Student Research Highlights
In the College of Science and Mathematics, students work closely with professors on their ongoing, real-world research projects. Last summer, more than 200 students from all seven undergraduate majors in the college participated in real-world research projects. Students undertook a wide array of investigations, from computing the theoretical properties of black holes to investigating carbon nanotubes that may be of use in biomedical applications. Three of the projects are highlighted below.
Cal Poly Bio Students Awarded NSF Research Fellowships
Two Cal Poly biological sciences students this year have been awarded National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships. Erin Aiello, a graduate student, and Heather Neldner, a senior, will each receive $34,000 for three years within a five-year period in addition to a cost-of-education allowance as part of the fellowships.
Cal Poly Bio Students Map Bird Deaths from Window Collisions
Nearly 1 billion birds die annually in North America after colliding with windows in buildings. Cal Poly students joined an international team of researchers to determine how different buildings and landscaping contribute to those deaths. The researchers found that large buildings with a lot of windows caused the most bird deaths, especially when surrounded by more grass and landscaping.
Statistics Students Placed in SAS Global Forum Student Symposium
Competing against master's and doctoral students, a Cal Poly team calling themselves SAS Masters took second place at the SAS Global Forum Student Symposium in 2017. Their presentation focused on gun mortality trends.
Physic Students Build New Detector for CERN
Cal Poly students are building a particle detector that they will then install in the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator.
Chemistry Students Compute Ways to Stop Viruses
"Computational characterization of molecular interactions" isn't a phrase you hear every day, but someday, it might keep you from getting sick. Chemistry Professor Ashley McDonald and her students are using computers to study HIV in hopes of learning how to stop the virus from reproducing.
Statistics Students Take Infrared Video of the Moon
Cal Poly statistics students may have been the first in the world to take thermal, infrared, digital video of the moon from Earth's surface. Flir Systems Inc. donated an infrared video camera that students connected to a telescope. They then took the telescope system to White Mountain Research Center near Bishop, Calif., and spent the month of August recording the surface temperature of the moon.
Biology Students Do Hands-On Genetic Research
Biology Professor Sandi Clement is a huge fan of messenger RNA (mRNA), which means the students in her lab Learn by Doing hands-on genetic research that might contribute to future treatments of autoimmune disorders.
Read more about genetics research ›
