Journal of Undergraduate Research

Kari Cook and Dr. Hugh Hales, Chemical Engineering Purpose Computerized simulation of the flow in underground petroleum reservoirs is widely used by oil companies to optimize the production of oil and gas. Such simulations are known in the Industry as “reservoir simulation”. They are based on Darcy’s Law, smoothly varying flow potentials, and the assumption […]

Jeffrey Perry and Dr. Randy Lewis, Chemical Engineering Introduction High in the Andes Mountains lives a group of Peruvians who spend their lives on the Uros Islands of Lake Titicaca. To purchase supplies at the nearest city, Puno, islanders must take a 20 minute motorboat trip and 10 minute taxi ride. Because trips to the […]

David Dickinson and Dr. William Pitt, Chemical Engineering Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Although surgeries and chemotherapy have had limited success, these techniques are largely unable to solve the problem and may cause significant damage to a patient’s entire body. Some patients are killed by the chemotherapy. Since many cancers […]

Richard B. Reid and Dr. Larry Baxter, Chemical Engineering The search for sustainable energy sources and technologies is one of the world’s primary concerns in the 21st century. Biomass energy is projected to be an important component of a diverse and sustainable energy portfolio. In order to utilize this source effectively there must be accurate […]

Rhett Brewer and Dr. William Hecker, Chemical Engineering To study the effects of the carbon structure on coal reactivity during the late stages of combustion, it was necessary to be able to know what effect mineral content had on the reactivity. Two coals, dietz (high mineral content) and pitt 8 (low mineral content), were chosen […]

Clint G. Guymon and Dr. Calvin H. Bartholomew, Chemical Engineering The Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) sustained Germany’s fuel needs during World War II as well as South Africa’s since the 1960’s.1 This catalytic technology is enthralling and left to the interested reader to reap in the deluge of information present in the literature. The principle reaction […]

Jacob Lewis and Dr. Thomas Knotts, Chemical Engineering Main Text Proteins are made up of extremely long chains of amino acids. Depending on it constituent amino acids, proteins fold in many 3-dimensional patterns to facilitate various biochemical processes such as catalyzing chemical reactions which allow us to live. How proteins fold is thought to be […]

Anna Katz and Dr. Brad Bundy, Chemical Engineering Introduction The purpose of this project was to examine the phenomenon of eukaryotic myristoylation in a prokaryotic cell-free environment. Basically the idea is that eukaryotic cells such as those within humans have a more robust system for synthesizing protein but it is cheaper, faster, and more easily […]

Rupak Bajagain and Dr. Morris Argyle, Chemical Engineering Introduction The purpose of this project was to develop water gas shift catalysts that are more stable and active than the existing ones. Stable catalysts last longer and are more efficient, which is important to economics and to gain widespread application. Currently the demand for hydrogen as […]

Devin Athey and Dr. Randy Lewis, Chemical Engineering Main Text This project focused on the design of electrical components for a low-cost, low-speed wind turbine in Peru. The electrical components include the charge controller and the three-phase AC rectifier. These parts, if purchased from retailers, cost $100 and $30 USD respectively. The wind turbine was […]