Several students affiliated with Purdue Polytechnic earned the prestigious honor of "High Distinction" at the recent Purdue Fall Undergraduate Research Expo, recognizing their scholarly work and innovative endeavors.
The expo is a campus-wide event where undergraduate researchers present their projects to the public and are evaluated by an independent panel. The "High Distinction" designation highlights the top tier of presentations among students from West Lafayette and Indianapolis.
Three Purdue Polytechnic students were recognized for their projects:
- Haneul "Sky" Kim, mechatronics engineering technology: "Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitor Fabrication Optimization with Statistical Process Control." Kim was mentored by faculty members Zhihong Chen and Joerg Appenzeller.
- Ronan Lang, aeronautical engineering technology: "Developing Experiential Learning for Aviation Maintenance Technicians," mentored by Manoj Patankar.
- Tran Nguyet Anh An, user experience design: "Chekhov's Literal and Cultural Legacy in Vietnam," mentored by Olga Lyanda-Geller.
In addition to Polytechnic students, the college's faculty played a significant role in mentoring high-achieving students from other colleges across the university. Lisa Bosman, an associate professor of technology leadership and innovation, mentored two students from the College of Engineering who also earned High Distinction honors.
Bosman's mentees were Ava Samuel, a mechanical engineering student, who presented on immersive virtual reality in STEM education, and Prachet Sowale, an aeronautical and astronautical engineering student, who presented on scaffolding in project-based learning. Both Samuel and Sowale are also members of the John Martinson Honors College.
Justin Yang, the Polytechnic's associate dean for research, noted that these accolades propel the career trajectories of the college's high-achieving students.
Participation in undergraduate research has been shown to have tangible benefits for student success. According to data shared by the Office of Undergraduate Research, research involvement can lead to a 23 percent increase in academic performance and a 33 percent increase in retention. Furthermore, nearly 70 percent of undergraduate researchers indicate that the experience helped them decide on a potential career path.
Additional information
