Process Engineering

The Pluck & Dispense System (PDSys™) automates the precise transfer of cells from microbubbles to wells, enhancing accuracy and efficiency in laboratory research. This system addresses key challenges such as reducing human error and increasing throughput, making it a valuable tool for small pharmaceutical companies or academic researchers working with microbubbles.

Problem A craniotomy is a surgical technique that exposes the brain by removing a section of the bone from the skull. A surgeon makes two or more burr holes and…

Ammonia Biofilter Optimization for Chicken Manure Composting Authors: Geoffrey Doyle, Jason Maher, and Aidan Shea Advisor: Professor Kelley ​ Department: Chemical Engineering Sponsor: Hal Kreher, Kreher Farms Introduction Kreher Farms is…

Authors Mentor Prof. Mark Juba Sponsor Dr. Brian Cleary Abstract The objective of this project is to develop a continuous system for producing high-value p-toluidine. This system utilizes a nitroarene…

Two part system for collecting weather data and sending it back to a user in the form of a bedside alarm clock.

WheelTalk is a compact and inexpensive system that offers voice control of regular electric wheelchairs with a joystick controller, offering convenience to individuals with compromised motor skills.

The Beat Buddy 3000 is a robotic drum machine capable of actuating a live drum set. Users can compose patterns in real-time using the sequencer-style interface as well as by selecting from a list of predefined drum patterns. This instrument is equipped with pause, play, reset, and mute commands, and features global tempo and local MIDI velocity controls. The Beat Buddy is designed to stand in for a human drummer in live settings, to be user-friendly, intuitive, easy to set up and tear down, and to be more affordable than similar products on the market.

This work investigates material birefringence as a means to determine microplastic identity in samples.

Team Members Customer Daniel Brooks – Optimax Systems, Inc. Mentor Dr. Aaron Bauer – Institute of Optics Abstract The goal of this design project was to build an alignment tool…

A solution for tracking acoustic metrics about community spaces in real time over the internet. A small unit is installed in a communal space such as a lobby, office, or library, which transmits audio data to an on-site computer for processing. Metrics about the space and its occupants are uploaded to a web server for convenient access.

This group is designing a broadband anti-reflection coating and an imaging multivariate optical element coating to eliminate the need for software-based image analysis for AGR’s handheld camera system.

Table of Contents Team Members Duy Doan M.S. Student in Biomedical Engineering at University of Rochester – CMTI Ben Amadi M.S. Student in Biomedical Engineering at University of Rochester –…

Designing a light relay apparatus for an experiment at the Laboratory of Laser Energetics

In order to help vineyards in the Finger Lakes region with frost prediction, we built a Hidden Markov Model matching algorithm that computes log-likelihood scores between seasons. We implemented seasonal grouping in this approach.

A cardiac phantom model has been developed as an experimental and demonstrative tool for left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion procedures. In patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, blood flow stagnation in the LAA, a small protrusion extending from the left atrium, can induce clot formation and subsequent stroke. The heart phantom offers a platform to evaluate the efficacy of occlusion devices and features highly-regulated pulsatile flow, the ability to modulate the base diameter and wall thickness of the LAA, and visualization of flow dynamics within the appendage.

Abstract The aim of this project is to explore designs for a vibrometer for semiconductor wafer measuring machines. These wafers power all of our modern computers and cellphones, and are…

DiscSense is aiming to advance athletes’ throwing skills through the development of a gyroscopic sensor that tracks the end conditions of throws. Throughout our capstone project, we concentrated on building a classification model that will aid athletes in recognizing patterns of successful throws and pinpoint prevalent errors.

Author Sponsor Dr. Zidian Xie Instructor Professor Ajay Anand Professor Cantay Caliskan Abstract In the digital age, Twitter has emerged as ancentral arena for public health issues, particularly those involv-ing…

A device to evaluate the quality of vibration transmission from a skull plate to the skull.

The Houston Astros tasked our team with building a high-speed pitching machine to better understand the coefficient of restitution between a baseball and a bat. With this information, the Astros can optimize their player’s bats by changing length, width, design, or density in an effort to maximize player production.

In response to increasing cases of tick-borne diseases, Dr. Adrianna Troyo and Dr. Tim Dye have sought an improved method of tick collection. They have asked us to design a mobile tick-collection device to replace the inefficient and labor-intensive current manual methods, which expose researchers to risk of being parasitized.

The goal of this thesis is to design and build a tunable flying focus experimental setup using adaptive optics. The flying focus technique produces an extended intensity peak which moves at a designed focal velocity independent of the medium group velocity. This requires an optical system that can extend the focal region beyond the Rayleigh length as well as impart sufficient radial group delay to achieve spatiotemporal control. An axiparabola is used to extend the focal region and a deformable mirror imparts a user defined radial group delay to achieve spatiotemporal control. The tunability of this technique will be used to optimize secondary source generation experiments such as laser wakefield acceleration and terahertz generation.

The 3D printing project aims to design, create, and test a polymer printed part that houses a f/5.6, eight element system. After the system was completed, repeatability measurements were done along with testing our procedure on the similar f/8 system.

Current internal bone plate fixation methods waste valuable time alternating between automatic and manual drivers and cause surgeon frustration when relocating the head of the screw. We have developed a combined automatic/manual device for safe, efficient screw driving through all stages of the fixation process.

Authors Mentors Mitch Anthamatten and Melodie Lawton ( Department of Chemical Engineering) Abstract The crystallization speed of a polymer can be a limiting step in the production of products. The…

The diffusion of carbon dioxide into Zeolite 13X is evaluated through three methods: a TGA, an AutoChem II, and a PBR coupled with a TCD.

Our new approach uses Major Code, lessening the total codes from 850 to 23. In Major Classification, we used input layer and embedding as well as 2 hidden layers. For Job Title Classification by Major, we used Random Forest to output based on Majority Voting.

Team Members Sponsors Patrick Ellsworth Patrick Zinter Abstract Additive manufacturing is an emerging technology that increases the efficiency and lowers the costs of production within the aerospace industry. Companies like…

The Mathematics Department at the University of Rochester requested a ceremonial mace for their department graduation. A way to confer degrees, the mace is a symbol of authority. This mace includes iconography important to the math faculty and undergraduates, and was designed by a team of senior mechanical engineering students from the class of 2024.

The Endotrach team has successfully developed an articulating probe utilizing bioimpedance spectroscopy to verify endotracheal tube placement after intubation.

Author Mentor Katlyn Conway and Professor Griffin Abstract Plug Power’s internal R&D lab lacks the space for full-scale coating and drying equipment. Their current drying process involves a 480 ft/min…

Our hierarchical approach uses Major Code, lessening the total codes from 850 to 23. In Major Classification, we used input layer and embedding as well as 2 hidden layers. For Job Title Classification by Major, we used Random Forest to output based on Majority Voting.

How can we improve knowledge distillation from large unstructured data?

VPNs are increasingly promoted as a privacy-enhancing technology and a solution to protecting users’ privacy from surveillance and cyber attacks.1 While most VPN protocols encrypt users’ browsing traffic, the research community has repeatedly demonstrated that encryption algorithms need not be broken for malicious agents with knowledge of users’ encrypted traffic to fingerprint the websites they visit. We investigate whether advancements in VPN technologies in the last two decades make VPNs harder to fingerprint.

In this study, we investigate the capabilities and inherent biases of advanced large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 in the context of debate evaluation.

This practitioner paper describes a new, multi-locality benchmark program for testing memory access latency and using it to study recent AMD machines equipped with 3D vertical cache(V-Cache) that can be over 1 GiB in total size on a single node.

In this paper, we introduce the causal data lake discovery problem and propose a large language model(LLM)-based framework to discover potential pairwise causal links between columns from different tables.

This thesis delves into MO-MAB algorithms, examining their broad applications and potential to enhance HPO.

This project aims to build and design a continuous concentration measurement system for a low-volatile monomer in the vapor phase.

Team Members Advisor Michael Giacomelli Problem Statement This project is aimed at designing a device that allows for accurate and repeatable calibration of an optical probe that will be used…

A device that allows surgeons to adjust the declination angle of their loupes to improve posture during long operations.

Ticklers prevent heel formation from occurring and allow for most, if not all, material to drain through the tank. The goal of this project is to design a system to test different tickler impeller configurations to optimize slurry draining performance.

The purpose of this project was to identify and optimize factors for a continuous reactor that can be used to prepare aryl amines from nitro arenes using an acid/proton donor system and a heterogeneous palladium catalyst.

This project explores the effects of an iodine based etchant on the etch rates of both electroplated and sputtered gold coated silicon wafers.

Team Stonefish researched novel treatments for inhibiting post-canning refermentation in sweetened beer, which can cause profit loss and recalls.

Investigating the use of biochar made from woody yard waste stored in the Waste Management landfill in Fairport, NY as a PFAS removal treatment for the landfill leachate

In order to decrease costs of NoWave’s cannabis extraction process, methods were investigated to increase yield and allow for more reuse of the ethanol

This project explores the most effective foam fractionation system for PFAS removal from landfill leachate.

Nicholas Achuthan Mentors Professors Pablo Postigo and Jaime Cardenas Abstract Single photon emitters (SPEs) are a key building block for integrated quantum photonic circuits, but current implementations rely on heterogeneous…

Antony Georgiadis Mentors Professor James Fienup and Joseph Tang Abstract Wavefront sensing via phase retrieval algorithms are critical to enabling the use of large aperture systems on the ground and…

Tatsunosuke Hanano Mentor Professor Robert Boyd Abstract Light with structured polarization is called polarization structured beams, and they have gotten attention because of their ability to process more information per…

Kaleigh Rook Mentors Dr. Andrew Berger and Dr. Samantha Romanick “Everything you make returns to the Earth as either food or poison.” Abstract Microplastics have permeated every corner of our…

The purpose of this project is to create a computational algorithm capable of taking an aberrated image and correct it to a sharp high contrast image. We used optical design…

Team Customer Dr. Daniel Brooks – Optimax Systems Inc. Mentor Dr. Aaron Bauer – Institute of Optics Abstract The goal of this design project was to demonstrate the capabilities of…

Team Mentor Prof. Jennifer Kruschwitz Background IRL Glasses is a product with the goal of minimizing the amount of technology people have to interact  with on a daily basis. The first…

The META360 project seeks to enhance the current Circle Optics 360º field-of-view stitch-free camera system using novel meta-optics technology. Using Synopsys’ new MetaOptic Designer software, we explore the use of meta-optics in a hybrid lens design.

Team Mentor Professor Greg Schmidt Abstract Our Group’s Senior Design Team was tasked with designing a museum exhibit for RMSC that offered a fun experience for participants of all ages…

Optical Design of a Compact Projector Lens for a Portable Display Project Vision The desired product is a portable display consisting of a collapsible screen and a compact projector with…

Team Mentor Professor Greg Schmidt Abstract Advanced Growing Resources (AGR), is pioneering targeting systems that send mass pesticide blanketing towards obsolescence. The targeting system that was designed during this project…

DCORE4 Team Mentors Govind P. Agrawal, Julie Bentley, Jacob Roccabruno Abstract The optical senior design class at the University of Rochester strives to tackle engineering problems through engineering processes and…

Team Mentor Brandon Zimmerman Abstract The Clear Eye Exam allows for users to take an eye exam from their home and obtain an eye prescription. This lets people have an…

This senior design-driven project creates accurate Zemax ray-tracing models of the human eye to evaluate diffractive-refractive hybrid contact lenses for correcting wavefront error and chromatic aberration. The eventual goal is to apply the technology to school-aged children to prevent the progression of myopia development.

Mission Statement The goal of our project is to create a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) telescope that provides an engaging and educational experience for kids. The telescope will come fully disassembled, empowering…

The Light Avoidance Team developed a device that delivers customizable light stimuli to mice and analyzes their resulting behavior for use in vision research.

Team Customer The Goal Customer Scenario Key Design Decisions System Design  Prototype Electrical Schematics Customer Feedbacks and Steps Moving Forward LSI Device Feedback: Ways LSI can further develop the product:…

Team WorkStress Customer Adam Christopher Dziorny, M.D., Ph.D., Physician Scientist, University of Rochester Medical Center Project Advisor Edmund C. Lalor, Ph.D. , Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester Project…

Meet the Team Background Wedge Deformities: Also known as the Wedge Effect. Characterized by the distraction of the proximal femur and lateralization of medullary nails within the femur. ​ ​ Why is it…

Team Mentor Greg Gdowski, Martin Gira, and Amy Lerner Abstract Left ventricular assist (LVAD) devices are implanted in patients with heart failure to assist with pumping blood through the body.…

Our Team Background Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature and rotation of the spine. There is a 2-3% prevalence worldwide. In Ghana, 138000 to 207000 adolescents may be affected by using this statistic. Problem In…

Design an interchangeable, fixed offset, fixed gear-ratio eccentric tool spindle for gravity-loaded optical polishing procedures.

A high-resolution fluid deposition system for use with Waveguide-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy sensors.

An automated hydroponic plant growth system that is monitored online by a user

Proposed by SPX Flow, the goal of this project is to characterize the oxygen transfer rate (OTR) within inert fluids of various viscosities.
Paul Eisold, Kamal Raji, Rony Waheibi, Collins Yawe

This Xerox-sponsored project aims to completely separate high viscosity PDMS and heptane via a solvent evaporation process followed by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction.
Alissa DeRubertis, Colin Ikei, Bryan Schellberg, Mark Volkin

The URMC Kidney Model Optimization Project aims to create a polymer material that can simulate the human kidney for practice by surgical residents.
Bimpe Isafiade, Harshita Mahaseth, Natalie Ramesh, Baris Eser Ugur

This project aims to characterize a wastewater stream in addition to addressing biochemical oxygen demand in cooperation with LiDestri.
Katerina Connor, Junseok Jeon, Connor Pope, Brian Yegela

This project was to design an accelerated testing system for Harbec, Inc to evaluate gaskets in the India Mark II hand pump for installation by the Ugandan Water Project.

Dan Allara, Oion Akif, Paul Irving, Tessa Ludwick

In this project, a lab-scale chromatography process was developed to purify crude LUV dye. Upon scale up at Eastman Kodak Company, the chromatography process would be able to purify 2 kg/day.
Quinton Dang, Waad Magram, Zhiwei Wang

This project aims to design and build a multi-channel reverse water gas shift reactor system that allows for exploration of heterogeneous catalysis.
Ahmad El Gazzar, Thien Hung Nguyen, Clive Onyango, Emilio Vega-Ramos

The Rossell Hope Robbins Library is underutilized by many students on campus due to the lack of awareness of the library and its resources. To promote awareness for the library, this project contains designs for a “life-size” portable chess set with medieval themes.

Minimize nickel contamination of cleaning tanks in Orafol Precision Technology’s electroforming process.

Limit entry of abrasive sediment into India Mark II handpump for Ugandan Water Project.

Optimize creation of composites combining under-utilized hemp fabrics with epoxy.

Using a rope of LEDs, connected to a Raspberry Pi with our software, we will read the audio signal from an HDMI cable and display colors on the LED strip that match the tone of the music. . The goal of our project is to be able to create a visualization to convey a similar feeling to people that are unable to hear the music.

Creation of atmospherically-controlled chamber for UV degradation testing of novel OLED materials for Molecular Glasses, Inc.

Characterize LiDestri Food and Drink portfolio of spaghetti sauces to optimize manufacturing process.

Identify inexpensive process for in-house purification of motion picture film dye for Kodak.

Automation of feedstock delivery for creation of biochar, a product of biomass pyrolysis, thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen.

Enable self-sustaining biochar production by reclamation of process by-products.

Create building materials for developing countries from waste plastic and biochar, and compare to concrete standard.

Controlled, rapid-cooling chamber for initiated chemical vapor deposition of thin film polymers.

Analysis of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) chemical solutions’ inkjet printability through range of solution concentrations.

We are tasked by Rochester Rehab to create a device that increases the efficiency of packaging an underwater camera into a foil bag, primarily by reducing friction on the camera. By doing so, more cameras will be packaged per hour and the wage of the workers who are employed in the process will increase.