A successful Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at CPES-Virginia Tech
With funding from the National Science Foundation, CPES-Virginia Tech attracted 7 undergraduate engineering students from around the nation to participate in an eight-week summer research program in power electronics. The 2008 REU program was offered June 2 to July 25.
The REU students, with technical background in electrical, civil, mechanical and aerospace engineering, represented Arizona State University, Clemson University, Seattle Pacific University, and University of Maryland. Paired with a CPES graduate student mentor, each began to learn about power electronics design, fabrication, and testing.
Their projects involved dynamometer design, inductor fabrication using LTCC technology, stress simulation, battery charger and discharger, power and energy measurements software, and alternative energies research. Throughout the program, REU students experienced an industry-like training process, which helps to develop their teamwork, record keeping, communications, presentation, and research skills.
To support their experimental studies, REU students were also taught a wide range of theories in a classroom environment. CPES graduate student, Henry Chen, gave weekly lectures to cover basic power electronics, ethics in engineering, safety, and instrumentation usages.
At the end of the program, REU students shared what they have learned in a series of presentations. Not only has the program fostered technical interactions between undergraduate students from multiple engineering disciplines, it has helped to develop a social network among REU students and with graduate student mentors.
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Pictured above are REU participants, mentors, with CPES Co-Director, Prof. Dushan Boroyevich, after the presentations on July 25.