Engineering

Explore the various projects below categorized under the general theme of Engineering. Be sure to return to the Barrett College Fellows Program main page and explore projects under the other 11 themes as well. You might be surprised at what you find and maybe you will discover the perfect research project for what you hope to study!

Please do not contact the research centers or faculty listed below directly (a formal application process is a required step to joining these research opportunities).

For questions about the Barrett College Fellows Program or specific research projects, please contact Dr. Sarah Graff at: [email protected].

Back to Barrett College Fellows main page

Research projects

Barrett SAEE (Space Architecture & Extreme Environments) ARC 493 Honors Thesis

Project # 145

Center name: MSD, Space Architecture & Extreme Environments (SAEE)
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Elena Rocchi

Project description

Barrett Honors students will participate in SAEE Barrett Research programs, including: 1) Working in the labs of the Interplanetary Initiative, The Next Lab, and the Luminosity Lab, contributing to cutting-edge science, with one student per lab. 2) Engaging in supply chain management within the Business program to contribute to designing the first Starbucks in space, with one student. 3) Participating in the SAEE Barrett Global Flex program in Rome, one of the space capitals of the world, providing an ideal environment for this program and open to all. The faculty lead is Elena Rocchi, working in collaboration with the different lab directors, program heads, and faculty abroad. By the time of application, new opportunities in labs and cities may arise, so students are encouraged to schedule a meeting with me, as the leading faculty member, to discuss available placements and opportunities in more detail.

Special skills needed

Self-Time Management; Design Capacity and Interest in Making Things; Collaboration and Teamwork; Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving; Adaptability and Flexibility; Attention to Detail; Interpersonal and Cross-Cultural Communication; Initiative and Drive; Technical Competency; Global PerspectiveArchitecture
Industrial Design
Graphic Design (for virtual simulations/technologies)
Computer Science (for virtual simulations/technologies)
Design, Arts
Mechanical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Urban Planning
Business Administration (Supply Chain Management)
Environmental Design
Aerospace Engineering
Biomedical Engineering (for health-related research in space)
Materials Science
Sustainability Studies
International Studies (for global perspectives)
Electrical Engineering (for wearable technology design)
Physics (for space science and research applications)

Majors

Architecture
Industrial Design
Graphic Design (for virtual simulations/technologies)
Computer Science (for virtual simulations/technologies)
Design, Arts
Mechanical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Urban Planning
Business Administration (Supply Chain Management)
Environmental Design
Aerospace Engineering
Biomedical Engineering (for health-related research in space)
Materials Science
Sustainability Studies
International Studies (for global perspectives)
Electrical Engineering (for wearable technology design)
Physics (for space science and research applications)

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025); 2nd Year Students; 3rd Year Students; 4th Year Students- Seniors; ASU Online; Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Art, Architecture, and Design, Business and Entrepreneurship, Education, Engineering, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Designing microbial interaction to remove atmospheric CH4 for climate solutions

Project # 151

Center name: Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Hinsby Cdaillo-Quiroz

Project description

This is a microbiology and engineering project in which, along with a PhD student, we test various combinations of microbial cultures to optimize the growth and activity of methanotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria. Fundamentally, this experiment will be built on physiological and genomic data, testing whether metabolic interactions can complement and provide mixed growth, alleviating the limitations of low methane levels through heterotrophs' co-metabolism.

This is a computationally assisted (engineering) and bench-driven (microbiology) project, in which complementary interactions will enable testing hundreds of permutations of microbial strains.

Special skills needed

Students who have completed Mic 220 and 205, or MIC 300 level classes, will be considered for students focusing on the Microbiology component; students who have completed Process or Bioreactor engineering classes (or equivalent) will be considered. Experience in microbiology labs, Arduino systems, or bioreactor systems will be highly considered.

Majors

Microbiology, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering

Years

-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-2nd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering

Safe Routes to School/Safe Streets

Project # 155

Center name: Active Schools & Communities Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Allison Poulos

Project description

Join Dr. Allison Poulos in the College of Health Solutions and an interdisciplinary research team to support our local communities to make the streets safer for walking, riding, and rolling. We work with City partners to evaluate changes in safety and human behavior after changes to the built environment. Our team meets weekly on the Downtown Campus on Thursdays from 11-1 and includes a large group of students ranging from first-year undergrads to post-doctoral fellows from various programs throughout ASU. You would assist with data collection including conducting surveys and environmental assessments of street and neighborhood conditions, tallying pedestrian and vehicular traffic counts, data management, and dissemination of results. This research provides a great opportunity for hands-on, community-based research with community partners in government and non-profit spaces.

Special skills needed

Interest in health, sustainability, safety, design; Interest in community-based work; Availability on Thursdays between 11-1

Majors

Health Education, Health Promotion, Public Health, Population Health, Kinesiology, Health Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Design, Sustainability, Psychology, Education

Years

-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Art, Architecture, and Design, Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Engineering, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

HeatReady Schools

Project # 157

Center name: Active Schools & Communities Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Allison Poulos

Project description

Interested in supporting elementary schools to make informed decisions about supporting children's health and movement when it's hot? Join Dr. Allison Poulos and our interdisciplinary study team to learn about the strategies used and challenges schools face; and collect data to identify how adding shade and greenspace to schoolyards can decrease children's thermal exposure and improve health. Students would get hands-on experience collecting and analyzing data. Availability to meet in person on Wednesdays from 11-1 on the Downtown Campus required.

Special skills needed

Interest in health, sustainability, education, design; Availability on Wednesdays from 11-1

Majors

Health, Education, Sustainability, Design, Engineering, Data Analytics, Policy

Years

-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Art, Architecture, and Design, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Engineering, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Next-Generation Renewable Energy/Semiconductor Materials and Devices

Project # 165

Center name: Renewable Energy Materials and Devices Laboratory
Campus/Location: ASU Research Park
Faculty lead: Nick Rolston

Project description

Our group's research goals are to develop next-generation energy and semiconductor technologies and to ensure that they are fit for manufacturability and durability. We study the connection between material degradation in printable thin-film energy and semiconductor materials and devices with the evolution of mechanical and environmental stress. We leverage scalable, open-air deposition methods to fabricate robust devices toward the goal of manufacturing. We use thin-film metrologies along with newly developed and custom-built equipment to characterize material properties and reliability on length scales from angstroms to meters. Our focus is to develop the next-generation of photovoltaics, battery, and semiconductor technology using the paradigm of design for reliability. Up to 5 student positions are available for these projects.

Special skills needed

Above all else, enthusiasm and a desire to get hands-on experience and learn more about designing the future of energy and semiconductor devices!

Majors

Any field of engineering, physics, chemistry, or computer science

Years

-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Engineering, Sustainability

Synthesis of Nanostructured Materials for Catalytic Chemical Reactions

Project # 174

Center name: Department of Physics
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Jingyue Liu

Project description

This project centers on the synthesis of novel nanostructured materials for energy and environmental applications. Nanoscale architectures exhibit unique physicochemical properties that can be leveraged to develop more efficient and sustainable technologies. Our work focuses on designing and optimizing chemical synthesis strategies to establish robust, scalable protocols suitable for practical implementation. The resulting nanostructured materials will serve as catalysts in processes such as hydrogen production and the conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added chemicals. A key emphasis of the project is the efficient utilization of rare earth metals to enhance catalytic performance.

Special skills needed

Knowledge and experiences in inorganic chemistry, especially synthesis of inorganic materials using chemistry methods. Inorganic Chemistry; Chemical Engineering; Materials Science and Engineering.

Majors

Inorganic Chemistry; Chemical Engineering; Materials Science and Engineering

Years

-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering

Behavioral tracker of age-dependent polyethism

Project # 177

Center name: Authentic online research on honey bee colonies
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully remote/Remote considered
Faculty lead: Hong Lei

Project description

As an eusocial species, honeybee colonies are known to demonstrate age dependent behaviors. Young bees take care of the brood; older bees become forager. At any given time, different individuals are performing different behaviors in the hive. Recognizing and quantify these behaviors is important for understanding organizing principles of a society, but this task is challenging because of large number of bees. Could this work be automated by a computerized tracker powered by machine learning?

Special skills needed

Computer vision, AI, data science

Majors

Years

-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering

Making knots and links from DNA and RNA

Project # 184

Center name: Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, Biodesign Institute
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Di Liu

Project description

This project explores the design and synthesis of complex DNA and RNA topological structures, including knots and links, to address fundamental questions in biology and medicine. By leveraging cutting-edge techniques in bionanotechnology, we aim to construct and characterize these intricate structures and to reveal novel insights into the biophysical properties of nucleic acids and their potential biomedical applications. Students will gain hands-on experience in molecular biology and nanotechnology techniques, including DNA and RNA handling, gel electrophoresis, and various characterization methods. Computational tools may be used for structural modeling and prediction.

Special skills needed

Basic experimental skills in biochemistry or molecular biology. Programming skills are also preferred.

Majors

Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Molecular biology, Physics

Years

-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering, Health and Wellness

Measuring and Preventing AI-Enabled Online Crowdsourced Fraud

Project # 187

Center name: The Happy Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Jaron Mink

Project description

Online crowdwork platforms such as Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), Prolific, and CloudResearch have massively cheapened and simplified the process of recruiting human-subjects research at scale; this data directly informed research in psychology, behavioral economics, public health, and computer science, among many others. Unfortunately, this increased accessibility has also made studies more susceptible to large-scale study fraud. This series of research projects seeks to advance defenses against AI-enabled deception, unify protections within a usable open framework for researchers, and gain an unparalleled view of online study fraud.

This project is interdisciplinary and lives at the intersection of computer science, computer networks, cybersecurity, social science, Human-Computer Interaction, and AI-focused research. The students will work alongside a PhD student in this area and help build towards publishable research findings. We prefer to bring students into the group early in their program so there’s a possibility of a long-term collaboration if the fit is right. These projects often take around 1–2 years from start to publication, so once you’ve had a chance to learn about the project and decide it’s the right match, we ask for a minimum commitment of about 6 months to ensure you can make a meaningful contribution.

Special skills needed

This project is extremely interdisciplinary and students can contribute from a number of possible skill sets, but a basic understanding of computer science and computer networks will be important.

Skills: Computer Science, Computer Networks, Cybersecurity, Social Science Methodology (Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods), Experimental Design, Statistics, Human-Computer Interaction.

Majors

Computer Science, Social Science/Psychology/Communications, Cybersecurity, AI

Years

-3rd Year Students
-2nd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Engineering, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Designing and Evaluating ICAP-Aligned Instructional AI Agents in Online STEM Courses

Project # 189

Center name: N/A
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Yi Zheng

Project description

This project explores how large language model based instructional agents can be designed to support higher-quality cognitive engagement in online STEM courses. The project builds on an existing multi-agent instructional system developed in the lab of Professor Hua Wei in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence at ASU. The new research aims to integrate the ICAP framework (Interactive, Constructive, Active, Passive) (Chi & Wylie, 2014) as a principled design lens for instructional decision-making.

The honors student will work on (1) translating ICAP principles into explicit agent behaviors, (2) applying these designs to selected modules from an online STEM course, (3) analyzing how different agent configurations promote different ICAP learning modes, and (4) evaluating artifacts (e.g., engagement coding schemes, alignment checks between learning objectives and agent outputs) and student learning outcomes.

This project is suitable for one honors student with interests in AI, education, and research methodology. The student will gain experience in human-centered AI design, learning science frameworks, and empirical research.

Special skills needed

Strong interest in education research, adept thinker and problem-solver, detail-oriented, organized, professional communication

Majors

Psychology, education, social sciences, computer science majors who are interested in education research

Years

-3rd Year Students
-2nd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Education, Engineering

Indigenous Law & Policy Research & Writing Project

Project # 194

Center name: American Indian Policy Institute
Campus/Location: Downtown; Fully remote; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Brooke Curleyhair

Project description

This project is designed for students interested in the intersection of Indigenous law, public policy, and governance, particularly those considering law school or policy-oriented careers. Under the mentorship of faculty and staff at the American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI), students will engage in a structured research and writing experience focused on a legal or policy issue impacting Indigenous peoples in the United States or internationally.

Students will develop a focused research question, examine the historical and legal foundations of the issue, and analyze contemporary federal, state, tribal, or international policy developments. As part of this work, students will contribute to AIPI’s ongoing policy analysis efforts by assisting with legislative and Federal Register tracking, maintaining and updating a shared policy spreadsheet, and drafting summaries of relevant policy developments in collaboration with AIPI researchers. These activities will support, rather than replace, their individual research project.

Students will produce a final written product, such as a policy brief, research article, or blog post, with opportunities for publication through AIPI’s policy blog and/or the Law Journal for Social Justice’s online platform. Year-long projects may support submission to a law or policy journal.

Special skills needed

This project is intended to facilitate learning opportunities in advanced research and academic writing techniques. While a specific set of qualifications is not required, we recommend students with some experience engaging in academic research and writing apply for this opportunity.

Majors

ANY major! Policies touching all facets of everyday life, from education to health to engineering, impact Indigenous peoples. The more research we do on these diverse issues, the more prepared and empowered Indigenous communities will be to develop quality of life-enhancing solutions!

Years

-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Simulator-Based Training to Reduce Crashes Among Inexperienced Drivers

Project # 198

Center name: Simulator Building
Campus/Location: Polytechnic
Faculty lead: Shiva Pooladvand

Project description

This project, conducted in partnership with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), focuses on improving roadway safety for drivers across Arizona. The primary goal is to develop and evaluate innovative training programs that utilize a high-fidelity driving simulator to enhance the driving skills, hazard recognition, and decision-making abilities of inexperienced drivers. These simulator-based training modules will be designed to replicate real-world driving environments and challenging scenarios commonly encountered on Arizona roadways. The selected student will contribute to the development of different driving scenarios within the simulator. Applicants should have familiarity with programming and an interest in simulation, human factors, and transportation safety research. The student will work closely with the research team to design, implement, and test interactive training modules that promote safer driving behaviors and reduce crash risks among inexperienced drivers. This is a volunteer position.

Special skills needed

Proficiency in programming, data analysis, human subject study, and data collection

Majors

Human Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or other related Engineering majors

Years

-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering

Arizona Power: Decision-Making for the Future of Energy in the Southwest

Project # 201

Center name: Decision Theater
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Manfred Laubichler

Project description

The Decision Theater is developing innovative decision-support tools to address critical challenges in Arizona's energy and environmental landscape. In examining the future energy landscape, DT is developing a data-driven model that will guide stakeholders in evaluating novel energy sources, including nuclear options, to meet the state’s 20 GW demand from coal and oil closures and new growth, while balancing safety, security, and efficiency concerns. DT also aims to map ozone pollution and risks that may trigger EPA-imposed restrictions on development. Decision Theater will integrate these data streams and models into cohesive visualizations, ultimately, to support decision-making across industry, government, and communities through understanding complex financial, regulatory, environmental, and societal factors.

Special skills needed

This position will assist the Decision Theater staff with subject-matter research and analysis which may include:

Writing briefs

Briefing colleagues on background for topics

Researching through complex techniques and procedures, library research, structured

interviews or other project-specific methodology

Writing and editing material for publication and presentation

Maintaining research documentation and sources

Running models and tools for presentations to clients and visitors

Qualifications include:

Demonstrated public speaking experience

Strong qualitative research skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Detail-oriented

Ability to pick up things fast with a strong desire to learn

Demonstrated leadership experience

Previous knowledge or skill and/or equivalent experience in Outlook, MS Office Suite,

Word, and Excel, specifically macros and functions

Experience with collaborative platforms such as Google Docs

Ability to lift/move heavy furniture with the assistance of a dolly

Interest in learning how to utilize technology to support decision-making and public policy All majors are appropriate but may be best suited for those in Sustainability, Complex Adaptive Systems, Fulton Engineering, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, WP Carey (Business Analytics), Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Majors

All majors are appropriate but may be best suited for those in Sustainability, Complex Adaptive Systems, Fulton Engineering, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, WP Carey (Business Analytics), Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Years

-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering, Sustainability

Career Navigator

Project # 203

Center name: Decision Theater
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Manfred Laubichler

Project description

This project focuses on developing an AI-powered tool that helps students clearly understand how their coursework connects to the job market. Using data from CGF courses and live job postings from Lightcast, the tool maps specific skills learned in each course to relevant job titles and current employment opportunities. Students can see how completed courses contribute to concrete, in-demand skills, as well as which additional courses could help close gaps for roles they are interested in pursuing. For each job, the tool displays the full set of required skills, allowing users to compare what they have already learned with what employers are seeking. This creates a transparent pathway between education and employment, grounded in real labor market data. By making skill development visible and actionable, the tool supports more informed academic planning, reduces uncertainty about career outcomes, and helps students align their learning choices with evolving workforce needs.

Special skills needed

Majors

Years

-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Engineering

Discrete Structures in Real-World Data Using Python

Project # 209

Center name: School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
Campus/Location: Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Neha Joshi

Project description

This project explores how core ideas from discrete mathematics, such as graphs, sets, logic, and algorithms, are used in modern data science applications. Students will work with real-world datasets (e.g., social networks, transportation systems, or interaction networks) and model them using discrete structures like graphs and trees. Using Python, students will analyze connectivity, paths, centrality measures, and patterns within the data, and create visualizations to communicate their findings.

The project emphasizes both mathematical reasoning and computational thinking. Students will gain hands-on experience using Python libraries such as pandas, networkx, and matplotlib, while strengthening their understanding of discrete math concepts covered in coursework. No prior data science experience is required, but comfort with basic programming is helpful. The project culminates in a written report and a reproducible Jupyter notebook that can serve as a portfolio piece.

Number of Students: 3–5
Faculty Lead: Neha Joshi, School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

Special skills needed

No prior programming or advanced math experience is required. We are looking for students who are curious, motivated, and interested in exploring discrete mathematics and data analysis. Familiarity with basic algebra, graph theory or willingness to learn Python is helpful but not required. Students should be comfortable working collaboratively and thinking critically about problems.

Majors

Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Economics, Physics, or any major with an interest in mathematical modeling, problem-solving, and data analysis.

Years

-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering

Research with the Hubble and Webb Space Telescopes in Professor Windhorst's Cosmology group at ASU.

Project # 213

Center name: ASU SESE Cosmology Initiative (Goldwater 5th floor)
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Rogier Windhorst

Project description

Students are solicited to do research with the Hubble and Webb Space Telescopes
in the Cosmology group of Regents' and Foundation Professor Windhorst at ASU.
Possible research topics can be done at the undergraduate, honors, 2nd-yr,
Masters, and/or PhD level by either SESE, Physics, and/or NASA Space Grant
undergraduate or graduate students, resp.

The student will do research with Hubble and the new Webb data to study current
hot topics in cosmology, the epoch of cosmic reionization, star-formation in a
cosmological context, galaxy formation and evolution, and the growth of
super-massive black holes in the centers of galaxies. The student will learn how
to reduce and analyze the Hubble and Webb data, and will get hands-on
experience with Hubble and Webb data. Recommended is some experience with Mac OS
and/or UNIX, and python image processing, although this is not essential for
undergraduate students, since they will be trained in Windhorst's cosmology
group. We have room for several new undergraduate students.

Special skills needed

Essential Skills: Recommended is some experience with Mac OS and/or UNIX,
and image processing using Python, etc. See above, although not essential for UGs

Animation: Beginner
Adobe Suite: None/No Preference
C: Beginner or better
CAD: None
Database: Beginner or better
GPS: None/No Preference
HTML: Beginner or better
Image Processing: Beginner or better
Java: Beginner or better
Linux: Beginner or better
Macs: Beginner or better
Statistics: Beginner or better
Windows: None/No Preference

Majors

AST, PHY, MAT, Engineering (Mechanical or Electrical)

Years

-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering

Efficient Reasoning and Communication for Large Language Models

Project # 214

Center name: Center for AI and Data Analytics
Campus/Location: Fully remote/Remote considered
Faculty lead: Xiyang Hu

Project description

This project studies large language models (LLMs) that perform reasoning and inter-agent communication directly in latent space rather than through explicit natural language tokens. The core idea is to represent intermediate thoughts, plans, and messages as continuous latent states that are learned end to end and exchanged among agents. The project will develop algorithms and model architectures that allow agents to generate, transform, and interpret latent representations for tasks that require long-horizon reasoning, coordination, and information sharing. Key goals include analyzing how latent-space interaction affects reasoning depth, sample efficiency, and robustness, and comparing these properties with token-level communication. The project will also provide empirical and theoretical analysis of when latent communication improves performance, how it can be aligned with external supervision, and how latent states can be decoded or constrained to support interpretability and control.

Special skills needed

✅ Strong in programming (Python/C++, with experience in deep learning frameworks like PyTorch)
✅ Solid in mathematical foundations (e.g., probability, statistics, linear algebra, optimization)
✅ Knowledgeable in AI/ML (machine learning, data mining, or AI fundamentals; has taken CSE 475/476 or equivalent)
✅ Passionate about research (publications in ML or interdisciplinary venues are a plus, but not required)
✅ Self-motivated, curious, and ready to take initiative – we encourage students to lead projects and publish at top venues!

Majors

Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electerical Engineering, etc.

Years

-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering

AI-accelerated physics

Project # 216

Center name: Center for Biological Physics
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully remote/Remote considered
Faculty lead: Steve Pressé

Project description

Neural networks excel when trained on massive, high-quality datasets, allowing them to fit new data. In the Natural Sciences, however, data are inherently noisy, sparse, and expensive to acquire, fundamentally limiting the amount and quality of training data available. While the community has achieved notable successes with AI in cases involving exceptionally large and well-curated datasets–most famously protein structure prediction, recognized with a Nobel Prize–these high-visibility examples are exceptions rather than the rule. By contrast, the performance of AI on scientific imaging data–our primary window into biological processes and early disease detection–has been inconsistent. In one illustrative example from our own work currently under review at PNAS with am undergraduate as first author, we demonstrate that an entire class of widely used methods, many heavily reliant on AI, systematically reinforce incorrect models of motion. More broadly, it is understood in our community that many high-profile AI-based image reconstruction tools fail to generalize beyond the specific datasets provided by their authors, despite publication in flagship journals. At the root of this problem lies a fundamental property of microscopy data: it is noisy and sparse. Crucially, however, noise is not just a nuisance: it encodes valuable physical information. Our proposed approach will leverage known physical laws to generate probabilistic realizations of the data. This will then enable AI models to infer, with quantified uncertainty, the probable underlying “noise-free” image by a method known as simulation-based inference. This Physics-informed strategy departs sharply from prevailing Physics-free paradigms that rely on reassigning intensities in images pixel to pixel based on what was gathered from training datasets alone. As a result, the proposed project will offer a principled foundation for robust image reconstruction with the potential to underpin early disease diagnostics, for example by detecting subtle signatures of neurological disorders from retinal optical coherence tomography images.

Special skills needed

Programming, and calculus (I-III) are pre-reqs.

Majors

Physics, Computer Science, Math

Years

-2nd Year Students
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering

At the Helm: Steering Complex Dynamical Systems

Project # 228

Center name: Simon A. Levin Center of Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Cent…
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully Remote; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Jimmie Adriazola

Project description

Faculty Lead:
Jimmie Adriazola, Ph. D.
Incoming tenure-track assistant professor (August, 2026) and current National Science Foundation/Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow
School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

Project Description:
The central question of this project is simple yet deep: how can small, carefully designed inputs guide a dynamical system toward a desired state?

The dynamics we will wrestle with come from dispersive waves in optics, fluids, and quantum materials. These systems are visually striking and mathematically subtle since wave dynamics are known to spread, interact, and reorganize over time in complex ways. Using optimal control theory, we then seek to work *with* the natural evolution of the system, exploiting structure to achieve precise goals.

Students will learn how optimal control problems are formulated, how forward and backward equations interact through adjoint methods, and how numerical algorithms turn theory into computation. Advanced modeling techniques will be used to make large-scale systems tractable, allowing students to experiment, visualize, and test ideas efficiently, even on a standard laptop.

The project emphasizes intuition, modeling, and hands-on computation, showing how different branches of mathematics come together to address a single, well-posed challenge. It is well suited for students interested in applied mathematics, scientific computing, or mathematically driven physics, and it provides a strong foundation for more advanced topics such as optimal transport, generative modeling, and scientific machine learning.

Special skills needed

Students should be comfortable with multivariable calculus and linear algebra, including basic matrix computations. Prior exposure to differential equations is expected, at the level of an introductory ODE course.

Some programming experience is required, ideally in MATLAB or Python, though students do not need prior experience with numerical PDEs or optimization. Curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to learn mathematical ideas that connect theory and computation are more important than advanced background. Prior experience with control theory or partial differential equations is **not** required.

Majors

Mathematics, Computational Science, Physics

Years

-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering

Nano-oscillators for AI

Project # 229

Center name: School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Zhaoyang Fan

Project description

Modern AI usually runs on power-hungry digital hardware. Nature does better. In this project, you’ll explore a radically different approach: nano-oscillators—tiny electronic devices whose rhythms can compute. When driven properly, these oscillators naturally synchronize, drift, and respond to time-varying signals, making them ideal for voice and speech recognition, image identification, and many other applications.

Students will work with emerging devices (such as phase-change nano-oscillators), simple circuits, and data-driven learning methods inspired by the brain. Over two semesters, you will (1) build intuition through modeling and experiments, (2) encode audio signals into oscillator dynamics, and (3) demonstrate a small-scale AI task such as spoken-digit recognition—using physics, not massive neural networks.

This project is hands-on, interdisciplinary, and research-focused, blending electronics, materials, signal processing, and machine learning. It is well suited for students curious about neuromorphic computing, sustainable AI hardware, or graduate research. No prior AI experience is required—just curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to learn how matter itself can compute.

Special skills needed

Basic Circuits

Majors

Engineering

Years

-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering

Artificial Intelligence Empowered Large-scale Human Crowd Simulation Generation

Project # 234

Center name: Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully remote/Remote considered
Faculty lead: Alex Ma

Project description

In this animation/filmmaking hybrid project incorporating generative AI, students will collaborate with faculty members from different schools within the Herberger Institute to experiment with various AI-integrated workflows and document and evaluate the reliability of outcomes. Given the rapidly evolving nature of generative AI, the project's aims and scope may adapt over time. This project is particularly suitable for students with an interest in generative AI and filmmaking who also possess an exploratory mindset.

Special skills needed

Knowledge in one or more of the following areas:
Animation, filmmaking, and media production
Generative AI tools (e.g., text-to-video)
Creative coding

Majors

Animation, Film, Media Arts and Sciences, Computer Science, and other related disciplines

Years

-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Art, Architecture, and Design, Engineering, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media

Governance of Distributed Energy Resources among households

Project # 235

Center name: Center for Behavior, Institutions and the Environment
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Marco Janssen

Project description

Residential houses are increasingly integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DER), including rooftop solar, batteries, EVs, and smart thermostats, which allow households to generate a large amount of their electricity. However, it has also made electricity generation and consumption increasingly less predictable from the utility company’s perspective. Although residential DER management is technically possible, it is not happening at scale due to behavioral issues. We are developing a stylized model of residential home energy to simulate how households can manage their DER and include human responses (e.g., overriding thermostat settings, timing of charging and discharging batteries). The next step will be a community of households that can exchange electricity via governance protocols. Such a utilization of electricity storage and electricity generation could increase the energy security of households, but it could also lead to new vulnerabilities. This model aims to help identify vulnerabilities at the community level of DER systems.
This work is done in collaboration with the Agile Electrification initiative at UC San Diego, a collaboration between businesses and academics.
The Faculty Lead is Dr. Marco Janssen, who is a Professor in the School of Sustainability and has formal training in Operations Research. He also has extensive expertise in social science and translates social science expertise into simulation models relevant to sustainability questions.

Special skills needed

Programming experience (for example Python), data analytics, statistical analysis, proficiency with Excel

Majors

Sustainability, Sustainable Energy Systems, Mathematics, Data Science, Economics, Industrial Engineering

Years

-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Science and Imagination Lab

Project # 240

Center name: Center for Science and the Imagination
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Ruth Wylie

Project description

The CSI Lab is a new undergraduate research and experiential learning program at the Center for Science and the Imagination (CSI). The program offers selected undergraduates the opportunity to work closely with CSI faculty and staff on applied projects that translate speculative thinking, futures methods, and science fiction into real-world public engagement and community impact. Students in the CSI Lab will contribute meaningfully to ongoing CSI initiatives while developing skills in research, creative production, collaboration, and futures-oriented problem solving.

The CSI Lab is designed as a mentored research experience, emphasizing hands-on work, iterative experimentation, and public-facing outputs. Projects will culminate in tangible deliverables such as curricula, media products, reports, toolkits, or public presentations.

Each CSI Lab cohort will pursue projects in one of two primary categories:
1. Public Engagement for Imagination and Futures Thinking
Students will adapt prior CSI work—such as science fiction stories from CSI anthologies, research reports, or speculative design projects—into new formats for education and public engagement. Working with CSI staff, students may:
* Develop classroom-ready curriculum modules or lesson plans
* Produce short-form social media videos or digital storytelling content
* Create informal learning materials for museums, libraries, or community organizations
* Translate speculative narratives into workshops, games, or interactive experiences
These projects emphasize accessibility, storytelling, and the translation of complex ideas into engaging formats for broad audiences.

2. Futures Clinics with Community Partners
Students will participate in a “futures clinic” model, providing consulting-style futures services to external partners such as nonprofits, government teams, or civic organizations. Under CSI staff supervision, students may:
* Conduct horizon scanning and trend research
* Facilitate futures workshops or scenario exercises
* Co-create speculative artifacts that help partners explore long-term possibilities
* Produce written or visual reports that synthesize insights and recommendations
Futures clinic projects prioritize ethical engagement, mutual learning, and practical value for partner organizations.

Special skills needed

Required: Collaboration, communication, creativity, reliability, and a sense of adventure

Interest in community-based work, futures foresight

Majors

All majors are encouraged to apply

Years

-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Art, Architecture, and Design, Business and Entrepreneurship, Education, Engineering, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Spin-based quantum sensing in biological systems

Project # 242

Center name: School of Molecular Sciences -- Experimental Quantum BioSensing (EQuBS) Laborat…
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Mouzhe Xie

Project description

Our overarching research calls for a multidisciplinary endeavor to develop spin-based quantum sensing technologies and their applications to biological and molecular systems.
We are particularly interested in the nitrogen-vacancy defects in diamond crystal as a solid-state quantum sensor. Surrounding this general topic, we offer flexible project opportunities mindfully curated for enthusiastic undergraduate researchers. For example, in the past, Barrett fellows have successfully contributed to projects at various levels of independence, such as (1) analytical/numerical simulations of diffusing spins; (2) software control of robotic system for applying vector magnetic fields; (3) design, fabrication, and test of microwave PCB board for spin control; (4) design and machining of customized magnet mounts; (5) design and 3D-printing of polarizer mounts.

Special skills needed

Enthusiasm in quantum information science and engineering (QISE). We have a very multidisciplinary research team. Please refer to our website for details. https://sites.google.com/view/equbs-lab/opportunities

Majors

Any STEM majors. Past/current Barrett fellows are from physics, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

Years

-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering

Perovskites for Two-Step Solar Thermochemical Hydrogen Production Cycles

Project # 258

Center name: ASU LightWorks
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Ivan Ermanoski

Project description

This project aims to develop materials and technologies for thermochemical hydrogen production. The project is entirely lab-based, and students can choose between different project aspects: chemical synthesis of redox-active Ca-Ce-Ti-Mn-O-Based perovskite ceramics (CCTM), CCTM ceramics extrusion and reactor element fabrication, mechanical reactor engineering, and electrical/software sensors/controls/diagnostics.

Special skills needed

Knowledge of chemistry, mechanical reactor engineering, and/or electrical diagnostics. This project is lab-based and involves physical sciences and engineering (STEM) but also sustainability.

Majors

Biological sciences, chemical sciences, physical sciences, engineering, sustainability

Years

-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering, Sustainability

Thermo-Electrochemical Hydrogen Production

Project # 259

Center name: ASU LightWorks
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Ivan Ermanoski

Project description

This project aims to demonstrate a novel two-step thermal-electrical hybrid cycle for hydrogen production. The project is entirely lab-based, with experiments focusing on the fabrication and testing of multilayer oxygen and proton-conducting ceramic cells.

Special skills needed

Students need experience in STEM to perform experiments and tests of multilayer oxygen and proton-conducting ceramic cells

Majors

Biology, Chemistry, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Sustainability

Years

-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering, Sustainability

Solar-Thermochemical Ammonia Production

Project # 260

Center name: ASU LightWorks
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Jim Miller

Project description

This project is working to develop a renewable alternative to the Haber-Bosch process for ammonia synthesis, necessary for the vast majority of global food production. The project is entirely lab-based and includes chemical synthesis of redox-active mixed metal nitrides, and ammonia synthesis reactor operation (mechanical, electrical/software sensors/controls/diagnostics).

Special skills needed

Knowledge of chemistry, mechanical or electrical engineering

Majors

Biology, chemistry, engineering, physical sciences

Years

-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering, Sustainability

Circumventing Photosynthesis

Project # 261

Center name: ASU LightWorks
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Ivan Ermanoski

Project description

The goal of this project is to decrease land and water use and overall biosphere appropriations in food production by >100x compared to present. As part of the project, students study the growth of edible mushroom mycelium on sustainably produced abiotic substrates, as a sustainable complement to our currently solely photosynthetic and unsustainable food system. The project is entirely lab-based and includes mycelium cultivation (in petri dishes, shaker flasks, and bioreactors), and growth rate, efficiency, and nutrient content characterization.

Special skills needed

Interest in sustainable food systems, attention to detail

Majors

Sustainability, Sustainable Food Systems, Agriculture, Nutrition, Biology, Plant Sciences, Engineering, Chemistry

Years

-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering, Sustainability

Data Center Opportunities and Challenges

Project # 262

Center name: ASU LightWorks
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Ivan Ermanoski

Project description

The aim of this project is to synthesize recorded discussions with leading experts in the data center and adjacent fields into a final report that would be helpful to Arizona communities in navigating the benefits and challenges of new data center siting. This project is entirely remote (open in-person and online students), with the team expected to meet weekly with projects supervisors for questions and project updates.

Special skills needed

Interest in data centers, Arizona communities, sustainability, and policy

Majors

Engineering, Sustainability, Political Science, Social Science, Anthropology

Years

-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-3rd Year Students
-2nd Year Students
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Engineering, Sustainability

Development of apparatus to study hearing behavior in mice

Project # 272

Center name: Balmer Lab, SOLS
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tim Balmer

Project description

Tinnitus is a common hearing problem in which a phantom perception of sound occurs, often described as ringing or buzzing. Current animal models of tinnitus are lacking, which is a major roadblock for studying its underlying causes and potential treatments. Various behavioral paradigms have been developed for rodents, but the apparatuses are typically not commercially available and must be built and tested. In this project we will build one or more apparatuses to test tinnitus in mice. The approaches may include active avoidance, gap-induced pre-pulse inhibition of acoustic startle, or others.

Special skills needed

Basic construction skills, computer and engineering skills to develop a computer controlled apparatus with various inputs and outputs.

Majors

Engineering, Biology, Neuroscience

Years

-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering