotion symptoms. Specifically, this project includes three laboratory visits. The visit one includes collecting data about female participants’ demographic information, physical activity experiences (i.e., sport, exercise), and aerobic fitness. The visits 2 and 3 will be scheduled during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle for participants to complete a blood draw to verify their hormone levels and a battery of computerized task to assess emotion, cognition, and associated brain activation using electroencephalogram (EEG) before and after a single session of 20-min aerobic. The goal of this project is to determine the potential protective effects of fitness and exercise against menstrual-related functional changes in cognition and emotion. Our lab utilizes a multidisciplinary approach combining kinesiology, psychology, neuroscience, and physiology to better understand how we can use exercise as a strategy to optimize women’s mental health. Students will have opportunities to learn skills, including but not limited to: (1) administer exercise/resting metabolic test (i.e., VO2max), (2) assess cognitive function and brain activities using an EEG system, (3) deliver different modes of exercise interventions, (4) perform data reduction and statistical analysis, (5) present research findings in research conferences, (6) recruit and interact with research participants, and (7) collaborate with a group of research personnel.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 1

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Associate Professor Alvin kaokao28@purdue.edu

Experience: Using Arts and reflection for youth and adults' mental health and wellbeing

Description: The project aims to offer a series of 4 art-based painting/craft sessions for youth and adults from our underserved/minority groups to engage and help them cope with their daily stressors and trauma promoting healing and well-being in the Daviess County, Washington, IN. Students will be engaged in recruitment activities such as making flyers and posters, data collection-developing surveys, and assisting in developing art activities, and for dissemination such as developing posters, infographics, and paper for publication.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 1-2

This experience will occur: May, June

Send resumes to: Assistant Professor Nasreen Lalani lalanin@purdue.edu

Experience: Foot Circulation Health in Type 2 Diabetes: Exploring How Heat and Gravity Affect Skin Blood Flow

Description: This summer, our research will explore how local warming and body position affect blood flow in the feet of people with type 2 diabetes. Using non-invasive sensors, we will compare circulation between the dorsal (top) and plantar (bottom) surfaces of the foot and study how changes in body tilt—mimicking different gravitational conditions—impact sympathetic and vasomotor control of the skin microcirculation. Understanding these mechanisms is clinically important because diabetic foot ulcers, which are a leading cause of hospitalization and amputation, often develop on the plantar surface where microvascular regulation is most impaired. By characterizing these site-specific and gravity-related responses, students will help identify physiological factors that could inform new warming-based strategies to enhance foot perfusion and prevent ulceration in diabetes. Students will gain practical experience in human physiology research, including participant testing, data collection (laser Doppler flowmetry, temperature sensors), and data analysis—while contributing to translational work with clear clinical significance.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: Two

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Dr. Bruno Tesini Roseguini brosegui@purdue.edu

Experience: computational social science research on science, technology and AI

Description: Hi there! I’m Likun, an assistant professor of sociology and a computational social scientist at Purdue University, West Lafayette. My research explores the social and political forces that shape how we think and produce knowledge—particularly in science and technology—and how emerging forms of knowledge, such as artificial intelligence, transform our social world. We are seeking a research assistant with strong coding and writing skills to help collect and analyze data, prepare manuscripts, and collaborate with graduate students on virtual experiments. This opportunity is ideal for those planning to apply to graduate programs in sociology or computational social science, or interested in pursuing a career as a data scientist. The position also offers continued involvement in our projects for those who wish to deepen their engagement and gain further research training.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 1-2

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Assitant Professor Likun Cao lkcao@purdue.edu

Experience: Resource allocation to mitochondria at slow growth rates in automated culturing devices

Description: As cells grow faster, they need more ATP to meet their increasing biosynthetic demands. It is thus expected that faster-growing cells more heavily depend on mitochondria and invest more into their biosynthesis. However, we've observed that when growth rate is modulated by varying the quality of the carbon source (e.g., glucose, glycerol, acetate), mitochondria are larger (more resources are invested into mitochondria). To further test this seemingly counterintuitive observation, we will vary the growth rate by adjusting the dilution rate in a chemostat while keeping the carbon source unchanged. This approach will allow us to achieve very low growth rates. The project has two goals: (1) Technical: The design of new or the customization of existing DIY and low-cost devices for continuous culturing at physiological steady states, and (2) Biological: The probing of the physiology and proteome allocation to mitochondria at low growth rates in physiologically contrasting yeast species. The ideal candidate will have basic knowledge and/or experience in Python programming, microcontrollers, and 3D printing, as well as an interest in investigating the physiology and cell biology of mitochondria.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 1

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Dr. Sergio Munoz-Gomez samunozg@purdue.edu

Experience: Aquatic disease ecology

Description: Research in the Searle lab focuses on the ecology of infectious diseases in freshwater systems using a combination of field surveys and experiments. Our primary hosts systems are freshwater zooplankton (Daphnia) and amphibians. These complementary systems allow us to investigate a wide range of ecological questions and mechanisms. For this research experience, the selected student will work with either amphibians or Daphnia to assist with projects that advance the understanding of infectious disease in natural systems.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 1

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Dr. Catherine Searle searlec@purdue.edu

Experience: Identifying new drugs for the treatment of spinal cord injuey

Description: In this project, the student will use zebrafish larvae to study the effects of drug candidates on the regeneration of the spinal cord following injury. Behavioral swimming assays will be used to investigate functional recovery, whereas imaging will be employed to assess axonal regeneration.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 1

This experience will occur: June, July

Send resumes to: Professor Daniel Suter dsuter@purdue.edu

Experience: Atomic visualization of engineered quantum defects in hBN

Description: This project will focus on developing nano-devices compatible with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to reveal the structure-property relationship of engineered spin defects in hBN, which has shown great promises as single photon emitter and spin qubit for quantum information science. The student will gain experience working on isolation and assembly of two-dimensional materials, and develop new nano structures based on the lab's existing expertise to create, engineer, and characterize single atomic defects in hBN. The student will also have opportunity to learn skills such as ultra-high vacuum, material deposition, and electrical characterization, which are essential skillsets for semiconductor fabrication.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 1

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Assistant Professor Tiancong Zhu zhu1242@purdue.edu

Experience: Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (UTA) for HONR 12000

Description: The Honors College is seeking up to two Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (UTAs) for HONR 12000, Introduction to Research during summer 2026. Primary responsibilities include evaluation of work (grading) and the facilitation of office hours. Depending upon students' course schedule, they may be also asked to attend lectures of HONR 12000.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 1

This experience will occur: June, July , August

Send resumes to: Chief of Staff Catharine Patronecpatrone@purdue.edu

Experience: OUR Scholars Extension

Description: The Office of Undergraduate Research is offering a limited number of summer scholarships for either outgoing or incoming OUR Scholars. If selected, you will work with your research mentor to continue research or begin a new research experience. AVAILABLE TO BOTH WEST LAFAYETTE AND INDIANAPOLIS STUDENTS For more details, please go to: https://www.purdue.edu/undergrad-research/students/OUR-Scholars.php#SummerScholarship

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 10

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Lead Administrative Assistant Angie Welshimer aseldrid@purdue.edu

Experience: Large-Scale Modeling of the U.S. Western Interconnection: From Individual Generation Units to System-Wide Dynamics

Description: We will develop a bottom-up modeling framework targeting the U.S. Western Interconnection power system. Building upon the existing modeling foundation of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) 240-bus system, we will construct detailed models of inverter-based resources, synchronous generators, synchronous condensers, network sections, and loads to establish an expanded and comprehensive model library. An assembly framework will be created to integrate a large number of modular model units, enabling the development of a system-level large-scale simulation platform. The derived system model will support a range of analytical applications, including inter-area oscillation analysis, regional inertia estimation, and other system-level dynamic studies. In addition, emerging and high-impact topics, including data center modeling and its influence on grid dynamics, will be incorporated into the proposed framework.

Campus: West Lafayette

Number of Students Needed: 2 to 3

This experience will occur: May, June, July, August

Send resumes to: Associate Professor Xiaonan Lu lu998@purdue.edu