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While some students may spend their summer break vacationing, �������� senior Ethan Wenk spends his free time assisting researcher Yanhai Du, Ph.D., with fuel cell research as a participant in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE).

Specifically, Wenk, an applied engineering technology major, has been working on the desulfurization of jet fuel in Du’s Sustainable Energy Lab in ��������’s School of Engineering in the College of Aeronautics and Engineering. The lab provides research, insights and breakthroughs to the ever-evolving field of fuel cells, a practical technology for major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Wenk told �������� Today that the research he is doing through the SURE program is setting him up for the career opportunity in research and development that he hopes to acquire.                      

SURE is a Great Opportunity for Undergraduates

The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience is a great opportunity for undergraduate researchers such as Wenk to work directly with a faculty mentor, gain valuable experience to clarify career and educational goals, enhance research skills and gain academic insight.

"The SURE students are surely helping me a lot in two ways: one, carrying out some experiments for me so that I can free a hand to grab more research opportunities; and two, allowing me to share my experience with them so they can be better researchers," Du said.

The SURE program runs from June 2–July 31 and provides students with a $3,200 stipend (40 hours/week) or $1,600 stipend (20 hours/week). The program is running both an in-person and a remote component.

This year, the SURE program engaged 172 students, ranging from first-year students to seniors, and from first-timers to experienced student researchers. Students represented 51 fields of study, and many students conducted investigations in cross-disciplinary teams.

Ann Gosky, director of the Office of Student Research in ��������’s Division of Research and Economic Development, said the skills that student researchers gain are coveted skills that employers are looking for and prepare students to thrive in today’s workforce.

“The benefits of undergraduate research, scholarship and creative inquiry have been long established as high-impact practices known to retain and graduate students as well as have other positive impacts on their undergraduate experiences. But to fully appreciate the value of these experiences, a focus on the valuable skills they acquire through participating in undergrad research is important. The competencies student researchers gain match the career competencies that employers are looking for when they hire employees.”

Sustainable Energy Lab’s Research Helps the Environment

Du administers the Sustainable Energy Lab in the College of Aeronautics and Engineering. This summer, Du has a group of SURE students, which includes Chaitanya Mandadapu, an international student from India who is an aerospace engineering major, and just completed his first year at ��������.

“As a freshman, I didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to do research,” said Mandadapu, who is a rising sophomore. “The SURE program has given me the opportunity to work with experienced faculty such as Dr. Du.”

Kartik Modi, a mechanical engineering major from India, has been working with Wenk and Mandadapu on fuel cell technology on behalf of Du. According to Modi, the SURE program shines a light on the university as well as the students.

“They are extremely brilliant students who are helping in the development of this technology,” Modi said. “Students like these are hard to find. Getting them to help me and Dr. Du to do the research is one of the best things we can do for the betterment of humanity.”

�������� Awarded Prestigious R1 Designation

With the release of the new 2025 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, �������� has once again been awarded the prestigious R1 designation, recognizing �������� as one of the top research universities in the nation. This esteemed classification, which the university first received in 2022, is a testament to ��������’s commitment to excellence in research, innovation and scholarship.

The R1 designation is the highest level of research activity for doctoral universities, placing �������� among an elite group of institutions known for their significant contributions to research and development and the training of Ph.D. students. With the Carnegie Classifications’ new 2025 Research Activity Designations, �������� is now one of seven universities in Ohio to be designated R1, along with Case Western Reserve University, Ohio State University, Ohio University, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Dayton and the University of Toledo. Only 187 universities in the nation have R1 status, placing �������� in the top 5% of institutions with respect to research activity.

Find more information about the SURE program.

Learn more about the Sustainable Energy Lab in the College of Aeronautics and Engineering.