What are students saying about Undergraduate Research?

"So many students in engineering spend years not doing anything but taking classes that really don't seem to apply. Helping out with research gives hands-on experience with their future career and shows real-world applications of their learning while still learning.”

 - David Piazza, Civil Engineering Senior and Undergraduate Researcher

Civil engineering senior and undergraduate researcher Alex Robert Matula (center) with CE graduate students on site at the Texas Concrete Plant in Victoria, TX as part of a TxDOT-sponsored project.

Ocean engineering senior and undergraduate researcher David Piazza (left) and a CE graduate student construct synthetic wetland in the Haynes Coastal Engineering Laboratory 3D Shallow Water Basin at Texas A&M as part of a project for Dr. Jennifer Irish.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

This list is updated as new opportunities are made available. Don't see what you're looking for? Contact the designated faculty member for your area of interest to learn about other opportunities that may be available.

Ocean/Offshore Engineering

None available at this time.

Coastal Engineering

None available at this time.

Geotechnical Engineering

None available at this time.

Construction Engineering and Management

None available at this time.

Structural Engineering

Contact name: Dr. Monique C. Hite
Availability: November 2007
Description: Student will gain hands-on experience in the High-Bay Structural and Materials Testing (HBSMT) Laboratory conducting cutting-edge research on a full-scale precast bridge deck overhang system. Active learning and discovery take place in the laboratory where it is evident how experimental results validate theoretical calculations. Prior laboratory experience is not necessary but desirable.

Faculty name: Dr. Joe Bracci
Availability:  December  2007
Description:  Assist graduate student with the construction of laboratory specimens for evaluating the structural performance of "D" regions in RC bridge structures affected by premature concrete deterioration. Work will consist of building formwork, assembling reinforcement cages, installing strain gages, and pouring concrete.

Faculty name: Prof. Paul N. Roschke
Availability:  January 2008
Description: Looking for an undergraduate student (brave one) that is interested in learning how to apply soft computing techniques (fuzzy logic, neural networks, and genetic algorithms) to control of large civil engineering structures. Research is to be conducted at TAMU in the spring of 2008 and will culminate in a trip to Taiwan with experimental tests using earthquakes applied to a full-scale structure on a large shake table at the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering. More information is available at the following website: http://ceprofs.tamu.edu/roschke/StructuralControl/DGE_webpage_files/DGE_webpage3.htm

Environmental Engineering

None available at this time.

Water Resources Engineering

Faculty name: Drs. Emily Zechman & Robin Autenrieth
Availability: November 2008
Description: Preliminary data is needed to assess those areas on campus that suffer excessive or insufficient water supply and associated environmental conditions. Working with the Office of Physical Facilities at TAMU, impacted areas will be identified and potential solutions will be developed. Additionally, the use of alternative sources of irrigation waters and landscaping options will be investigated. This work will be conducted with the cooperation of the Physical Facilities on campus.

Transportation Engineering

Program name: Undergraduate Transportation Scholars Program
Availability: Summer 2008
Description: Available at www.civil.tamu.edu/TSP/#undergraduate

Materials Engineering

None available at this time.