Undergraduate Design Competition
This competition is based on the submission of design-focused project that describes work performed as part of a capstone course or as team project by undergraduate engineering students at any level during their Spring Semester. Recognizing the diversity of design curricula in materials and related engineering departments, a broad definition of “design” is considered for this competition.
Design projects may be submitted by teams (two or more students) from any undergraduate university engineering program (e.g. Materials Science and engineering, metallurgy, metallurgical engineering, ceramic engineering, polymer engineering, and manufacturing engineering, or related programs, including but limited to mechanical, chemical, electrical or bio engineering).
- First Prize: $2,000 + $500 to the department for support of future design teams
- Second Prize: $1,500
- Third Prize: $1,000
Submission Deadline: June 30
2025 Winners
First Prize
Michigan Technological University
“The Effect of Cerium on Sensitization and Weld Strength of 5XXX Series Aluminum Alloys”
Team Members: Catherine Huston, Leo Sauter, Molly Wrobleski, Brooke Ziolkowski
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Paul Sanders
Industry Sponsor: Hobart Brothers LLC (Carson Williams)
Second Prize
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“Twitchalloy: High Strength Scrap-Based Aluminum Alloy”
Team Members: Brian Minnick, Christian Duessel
Advisor: Dr. Maria-Ioanna T. Tzini
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Gregory B. Olson
Industry Sponsor: Constellium (Dr. Laurent Boissonnet)
Third Prize
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
“Recycling Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) by Blending with Polypropylene (PP)”
Team Members: William Deary, Eric Pratt, Sebastian Romanello, Yazan Saran
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Gary Pickrell
Industry Sponsor: Prysmian Cables and Systems (Dr. Brian Risch)