Previous Projects

Below is a summary of Project Titles from previous years.  Corresponding Lesson Plans are also publicly available from 2015-2024.

2024 Projects:

2023 Projects:

2022 Projects:

  • Creating an X-Ray Lens Model for Dark-Field X-Ray Microscopy, Samantha Knepp, Altoona High School, Advisor:  Dr. Darren Pagan​

  • Unmixing Liquids: Phase Separation and Non-Covalent Interactions, Rubeena Quazi, Cedar Cliff High School, Advisor: Dr. Paul Cremer

  • Distinct Aqueous Phases without Membranes: A Study of Complex Coacervation Under pH and Salt, Steven K Schulz, Manheim Township High School, Advisor: Dr. Christine Keating

  • Investigating a Novel Mechanism for Structural Coloration, Shawn Khanna, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School, Adviser: Dr. Lauren Zarzar

  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): 3 Lessons for Classrooms, Kelly Forest, Advis0r:  Dr. Christine Costello

2021 – modified virtual “Sustainability & Materials” professional development workshop

2020 – program cancelled

2019 Projects:

  • Separation of critical metal elements using zeolites, John Bricker, Franklin Towne Charter High School, Advisor: Dr. Xueyi Zhang
  • Nanoparticle Fluorescence in the Near-Infrared (NIR) and Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) for Early Detection of Cancer, Samantha Knepp, Grier School, Advisors:  Dr. Sean Knecht and Dr. James Adair
  • Predicting the photocatalytic activity of semiconductor-water interfaces using a hybrid solvation model: application to SrTiO3, Paul Orbe, Union City High School, Advisor: Dr. Ismaila Dabo
  • 3D Printed Stabilization Method for Contact Angle Measurements of Hydrophobic Surfaces, Jennifer Jackson, Stewart Middle Magnet School and Stephanie Kuhn, Bellwood Antis Middle School, Advisor: Dr. Christine Keating
  • The Effects of Hofmeister Anions on Egg Whites – A High School Chemistry Lab, Jocelyn Virtudes, Gaithersburg High School, Adviser: Dr. Paul Cremer
  • Produce Powered Macropumps, Jodi Burns, Bakersfield R-IV Middle School, Adviser: Dr. Ayusman Sen

2018 Projects:

  • Recycling lithium ion batteries with zeolites, John Bricker, Franklin Towne Charter High School, Advisor: Dr. Xueyi Zhang
  • Laser Cooling through Non-Exotic Materials​, Scott Graham, King’s Fork High School, Advisor:  Dr. Noel Giebink
  • Stabilization of dynamically reconfigurable droplets in a hydrogel polymer matrix, Jessica Hernandez, Golden Gate High School, Advisor: Dr. Lauren Zarzar
  • Superhydrophobicity and Structural Color Analysis of Blue Morpho Butterfly Wings, Jennifer Jackson, Stewart Middle Magnet School, Advisor: Dr. Christine Keating
  • Lithographic Reproduction of Hydrophobic Naturally-Occurring Materials, Stephanie Kuhn, Bellwood Antis Middle School, Advisor: Dr. Christine Keating
  • The Effects of Hofmeister Anions on Egg Whites, Jocelyn Virtudes, Gaithersburg High School, Adviser: Dr. Paul Cremer

2017 Projects:

  • Investigating the Effects of Chemical Properties and Topography on Surface Wetting, Brian Hensel , Central Bucks HS West. Advisor: Dr. Christine Keating
  • Increasing the External Quantum Efficiency of an OLED by Altering the index of Fraction, Lisa Tarman, William Penn Senior High School, Advisor: Dr. Chris Geibink
  • Parasitic Cells, Maria Kuba State College High School. Advisor: Dr. James Adair
  • Construction of Dual Frequency Antenna for MRI Imaging of Rat Tail Disk Degeneration, John Clark, Deltona High School (Florida). Advisors: Mike Lanagan/Thomas Neuberger
  • What is Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic?, Rebecca Mapes, Riverside International School. Advisor: Dr. Christine Keating
  • Magnetic Field Tuning Droplet Color in Tri-phase Emulsions, Steven Schulz , Manheim Township High School, Advisor:Dr. Lauren Zarzar

2016 Projects

  • Let it Glow: The Unique Symbiosis of Vibrio fischeri and Euprymna scolopes Cheri McNeely Garner Middle School (Texas), Advisor: Nasim Alem
  • Nanochemistry and Coffee Maria Kuba Bald Eagle Area Middle/High School, Advisors: John Badding/Tom Mallouk
  • Salad Motors Lillian Eason Moshannon Valley High School, Advisors: Ayusman Sen/Tom Mallouk
  • Salting Out of Theroresponsive Polymers Christine Scanlon Wooster School (Connecticut). Advisor: Paul Cremer
  • Good, Clean Science Kristen Gormley Tyrone Area Middle School, Advisor: Christine Keating
  • STEM Meteorology: How Clean is Your Air? Mark Yeckley Glendale School District. Advisor: Christine Keating
  • The Science of Soap Martha Dombroski St. Rose of Lima School . Advisor: Christine Keating
  • Construction of a Birdcage Antenna for Imaging in a 14 Tesla Magnetic Field  John Clark Deltona High School (Florida), Advisors:  Mike Lanagan/Thomas Neuberger

2015 Projects

  •  Using Nanoparticles for the early identification and locality of diseases in the human body. Gilbert Amadi, Dorsey High School. Advisor: Dr.  James Adair
    UV-absorbance of C-Phycocyanin potentially as a-sunscreen pigment Sandy Ranstead Bina High School, Advisor: Dr. Christine Keating
  • Bismuth-and Antimony-based Perovskite Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Solar Cell Materials, Joseph Kollar Wyomissing High School , Advisor: Dr. Tom Mallouk
  • The Effect of Sodium Hydroxide Concentration on Tellurium Nanowire Length and Morphology, Robert White State College High School, Advisor:  Qi Li
  • Chemical Manipulation of Silver Phosphate Micromotors,  Steven Schulz  Manheim Township High School, Advisor:  Ayusman Sen
  • Exploring the Hofmeister series with PNIPAM, Stephen Stilianos  Somverville High School, Advisor: Paul Cremer
  • Under Pressure – Phase Change Demonstrations Douglas Schunk, State College High School. Advisor:  John Badding
  •  ZnO Friend or Foe? Nano Particles, Big Deal!Mark Yeckley ,Glendale School District, Advisor: Christine Keating
  •  Does Sunscreen = Protection from the Sun’s Harmful Rays?  You Do the Math! Martha Dombroski, St. Rose of Lima School, Advisor:  Christine Keating

Archive of Projects from 2009-2013