Civil Engineering Research Track

The Civil Engineering Department Research Track is designed for exceptional students to pursue a faculty mentored research experience for 1-4 consecutive semesters at 0.5 Course Units (CU) per semester. Participation for one summer is required, contingent on a successful Mentored Undergraduate Summer Experience (MUSE) faculty student application.

Eligibility

The earliest entrance into the track is during the fall of the sophomore year. The latest is the spring of the junior year.
Students are required to have at least a 3.2 GPA. Enrollment in the track is also contingent upon faculty interest and availability to take students as research assistants (students in the track). No more than 15% of students enrolled in the civil engineering program should be enrolled in the research track. Faculty are not to be compelled to participate in the program. The ranking of students applying for the track is based on the quality of student application as determined by the faculty advisor.

Requirements

Students in the track still have to take the capstone Senior Project sequence, which must include design. The Senior Project sequence must not be used to make progress toward the overall research project.
For students, the sequence of the program:
1. Sophomore fall – find faculty sponsor
2. Sophomore early spring – admission into the track (MUSE proposals due in February)
3. First Summer – Recommended MUSE or Faculty Sponsored Research Project
4. Junior fall – 0.5 CU on research
5. Junior spring – 0.5 CU on research
6. Second Summer – Optional MUSE, if granted, or Faculty Sponsored Research Project
7. Senior fall – 0.5 CU on research
8. Senior spring – 0.5 CU on research
The total 2 CU on research accounts for the student’s 2 out of 4 technical electives requirements towards the degree.
The faculty sponsor will become the student academic advisor.
Students in the track need to commit and engage in an Independent Research Contract. Students, along with the faculty, are required to develop a detailed research plan for the program of study that is to be submitted to the department head.
Students taking 0.5 CU on research are expected to do research about 6 hours per week, produce interim research reports at the end of the semester, and present a poster during the Celebration of Student Achievement. Faculty will provide workspace for the student.
A successful research program is one that culminates in the publication (by the student and the faculty) of at least one paper in an industry recognized refereed journal or professional conference (not an undergraduate student paper competition or TCNJ journal). This does not imply that a paper has been fully published, but the faculty must feel confident that enough research work has taken place, so that a paper can be published eventually with recognition given to the student and their work. At a minimum, in the final semester of the program, the student will submit a portfolio that includes::
1. Research thesis in the form of a journal manuscript
2. Each semester’s work plan and progress report
3. A report delineating dissemination activities (MUSE/REU poster, conference posters or presentations), outcomes achieved, statement of importance of the research track to career goals and current career plans
The faculty and the student(s) are to commit to seek MUSE, School, or External support during the summers. At the end of the summer collaboration, the faculty may elect, with good reason, to discontinue the research track option with the student. Students may elect to drop out of the research track option at any time, but will be required to complete any remaining electives/units required for graduation.

Application Process:

Applications are submitted at the end of the fall of the sophomore year and must include. Proposals submitted at other times may be accepted based on extenuating circumstances.

The full application must include:

Cover page that includes:
Project title
Student name
Adviser name (with signature)
State which semesters are being applied for
Statement on the use of human or animal subjects. Approval must be obtained prior to enrollment in the first research course (typically the enrollment period for the fall of the junior year)
Project Description (1/1/2 to 2 pages):
1. Background
2. Significance
3. Objectives
4. References
Facilities and equipment needed to complete the research (1/2 page maximum)
Expected safety training required to complete the research (1/2 page maximum)
Curriculum plan for junior and senior year
Agreement to apply to MUSE as a rising junior and participate if the application is awarded.
Include the Student MUSE application

Deliverables by students in research track:

After admission to the research track, students are expected to deliver the following documents:

1. Detailed project proposal (5 pages, double spaced, 1-inch margins)
  Due either 1) the end of the MUSE program if the student participates as a rising junior; or 2) by the 8th week of the first fall semester in the program if a MUSE award is not received for the first summer.
  1. Specific Aims (1 page)
    1. State concisely the goals of the proposed research and summarize the expected outcome(s), including the impact that the results of the proposed research will exert on the research field(s) involved.
    2. List succinctly the specific objectives of the research proposed, e.g., to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or develop new technology. The engineering concepts and approaches must be clearly delineated.
  2. Research Strategy
    1. Significance
      1. Explain the importance of the problem that the proposed project addresses.
      2. Explain how the proposed project will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice in one or more broad fields.
      3. Describe how the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved.
    2. Innovation
      1. Explain how the project challenges and seeks to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms.
      2. Describe any novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation or interventions to be developed or used, and any advantage over existing methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.
      3. Explain any refinements, improvements, or new applications of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.
    3. Approach
      1. Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project
      2. Discuss potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success anticipated to achieve the aims.
      3. If the project is in the early stages of development, describe any strategy to establish feasibility, and address the management of any high-risk aspects of the proposed work.
      4. Point out any procedures, situations, or materials that may be hazardous to personnel and precautions to be exercised.
      5. Provide a timeline of activities for the duration of participation in the program (2, 3 or 4 semesters).
2. Progress Report

Due by the final exam week of the relevant semester or earlier at the discretion of the supervising faculty.Summarize the specific aims of the previous project period and the importance of the findings, and emphasize the progress made toward their achievement. Explain any significant changes to the specific aims and any new directions including changes to the specific aims and any new directions. A list of publications, patents, and other printed materials should be included in the Progress Report Publication List attachment; do not include that information here.

1. Results to date
2. Changes to original proposal
3. Specific outcomes achieved such as presentations, papers, abstracts
4. Plan of activities for the upcoming semester
5. Updated timeline
Research thesis
Due in week 12 of the final semester. The details of the content, format, length, etc. will depend on the faculty mentor’s determination of the appropriate journal for the completed work.
Oral Presentation of thesis
Complete no later than the final week of the final semester

Please direct research track curriculum questions to Dr. Thomas Brennan – brennant@tcnj.edu.