UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INSTITUTE DISCOVERY 2026
RESEARCH ABSTRACTS
URI DISCOVERY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2026 Parents and Family Reception and Poster Session Eagle Gym | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2026 URI Oral Presentations Preview Day Welcome Activity Center | 9:00 - 9:30 a.m.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM MEETINGS College of Engineering Eagle Gym | 9:45 - 11:00 a.m. College of Business, Security and Intelligence The Hangar | 9:45 - 11:00 a.m. College of Aviation Activity Center | 9:45 - 11:00 a.m.
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KENNETH WITCHER, Ph.D., FRAeS Chancellor Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott Campus
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WELCOME TO UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INSTITUTE (URI) DISCOVERY 2026 Our mission at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is to be the world leader in aviation and aerospace higher education. We teach the science, practice and business of aviation and aerospace, preparing students for productive careers and leadership roles in business, government agencies and the military. Here at our Prescott Campus, we focus on undergraduate education and emphasize problem-based discovery as we strengthen our reputation as a top-ranked destination for undergraduate STEM programs. As you visit our campus, I’m sure you will be impressed with our cutting- edge research labs, simulation facilities and observatories. I hope you also have a chance to meet our talented faculty and amazing staff. As you do so, I think you will recognize, as I have, that our dedicated and passionate students are what make our university and campus so special. From record-breaking rocket launches to developing cyber competitions for regional high schools, our students and their research interests will fuel the future of the aviation, aerospace and space industries. Thank you for joining us as we celebrate undergraduate research and scholarship during our Prescott Campus URI Discovery 2026 events. I encourage you to engage with our students as they proudly display the results of their hard work.
KENNETH WITCHER, Ph.D., FRAeS Chancellor
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ANNE BOETTCHER, Ph.D. Assistant Dean of Research Undergraduate Research Institute
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It has been an exciting year for our Embry-Riddle Prescott undergraduates, as is reflected in the breadth and depth of the presentations and demonstrations included in our URI Discovery 2026 events. During the 2025-2026 academic year, the Undergraduate Research Institute was able to award over 50 projects funded through our Ignite and Eagle Prize grants, our Philanthropy Councils, the Arizona Space Grant Program and our industry partners. These projects include students from all four of our colleges. Ignite and Arizona Space Grant projects range from those looking at the use of unleaded fuel in general aviation to those understanding cancer risk in pilots to those focused on developing approaches to assess propellant levels in microgravity. Eagle Prize teams will compete or have already competed in regional and national competitions including the AIAA Design/Build/Fly, Human Lander Challenge and VEX Robotics. Our students have also been conducting independent and team research projects through course-based and student organization opportunities. Linked to their research and scholarship, these students have been active in numerous outreach efforts with regional middle and high schools, as well as the Prescott community as a whole. I am repeatedly impressed with the insight, dedication and determination of our students, faculty and staff. Through their combined efforts, our students are gaining the skills needed to be successful in their chosen career paths. Thank you for helping us celebrate the accomplishments of our students.
ANNE BOETTCHER, Ph.D. Assistant Dean of Research
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UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INSTITUTE ADVISORY BOARD Akhan Almagambetov, Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering Catalina Aranzazu-Suescun, Cyber Intelligence and Security Hatem Bata, School of Business Edwin Cochran, Global Security and Intelligence Rose Danek, Behavioral and Social Sciences Elizabeth Davis, Humanities and Communication Mike Denny, Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering Siwei Fan, Aerospace Engineering
Jeremy Mazon, Applied Aviation Sciences Rubaiya Murshed, Mechanical Engineering Rajee Olaganathan, Safety Sciences Jessica Quarles, Hazy Library and Learning Center Darrel Smith, Physics and Astronomy
SPACE GRANT STEERING COMMITTEE Elliott Bryner, Mechanical Engineering Ron Madler, Aerospace Engineering John Matthew Pavlina, Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering
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ALUMNI MEMBERS Karolina Bergman, True Meridian Bryce Chanes, Raytheon Technologies Nicole Chanes, Blue Origin Lauren Estrada, Military Periscope
Jolly Kapoor, American Airlines Dymetris Ramirez, Rocket Lab
COMMUNITY MEMBER Yvonne Gibbs, Retired NASA
URI OFFICE Kelly Brown Sharveel Chikhalkar Diya Maheshwari Lily Salow
A SPECIAL NOTE OF THANKS TO ALL OF OUR MENTORS!
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INVITED ORAL PRESENTATIONS SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2026 PREVIEW DAY WELCOME Ruben Yoder Aerospace Engineering Activity Center | 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. ACADEMIC PROGRAM MEETINGS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Laura Medeiros and Luke Hurst Mechanical Engineering Eagle Gym | 9:45 - 11:00 a.m. COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE Robert Roe II
Cyber Intelligence and Security The Hangar | 9:45 - 11:00 a.m.
COLLEGE OF AVIATION Shane Ishmael Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Activity Center | 9:45 - 11:00 a.m.
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LUNAR REGOLITH COTTON- AUGMENTED REINFORCED CONCRETE Eshaan Ade , Aerospace Engineering and Space Physics Jackson Cieloha , Mechanical Engineering
Nolan Harju , Aerospace Engineering Robert Labagh , Aerospace Engineering Bergen Lien, Aerospace Engineering Matthew B Nakai , Aerospace Engineering Gavin Sorenson , Mechanical Engineering Ches Lee Webb , Aerospace Engineering Samuel Yang Aerospace Engineering Ruben Yoder , Aerospace Engineering
MENTORS Hadi Ali , Aerospace Engineering Teresa Eaton , Biology and Chemistry
Long-duration crewed operations on the lunar surface will require sustainable waste management and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) to reduce launch mass and large dependence on resupply from Earth. They will also require manufacturing methods for infrastructure such as landing pads, roads, and habitat shielding. The Lunar regolith cotton-Augmented Reinforced Concrete (LunARC) project is developing a system for the NASA LunaRecycle program To convert waste from lunar astronauts into useful lunar construction materials. LunARC recycles two items, cotton garments and reclosable low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic bags. These fibers are combined with lunar regolith to produce lunar concrete (lunarcrete). Cotton garments are shredded, mercerized, and added to the lunarcrete mix, increasing its tensile strength. Recycled LDPE is shredded into pellets and mixed into the lunar regolith, serving as a binder similar to water in concrete production on Earth. The resulting lunarcrete mix provides higher tensile strength than current lunarcrete manufacturing methods while using almost completely in-situ resources and recycled materials. LunARC builds on research previously conducted that demonstrated the concepts of fiber reinforcement and the use of LDPE as a binder independently. Furthermore, LunARC will be performing testing on smaller manufactured lunarcrete bricks made with lunar highland simulant (LHS-1). The bricks will be manufactured using mercerized cotton and LDPE and will undergo tensile strength testing. Testing will be performed utilizing the Brazilian tensile strength test, which compresses a disc- shaped piece of lunarcrete on opposite sides of the lunarcrete’s surface until it splits in half. By combining recycled cotton fiber reinforcement and LDPE polymer binding with lunar regolith, LunARC demonstrates a sustainable and novel approach to producing structurally enhanced lunar construction materials that reduce reliance on Earth-based resupply for long-duration lunar missions. E-PRIZE AWARD
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FROM BOOKS TO REAL LIFE Dario Ajdini , Mechanical Engineering Rojvan Karaer , Aerospace Engineering
MENTOR Rubaiya Murshed , Mechanical Engineering
This project examines how narrative-based pedagogy influences student learning and how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help create effective story-driven homework questions that connect abstract formulas to real-world contexts. Homework is a cornerstone of education, providing opportunities for practice and a deeper understanding of concepts. Traditionally, homework assignments are criticized for lacking relevance to real-world experiences, which can limit motivation and the perceived value of academic work. This is particularly the case for courses that do not include laboratory activities. Recent innovations in educational practices emphasize narrative- rich, contextually meaningful assignments that bridge classroom learning with real-life applications, triggering both emotional and cognitive engagement. The advent of AI offers a new way to generate diverse, realistic, and personalized experiences for both teachers and students. Preliminary survey results indicate that most students felt narrative-based assignments enhanced real-world relevance and the importance of course content, and they expressed strong support for this approach. However, they recommended shorter versions to reduce reading time and make it easier to identify key data for problem-solving. Future work will focus on designing effective AI-generated narratives and identifying AI’s limitations by systematically varying narrative length and technical depth to examine student perceptions, determining whether perceived benefits translate into measurable learning gains, and exploring workflows in which students co-create or revise AI- generated narratives to study impacts on conceptual understanding and attitudes toward AI in engineering education.
IGNITE AWARD
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MANAGING STRESS AT THE CROSSROADS Nevaeh Allen , Forensic Psychology MENTOR John Woodman , Behavioral and Social Sciences
Various coping methods are used by people around the world to manage symptoms of anything from a bad day to diagnosed disorders. Positive and negative coping strategies that are practiced can lead to an increase or decrease of those symptoms. The current study investigates the relationship between stress and positive and negative coping strategies on levels of detachment-type and compartmentalization-type dissociation in a general undergraduate population. A total of 134 undergraduate students completed a combined survey of assessments measuring detachment and compartmentalization symptoms, coping strategies, and perceived stress levels. Using a multivariate regression analysis, predictive coping strategies were found for individuals experiencing detachment-type or compartmentalization-type dissociation. Individuals experiencing compartmentalization-type dissociation were found to utilize behavioral disengagement, denial, and substance use as coping strategies. Whereas individuals with detachment-type dissociation engage in coping strategies of behavioral disengagement, self-blame, and substance use. The difference in individuals engaging in self-blame versus denial was determined to vary significantly due to symptom categorization. Understanding the effect of coping strategies on detachment-type and compartmentalization-type dissociation highlights the gap in education and resources for using more positive coping strategies. More research is needed to understand the uniqueness between detachment-type and compartmentalization-type dissociation, and which positive coping strategies decrease symptoms under each category.
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PROJECT JUMBO SHOO Samantha Almaguer , Mechanical Engineering Jasmine Aranda , Aerospace Engineering Adam Bond , Mechanical Engineering Hailey Crocker Osborne , Electrical Engineering Kaiya Farr , Mechanical Engineering Kayleigh Howard , Aerospace Engineering Natalie Lang , Aerospace Engineering Joseph Lucchese, Mechanical Engineering Alexander Murray , Aerospace Engineering Tessa Polasek , Mechanical Engineering
MENTORS Elliott Bryner , Mechanical Engineering Walter van den Heever , Elephants, Rhinos, and People
Elephants are essential to the biodiversity and ecological development of African savannas and play a vital role in Namibia's economics and culture. However, the competition for resources between wildlife and residents leads to human-wildlife conflict that threatens populations. Embry-Riddle engineering students have successfully developed a system to reduce human-wildlife conflict, detecting then deterring elephants from encroaching on designated areas in Namibia. One component of the system, known as the brain, wirelessly connects four modules using Long Range (LoRa), radio communications. The seismograph module picks up frequencies in the ground through which elephants communicate. The brain then activates a camera module, that employs AI image recognition to confirm the presence of elephants. If an elephant is then detected, the brain signals two deterrence modules, flashing lights, and a subwoofer that vibrates in the ground. This year, the project goal is to improve the system’s performance, field-readiness, reliability, and longevity. The focus will be on more robust code and updated hardware in the LoRa system to develop our own local wireless area network, referred to as ERPnet. In addition, a more durable power system and module boxes will be used in the system for this year’s project. Further developments in the documentation process, ensuring accessible, replicable, and scalable design for future development will be added as a priority. By developing a new solution that is robust, cost-effective, and adaptable to long-term use in Namibia, the system will keep elephants away from human inhabited land. This lowers conflict, protects crops and water sources for people, and avoids harm to elephants. This proposes a safer and more reliable alternative to human-wildlife conflict reduction than other methods such as electric fencing. Participation in this project offers students an opportunity to enhance their technical skills and gain hands-on experience.
IGNITE AWARD
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Figure 1. Physics-informed neural network architecture illustrating the integration of data and physics constraints in the loss function. Reproduced from Dadras Eslamlou, A., & Huang, S. (2022), Artificial-Neural-Network-Based Surrogate Models for Structural Health Monitoring of Civil Structures: A Literature Review, Buildings, 12(12), 2067. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12122067
FINDING NUMERICAL SOLUTIONS FOR NONLINEAR STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS UTILIZING PHYSICS INFORMED DEEP LEARNING John Anderson , Aerospace Engineering MENTOR Yabin Liao , Aerospace Engineering In many practical cases, developing closed-form analytical solutions for structural dynamics is infeasible, particularly for complex or nonlinear systems such as the damped Duffing oscillator, which admits no closed-form analytical solution. However, in many applications, the functional form of the governing ordinary differential equations (ODEs) is known prior to searching for solutions, while the system parameters remain unknown. Traditionally, parametric identification in such systems relies on numerical optimization techniques, which can suffer from convergence, conditioning, and computational cost issues, especially as the number of parameters increases or strong nonlinearities are present, leading to curse-of-dimensionality and identifiability challenges. We propose a physics-informed Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) framework as an alternative to traditional optimization methods. The proposed model leverages the known structure of the governing equations to identify unknown ODE coefficients while simultaneously learning the system dynamics. The challenges addressed are twofold. First, broadband or random forcing inputs reduce temporal smoothness and increase spectral complexity, making learning difficult for standard neural networks. Second, nonlinear dynamics and higher- dimensional parameter spaces significantly increase training complexity and computational cost for neural networks. Prior work has demonstrated the viability of LSTMs for dynamic system modeling, and our results indicate that incorporating physics-informed loss terms improves parameter identification robustness and numerical solution accuracy for nonlinear structural dynamics systems.
SPACE GRANT AWARD
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TEAM SNAPUR - SPACE NON-ACTUATING PORTABLE UTILITY RECEPTACLE Aiden Angoco - Aerospace Engineering, Jasmine Aranda - Aerospace Engineering, Naomi Borg - Aerospace Engineering, Jaxon Danner - Aerospace Engineering, Jacob Haney - Aerospace Engineering, Natalie Kauffman - Aerospace Engineering, James Orcutt - Aerospace Engineering MENTORS Kaela Martin - Aerospace Engineering Dawn Armfield - Humanities and Communications The Space Non-Actuating Portable Utility Receptacle (SNAPUR) is an Extravehicular Activity (EVA) tool receptacle that is composed of two parts bolted to the astronaut’s suit swingarms and the astronaut’s tools. SNAPUR improves astronauts' ease of access to necessary tools during EVA repairs while also reducing mission time and preventing tool loss. The current method of storing tools utilizes the Mini Workstation (MWS), which requires two hands and dedicated actuation to detach and reattach tools. Requiring two-handed dedicated actuation quickly becomes cumbersome because astronauts often find themselves unable to use both hands, in unusual body positions, or in both situations. SNAPUR allows one-handed installation and removes the need for dedicated actuation, thus reducing EVA time. SNAPUR requires only 2.8 lbf applied constantly over 2 seconds to linearly actuate; the user simply needs to grab their tool and pull. SNAPUR has undergone dynamic and stress analysis testing to ensure reliable use, and the design itself keeps serviceability in mind, with removable side panels on the outer casing to allow maintenance. EAGLE PRIZE AWARD
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SAE AERO DESIGN WEST CAPSTONE GROUP Enzo Arvizu - Aerospace Engineering, Samuel Black - Aerospace Engineering, Ryan Corpuz , Aerospace Engineering, Luke Edwards - Aerospace Engineering, Jacob Heitmann - Aerospace Engineering, Joshua Nugent - Aerospace Engineering, Micah Oliver - Aerospace Engineering, Nicco Wolter - Mechanical Engineering MENTORS Johann Dorfling , Aerospace Engineering Richard Mangum , Humanities & Communication The SAE Aero Design West Capstone Group “MAGNUM” is a multidisciplinary team of thirteen Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering students developing a fixed-wing, remotely piloted aircraft to compete in the 2026 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aero Design West Regular Class competition. This international event challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and fly a large, electrically powered, multi-motor heavy-lift aircraft without the use of composite materials. The aircraft will be scored based on maximum payload weight, constrained by the ability to take off within 100 feet and land within 400 feet. The aircraft dimensions are confined to a span between 72 and 120 inches, a maximum length of no more than 120 inches, and a propeller diameter of no more than 12 or 9 inches, depending on the option of two or four motors. All onboard power is required to be provided from a single 2200 mAh 4S LiPo battery. The MAGNUM team’s objective is to compete in this aerodynamic, propulsion, structural, and systems design challenge to foster professional development, technical education, and engineering collaboration within the core student team. To this end, the MAGNUM team is leveraging iterative computer-aided design (CAD) modeling, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and prototype testing to create a coherent, competition-ready aircraft. The current design is a twin-motor, high-wing aircraft with a 120-inch span and 80-inch length, a payload weight of 20 lb, and a maximum takeoff weight of 32 lb. Additionally, the team will develop technical communication and presentation skills through the submission of a competition report and on-site design reviews.
EAGLE PRIZE AWARD
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MOSS - MISSION FOR ORBITAL SERVICE & SUPPORT Paytn Barnette - Aerospace Engineering, Paul Brich - Aerospace Engineering, Chanel Davis - Aerospace Engineering, Connor Hall - Aerospace Engineering, Brendan King - Aerospace Engineering, Bruce Noble - Aerospace Engineering, Parker Scribner - Aerospace Engineering, Lawrence Tolentino - Aerospace Engineering MENTORS Siwei Fan , Aerospace Engineering Matthew Haslam , Humanities and Communication The Mission for Orbital Service and Support (MOSS) is designing an on-orbit propellant transfer mechanism for satellites in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO). Satellites require propellant to perform orbital corrections, orientation, and eventual disposal. When satellites in GEO run low on propellant, they must use the last of their propellant to be disposed of and deactivated in a special graveyard orbit. MOSS is working to extend the life of satellites in GEO by transferring propellant to the satellites, allowing them to continue making orbital corrections. MOSS will restore life to these satellites by flowing propellant backward through the satellites’ engines. This system will allow for refueling without the need to cause permanent damage or install a new interface.
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THE RESPONSE OF AN OPTICAL LEVER Naomi Borg , Aerospace Engineering — Astronautics MENTOR Andri Gretarsson , Physics and Astronomy
The detector response of the humble optical lever over its full dynamic range is both non-linear and complicated but can be modeled with known functions. We derived the detector response and approximations relevant to practical use cases. A typical optical lever consists of a well-collimated laser reflecting from a surface whose angular motion is to be measured. The reflected beam is directed to a two- element “split photodiode” (SPD), and the difference between the photocurrents from the individual elements is a function of the angular motion of the reflective surface. We have evaluated the full analytical model for the response of the photodiode to the beam motion and compared it to real data gathered through an optical lever experiment. Additionally, we consider the conditions under which the response is linear and provide approximations for the slope of the response in the limits of small displacement and small inter-element gap. These analytic expressions are useful for calibration of optical levers, e.g., through fitting the various geometric parameters to the measured response.
SPACE GRANT AWARD
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AN ENTROPIC FRAMEWORK FOR SPARSE NETWORK RECONSTRUCTION IN NONLINEAR DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS Emanuele Bossi , Data Science and Software Engineering
MENTOR Abd AlRahman Rasheed AlMomani, Mathematics
Synchronization phenomena in networks of interacting dynamical systems arise in a wide range of scientific and engineering domains, including neuroscience, power systems, and multi-agent coordination. This project introduces an entropic framework for the reconstruction of sparse interaction networks governed by Kuramoto-type oscillator dynamics. The central objective of the work is to address the inverse problem of network reconstruction: inferring unknown coupling structures from observed time-series data of oscillator phases. The reconstruction task is formulated as a nonlinear system identification problem that is linear in the unknown interaction weights. To solve this problem, an Entropic Regression framework is implemented, combining information- theoretic feature selection with projection-based estimation to identify sparse interaction structures and estimate coupling strengths. The resulting framework provides a principled approach for inferring connectivity in complex dynamical systems and establishes a foundation for data-driven analysis of synchronization phenomena in settings where network structure is not directly observable.
IGNITE AWARD
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PARSEC - AETHER - NASA HUMAN LANDER CHALLENGE Grant Bowers , Software Engineering Sanaya Nichani , Aerospace Engineering Max Klein , Aerospace Engineering Cooper Nelson , Aerospace Engineering
David Clay , Aerospace Engineering Ian Naegeli , Mechanical Engineering Isabel Scalia , Aerospace Engineering MENTORS Siwei Fan , Aerospace Engineering Ran Madler , Aerospace Engineering
The project Atmospheric Electrochemical Transformation for Habitat and Environmental Regeneration (AETHER) aims to create a closed-loop oxygen recovery system by directly extracting oxygen from carbon dioxide through a series of electrochemical reactions. The AETHER system consists of three disks housed in a reaction chamber: a cobalt catalyst cathode, a lithium anode, and an aprotic electrolyte separator. In this process, lithium reacts with carbon dioxide in a way similar to hydrogen’s role in photosynthesis, producing oxygen while simultaneously producing lithium ions and a carbon byproduct. By closing the loop, AETHER could significantly improve the oxygen recovery rate beyond what is currently achieved on the ISS, directly supporting the goal of improving ECLSS performance. The Professional Association of Research for Space Engineering Concepts (PARSEC) is a student organization dedicated to research and design projects that focus on advanced space concepts. PARSEC’s year-long projects help its members learn and gain experience with the engineering project life cycle. PARSEC members work to develop concepts, perform research, and create prototypes, as in the AETHER project.
EAGLE PRIZE AWARD
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KERNEL HIGH TEST PEROXIDE MONOPROPELLANT ENGINE Ilya Buiniakou - Mechanical Engineering, Jackson Cieloha - Mechanical Engineering, Delia Delaney - Global Security and Intelligence, Nolan Harju - Aerospace Engineering, Jacon Hoberg - Mechanical Engineering, Andrew Hoeben - Aerospace Engineering, Robert Labagh - Aerospace Engineering, Lien Bergen - Aerospace Engineering, Matthew B Nakai - Aerospace Engineering, Ches Lee Webb - Aerospace Engineering, Ruben Yoder - Aerospace Engineering MENTOR Robert Gerrick , Aerospace Engineering Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has not previously designed, developed, or tested a monopropellant rocket engine, particularly one utilizing hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ). Monopropellant engines offer significant advantages over bi- propellant systems by eliminating the need for complex fuel–oxidizer mixing, dual feed systems, and cryogenic storage infrastructure. The Kernel engine will expand both Embry-Riddle’s and the Rocket Development Lab’s technical expertise in rocket propulsion while enabling new research opportunities in monopropellant systems. Knowledge gained from Kernel will directly inform improvements to both existing and future rocket engines developed by the Rocket Development Lab, including monopropellant handling procedures, feed system design, and small-scale engine development. Kernel will operate using a 70% H ₂ O ₂ concentration, which is lower than the 80% or higher concentrations commonly used in H ₂ O ₂ monopropellant engines. While lower concentrations are typically avoided due to efficiency losses, this approach prioritizes safety and enables a controlled, incremental testing campaign. Additionally, most existing H ₂ O ₂ monopropellant engines operate at thrust levels below Kernel’s planned 300 N, making this project a valuable contribution to research on higher-thrust H ₂ O ₂ monopropellant systems. Kernel represents the first H ₂ O ₂ monopropellant engine to be designed, developed, and fired at Embry- Riddle and is distinguished by its combination of reduced propellant concentration and above-average thrust, positioning it as a unique and impactful research platform.
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THE SERIAL MURDER EFFECT: DETERMINING INCONSISTENCIES IN UNSOLVED CASES Maylynn Burns , Forensic Psychology Greyson Eversole , Forensic Psychology Emma Gruenberg , Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination Kaylyn-Rae Trenka , Forensic Psychology MENTOR Kelly Crockett , Behavioral and Social Sciences
Serial murder is often marked by separate attacks between victims in which there is a noticeable pattern in the methodology. Usual patterns of behavior with serial murderers include a five-step process in which they have a fantasy, stalk, abduct, kill, and dispose. Within these steps, each individual murderer is defined by their own signature, which can be seen in the way that the murder occurred or how the scene appeared. Most serial murderers do not stray from their own patterns or processes, especially when they find that they have not yet been caught. However, there are some cases where murders that have been linked with active serial murderers do not match their pattern. In the case of the Zodiac Killer, a prominent killer throughout California during the ’60s and ’70s, there is one unsolved murder and one attempted murder that do not appear like the rest of the attacks during his active period. On September 29, 1969, a couple was enjoying their day at Lake Berryessa when they were approached by a masked individual who hog-tied them and stabbed them. Bryan Hartnell survived the attack; however, his partner Cecelia Ann Shepard did not. In previous cases, the Zodiac Killer used a gun to commit his murders, not knives. This inconsistency with the murder weapon, along with other factors in the case, represents changes that are unusual for serial killers. This Capstone project aims to compare each confirmed and possible Zodiac Killer case to develop a better understanding of what type of serial killer the Zodiac Killer was, as well as to find contrasts within each case to determine whether the Lake Berryessa attack was completed by another individual and has been falsely linked to the Zodiac Killer for almost 60 years.
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GAMMA VELORUM X-RAY MONITORING Alexandra Burtleson, Space Physics
MENTOR Pragati Pradhan, Physics and Astronomy
We present results from X-ray monitoring of six NuSTAR observations of the colliding- wind binary at key orbital phases, to characterize the shock-heated plasma in the wind-interaction zone. Gamma Vel is composed of a Wolf–Rayet (WR) star and an O- type companion in a 7.9-day orbit, making it the closest and brightest WR binary system in the sky. This study provides the first characterization of Gamma Vel in hard X-rays, probing energies above 10 keV. As a scaled-down version of another quintessential colliding wind binary, WR 140, Gamma Vel’s shorter orbital period offers a unique opportunity to study colliding-wind dynamics and variability on more accessible timescales.
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DESIGN AND CFD SIMULATION OF AERODYNAMIC DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEMS IN FORMULA ONE CARS Francesco Busini, Mechanical Engineering Dario Ajdini, Mechanical Engineering
MENTOR Pratik Sarker , Mechanical Engineering
Formula One racing represents the highest level of motorsport engineering, where aerodynamic performance strongly affects vehicle speed, stability, and handling. A key technology used to support overtaking is the Drag Reduction System (DRS), which reduces drag by changing rear-wing geometry. However, because DRS is typically applied only at the rear wing, activation can shift the aerodynamic center of pressure forward and create imbalance that may reduce stability during transitions. This project investigates the aerodynamic effects of integrating DRS into both front and rear aerodynamic surfaces under the upcoming 2026 FIA regulations. Representative aerodynamic geometries are developed in SolidWorks and evaluated using high-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics. The analysis compares three configurations: front DRS activation, rear DRS activation, and combined front–rear activation, focusing on airflow behavior, drag reduction, downforce distribution, and stability-related trends. The expected outcome is a numerical evaluation of whether combined activation can reduce aerodynamic imbalance while maintaining effective drag reduction. Findings from this study aim to support future flow-control strategies and design decisions aligned with evolving Formula One aerodynamic standards.
IGNITE AWARD
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LOCKHEED MARTIN ETHICS IN ENGINEERING COMPETITION Connor Calme, Aerospace Engineering Brianna Jones, Software Engineering Hannah Mack, Software Engineering Anisha Vastar, Aerospace Engineering MENTORS Konnor Barnes, Aerospace Engineering (Peer Mentor) Chetan Date , Aerospace Engineering Hadi Ali , Aerospace Engineering The Lockheed Martin Ethics in Engineering Competition held in Bethesda, Maryland connects engineering students nationwide to develop professional communication skills and foster discussion of ethical values. By working together to solve technical and ethical challenges, future engineers develop important skills for the workplace that supplement their university education. The 2026 Ethics in Engineering Competition requires student competitors to present a competitive solution to an RFP issued by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The NobelNet RFP asks teams to present solutions for national defense command, control and communication software. NobelNet must integrate Edge AI into threat detection and response in compliance with the DoD Ethical AI Principles. Teams are required to present their solution and win over the judges for presenting a solution that best meets requirements and solves the technical, ethical, and programmatic issues involving the CISA NobelNet RFP. Embry-Riddle Prescott students will compete with other students nationwide while networking with Lockheed Martin mentors, and developing important workplace skills: Navigating conflict, voicing ethical values, and communicating technically and professionally. EAGLE PRIZE AWARD
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PAVBot (PATHFINDING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE)
Fiya Clerget , Computer Engineering Gianni Dragos , Electrical Engineering Autumn Peterson , Software Engineering Molly Ruley , Electrical Engineering Michael Stalford , Electrical Engineering Gabby Strevay , Software Engineering
MENTORS Joel Schipper , Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering Luis Felipe Zapata Rivera , Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering As machine learning models (MLM) and large language models (LLM) become more prevalent in day-to-day lives, with examples such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, so does their contribution to autonomous vehicle exploration. In the last couple years, Waymos have populated cities such as Phoenix and provide a new mode of transportation for any person. PAVBot enables further research contributions to the field of robotics and machine learning, which is at the forefront of society’s consciousness in a multitude of ways. The team’s vehicle will navigate using computer vision through LiDAR and two cameras, with data being run through a Jetson Nano and supporting navigation devices. In addition to developing the navigation system, the chassis and power distribution will be designed and built by the team. MLMs have facilitated tremendous breakthroughs for Autonomous Driving Systems and supports autonomous driving as more research and techniques are developed. This field has three major areas: application, background, and model-oriented surveys. Application-oriented reviews introduce LLMs and MLMs in areas such as prediction, planning, and control while analyzing prompts and learning through reinforcement. Application-oriented reviews are heavily tied to object recognition and proper detection to make correct decisions based off the data analyzed. Furthermore, using LLMs and MLMs in this field allows for the autonomous vehicle industry to become more safe, reliable, and efficient. However, lack of longevity in this field is holding it back, and further research and development will enable these technologies to revolutionize the future of driving. Major competitors have staked a claim in this industry such as Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication, Tesla releasing their Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta program in 2020 and allowing drivers to test Automated Driving Systems capabilities, Waymo launching their taxi service in 2018 providing than a hundred thousand rides per week, and even Baidu’s autonomous driving travel service that started in 2020 has provided almost a million rides. Further testing, research, and integration in this field is what is holding it back due to the nature of such a concept. Contributions to this area, no matter how small the degree or conditions, are welcomed as test cases. Thus, the creation of PAVBot to navigate a unique driving scenario for validation is a worthy endeavor to aid in the understanding how LLMs and MLMs work and function. EAGLE PRIZE AWARD
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MEASURING THE HEARTBEAT OF MASSIVE BINARIES
Abigail Connors , Space Physics Kaeya Sriram , Space Physics
MENTOR Noel Richardson , Physics and Astronomy
This project aims to study the spectral signatures of high-mass binary star systems in order to generate models of their systems and study what it means for a binary system to have a “heartbeat” light curve. The patterns of the strange, understudied light curves generated by these binary stars directly correlate to the way the stars revolve around each other. By studying these heartbeats, scientists could understand the kinematics of massive binaries more clearly. Spectroscopy is the method of data collection that analyzes the effects of electromagnetic radiation on various bodies to determine chemical composition. My group and I will use this method of data collection to study the stars Mu Sagittarii and V 914 Carinae. Through identifying key spectroscopic absorption and emission lines, we can determine the rotation speed, velocity of the center of mass, temperature, spectral classification, and relative masses of the stars in the binary systems. By the end of the period, we plan on generating a model of the star systems and publishing a scientific paper on our respective stars, as well as a light curve that shows the heartbeat. Our research will help to further understand the kinematics of binary star systems with mass transfer. Heartbeat light curves are understudied and perplexing in astronomy and need further research.
IGNITE AWARD
26 | URI DISCOVERY 2026
PORCINE DECOMPOSITION RATES AS AN ESTIMATE FOR HUMAN POST-MORTEM INTERVAL IN NORTHERN ARIZONA Megan Cramer, Forensic Biology MENTOR Hillary Eaton , Biology and Chemistry Rates of human decomposition vary by ecosystem, yet data from Northern Arizona remain limited compared to the Arizona Sonoran Desert. This study monitored the decomposition of two Sus scrofa domesticus placed in a high-desert environment beginning in early February, with one specimen in direct sun and the other in shade; both were clothed to simulate human remains. Environmental variables monitored included air temperature and humidity, soil temperature, moisture, and pH, UVA/UVB rays, luminous flux per unit area (LUX), and daily photographic documentation. Rain and snow during February and March inhibited early decomposition. As temperatures increased, the sun-exposed pig decomposed faster than the shaded pig, likely due to increased light intensity and ultraviolet exposure. Bloating persisted for 36 days, with advanced decomposition occurring from days 49 to 187, characterized by mummification, adipocere formation, and abdominal cavity collapse. Skeletonization and mummification occurred earlier in the sun-exposed specimen on day 58 and 75 compared to days 65 and 77 in the shaded specimen, while extreme decomposition occurred around day 117 for the sun specimen and day 221 for the shaded specimen. Decomposition progressed more slowly in Northern Arizona than reported for the Sonoran Desert. Blowfly activity began within 12 hours, followed by ants from days 37 to 185 and dermestid beetles from days 79 to 265 in the sun specimen and up to day 341 in the shaded specimen. Soil conditions showed minimal change. These results provide baseline data for post-mortem interval estimation in Northern Arizona’s high-desert environments. Decomposition scoring and PMI calculations are on-going, and further research is needed on decomposition starting in the summer to better characterize seasonal effects on decomposition.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INSTITUTE | 27
HAMMING IT UP ONE BIT AT A TIME: Error-Correcting Codes and Applications to Satellite Communications Avalon Crowder , Aerospace Engineering Dalton Lawrence , Space Physics Jewel MacPherson , Astronomy Rachel Olinski , Space Physics Anthony Rizza , Global Security and Intelligence
MENTORS Angelynn Álvarez , Mathematics Rosa Szurgot , Cyber Intelligence and Security
Error-correcting codes are essential for reliable data transmission and storage in noisy and error-prone environments. This work focuses on satellite communication systems, where cosmic radiation, weak and noisy transmission channels, and intermittent outages lead to bit flips, burst errors, and data loss. Error-correcting codes such as Reed–Solomon and locally recoverable codes are essential for preserving telemetry, scientific data, control signals, and onboard storage reliability. This research investigates modern coding techniques, including locally recoverable codes and algebraic geometric constructions, and evaluates their performance under realistic satellite error models. Through simulations, comparative analyses, and computational implementations, this work aims to better understand how error- correcting codes can improve the reliability and efficiency of satellite communication systems.
28 | URI DISCOVERY 2026
VIRTUAL REALITY PHYSICS MUSEUM Paige Dahman , Simulation Science, Games and Animation Malia Romero , Simulation Science, Games and Animation MENTORS
Bradley Wall , Aerospace Engineering Md Mosharaf Hossan , Mathematics
While entertainment-based virtual experiences (video games) are enjoyable, productivity and educational apps using this technology are, unfortunately, few and far between. There are even fewer educational virtual reality (VR) games based specifically on physics. Those that do exist are usually inaccessible to students, completely outdated, or irrelevant to their current field of study. We believe that VR is the next frontier in educational tools, and more research is vital in learning how to best utilize this technology to teach students different important concepts. Many experiments and scientific processes are too difficult, expensive, or time-consuming to replicate on a large scale for students to learn from. Creating virtual replications of said experiments would be monumental in teaching these processes because virtual spaces provide ease and access. This project aims to assist students in learning more about physics processes through a hands-on approach without the need for physical laboratory materials or spaces, with the ultimate goal of providing students with an easily accessible way to view physics-based science experiments or concepts that may not be possible or are very difficult to visualize in real life. We expect that by the end of the year, we will have a solid proof of concept for two to three interactive science exhibits that would otherwise be difficult or even impossible to replicate in a traditional classroom setting. We further hope that this proof of concept will be accepted by external funding sources to allow this project to continue to grow into a fully developed application in the future. We aim to make this project public so that anyone is able to open and explore the virtual “museum” of experiments to learn and succeed in their college careers. COAS PHILANTHROPY COUNCIL AWARD
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INSTITUTE | 29
LIVING JOURNEY’S CANCER SUPPORT Angel De Loera Munoz , Business Administration
MENTORS Jules Yimga, School of Business Julie Reid , Living Journeys Hannah Schafer Tibbett , Living Journeys Avery Forsythe , Living Journeys
“No one should ever face cancer alone.” A cancer diagnosis affects far more than a patient’s physical health; it reshapes everything. Living Journeys exists to address overlooked dimensions of care by providing compassionate, patient-centered support beyond the clinical setting. Living Journeys provides essential support, resources, and community connection to individuals and families impacted by cancer in Gunnison County, Colorado. Living Journeys’ mission is to ensure that no patient navigates cancer alone. In 2025, LJ has donated over $150,000 to patients, delivered 2,400 meals, and paid for over 340 therapy sessions. Through support services, including emotional counseling, peer support groups, financial assistance, transportation coordination, memorials, and educational resources, these services meet patients where they are, acknowledging the diverse emotional, cultural, and socioeconomic challenges that influence cancer experiences. For this project, I have delivered ongoing programmatic and administrative support to advance organizational goals and have also led data organization initiatives to enhance program tracking and grant readiness. With the website staging, I managed visual content organization for our web platforms, improving clarity and usability. The future focus is to assist in grant development by organizing supporting materials and program data. I am currently creating a key and reorganizing the photo archive, which goes back to 1999.
LIVING JOURNEYS SUPPORT
30 | URI DISCOVERY 2026
Analyzing Light Curves of Core Collapse Supernovae Bradley DiLorenzo , Space Physics Clayton Larson , BASIS Prescott MENTOR Michele Zanolin , Physics and Astronomy Light curves from core ‑ collapse supernovae (CCSNe) have been used within the LIGO collaboration to estimate the moment when the shock front emerges from the stellar surface. However, the broader potential of CCSNe light curves includes estimations of physical properties of the progenitor star derived from the luminosity data, which has yet to be worked through by the LIGO collaboration. This project advances that direction by employing light curves generated from explicit physical models of electromagnetic emission developed by Eli Waxman (Weizmann Institute of Science) and Chris Freyer (Los Alamos National Laboratory). Although these models provide detailed predictions, they contain ambiguities in which different combinations of the input parameters generate the same light curve. This means that if we use the process of matching an observed light curve with a theoretical one to estimate the input parameters like the mass of the progenitor, it will have ambiguities as well that we need to understand and quantify. The project goal is to interpolate these light curves with the physically generated curves from the models of Waxman and Freyer and extract possible data about the physical properties of the progenitor. A database of roughly thirty- five CCSNe light curves of interest will be analyzed using a Chi ‑ Square error fit to identify the best ‑ fit physical models and quantify parameter uncertainties and ambiguities. The outcome of this work will be a publicly accessible journal publication with hopes of improving the understanding of CCSNe and improving the data obtained through gravitational wave searched.
SPACE GRANT AWARD
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INSTITUTE | 31
NASA RASC-AL COMPETITION – W.A.R.P. Tori Dumas , Aerospace Engineering Harris Thorp-Maloney , Aerospace Engineering Nora Spiro , Aerospace Engineering Corinne Carpenter , Aerospace Engineering Tori Brill , Mechanical Engineering Gracie Raxter , Aerospace Engineering
MENTOR Davide Conte, Aerospace Engineering
The Women in Autonomous Relay Positioning (W.A.R.P.) project aims to develop a practical solution to a challenge posed by NASA’s RASC-AL 2026 competition. As future missions plan for longer and more complex operations on Mars, reliable systems are needed to support communication and navigation. This project aims to design “a modular, scalable Communications, Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (C.P.N.T.) architecture to robustly support interoperable surface operations on Mars while minimizing system-level complexity, mass, power, and operational constraints on individual assets”. Since October 2025, the W.A.R.P. team has been working on the technical proposal of a system that can support these missions. To achieve this goal, the team is developing a comprehensive mission design that spans the full lifecycle of the system, from deployment to decommissioning. The project focuses on systems that enable C.P.N.T. architectures. To manage the scope of the project and encourage focused research, the overall architecture is divided into ten subsystems: Launch Vehicles, Propulsion, Electric Power Systems, Thermal Control System, Communications & Payload, Ground Control, Structures, Orbits, Guidance & Navigation & Control, and Telemetry Control & Data Handling. The proposed solution consists of a network of 20 satellites that are deployed in orbit around Mars. If selected as a finalist in the NASA RASC-AL competition, the team will design and build a prototype to support the architecture outlined in our final proposal. The quality and capability of the prototype weigh heavily in project evaluation. Beyond tangible outcomes, the project is expected to contribute to the broader field of space systems research. Exploring scalable, modular approaches to Mars’ surface infrastructure will supply NASA with an innovative solution for future space exploration. In addition to advancing technical understanding, the project will provide significant educational benefits by giving team members hands-on experience in teamwork, problem-solving, and the end-to-end process of space mission design.
E-PRIZE AWARD
32 | URI DISCOVERY 2026
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