HomeEfficient and sustainable water technology DUIRI - Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship Spring 2026 Accepted Global Sustainability 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, catalytic destruction of hazardous chemicals like PFAS, 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. More information here: www.warsinger.com David E M Warsinger All students will be required to read relevant, peer-reviewed literature and keep a notebook or log of weekly research progress. At the end of the semester or term, each student will present a talk or poster on their results. Student efforts will contribute data, graphics, and efforts towards scientific publications. www.warsinger.com Applicants should have an interest in thermodynamics, water treatment, and sustainability. Applicants with experience in some (not all) of the following are preferred: experimental design and prototyping, manufacturing, Python, LabView, EES, MATLAB, 3D CAD Software, & Adobe Illustrator. Rising Juniors and Seniors are preferred. 3 12 (estimated)