Related to organizational behavior and human resource management, several ongoing research projects. Students will be involved in various aspects of the project, including design, data collection, and analysis.
All Research Opportunities
Advanced Composite Materials in Extreme Environment
Composite materials are commonly employed in modern aircraft structures and in many aerospace applications like engine casing, fan-blades, etc. This is attributed to their high strength-weight ratio and high stiffness-weight ratio, making composites extremely light, yet exceptionally strong. However, the use of composites makes them susceptible to damage, which could result in complex failure mechanisms like delamination, matrix cracking, fiber debonding, fiber fracture, etc.
Time, Money & Health Decision Making Model Education
The researchers use time, money and health as the basic individual/family resources to education university community to rethink the resources and survive the pandemic period.
Personal Growth & Methods Lab
The Personal Growth & Methods Lab engages in various projects related to one of three areas: personal growth, international student well-being, and data collection methodology. We are currently recruiting students to assist with projects related to the relationships among gender, empowerment, and personal growth.
Serenity in the Garden – A Local Pilot-Study Utilizing Applied Qualitative Sociology to Improve Social, Environmental, and Food Justice for Incarcerated Women and Their Communities
The aim of this local pilot-study is to further develop and qualitatively assess an educational gardening program for incarcerated women in Northeast Ohio. This is part of a larger project that started in Spring of 2019 and will continue until 2021.
Enterprise Holding Foundation and University of Akron Joint Service Learning Project
This service-learning project will be conducted by The University of Akron coordinators of Service-Learning and will work with the local Enterprise branch and local United Ways.
Next generation nanocomposites based on 2D polymers and 2D inorganic materials
Graphene, boron nitride, dichalcogenides and other inorganic 2D layered materials (2DLM) have atomically thin structure with unique electrical, mechanical, thermal, and optical properties, and have already been extensively explored for electronics, sensing, catalysis and biomedical applications. On the other hand, in the polymer world, there is an emerging class of 2D polymers with analog structure to 2D layered materials.
Electrochemical sensors for microbial activities in benthic sediments: a sentry for lacustrine P biogeochemistry
Release of phosphate-P immobilized in benthic sediments poses a remnant threat to induce harmful algal blooms (HAB) despite adequate management of external loads of phosphate. This process, referred to as internal loading of P, is induced by microbially mediated alternations of sediment and porewater chemistry and bacteria that “breath” iron are mostly responsible for controlling the release of P from sediments. We have developed an electrochemical split-chamber zero resistance ammetry (SC-ZRA) technique that we can use to detect microbiological activities.
Returning citizen’s perceptions and experiences with healthcare and interpersonal violence while in prison: A qualitative study of former female inmates.
The goal of this project is to document the perceptions and experiences with health, health care and interpersonal violence among female former prison inmates. Successful reentry of former inmates into society remains an important goal for community, healthcare, and criminal justice professionals. An important component of reintegration is assessing health, health care and interpersonal violence experiences among inmates during and after release from prison.
Promoting Success and Wellbeing at the University of Akron: A Three-Year Repeated Cross-Sectional Study Examining the activities and mental health of students, faculty and staff
This study will collect and analyze data on the experiences of our campus community, focusing on mental health, well-being, and how these affect student’s academic performance and persistence. Online surveys will be conducted in the fall semesters for three years (2019-2021) on a sample of students, faculty and staff. The 2019 student survey has completed. Data are ready for analysis.
Rheological Dynamics of Liquid Crystals under Thermal Gradients
Our group has developed a rheological apparatus capable of sustaining spatial thermal gradients in shear rheometry. It is hypothesized that orthogonally superimposed thermal fields will produce linear, field-averaged rheological responses up to a threshold where anomalous, thermo-rheological dissipative phenomena will occur. The molecular influence of heat flow, especially at reduced dimensions, is from entropy production.
Synthesis and Characterization of (Potentially Novel) Elastomeric Compounds
Our group has recently discovered a material system that potentially may have elastomeric properties. The Internation Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) defines an elastomer as a polymer that displays rubber-like elasticity, i.e. high viscoelasticity with weak intermolecular forces. We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious student to assist us in exploring this material system for its potential elastomeric properties and to help us elucidate the rational design of such a material system through characterization of the material properties of various molecular constructs.
Productive Uncertainty in a Laboratory Setting (PULSe): Engaging Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Scientific Research
Peer mentors/research assistants are sought for the PULSe program. Those with ASD have particular modes of thinking and learning that is outside the realm of standard pedagogical practices. In the proper environment, these modes may help those with ASD to flourish. However, they are normally disadvantaged in basic learning environments. Academia is not wholly equipped to instill and help develop the necessary tools for ASD students to effectively function in society. Our aim is to bridge the learning gap.
Rheological Dynamics of Cellulose Nanocrystal Suspensions under Thermal Gradients
Our group has developed a rheological apparatus capable of sustaining spatial thermal gradients in shear rheometry. It is hypothesized that orthogonally superimposed thermal fields will produce linear, field-averaged rheological responses up to a threshold where anomalous, thermo-rheological dissipative phenomena will occur. The molecular influence of heat flow, especially at reduced dimensions, is from entropy production. Translational and orientational motions evolve as a molecular compensation mechanism.
Microfluidic Reactor Design for Helicene Synthesis
Helicenes are polycyclic aromatic compounds which are formed by ortho-fused aromatic rings that generate a non-planar, screw-shaped, three-dimensional structure that is inherently chiral and spring-like. The helical topology significantly contributes to the emergent properties of helicenes and has been garnering interest in the fields of nanotechnology, macromolecular and materials science.
Effect of nano-confinement on the thermodynamics of ionic liquids
Ionic liquids (ILs) are defined as salts that melt at or below 373 K. A typical IL is composed of a bulky organic cation and an inorganic or organic anion. As a group, many ILs tend to be miscible with many organic solvents. They show low vapor pressure, high viscosity and low degree of toxicity. At low temperatures ILs do not crystallize; instead, they form a glassy phase, while at high temperatures they flow with high viscosity, which is due to the strong electrostatic interactions between cations and anions.
Recycling, Regeneration, and Reusing Energy Materials
Manufacturing new energy systems such as fuel cells, batteries, wind turbines, photovoltaic cells, and catalytic reactors require materials that may be (1) precious, (2) rare on the earth, (3) not available or easily accessible in the United States, and/or (4) harmful for environment. Therefore, recycling (separation and reusing) energy materials is important.
Early Modern Recipes Online Collective (EMROC)
The Early Modern Recipes Online Collective (EMROC) is a long-term project looks to include scholars, students and the general public in the preservation, transcription and analysis of recipes written in English from circa 1550-1800. The ultimate goal is an accessible and searchable corpus of recipe books currently in manuscript.
Experiment and Computer-Aided Design of Corrosion Inhibitors
This project looks to design new corrosion inhibitors through experimentation and computer-aided design. The undergraduate student will work with a graduate student, assisting them in performing experiments on various systems and in the computer-aided design aspects of the project.
Universal compatibilizers for plastic waste recycling
Plastic waste recycling is plagued by imperfect sorting processes which leaves recycling feeds contaminated with polymers of different molecular composition. These blends have thermodynamic driving forces to phase separate and entropic forces which produce weak interfaces between the materials.
Effects of Professional Development with Head Start Teachers
Study is to investigate the effect of professional development participation on Head Start teachers’ growth related to Phonemic Awareness (PA) instructional knowledge and skills.
Effects of soluble salts on the failure of polymer coatings
This project aims to investigate the effect of soluble salts on the failure of coatings. The corrosion resistance and adhesion of the coating will be studied to understand the influence of soluble salts.
The influence of organic pigments on coating properties
This project aims to investigate the effect of pigments on the properties of coatings. The high-performance pigments are expected to improve the coating’s corrosion resistance and UV stability.
Bio-based coating development from renewable resources
This project aims to develop a new biobased coating from substaniable resources. The coating is expected to be comparable to the petroleum based coating.
Non-isocyanate polyurethane coating development
This project aims to develop a new approach to generate polyurethane coating without using isocyanates, which are very toxic materials. The non-isocyanate polyurethane is expected to behave similar to the traditional isocyanate-based polyurethane.
“Cool” coating development
This project aims to develop a “cool” coating by invorporating inorganic pigments that reflect near-infrared radiation (NIR) into a commercial coating matrix.
Interviewing former FES students to document their learning successes; enhancing the undergraduate learning environment; increasing transparency and opportunity in applied undergraduate learning experiences
Psychotherapy process and outcome variables; Applied psychology experiences; Undergraduate student success; Infusing diversity and social justice material into classrooms.
Emotions and Aging
Lab study administration
Looking for a few good students to work on a research project. We need some dedicated students to help administer a lab study that we hope to run soon.
Feedback and Performance Management
General Research Interest: I/O Psychology. Current Undergraduate Opportunities: Data Collection, Data coding, Data cleaning, Experimental Facilitating.
Career development of STEM women, positive psychology variables that impact career development of community college students, measure development of career constructs
Research program focuses primarily on career development with a particular interest in the ways in which culture and social identities influence interests, choices, leadership, and educational and career outcomes.
Defined Lines qualitative research project
Compiling and summarizing literature & data entry, time commitment: 1-2 hours a week. Current Number of Openings: 1
Motivation and Emotion at Work
Understanding Motivation and Emotions in Call Center Work (Laboratory Simulation; Field Research at a Call Center Organization). Current Undergraduate Opportunities: Assisting in all phases of the research process.
Ageism, minority stress
Examining the relationship between benevolent ageism and gender on mental health outcomes in older adults; how minority stress (outness and internalized homophobia) in same-sex couples influences sexual and relationship satisfaction; how to teach about diversity topics at the college level; experiences of discrimination and acculturation in a lifespan sample of Bhutanese refugees.
Nineteenth-Century Ohio Literature
We are preparing and publishing scholarly editions of texts found in nineteenth-century Ohio magazines and newspapers. Volumes are published electronically and in print.
Microbial Corrosion Monitor
There are over 300,000 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline in the US (Pipeline 101 see web addresses; P&GJ paper 2016). To meet the growing need to transport shale gas in the US, approximately 3,400 miles of new gas pipeline were constructed in 2015-2017 (ferc.gov), and that trend is likely to continue, as the US continues to develop as a major natural gas and petroleum exporter.
Biomass-based Fillers for Polymers
Pyrolyzed (process of low or no oxygen thermal decomposition –carbonization- to convert biomass into clean and renewable carbon products) biomass obtained from agricultural products such as soybean hulls, sorghum etc., is used as a renewable, low cost and eco-friendly material which has large potential for reinforcement or functionality-inducing (such as electrical, thermal conductivity) filler for polymeric materials.
Tunning Fluorescence through Controlling Intramolecular distance between AIE groups within Metal-Organic Cages
Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has received great attention since AIE makes it possible to actively utilize the aggregation process, which against the well-known aggregation-caused quench (ACQ).
Origins of Life: Synthesis of RNA polymer from prebiotically relevant molecules
The Earth is about 4.56 billion years old and the earliest evidence of life is at approximately 3.8 billion years ago. How life originated from a planet composed of only minerals, dissolved elements, and simple organic molecules is one of the great questions of scientific inquiry. Life requires complex biomolecules, such as proteins, RNA and DNA, to maintain a cell and for reproduction.
Photolytically degradable, hydrolytically degradable, and chemically recyclable commodity plastics
“White pollution” is a problem of massive scale. To replace the current nondegradable commodity plastics with degradable plastics, a key challenge is that the new raw materials must be readily available at costs comparable to current monomers such as ethylene and propylene. Low-carbon footprint is highly desirable for these raw materials in order to achieve overall environmental sustainability.
“Smart” degradable polymers: polymers with locked degradability that can be unlocked on demand
Synthetic degradable polymers are of pivotal importance for recycling and sustainability. While the degradability allows polymers to be recycled, it can also cause stability issue, which impairs the storage and functioning of materials.
3D printed battery components
The project will focus on the 3D printed polymer electrolyte and related lithium ion battery components.
Mechanochemistry of a helical metal-ligand complex
Mechanical stress is ubiquitously present in materials and biological systems, and the force-induced bond scission and materials failure have been extensively studied. In recent years, utilizing mechanical force to do targeted and constructive chemistry, largely fueled by the concept of mechanophore, i.e., stress-responsive moiety, has become a new trend.
Modeling of Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interaction in Hypersonic Flight
Interaction of shock wave with boundary layer (SWBL) cause possible formation of recirculation zone and larger-scale zone of influence upstream and downstream of the point of the incident shock wave. These aerodynamic phenomena affect the shear and pressure forces acting on the surface, aerodynamic resistance and aerodynamic heating of propulsive systems and supersonic air vehicles.