The University of San Diego's Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering recognizes the importance of integrating undergraduate research within the educational experience, working one-on-one or in small groups with faculty members — either during the academic school year or over summer break. Engineering students at the University of San Diego are helping to pioneer innovative technologies while working with new discoveries to incorporate real-world, hands-on learning to expand their practical and theoretical base of knowledge.
Research opportunities
The goal of USD's Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is to ensure that undergraduate students from all disciplines have the opportunity to engage in research, scholarly and creative activities during their time at USD. Browse through this section to find research opportunities and to learn about available funding offered through OUR and other organizations on- and off-campus. Click these quick links for How to Get Started in Research, Presentation Resources, Creative Collaborations and Fall Colloquium.
Student Research Spotlight
Recent Research Publications
Publication of research findings is an important aspect of research. Publications with undergraduate students as co-authors that have been published at the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering include these journal articles and conference proceedings:
- Moghadam, N., Owen Robertson, "Multimodal Stress-Based Prediction of Academic Performance Using Wearable Biosignals," 2025.
- Lord, S., Austin Peters, "'These different ideas, traditions, and values make my thinking unique and creative': Bringing Native Hawaiian ways of knowing to engineering education," IEEE Transactions on Education, 2023.
- Kim, J., Trevena, W., "Measuring the rebound effect: A case study of residential photovoltaic systems in San Diego," Utilities Policy, vol. vol. 69, 2021.
- Ngo, T., Lauren Hoffman, Gordon D. Hoople, William Trevena, Udeema Shakya, and Gregory Barr, "Surface morphology and drug loading characterization of 3D-printed methacrylate-based polymer facilitated by supercritical carbon dioxide," Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 2020.
- Ngo, T., Hoffman, L., "Affordable Solar Thermal Water Heating Solution for Rural Dominican Republic," Renewable Energy, vol. 115, pp. 1220-1230, 2018.
- Ngo, T., White, D., Jooste, D., Jerman, K., Hagen, J., and Peterson, J., "Design and Implementation of an Alternative, Low-Cost Water Chlorination System in El Cercado, Dominican Republic," International Journal of Modern Engineering, vol. 18, 2, pp. 13-20, 2018.
- Ngo, T., Blair, S., Kuwahara, K., Christensen, D., Barrera, I., Domingo, M., and Singamneni, S., "Drug Impregnation for Laser Sintered Poly(methyl methacrylate) Biocomposites Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide," The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, vol. 136, pp. 26-29, 2018.
- Dalrymple, O., Gray, S., Tesfaye, M., Daryanani, R., and Lord, S., "An experiential approach to understanding the engineering design process." IEEE Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference, 2016, pp. 1-5.
- Dalrymple, O., Fletcher, J., Astatke, Y., and Bronner, L., "Constructing a Model for the Definition and Assessment of Teaching Effectiveness in Higher Education," ASEE Mid-Atlantic Section Conference, 2016.
- Ngo, T., Lambert, C., Dorren, B., Gee, B., Go, S., and George, R., "Effects of deposition and supercritical CO2 treatment parameters on physical and electrical properties of pentacene thin films," Synthetic Metals, vol. 220, pp. 384-393, 2016.
- Codd, D., Rodriguez, I. and Cerda, J., "Experimental Exploration of a Small Scale Pneumatically Pumped Thermal Storage System." ASME 10th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, 2016.
- Dalrymple, O., Daryanani, R., "Using an Engineering Design Experience in the 6th Grade Curriculum to Promote Interest and Learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math," University of San Diego Creative Collaborations Undergraduate Research Conference, San Diego, CA, 2016.
- Ngo, T., Kohl, J., Paradise, T., Khalily, A., and Simonson, D., "Improving Mechanical Properties of Thermoset Biocomposites by Fiber Coating or Organic Oil Addition," International Journal of Polymer Science, vol. 2015, pp. 1-7, 2015.
- Ngo, T., Lambert, C. A. and Kohl, J. G., "Characterization of Compostability and Mechanical Properties for Linseed Oil Resin Composites Reinforced with Natural Fibers," Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, vol. 53, pp. 1215-122, 2014.
- Jacobitz, F., Addiego, N., Fabian, M., Gledhill, R., Schmachtenberger, H., Shao, A., and Wang, F., "Problem Solving in the Engineering Classroom: Peer Teaching at the Freshman Level," American Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Submitted.