Students Earn Summer Research Fellowships With National Labs

Published 05.07.2009

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Matthew C. Cox, of Selinsgrove, left, and David M. Blumenfeld, of Lincroft, N.J., both manufacturing engineering technology students at Pennsylvania College of Technology, were selected to participate in the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.Two Pennsylvania College of Technology students were selected to participate in the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, in which they will gain experience in hands-on research alongside world-recognized scientists.

Students David M. Blumenfeld, of Lincroft, N.J., and Matthew C. Cox, of Selinsgrove, both manufacturing engineering technology students, will contribute to ongoing research projects under the guidance of an NIST scientist or engineer during the 11-week program this summer at NIST's Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory in Gaithersburg, Md.

Blumenfeld has been assigned to work in the laboratory's manufacturing metrology division on creation and measurement of a five-axis part that is being considered for use in ISO standards for machine tools.

"I'm looking forward to more design experience, which is really important for me, because that's (the work) I want to get into," Blumenfeld said.

Cox will experiment with 3-D printing also called rapid prototyping capabilities in the computer-aided design division.

"It's going to be a great experience. I hope to parlay this into a full-time job with NIST," said Cox, whose mother, father and godfather have also worked for the government through NASA.

"This type of program is also helpful to get into a graduate program," Blumenfeld said.

NIST representatives visited Penn College to recruit students for its inaugural Technician SURF program. About 100 fellowships are awarded at the nine Gaithersburg laboratories each year. To be eligible, students must have earned a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher and must intend to pursue a graduate degree in mathematics, physics, computer science or engineering.

The students' fellowships are funded through a $15,055 grant from NIST to Penn College, which is used to pay a stipend to the students, as well as their housing costs in Gaithersburg.

NIST, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is one of the world's leading research organizations and home to three Nobel Prize winners. Participants in the SURF program which is co-sponsored by NIST and the National Science Foundation gain valuable hands-on experience, work with cutting-edge technology, meet peers from across the nation and sample the Washington, D.C., area.

NIST Laboratories conduct research in a wide variety of physical and engineering sciences. The labs respond to industry needs for measurement methods, tools, data and technology. NIST researchers collaborate with colleagues in industry, academic institutions and other government agencies.

For more information about Penn College, visit online , e-mail or call toll-free 800-367-9222.

For more information about grant-funding opportunities, faculty and staff may contact the Grants and Contracts Office at ext. 7562 or through its Web portal.