Amanda Mills

Dec 5, 2025

Photodegradation of Synthetic and Natural Dyes: A Mass Spectrometry and Machine Learning Approach.

Dr. Nelson Vinueza This research aims to develop mass spectrometry methodologies and a dye database in combination with liquid chromatography and ambient ionization techniques for the identification, prediction, and structural elucidation of dyes and their degradation products. As the Director of the Max Weaver Dye Library, you will be able to access this historic collection… 

Dec 2, 2025

Tribochemical Degradation of Technical Textiles

Dr. Nilu Rajendran & Dr. Emiel DenHartog Have you ever had the jitters while donning your harness before skydiving? Have you wondered if the parachute was reliable enough to get you to land safely? These safety-critical applications rely on technical textiles, advanced materials that prioritize performance. Any failure in these textiles can lead to loss… 

Dec 2, 2025

Manufacturing Techniques to Enable the Soft Protoboard

Dr. Amanda Mills   Have you ever tried to build an electronic system? Chances are, you used a breadboard to bring your idea to life. In this project, you will work with the team to see what fabrication techniques (embroidery, printing, soldering, etc) we need to make a fabric prototyping board a reality. You will… 

Dec 2, 2025

Chemoenzymatic Recycling of Elastane Fiber

Dr. Jialong Shen Elastane (a.k.a. Spandex in the U.S.), a highly elastic polyurethane fiber, is a key component in activewear and stretch fabrics. Its presence, even at low levels, makes mechanical and conventional chemical recycling of blended textiles extremely difficult. This project includes three technical phases: chemical pretreatment and separation, enzymatic depolymerization, and monomer recovery… 

Dec 2, 2025

Scaling and Spinning of Sustainable Fibers & Novel Materials

Dr. Ericka Ford Learn how to process polymers from renewable sources and how to employ sustainable fiber spinning technologies that are less toxic are less carbon-intensive than traditional plastics. The team will explore the ways polymer chemistry influences fiber processing and its processing. The processing of novel fibers is scaled from a few grams to… 

Dec 2, 2025

Ionic Circuits in Fabric and Crystallization Control

Dr. Tom Schroeder Project 1: Ionic circuits in fabric When you think of an electrical circuit, you probably think about electrons carrying charge through wires or chips. It’s also possible to design circuits in which ions carry charge through solutions or gels. In this project, you will work on systems that use mobile ions to… 

Dec 2, 2025

SEM Characterization of Post-Consumer Athletic Footwear Foams

Dr. Kedena Henriques-Thompson & Dr. Emiel DenHartog This project introduces students to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as a tool for characterizing polymeric foams used in the midsoles and outsoles of athletic footwear. We will explore how microstructural features such as cell size and wall thickness vary across the heel, midfoot, and toe regions of worn… 

Dec 2, 2025

AI for Image-Based Fabric Structure Analysis

Dr. Md Abdul Quddus Understanding fabric structures is key to improving the mechanical recycling efficiency of textiles. This project explores how AI and machine learning can analyze fabric images to identify structural patterns that affect recyclability. Students will develop and test models for fabric classification using image data, contributing to scalable sorting solutions for textile… 

Dec 2, 2025

Polymer Chemistry and Nanosensor Development

Dr. Januka Budhathoki-Uprety Research in the Budhathoki lab encompasses the interface between chemistry, biology and material science. Our research focuses on developing novel polymers, macromolecules, and nanomaterials that are engineered for tailored properties. Undergraduate students who will join the lab for summer research will have the opportunity to work on one of the following projects.… 

Dec 2, 2025

Develop sustainable solutions with biopolymer nonwovens 

Dr. Eunkyoung Shim & Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi  Nonwoven is a highly engineered fabric; it is everywhere —from filtration systems for purifying air, blood, and water, to various types of wipes, to many medical applications, to geotextiles, etc. —and makes everyday life better. The nonwoven industry is dynamic, continually growing and innovating. Students will have the opportunity…