SHIP Prior -Year Research Project Abstracts

Curious what our summer 2024 SHIP students were up to during their time here? Below are the abstracts from their summer research projects.

Aayush Shivashankar
Senior, Chantilly High School // Chantilly, Virginia
Worked in NIST's Information Technology Laboratory with Dr. Ian Soboroff

Title of Talk: Democratizing Information to Support Self-Sustainability in Developing Nations

Abstract: “Knowledge is power” as the adage goes, hints that information itself can provide enough power for developing nations to work towards self-sustainability in their future. This concept is the primary reason why programs like Doctors Without Borders (DWB), Teachers Without Borders (TWB), and Engineers Without Borders (EWB) exist – to bring people with specialized knowledge to help people in countries without it. However, this project defies the narrative that only people can participate in this transfer of knowledge and extends the traditional narrative to computers as well.

Transfer of medical knowledge will be the focus of this study – however this project is implemented in such a way that any type of information could be dispersed. There are three primary objectives that this project aims to accomplish: the capability of cross-language retrieval – allowing for searchers to query information in their own native language and still obtain relevant results, accommodation for lowery literacy rates in developing nations by allowing descriptions of items/objects/concepts to also be identified and tagged with their actual term for increased retrieval as well as retrieved documents to be turned into simple language, integration of computationally inexpensive quantized, fine-tuned large language models to achieve retrieval augmented generation and further bolster relevant results. In order to accomplish this all in a manner that can be scaled for future production while still maintaining accuracy– statistical models for natural language processing as well as fusion-retrieval methods are integrated into the system. 

The product of this system is a low-cost computer loaded with a prototype of the developed information technology. When given to a citizen in a developing nation – they would be able to query the system in whatever complexity and language for any knowledge they particularly need and would receive a short, relevant paragraph in return that has been simplified down and translated for readability no matter the literacy level of the user. In doing so, millions of documents could be uploaded onto this system – giving citizens in developing nations not only the information to promote their own self-sustainability, but also a teacher that is willing to instruct them and help them digest all the information as well – a computer without borders.

Adam Dubelman
Senior, Richard Montgomery High School // Rockville, Maryland
Worked in NIST's Physical Measurement Laboratory with Dr. Joseph Tan

Title of Talk: Virtual Instrument (VI) Control for Operating a mini-EBIT

Abstract: Electron Beam Ion Traps (EBITs) constitute an important method for studying exotic charge states which are not formed naturally on Earth. Research on the highly charged ions produced within an EBIT can provide insight into the processes that exist in stars, or may lead to useful fusion reactors. A portable miniature EBIT has recently been constructed here at NIST that promises to facilitate the study of ions with lower ionization thresholds. In order to operate this new mini-EBIT, there must be a way to provide each of its components with a steady and accurate electrostatic potential. To this end, I will discuss the methods of controlling and calibrating the voltage output provided by a high voltage unit equipped with readback capabilities. A Labview virtual instrumentation (VI) program is used to create a virtual representation of the bank of high voltage power units, thus providing an interface with the operator of the mini-EBIT. This VI consolidates the control and calibration functionalities behind an easy-to-use display where voltage outputs for all components can be set and monitored. Features include individual calibration for each voltage output port and efforts to reduce large voltage jumps which could potentially damage sensitive equipment. This voltage control is an important step in getting the new mini-EBIT operational. 

Anirudh Gowda
Senior, Academy of Science at Independence High School
Worked in NIST's Physical Measurement Laboratory with Dr. Braden Czapla and Dr. Bala Muralikrishnan

Title of Talk: Effect of Target Reflectivity on Terrestrial Laser Scanner Measurements

Abstract: Terrestrial Laser Scanners are portable 3D measurement instruments which rely on passive reflectance of the laser from surfaces to obtain point coordinates. The purpose of this study is to see how the scanner interacts with surfaces of different reflectivity and how they differ the results of the scan. To do this, multiple trials will be done with scans using different variables including distance, angle, and more. The result will give an idea of how much each material influences TLS measurements and how feasible it would be to create 3D blueprints of objects in real life. This application is specific to the US Navy and will aid in their ship designing process.

Bianca Brown

Graduated High School, Folaom High School

Worked in the Engineering Laboratory With Dr. Lisa Ng

Title of Talk: Long-term Performance of Commercially-Available CO2 Sensors

Abstract: CO2 sensors have traditionally been used as control setpoints for commercial heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. However, they are prone to drift - or incremental decrease in accuracy of a sensor over time - without regular calibration. We are studying the long-term performance of commercially-available CO2 sensors in order to understand how inaccurate sensors could impact the operation of HVAC equipment and utilizing data science to determine if there is a statistically significant difference in the drift of two commercially-available CO2 sensors compared with a laboratory-grade analyzer. We are both analyzing previously-collected October 2021-January 2022 CO2 data from the Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility (NZERTF) as well as directing an experiment to collect another set of data from July 2024. Along the way, we have crafted advanced Excel functions to align CO2 across different machines despite sensors taking measurements at different intervals as well as repaired the laboratory-grade CO2 analyzer. As a whole, this work demonstrates that long-term sensor performance evaluation is necessary because sensor degradation can have significant impacts on data collected.

Benson Chan

Senior, Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School

Worked in the NIST Center for Neutron Research with Dr. Joseph Curtis & Dr. Susan Krueger

Title of Talk: Calculating Label Distances within Biomolecules through Anomalous Small Angle X-ray Scattering

Abstract: A problem in structural biology is the determination of molecular structure.  While thousands of structures have been determined experimentally, many more thousands are inherently disordered, preventing structural information from being obtained. This gap in structural knowledge is significant, as many research topics in biological sciences can benefit from knowledge of intramolecular interactions and distances. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) has proven its merits in studying biological materials, generating low-resolution information on the structure, shape, and properties of biomolecules in solution. With anomalous SAXS (ASAXS), the ability to vary X-ray energy within the range of an element’s absorption edge and the emittance of element-specific anomalous signals provide a more comprehensive analysis of the structure of biomolecules with attached heavy metal labels. Using ASAXS in labeled biomolecules also eliminates the need for repeated trials with labeled and unlabeled molecules. We are writing Python software that implements ASAXS to provide users with an accessible means of calculating the intramolecular distances between atom and nanocrystal labels through the pair distance distribution functions obtained from the partial structure factors of each label-label and atom-label pair. The program requires the structural information of a biomolecule in the form of a Protein Data Bank (PDB) file and scattering data. Examples of the software applied to various DNA and protein systems will be presented.

Deeba Kord

Graduated High School, Legacy High School

Worked in the Communications Technology Laboratory with Dr. Ari Feldman & Joshua Kast

Title of Talk: Pulse Generator Modernization: Advancing the Oscilloscope Calibration   

Abstract: The NIST High-Speed Waveform Metrology group provides calibrations for sampling oscilloscopes and pulse generators. Calibrating an oscilloscope is essential to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its measurements. To provide calibrations of sampling oscilloscopes a loop servo is used to control the repetition rate of a laser that drives a photodiode. We designed an open-source Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) to replace the loop servo in NIST’s Oscilloscope Calibration System.  The open-source FPGA is programmed to measure the laser’s response to disturbances such as temperature or movement by evaluating the difference in frequency between the signal from the laser and the RF Synthesizer. We checked the accuracy of the open-source FPGA through measurements collected utilizing the Servo Loop compared to the open-source FPGA when used in the Oscilloscope Calibration System.

For pulse generator calibrations, a high-bandwidth RF amplifier is used to sharpen the trigger signal used to synchronize the pulse generator. The amplifier traditionally used is now obsolete and unavailable for purchase, and the chips inevitably fail over time, new replacements are required for the continued measurement of pulse generators. We engineered a PCB interface for an RF amplifier chip, simplifying the design of the board that was in use. First, we created a schematic from the limited datasheets regarding the existing circuit, then the desired footprint was created on KiCad, and manufactured. The board’s viability was examined by comparing measurements collected from the previous design and the more recent evaluation board design.