REU Program At
REU: Robotics and Biology
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Interested in robots and biology? Lehigh is looking for you! The departments of mechanical engineering and biological sciences have joined forces on an exciting new project. Over the next two summers we will design and build a sniffing robot!!! This robot will be based on principles from both engineering and biology. In addition we have partnership with NASA (that's right THE National Aeronautics and Space Administration) who hopes to benefit form our invention (they may use it in space!)

To complete our mission we need talented students who are majoring or plan to major in biology and engineering. No real experience is necessary - we are looking for students who have completed no more than 1 year of undergraduate courses. Successful applicants will receive a summer stipend and room and board on the beautiful Lehigh campus. The course is a rigorous 8 weeks. Students will spend the day in lecture and lab designing and testing the components of the robot while observing chemical detection in a variety of species. Weekends will be packed with trips to museums and recreational parks, workshops on study skills and leadership and visits from Lehigh faculty and students.
Still interested? Submit an application TODAY!

Plans For This Coming Summer:

This coming summer Dr. Swann and I will examine the olfactory system of the fruit fly. We have chosen the fruit fly because: its' behavior and anatomy are extremely well known, fruit fly stocks are easy to maintain and readily available on campus, and it's olfactory apparatus is external (similar to that of the robots we are designing).

Our goal is to determine how the cellular and molecular structure of fly's olfactory system regulates movement towards chemical signals. We are particularly interested in determining how humidity effects the ability of the flies to detect chemicals in their environment. This has not been examined in fruit flies and our work last summer identified humidity as a significant factor affecting chemical binding to the artificial nose.

We will be designing, building and using a large, humidity controlled chamber in my (soon to be air conditioned) robotics lab on the main campus. Our studies will build on the information obtained last year to provide a significant contribution to the literature. The information on the impact of humidity on chemical detection by both biological and mechanical systems is invaluable for our ultimate goal: creating a mobile chemical sensing robotic system for use by others.
 

For more information take a look at our brochure and our financial details flyer.