Cyber-Physical Systems (PREP-CPS)

A National Science Foundation Site

Program Achievements

The PREP-CPS RET program has ended. We want to highlight some of the research that came from this program. The PREP-CPS RET program hosted at UTC served 27 participants over the course of four years. Participating institutions included Bryan College, Chattanooga State Community College, Cleveland State Community College, Dalton State College, and several Hamilton County middle and high schools. Program participants engaged in authentic research experiences with CECS faculty mentors, and also received project-based learning training that they used to improve their own course content. Some participants went on to present their work at regional and national conferences such as those organized by the American Society for Engineering Education, among others.

Presentations

Kay, A., Harris, B., and Philipp, S. (2024, July). Microbial Xylitol Synthesis. Poster presented at the 2024 NSF RET Virtual Poster Session.
 
Kay, A., Harris, B., and Philipp, S. (2024, March). A Model Research Experience for Undergraduate Biology Labs Using Microalgae. Oral presentation given at the ASEE 2024 Southeastern Section Conference, Marietta, GA.
 
Philipp, S., Harris, B., and Clark, A. (2022, June). Problem Based Learning as a Framework for a Research Experience for Teachers. Poster presented at the ASEE 2022 Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
 
Blair, S., Philipp, S., and Harris, B. (2022, September). “Building Sustainable Collaboration Through Subsequent Participation in PREP-CPS RET Programs at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga: Solar Energy Research and Problem-Based Learning”. Poster presented at the 2022 NSF EEC Grantees Conference, Arlington, VA.

Program Description and Details

Community college faculty and UTC researchers worked together on energy themed projects, utilizing cutting-edge technology in cyber-physical systems. Industry partners and student organizations engage community college instructors during the summer and in the classroom during the school year.

Featured Benefits:

• Receive orientation and basic training in cyber-physical systems, as well as specific knowledge in applying this technology to energy applications.
• Learn to recognize threshold concepts intrinsic to the research experience and incorporate these concepts into educational modules to be deployed in participant classrooms.
• Develop lesson plans for educational modules, including measurable student learning outcomes, that use a project-based learning approach to address threshold concepts.
• Receive ongoing support from the project team for implementation the following academic year.
• Receive grantsmanship training to pursue future funding opportunities

Research Areas

• Renewable Routes to Chemicals and Fuels
• Geothermal Heating
• Full Spectrum Solar Energy Capture
• Catalysis for Solar-Derived Fuels
• Rocket Propulsion

Technical Skills

• Instrumentation and signals processing
• Data acquisition and instrument control
• Management of interconnected device networks
• Web services

For more information about this program, please contact Dr. Bradley Harris.