Crossing Disciplines: Insights from the Moncrief Interns of 2024

This summer, the Moncrief Undergraduate Summer Internship Program at the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences continued its tradition of empowering students to dive into research. The program offers undergraduates a unique opportunity to work on innovative projects across the various disciplines of  computational science and engineering - from modeling nuclear reactors to predicting cancer response in mice. 

The poster session on August 8 provided interns with an opportunity to communicate their research to both their faculty mentors and peers. Following the culmination of a summer of hard work, the session was followed by a reception to celebrate and reflect on the accomplishments of the Moncrief Interns of 2024.

Cade Dulaney, a student in the computational oncology track, made significant strides in optimizing cancer treatment protocols. "Currently, developing treatment protocols for patients is a slow and expensive process," Cade explained. "The field of computational oncology addresses this by creating mathematical models that can be 'tuned' to the individual patient." Cade's research involved developing a model to predict cancer response in mice, incorporating both radiotherapy and immunotherapy. By applying optimal control theory, Cade’s work resulted in eight treatment protocols that outperformed the standard protocols used during the experiment.

Sam Queralt focused on nuclear reactor modeling, using isotopic concentrations to reconstruct reactor operation history. His research, while highly specialized, showcased the program's breadth, extending from nuclear physics to practical applications in energy production.

Olivia Castillo explored advancements in battery technology, particularly solid-state batteries, which are seen as a safer and more energy-dense alternative to traditional liquid batteries. "Understanding the mechanisms of fast ion-conducting electrolytes is crucial for developing better batteries," Olivia explained. She worked on isolating the rotational effects of complex anions in her model system using the COLVARS package in LAMMPS. Her goal was to compare ion conductivity in systems with free-rotating anions versus those with constrained rotation.

Hongseok Kim focused on simulating and optimizing Starlink satellite network communications. His research involved designing algorithms to optimize the transmission pathways of data packets between ground stations and satellites. "Let's say that we are sending certain data packets from one ground position to another ground position. Well, we cannot directly send that wirelessly. So, my work is designing networks and optimizing the pathway of data transmitting between satellites and ground positions," Hongseok explained. During his time at the Oden Institute, he developed multiple algorithms to address data packet collision avoidance. After comparing these methodologies, Hongseok found that the congestion game approach, a system often used in traffic control, was the most effective in minimizing collisions in his network model.

The Moncrief Undergraduate Summer Internship Program continues to serve as a catalyst for emerging scientists, offering hands-on experience and fostering connections within the research community. As the program evolves, it remains a pivotal platform for students like Cade, Sam, Olivia, and Hongseok, guiding them towards further academic and professional pursuits.

Reflecting on his experience, Cade noted, "The Moncrief Internship was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it to any undergraduate interested in the intersection of various disciplines of science."

For those interested in applying to the Moncrief Internship Program for the summer of 2025, the application deadline is February 1, 2025. Explore the application criteria at https://oden.utexas.edu/academics/undergraduates/moncrief-summer-internship/.