Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Research Program URP in Chemical Engineering
Undergraduate Research Program (URP) in Chemical Engineering The Role of Graduate Education and Research in Undergraduate Education Research, a component usually forgotten or misunderstood in undergraduate engineering education, is not a luxury in a department of Chemical engineering. The relationship between teaching and research is symbiotic. High quality research generates ideas, which evolve into theories, which find their way into textbooks, which are read by students, who may be taught by the faculty member who originally set the whole process in motion. It is this exchange of ideas that yields new, thought-provoking textbooks, and also generates productive new research programs. It is important that the undergraduate student in engineering realize the significant role in the undergraduate curricula played by graduate school and research activities. It is easy to jump to the conclusion that time spent by faculty on research and graduate education could be more profitably put to use in the classroom. However, outstanding educators and shapers of the modern Chemical engineering profession have strongly suggested that research and graduate education is crucial for the health of the undergraduate curriculum. Dr. Robert Bird (University of Wisconsin-Madison), an eminent educator, winner of the National Medal of Science, and mentor of several generations of Chemical engineering faculty, has stated that "now as always, the quality of teaching depends on ideas generated by research". According to Bird, research and graduate studies work as "natural filters" in which new knowledge is communicated in advanced courses, and gradually finds its way into the undergraduate curriculum. For example, many well established results presently taught in the transport properties courses have been the focus of high level research topics in the past. Similarly, new concepts in biotechnology and advanced Materials are being filtered toward eventual incorporation into undergraduate Material. It is clear that, from this point of view, Chemical engineering undergraduate programs will become weak, less healthy, and less useful for our profession without partnerships with solid and outstanding research programs. Perhaps less obvious is the fact that research and graduate studies also generate engineering teaching faculty and leading researchers of the future. Neither industry nor undergraduate programs produce professors of Chemical engineering. Only the graduate level university has the capability, means, and environment to produce MS and Ph.D. graduates. These become the men and women that will be able to educate more bachelors degree candidates. It is not a coincidence that leading engineering schools have strong research programs that parallel their undergraduate teaching programs. The ties between teaching and research are more than symbolic. Research and graduate education are crucial parts of every undergraduate Chemical engineering program. R. Bird described the relationship in the following words: "To do a good job of teaching, a professor must be a good communicator. Further, what is communicated must be relevant to students’ needs. In engineering, which changes rapidly with each new technological advance, it is imperative that professors have the resources to absorb and communicate new knowledge. Research provides the mechanism that allows a professor to constantly upgrade the breadth and depth of his knowledge. Not the least of the benefits of research is the vitality which the investigative process imparts to the instructional program". Program Overview Numerous research opportunities for undergraduates to work closely with faculty and graduate students are available and are encouraged in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. The Department offers an Undergraduate Research Program (URP) for academically talented students to extend their undergraduate educational experiences. The program requires independent research by the student on a topic relevant to Chemical engineering (including biomedical engineering). Completion of an Undergraduate Research Project (URP) for six hours of credit with a grade of "C" or higher may be used to satisfy the Chemical Engineering senior elective requirement. Students can sign up for this program either as ECH 4906 (Honors URP) or ECH 4904 (URP). ECH 4906 is reserved for students who qualify for the University Honors in the Major program. Students may apply the work done for the URP toward the Honors Program requirements, where applicable. Students interested in the Honors in the Major option should directly contact the Honors Program Office for specific requirements. Generally, application to the Honors in the Major Program must be initiated during the term prior to registering for the course. Students who do not qualify for the University Honors program, but still meet the admission requirements given below, may enroll in ECH 4904. The undergraduate research project will require at least two semesters of effort, and the URP must be started at the latest by the first semester of the senior year. However, students are highly encouraged to start in the final semester of their junior year, or in the Summer Term preceding their senior year. Applications for entry into the program are to be submitted at least six weeks before the end of the semester prior to that in which the research program is to start. Admission Requirements
Application Procedure Students who satisfy the admission requirements can make formal application to the URP. The "Application Form" (Form 1) requires a brief description of the proposed project and the student's motivation for pursuing the URP. Selection of Directing Professor A presentation on the research opportunities available through the URP will be made by the URP director to the junior class of the Department during the Fall Term. In addition, a listing of faculty participating in the URP and a description of available projects can be found on the departmental web page at: http://www.eng.fsu.edu/cheme. Students interested in the URP should meet with faculty members whose research is of interest to them to obtain additional details on specific projects. The URP application is to be submitted at least six weeks before the end of the semester prior to that in which the research program is to start. A departmental committee will review the application form, and the student will be informed about the final assignment of directing professor and project in writing before the end of the semester in which the application is submitted. A copy of this letter will also be sent to the faculty advisor and the department chair. Admission to the URP is contingent upon availability of research projects and faculty advisors. Upon admission to the program, a folder will be opened for the student in which all relevant documentation will be maintained. Project Requirements Research Plan A three to four page "Research Plan" (Form 2) must be submitted to the URP director by the end of the fourth week of the first term of the URP. This must be signed by the directing professor (see attached sample). Supervisory Committee The student should form a supervisory committee consisting of the directing professor and at least two additional faculty members, one of whom may be external to the department. A completed "Establishment of Supervisory Committee Form" (Form 3) with the faculty signatures must be submitted to the URP director along with the Research Plan. Interim Progress Report An interim progress report must be submitted to the supervisory committee before the last day of classes of the semester. This report should be about five to ten pages in length, and must provide a summary of the work done in the semester along with preliminary results and a research plan for the next semester. The directing professor will then assign the semester grade and submit the "Completion of First Term Form" (Form 4) to the URP director. Students who are not recommended for continuation in the URP or choose not to continue may apply any credits received in the URP with a grade of “C” or better towards the Chemical Engineering elective requirements. Final Project Report and Defense In the final semester of the Undergraduate Research Project, a final project report must be submitted to the supervisory committee. This report should be about fifteen to twenty pages in length (at least thirty pages for Honors in the Major) and should present the final results and conclusions of the research. This report must be orally defended before the supervisory committee. Students are advised to submit the written reports to their committees well before the date of the defense, in case changes are needed before the oral presentation. The student must inform the URP director in writing of the date, time, and place of the final project defense at least two weeks in advance of the proposed defense date. Also, a copy of the final project report must be submitted after successful completion of the defense. Final Project Report Format Staple and book tape binding is recommended. The title page must show the original signatures of all committee members, with typed names beneath each signature. After the defense has taken place, the directing professor will submit the “Completion of Final Term Form” (Form 5) with the committee's recommendation for approval or denial and the final grade to the URP director. Credits and Rewards Upon successful completion of the Undergraduate Research Program, all six credit hours may be applied toward the Chemical Engineering elective requirements for the Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering. Additionally, upon completion of the program, the student will receive:
Current (Fall 2006) List of Undergraduate Research Topics Bioengineering:
Environmental Engineering:
Modeling of Chemical and Biomedical Processes
Materials Science and Engineering: Fuel Cells
Polymers
Nanostructured Materials and Nanocomposites
URP Forms and Guidelines Form 1 -- Application Form URP Guidelines for Advisor and Student Form 2 -- Research Plan (Prospectus) Form 3 -- Establishment of Supervisory Committee Form Form 4 -- Completion of First Term Form Form 5 -- Completion of Final Term Form FORM 1 -- APPLICATION FORM (Must be submitted to the URP Director by the end of the term prior to beginning the URP.) Undergraduate Research Project (URP) Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Name SS# Address Phone E-mail Date of Application University (FAMU or FSU) Class (Junior or Senior) Credit Hours Completed University GPA Departmental GPA Proposed URP Faculty Advisor Proposed URP Topic Proposed Academic Terms of URP (e.g., Fall 2005 & Spring 2006) Approval Signatures With Dates |
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