I did my scholars practicum project at the University of Maryland Combustion Laboratory (UMCL). The lab itself was at the UMD College Park campus, under the supervision of Dr. Ashwani Gupta. The goals of my research in particular were to investigate more sustainable fuel alternatives for jet engines. Hydrogen-enriched fuel has lower emissions than normal jet fuel when combusted, but potentially has the same energy output. My main contribution was to perform a temperature analysis of various hydrogen and methane fuel combinations.
On a day to day basis, the vast majority of my work was on the computer. I learned how to use a software program to calculate combustion temperatures. Usually, I would spend a fair amount of my time on the program, messing with parameters and variables to see how they impacted temperatures. Throughout the summer, I compiled these temperature calculations, and put together graphs from the data. While my work was mostly on the theoretical side, the end goal of the research was very practical. I therefore used the combustion temperature data to propose a future experiment to determine the practicality of these fuels. The experiment would combust these same fuels, at their given burning temperatures, to see if the process caused any damage to the combustion chamber. The next step would be to minimize this damage.
In the lab, I witnessed a number of different problems and challenges. There were many simple challenges on a daily basis, which usually could be resolved by asking someone else in the lab for help. These ranged from minor issues about procedure to questions about the software program. However, every once in a while, larger issues came up. The largest questions I personally faced were about the broader research as a whole and how to approach it, but that was partly because I was new to this field. I did however witness some of the graduate students and post-grads encounter larger issues. These individuals—many of whom are figureheads in these research areas with decades of experience—would constantly encounter setbacks, and yet somehow would always find ways to work through their problems. It was really cool to watch them and see how they approached these obstacles. There was one time I remember that one of the graduate students was unsure of how to proceed in his research. He had a long conversation with the principal investigator and many of the other researchers to come up with a game plan as to how to approach the problem. His research was in a different field than what I was doing, so I didn't fully understand the problem, but it was quite neat seeing the whole thing unfold. In SGC, we learned about the importance of accurate and thorough procedures in research. That was the first time in real life that I saw a bunch of scientists get together and scrutinize the scientific accuracy and validity of the research they were doing.
Throughout this experience, I learned a lot about myself and my views toward research. I loved being involved in the process, especially because it was so relevant to current global issues. However, I did find that the day to day work was very tedious and slow. Before working in the lab, I had no prior experience with anything like it, so I didn't really know what to expect. I learned quickly that research isn't always as exciting as it looks like from the outside—it involves a lot of menial and monotonous work that needs to be done. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my time, and it was very rewarding in the end. I had the opportunity to develop my excel skills, as I was regularly working with large amounts of raw data, as well as charts and graphs to represent it all.
I don't think there was a way I could have prepared for this research opportunity in a better way. The lab was not in my area of study, so none of my classes had touched on the topic. The position was also meant to be for lower level undergraduates, with little to no prior experience, so I didn't feel too far out of my comfort zone. I don't think I will be pursuing anything in the future related to this laboratory or its research. While I had a good time and learned a lot, the research was not in the field of bioengineering, my major. In the future I would rather get involved in other research opportunities that are more related to what I'm actually studying and learning in my classes.
For the most part, I was working individually during my practicum project. There were occasions in which I would collaborate with another undergrad or one of the grad students on small issues, but those usually only lasted a day or two. My research was almost entirely by myself. I frequently asked for help from others, but I was not collaborating as a member of a team. I would definitely recommend research on campus to future SGC students. Depending on what you are studying, this lab may or may not be a good fit, but there are numerous labs here on campus that are looking for undergraduate involvement. It's a great opportunity to get experience and form relationships with faculty members. I am very happy with my decision to work in the combustion laboratory, and I would do it again in an instant.