Inside Engineering
We invite small groups of students and teachers into our laboratory to learn more about energy-related research through the Inside Engineering program at Columbia. Students get a background on battery research, a lab tour, and a demonstration to see what chemical engineering looks like in a research lab.
Engineering the Next Generation
For six weeks over the summer, our lab hosts high school students from the Engineering the Next Generation (E.N.G.) program at Columbia. This program is often students' first exposure to academic research as well as engineering disciplines. In the summer of 2019, we hosted Issaka Dabre (Ellis Prep) and Jessica Dilone (Columbia Secondary) in the lab. Issaka and Jessica synthesized and characterized silver nanoparticles, studied their surface chemistry, and learned to perform NMR simulations! They gave a talk and a poster at the E.N.G. symposium at the end of the summer.
Engineering Speaks
Through the Engineering Speaks program at Columbia, Prof. Marbella visits local high schools to share her personal path in science and engineering and how research from the lab is related to the commercial rechargeable batteries that are used in portable electronics, transportation, and grid storage.
Student-led Initiatives
Women in Science at Columbia (WISC): Julia serves as the Undergraduate Mentoring Co-Chair for WISC, which is a graduate student-led organization that aims to build community among underrepresented communities in STEM fields at Columbia. WISC holds events for undergraduates to interact with graduate students and learn first-hand about how to apply to and succeed in graduate school. Julia helped to spearhead a new Undergraduate Mentoring Program that launched in fall 2020, where over 100 undergraduates were connected with graduate student mentors in their fields of interest, 12 of which conducted supervised research projects. Women who are interested in the mentorship program are encouraged to sign up and get involved!
Coalition on Race and Ethnicity in Engineering (CORE^2) at Columbia: Emily is currently the President of CORE^2 at Columbia, which is a student organization that provides a network of academic, social, and professional support for underrepresented minority (URM) graduate students at SEAS. Undergraduates and allies are also welcome to join!
Scientific Research with International Students at ELLIS (SciRISE): SciRISE is an ongoing partnership between Columbia Chemical Engineering and the English Language Learners and International Support (ELLIS) Preparatory Academy that gives high school students practice asking scientific questions and conducting research projects. Both Richard and Drew serve as advisors for SciRISE throughout the year, with Drew organizing the summer research program through his leadership role in the ChemE Graduate Organization, ChEGO. The high school students analyzed how much pollution is produced by the meat packing industry and performed an economic analysis of renewable energy sources. At the end of the 7 week program, ELLIS students presented their conclusions to an audience of Columbia graduate students and ELLIS teachers.
Coalition on Race and Ethnicity in Engineering (CORE^2) at Columbia: Emily is currently the President of CORE^2 at Columbia, which is a student organization that provides a network of academic, social, and professional support for underrepresented minority (URM) graduate students at SEAS. Undergraduates and allies are also welcome to join!
Scientific Research with International Students at ELLIS (SciRISE): SciRISE is an ongoing partnership between Columbia Chemical Engineering and the English Language Learners and International Support (ELLIS) Preparatory Academy that gives high school students practice asking scientific questions and conducting research projects. Both Richard and Drew serve as advisors for SciRISE throughout the year, with Drew organizing the summer research program through his leadership role in the ChemE Graduate Organization, ChEGO. The high school students analyzed how much pollution is produced by the meat packing industry and performed an economic analysis of renewable energy sources. At the end of the 7 week program, ELLIS students presented their conclusions to an audience of Columbia graduate students and ELLIS teachers.