Intro

Hey everyone! My name is Mike Nitzsche. I come from Plainfield, NJ, and I just finished my sophomore year in the Honors College at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, where I am pursuing a bachelor's in mechanical engineering with a minor in computer science. I am involved in student government on campus, and I am also involved with the Camden Chapter of Engineers Without Borders at Rutgers, where we spent the last semester implementing a community garden with a solar-powered irrigation system in an underprivileged neighborhood. During the school year, I conduct research in nanomanufacturing through hybrid lithography under Professor Jonathan Singer.  In my free time, I enjoy running, exercising, and enjoying the outdoors. I am passionate about sustainability and fluid mechanics, and I am very excited to be realizing these interests by spending this summer working on implementing a high efficiency hydraulic pump-motor under Professors Thomas Chase and Perry Li at the University of Minnesota.

About me !

                              

Hello everyone!! My name is Tahseen Tabassum and I am from Queens, NY. I am studying chemical and molecular engineering with a specialization in energy and physics at Stony Brook University, NY. I will be graduating next spring and plan to pursue a career in renewable energy, processing and manufacturing industries. My hobbies include traveling, painting, reading and soccer. This summer I will be working with Paul Michael at Milwaukee School of Engineering on biodegradable hydraulic fluids. I am really looking forward to meeting you all at Purdue!

SEND HELP, CAN'T UPLOAD A PICTURE TO SAVE MY LIFE

Hi, all! I'm Fernando Ayala,  and come from Patterson, California . I am a Mechanical Engineering major at San Jose State University and plan to pursue a graduate degree after undergrad, and eventually end in the Automotive field ( Hopefully in an Formula 1 Racing team). On my free time I enjoy working on the restoration of a 1981 Chevy pick up I purchased in High School. I also enjoy watching/playing multiple sports (football, American football, and basketball) and horseback riding. Although, outdoor activities are great staying in and watching a movie is fun too! This summer I will be working with Prof. Krishnan on the design and fabrication of miniaturized soft pneumatic actuators at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaing. I am looking forward too meeting you all next week! 

P.S I apologize for not uploading a picture of the money maker! Blogger won't allow me, and I've tried different solutions with out success . See y'all soon! 

INTRO.

Hi everyone, my name is Andrew Alegria and I'm from Valley Stream, NY which is about 30 minutes from NYC. I'm studying Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University at Buffalo and will be a senior next year. Last summer I did research with the CSTEP Program at UB. The goal of the research was to try to increase the accuracy and efficiency of robotic manipulators. After I graduate, I plan to pursue a Master's degree in Robotics and maybe a Ph.D. Some hobbies of mine are playing basketball(Warriors in 5), tennis(only picture I had), chess, and reading. This summer I will be working with Dr. Andrea Vacca on Modeling and Validating Internal Gear Pumps at Purdue. I can't wait to meet all of you next week!

A little about me...

Mini Bio

Hi everyone! My name is Rochelle Brooks, and I’m from Hutchinson, MN. I’m studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, and I’ll be graduating this August. I plan to pursue a career in space, medical devices, and/or renewable technologies, and I hope to go back to school for a Master’s degree in a few years, likely in Mechanical Engineering. I studied abroad in Norway during Fall 2016, og jeg lærer norsk (I am learning Norwegian). I also enjoy downhill skiing, reading, hiking, and playing piano. I am addicted to growing plants, and my most likely cause of death is chocolate overdose. This summer I will be working for James Van de Ven on a liquid piston air compressor. I look forward to meeting you all!

Hello!

Hi there, my name is Seong Tae Kim (the on the right) and I'm from Columbia, Maryland. I go by Seong / Seongtae (the e is silent) - doesn't really matter to me. I was originally born in Seoul, South Korea, and my family moved to Maryland in 2004 when I was 7~8 years old. I currently attend school just northeast of DC in Maryland at University of Maryland, College Park. I'm pursuing a Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering, but in the not too distant future, I plan on getting a Masters in Aerospace Engineering and perhaps a PhD. I want to be part of the space industry in some form (Hi Emanuel from Texas! We have something in common). My hobbies include hiking, fishing, soccer, football. Recently, I've been slowly getting back into photography after having stopped in high school. I'll be working with Dr. Brian Steward at Iowa State University this summer. I'm excited to get my summer started and see you guys at Purdue!

Quick Intro

Hi everyone! My name is Diana Luc (pic is of me trying the Nutella burger) and I'm from Honolulu, Hawaii. I currently go to school in Saint Paul, Minnesota at Macalester College where I'm majoring in Applied Mathematics & Statistics. I intend to graduate next spring except I'm unsure what I want to do in the future, so I'm hoping this summer will help me decide! My hobbies include surfing, swimming, hiking, and photography. This summer I'll be working with Kim Stelson at University of Minnesota. Can't wait to meet you all at Purdue soon!

About Me

Hi Everyone!  My name is Christina Geiser (I'm the one on the right) and I am from Saint Paul, Minnesota.  I go to the College of Saint Benedict which is in western Minnesota.  I intend to graduate next spring with a bachelor in physics.  Currently, I intend to pursue a master's in mechanical engineering.  In my free time I enjoy hiking, camping, gardening, and spending time at any of the many lakes in Minnesota.  I also enjoy pole vaulting for my college's track team.  This summer I will be working with Kim Stelson at the University of Minnesota.  I am excited to meet you all next week at Purdue!

Can't Think of Anything Clever

Hi everybody! My name is Emanuel Grella and I’m coming up from the Lone star state, Texas. I’m attending the University of Texas Dallas (UTD) where I am pursuing a bachelors in Mechanical Engineering (will be graduating in Spring 2018). I’ve never been to Indiana or the Midwest so I’m excited to see what it’s like and to escape the Texas heat. I’m fairly involved around campus; I was a Residential Assistant (RA) for the last two academic years, participated in hikes around Dallas with our Outdoor Adventures club, am the Vice President of AIAA at UTD, train and compete with UTD’s gymnastics club team, and am the President of a Japanese Martial arts club where we practice Ninpo Taijutstu (but I’m still terrible at defending myself haha). When I’m not being a student I like playing guitar, reading fantasy books, slack lining, river rafting, I have a guilty pleasure of watching anime, and I’ve recently gotten into board games such as Settlers of Catan, Risk, and Pandemic. I’m easy going and like a good laugh-which I do a lot. I grew up with a loud New Yorker as a father so you’ll notice I don’t understand how to whisper. I enjoy people and am extroverted. I’m a Taurus and my personality type is an ENTJ. I aspire to get a masters degree in Aerospace Engineering possibly a PHD, make my way to space one way or another, start my own business, be a teacher, a father and then be happily retired. I look forward to getting to know everyone and making the most of my summer. Almost forgot, I’m going to be working with Dr. Jose Garcia at Purdue University.

Introducing your fellow Greek

Hey guys! My name is Spyros Kasapis and I am a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. I was born in Thessaloniki, the second biggest city in Greece and I moved in the U.S. three years ago for college. Although I was raised in Greece and did high school there I am a dual Greek-American citizen as my mother was born in Cleveland. About my academics, I will be graduating in a year with both my Bachelors and Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering and this summer I will be doing my research in Vanderbilt University with professor Eric Barth on wearable exoskeleton-like technology for neck injuries. My hobbies are sailing and soccer (that's what people do in Europe) and back in WPI I am involved with many organizations and clubs on campus such as the Student Government, the Aerospace Honor Society and I am a brother of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity too. Back in Greece and during my summers I am part of the YMCA Camps where I am a sailing instructor (the picture I posted is from summer camp and I am the guy on the right). I am excited to be part of the CCEFP REU program as I am thinking of pursuing a PhD and going into academia. I look forward meeting you all in Purdue! 

A little about me!

Who Is Alyssa Burger?  I've been with the CCEFP since its inception as an NSF Engineering Research Center in 2006.  I've worn many hats, however, education programming has been my main focus.  My background is in Kinesiology (study of body movement) and Science Education.  It's pretty amazing how well the study of body helps to understand fluid power systems.  Anyway, I believe I've had the second best job for the better part of the last decade.  I meet a lot of really smart people, I go to wonderful places, and I help nurture opportunities.  My first best job is being a Mom to my little Monster who prefers to be called Green JYC!  In my spare time, I teach fitness class at the YMCA, I do lots and lots of yard work, and I like trying out new DIYs (my next plan is to make a homemade compost for the backyard).  Please take a moment to tell us about you!

Welcome to the CCEFP!

Welcome to the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) Summer 2017 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program!

The purpose of your summer research experience is to provide you with exposure and application of laboratory research practices and facilities. While you will be one of only a few students at your local university, you are, in fact, part of a bigger network of 11 other REU participants across the CCEFP! We hope your time spent with us is an exciting one and your experience is valuable, meaningful, insightful, and fun!

For your first blog post, tell us a little about yourself in the form of a short bio, and include a photo or make a vine! Each week, post something regarding your research project and experience on this blog!

Looking forward to meeting you at the CCEFP fluid power bootcamp at Purdue!