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Check out recent Senior Design projects below!
- General Engineering and BioEngineering, Senior Design 2022-2023Thermometer Servo Loop for Actuating Marine Permaculture
We are prototyping and developing a control system for the Climate Foundation’s “Marine Permaculture” (MP) platforms in the Philippines designed for offshore seaweed cultivation. The Thermometer Servo Loop will sense and remotely communicate underwater temperature readings in real-time; consequently, the platform will change depth to consistently achieve optimal growing conditions.
Students: Connor Grady, Mia Gabriele, Illan Vargas, Jeremiah Rufus
Advisor: Dr. Jes Kuczenski (GENG), Dr. Prashanth Asuri (BIOE)
- Computer Science and Engineering, Senior Design 2019-2020Flomosys: A Flood Monitoring System
The goal of Flomosys 2.0 is to bring new features and functionality to Flomosys, the Flood Monitoring System of Silicon Valley. Flomosys 2.0 will implement multi-client support, dynamic frequency scaling, an overhauled web UI, and a novel low-power security algorithm.
Students: Tai Groot
Advisors: Behnam Dezfouli PhD
- Computer Science and Engineering, Senior Design 2019-2020YouLearn: Offline Media Streaming Application for Rural Uganda
YouLearn is an offline media streaming application designed for rural areas that have limited access to electricity and the internet. It provides videos and other media to educate and empower impoverished communities using tools such as vocational training and public health information.
Students: Emma Allegrucci, Jiabei Luo, Brianna McGovern
Advisor: Silvia Figueira PhD*Students could not deploy project on-site due to COVID-19.
- Interdisciplinary, Senior Design 2019-2020Hydroponics Garden in South African High School
In partnership with LEAP School, our team has designed an adaptive hydroponics garden for use at a high school in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The garden system features two unique "grow beds" and utilizes an energy and water conscious design to produce a diverse blend of vegetables.
Students: Alex Estrada, Andrew Feldmeth, Katya Fairchok, Andrew Jezak
College of Arts & Sciences Students: Carson Edgerton, Claire Pavelka
Advisors: Laura Doyle PhD, Hohyun Lee PhD, Michele Parker PhD*Students could not deploy project on-site due to COVID-19.
- Mechanical Engineering, Senior Design 2019-2020Sunny-Side Solutions
Sunny Side Solutions has partnered with Kenyan NGO, Sabore's Well, to design and build a solar-powered water heating system for a Maasai school shower for teachers to use on a daily basis, which will not only be relaxing, but will also encourage them to continue educating the next generation.
Students: Adrienne Lee, Malonda McElwee, Jada Paddock, Jesus Reyes
Advisor: Hohyun Lee PhD*Students could not deploy project on-site due to COVID-19.
- Civil Engineering, Senior Design 2018-2019Design of a Groundwater Irrigation System for Sustainable Agriculture
This project aims to design and build a replicable, sustainable irrigation system to help communities kickstart their agricultural economy. This system will allow villagers to grow crops such as cassava, okra, and squash during the dry season to help alleviate food insecurity while providing a source of income for farmers. See the video here.
Students: Ciara Murphy, Ricky Matthews, Peter Koros
Advisors: Edwin Maurer PhD, PE, Laura Doyle PhD
- Bio Engineering, Senior Design 2017 - 2019Cervical Cancer Early Response Visual Identification System
Our project aims to address the high rates of cervical cancer in the developing world. We are trying to develop a low-cost, minimally invasive, visual identification device that tests for bacterial changes in the vaginal microbiome as an indication of cervical cancer.
Students: Ivy Fernandes, Evangelica Bouzos, Marina Predovic, Alyssa Miawotoe, Lea Daran, Christina Kraus, Claire Hultquist, Hallie McNamara, Julia Lanoha, Rosie McDonagh, Mason Seely, Dave Heil, Nicola Gerbino
Advisors: Prashanth Asuri PhD, Michele Parker PhD, Craig Stephens PhD
- Mechanical Engineering, Senior Design 2018-2019Pedal 4 Purification
Pedal 4 Purification is a universally adaptable water purification and transportation system optimizing the centripetal pedal force of a bicycle. Partnering with Maya Pedal Guatemala, a non-profit organization focused around helping those in need to gain access to potable drinking water while promoting community involvement of women and children. See the video here.
Students: Coleton Rodd, Matt Lograsso, Cory Yamagata, Jonathon Keyes
Advisor: Gaetano Restivo PhD
- Engineering Without Borders at SCU
At EWB, we support community-driven development by implementing sustainable, user-centric solutions to solve pressing challenges both locally and abroad. Our members are the next generation of responsible, humanitarian engineering leaders. We empower technically competent, empathetic, and ethical engineering leaders.
To learn more, visit our website : www.ewbscu.com
Humanitarian Award Winners
This award is given by the Frugal Innovation Hub to Senior Design projects with the most social impact.
(2023) Thermometer Servo Loop for Actuating Marine Permaculture
Students: Connor Grady, Mia Gabriele, Illan Vargas, Jeremiah Rufus
Advisors: Dr. Jes Kuczenski (GENG), Dr. Prashanth Asuri (BIOE)
We are prototyping and developing a control system for the Climate Foundation’s “Marine Permaculture” (MP) platforms in the Philippines designed for offshore seaweed cultivation. The Thermometer Servo Loop will sense and remotely communicate underwater temperature readings in real-time; consequently, the platform will change depth to consistently achieve optimal growing conditions.
Students: Kyle Felip Mondina, Jack Davey, Brett Rimmer
Advisors: Dr. Silvia Figueira
A geolocation-based mobile application that relies on on-device geofencing to automatically record hours spent at a workplace, generate and store logs of work sessions and expected payments, as well as provide access to relevant, reliable, and comprehensible wage theft resources. The mobile application was developed in close communication and collaboration with workers from the local community in order to better grasp the issue of wage theft as well as capture the project’s requirements.
Students: Nicholas Buccino, Kyle Uyehara, Jay Weber
College of Arts & Sciences Students: Carson Edgerton, Claire Pavelka
Advisors: Dr. Jessica Kuczenski
In partnership with the City of Santa Clara Community Gardens, the Garden Composting Device team has designed a device that removes much of the manual labor associated with conventional composting methods and educates the community about the benefits of growing local produce.
Students: Alex Estrada, Andrew Feldmeth, Katya Fairchok, Andrew Jezak
College of Arts & Sciences Students: Carson Edgerton, Claire Pavelka
Advisors: Dr. Laura Doyle, Dr. Hohyun Lee, Dr. Michele Parker
In partnership with LEAP School, the Hydroponics Garden team has designed an adaptive hydroponics garden for use at a high school in the Limpopo province of South Africa.
Students: Jonathan Keyes, Matthew LoGrasso, Coleton Rodd, Cory Yamagata
Advisors: Dr. Gaetano Restivo, Dr. Walter Yuen
Pedal 4 Purification is a universally adaptable water purification and transportation system optimizing the centripetal pedal force of a bicycle developed in partnership with Maya Pedal Guatemala.
Students: Cristina Whitworth, Lauren Oliver
Advisor: Dr. Laura Doyle
The project entailed developing an integrated farming system that includes crops, fish, and poultry that would allow grassroots women to produce food products for both consumption and sale.
Students: Nina Morrison, Samantha O’Connor, and Callie Weber
Advisors: Dr. Unyoung (Ashley) Kim and Dr. Michele Parker
This team designed a low-cost paper-based sensor to detect the presence of E. coli in human breast milk donated to breast milk banks. Their aim is to ensure post-pasteurization safety in developing countries, where traditional lab culturing methods are unavailable.
Students: Jacob Leatherberry and Nicolas Metails
Advisors: Dr. Timothy Healy and Father James Reites, S.J.
97% of the 1.3 billion people who still do not have access to electricity live in Sub-Saharan Africa. To help solve this problem, our team designed and installed a solar microgrid for 133 people living in Alafiarou, Benin, so that they may see in the dark and charge their phones.
Students: Greg O'Neill and Jonathan Tadros
Advisors: Dr. Mark Aschheim and Dr. Tonya Nilsson
This project researched Arundo donax - a type of giant, perennial cane plant - to examine its use as a viable structural building material. Used alongside other traditional building methods, this material may offer new technologies for housing in developing countries.
Students: John Miller, Tara Pozzi, and Caroline Ruwe
Advisor: Dr. Steve Chiesa
This project includes the design of a gravity-fed water delivery and distribution system for a 12-acre farm. The farm will be used by the Homeless Garden Project, a nonprofit organization geared toward helping the homeless in Santa Cruz, California.
