Research Projects for Irish Students
The University of Notre Dame offers several programs of research as part of this program. Browse through our list to find a project that resonates with your academic aspirations and research interests.
For Notre Dame faculty interested in submitting a future project for the Naughton Fellowship, please contact us at naughton@nd.edu for guidance and information.
Exploring the role of vascular pericytes in the glioblastoma microenvironment
University of Notre Dame
Meenal Datta, College of Engineering, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering; Bioengineering; Materials Science and Engineering
Uncover how pericytes influence the glioblastoma tumor microenvironment, focusing on their role in immune response regulation and glioma stemness maintenance.
114 Multidisciplinary Research Building
Summer 2024 (or during a semester for a visiting Irish student)
40 hours per week
Preferred experience with mammalian cell culture and basic cell and molecular biology techniques.
Digital glass forming
University of Notre Dame
Edward Kinzel, College of Engineering, Aerospace and Mechanical
Develop a novel digital glass forming technique using filament-fed laser heating, for creating transparent forms and complex free-standing structures.
A60 Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering
Summer 2024
40 hours per week
CAD experience is important, programming and optics experience helpful.
Circuit and system design for collaborative machine learning
University of Notre Dame
Ningyuan Cao, College of Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering
Design circuits and systems for collaborative machine learning, particularly for edge devices using Bayesian neural networks and optimization techniques.
Stinson Remick 311
Summer 2024
20 hours per week
MATLAB and/or Python and/or SPICE knowledge required.
Security-aware source code generation
University of Notre Dame
Joanna Cecilia da Silva Santos, College of Engineering, CSE - Computer Science and Engineering
Develop secure code generation techniques and infrastructure to ensure the reliability of code produced by AI tools in software engineering practices.
150C Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering
Summer 2024
20-40 hours per week
Knowledge of Python required.
Virtual reality for the future of work
University of Notre Dame
Diego Gomez-Zara, College of Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering
Explore the use of virtual reality in enhancing team collaboration and remote work, involving the development and testing of VR applications.
Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering
Summer 2020
40 hours per week
Familiarity with VR (Unity, C#) preferred.
Low-temperature thermal treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
University of Notre Dame
Kyle Doudrick, College of Engineering, CEEES
Address the challenge of safely treating wastes contaminated with PFAS using unique analytical methods and cost-effective catalysts.
A65 Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering
Flexible 2024
Flexible hours
Basic lab training required.
Machine learning for fusion energy research
University of Notre Dame
Ryan McClarren, College of Engineering, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Build a database for inertial fusion energy experiments and applying machine learning to uncover insights into fusion research.
Multidisciplinary Research Building, University of Notre Dame
Summer 2024
20-40 hours per week
Knowledge of Python or another similar computer language required.
Seismic precast concrete building frames
University of Notre Dame
Yahya Kurama, College of Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
Develop and test new types of precast concrete braced frame components for enhanced seismic resilience in building construction.
101 Cushing Hall
Summer 2024
40 hours per week
No specific requirements.
Assessment of Pregnant Moms' Empowerment Program and pandemic impact on mother-child relational quality
University of Notre Dame
Laura Miller-Graff, Arts and Letters, Keough School, Psychology, Peace Studies
Assess the impact and effectiveness of the Pregnant Moms' Empowerment Program through a randomized clinical trial (RCT) and collect intensive longitudinal data on women's pandemic-related stressors and the pandemic-related impacts on mother-child relational quality.
Corbett Family Hall/Shaw Center for Children and Families
Ongoing throughout the summer
40 hours per week
Motivation, inquisitiveness, problem-solving skills, and teamwork ability required.
Manufacturing automation and control
University of Notre Dame
Robert Landers, College of Engineering, Aerospace and Mechanical
Develop and implement advanced manufacturing processes, with an emphasis on automation and control in digital metal forming, digital glass forming, and laser powder bed fusion of metals.
Multidisciplinary Research Building
All year long
40 hours per week
No specific requirements; project tailored to student's skills.
Decoding ERPs to identify the source of age differences in working memory
University of Notre Dame
Nathan Rose, College of Arts & Letters, Psychology
Conduct research on working memory, involving recruiting and testing adults, recording EEG/ERPs, and data analysis using Python, Matlab, or R.
363 Corbett Family Hall, University of Notre Dame, Indiana
May-September 2024
40 hours per week (approx.)
Preferred experience with EEG/ERP data collection and analysis, Matlab, and Python.
Trusted AI
University of Notre Dame
Paul Brenner, Notre Dame Research and College of Engineering, Center for Research Computing and Computer Science & Engineering
Research trusted AI, exploring frameworks and concepts to enhance the reliability and trustworthiness of AI systems.
ND Campus
Summer 2024
40 hours per week
Some experience with computer programming (Python preferred) and data science concepts is required.
Spectrum coexistence technologies and policies for interfering radio systems
University of Notre Dame
Nick Laneman, Engineering, Electrical Engineering
Explore spectrum coexistence technologies and policies for radio systems, developing models and solutions for more effective spectrum utilization.
249 Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering
Summer 2024
40 hours per week
Familiarity with MATLAB or Python is a plus.
Data and Society
University of Notre Dame
Nitesh Chawla, Lucy Family Institute for Data and Society
Participate in cohort learning opportunities, both within the Lucy Institute and with Notre Dame’s REU program, collaborate on data science centric problems, present findings, and contribute to the international research community.
384 Nieuwland Science Hall
Summer 2024
40 hours per week
Students must be a current graduate or undergraduate student at a participating university, and major or have interest in data science, computer engineering, sociology, business, or related field.