Phase 3 Teams

Team Psijic

Water scarcity poses a significant challenge to agriculture and potable water sources, particularly in California, where droughts and overuse strain traditional water supplies. This study explores the feasibility of Atmospheric Water Generators (AWGs) as a sustainable addition for irrigation, aiming to supplement existing water systems. By providing a new possible independent water source, AWGs have the potential to enhance agricultural resilience and reduce reliance on conventional supplies.

Development of an AWG for irrigation prototype will begin on March 3rd, 2025, to evaluate water production efficiency and scalability. The project will focus on growing radishes or other fast growing vegetation to assess plant health and viability. The prototype will be constructed at home using custom-built components, allowing for controlled experimentation and modifications of AWGs for widespread agricultural use.

Team Members: Devin McGee
Mentor: Gwynn Markle, Alexander Novack

Bronco Stride

Team Members: Andres Hernandez, Erika Nicole Consebido, Neelam Mistry, Zoe Mae Andal, Emily Ruiz, Khoa Le, Adrien Chang
Mentor: Peter Ross

Sheep

Team Members: Robert E. Kimble
Mentor: Bryan Ramirez

SEAD-CS

Team Members: Aravind Subramanian, Ethan Nguyen, Rasheed Albaroudi, Jacob Vasquez
Mentor: Carlos Castro Candelas

Team Carbon Catchers

To address the growing need for improved carbon capture technologies, we will research the use of plasma surface treatment to increase the carbon-absorbing properties of metal organic frameworks (MOFs), a type of porous material under exploration for use in carbon capture technologies. We will first attempt proof-of-concept using a commercial plasma reactor and then use a plasma reactor developed and built in-lab to attempt similar results. Success with the lab-made reactor would imply a cost effective and accessible way to increase the efficiency of carbon capture technologies that employ metal organic frameworks.

Team Members: Olivia Walsh, Silvi Petrosyn
Mentor: Nina Abramzon, Krishna Sigdel

Team PIV

Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft have recently increased in development as part of the Advanced Air Mobility initiative that aims to develop quiet and safe electric air taxis in metropolitan areas. The aerodynamic interactions between some proposed propeller configurations are not well understood. Understanding these interactions is key to creating safe and stable eVTOL aircraft without potential thrust fluctuation issues and other flight instabilities. 

The PIV-BANSHEE Propeller Dynamics Study aims to utilize the capability of the Cal Poly Pomona Department of Aerospace Engineering’s advanced Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) flow imaging system to experimentally study the flow dynamics of distributed propeller propulsion configurations seen in eVTOL aircraft concept using the BANSHEE SINCHDrone Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as a test bed. Our study will collect and cross reference wind tunnel force/moment data and PIV optical flow data to determine the ideal propeller spacing configuration.

Team Members: Stephie Soloarivony, Amirreza Yazdanfar, Jenisse Chitay-Espinoza, Paden Hall, Ethan Ballard, Jaime Miranda, Gwynn Sumagaysay, John Cruz, Aaron Zuckerman, Isaac Khan, Devon Boyd, Kai Arellano, Daniel Malimban, Aidin Weissler, Alton Lo 
Mentor: Steven Dobbs, Charlie Royas

Buttercups

Our project is aimed at understanding the developmental and molecular changes in carpels pre and post-pollination in Aquilegia. We use developmental, molecular, and transcriptomic approaches to study the mechanisms that regulate carpel and seed developmental using Aquilegia coerulea as a model organism.

Team Members: Ana Q. Alcaraz Echeveste, Rene K. Romo, Mankirat K. Pandher
Mentor: Bharti Sharma

Team Keto

As the ketogenic diet is becoming popular in the world, our team aims to provide more qualitative evidence about the ketogenic diet by investigating its effects on physical performance, nutrient intake, mood, and lived experience in young adults. As such, we conducted a 4-week ketogenic diet in Spring 2023 and recruited Cal Poly Pomona students 18 – 30 years of age) as our research participants. Participants received ketogenic foods weekly and their responses to ketogenic diet were collected at the end of the study by focus group sessions.

Team Members: Shing Chan, Lindsey Zluticky, Diana Melgoza Calderon
Mentor: Fatheema Begum Subhan

Team Herd

The long-term consequences of maternal overnutrition are well established in species with short duration of pregnancy and short life spans (i.e. rodents), but much less is known about the impact of maternal high fat diet on the offspring of species with longer gestation periods more comparable with humans. The current study will determine the effect of maternal consumption of a high fat diet during pregnancy on the growth and pancreatic function of the offspring in sheep.

Team Members: Gabrielle P. Rodriguez, Digisha Ahir, Meztli A. Gomez, Daisy Chiu, Valerie Chou, Teresa C. Meza, Tory Simpfenderfer
Mentor: Juanita Jellyman

Team Kinetic Energy

Our mission is to introduce a new method of generating electricity from one of the most abundant renewable power source on the planet: ocean waves. By developing both an economical and viable energy generation device, Kinetic Energy hopes to bolster the integrity of renewable energy and lay down a stepping stone towards a greener future.

Team Members: Arya P. Joshi
Mentor: Carlos Castro Candelas