NJIT's 11th International Undergraduate Research Symposium

Plants that absorb pernicious pollutants from the air itself? Ujjwala Rai ’19, a chemical engineering major, has spent the summer studying bacteria found in the root systems of plants that can remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), industrial compounds emitted by ubiquitous products such as paints and fuels, into the atmosphere. To better understand how these bacteria can thrive in a variety of soil-less media, she has worked closely with professors from the College of Architecture and Design (CoAD) and the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Anthony Yacoub ’19, an industrial design major, tapped the expertise and guidance of professors from the Department of Physics and CoAD to develop a collaborative robotic fleet capable of cave exploration, urban rescue and disaster relief. His team adapted their design as a real-time drama – the complex cave rescue of a youth soccer team in Thailand – unfolded.

Rai and Yacoub are just two of the nearly 140 students working with NJIT professors in labs this summer; the majority are presenting their research at NJIT’s 11th International Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium, a showcase jam-packed with applied research across more than a dozen sectors.

“This summer, many student groups focused their research on developing healthcare technologies to either advance our understanding or address unmet needs, including devices and therapies for critical diseases such as diabetes, autism, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Brain health and drug interactions were also popular research areas,” notes Atam Dhawan, senior vice provost for research. “In addition, several projects addressed sustainability across sectors, from energy, to water, to the environment, while others explored challenges in data science and materials for diverse applications.” 

The campus community is invited to attend the symposium in the Campus Center, where 95 posters will be on display in two sessions.

Agenda

9:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.:      Poster Session 1

11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.:    Welcome Remarks, followed by networking and a light lunch

12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.:    Poster Session 2

2:30 p.m.:                        Closing Remarks