Undergraduate Research | NC State ISE

Undergraduate Research

The Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at NC State (ISE) is ranked among the top ISE departments in the United States on a wide variety of subjects from 3D-printing manufacturing technologies to streamlining healthcare systems to using virtual reality for rehabilitation.

ISE RISE Program

  • Are you interested in conducting research and being mentored by faculty, post-doctoral fellows and advanced graduate students?
  • Would you like to know how to prepare for and pursue a Ph.D. degree?
  • Does spending time on the beautiful campus of NC State appeal to you?
  • Will you have completed at least your sophomore year of college by next summer?

You may be the right candidate for the ISE RISE (Research Internship Summer Experience) Program.

Four students sitting at a table in a lab discussing their research project

Why is this Experience Important?

Undergraduate research is intended to provide an opportunity for you to get involved in scientific research. This experience is especially helpful if you are interested in graduate study towards an MS or Ph.D. degree immediately after completing the undergraduate degree. Here is how undergraduate research becomes helpful:

  • By closely working with graduate students on cutting edge projects funded by industry or government agencies, undergraduate you can have a pretty good idea if you would enjoy a career path in scientific research.
  • By working in laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for research, You — the undergraduate research assistant — can gain valuable skills unattainable in undergraduate laboratories.
  • Practical research experience is a skill premium when you apply to graduate school for further study, or to government agencies, or corporations for employment.
  • All graduate schools (and better companies) ask for letters of recommendation. A letter from a research supervisor can help you a great deal.

When is a Good Time to Start Undergraduate Research?

Typically, you apply for undergraduate research positions after you complete your sophomore year. It is unlikely that you will secure a position without completing any of the ISE courses. Furthermore, taking introductory courses such as ISE 215 and ISE 216 helps you understand what industrial and systems engineers do in different specialization areas. This is key in identifying the right project for you.

How can a Student get Involved in Undergraduate Research?

The undergraduate research positions are competitive; therefore, a good academic standing will be helpful. Most faculty will be very interested in discussing their research projects with you.

Make an appointment with an ISE advisor to talk about your technical interests and future career goals. The coordinator will identify a few members of the ISE faculty involved in the type of work you are interested in, and contact them on your behalf to find out if a position can be created for you. Before meeting with the coordinator, you are advised to review the faculty research page to identify faculty members who are interested in the same sort of work you want to do.

REU Projects

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) are competitive research programs in the United States. REU’s support active research participation by undergraduate students studying in many fields including science, engineering, and mathematics.

StudentFaculty
Mentor
Title of Research Project
Kylee AlonsJulie IvyMedSurge
Amrutha AmuranthSara ShashaaniPredictive Modeling for Additive Manufacturing
Becker AndryOla HarryssonFinish machining of metal AM components using CNC
Hannah Bauer Xu XuImproving workers’ mental health during human-robot collaboration
Hannah BehailuJulie IvyNSF Sharing Project
Nicole ColbergSara ShashaaniSimOpt in Python
Emily FangKaren ChenUser Interface Evaluation of a Head-Mounted Augmented Reality (AR) Display
Hope FarlowKaren ChenExamining Human Behavioral Validity in Virtual Reality Interactions
Tabitha GardnerSara ShashaaniPredictive Modeling for Additive Manufacturing
Edguardo GonzalezMaria MayorgaCOVSIM or Covid Simulations
Sam HernandezOla Harrysson3D printing of pressurized structures
Timothy HillBinil StarlyStudy on the use of augmented reality/mixed 3D model technology in manufacturing
Matthew HoukCS NamNeuroergonomics Research Project
Tafui LeggardJulie IvyMedSurge
Nehemiah MacDonaldMaria MayorgaCOVSIM or Covid Simulations
Mackenzie MarinoOla HarryssonDayang Zheng
Nathan MittenXiaolei FangData Analytics for the Process Anomaly Detection of Additive Manufacturing
Collin NelsonOla HarryssonFive-axis CNC grinding of Metal AM components
Zak OlechOla HarryssonFinish machining of metal AM components using CNC
Eloy ParrillaCS NamNeuroergonomics Research Project
Megan RogersJulie IvyFood Banks
Ashley StanfieldBrandon McConnellMilitary Operations
Jack WernerBrandon McConnellMilitary Operations
Dayang ZhengLeila HajibabaiFood Distribution Logistics

Research Experience Utility

Check out the latest research opportunities provided by our faculty, submit your application to get started, or fill out a general interest application for any future opportunities that may become available.