Undergraduate student research/senior design projects:
My research interest is laboratory automation technologies for ultra-high resolution and sensitivity diagnostics. We integrate the advances in electrical and computer engineering and the microfabrication technologies into scientific instrumentations for a single molecule or single cell diagnostics. Our lab in the department of Physics and Engineering is equipped with world-class scientific equipment (SEM, e-beam lithography, sputtering, and a 100-class cleanroom). Working with our supportive faculties in the world-class laboratories will provide our students a solid training for their academic careers.
Current projects:
1. Real-time edge detection for fluorescent droplets counting microscopy.
On the chemistry part, we are going to use microfluidic droplets to confine a single bacterium and perform genetic diagnostics in the droplets. On the instrumentation part, an embedded system based fluorescence detector will be developed to count the number of positive droplets in a high throughput manner. The product of this project will be a scientific instrumentation, publications, and a potential patent. 
2. Electrowetting on dielectric devices (EWOD) for droplet microbial fuel cells (MFCs).
EWOD is a promising laboratory automation technology for micro drop/assay handling. We use EWOD as micro detectors for biofuel cells. The EWOD electrodes can isolate a single bacterium that may potentially have outstanding power generation efficiency. EWOD will become a unique tool for the selection of those outstanding ‘bugs’ for power generation.
3. A portable and low-cost peak detector for mili-seconds fluorescent signals.
This is a collaborative project with Amberstone Biosystems, LLC. This is a milestone-driven industrial project. The portable peak detector will be simulated, tested, and finally fabricated onto a PCB board. The peak detector is the key front-end device for the single cell sorter in the DEP (dielectrophoresis) machine.
4. A real-time carbon mono-oxide detector based on a low-cost IOT module (ESP8266).
Internet-of-things (IOT) is the technology that can make everything around you intelligent. This is a perfect project for undergraduate senior design teams. The development cycle for this project is about 7-12 months. The deliverables will be a product that could plot the mono-oxide concentration in your house directly on a webpage in real time.

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Other grant opportunities:

Grant Name	Guidelines	Link
Undergraduate Internal Research Grant Programs	The next deadline for grant applications is Monday, October 16, 2017 (for activities that take place in the spring of 2018). The next deadline (for projects to be completed in summer or fall of 2018) will be in the spring semester of 2018.	https://www.fortlewis.edu/undergraduate-research/ResearchGrants/FLCInternalGrants.aspx Package
Faculty Support	Due 9/15, 12/1, 2/9, and 4/13, at 3 pm	Package
NSF MRI	1/10/2018	https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5260
NSF Energy for Sustainability	October 1, 2017 - October 20, 2017	https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505339
NSF Small Business Innovation, Phase I	12/4/17 Guideline	https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505233&org=IIP&from=home
NSF IDBR		link
NSF Semiconductor Synthetic Biology		link
NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program		link
NIH	Jan/Mar/May/Sep	https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/due-dates-and-submission-policies/due-dates.htm
Environmental Service	Fall 2017	Package
MARC	Fall 2017	https://www.fortlewis.edu/marc/
Co-Amp	ASAP
SSNAP	ASAP	Contact: Dr. Les Sommerville, sommervil_l@fortlewis.edu, Berndt Hall 603, and Marnie Clay, msclay@fortlewis.edu, Chem Hall 238.
NREL	Internship for Summer 2018	See the Poster front and back
San Juan County	Engineering technician	Click here
FLC SIG	Feb 25, 5pm	Sustainability Initiative Grant
DOE FOA	12/8	link, Announcement
DOE VFP		link, develop a proposal, select a DOE lab
MOTT Foundation		LOI
NSF Career	Bio, July 18, Engr, July 19, 2018	Link
Other Career	Details in the link	Link
DARPA_YFA	Due in Nov	Webinar notes