| What's Happening in CBAS?
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First Graduating Medical School Early Acceptance Program Students |
From Left to Right are Claire Ritter, Maria Hite, and Pierce Creighton. Missing from the photo is Kirolos Michael. Photo submitted by Eric B. Miller
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Saturday, May 6th, 2023 was the commencement ceremony of the first graduating class of the MSEAP program. These four students began their studies at MTSU in the Fall of 2019 and have already completed their first year in the MD program at Meharry Medical College.
Want to learn more? Visit: MSEAP or email EricB.Miller@mtsu.edu
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MTSU Returns to Air Race Classic |
This summer Middle Tennesse State University (MTSU) will send a team of three pilots to compete in the Air Race Classic. These racers will compete against more than 40 teams in a race across the country. The race route begins in Grand Forks, ND, spans approximately 2,400 miles, includes eight stops, and concludes in Homestead, FL. The race will challenge the team to use effective crew resource management and strategic aeronautical decision making as they work together to complete each race leg as efficiently as possible.
The team will work with a ground crew comprised of five additional team members who will remain in Murfreesboro to assist with weather planning, strategy advising, flight following, and other logistics.
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The two newest additions to the fleet. Photo submit by Savannah Richardson
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| Meet the Racers
Alyssa Smith, from Collierville, TN, is a current Professional Pilot student set to graduate in 2024. She is most looking forward to getting some experience flying outside of the training environment before she begins her position as a Certified Flight Instructor at MTSU in the Fall.
Briana McDonald, from Jackson, TN is a Professional Pilot major, Homeland Security minor who graduated in 2023. Bri is most looking forward to meeting and connecting with all the incredible women who are participating this year.
Farilyn Hurt, from Milledgeville, GA received her undergrad in Professional Pilot in 2021. She is currently pursuing her M.S. from MTSU with a concentration in Aviation Management. Farilyn is most looking forward to seeing ingenious women accomplish amazing things all while representing MTSU.
If you would like to support the team, you can donate here and follow the journey on their Instagram page: @mtsu_airrace.
By Savannah Richardson May
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| MTSU Racers Alyssa Smith, Farilyn Hurt, and Briana McDonald Photo submit by Savannah Richardson
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The MTSU chapter of Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) represented the department amongst other collegiate aviation programs at ACE Academy Camp in Peachtree City, GA
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8 New Diamond Aircraft for Training |
LAKELAND, Fla. — Middle Tennessee State University accepted the first of eight new Diamond Aircraft DA40 XLT single-engine planes at a ceremony Wednesday, March 29, at Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo, one of the nation’s largest annual aviation gatherings.
Greg Van Patten, dean of MTSU’s College of Basic and Applied Sciences, and Chaminda Prelis, chair of the university’s Department of Aerospace, inspected the aircraft as part of Diamond’s display at Sun ’n Fun. Student pilots will fly the aircraft back to Tennessee at the end of the show.
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Trevor Mustard, head of sales and marketing for Diamond Aircraft, left, presents Middle Tennessee State University Department of Aerospace Chair Chaminda Prelis with a special token of appreciation for the business relationship between the two entities Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at the Sun ’n Fun aviation event in Lakeland, Fla., where MTSU faculty and staff picked up the first of eight new Diamond DA40 XLT aircraft, in immediate background, to be added to the university’s fleet to train pilots. Also pictured is Greg Van Patten, dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, right, and MTSU aerospace faculty, flight instructor and student representatives, back right. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)
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MTSU and Southwest Partnership |
Middle Tennessee State University’s highly touted Department of Aerospace joined the Southwest Airlines “Destination 225°” program on Wednesday, April 26, as one of the newest partners in the airline’s unique “First Officer” development and recruitment program.
Destination 225° builds pathways for aspiring pilots from university aviation programs across the country to first officer roles at Southwest Airlines.
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MTSU aerospace students and certified flight instructors perform final checks and unloading after flying in two Diamond Aircraft to the MTSU Flight Operations Center at Murfreesboro Airport. MTSU professional pilot majors can be a part of a new partnership between the university and Southwest Airlines, announced April 26. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)
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Blue Raider Riders End Year on High Note
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With virtually a new team of riders, the nationally renowned Middle Tennessee State University stock horse team had impressive showings — including reserve national champion — when they recently wrapped up their season.
Trying to defend their national championship from 2022, six Blue Raider riders placed second overall (designated reserve national champion) and earned a number of top individual honors at the annual American Stock Horse Association competition in Sweetwater, Texas.
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From left, Middle Tennessee State University stock horse team members Kara Brown, Audrey Ferrie, JoBeth Scarlett, Cory Elks, Kenlee West and Allyssa Kraker recently earned reserve national champion status and a fifth-place finish at national competitions in Sweetwater and Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by Cait Russell Photography)
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Days earlier, the MTSU team clinched fifth place overall competing against more than 150 riders from more than 14 states across the country at the Hughes Trailer National Intercollegiate Ranch and Stock Horse Association National Championship show in Amarillo, Texas. They competed in ranch trail, ranch riding, cow work and reining categories.
“This is nearly an entirely new team I took this year,” said coach Andrea Rego. “Most of them have never competed in ranch events prior to coming to MTSU. I am so proud of each of their efforts to rise to the occasion and represent Tennessee so well.
“We could not do this 2,000-mile trip each year without our dedicated students, supportive parents and amazing sponsors. The future of this team is bright and we can’t wait for next year.”
To learn more about the MTSU stock horse team, email Rego at Andrea.Rego@mtsu.edu.
Horse science is just one of many School of Agribusiness programs in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.
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| MTSU Sweetwater highlights
• JoBeth Scarlett, a senior horse science major from New Market, Tennessee, and Twentyeleventwister were National All-Around Champions in the Non-Pro division.
• Kara Brown, a senior horse science major from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Citas QT Sweetheart were National All-Around Champions in the Limited Non-Pro Division.
• Audrey Ferrie, a junior business administration major from Warren, Pennsylvania, and BC Pennys from Tari were National All-Around Champions in the Novice Division.
• Alyssa Kraker, a senior horse science major from Dallas, Georgia, and Lady in Reeboks were Reserve National All-Around Champions in the Novice Division.
• Kenlee West, a sophomore horse science major from Samantha, Alabama, and Smarty Got Spooked were third overall in the Green Horse Division.
• Cory Elks a senior horse science major from Troy, Tennessee, and Ruf Lil Whiz was third overall in the Novice Division.
Blue Raider Amarillo highlights
Scarlett scored an 80 in the Limited Ranch Riding, claiming the top spot in the class for go-round 2. Additionally, Scarlett and Kraker were top 20 overall in their divisions for the event featuring 60 riders.
— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu) May 10th, 2023
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For the first time in school history, the Middle Tennessee State University equestrian team took home the Western National Championship trophy at the 2023 Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association National Championship.
Held earlier in May at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, five Blue Raider riders qualified as a western team and four riders qualified individually through placing top four at semifinals earlier in the spring. ~ Randy Weiler
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Keeping the tradition of biting medals they just received, Middle Tennessee State University equestrian team members include, from left, coach Ariel Higgins, Audrey Ferrie, Sadio Barnes, Mackenzie Latimer, Jordan Martin, Jessie Kauffman and assistant coach Andrea Rego. The team earned the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association Western championship — a first for the Blue Raider program — at the national competition at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., May 7. (Photo by Danielle Dunn)
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MTSU faculty, alumni contribute to Cedar Glade Wildlife Festival May 5-6
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University faculty and alumni will once again be involved in the 45th Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildlife Festival at Cedars of Lebanon State Park six miles south of Lebanon, Tenn.
MTSU’s Center for Cedar Glade Studies partners with the state park to host the annual event the evening of Friday, May 5, and all day, through the evening of Saturday, May 6. Most events are free, but donations will be accepted.
Kim Cleary Sadler, professor of biology education, and biology professor Jeff Walck will be key contributors, along with alumni Todd Crabtree, Hobart Akin, Melissa Turrentine, Sharon Bracy, Bekkah Riley and students Lori Klukowski and Ori Bergman.
Sadler admits “there will be something for everybody, even if you don’t want to get out and hike” at this year’s festival, formerly known as the Wildflower Pilgrimage. “We want people to come and learn about the cedar glades.”
Cedar glades are characterized by very thin soil and exposed, rocky patches surrounded by redcedar trees. Cedar glades, which support a variety of plant life, are found in the Midstate in Wilson, Davidson and Rutherford counties.
“There’s a wonderful native plant garden behind the nature center,” Sadler said, adding that native plants will be available for sale May 20, but not at this year’s event.
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Dr. Kim Cleary Sadler
Biology Professor
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Native TN plant- Jack in the Pulpit
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Former Middle Tennessee State University graduate student Bekkah Riley, left, and MTSU biology research scientist Alex Romer man the animal table at the 2022 Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildlife Festival at Cedars of Lebanon State Park. Children of all ages can hold snakes, turtles and artifacts found in the glades near the park. This year’s festival will be held Friday and Saturday, May 5-6. (Submitted photo)
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Activities at the festival include three-hour hikes with field botanists for people wanting to learn more about the plants. A new event this year is Botany by Bike — bring lunch and bike with Roger McCoy to selected glades for the entire morning.
There’s also shorter, family-friendly programs that include a geology hike to learn more about the rocks and fossils in glades, native plant gardening and learning stations that teach about some aspect of cedar glades. The full schedule is available on the Tennessee Native Plant website.
For children of all ages, there will be an owl presentation with park ranger Shawna Bridges — and activity tables for youngsters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Friday evening program features state botanist Todd Crabtree speaking about rare plants in cedar glades. Hobart Akin, cultural resources and exhibits specialist for Tennessee State Parks will talk about the history of Cedars of Lebanon.
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Holly Taylor, left, associate state naturalist, Middle Tennessee State University professor of biology education Kim Cleary Sadler and Milo Pyne, retired scientist with NatureServe, visit during the 2022 Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildlife Festival at Cedars of Lebanon State Park near Lebanon, Tenn.
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The Saturday evening program features Pany Upchurch, former assistant chief of biodiversity for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, speaking about current conservation challenges facing the unique habitats of the central basin.
Sadler said attendees should plan to bring food and drink, particularly water, on Saturday, as there are no food vendors at the park.
The late Elsie Quarterman was a professor emerita of Vanderbilt University. Quarterman pioneered cedar glade research in the early 1950's and did much research at what is now known as the Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade, a 185-acre natural area in Rutherford County, according to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation website. She was an advocate for natural area protection throughout her career, and her efforts helped Tennessee in 1971 become one of the first states to pass legislation to protect natural areas in the U.S.
The 2024 Cedar Glade Festival will be held May 3-4.
For more information, contact Sadler at Kim.Sadler@mtsu.edu.
By Randy Weiler
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28th Regional Science Olympiad
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Quinn Elam, left, of Smyrna (Tenn.) Middle School and Jonathan Brown of Siegel Middle School School in Murfreesboro answer questions on a test in the “Forestry” event during the 28th annual Regional Science Olympiad held Saturday, Feb. 18, at Middle Tennessee State University. Their exam took place in an MTSU Science Building classroom. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)
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Students checking in to the event.
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Saturday February 18th was the 28th Regional Science Olympiad hosted at MTSU. Event Director and Chemistry Professor Dr. Pat Patterson said this is her last event as the director as she is passing the torch on to Dr. Kevin Ragland of TSEC who helped her with the successful event this year. Thank you Dr. Patterson for your service and dedication to future scientists!
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Ravenwood High School teammates Chetan Yenigalla, left, and Sophia Wang watch the takeoff of the airplane they created and designed as part of the 28th annual Regional Science Olympiad held Saturday, Feb. 18, at Middle Tennessee State University. Their effort helped the Brentwood, Tenn., high school earn first-place honors and advance to the April 1 Science Olympiad State Tournament at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)
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Freshman Gwen Moser of Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tenn., launches the tennis ball from the catapult she and her sister, junior Claire Moser, designed and built. They were participants in the 28th annual Regional Science Olympiad held Saturday, Feb. 18, at Middle Tennessee State University. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)
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Dr. Pat Patterson Chemistry Professor
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Janna Abou-Rahma, far left, an undergraduate student and researcher from Middle Tennessee State University, works with her team during the highly competitive Mayo Clinic Social Determinants of Health Challenge put on in the lead up to the annual National Conferences of Undergraduate Research held this April at the University of Wisconsin-Eau. Abou-Rahma’s team won the competition, putting her in the top 1% of hundreds of applicants. (Photo courtesy of Janna Abou-Rahma)
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MTSU recently sent 16 undergraduates to participate in the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research and one student, Janna Abou-Rahma, was part of the team that won a highly competitive challenge putting her in the top 1% of hundreds of applicants.
More commonly known as NCUR, the annual conference took place this April at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Staff from MTSU’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Jamie Burriss and Katie Medrano, accompanied students Abou-Rahma, Hunter Brady, Weston Williams, Ross Sibley, Brooke Busbee, Yaseen Ginnab, Greti Muller, Ariel Nicastro, Luke Gormsen, Foram Patel, Lindsey Tran, Benjamin Matthews, Casey Tomlin, Connor Prim, Leslie Gonzalez and Marzea Akter to the conference to present their research projects from a multitude of subject areas from science and math to music and more. ~ Stephanie Wagner
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| Department of Computer Science
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Middle Tennessee State University Computer Science and Data Science students were not only creating games and dabbling with virtual reality and artificial intelligence at this year’s HackMT event, but also networking and establishing relationships with, hopefully, potential employers.
Joined by representatives from industry partners, MTSU students on 10 teams spent 36 nonstop hours creating apps and more during the annual HackMT and project expo in the MTSU Science Building Sunday, Jan. 29. ~Randy Weiler
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Middle Tennessee State University computer science majors Wesley Mitchell, left, and Ian Tatum, right, received $2,500 scholarships from event sponsor Asurion Sunday, Jan. 29, at the conclusion of the annual MTSU HackMT event in the Science Building. Kevon Young, software engineer with Asurion, announced the names of the winners. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy)
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| 2023 HackMT awards
• First place — Team 7 (team name 777), including Marim Abbas, Collin Kinslow, Anthony Pierce Ian Tatum, Samuel Thomas and Stephanie Zhang.
• Second place — Team 2 (team name WHaSUP), including Elijah Atkins, Kwabena Fosuhene, Audra Hensley, Andrew Leverette, Phillippe Lumpkin, Elena Malafeeva, Cory McDermaid, Rosalinda Powell, Justin Redifer, Blake Stanley, Zach Turner and Ajay Vashist.
• Third place — Team 9 (team name RLRACERS), including Zita Ajoku, Carlos Aldana, Joshua Cox, Kendra Givens, Jack Goble, Naomi Igbinovia, Alex Larable, David Ludwig, Christian Mertz, Grace Metri and Rahma Seid.
• Hackers’ Choice Award — Team 1 (team name No API available), including Mitchell Dwitt, Mark Eskander, Uriel Esquivel, Zarya Ghafour, Mateo Lopez Moncaleano, Adel Mahfooz and Matthew Radice.
• HackMT Scholarship/MTSU Computer Science Department Foundation — Elijah Atkins.
• Asurion HackMT 2023 Scholarship — Wesley Mitchell and Ian Tatum.
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| School of Concrete & Construction Management
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The School of Concrete and Construction Management Welcomes a New Director |
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Dr. Thomas Nicholas Photo Submitted by Melissa Burnett
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| Dr. Thomas Nicolas comes from the Engineering Technology and Construction Management Department as an Associate Professor and Chair at the University of North Carolina. We are excited to welcome the new Director to campus!
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The Data Science program has grown in its three years of existence.
The Spring 2023 semester had 81 students enrolled in the undergraduate program. Fifteen of those students graduated in May, with six of those students receiving Honor Certificates from the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.
The undergraduate program also had 46 students taking Data Science as a minor.
The graduate program had a total of 47 students enrolled in classes. Seventeen students are working toward their graduate certificate, and thirty students are working for the masters.
The Computational and Data Science Ph.D. program has 33 students.
In addition the Data Science Institute is welcoming a new department interim Director
Submitted by Cheri Burt
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| Department of Engineering Technology
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The photo shows a preliminary layout of the center atrium for the Middle Tennessee State University Applied Engineering Building. The glass walls on the left offer views of both the student project development and Experimental Vehicles Program laboratories. Groundbreaking will be this summer and the expected opening will be fall 2025. (MTSU screenshot) ~Randy Weiler
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Hovercrafts, a humanoid robot, smart lock boxes to store deliveries safely on your porch, a small pinball machine and a navigation aid for the visually impaired — just a sampling of dozens of creative, end-of-year Middle Tennessee State University Engineering Technology student projects on display.
Always a highlight event for seniors graduating in May, August or December, Mech-Tech is the engineering and technology student project expo full of an assortment of gadgets and gizmos. The event is held on study day, just days before graduation, in the Miller Education Center’s second-floor atrium.
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Wearing a tracking vest, May MTSU graduate Luke Maness of Lexington, Tenn., guides the robot, “Candice Be Human,” during the annual Middle Tennessee State University Mech-Tech, an expo for Engineering Technology and Mechatronics Engineering students held during study day. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy)
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Award-winning MTSU Solar Boat Team Makes Waves at 2023 International Competition |
Members of the Middle Tennessee State University solar boat team gather with their boat during the recent international Solar Splash competition at Champions Park Lake at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ohio. The team placed fourth overall for the second consecutive year and earned two special awards. Standing from left to right: Ben Garretson, Daniel Wetter, Cody Olsen, Jackson Clemons, Kaylin Garton, Zachary DiNovo, Dr. Saeed Foroudastan, Rick Taylor, and Lilian Hardin. Photo submitted by Dr. Saeed Foroudastan
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — For the second consecutive year, the Middle Tennessee State University solar boat team finished fourth overall in the 29th annual Solar Splash, the world championship of collegiate solar boating.
MTSU finished behind champion Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, 2022 winner Cedarville (Ohio) University and third-place University of Southern Indiana.
The MTSU team earned the Outstanding Solar System Design Award and third-place honors for the prerace video produced by Lily Hardin, the team co-captain.
Solar Splash is a five-day competition held at Champions Park Lake at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ohio. In addition to qualifying, events included sprint, endurance, slalom, technical reports and more. MTSU students in the Engineering Technology Experimental Vehicles Program have been competing for about 20 years.
Other team members included rising junior and solar boat captain Daniel Wetter (mechatronics) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; grad student Ben Garretson (engineering management) of Gallatin, Tennessee, who was charge of the boat’s telemetry/data collection; rising senior Jackson Clemons (mechatronics) of Murfreesboro; rising sophomore Cody Olsen (mechatronics) of Murfreesboro; freshman Zachary DiNovo (mechatronics) of Murfreesboro; rising sophomore Kaylin Garton (mechanical engineering technology) of Murfreesboro; and freshman John Guffey (mechatronics) of Gallatin, Tennessee.
Saeed Foroudastan, Experimental Vehicles Program director, said team members were “dedicated, confident and knowledgeable. They never quit. They participated in the race and did well.”
All this after the boat was damaged during the six-plus-hour drive by U-Haul to Springfield. “As a team, they got together and spent a lot of hours and fixed everything themselves,” he added.
“We are extremely proud of our solar boat team and their performance this year,” said Greg Van Patten, College of Basic and Applied Sciences dean. “These students are very bright and motivated. I heard they overcame a major obstacle and had to make repairs to the boat, and to their credit, the repairs were successful. Their success against top teams from around the country and the world brings recognition to the Engineering Technology Department and to the university.”
Hardin, 23, Experimental Vehicles Program president, said team members “worked until 8 or 9 every night. It was stressful, but we worked as a team. I was happy with how we placed.” She drove the endurance portion while Wetter drove the slalom and sprint divisions.
Rick Taylor, an MTSU engineering laboratory director, also traveled with the team and served as an advisor.
Smyrna, Tennessee-based Nissan North America gave the program $5,000 toward expenses for the solar boat and Baja all-terrain sporting vehicle competitions. Sponsors also included Nashville-based Lane Motorsports and the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.
For more information, email Foroudastan at Saeed.Foroudastan@mtsu.edu.
A link to the prerace video produced by MTSU solar boat team co-captain Lily Hardin is available at:
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| Department of Geosciences
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Graduating Geosciences Senior and Future Geosciences Master’s Student Receives National Awards |
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Graduating Geosciences undergraduate Kathryn Baumann received an American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) 2023 National Student Scholarship. In addition, she received a 2023 National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) Field Study Scholarship. The NAGT scholarship is one of only eighteen awards nationwide. The scholarship provides $750 to defray the cost of attending an intensive 6 week capstone geoscience field experience. In the Fall, Katy will return to the MTSU Geosciences Department to being work on a Master’s.
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Photo caption: American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) Past-president and current WSP USA Assistant Vice President Todd McFarland presents graduating MTSU undergraduate Kathryn Baumann with her AIPG National Student Scholarship. Submitted by Dr. Mark Abolins
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| Department of Mathematical Sciences
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A Middle Tennessee State University professor passionate about science, technology, engineering and math education recently earned her fourth National Science Foundation grant to research student thinking in STEM and train STEM instructors to improve student learning.
Jennifer Kaplan, director of MTSU’s Mathematics and Science Education Ph.D. Program, landed $154,929 in funding from the NSF to develop innovative assessments that analyze how undergraduate students use “interdisciplinary thinking” — using both a scientific and mathematical thinking — to understand scientific topics.
“In other words, how students engage in making sense of quantitative problems in biology, chemistry and physics,” said Kaplan, who is also a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. “Mathematical sensemaking in science focuses on students’ ability to blend core disciplinary science ideas with cross-cutting mathematical concepts, such as patterns and proportions, while engaging in scientific practices such as computational thinking, making predictions and reasoning from evidence.” ~Stephanie Wagner
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| Department of Physics & Astronomy
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Physics/Honors Freshman Selected for Prestigious TREND REU Question |
Franklin, Tenn., resident, Ariel Nicastro, a Physics major and Honors student at MTSU, was selected from about 200 applicants to participate in the 2023 Training and Research Experiences in Nonlinear Dynamics (TREND) summer research program, also known as a research experience for undergraduates (REU).
TREND is a 10-week undergraduate summer research program in nonlinear dynamics at the University of Maryland (UMD) College Park, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This year’s program will take place from May 30 to August 4.
“When I first got the acceptance email, I was in class, but that didn’t stop my immediate reaction of excitement! After my class ended, I told my family, friends, and faculty members who supported me throughout the application process,” exclaimed Nicastro. “This offers me the opportunity to learn about an increasingly applicable side of physics I would not have formerly thought to explore.”
A Buchanan Fellow, Nicastro’s achievement is remarkable because she is currently a freshman.
“She is the first freshman who I know of to be offered an REU in the 15 years I have been here,” said Laura Clippard, international fellowships and Honors College coordinator at MTSU. “She is very motivated and organized; this is an incredible opportunity for her.”
“She is diligent and eager to learn,” said Dr. William Robertson, physics and astronomy professor at MTSU. “I am pleased that she has this opportunity. I believe she will represent MTSU well.”
Nicastro will be among 12 other undergraduate researchers from across the country. This REU gives students a taste of graduate school and research to help them choose their career path. Students receive professional development training, including outreach and communication, while participating in summer-long dialogues about social justice in science.
According to Daniel Serrano, program director for TREND, participants receive hands-on exposure to science outreach and science communication activities. After the program, they will receive continued career and professional development support.
“We are very proud to be able to positively shape the careers of future physicists!” exclaimed Serrano.
Nicastro learned about the TREND opportunity on the NSF website. She said she decided to apply because of the broad range of computational, experimental, and theoretical programs available at UMD.
“The ability to list my top four program choices in my application allowed me to leave my comfort zone and find programs that would help develop technical research skills that I otherwise may not have encountered,” she said.
For the duration of the REU, Nicastro has been assigned a project mentor, Wolfgang Losert, who is a professor of physics at UMD. Nicastro’s biophysics research project will focus on the dynamics of living systems.
“An interdisciplinary project, it studies the dynamical, electrical, biomechanical, and biochemical rhythms of cells and tissues,” Nicastro explained. “As a physics major, I expect to be studying and modeling cell motion using the programming platform MATLAB.”
MATLAB is a programming and numeric computing platform used by engineers and scientists to analyze data, develop algorithms, and create models.
“There are also options to conduct cell motility experiments and develop devices that can manipulate these cells,” she added.
Upon completion of the program, she will present her research at a formal conference. Additionally, the benefits of participation in the program include a $6,000 stipend, travel costs, and free on-campus housing for the summer at UMD.
This isn’t Nicastro’s first achievement as a physics student. She presented a poster earlier this year at the annual Tennessee Collegiate Honors Council (TCHC) Conference hosted at Austin Peay State University. During her first semester at MTSU, she worked with another student, senior Luke Gormsen, in Fall 2022. They conducted research manipulating electromagnetic waves in coaxial cables to create dips in transmission at regular frequency intervals.
“Although the waves being controlled here are electrical, the project's involvement in the field of metamaterials is beneficial in the further understanding of wave manipulation in the optical and acoustic realms,” Nicastro explained. She primarily experimented with configuring the ring resonators in the lap and graphing the data, while Gormsen created a program to predict the characteristics of various configurations that were more difficult to create in their lab setting.
Additionally, prior to attending TREND in the summer, Nicastro will be presenting at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research in Wisconsin in April.
Students do not need to be Honors College students to apply for REU opportunities. Learn more at mtsu.edu/honors/ufo, or contact Laura Clippard with the MTSU Undergraduate Fellowships Office for more information, laura.clippard@mtsu.edu.
~Dr. Robin Lee
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Last years campers working on engineering projects.
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Registration is closed for this years camp which is on the week of June 19th-23rd. Our fall newsletter will feature a news article for this years camp. So check back soon!
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The first annual CBAS stem summer camp was held the week of July 11th. Thirty-three students attending from all over middle Tennessee. Photo by J. Intintoli
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Campers in chemistry lab study the energy of fire. Photo by J. Intintoli
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Registration is currently open for the Fall 23 TGIS!
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Notable Upcoming Events for Aerospace
Air Race Classic - June 20-23 - Support team #29 from MTSU as they race against other female teams across the nation. Donate here and follow their journey on Instagram @mtsu_airrace.
EAA AirVenture Alumni Event - July 26 - Save the date for our annual Alumni and Friends dinner in Oshkosh, WI. Join us all week (July 24-30) at the biggest airshow in the world and visit us at booth #442.
New Student BBQ - August 30 - All new Aerospace students are invited to join us at the AWS Hangar to kick off the new school year. Dinner is sponsored by Endeavor Air and attendees will have a chance to meet faculty/staff, learn more about student organizations, and connect with peers.
Aviation Mental Health Conference - November 1-2 - Save the date for the annual Aviation Mental Health conference hosted at MTSU this year.
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The CBAS newsletter is published each semester by the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.
SCI 1020, Box 83
615-898-2613
Greg Van Patten, Dean
Saeed Foroudastan, Assoc. Dean
Marlene Lawson, Assistant to the Dean
Lindsey Reynolds, Administrative Associate
Jennifer Danylo, Advising Manager
Eric B. Miller, Pre-professional Health Advising Manager
Jared Bryson, Director of Development
Gary Wallace, Instructional Technology Specialist
Back issues are available here.
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