Sunfest 2004: Giving Students Hands-on Research Experience This Past Summer at SEAS

A group of 11 talented undergraduate students got the opportunity to immerse themselves for 10 weeks in research projects under the guidance of a faculty member. The students were chosen through a nationwide pool and came from various universities including Carnegie Mellon, John Hopkins, MIT, University of Rochester, University of Texas, Central Florida, Puerto Rico and Penn. According to Professor Jan Van der Spiegel, the coordinator of the SUNFEST program, these were exceptionally bright and motivated students. Students worked on a project related to Sensor Technologies.

One student worked on a new sensor to help detect breast cancer under the guidance of Professor B. Chance. Another project dealt with a Carbon Nanotube based biosensor with Professor C. Johnson. Another student worked on an activity monitor extract information about children's' activity patterns, which are often the origins of various health issues such as obesity, under the guidance of Professors Jay and Babette Zemel. More details about these and other projects are available on the SUNFEST website.

The SUNFEST program is in its 19th year and has been sponsored by a grant of the National Science Foundation and support from Microsoft. SUNFEST provides hands-on research experience to undergraduate students with the goal to motivate them to go on to graduate school.