ight V iew - OSCAR · Photo: Campus Community School winners pose with 7 first place trophies won during 2017 Science Fair | More photos available at oscar.desu.edu OSCAR Co-Hosts

Delaware Institute of Science & Technology

DEGREE ALERT:ALL HAIL THE GRADS!These past few months have been extremely busy at the Optical Science Center for

Applied Research. We, as faculty and staff, are extremely proud of our students, their tremendous work, and unmatched accomplishments.

First and foremost, to our students moving on: On behalf of the faculty at Delaware State University, it was our pleasure to be your professor, mentor, and advisor. We hope that you embrace your future endeavors with the same vigor, determination, and enthusiasm that has enabled you to achieve all you have to this point. Keep up the great work!

Many thanks to all of our guest speakers that have allowed the OSCAR Seminar Series to flourish. OSCAR students and faculty alike have benefited from the information shared during these extraordinary lectures.

I would personally like to thank Ms. Jacquelyn Jones and the entire faculty, staff, and students for undertaking the monumental task of co-hosting the annual Kent County Science Fair. We could not have done it without your support.

Enjoy this issue of LightView, and as you learn more about our programs, may you

also learn more about your world!

Best Regards,

Mukti M. Rana, PhD.

Principal Investigator

NASA-MIRO, O*STAR

NSF-CREST, CREOSA

SUMMER HIGH SCHOOL OPTICS PROGRAM

OSCAR ............................................................................................... 02 - 03Seminar Series: Spring 2017 Edition

Student ............................................................................................ 04 - 11Elevator Slam - Dissertation Defenses - Degree Alert - Summer Lab Trips

Outreach .......................................................................................... 12 - 15 Science Fair 2017 - Summer High School Optics Program

OSCAR CO-HOSTS 2017 KENT COUNTY SCIENCE FAIR 12

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

OUTREACH SPOTLIGHT

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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Optical Science Center for Applied Research

NEWSLETTER Vol: 07 Iss: 01 Ed: 2017

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

10 STUDENT SUMMER LABORATORY TRIPS

In the SPOTLIGHT

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Vol: 07 Iss: 01 Ed: 2017


The seminar room on the first floor of

the Optical Science Center of Applied

Research has become an exciting place

for scientists to speak about their current

ongoing research.

From human tissue to interplanetary rock

structures, high performance imaging

has unlocked never-before-seen areas for

scientists to explore.

OSCAR Seminar Series: Spring 2017 Edition

Continued »

OSCARSpotlight

Photo: Dr. Mauricio Terrones gives lecture on 2D materials for OSCAR Seminar Series | More photos available at oscar.desu.edu

A very special thank you to all who have contributed to OSCAR Seminar Series.

» OSCAR Spotlight (cont’d)

Photo: Dr. Melinda Duncan gives lecture on controlling cell fate decisions.

GUEST SPEAKERS

- Dr. Harry Chugani

Nemours/A.I. duPont Children’s Hospital

- Dr. Melinda Duncan

University of Delaware

- Dr. Despina Kontos

University of Pennsylvania

- Dr. Robert Opila


Photo: Dr. Keith Schneider talks on imaging of the human brain

Photo: Dr. Antoliy Popov (L) after lecture on using nano probes for imaging with Dr. Hacene Boukari (R).

Photo: Dr. Robert Opila talks atomically thin layers in photovoltaics.

- Dr. Joseph P. Rice

National Institute of Standards & Technology

- Dr. Keith Schneider


- Dr. Mauricio Terrones

Penn State University

- Dr. Yong Zhan

Stevens Institute of Technology

The aim of the seminar series is to bring

world-renowned scientists to Delaware State

University for prospective collaboration and

enhance student learning and motivation.

Delaware State University students and

professors are in attendance as professors

from various sectors of the science

community present the latest scientific data in

their respective fields.

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Vol: 07 Iss: 01 Ed: 2017


StudentSpotlight

“Elevator Slam” - Undergraduate Presentations

» Student Spotlight - Elevator Slam (cont’d)

Photo: Mr. Seth Fair (L) and Mr. Zaki Harris (R) deliver research presentations at “Elevator Slam” | More photos available at oscar.desu.edu

Mastering the elusive art of the elevator pitch is a tough task within itself.

Now, if you will, imagine having to pitch an entire science research experiment in under three minutes. This was precisely the challenge for OSCAR students.

All participants received a $10 gift card with the winner receiving an additional $20 gift card.

Continued »Photo: Ms. Jacquelyn Jones addresses participants and attendees in OSCAR seminar room.

“For years, elevator pitches have

been used to succinctly express

the purpose of a product, service,

agency...

... and, most importantly, to ensure

the intended recipient understands

the value.”

Photo: Ms. Tiana Cooks delivers Elevator Slam presentation

Photo: Ms. Tyler Rembert delivers Elevator Slam presentation

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Vol: 07 Iss: 01 Ed: 2017


» Student Spotlight - (cont’d)

The End is Near: Students deliver defenses

» Student Spotlight (Cont’d)

Photo: Mr. Zakaria M’Rah (Optics)

Photo: Mr. Elton Jhamba (Optics)

Photo: Mr. Michael Davis (Physics & Engineering)

The OSCAR building has been abuzz

lately as the light at the end of the

tunnel becomes more visible for graduating

students.

Photo: Mrs. Fatima Boukari (Applied Mathematics) Photo: Dr. Thomas Planchon has a question for Optics Ph.D. candidate, Mr. Zachary Warren.

Each journey has its unique facets.

Each student has their unique hurdles.

However in the end, they all overcame and now

have the opportunity to shine their light on the

world!

However, before students can graduate

and enjoy “all the rights and privileges

thereunto appertaining,” they must complete

the grueling task of preparing thesis and

dissertation defenses.

These devoted students have successfully

fulfilled all requirements to now represent

OSCAR in the science world. We would like to

recognize our remarkable staff who mentored

and developed our students in their respective

areas.

Regardless the obstacles and sacrifies, we are

proud of the endurance displayed in each

and every graduate and they have proven

themselves as worthy of their new titles.

Job well done.

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Vol: 07 Iss: 01 Ed: 2017


Now that the hard work is complete (or just beginning), we would like to introduce you to our

2017 graduating class.

The commencement ceremony took place on May 13th and was held indoors to avoid a pending

wet forecast. However, no amount of inclement weather would deter these students from arriving

gleefully in anticipation of moving their tassels.

All of the hard work, diligence, and sacrifice has paid off.

Many envision graduation as the end of road, but for these scholars, it is truly a new beginning.

» Student Spotlight (Cont’d)

Continued »

Degree Alert: Congratulations are in Order!

Mr. Elton Jhamba Optics

B.S. GRADUATES

Mr. Deshaun Crawford – Computer Science – Mentors: Dr. Gary Holness & Dr. Jun Ren

Mr. Dontray Dowdell – Physics & Mathematics – Mentor: Dr. Mukti Rana

Ms. Kaiemah Mond – Engineering Physics – Mentor: Dr. Yuriy Markushin

Mr. Emmanuel Morris – Engineering Physics – Mentor: Dr. Amir Khan

Mr. Andrew Voshell – Physics & Mathematics – Mentor: Dr. Mukti Rana

Mr. Jayvaun Young – Information Technology – Mentor: Dr. Amir Khan

M.S. GRADUATES

Mr. Michael Davis– Physics & Engineering– Mentor: Dr. Amir Khan

PH.D. GRADUATES

Dr. Fatima Boukari – Applied Mathematics – Mentor: Dr. Sokratis Makrogiannis

Dr. Elton Jhamba– Optics– Mentor: Dr. Hacene Boukari

Dr. Zakaria M’Rah – Optics – Mentor: Dr. Hacene Boukari

Dr. Piyush Sharma– Applied Mathematics – Mentor: Dr. Gary Holness

Dr. Zachary Warren – Optics – Mentor: Dr. Gour S. Pati

Ms. Kaiemah Mond Engineering Physics

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OSCAR students toured the facility, where they gained information about what

technologies are used for research, looked at telescopes, and presented their

knowledge of earth science, astronomy, and other NASA-related research topics.

OSCAR Students Visit National Research CentersNASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Los Alamos Nat’l Laboratory and more

» Student Spotlight - Continued

OSCAR research students were able to visit other research facilities, gain knowledge of

other science disciplines, and experience a professional laboratory environment in the

field.

- Julius Williams of the Department of Physics and Engineering (DPE) traveled to Richmond,

VA to take a look at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL is a facility that

focuses on energy for the environment and national security.

Julius gave more insight about his experience:

“ The work experience was great. There was always something to learn different, and people there almost always accepted help from interns

who wanted something else to do.

The work experience was probably one of my highlights of the internship.”

» Student Spotlight - National Research Centers (cont’d)

Photo: OSCAR students Mr. Curtis Hite and Mr. Charles Locke visit NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD.

Photo: Mr. Richard Garner at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

- Victoria Wilson, also of DPE, went to Oak Ridge, TN to experience the work of Y12: a

facility where their focus is based on National Security to make the nation a safe place

to live. It avoids the use of nuclear weapons as well.

- Shakeel Jeffcoat, again of DPE, went to Wallops Flight Facility of NASA in Wallops

Island, VA. The facility meets the needs for scientific research in aerospace technology.

- Amina Gauff and Shamia Pamplin of the Biology department both were able to travel

from the east coast to check out the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New

Mexico. LANL design classified nuclear weapons, with a mission to protect national

security, energy, and environmental management.

- Curtis Hite and Charles Locke (CIS), Jason Cornelius (Math Grad), Richard Garner and

Andrew Voshell traveled to Goddard Space Flight Center of NASA in Greenbelt, MD. The

center has many scientists and engineers who build spacecraft, instruments and new

technology to study Earth, the sun, our solar system and the universe.

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-

» Outreach Spotlight - Continued

OSCAR co-hosted the Annual Kent County Science Fair for

the fifth consecutive year.

OSCAR faculty, staff, and students assisted in the coordination of the event, spearheaded by Ms. Jacquelyn Jones.

OutreachSpotlight

Photo: Campus Community School winners pose with 7 first place trophies won during 2017 Science Fair | More photos available at oscar.desu.edu

OSCAR Co-Hosts 2017 Kent Co. Science Fair

Photo: DSU’s Dr. Amir Khan (L) and Dr. Charlie Wilson (R) present OSCAR summer 8-week internships to high school students and $1500!

Photo: OSCAR Webmaster, Mr. Julien McCray (L), judges science fair participant Wilton Melendez (R)

Photo: OSCAR professor, Dr. Matt Bobrowsky, talks physics with Kent County science teachers

Photo: Ms. Jacquelyn Jones, event coordinator, addresses standing-room-only audience.

Polytech High School

Ashish D’Souza - 3rd Place in Mathematics

Stonegate Academy

Brendan Lewis - Honorable Mention in Behavior &

Social Sciences

William Henry Middle School

Qwantez Watkins - Honorable Mention in Botany

69TH DELAWARE VALLEY SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS ARE:

Campus Community Charter School

Alec Rodriguez - Honorable Mention in Consumer Science

Milford Central Academy

Jackson Caldwell - United States Armed Forces Award

Steven Schwan - Honorable Mention in Environmental

Photo: William Henry Middle School student, James Moses poses next to his science fair project.

CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE!

Maybe in a year or two, one

or more of these students will walk the halls of Delaware State University as an Engineering Physics major (track in Optical Engineering) with an eye toward graduate work or direct employment in the field of lasers and optics!

DSU has the staff, the equipment, the time, and the facilities to prepare them. - M. Cimorosi

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High school students complete Optoelectronics Summer Program

» Outreach Spotlight - Continued

During the week of June 27 to July 1, four local high school students (Figure 1) engaged

in a hands-on optoelectronics project. The mission was to build a system capable of

controlling a computer fan activation time. Of course, a brief single laser pulse would serve

as the trigger!

The program took place in Room 211(EE Lab) in Mishoe Science Center South. The program

was an OSCAR-sponsored event that awarded each student a stipend! So, the students not

only had fun while they learned, but were also financially rewarded for their efforts.

Around 1:45 PM on Friday, we headed to the OSCAR building (Figure 6), where Dr. M. Amir

Khan, Assistant Professor (Figure 7), discussed his latest laser research involving greenhouse

gas emission sensors (try to say that fast, three times!).

» Outreach Spotlight - Summer High School Program (cont’d)

(L-R) Mr. Jaren Kennedy (Early College High School), Mr. Dorian Baker (Dover High School), Mr. Dion Baker (Dover High School), and Mr. Ameen Zerrad (Dover High School) | More photos available at oscar.desu.edu

By: Michael Cimorosi, Adjunct Physics Instructor Department of Physics and Engineering, DSU

After the presentation, he gave us a guided tour of the OSCAR building. What a great way to

end the day!

Thank you Dr. Khan.

Photo: Dr. Khan explaining sensors Read day-by-day synopsis of activities at oscar.desu.edu

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Vol: 07 Iss: 01 Ed: 2017


1200 N. Dupont Hwy

Dover, DE 19904

Tel: +1 (302) 857-6506

Web: oscar.desu.edu

Email: [email protected]

O*STAR, Optics for Space Technology and Applied Research Funded by: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

CREOSA Center for Research and Education in Optical Sciences and Applications Funded by: National Science Foundation (NSF) - CREST

Contact OSCAR

To all who contributed to this edition of LightView,

Documents

ight V iew - OSCAR · Photo: Campus Community School winners pose with 7 first place trophies won during 2017 Science Fair | More photos available at oscar.desu.edu OSCAR Co-Hosts