Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Institute MURI

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Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research
Institute (MURI)
Presented to the Deans Advisory Council, June
7, 2007
Hasan U. Akay Chancellors Professor and Chair of
Mechanical Engineering and Director of
MURI http//www.muri.iupui.edu
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Background

• MURI is a research institute that provides
  multidisciplinary team research experience to
  IUPUI undergraduates
• It has been funded by the campus since July 2005
• Funds are available competitively for
• Faculty and research mentors from the School of
  Engineering and Technology (ET)
• Undergraduates from all disciplines on IUPUI
  campus
• It is based on team and inter/multidisciplinary
  research approach driven by faculty and
  researchers at ET
• While the principal mentors must be from ET,
  co-mentors can be from other schools at IUPU
• It is affiliated with a campus-wide center,
  Center for Research and Learning (CRL), which
  also provides additional funds to MURI
  competitively
• In its short two year history, the MURI has
  funded close to 40 projects and 100
  undergraduates (see www.muri.iupui.edu)

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Justification

• Solution of most complex engineering and science
  problems cant be handled by one individual or
  discipline alone
• Most curricula teach students about knowledge in
  the specific discipline without any chance to
  relate them to the bigger picture
• Most students have little opportunity working
  with others outside their specific discipline
• Multidisciplinary teamwork is the main emphasis
  of industry and government agencies that tackle
  complex engineering and technology problems
• There is a need for an organization to channel
  faculty and student efforts to multidisciplinary
  team projects and attract students from other
  disciplines to these. MURI is designed to
  address this need.

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Vision and Mission

• VISION
• To be a leading undergraduate institute at IUPUI
  promoting high-quality multidisciplinary and
  interdisciplinary team research
• MISSION
• Enhance the multidisciplinary team research
  culture among the undergraduate students of IUPUI
  
• Enhance the undergraduate research mentorship
  culture among the faculty and researchers of the
  Purdue School of Engineering and Technology
• Promote the importance of multidisciplinary and
  interdisciplinary team research
• Provide research opportunities to all students of
  IUPUI
• Make state-of-the-art research facilities
  available to IUPUI undergraduates
• Seek external and internal funding opportunities
  and make them available to IUPUI students and
  faculty  

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MURI Features

• ET faculty and researchers submit project
  proposals in early summer for projects to start
  in early fall
• Students are invited to apply to projects of
  their choice
• While the majority of projects are funded in
  fall, if funds are available additional proposals
  are entertained in early spring as well
• Projects of duration of one to two semesters are
  considered
• Students can also receive independent project
  course credits

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MURI Features

• Awards to mentors range from 2,250 to 4,500 per
  team depending on the competitiveness of a
  proposal and collaboration with other mentors
• Students receive 1,500 stipend (the first half
  paid at the start, the second half at the
  completion of the project)

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Organization of MURI

• Run by a Director
• Coordinated by an Advisory Board formed by
  representatives from all departments in ET to
• Oversee the operations and expansion plans
• Distribute funds
• Evaluate faculty proposals
• IUPUI CRL provides support for
• Extra funds for student support
• Student research projects, records, workshops,
  conferences, travel arrangements
• Funneling of student researchers and faculty to
  MURI projects

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Teams and Projects

• Teams and projects must be multidisciplinary
• Multiple mentors from multiple departments and
  schools are welcome
• The project proposals are evaluated by a jury of
  advisory board members
• Team members are advised to sign-up for an
  independent research course (1 or 2 credits)
• Teams are asked to participate in local or
  national undergraduate research conferences
• Status and project completion reports are
  expected from mentors

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MURI Benefits

• Enhances undergraduate learning and experience
• Students are groomed for graduate program
• Serves as a model to other units
• Foster an undergraduate research culture among
  faculty and students
• Promotes research collaboration among faculty
  from different disciplines
• Leads to faculty rewards in promotion and tenure
• Has the potential for industry and government
  support

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A Proposal for Industry Sponsorship

• Industry sponsorships are sought for funding of
  MURI teams on topics of interest to the industry
• Industry will define the topics
• The team will bear the name of the sponsoring
  company
• Faculty will write proposals for one or
  two-semester long research projects
• The sponsor will be involved in the selection
  process
• Students will apply
• Students will present their work at various
  undergraduate research and industry forums
• The sponsor will be involved in the final
  approval of the presentations and project reports
• The sponsorship fee for one team 10,000

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Benefits to Industry

• Show of support for education and research
• Good recruitment tool
• Preparing future engineers for emerging
  technologies
• Grooming students for advanced degrees needed by
  industry
• Leading to partnerships with the school faculty

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Highlights from MURI Website

• Muri Website www.muri.iupui.edu
• Muri Workshop www.muri.iupui.edu/Workshop_'07.htm
  l
• Ongoing Projects www.muri.iupui.edu/muriprojects_
  f06-s07.html
• Some Success Stories
• Dynamic Tumor Respiratory Motion Modeling in
  Image Guided Radiation Treatment, Mentor
  Huanmei Wu
• Extreme Wind and Air Quality Simulations of
  Downtown Indianapolis," Mentor Erdal Yilmaz
• Sustainable Leadership Practices, Mentor Cliff
  Goodwin

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A MURI Project Extreme Wind and Air Quality
Simulations of Downtown Indianapolis
Perry K. Steam Plant
This project was presented at two undergraduate
research conferences and the IUPUI Solutions
Conference as well as the Remote Sensing Workshop
at the 2007 Indiana GIS Conference. Students
received 1st prize and 250 cash price in the
poster competition of the conference. It also
received the runner up prize among 2006 MURI
projects.