David E. Robinson, undergraduate student in Engineering Science under the advising of Dr. Joseph Rose, Professor in Engineering Science and mechanics is participating in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program called Experimental Methods of Mechanical Engineering. David is working in the Mechanical Engineering Department’s Micro-sensor Laboratory under the direction of Dr. Volkan Ötügen, Professor and Chair of Mechanical Engineering Department, and Dr. Tindaro Ioppolo, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

Robinsons project is entitled Micro-Optical Sensors for Ultra-Fine Measurements. In basic, he is studying the uses of micro-spheres as pressure sensors. The micro-spheres, made from clear polymers, can be used to measure mechanical forces, temperature, sound, and many other metrics. Throughout his program, he has successfully demonstrated the ability of the micro-spheres to detect small changes in pressure. The next goal of the project is to improve the sensor's calibration by reducing interference from external variables.

The REU Program is eight weeks long and is lead by Dr. David A. Willis and Dr. Paul S. Krueger, Professors of Mechanical Engineering at Southern Methodist University. There are 10 undergraduate students working full-time in various mechanical engineering labs. The students have weekly seminars about engineering research and graduate school. The group tours research laboratories at Texas Instruments, Alcon, and Raytheon. At the end of the program, the students give presentations about their individual projects to their professors and fellow undergraduates.