Summer STEM Research

Alisha Epps, Associate Professor of Psychology

Effects of Gut Microbiota in Depression and Social Behaviors
Depression is a serious mental health concern, impacting quality of life through effects on daily function, social interaction and stress-related impairments. The proposed research will determine if gut microbiota differences between two unique rodent models of depression and resilience are responsible for their differences in depression-related behavior and social interactions. This study will involve both behavioral testing and tissue/fecal sample analysis.

Accepting two students

David Schipf, Assistant Professor of Engineering & Physics

Simulation and Fabrication of Infrared Neural Networks
Deep learning, which uses digital electronic abstractions of the neural networks found in human brains, is now an effective and ubiquitous form of artificial intelligence (AI). This project will investigate optical neural networks (ONNs), which form a type of analog AI system that is designed by deep learning and performs image classification at the speed of light. Two students will be hired for the summer of 2025. One student will primarily write code in Python to design and simulate ONNs, while the other student will primarily perform free-space optical lab duties at the direction of the principal investigator.
 
Students from engineering, physics, chemistry, math and computer science are welcome to apply.
 
Accepting two students

Deanna Ojennus, Professor of Chemistry

Structural Investigation of Interesting Proteins by X-ray Crystallography
The Ojennus Lab is interested in the structure and function of various proteins and enzymes for medical, pharmaceutical and industrial applications. Students will learn how to express, purify and crystallize proteins for x-ray diffraction studies. Additional projects may include the investigation of a calcium-binding site in a PepX enzyme from Lb. helveticus that is required for activity and the complete enzyme detoxification of gluten in food and beverages.
 
Accepting two students. Part-time volunteers may also be considered.

Diana Schepens, Associate Professor of Mathematics & Computer Science

Quantitative Modeling of Molecular Shape Recognition 
Collaborating with Professor of Chemistry Kraig Wheeler

Project Description: This NSF-funded project is a collaborative effort involving the mathematics, computer science and chemistry disciplines to develop mathematical and chemical models for probing complex recognition profiles of small organic molecules.
 
Applicants should have basic coding skills – Python is preferred.
 
Accepting two students

Eric Davis, Professor of Chemistry

Instrumental Chemistry – Voltage Sweep Ion Mobility Spectrometry
Voltage-sweep IMS will be investigated towards its application in security environments by improving the separation and resolution of IMS. Work will include experience with both IMS and Mass Spectrometry methods and will involve travel to a collaborator's laboratory at WSU. In this research, students will select from among three primary projects: 1) determining the kinetic profile of pulsed Electrospray Ionization, 2) development of pulsed Electrospray ionization in IMS, and 3) development of a Voltage Sweep IMS method using high voltage amplifiers. Students in this lab may expect to learn basic chemical instrumentation, soldering, 3D printing, and basic circuit design and will utilize chemical laboratory skills (especially dilution and quantitative techniques). All projects and any related travel are fully funded by the National Science Foundation.
 
Student pre-requisites: General Chemistry II (CH181) and Lab (CH181L)
 
Accepting three students

Kamesh Sankaran, Professor of Engineering & Physics

Plasma Acceleration in Pulsed Inductive Thrusters for Spacecraft Propulsion
Computationally predict the properties of plasma in a novel spacecraft propulsion system and compare the results with experimental measurements made at the University of Washington. This work involves applying physics, math and computer science to develop a new aerospace engineering technology.
 
Accepting two to three students

Kraig Wheeler, Professor of Chemistry

Targeted Structural Diversity and Assessments in Quasiracemates 
Collaborating with Associate Professor of Mathematics & Chemistry Diana Schepens
This work explores families of materials that align predictably in molecular crystals using the property of molecular shape. Students involved with this project can expect to receive hands-on experience with experimental work involving organic synthesis, crystal growth and various structure determination methods, including x-ray crystallography.
 
This project seeks motivated and committed students, ideally those with previous coursework in organic chemistry.
 
Accepting two students

Olivia Cope, Assistant Professor of Biology

Temporal Variability in Plant and Plant-Herbivore Ecology 
Plants, and the insect herbivores who eat them, make up the vast majority of life on Earth. This project aims to understand why insects choose to eat particular plants – is it the plants' genetic background? Their age or size? The tenderness of their leaves? We work outside in field plots in the Back 40 and around Spokane to collect insects, measure plants and collect tissue samples. We then process these samples in the lab, including identifying insects under the microscope. No prior research experience is needed, but students should have a genuine interest in ecology and a willingness to learn new things.
 
Accepting four students

Pete Tucker, Professor of Mathematics & Computer Science

Innovation Incubator Project Development
Come work on real technology projects to solve problems for real clients. You will be part of continuing Whitworth’s Innovation Incubator and working for members of the Spokane community. Accepted students will be building technology that supports local nonprofits or startup companies and working with those clients closely.
 
Accepting two students

Philip Measor, Associate Professor of Engineering & Physics

A 3D Printed Biosensor Microdevice
Come be a part of the Microdevices Lab at Whitworth. The Microdevices Lab is continuing its work on technology to miniaturize functions performed in an entire lab on a single chip. This is normally done using semiconductor processes (that require a cleanroom and are very expensive), but our lab utilizes micro-3D printing instead to reduce the cost and speed of manufacturing. The past few years we have shown we can make miniaturized PCR devices, microfluidic worm sorting devices and 3D printed waveguides (or pipes for light used in quantum computing schemes). This summer, we will be extending the work to explore how to make a 3D printed optofluidic biosensor combining both techniques (waveguides and microfluidics).
 
This project will support two student researchers where one position would ideally include an engineering or physics background and the other would require a chemistry or biology background. Come chat with Professor Measor or visit the webpage (microdevices.whitworth.edu) to learn more.
 
Accepting two students

Qian Mao, Assistant Professor of Mathematics & Computer Science

Learning Mechanism of the Neural Network for Internet Traffic Classification
We will be using deep learning networks to classify Internet traffic, such as http, email, streaming, malicious packets, etc. The research includes Internet traffic data collection, analyzing the learning mechanism of the neural networks, deep learning model implementation on Python and so on.
 
Accepting one student

Scott Griffith, Associate Professor of Mathematics & Computer Science

Development and Maintenance of Ecological Test Systems
We will be working on maintaining, updating and troubleshooting an existing distributed embedded system to control ecological experiment systems. Some work will be in physical system setup. Some work will be configuration of current system.
 
Major attention will be given to web development.
 
Most work will be done at Gonzaga University.
 
Accepting one student. This will be an eight-week position.