Vincent Kerler, a second-year physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, says he spent his summer running “a whole bunch of simulations to explore how mechanical waves move through a class of materials that convert mechanical stress into electricity and vice versa, or piezoelectric nanomaterials.”
His goal? To identify the best crystal structures and material compositions that could reduce reflections and lost power, thereby enhancing the performance of mechanical waves in wireless communications devices like cell phones.
Under the guidance of Yue Jiang, a Ph.D. candidate in the Charlie Johnson research group in the School of Arts & Sciences, Kerler conducted this work through the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program, a 10-week opportunity from the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. The program provides rising second- and third-year students with $5,000 awards to work alongside Penn faculty. Read full article here