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Winning Ways: A Closer Look at the Top Competitors in the TMS 2009 Student Poster Contest |
By Lynne Robinson, Materials Technology@TMS News Writer
Posted on: 3/6/2009 12:00:00 AM... The 67 students who entered the 2009 TMS Annual Meeting Technical Division Student Poster Contest had many stories to tell. The biggest challenge, many of them said, was telling their “materials story” as succinctly as possible, while still communicating the key points of their research. For some students, the evolving nature of their project made it seem as though their poster would never be finished. Said Alexandra Cintrón-Aponte, undergraduate winner of the Extraction & Processing Division contest, “After every poster I prepared, I always learned something new, especially when I was setting up the concluding remarks.”
Other stories came far easier for many of them. These spoke to how materials scientists and engineers are shaped outside the laboratory, with the support of mentors and the life experiences that can only happen as an active participant in a major scientific meeting.
And, based on what was shared by the winners of the Student Poster Contest, the results of these experiences—like the results documented on their posters—were very good.
KEMAL LEVI, STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Best in Show, Best Graduate Biological Materials Science Poster
"Understanding the Biomechanical Behavior of Human Stratum Corneum with the Bulge Technique"
Levi is a fifth-year Ph.D. student, majoring in materials science and engineering, and plans to continue post-doctoral biomedical research after graduation.
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Technical Division Student Poster Contest winners are all smiles at the TMS 2009 Annual Meeting. (Click to enlarge photo.)
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How does this poster relate to your current research interests?
My dissertation is on the mechanical and fracture properties of the outermost layer of human skin, stratum corneum (SC). After demonstrating how damage processes in human skin can be quantitatively modeled and predicted based on thin-film mechanics and cracking processes, I am now working with my colleagues to understand the effect of environmental conditioning and moisturization on the biomechanical responses of human skin. We employ a combination of substrate curvature and bulge techniques to characterize the development of drying stresses in SC and demonstrate how a range of moisturizing molecules can act to reduce these stresses to alleviate skin damage. Using the bulge technique described in the poster, we were able to study the biomechanical behavior of SC as a function of hydration and chemical treatment on a wet medium similar to its in-vivo state. This is a significant improvement, because while the mechanical properties of SC have been widely studied in vitro, past methods have all failed to simulate the natural state of the tissue as a thin film on a hydrated, compliant substrate consisting of epidermal and dermal layers. We believe that this research presents a new, promising approach to characterize the mechanical properties of SC and other biological thin films.
What support did you receive while you were working on this project?
I am deeply indebted to Professor Reinhold H. Dauskardt and Professor William D. Nix for their help and stimulating suggestions for this research. I would also like to acknowledge my teammates, Sumil Thapa and Ruiliang Jia, for their help with the bulge system.
What was the significance of the award to you?
I am very happy to be applauded for our hard work. Both the award and the feedback I got at the conference have proven to me that the bulge technique is a promising approach to characterize the mechanical properties of SC and other biological thin films. My teammates and I are now very eager to advance our studies on the bulge of SC.
DANIEL WORTHINGTON, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Best Graduate Structural Materials Division Poster
"Influence of Composition and Microstructure in the Spall of Aluminum Materials":
Worthington’s poster detailed his investigation into spall failure from laser-induced shock in single crystals of high-purity Al and Al 1100 and polycrystals of Al-3Mg with three different grain sizes.
Worthington is a second-year graduate student in materials science and engineering, and plans to remain involved with research in structural materials.
How does this poster relate to your current research interests?
Mechanical behavior, in general, is a fascinating subject. Spall fracture from shock is particularly interesting because it involves deformation at high strain-rates. Doing these experiments allows us to look at the influence of microstructure on spall behavior.
Why did you enter the TMS Student Poster Contest?
The best part of TMS meetings is talking with people about your research. A poster comes in handy, because there are giant figures and graphics that you can point to. It makes telling the story much easier and more fun.
What support did you receive while you were working on this project?
This project was truly a collaboration with two other students who work in my group, Paul Sherek and Nick Pedrazas. We worked many hours upon hours to produce the target specimens. Eat, sleep, polish. Also, my advisor, Dr. Eric Taleff, was very encouraging and bought us pizza.
ALEXANDRA CINTRÓN-APONTE, UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO AT MAYAGUEZ
Best Undergraduate Extraction & Processing Division Poster
"Statistical Analysis: Effect of Chemical Composition in Al-V and Al-Zr Composites Under Directional Solidification": Cintrón-Aponte’s poster outlines a methodology to evaluate the effect of cooling rates and chemical composition on Al-Zr and Al-V-based composites reinforced with boride particles using design of experiment and statistical analysis.
Cintrón-Aponte is a senior industrial engineering student. She will be moving to Florida after graduation to work at Raytheon as a manufacturing staff engineer and to pursue her master’s degree in manufacturing engineering at the University of South Florida.
ADDITIONAL STUDENT POSTER CONTEST WINNERS:
Kirsten Kepple, Georgia Institute of Technology
Best Undergraduate Biological Materials Science Poster
"Carbon Nanotube Based Nanoelectrode Arrays": Kepple’s poster discussed prior studies on the functionalization of CNT substrates for the adhesion of PC12 cells, while also presenting results from a study on the mechanical stability of these substrates with cortical tissue, assessed by simulation with a 0.6% agarose gel.
Ma Jianhong, Shanghai University
Best Graduate Light Metals Division Poster
"Grain Refinement of Pure Al and Al-Si Alloy by Applying Electric Current Pulse":
The poster describes the experimental study of the effect of electric current pulse (ECP)
on grain refinement in cast pure Al and Al-12.6wt%Si alloy.
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How does this poster relate to your current research interests?
I have been working on different research projects since my second year at college. It was not until I took the introductory course on Engineering Materials with Professor O. Marcelo Suárez in my third year that I became interested in materials properties applications. Since I joined Professor Suárez’s research group, I have been studying the effect of boron diborides on different composites under different treatments. My interest has grown to analyzing materials mechanical properties using robust statistical applications.
Why did you enter the TMS Student Poster Contest?
Our research group and our Material Advantage chapter have been participating in TMS meetings since 2005. When I was a new member of this research group, I noticed that most of the senior students were winning different awards and scholarships, as well as acquiring experiences in co-ops at different companies and summer internships at top research universities. Most of these achievements had come from exhibiting their work at TMS and Materials Science & Technology (MS&T) meetings. Every time a group of students starts a project, the main goal is to formulate one strong enough to compete in the TMS poster contest or other national venues. Being able to represent our university and my outstanding fellow students in these international meetings is always a great honor.
What support did you receive while you were working on this project?
I am particularly grateful to my mechanical engineering peers who provided me, an industrial engineering student, with alternative, broader views to attack specific tasks. I want to recognize Carlos Luis Báez and José R. Vázquez, both mechanical engineering undergraduates and first place winners in the TMS 2007 poster competition, for their relentless support of this project. I am also grateful to Victor Martínez, mechanical engineering undergraduate and new member of our research group, for working with me during the development of the project and for staying with me throughout the poster competition in San Francisco. I would like to particularly thank Dr. Ramón Vázquez, Dean of Engineering of our university, for sponsoring our Material Advantage members’ travel to the TMS meeting, as well as Raytheon for providing funds to support my travel. And last, but not least, I must thank Professor O. Marcelo Suárez for giving me the opportunity to work with him and the group and for guiding me throughout all these years. After working with him, I developed the ability to see things not only as an industrial engineer, but as an engineer in general.
What advice would you offer to other students who might consider entering the competition next year?
They should work hard, focused on what they want to accomplish, and not be conformists with their work. What you show on that poster represents you and your institution. They should be prepared and know everything, every detail they have in their poster. They should always bear in mind that if they win in their division, the judges will ask questions about the research and its applications for the Best in Show prize. Also, every student, especially if they have graduate school in mind, should take advantage of the competition to associate with other students, professors, and scientists who have the same or similar research projects or ideas. The TMS meeting and poster competition are great networking events for anyone interested in materials engineering.
RYAN AUBIN, QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY
Best Graduate Extraction & Processing Division Poster
"Industrial Waste Heat Recovery Using Thermally Regenerative Electrochemical Cells":
This poster presented Aubin’s work on the direct conversion of mid-grade industrial waste heat to electricity using a novel single chamber thermally regenerative electrochemical system that employs density differences and a molten hydride-borohydride system to convey sodium hydride between hot and cold regions in a continuous circuit.
Aubin is currently a second-year master’s degree student, majoring in mining engineering. He plans to practice engineering while working for a mining company, and eventually move into consulting.
How does this poster relate to your current research interests?
I have always been interested in alternative energy, energy consumption, and hydrogen storage methods, having worked on several summer projects in this area of research. This poster presents new ideas and concepts illustrating that mid-grade waste heat could be viably recoverable, tying those three topics together.
What support did you receive while you were working on this project?
I would like to thank my supervisor, Boyd Davis, for his guidance, insight, and enthusiasm, along with Daniel Calabretta, who has imparted much of his technical knowledge to me. Finally, I am grateful for the kind funding from RioTinto Alcan, making the research possible.
What advice would you offer to other students who might consider entering the competition next year?
I would strongly suggest participating. It offers a unique opportunity to discuss with others, practice presentation skills, and interact with people from various backgrounds and technical strengths.
What was the significance of the award to you?
Being fortunate enough to win this award encourages me to set new experimental goals and feature this work in other media. It also validates all the time and effort that have been put into this body of work.
NAYOMI PLAZA, UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO AT MAYAGUEZ
Best Undergraduate Structural Materials Division Poster
"Effects of Magnesium Levels in Aluminum Matrix Composites Subject to Mechanical Wear and Abrasion": This poster displayd Plaza’s research on the effect of magnesium addition on wear behavior and hardness in a series of high-wear strength, lightweight composites developed for aerospace applications.
Plaza is a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering and has worked in a materials science laboratory since high school. She plans to eventually earn her Ph.D. and become a professor “who can encourage students to take advantage of these great opportunities.”
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Nayomi Plaza (right) celebrates her winning poster with her graduate mentor, Ruth Hidalgo. (Click to enlarge photo.)
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How does this poster relate to your current research interests?
Since January 2008, I’ve been working on the tribological characterization of an Al-Mg-Cu-B Composite. However, after the initial testing, such a broad topic got divided into a few sub-projects, one of them being how the magnesium was affecting the composite mechanical properties. This became the subject of my poster. Because of the success of the investigation, I would like to keep on exploring how magnesium will affect the overall properties of aluminum matrix composites.
Why did you enter the TMS Student Poster Contest?
In past years, members of our Material Advantage chapter have been participating in this competition with growing success and I wanted to be part of that legacy. In that respect, I got a lot of encouragement from my fellow Material Advantage members, as well as from my physics teaching assistant, who told me, “There’s nothing better than to have the opportunity to present and exchange your research findings.”
What support did you receive while you were working on this project?
I’m certain that I wouldn’t have been able to obtain this award if it hadn’t been for the support of my research advisor, O. Marcelo Suárez, who guided me and corrected this poster as many times as it was needed. I’m also very thankful to Dr. Suárez for giving me the opportunity to do research at such a young age and introducing me to the ever-changing world of materials science. In addition, I would like to thank my graduate mentor Ruth Hidalgo, a 2006 TMS Light Metals Division undergraduate scholar and currently a Mechanical Engineering graduate student—This prize is hers as much as it is mine. I would also like to recognize the support of the NASA MUST program, PR-LSAMP, the NSF-PREM program, KB Alloys, and AMBIOS Tech.
What was the significance of the award to you?
At first, when you see a ribbon on your poster it’s hard to believe that you really won, especially when you consider how competitive the posters in each technical division are. For every winner, this award means that all the hard work really paid off and that everything was worth it.
DEBRUPA LAHIRI, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Best Graduate Materials Processing & Manufacturing Division Poster
"Dual Strengthening Mechanism Induced by MWCNT in Cold Rolled Aluminum Matrix Composite": This poster presented a study in which Lahiri processed aluminum composites containing 0-7.5wt% MWCNT reinforcement by sandwich cold rolling with intermediate annealing stages.
Lahiri is pursuing her Ph.D. in mechanical and materials engineering, and plans to continue her career in an academic environment.
How does this poster relate to your current research interests?
My current research interest is in different nano-composites. My poster focused on Al-CNT roll bonded composite, which is part of that research.
What support did you receive while you were working on this project?
My advisor, Dr. Arvind Agarwal, has always been very encouraging and enthusiastic about this work, while also providing me valuable technical guidance.
What advice would you offer to other students who might consider entering the competition next year?
The competition is really tough, so you need to work hard. Reporting a novel research work or a set of different studies is not sufficient enough to compete with others—Your information needs to be presented in a pleasing and sensible way.
What was the significance of the award to you?
It gave me lot of encouragement for my future research work. The award also helped me to gain confidence that my research is comparable to students in other universities.
DANIEL PAEZ, UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO AT MAYAGUEZ
Best Graduate Electronic, Magnetic, & Photonic Materials Division Poster
"Nanofabrication of Metal-Polymer Composites for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Based Biosensing": Paez’s project examined the design and optimization of random and well-defined nanostructures with uniform geometries using Electron-Beam Lithography (EBL) to optimize the SERS effect, facilitating studies concerning the fate and transport of model pharmaceuticals in water.
Paez is a mechanical engineer, currently pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. He plans to begin his Ph.D. studies after graduation.
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Diran Apelian, 2008 TMS President (right), congratulates Daniel Paez on his winning poster. (Click to enlarge.)
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How does this poster relate to your current research interests?
My interests in research are based in bioengineering and material sciences, including microfrabrication processes and microfluidics systems. Essentially the poster represents the progress that I have achieved in my graduate studies until now to complete my thesis.
Why did you enter the TMS Student Poster Contest?
TMS not only provides a platform to show my work, but also offers a great opportunity to look at others’ work and learn about the state of art in materials science.
What support did you receive while you were working on this project?
I would like to thank my advisor, Dr Ruben Diaz, for his guidance and support, and greatly appreciate the kind financial assistance of our Dean of Engineering, Dr. Ramón E. Vásquez.
What was the significance of the award to you?
It is an exceptional motivation to continue doing research, knowing that your work is recognized as an important input to materials science.
JULIA REID, WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Best Undergraduate Electronic, Magnetic, & Photonic Materials Division Poster
"Characterization of Electroplated Gallium Microdroplets": This poster illustrated Reid’s study of the structure and properties of electrodeposited gallium droplets for the formation of a high current density microswitch.
Reid is a senior material science engineering student and plans to continue her research in graduate school.
How does this poster relate to your current research interests?
My poster is based on my senior thesis research and reflects my interest in characterizing materials behavior and properties.
Why did you enter the TMS Student Poster Contest?
I have been to TMS conferences before with our Material Advantage chapter and was very excited to be able to finally participate.
What support did you receive while you were working on this project?
I would like to recognize my advisor, Dr. David Bahr, as well as the Washington State University Wood Materials Engineering Laboratory and two WSU graduate students, Yoonkap Kim and John Youngsman, for their assistance and training.
What advice would you offer to other students who might consider entering the competition next year?
Just go for it! It seems intimidating to submit an abstract, but it is fun to see your research and hard work on a poster.
NINOSHKA CANTRES, UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO AT MAYAGUEZ
Best Undergraduate Light Metals Division Poster
"New Application of Recycled Metallic Matrix Composites": Cantres’ poster explored the feasibility of producing recycled aluminum matrix composites by adding AlB2 particles via melting and casting, for the purpose of broadening the range of applications of recycled Al–Mg 5182 alloy.
Cantres is a fourth-year chemical engineering major and plans to pursue graduate studies in the fields of material science and engineering or environmental engineering.
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Kemal Levi (left) and Laura Lara-Rodriguez (right) discuss the research illustrated on their posters. (Click to enlarge.)
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How does this poster relate to your current research interests?
My current research interests are in environmental engineering, specifically in the area of recycling and reutilization of materials.
What specific challenges did you encounter in preparing your poster?
One of the challenges I encountered was making it appealing and interesting to all engineering fields, since the ultimate purpose of my research was to find ways that others could utilize the material that I was working on. Something that I learned in the process of preparing the poster was that other people have done projects with similar objectives, but using other materials. This ended up being beneficial by enriching my knowledge in the topic.
What support did you receive while you were working on this project?
I want to acknowledge the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0351449 (PREM Program), The Aluminum Association, Inc., Novelis Inc, and Professor O. Marcelo Suárez and Dean Ramón Vázquez Espinosa who have supported my work in numerous ways.
What was the significance of the award to you?
This award meant that people are interested in the topic of my poster—finding alternative solutions to reuse or recycle materials—which can lead to a better environment and a healthier life. It also meant that I am making good progress and that what I am doing is taken into account and makes a difference.
DAVID BROWNE, LEHIGH UNIVERSITY
Best Undergraduate Materials Processing & Manufacturing Division Poster
"Sol Gel Synthesis and Conversion of Spinel Thin Films": Browne’s poster illustrated a process for converting coatings to crystalline polycrystalline magnesium aluminate, which was epitaxial with the substrate grains.
Browne is a senior materials science and engineering student. He plans to attend graduate school, with a career goal of working for NASA or a national laboratory.
How does this poster relate to your current research interests?
Although my poster dealt with the processing of ceramics, my current research interests involve semiconductor nanodevices and other nanostructures.
Why did you enter the TMS Student Poster Contest?
I was awarded travel funds by winning second place at an undergraduate research symposium at Lehigh University, which allowed me the opportunity to travel to the conference. The TMS student poster competition was a great way for me to experience the conference and present some of my own material as well.
What support did you receive while you were working on this project?
I would like to recognize Professor Richard Vinci and Professor Helen Chan for allowing me to work in their lab, and for their support throughout the project. I would also like to thank the Freed family for providing the travel funds which allowed me to attend the conference.
What advice would you offer to other students who might consider entering the competition next year?
My best advice to other students is to be confident in the work that you've done. Also, I would advise any students who are serious in pursuing research to enter a poster and attend the conference. It's a great place to learn about research in other areas of materials science, as well as a great networking opportunity.
For additional spotlight stories please visit the Archive page.
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