We are open to collaborating with and/or mentoring undergraduate students, masters students, PhD students, and beyond, on various projects. If you have a project that you think might be right up our alley, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email!
If you are a prospective student and want to work with us on one of our projects, please keep in mind that the University of Notre Dame is a highly competitive university and that you must be accepted to either undergraduate or graduate program PRIOR to working with us.
If you are already a student at Notre Dame and interested in working with myself in particular, I will do my best to meet with you and discuss potential projects you might be able to get involved in. However, it is preferred that the first thing you do is to reach out to Professor Mark Plecnik (plecnikmark@nd.edu) to discuss your qualifications. For students interested in hands-on research, a successful partnership with me would be summarized as: “I build it, you break it, together, we iterate.”
Required Qualifications:
- Acceptance to the University of Notre Dame.
- Excellent communication and technical writing skills.
- Students interested in working with us should be motivated and hard-working individuals who are interested in mechanism designs, kinematics, dynamics, controls, and their applications in robotics and other systems.
Desired Qualifications:
A desirable candidate should be interested in designing mechanisms, assembling robotic systems, as well as troubleshooting equipment. We focus on novel advancements in mechanism designs. The students will have a unique opportunity to be involved in hands-on work such as the design, fabrication, and set-up of test platforms.
Along with a desire to be at the forefront of emerging technologies, the candidate should meet certain qualifications. In particular, individuals with experience in some of the following areas are encouraged to apply:
Programming skills: Mathematica; C++; Python; Matlab/Simulink; Labview
Mechanical skills: CAD; 3D rapid prototyping; machining; hardware implementation
Electrical skills: soldering; circuit board design/fabrication; sensors; electronic implementation
Theoretical background: mechanism designs; kinematics; dynamics; controls; manufacturing; additive manufacturing; 3D printing; material characterization; modeling; optimization
Equipment: 3D printers; tensile tester; mill; lathe; laser-cutter; drill press; bend saw; jig saw; high-speed camera etc.
Interested individuals should provide their CV/resume and a statement indicating their areas of interest to Professor Mark Plecnik (plecnikmark@nd.edu).