CEE SURE/SROP Projects 2024
Faculty Mentor: Jeremy Bricker (jeremydb@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In lab for setup and experiments. Analysis can be done in a hybrid manner, up to the student.
Prerequisites: Completed basic physics, statics/dynamics. Completed or taking fluid mechanics or similar course. Completion of mechanics of materials (solid/structural mechanics) is suggested but not required.
Project Description: This summer, we will be working on model-scale lab experiments of either flood-induced scour at road culverts or tsunami-induced damage to seawalls and breakwaters, depending on the progress of the PhD student working in the lab. The SURE student will assist the PhD student with whichever of these twoprojects is ongoing this summer. Summaries of these projects follows.
Road culvert scour: Water passing through road culverts can scour the earth on the downstream side of the culvert, posing a hazard to the road embankment itself, as well as negatively affecting the quality of the stream. The Federal Highway Administration and individual states have developed guidance about how large stone armour must be to prevent streambed scour during floods, and about how long the carpet of stone armour must extend downstream of the culvert exit. We are developing such guidance for the Ohio Department of Transportation, using scaled laboratory experiments to measure scour hole depths and observe stability of armour units.
Tsunami impact on seawalls and breakwaters: During the 2011 Japan tsunami, many seawalls and breakwaters failed because they were overflowed by the tsunami. We are developing design guidelines for seawalls and breakwaters to be resilient against tsunami overflow and impact. This requires laboratory experiments in a hydraulic open channel flume, where we measure forces, torques, and pressures applied on small-scale models of breakwaters and seawalls. We also run numerical simulations (Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD) to scale results up from laboratory to field size. UROP students will assist the PhD student setting up the laboratory models, take measurements in the laboratory, analyze laboratory data, and draft reports of their results. Students with significant computer programming experience can also be involved in running and analyzing CFD simulations.
For both projects, possible tasks include:
- Set up laboratory models in the open channel flume. Measure the setup to
ensure conformity with design of experiment. - Configure data acquisition system to measure pressure, force, and torque at
the desired timing and sensitivity. - Assist the PhD student by operating pumps and gates in the flume to create
flow simulating tsunami. - Set up sand bed and stone armour in the flume using shovels and rakes.
Measure stone and sand sizes using sieve analysis. Paint individual stone
armour units in order to track those stones as they are displaced. - Plot acquired data in Excel, Matlab, Python, or similar software, and process
data to remove outliers and errors. - Measure scour hole depths and armour unit displacement using a LIDAR
scanner and a high resolution video camera. - Post-process LIDAR and video images to determine initiation of scour and to
estimate the flow field. - Analyze results to compare with hydraulics and structural theory.
- Write a technical report to present the results. Also present results visually
and orally to research team. - Write a technical report to present the results. Also present results visually
and orally to research team.
Faculty Mentor: Evgueni Filipov (filipov@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In Lab
Project Description: Deployable structures that use the principles of origami could lead to applications in multiple scales and disciplines from biomedicine to space exploration. In architecture and civil engineering, reconfigurable facades could adapt to the environment, and rapidly deployable shelters and bridges could be used for disaster relief efforts. The objective of this project will be to explore how to scale up principles of origami for structural engineering applications. The student will first create an analytical model to study the motion and geometry of an origami-inspired deployable structure. Next, a laser cutter will be used to fabricate panels for a scaled prototype of the structure. These individual panels will then be interconnected with metallic or plastic hinges that allow for deployment and reconfiguration. The systems will be constructed to minimize the stowed volume while allowing for a reliable deployment that requires minimum force input. Time permitting, the student will conduct experimental testing to quantify the stiffness of different deployable systems.
Faculty Mentor: Alex Szczuka (aszczuka@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In lab
Project Description: Drinking water disinfection is one of the greatest public health achievements of the twentieth century. Disinfectants readily remove disease causing pathogens in our water, and help prevent millions of deaths from waterborne illnesses. However, when disinfectants are applied to water, disinfection byproducts, which are probable carcinogens, can form. While some classes of disinfection byproducts are regulated in drinking water, toxicologists have found that disinfection byproducts that are not regulated in drinking water can be orders of magnitude more toxic to cells than regulated disinfection byproducts. In this project, we will develop methods to detect both regulated and unregulated disinfection byproducts in water, and explore how treatment can lower both disinfection byproduct concentrations along with co-contaminants such as PFAS.
Faculty Mentor: Alex Szczuka (aszczuka@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In lab
Project Description: Pathogen inactivation is the cornerstone of safe drinking water provision. Typically, drinking water utilities apply chlorine-based disinfectants to inactivate pathogens in water. At the same time, water scarcity caused by climate change and increased water demands caused by increasing populations are leading utilities to turn to alternate sources of water, which are more difficult to treat to protect public health. In this project, we will probe how constituents of impaired waters affect disinfection efficiency, focusing on the impact of water salinization, and the potential for advanced treatment technologies to increase pathogen inactivation.
Faculty Mentor: Rachel O’Brien (reobrien@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In Lab
CEE Project description: Indoor and outdoor surfaces provide a location for heterogeneous or multi-phase chemical reactions that can have large impacts on air quality. At this point, we lack a detailed understanding of the types of chemicals and the features of the surfaces that are important. In this project, we will work on designing and building novel extractors that will let us collect these surface materials so that we can investigate what types of chemicals are most prevalent. This project will have some flexibility on the types of environments the student is interested in collecting samples from. Previous studies have looked at samples on surfaces like desks and windows as well as leaves of grass. Specific emission sources that contribute to these films can also be targeted like wildfire smoke and cooking emissions.
Faculty Mentor: Rachel O’Brien (reobrien@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In Lab
Project Description: Sunlight is an important source of energy for chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Aerosol particles are very small, but they have a very large impact on our climate and on human health. After they are emitted/formed in the atmosphere, aerosol particles can experience photo-aging due to sunlight exposure. We have some large gaps in our understanding of the longer-term fate for aerosol particles and controlled studies are needed to help understand the types of chemical reactions that are possible. In this project, we will make or collect aerosol samples and then age them to mimic what they might experience in the atmosphere. We will target both natural aerosol particles as well as ones that come from urban emissions.
Faculty Mentor: Brian Ellis (brellis@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In Lab
Project Description: This project seeks to determine the viability of using mine stamp tailings from the Buffalo Reef in the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan as a source of critical metals recovery (e.g., Cu, Ni, Co) and permanent CO2 storage. Work will include characterization of mine waste materials via a combination of approaches includes X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and ICP-MS analysis. It will also include conducting high pressure batch CO2 carbonation experiments. The goal of the project will be to determine whether additional high value metals present in the mine tailings can be economically extracted and to the evaluate the potential for CO2 mineral trapping in the tailings materials. Work will take place primarily in the lab but will also include some batch geochemical modeling. Training will be provided for all elements of the project and no prior experience using any of these techniques is required.
Faculty Advisor: Krista Wigginton (kwigg@umich.edu)
Research Mode: Hybrid
Mentors: Mira Chaplin
Work will be primarily remote, with weekly in-person meetings.
Project Description: Disinfectants, including chlorine, chloramines, and peracetic acids, are used ubiquitously to inactivate viruses in water treatment. The rate of reaction of disinfectants with viruses varies based on the viruses themselves and their environment. In this project, we will apply statistical modeling and machine learning techniques to datasets assembled by this research group to determine how experimental conditions and virus features affect disinfection rates. A focus will be placed on model dissemination for professional audiences; students will create websites to share and interpret their models for the benefit of the public. Work will be primarily remote, with weekly in-person meetings.
Faculty Advisor: Krista Wigginton (kwigg@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In Lab
Mentors: Michelle Ammerman and Kate Harrison
Work will be primarily remote, with weekly in-person meetings.
Project Description: Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) uses wastewater to determine the presence and quantity of human pathogens that are being excreted by a population. Our group uses digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) to quantify viral and bacterial pathogens in wastewater samples with the goal of this information being used to make public health decisions. Numerous factors can contribute to the reliability of the pathogen values determined including input from non-human sources, validity of positive controls, and the specificity and sensitivity of the primers and probes being used to detect pathogens that can have variability in different strains. In this project the student will be working on validating the ddPCR protocols for different pathogen targets. This work will include designing and producing better positive DNA and RNA controls, looking at sequence variability in different wastewater pathogens using sequencing, and performing ddPCR and QAQC on numerous pathogen targets.
Faculty Advisor: Lutgarde Raskin (raskin@umich.edu) and Krista Wigginton (kwigg@umich.edu)
Graduate Student Mentor: Nuha Alfahham (anuha@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In lab
Project Description: Exposure to opportunistic pathogens (OPs) (e.g., Legionella species, nontuberculous mycobacteria) through drinking water is a worldwide public health challenge and the major cause of reported waterborne diseases in the U.S. It has been shown that some OPs are resistant to common disinfectants. Ultraviolet irradiation UV-254 nm, which is increasingly used for drinking water disinfection to address virus and protozoan concerns, appears promising as an alternative or additional strategy for inactivation of OPs. However, existing methods to determine the UV dose-response relationship such as culture-based methods are time-consuming and may miss detection of viable but nonculturable microorganisms in real drinking water systems. Molecular methods that assess viability based on damaged cellular membranes are not applicable to UV studies since UV mainly impacts viability by damaging the nucleic acids rather than the cellular membrane. In this project we will adapt a molecular method that assesses viability based on the change in precursor ribosomal RNA following disinfection, to determine the impact of UV on OPs in drinking water.
The SURE student will be trained to perform sampling, lab scale UV disinfection, and traditional microbiology techniques and molecular techniques. Depending on the interest of the student, there may also be bioinformatics learning opportunities.
Faculty Advisors: Lutgarde Raskin (raskin@umich.edu) and Steven Skerlos (skerlos@umich.edu)
Graduate Student Mentor: Renisha Karki, renisha@umich.edu
Research Mode: In Lab
Project Description: Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a biological process that transforms organic waste streams into methane which could be used as renewable energy; AD plays a crucial role in efficient waste management and in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, AD faces significant operational challenges such as the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), which are
chemical compounds formed during the breakdown of complex molecules and can hinder methane generation. Our project seeks to maintain the delicate chemical balance in digesters required for the efficient transformation of organic substrates into methane during AD using micro-aeration.
The excess of VFAs disrupts the balance of microorganisms in the AD process by decreasing the pH in the reactor, leading to reduced methane output and potential system failure. To address this issue, micro-aeration is often utilized with the strategic injection of small amounts of oxygen to oxidize VFAs and increase methane production. In this project, three continuously-stirred tank
reactors (CSTRs) will be operated anaerobically with daily food waste feeding. When the reactors have VFAs accumulation, micro-aeration will be employed to maintain and improve the methane yield.
This project presents a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to delve into the field of sustainable waste management. The SURE student will gain hands-on experience with various physicochemical and microbial analyses. The tasks include the measurement of oxygen and methane concentrations, organic compounds entering and leaving the reactors, and VFA levels in the three reactors. These analyses are pivotal in elucidating how micro-aeration contributes to enhancing methane production in the AD process. Through this project, the SURE student will gain valuable skills and experience at the forefront of environmental biotechnology.
Faculty Mentors: Lutgarde Raskin, raskin@umich.edu and Steven Skerlos, skerlos@umich.edu
Graduate Student Mentor: Renata Starostka, renatas@umich.edu
Research Mode: In Lab
Project Description: We’re launching an intriguing project delving into the realm of a cutting-edge filtration technology known as a “ dynamic membrane” This innovative technology is designed to separate solid waste from liquids in a less energy-intensive manner, utilizing a mesh coated in a biofilm which we are coupling with an anaerobic bioreactor. Unlike traditional membranes that demand high pressure and energy for maintenance, dynamic membranes keep beneficial bacteria in the system while managing common issues such as frequent clogging and high energy demand for clogging control. Our primary goal is to investigate how effectively the dynamic membrane filter operates under different conditions. We’ll utilize chemical tests and advanced analytical tools to evaluate its performance in purifying liquid waste in an anaerobic environment.
A team of mechanical engineering undergraduates and environmental engineering Ph.D. students has developed a system featuring multiple dynamic membranes working in tandem, referred to as a “multiplex system”. In addition to the multiplex system, we’ll delving into a two-phase anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor, in collaboration with other graduate mentors. We’ll employ tools such as Optical Coherence tomography (OCT) for studying the surface of the membrane and elucidate how the operational conditions affect the membrane morphology, turbidity meters for measuring the filtration quality, pressure sensors, and chemical tests to scrutinize the growth and operation of dynamic membranes in the multiplex system. This project presents an opportunity to hone skills in physicochemical and analytical methods within a lab setting. Beyond the lab, it contributes to advancing this relatively new and promising technology.
Join us in this exciting exploration as we work towards a more sustainable and efficient approach to waste management!
Faculty Advisors: Lutgarde Raskin (raskin@umich.edu) and Steven Skerlos (skerlos@umich.edu)
Graduate Student Mentor: Renisha Karki, renisha@umich.edu
Research Mode: In Lab
Project Description: Organic waste such as food waste or sewage sludge is a rich source of chemical energy which can serve as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Anaerobic digestion (AD) biologically transforms organic waste into biogas, rich in methane, which could be used for the generation of heat and power. Despite its benefits, AD systems face challenges like the slow breakdown of complex waste molecules, the potential loss of slow-growing methane-producing microbes in the reactors over time, and long retention times inside the digesters which reduces the amount of waste that can be treated.
To overcome these challenges, our project employs cutting-edge ”dynamic membrane” technology. This approach involves forming a biofilm on a coarse mesh, enhancing the breakdown of complex molecules by separating solids and liquids. Inspired by the efficient digestive system of cows, we’ve developed a bioreactor that accelerates the hydrolysis process, mimicking a cow’s rumen stomach. We coupled this rumen bioreactor with another novel dynamic membrane bioreactor that utilizes innovative design and operation strategies to increase methane production efficiency. The overall system is a two-phase anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor (AnDMBR) developed to enhance methane production rates and yields from food waste from Bursley and sewage sludge from the Ann Arbor wastewater treatment plant.
The SURE student will be paired with a graduate student mentor to monitor the performance of the two-phase AnDMBR system by measuring the solids and nutrients entering and leaving the system using chemical analysis. The biogas composition will be measured with gas chromatography to assess the efficiency of the transformation of organic matter into methane. Additionally, we will perform molecular microbial ecology analysis to identify the microbial communities responsible for the hydrolysis of the complex molecules and methane generation in the reactors’ bulk content and the dynamic membranes. These analyses are vital for understanding and optimizing the system’s performance and will offer the SURE student practical experience in advanced environmental engineering methods.
Faculty Advisors: Krista Wigginton (kwigg@umich.edu)
Mentors: Delaney Snead
Research mode: In Lab
Project Description: Potable reuse, or the practice of treating wastewater for drinking water applications, has become a critical component of many water resource portfolios to address growing water shortages and practical demands. To overcome economic barriers associated with potable reuse technology and to obtain minimum pathogen removal levels, it is important to understand how each unit process achieves effective pathogen inactivation and how we can maximize these processes. For this project, the focus will be on collecting data in bench-scale experiments and measuring virus inactivation through various treatments. This will involve virus culturing techniques and also measuring water quality and operational parameters. The majority of the work will be in the lab, but there will be weekly meetings that can be in-person or virtual.