Project Info
Catalyst-ionomer interactions in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells
Svitlana Pylypenko | spylypen@mines.edu
We will be applying and developing novel methodologies to fundamentally understand interface between catalyst and ionomer with direct effect on optimization of fuel cell performance.
More Information
contact adviser to get relevant paper and presentation
Grand Engineering Challenge: Not applicable
Student Preparation
Qualifications
The student should be proficient in computational science and applied mathematical modeling with a strong background in the numerical solution of differential equations, especially using Matlab, Fortran, and Python.
Time Commitment
25-30 hours/month
Skills/Techniques Gained
The student will hone his or her computational and programming skills while learning about state-of-the-art methods and algorithms in the field of uncertainty quantification, as well as, basic mathematical modeling of physical phenomena in plasma dynamics. A paper will likely be submitted to the journal “Physics of Plasmas” at the conclusion of the undergraduate research experience.
Mentoring Plan
The student will meet weekly with me and my research group (currently, 2 PhD students). Additionally, I will hold a separate one-on-one meeting with the student every two weeks. In addition to standard research mentoring regarding the specifics of the project, I will also work with the student to develop their communication, networking, and presentation skills. In particular, we will work together to create a talk that he or she will present at one or two local or national research conferences, such as the Pikes Peak Regional Undergraduate Mathematics Conference (held annually at UCCS), the SIAM Front Range Applied Mathematics Conference (held annually at CU Denver), or the MAA Mathfest (held annually – 2019 in Cincinnati).