Students will work full-time on real-life projects in BU ENG labs
Thanks to some generous alumni and faculty, 17 Boston University College of Engineering undergraduates will be busy this summer gaining valuable experience as full-time researchers in BU ENG labs. Four of the students have been named the 2024 Dr. Haidong Pan Distinguished Energy and Environmental Sustainability Fellows, while a baker’s dozen are this year’s Distinguished Summer Research Fellows (DSRF).
“The College of Engineering has established and nurtured a strong undergraduate research program, supporting all our subdisciplines and areas, as exemplified by the DSRF awards,” says Professor Ayse Coskun (ECE, SE), interim associate dean for research and faculty development. “The purpose of the additional energy-themed summer research award is to catalyze and expand research in the convergent theme of energy, sustainability, and climate.”
The energy research fellowships are named for their sponsor, Haidong Pan (ENG’04), who earned his PhD in systems engineering from BU and went on to found Baike.com, China’s largest wiki site. Professor Michael Caramanis (ME, SE) and the College of Engineering also contributed funds. The Haidong Pan fellows earn a ten-week stipend for their research duties.
Brett Goldstein (EE’25), advised by Professor Srikanth Gopalan (ME, MSE), is researching reversible solid oxide cells for renewable energy generation and storage. Ethan Levine (CE’26) is working with Professor Ayse Coskun (ECE, SE) on a data center demand response simulator for sustainable computing. David Tamen (ME’26) is working with Professor Uday Pal (ME, MSE) on novel electrolytic, zero-carbon-emission direct reduced iron production. And under the direction of Associate Professor Emily Ryan (ME, MSE), Anya Vandandaigue (ME’26) is researching virtual modeling for the effects of reverse pulse plating for lithium metal batteries.
The DSRF program was established by an anonymous alumnus in 2010 in honor of then-dean Kenneth Lutchen. The program has since grown through additional designated gifts. Students earn stipends for their research duties, housing, and other expenses. DSRF Fellows work in a variety of ENG faculty labs for 10 weeks over the summer. DSRF Fellows this summer include Lutchen Fellows Bader Alsalih (ME ’26), Chaney Finkeldei (BME ’26), Alexander Fudenna (BME ’26), Essoha Kadambaya (ME ’25), Shea Mowry (BME ’25), Kriya Patel (BME ’26), Hudson Reynolds (CE ’26), Jonathan Sim (BME ’26), Stephen Snekvik (ME ’26), Christian So (CE ’25), and Peter Zhao (CE ’26); Leatherberry Fellow Terry Chen (BME ’26); and Voigt Fellow Evan Horvath (BME ‘25).
In addition, 39 undergraduates received Summer Term Alumni Research Scholars (STARS) awards. Funded by alumni contributions, the STARS awards provide housing allowances to make it easier for ENG students to stay in Boston over the summer and work in ENG faculty labs.