STem Academic Research and Training (START) projects include of range of content areas, such as 3-D printing, engineering, biology, geology, math and physics.
Some projects are in person at RTP, Scott Northern Wake or Southern Wake campuses, while other projects are virtual. Some projects may include Wake Tech partners:
Requirements for projects also vary. Some projects require no previous knowledge, while others require that students either be enrolled in or have taken certain courses. The requirements for each project are listed.
Below are the location, mentor, description and requirements of the projects currently offered. Projects are organized by primary content area.
Mentors: Carolyn Hoffman
Partner: AeroEducate
Location: Southern Wake Campus (2-3:30 p.m. Mondays)
Requirement: Completed or enrolled in DFT-170
Description: Students use their SolidWorks skills to model, slice and 3D print parts for practical applications. Applications may include models for aerospace elementary education, manipulatives for math education applications, large chess pieces and other needs.
Mentors: Wendy Johnson and Jacqui Haddow-Green
Partner: North Carolina Department of Transportation
Location: Virtual and Offsite (NCDOT visits 3-5 p.m. Mondays)
Requirements: Completed MAT-171
Description: The North Carolina Department of Transportation maintains the second-largest roadway system in the country, and the agency has many engineering units that work together. The Photogrammetry unit uses various technologies to get 3D data, and the Locations and Survey Unit acquires specific locations needed to begin a road design project. Then, the Roadway Design unit utilizes data to create the road layout, which also brings in the Hydraulics Unit to add to the design to disperse stormwater runoff and keep the road clear for safe travel. Students partner with these four units to help in the design of a roadway project.
Mentors: Dr. Thusheeta Sivayogan and Dr. Jason Howard
Partner: Appalachian State University (Dr. Adam McKay)
Location: Virtual
Requirement: Completed PHY-151 or PHY-251
Description: Comets are "fossils" left over from the formation of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago. This makes them valuable time capsules that can be used to study the solar system's earliest stages. Comets are rich in icy material, making them important for understanding the origin of icy material in the solar system and the delivery of key ices such as water to the early Earth.
The projects available involve analysis of narrow-band optical imaging of comets, used to determine their level of activity and composition. This research will give students experience in basic astronomical data reduction and photometry (measuring the amount of light we observe from astronomical objects), the starting point for any student interested in observational astronomy. Students should have a background in physics and an interest in astronomy.
Mentor: Elizabeth Calvente
Location: Virtual
Requirement: Completed at least one 100-level biology course
Description: Students have the opportunity to select a microbiology topic to research. Potential topics include vector biology and infectious disease, the microbiome and human nutrition, or epidemiology. Additional topics may be suggested by the student. This is a paper-based project; there will not be any lab work. Students should be comfortable performing research independently. The information found will be transferred to a poster board and presented at the end of the semester.
Mentor: Rachael Walsh
Location: Southern Wake Campus
Description: Students look at the diversity of mosquito populations at three Wake Tech campuses. Throughout the semester, students work on a literature review and collect and identify mosquitoes. The mosquitoes will be identified using morphology (physical traits) and DNA barcoding techniques. Students will have the opportunity to experience both field work and lab work.
Mentor: Dr. Greg Johnson
Location: Scott Northern Wake Campus
Description: Students search for potential antibiotics by screening organisms that live in the soil. The soil is a very competitive environment for bacteria, and some develop the ability to produce substances that impede the growth of other bacteria. Included in the scope of this project, students search for these antibacterial-producing soil organisms and identify their species and even isolate the compound they make.
From the Small World Initiative website: In order to "address a worldwide health threat – the diminishing supply of effective antibiotics – by tapping into the collective power of many student researchers concurrently tackling the same challenge, living up to its motto 'crowdsourcing antibiotic discovery.'"
Mentor: Dr. Kumudu Peiris
Location: Scott Northern Wake Campus
Requirement: Completed CHM-151
Description: Antioxidants play a crucial role in preventing oxidative stress-related disorders by neutralizing free radicals within the human body. This study aimed to assess the antioxidant potential of herbal drink substituents using the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) method. The herbal drink substituents included a combination of traditional medicinal herbs known for their potential health benefits.
The FRAP assay is based on the ability of antioxidants to reduce ferric ions (Fe3+) to ferrous ions (Fe2+), forming a colored complex. The intensity of the color formed is directly proportional to the antioxidant capacity of the sample. In this study, a series of herbal drink substituents were prepared, and their antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the FRAP values.
The experimental results revealed varying degrees of antioxidant activity among the herbal drink substituents. High FRAP values were indicative of potent antioxidant capacity. Statistical analysis assessed the significance of differences between the antioxidant activities of various herbal combinations.
Students identify and quantify specific antioxidant compounds present in the herbal drink substituents using complementary analytical techniques, such as chromatography or spectrophotometry. This information further elucidate the contribution of individual components to the overall antioxidant potential of herbal drinks.
The findings from this study contribute valuable insights into the antioxidant capabilities of herbal drink substituents, emphasizing their potential as natural sources of antioxidants for promoting human health. The results may have implications for the formulation of functional beverages with enhanced antioxidant properties.
Additionally, the FRAP method employed in this study provides a reliable and convenient tool for assessing antioxidant activity, allowing for comparative analyses across various herbal blends and facilitating future research in the field of natural antioxidants.
Mentor: Dilmeet Singh
Location: Virtual
Requirement: Completed CHM-090, CHM-130 or CHM-131/132
Description: This will be an exploratory and informative project to promote awareness of food to support health and well-being. Students can work on this project from different perspectives, and the project can involve student interns interested in exploring this project from the fields of chemistry, biology and nutrition.
Here are some topics that can be researched:
Mentor: Jessica Kelley
Partner: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Location: Southern Wake Campus (2-3 p.m. Mondays)
Requirement: Preference given to applicants who have completed or are currently enrolled in GEL-111
Description: This project seeks students interested in geology and Earth science, as well as STEM communication and outreach to the general public. Interns receive training and serve as outreach volunteers at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for a portion of the project hours.
Mentor: Asli Mutlu
Location: Scott Northern Wake Campus
Requirement: Enrolled in or completed MAT-143, MAT-152 or MAT-171
Description: How does the census make sense? 2020 Census results have been released and are accessible for everyone. The results of the census help determine how federal funding, including grants and support to states, counties and communities, are spent every year for the next decade. It helps communities get their fair share for schools, hospitals, roads and public works.
Students explore 2020 Census data in a holistic way. First, they ponder and form a question. Then, they use statistical analysis that will enable them to answer the question. Ultimately, the project will be finalized reporting on the results and the implications of the findings.
Mentor: TBD
Location: Virtual
Description: Health is determined by a mix of things, including diet, exercise, environment and genetics. For some people, genetics plays a much stronger role in their health. For certain conditions, screening tests determine if someone has a strong genetic risk of contracting a disease in the future – even before he or she has signs or symptoms.
The Precision Health Genetic Screen (PHGS) is a pilot program for genomic screening in otherwise healthy adults. PHGS looks for patients in primary care practices who are at increased risk of developing high cholesterol and certain types of cancer. Patients identified as being at high risk will work with their doctors to watch for early symptoms.
The student works with PHGS scientists to plan and implement community outreach events, such as health fairs, to recruit patients. If the student is a Spanish speaker, he or she could help with translation to create Spanish versions of PHGS educational materials.
Mentor: Rachael Walsh
Location: Southern Wake Campus
Description: START interns assist in data analysis for an ongoing collaborative mindset study between Wake Tech and North Carolina State University. The purpose of the study is to evaluate how students' mindsets affect their peers' self-efficacy, growth mindset and academic performance. Additionally, this study looks at whether specific groups (underrepresented minorities, gender) change as a result of mindset pairings. (START interns will not be participants in the study.)
Mentor: Asli Mutlu
Location: Scott Northern Wake Campus
Requirement: Enrolled in or completed ENG-111
Description: This research project is a bibliometric approach focused on unrecognized or negligently recognized female individuals who have courageously and successfully contributed to their respective STEM fields. The contributions of these scholars will have had a substantial impact on modern society, albeit being hidden figures. Students investigate the careers of the scholar of their choosing and present their findings in the format of a poster or paper.