University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The Grainger College of Engineering

Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering Program

2022 High School Summer Research Symposium

Featuring SpHERES researchers, POETS Young Scholars, & Grainger Engineering Young Scholars

Friday, July 29, 2022 | 11:30-1:00pm Poster Presentations | 1:00-2:00 Closing Ceremony

On Friday, July 29, 2022, the summer’s research experience for high school students came to an end with a showcase and celebration. Thirty two high school researchers their mentors participated in 6 weeks of study and research with the Center for Power Optimization and Electro-thermal Systems (POETS) Young Scholars program, the Sparking High Schooler’s Excitement for Research in Engineering and Science (SpHERES) program, and the Grainger Engineering Young Scholars (GEnYuS) program.

This symposium will feature the research projects from 15 different research groups. The high school students were mentored by faculty and students at the University of Illinois, and high school educators provided an added layer of mentoring during this expanded experience.

Click Here to View the Symposium Program

Symposium Posters

Sparking High Schooler’s Excitement for Research in Engineering and Science

Coordinator: Dot Gordon, EBICS

SpHERES Baymax Healthcare Robot - John Brownridge (University of Illinois Laboratory High School), Homer Radden II (High School of Saint Thomas More)

Mentors:
Ben Walt

Session PI:
Girish Krishnan

Teacher Mentor:
Cyndi Smyser

SpHERES 3D Printing Applications in Science - Alex Curry (Champaign Central High School), Henry Spinella (Centennial High School)

Mentors:

Dirk Ton, Stuart Turner

Session PI:
Alex (Elisandro) Cabada

Teacher Mentor:
Smadar Bergman

SpHERES Biocompatible Hydrogels - Paris Cumberlander (Intrinsic - Downtown Campus), Elizabeth Quansah (Jones College Preparatory)

Mentors:
Joseph Mueller, Achal Anand, Audi Hicks

Session PI:
Sara Pedron Haba

Teacher Mentor:
LaTina Taylor

Center for Power Optimization and Electrothermal Systems (POETS) Young Scholars

Coordinator: Joe Muskin

POETS Developing and Testing Li Ion Batteries Under Heat - Anna Diamani (Centennial High School), Priya Haran (University Laboratory High School), Thomas Southey (University Laboratory High School)

Mentors:
Carlos Juarez, Yescas Patrick Kwon

Session PI:
Paul Braun

Teacher Mentor:
Rebecca Wattleworth

POETS Engineering for Youth - Edna Huerta (Waubonsie Valley High School), Phillip Radoslavov (Neuqua Valley High School), Dhruv Syngol (Metea Valley High School)

Project Lead:
Tara Bell

Teacher Mentors:
Tyler Hunt, Jennifer Crawford

POETS Optimization of Drones - Lucas Caldentey (University of Chicago Laboratory High School), Maya Germain (Jones College Preparatory)

Mentors:
Peter Xiao, Phillip Renkert

Session PI:
Kiruba Haran

Teacher mentor:
Jay Hooper

Grainger Engineering Young Scholars (GEnYuS)

Coordinators: Lara Hebert and Marie-Pierre Lassiva-Moulin

Grainger Engineering Block I

GEnYuS-CS: Eye Exam Robot - Marlow Tracy (University Laboratory High School), Maya Viswanathan (University Laboratory High School)

Mentors:
Reihaneh Jahedan

Session PI:
Kris Hauser

Teacher mentor:
Cyndi Smyser

GEnYuS-CS: Physical to Digital Writing - Annie Bilderback (University Laboratory High School), Elizabeth Spencer (University Laboratory High School)

Mentors:
Bohan Liu, Arnav Sethi, Ritvik Goradia

Session PI:
Elahe Soltanaghai

Teacher Mentor:
Smadar Bergman

GEnYuS-MRSEC: Understanding Circuit Components and their Applications - Treazure Edwards (Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School), Rachel Li (Whitney M Young Magnet High School)

Mentors:
Emily Waite, Alex Beach

Session PI:
Nadya Mason

Teacher mentor:
Smadar Bergman

GEnYuS-BioE: Analyzing Brain Activity Data with Python - Trish Richards (Sarah E Goode STEM Academy), Annie Wu (Walter Payton College Preparatory High School)

Mentors:
Neeraj Wagh, John Zhang

Session PI:
Yogatheesan Varatharajah

Teacher Mentor:
LaTina Taylor

GEnYuS-Physics: ZDC Journey - Gio Cyril (Marian Catholic High School), Camden Nall (Christian Brothers College High School)

Mentors:
Samantha Lund, Benjamin Liu, Paul Malachuk

Session PI:
Matthias Grosse Perdekamp

Teacher Mentor:
LaTina Taylor

GEnYuS-Physics: Visualizing Quantum Mechanics - Jose Davila Jr (Lindblom Math and Science Academy), Ajani King (Richwoods High School)

Mentors:
Chun Yu Chow, Nirvaan Khera

Session PI:
Lucas Wagner

Teacher Mentor:
Geniene Minkus

GEnYuS-Physics: Applications and Theory Behind Quantum Networking- Ananya Shah (Centennial High School), Maya Stori (Urbana High School)

Mentors:
Ale Baptista, Sam Cross, Shreyaans Jain

Session PI:
Wolfgang Pfaff

Teacher Mentor:
Jay Hooper

GEnYuS-Physics: Comparing the Performance of sPHENIX Calorimeter Blocks- Rameses Mendoza (Fenwick High School), Josue Rosas (John Hancock High School)

Mentors:
Anabel Romero Hernandez , Anthony Hodges

Session PI:
Anne Sickles

Teacher Mentor:
LaTina Taylor

GEnYuS-Physics: Designing and Testing Uniform Magnetic Fields to Measure Neutron Dipole Moment- Aylah Altahhan (Centennial High School), Riley McJunkin (Centennial High School)

Mentors:
Blake Erickson

Session PI:
Doug Beck