Spectrum - Volume 21 Issue 01 August 27, 1998 - Engineering students receive space-grant research funding

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

Engineering students receive
space-grant research funding

By Liz Crumbley

Spectrum Volume 21 Issue 01 - August 27, 1998

Several Virginia Tech College of Engineering students have received research scholarships and fellowships for the 1998-99 academic year from the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) in Hampton.
Seven Tech students received VSGC graduate fellowships of $5,000 annually, renewable for up to three years. Norman Broyles of chemical engineering who will interphase formation in carbon-fiber polymer-matrix composites. Todd Bullions of materials science and engineering will research optimization of cure parameters for a high-performance polymer; David Kern of mechanical engineering (ME) will study non-polluting and benign fire-suppression agents.
Jennifer McMurray of engineering science and mechanics (ESM) will investigate the failure of composite cylinders. Tomoya Ochinero of ESM will research the manufacturing distortions of curved composite panels. Sneha Patel of ESM will research the durability and damage tolerance of polymer composites in aerospace structures. Jaret Riddick of ESM will investigate the response of circular composite cylinders to axial loading.
Ph.D. candidates Christopher Fannin of ME and Scott Meller of electrical and computer engineering received graduate fellowship renewals for 1998-99.
Three Tech undergraduates received research scholarships worth up to $8,500. Christopher Gunther of aerospace and ocean engineering will construct wind-tunnel models from composite materials for use in wing testing. Brandon Stugis of ESM plans to design and construct a passive control system for an airfoil. Jonathan Watts of ME will study the thermo-electric power supply for micro-air vehicles.