Spring 2024 AJC Merit Research Scholars Co-Ops Now Open

September 26, 2023 | by t.rafferty-osaki

We are pleased to announce the AJC Merit Research Scholarship application to apply for Spring 2024 co-ops is now open.

Academically talented and ambitious students can apply to conduct research in the lab or group of a tenured or tenure-track STEM faculty member at a rate comparable to what they’d encounter in industry in two ways.

By sharing a proposal to conduct a research co-op with a faculty member with whom they are already working.
By applying into an Approved AJC Merit Research Scholar Co-op position.

Below is a brief overview of the eight faculty-approved positions collaborating with Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. Full job descriptions of each position can be found on NUWorks.

Biomolecular Simulations AJC Merit Research Scholars Co-Op
Mentor: Srirupa Chakraborty, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, COE
The SimBioSys Lab focuses on structure-dynamics modeling of complex biosystems by looking at these through the virtual microscope. The goal of the lab is to solve biomedical problems at the molecular level both from first principles, as well as harnessing data-driven approaches. Our research is at the interface of biochemistry, physics, chemical engineering and computer science, where we strive to bridge theoretical modeling, in silico results, and experimental data.
LAB/FACULTY WEBSITE: https://www.simbiosyslab.com/
NUWorks: https://northeastern-csm.symplicity.com/students/app/jobs/detail/4b01af7b7fb40a4c0ba4c8268091db1f

Enzyme Mimetics and Machine Learning AJC Merit Research Scholars Co-op
Mentor: Sijia Dong, Assistant Professor, Chemistry & Chemical Biology, COS
We develop and apply physics-based and data-driven computational methods on classical and quantum computers to understand multiscale processes, from electronic structures to emergent properties. We develop design strategies for molecules, materials, and processes that matter in renewable energy, biomedicine, quantum information science, and other areas of societal importance.
LAB/FACULTY WEBSITE: https://sdonglab.org/
NUWorks: https://northeastern-csm.symplicity.com/students/app/jobs/detail/421c076e6063a45e421ac3b4d67adcd5

Soft Robotics AJC Merit Research Scholars Co-Op
Mentor: Kris Dorsey, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, COE
Programmable and Reconfigurable Soft Engineered Systems (PARSES) is a multi-disciplinary group with research interests that span robotics, sensor design, mechanical design, functional and active materials, and human health. We work on challenges related to the design of soft actuators, wearable devices and soft robotics.
LAB/FACULTY WEBSITE: https://parses.sites.northeastern.edu/
NUWorks: https://northeastern-csm.symplicity.com/students/app/jobs/detail/807115e9e1c47bd5c3374b1d7654072d

Coastal Habitat Restoration AJC Merit Research Scholars Co-op
Mentor: Randall Hughes, Associate Dean for Equity and Professor, Marine & Environment Sciences, COS
My lab is interested in the interactions among the numbers and identity of species, the genetic individuals that make up those species, the ecosystem services that they provide, and the people who benefit from and manage those services. We use a combination of lab and field experiments, molecular techniques, social science, and data synthesis to understand the causes and consequences of changes in marine biodiversity and how best to apply that information to marine habitat conservation and restoration.
LAB/FACULTY WEBSITE: hugheslab.squarespace.com
NUWorks: https://northeastern-csm.symplicity.com/students/app/jobs/detail/160fa8e82523af3a7cc88fbfef15b866

Augmented Reality AJC Merit Research Scholars Co-op
Mentor: Wallace Lages, Assistant Professor, Khoury
Our research is focused on exploring how mixed reality can:

Enable new ways to create and have fun.
Enhance our ability to understand and act in the world.

LAB/FACULTY WEBSITE: http://www.realitydesign.studio/
NUWorks: https://northeastern-csm.symplicity.com/students/app/jobs/detail/2f7c02ef933bd535ce7cbbeedb0f76c9

Perceptual Awareness Psychology AJC Merit Research Scholars Co-Op
Mentor: Jorge Morales, Assistant Professor, Psychology, COS
The Subjectivity Lab seeks to answer the questions below by studying visual perception, conscious awareness, and metacognition using an interdisciplinary approach. The AJC Merit Research Scholar would focus on one of two projects: (1) developing online experiments about the perception of absences (how do we notice that something is missing?) or (2) developing experiments using eye tracking (with regular displays and VR headsets) to discover physiological markers of conscious awareness (measuring pupil dilation to track how conscious someone is of their environment).
LAB/FACULTY WEBSITE: https://subjectivity.sites.northeastern.edu
NUWorks: https://northeastern-csm.symplicity.com/students/app/jobs/detail/da552248a0c4e81d7353f47541a7bb9c

Droplet Impact Dynamics AJC Merit Research Scholars Co-op
Mentor: Xiaoyu Tang, Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, COS
The lab leverages advanced imaging techniques to probe the underlying physics of multiphase flow problems and provide guidelines for 3D printing, oil recovery, and biomedical applications. Specifically, we focus on droplet impact dynamics, droplet evaporation, fingering instability, and particle manipulation in microfluidics.
LAB/FACULTY WEBSITE: https://tanglab.sites.northeastern.edu/
NUWorks: https://northeastern-csm.symplicity.com/students/app/jobs/detail/9a5682ce47dd3e51b4c394418415680e

Batteries for Space Exploration AJC Merit Research Scholars Co-op
Mentor: Juner Zhu, Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, COE
Our research group seeks the intelligent integration between data-driven approaches and physics-based theories to characterize complex engineered systems such as Li-ion batteries, porous media, and advanced lightweight materials.
LAB/FACULTY WEBSITE: https://www.zhujuner.com
NUWorks: https://northeastern-csm.symplicity.com/students/app/jobs/detail/47f9b19df154102166f2f94af4b3b6ae

To apply:

Read our award description page carefully.
Those applying for a preapproved position with a faculty member will navigate through NUWorks to express their initial interest. We’ll follow up with those who apply there about next steps. Visit NUWorks to apply today and use “AJC” to keyword search for these positions.
Those applying for a position with a faculty member will follow the instructions set forth in the award description and apply through the link there. Read “Application Procedure” under the awards detail for more information.

The deadline for the AJC Merit Research Scholars Co-Op is October 23 at 9:00 AM ET.