Research Symposium

Detroit Mercy's College of Engineering & Science hosts an annual symposium to highlight the research by undergraduate and graduate students.
This year's event will take place Thursday, November 19, 2020, HERE
Each year, the College invites hundreds of high school students and alumni to experience the academic research achievements of our students. This year we will hold a virtual event to adhere to CDC guidelines. Visit the 2020 Research Symposium page for more information!
Why do we hold this event?
- Celebrate all the “cool” research projects we're doing,
- Motivate others to get involved, and
- Inspire high school students to choose STEM careers.
Join us and judge for yourself!
Awards and Selection Criteria
People's Choice Award
Award: $300
Given to the team who gets the most "investments" by the high school students who get $5K in play money to invest in what they believe is the most promising technology/project/research.
Scientific Excellence Award
Award: First prize $300; Second prize $200; Third prize $100
Is given to the team whose poster demonstrates the highest scientific quality and merit.
Engineering Excellence Award
Award: First prize $300; Second prize $200; Third prize $100
Is given to the team whose poster demonstrates the highest engineering excellence and merit.
Past Symposiums
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2018 Research Winners, Abstracts and Pictures
Awards
Engineering Quality Award
- Authors: Kayla Hughes, Wiley Dressell, Kaegan Kumnick, Zachary Rizzo, Nick Dimkovski
Title: Robot Control Using a Haptic Interface - Authors: Joshua Cormier, Michael Elriachi, Jaafer Saleh, Jiyang Guo
Title: Motion Control of a Mobile Robot Using Hand Signals - Authors: Weinan Li
Title: Finite element modeling of Ring-Shaped Steel Plate Shear Walls
Scientific Quality Award
- Authors: Brooke Allen, Anthony Huffman, Leonardo Romero-Barajas, Tiffany Cook,
Title: Investigating the role of binding partners of Yorkie at distinct stages of Drosophila melanogaster eye development - Authors: Marco Ciavaglia, Adam Elturk, Ibrahim Aljerdi, Negar Mehrabi
Title: Morphology of the Semispinalis Capitis Muscle in the Neck - Authors: Victoria Krajcz, Selena Cholak, Faith Volpe, Eoin Barry
Title: The Effects of Genetic and Environmental Insults on Epithelial Cells
People’s Choice Award
Melvindale High School Robotics Team
- Authors: Kayla Hughes, Wiley Dressell, Kaegan Kumnick, Zachary Rizzo, Nick Dimkovski
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2017 Research Winners and Abstracts
Awards
People’s Choice Award
Melvindale High School Robotics Team
Engineering Quality Award
- Authors: Wentao Bi, Nayan Patel
Title: Color Image Analysis On Off-road Object Identification - Authors: Yuyi Li, Yang Zhou and Chaoyang Chen
Title: A Lower Limb Exoskeleton Gait Developed with a Single Arduino - Authors: Varkey Periyappurath and Juliana Vilela
Title: Obstacle and Lane Line Detection Using Images (Off-Road)
Scientific Quality Award
- Authors: Arren E. Simpson and Judith A. Ingles
Title: Preconditioning Facilitates Molecular Tocolytics Leading to Term Pregnancy - Authors: Marco Ciavaglia, Ibrahim Al-Jerdi and Adam Elturk
Title: Variations in the Anatomical Position of the Mandibular Foramen - Authors: Martha Flores, Crystal Kallabat, Alana Garmo, Reem Bazzi and Dr. Mary T. Bee
Title: Variation of the Common Carotid Artery Diameter Related to Age
- Authors: Wentao Bi, Nayan Patel
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2016 Research Winners and Abstracts
View all 2016 program and abstracts.
Awards
People's Choice Award ($700)
Title: Dreamfit V2: An Electronic Fitness Trainer for Use with Dumbbells
Authors: John Petrykowski, Christian Espinoza, Jessica Kuznicki, Jonathan Soriano, Nassif RayessEngineering 1st prize ($500)
Title: High-Bay-Man Robot
Authors: Nayan Patel Theodore Chase, Ryan WelshEngineering 2nd prize ($300)
Title: Development of a Tailored Inflation Bladder for Use in an Automated, Personal Hand Rehabilitation Device
Authors: Colin Cashner, Nassif Rayess, Shuvra DasEngineering 3rd prize ($200)
Title: The Characterization of Multiple Electrodes for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Christopher Harness, Zhiguo Zhao, Eric Kim, Yong XuScience 1st prize ($500)
Title: MET Expression in Glioblastoma
Authors: Tamia Waller, Ana deCarvalho, Margaret MartinezScience 2nd prize ($300)
Title: Survivor Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Bateria that Avoid Killer Viruses
Authors: James Graves, Elizabeth Stahl, Monir Mardini, Cody Bruno, Nathan Yaldo, Steven PetrovskiScience 3rd prize ($200)
Title: An Exploration in the Graduate Admissions Process: Gender Bias in Faculty Letters of Reference
Authors: Jennifer Nava, Annmarie CanoResearch Quality 1st prize ($500)
Title: Regulation Of Toxin Gene Expression By Tcdc From Clostridium Difficile
Authors: Anthony Croft, Adam Boyden, Andrew FeigResearch Quality 2nd prize ($300)
Title: Extraction and Quantification of RNA from Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) Olfactory Bulb and Olfactory Epithelium
Authors: Ana Barajas, Montasir Rahman, Steven ChangResearch Quality 3rd prize ($200)
Title: Distinct Residues of Plasminogen Activator Affect Plasminogen Cleavage and YOP Delivery in Yersinia Pestis
Authors: Christina Jones, Suleyman Felek, Joshua Thomson, Eric Krukonis -
2015 Research Winners and Abstracts
View all 2015 program and abstracts.
Awards
People's Choice Award ($700)
Title: Development of the Wheelchair-Stroller
Author: Alden KaneEngineering 1st prize ($500)
Title: An Automated, Personal Hand Stretching Device for People with Muscle Atrophy and Contractures
Authors: Colin Cashner, George Holman, Alhan Vazquez, Molly McClellandEngineering 2nd prize ($300)
Title: Exploring the Use of Bamboo as a Reinforcement Element in Masonry Construction
Author: Aubin FossouoEngineering 3rd prize ($200)
Title: Rampvelator: A Powered Ramp for Power Wheelchairs
Authors: Molly Laird, Austin Ross, Heriberto Pacheco, Raymon OkonskiScience 1st prize ($500)
Title: A Prodrug Approach to Metal Ion Decorporation
Authors: Chris Niedek, Jaramys Mosley, Hamzeh Charafeddine, Jenna Ramey, Brandon WilxksScience 2nd prize ($300)
Title: Synthesis of a Series of Novel Molecules Utilizing 2,6 Diaminotoluene, 1,3-Diaminobenzene, or 2,5-Diaminopyridine
Author: Sara TinawiScience 3rd prize ($200)
Title: Synthesis of a Series of Multi-Dentate Podand Ligands and Initial Complexation Trials with Transition Metal Cations
Authors: Jenna Payne and Jennifer RoehlResearch Quality 1st prize ($500)
Title: Fuel Cell Polymer Degradation Method by Density Functional Theory
Authors: Kim Utterback, Malcolm SpicerResearch Quality 2nd prize ($300)
Title: Degradation of Fuel Cell Membranes: Attachment of H Radicals to A Model Molecule for Sulfonated PSU
Authors: Helin Jacksi, Kim UtterbackResearch Quality 3rd prize ($200)
Title: A Prodrug Approach to Metal Ion Decorporation
Authors: Chris Niedek, Jaramys Mosley, Hamzeh Charafeddine, Jenna Ramey, Brandon Wilks, Mariam Ibrahim, Nolan Kirkman -
2014 Research Winners and Abstracts
View all 2014 program and abstracts.
Awards
People's Choice Award ($700)
Title: Development of a Robotic Visual Inspection System
Authors: Joseph Giacchina, Drake Mushall, Kevin SmithEngineering 1st prize ($500)
Title: Modeling TCE Concentrations In Groundwater Using Matlab
Authors: Yangyijun GaoEngineering 2nd prize ($300)
Title: Development Of An Autonomous Robotic Ultraviolet Sterilization System
Authors: Matthew Ackley, Justin Collins, Chris VanOverbeke, Ryan WelshEngineering 3rd prize ($200)
Title: Alternate Approach 1: Image Analysis For Lane And Obstacle Identification In Outdoor Environments
Authors: Evan Berndt, Herta LlushoScience 1st prize ($500)
Title: Carbonic Anhydrase Localization In The Gastro-Intestine Tract Of The Madagascar Roach, Gromphaorhina Portentosa
Authors: Jaramys Mosley, Tyler Peters, Brie Wilcox, Ashraf Zaitouna, Annie ZhangScience 2nd prize ($300)
Title: Morphology Of The Semispinalis Capitis Muscle In The Neck
Authors: Negar MehrabiScience 3rd prize ($200)
Title: Design And Synthesis Of Biased Ligands For Glutamate Receptors
Author: Linda Kalfayan, Daniella KawambaResearch Quality 1st prize ($500)
Title: The Effect Of Water Content And Degree Of Sulfonation On The Phase Separation Of Sulfonated Poly(Ether Ether Ketone) (Speek) Ionomer Studied By Esr Nitroxide Spin Probing
Authors: David Brush, Marek DaniluczukResearch Quality 2nd prize ($300)
Title: Bayesian Network Based Vehicle Collision Avoidance System
Authors: Rawa Adla, Youssef BazziResearch Quality 3rd prize ($200)
Title: Alternate Approach 3: Image Analysis For Lane And Obstacle Identification In Outdoor Environments
Author: Jianfan Lin, Joseph Casillo -
2013 Research Winners and Abstracts
View all 2013 program and abstracts.
Awards
People's Choice Award ($700)
Title: SOUP Spoon: The Story of a Startup
Authors: Wesley Steen and Patrick PawlowskiEngineering 1st prize ($500)
Title: Development Of An Aftermarket Infant Car Seat Latching Mechanism For Use By Persons With Diminished Strength
Authors: Shixiao Fan, Wenda Zhang, Liang Li, Bokai JinEngineering 2nd prize ($300)
Title: A Predictive And Intelligent Environmentally Friendly Vehicle Navigation System
Authors: Mohamad Abdul-Hak, Malok Alamir TamerEngineering 3rd prize ($200)
Title: Translation Wrench For A Bone Distraction System For Re-Growing Bone Tissue in The Alveolar Ridge Of The Oral Cavity
Authors: Liz Arroyo, Harrison BallScience 1st prize ($500)
Title: Morphology Of The Semispinalis Capitis Muscle In The Neck
Authors: Negar Mehrabi, Soham Trivedi, Emily AlbrechtScience 2nd prize ($300)
Title: Phase Separation In Hydrated Sulfonated Poly (Ether Ether Ketone) (SPEEK): From Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) Spin Trapping To Spin Probing
Authors: David Michael Brush, Marek DanilczukScience 3rd prize ($200)
Title: Studies Of Aluminum, Iron, And Zinc Complexes With Ab Initio And Density Functional Methods
Author: Alexis C. Konja