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Undergraduates and urop students
Undergraduate Students
1. Eileen M. Denz, Marian Sarah Parker Scholar, fall of
2004
Design of a Mars Anemometer
Eileen is optimizing the geometry of a novel Mars anemometer. If time allows,
she will also conduct laboratory tests of the sensor prototype. The work was
just initiated, so there are no results yet.
2. Drew Buikema, REU Fellow, summer of 2004
Design
of an Eddy Correlation System
Drew assembled and tested a series of atmospheric sensors for eddy
correlation measurements of the flux of heat, dust, and water vapor.
In addition, he designed, assembled and tested the data acquisition system.
The eddy correlation instruments are now being installed in our mobile
laboratory and will be ready for a field campaign in the spring of 2005.
3. Elliot Hernandez, NASA/SHARP Fellow (High School),
summer of 2004
Determination of Soil Particle Composition and Size
Distribution
Elliot studied the mineralogical composition and size distribution
of soil particles from the MATADOR experimental site in order to determine
the radiative properties of the suspended dust. His research will support
the design of a single column model of convective plumes and vortices.
The model will be used to study feedbacks between atmospheric convection
and solar radiation observed during the MATADOR field campaign.
4. Shannon Marie Michaels, REU Fellow, summer of 2004
Design
of a Mars Anemometer
Shannon studied the flow around the sensor of a novel Mars anemometer
being developed by my research group. Her goal was to determine the sensor
geometry and to study the flow over its sensing elements using Fluent
Software. Shannon was able to come up with a prototype design that produces
unambiguous three-dimensional wind measurements. Another student (Eileen
Denz) is currently optimizing the sensor design.
5. Anna Paulson, NASA/JPL Grant, fall 2002 to summer
2004
Multidisciplinary Engineering Design
Anna assisted in the development of the vision, course material,
and laboratory facilities for a pilot a multidisciplinary engineering
design course (ENG 450). In addition she carried out a comparative
analysis of various system engineering training programs and tools.
Anna’s research will be used to develop
the curriculum for a system engineering concentration at the College of Engineering.
This past summer Anna Paulson participated of two trips to NASA/JPL to discuss
projects for ENG 450. Anna and a few other students gave presentations on ENG
450 and participated of discussions with Al Diaz (NASA/GSFC director), Charles
Elachi (NASA/JPL director), and John LaFond (Ford Chief Engineer). The feedbacks
that I got from our sponsors were all excellent. The student did a terrific
job in representing the UM and our educational activities. Six ENG 450 students
were offered jobs at JPL. In addition, JPL has been actively recruiting Anna
Paulson.
6. Kevin Vermeesch, REU Fellow at the UMBS, summer
2004
Lake-Breeze Circulation at the UMBS
Kevin analyzed meteorological data to determine how lake-breeze
circulations affect the fluxes of trace species in the PROPHET site.
He found that lake-breeze circulations frequently occur on the site.
The next step of this study will be the quantification of their effect
on the fluxes of trace species. Kevin is currently working with me
on a follow up study.
7. Matthew Shoemaker, NASA Space Grant Fellow, spring-summer
of 2004
Martian Dust Devils
Matt analyzed images of dust devil tracks taken by the Mars Orbital
Camera to test various hypotheses regarding their formation. Tracks
were correlated with elevation data from the Mars Laser Altimeter,
and thermal inertia data from the Thermal Emission Spectrometer. Matt
found that dust devil formation generally follows a model of vortex
formation involving boundaries between cooler and warmer air, where
ascending warmer air creates the necessary vorticity and lifting. He
found that topographical features, such as hills and ridgelines are
sources of large numbers of dust devils. Matthew’s paper with me
was the feature article of the 2004 Michigan NASA Space Grant Symposium.
8. Heather Nicole Phillips, Marian Sarah Parker Scholar,
fall of 2003
Martian Dust Storms
Heather analyzed data from Martian dust storm formation to address
several questions regarding their genesis and evolution: How does the
temperature structure of regions which incubate dust events differ
from nearby regions? Do topographical features increase storm intensity
by increasing the thickness of convective layers (thermodynamic efficiency)
and horizontal temperature gradients (heat input)? Heather was able
to shed light on the answer to some of these questions.
9. Lucas Fabian, REU Fellow, summer of 2003
Electrification
of Colliding Dust Particles
Lucas conducted laboratory experiments on the electrification of
colliding dust particles. He showed that particle collisions can
produce strong electrification and non-thermal microwave emission. Lucas
is now working with me as a Ph.D. student.10. ME 450 Student Team 1:
Storm Detectors, spring 2003 (Team Members: Kazuki Shiozawa, Sean Whitney,
Ganesh Kartha, and Neha Kansal)
Optimal Velocimeter Position for Mars
Lander
This group of students determined the appropriate height and optimum
geometry of the mast for an optical velocimeter for NASA’s 2007 Mars Lander. Their
main goal was to protect the sensors from the turbulent flow which surrounds
the Lander during strong winds. They achieved this goal by conducting numerical
simulations using the Fluent Software and laboratory experiments in the Aerospace
Engineering wind tunnel.
UROP Students
11. Aimee Ann Covert, 2004-2005 academic year
Mars
Data Analysis
To be defined.
12. Amanda Montalvo, 2004-2005 academic year
Mars Data
Analysis
To be defined.
13. Drhuv Sarna, 2004-2005 academic year
Mars Data
Analysis
Drhuv is starting to work on laboratory experiments of non-thermal
microwave emission by colliding dust particles under Martian conditions.
14. Loy Xing Tai, 2004-2005 academic year
Spacecraft
Entry, Descent and Landing on Mars
Loy is starting to investigate the effects of a dust plume formed
by rocket exhaust during landing on the instruments of NASA’s 2007 Mars Lander.
15. David E Ault, 2003-2004 academic year
Laboratory
Vortex Simulator
David worked on the preliminary design of a laboratory vortex simulator.
He did not finish his project.
16. Katherine Green, 2003-2004 academic year
Development
of a Broadband Microwave Radiometer
Kate worked with two other students and an engineer on the fabrication
of a broadband radiometer for the detection of non-thermal microwave
emission by colliding dust particles. A prototype sensor was fabricated
and is currently being used in laboratory experiments.
17. Elizabeth Nicole Kinney, 2003-2004 academic year
Development
of a Broadband Microwave Radiometer
Beth worked with two other students and an engineer on the fabrication
of a broadband radiometer for the detection of non-thermal microwave
emission by colliding dust particles. A prototype sensor was fabricated
and is currently being used in laboratory experiments.
18. Tess McEnulty, 2003-2004 academic year
Development
of a Broadband Microwave Radiometer
Tess worked with two other students and an engineer on the fabrication
of a broadband radiometer for the detection of non-thermal microwave
emission by colliding dust particles. A prototype sensor was fabricated
and is currently being used in our laboratory.
19. Joseph L. Allen, 2002-2003 academic year
Phoenix
Atmospheric Science
Joe worked on conceptual ideas for in-situ atmospheric measurements
on Mars. He spent the entire internship studying previous measurements.
20. Ayush Agarwal, 2002-2003 academic year
Image analysis
through human input in an interactive gaming environment Combination
of human input and the processing power of computers can lead to efficient
image analysis techniques. Ayush worked on the conceptual design of an
image analysis system using an interactive gaming environment.
21. Drew Buikema, 2002-2002 academic year
Dust Storm
Electrification
Drew worked with another student on the development of a conceptual
model of the electrification of colliding dust particle. Drew is still
working informally with me on the development of the model.
22. Elliot Lee, 2002-2003 academic year
Dust Storm
Electrification
Elliot worked with another student on the development of a conceptual
model of the electrification of colliding dust particle.
23. Morgan Chan Che Ming, 2002-2003 academic year
Dust
Storm Electrification
Morgan studied the possibility of using glow discharges in Martian
dust devils and dust storms for spectroscopy. The study was inconclusive.
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