Mathematics & Sciences

STEM Education

START Projects

STEM Academic Research and Training (START) projects include of range of content areas, such as astronomy and physics, biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, math and science communication.

A woman stands at the edge of a small pond surrounded by tall grasses and wild plants, reaching out toward the water to cast a net to collect organisms living in the pond.
A man wearing a lab coat, safety glasses and blue gloves stands at a laboratory fume hood, running a research experiment. The workspace contains various lab items, including bottles, water samples and electronic instruments.
A woman stands in a shallow woodland stream, using a long-handled net to sweep through the water to collect organisms living in the stream. The stream is bordered by soil banks, fallen leaves and dense vegetation, with tall trees in the background. The water is clear and gently flowing over a rocky and sandy bottom.
Two men stand outdoors on a grassy area beneath trees, using a yellow tripod mounted surveying instrument. One man is looking through the device while the other stands nearby observing.
A woman sits at a laboratory workstation using a computer with two monitors that display detailed photographs of the surface of planet Mars.
A woman sits at a laboratory workstation and looks into a compound microscope. One hand adjusts the focus knob while the microscope is illuminated from below.
Three students sit at a table working together to assemble a seismograph. All three wear protective gloves and use small tools to assemble the components. Loose screws, tools and device parts are scattered on the table.
A man wearing a suit stands beside his research poster and points to a section of it while speaking to another person, who is facing the poster. The poster contains text, charts, graphics and small photos describing his research. The scene takes place in a conference-style room.

Some projects are in person at RTP, Scott Northern Wake or Southern Wake campuses, while other projects are virtual. Requirements for projects also vary: Some require no previous knowledge, while others require that students either be enrolled in or have taken certain courses.

Below are the location, mentor, description and requirements of the projects currently offered. Projects are organized by primary content area.

Astronomy and Physics

Mentor: Dr. Thusheeta Sivayogan

Partner: Appalachian State University (Dr. Adam McKay)

Location: Virtual

Requirement: Interns should have a knowledge of coding in Python. Computer science majors or interns with coding knowledge are essential. The interns need not write the coding, but they have to work on the coding provided.

Description: This research gives students experience in basic astronomical data reduction and photometry (measuring the amount of light observed from astronomical objects) by using a series of Python coding. Each intern is given a set of data of a comet. By the end of the project, the interns have determined the abundance of certain elements in the comet.

Biology

Mentor: Rachael Walsh

Location: Southern Wake Campus

Requirement: Cannot be currently enrolled in BIO-112. 

Description: Students complete literary research about DNA barcoding and brainstorm their own research question. They then use DNA barcoding in the laboratory to help answer their question.

There is also opportunity for students to work on troubleshooting and fine-tuning the DNA barcoding protocol currently in use, especially for insects and fungi.

Mentor: Melinda Gibbs

Location: Southern Wake Campus

Description: Students explore the aquatic environments on Southern Wake Campus, including the stream, retention ponds and the forested riparian buffer. Projects can explore biodiversity, plants and pollinators, invasive species, water quality, stormwater management, soil erosion or human impacts like road construction and pollution.

Students also contribute to citizen/community science beyond this project and participate in a stream clean-up event in the spring.

Mentor: Rachael Walsh

Location: Southern Wake Campus, with possible extensions to Scott Northern Wake and RTP campuses

Description: Students examine the diversity of mosquito populations at up to three Wake Tech campuses. Throughout the semester, students work on a literature review and collect and identify mosquitoes. The mosquitoes are identified using morphology (physical traits) and DNA barcoding techniques. Students have the opportunity to experience both field work and lab work.

Mentor: Dr. Melanie JP Fraites

Partner: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Location: Scott Northern Wake Campus

Requirement: Completed BIO-111

Description: The Mohlke lab at UNC-Chapel Hill identifies potential genetic sequences associated with human disease susceptibilities, such as diabetes and obesity. Students help lab staff with subcloning guideRNA (gRNA) sequences, which involves biotechnology techniques such as the use of restriction enzymes, PCR and gel electrophoresis, as well as microbiology procedures.

The gRNAs produced by this project would be used by the lab in CRISPR-based inhibition to knock down regulatory element activity within a human liver cell line to determine the effect on the expression of a nearby gene. The results would help determine the mechanisms by which these genetic sequences affect genes that may lead to disease.

Chemistry

Mentor: Dr. Kumudu Peiris

Location: Scott Northern Wake Campus

Requirement: Completed or enrolled in CHM-151

Description: Increased environmental and health concerns associated with petroleum-based solvents have accelerated the development of sustainable extraction methodologies in organic chemistry. This research project explores the use of bio-based and green solvents for the efficient extraction of natural products from renewable and waste-derived sources. Specifically, three approaches are investigated:

  • Citrus peel waste valorization through the extraction of D-limonene and its application as a green solvent for isolating essential oils and antioxidants. D-limonene, a terpene obtained from citrus peels, serves as a renewable alternative to conventional hydrocarbons and has demonstrated effective solvent properties for natural product extraction.
  • Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES), such as choline chloride–glycerol and lactic acid–glucose systems, for extracting polyphenolic compounds from tea and coffee. NADES systems offer tunable polarity, low toxicity, and high extraction efficiency for phenolics and flavonoids, often outperforming traditional solvents like methanol.
  • Ethyl lactate, a biodegradable solvent derived from biomass fermentation, for the extraction of pigments and phenolic compounds from plant materials. Ethyl lactate further contributes as a non-toxic, biodegradable solvent capable of extracting both polar and non-polar phytochemicals with comparable efficiency to conventional organic solvents.

This study compares extraction yields, antioxidant activity and environmental impact across these solvent systems to evaluate their potential as sustainable alternatives in natural product chemistry. Overall, the findings aim to demonstrate that bio-based solvents not only reduce ecological footprint but also maintain or enhance extraction efficiency, supporting their integration into green chemistry practices and industrial applications.

Engineering

Mentor: Carrie Hoffman

Location: Southern Wake Campus

Requirement: Completed or enrolled in DFT-170

Description: Students use their SolidWorks skills to model, slice and 3D print parts for practical applications. Applications may include models for aerospace, elementary education, manipulatives for math education applications, large chess pieces or other needs.

Mentors: Wendy Johnson and Tricia Van Brunt

Partner: North Carolina Department of Transportation

Location: Virtual and offsite (NCDOT visits 3-5 p.m. Mondays)

Requirements: Completed MAT-171 with a C grade. Preference is given to students enrolled in MAT-172.

Description: The North Carolina Department of Transportation maintains the second-largest roadway system in the country, and the agency has many engineering units that work together. The Photogrammetry unit uses various technologies to get 3D data, and the Locations and Survey Unit acquires specific locations needed to begin a road design project. Then, the Roadway Design unit uses data to create the road layout, which also brings in the Hydraulics Unit to add to the design to disperse stormwater runoff and keep the road clear for safe travel.

Students partner with these four units to help design a roadway project.

Geology

Mentor: Jessica Kelley

Location: Southern Wake Campus (in-person meetings from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. each Monday during the Fall 2026 semester)

Requirement: Preference is given to students who have already taken GEL-111. Currently enrolled students are considered.

Description: Hurricane Helene (September 25-28, 2024) resulted in unprecedented extreme flooding, intense winds and widespread landslides across the southern Appalachian region, including western North Carolina. This project guides students through an analysis of geologic hazards, with a focus on examining how overlapping hazards amplified impacts beyond what any single hazard could explain for this event.

Students work with federal datasets (U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Aeronautics & Space Administration and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) to produce both scientific analyses and hazard-related communications.

Mentor: Sara Rutzky

Partner: North Carolina State University

Location: N.C. State University

Requirement: Either GEL-111 or BIO-111

Description: Students work with a researcher at N.C. State University studying marine plankton or marine sediments.

Mathematics

Mentor: Kalpana Kanwar

Location: Southern Wake Campus 

Requirement: Completed or enrolled in MAT-171

Description: Students explore how career choices affect income, taxes, retirement savings and home affordability. They calculate take-home pay, compare multiple careers and research real homes they could realistically afford. The project culminates in a poster presentation, helping students develop practical financial literacy skills for their future.

Mentor: Dr. Katie Lovin and Dr. Maria Vega

Location: Southern Wake Campus and virtual

Requirement: Completed or enrolled in MAT-171

Description: There are many recreational math books available, such as "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea." Students select and read a recreational math book. As they read and discuss the book, they solve related math problems and discuss how to present the topics in plain language.

Science Communication and Education

Mentor: Jessica Chestnut

Location: Virtual

Description: This project is a bibliometric approach and focuses on qualitative case study research. Students pick a STEM topic and research people who have made significant contributions to STEM. Students learn how to conduct library database searches and synthesize their findings in a literature review.

Council on Undergraduate Research logoWake Tech is an enhanced member of the Council on Undergraduate Research.