Summer 2023
Once again Embry-Riddle engaged 10 students for the summer Interdisciplinary Research Experiences for Undergraduates - REU, sponsored by NSF. Upon arrival on the campus on May 15, the students were introduced to their mentors, and they visited the main laboratories in the College of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences.
REU group in the Sustainability and Environmental Engineering Laboratory.
REU group in the Structures Laboratory in MicaPlex.
The group visited the US simulation and the Piper Aircraft Company, where they had the opportunity to “fly” and to know the details of an aircraft manufacturing company.
REU group at the US simulation.
Students at Piper Aircraft in Vero Beach, FL.
This year, the students also had the opportunity to visit and tour the Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, FL.
REU Students visiting the Kennedy Space Center.
Besides the weekly seminars, the REU program also promoted a town hall where the REU researchers could meet some graduate students from COE and COAS for a questions and answers session.
Town hall with graduate students
The culmination of the program was the final poster presentations, when the students had to describe the work performed during the research program, and answer questions from the audience.
Student presenting at the REU summit.
Below are some testimonies and achievements from our REU students:
“…The road trips and visits also added a wonderful dimension to the program, allowing us to explore new places and expand our knowledge.
Additionally, I want to express how much I felt at home on campus. The warmth and welcoming nature of the staff created an environment that fostered growth and collaboration. This sense of belonging made the experience even more memorable.
Most importantly, my time working in the MicaPlex was an incredible journey. I was encouraged to leave my comfort zone and am grateful for the chance to have contributed to pushing the boundaries of knowledge in aerospace.” – Diego Diaz.
“…It has been an honor to be welcomed and learn in such an outstanding professional environment. In a short time, it became a reliable space to learn from my errors and achievements and to seek advice from a passionate and wonderful group of academics and students. Therefore, I directly thank Dr. Hugo Castillo and Dr. Alba Chavez for their guidance as mentors and their constant effort in imparting novel ideas and techniques in the laboratory. As well as, to Dr. Foram Madiyar and Dr. Alberto Mello for their determination in making possible the development of the program and for sharing with us numerous resources...” - Natalie Baez Torres.
“…Visiting the Piper Factory was an significant experience, I was able to see firsthand what a realistic day of an engineer would entail within the workday. The vast number of teams required to make the end product, a plane, possible was eye opening…” – Queenly Xie.
Another story of success:
Summer 2022
Embry-Riddle brought in 10 students from different universities for an NSF-funded project to participate in an elite 10-week research experience that allowed undergraduates the chance to work alongside experienced faculty mentors and explore pressing aerospace problems. The research is housed in Embry-Riddle’s College of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences, with most of the College of Engineering research done in labs at the MicaPlex, an incubator for innovative new companies and the cornerstone building of the university’s renowned Research Park. During the REU program, students used our leading-edge laboratories to conduct multidisciplinary research in aerospace engineering, chemistry and applied space biology with a goal of improving future space materials science and human diagnostic technology. This Interdisciplinary Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) will be repeated in the summers of 2023 and 2024 with new students. This Program provides total immersion into all aspects of laboratory work along with other enrichment activities. Some activities for this summer included visiting companies in the vicinity, to allow the students interact with the industry for a vision of applied research.
REU group received at US Simulation
Visit to US Simulation
Yaren Colak receiving take off training in a CRJ-200 simulator.
The group visited the US Simulation LLC Located in the Volusia Mall. US Simulation has over 10 different flight decks with realistic simulators to allow pilots to train in different categories of airplanes. The available simulators the pilots can train and fly are Boeing 737-Max, Cessna 172 Nav 3 G1000, Frasca CRJ-200, Bot Journey Lsa, Seamax M22, Citation Cj1, A320, among others.
One of the students in the program, Kaitlyn Bice, described her experience with US Simulation: “The visit to U.S. simulation was such a fun and hands-on experience. The staff was incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable. Whether you're interested in a career in the aerospace industry or not, it is so exciting to experience a flight simulator”. Another student, Braelyn Bolger, who is about to get her flight license, explained her feeling on the visit: “The simulation is an amazing opportunity for student to get inspired with aviation. It also gives those who have always been interested a chance to try it out and get involved."
Piper M600 Assembling Line
Visit to Piper Aircraft
The visit to Piper Aircraft included a road trip to Vero Beach, FL. Piper is one of the few aircraft manufacturers that maintain a vertical line of production meaning the company build parts from raw material. The students had the opportunity to walk through the manufacturing line, including fabrication of small parts, integration of components, assembling line, interior design and fabrication and finally the flight line. With the exception of avionics/electronics and engine, Piper manufactures in house all other components of its airplanes. Among the lines visited, the students could see the M600/SLS, the Archer Series, and the Pilot 100i.
REU team at Piper Aircraft in Vero Beach, FL
Joshua Hollins, one of the REU students had the following comments on the visit: “The part that I found to be the most interesting about our visit to Piper Aircraft was the opportunity to see first-hand their aerospace manufacturing processes. I personally have a background in manufacturing and aviation, but this was my first opportunity to see the two put together. Piper was an ideal company to expose me to aerospace manufacturing because of their significant amount of vertical integration”. Another student, Kaitlyn Bice, mentioned that “Visiting the Piper Aircraft factory was an once-in-a-lifetime experience. The tour was extremely impressive, and it was fascinating to see so many steps of aircraft manufacturing all in one place. I don't think I could have had this amazing experience if it weren't for the Embry-Riddle REU program”.