CIAM-COR-R31
Research Team
Richard Sause, PI, Lehigh University
Chad Kusko, co-PI, Lehigh University
Funding Sources
Lehigh University Federal Share: $23,610
Lehigh University Match Share: $23,658
Total Project Cost: $47,268
Agency ID or Contract Number
69A3551847103
Start and End Dates
04/01/2021 — 10/31/2021
Project Description
Lehigh University, through its Institute for Cyber Physical Infrastructure and Energy (I-CPIE) and its Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS) Engineering Research Center, is proposing a 10-week CIAMTIS Lehigh Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. The REU program will fund 4 students to participate in the REU program. The program’s focus will include the assignment of each student to an active Lehigh University CIAMTIS research project or a project that fits within the CIAMTIS mission under the direction of the project Principal Investigator and graduate student mentor to help the student navigate through the research project experience. Beyond the research experience, the program will expose the students to a well-rounded professional development experience. The program’s activities will include professional skills development workshops and seminars, and perhaps, onsite outreach activities and offsite tours. The program will culminate with a final report, poster, and presentation on the research findings.
Lehigh’s ATLSS Engineering Research Center, through support from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance (PITA) program, the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Network for Earthquake for Engineering Simulation (NEES) program, and the NSF funded Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) program, has an established history of organizing and operating highly successful REU programs designed around ongoing Civil, Environmental, Structural, and Earthquake Engineering research topics. Such programs were most recently completed during the summers of 2018, 2019, and 2020 through a combination of financial support from PITA, NHERI, and CIAMTIS. As part of the program, students conducted research covering a wide range of Civil Engineering-related research topics under the direction of project Principal Investigators and graduate student mentors. The program also included workshops emphasizing the development of professional skills, including following proper safety procedures, conducting successful literature searches, organizing and delivering effective presentations, drafting technical reports, and creating resumes. Additionally, tours of Pennsylvania-based industrial organizations were provided in order to expose the students to industrial environments.