Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awards (UTRAs)

Gannon Lemaster and Kimani Toussaint
Gannon Lemaster ’26 (electrical engineering) presented the poster “A Multifaceted Approach to Improving Physiological Monitoring Enabled by Polarization Optics.” Lemaster was advised by Thomas J. Watson, Sr. Professor of Science Kimani Toussaint, and was supported by an Undergraduate Teaching and Research Award (UTRA).

Karen T. Romer Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awards (UTRAs) support Brown students collaborating with Brown faculty on research and teaching projects during the summer or the academic year. Named for the dean who launched the program in the 1980s, UTRAs provide students with valuable academic experience that prepares them for graduate study and that contributes directly to course development at Brown. For more information on UTRAs, including application deadlines and answers to common questions please visit the UTRA site.

Students interested in the UTRA program are encouraged to reach out to faculty members to discuss potential projects and the applications process.

Project TitleFaculty AdvisorTerm
Simultaneous Localization and Mapping in the Context of Humanitarian DeminingNora AyanianSummer 2024
Toward Clinical Translation of the Intelligent Spine Interface ProjectDavid BortonSummer 2022
Aerodynamic Tail Effects Developed in Robotic Flapping Flight WakeKenneth BreuerSummer 2023
Modulating the Mechanics and Structure of Wet-Spun Collagen Fiber Scaffolds for Engineering Cardiac TissueKareen CoulombeSummer 2022
Symmetries and Fixed Points of Iterated Linear Optimization on the ElliptopePedro FelzenszwalbSummer 2024
3-Axis Helmholtz Cage for Spacecraft Attitude DeterminationRick FleeterSummer 2024
Speech Neuroprosthesis: Decoding Cortical Activity Patterns for Organic Communication in Individuals with Severe ParalysisLeigh HochbergSummer 2023
Limiting theImpact of Strength and pH on Graphene Oxide-based Films as a Novel Controlled Release SystemRobert HurtSummer 2024
Modeling the Brain and Studying Traumatic Brain InjuryArto NurmikkoSummer 2022
Polymer Addition for Improved Removal of Short-chain PFAS by Dissolved Air FlotationKurt PennellSummer 2024
Quantum Chemical Effects at the Iron Electrode in an Iron-air BatteryAndrew PetersonSummer 2024
Optimization of Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) for Therapeutic RNA Delivery to Cancer CellsTheresa RaimondoSummer 2024
Reduced-order Model of a Wave-induced Gas Cylinder CollapseMauro RodriguezSummer 2023
Finding a Bound on the Information Transmitted through Newtonian GravityChris RoseSummer 2021
Reduced-order Model of a Wave-induced Gas Cylinder CollapseBrian SheldonSummer 2023
Polymyxin B-modified Liposomes for Active Targeting and Treatment of P. aeruginosa InfectionsAnita ShuklaSummer 2023
Polymeric Gel Brain Tissue Surrogates for Studying TBIVikas SrivastavaSummer 2023
A Multifaceted Approach to Improving Physiological Monitoring Enabled by Polarization OpticsKimani ToussaintSummer 2023
An Automated Electronic Device With Single-Well Control For Multiplexed Electrical Dissociation of TissuesAnubhav TripathiSummer 2022
Building a New Generation of Bioinspired Underwater Vehicles Employing Metachronal PropulsionMonica Martinez WilhelmusSummer 2024
Collective and Individual Invasion from Multicellular Spheroids in 3D Collagen MatrixIan Y. WongSummer 2021
Synthesis of Graphene Oxide and Silk Fibroin Composite Aerogels with Programmable Oil/Water AdsorptionIan Y. WongSummer 2021
Fabrication of a Ge Quantum Dot Photodetector Prototype on an Oxide-covered Si Wafer.Alex ZaslavskySummer 2024
Experimental Demonstration of Reciprocal Swimming at Intermediate Reynolds NumbersRoberto ZenitSummer 2023