Joseph Lopez, Lizet Martinez and Carlos Carpio worked side-by-side with New Mexico State University (NMSU) professors conducting scientific research on designing a vehicle to transport rockets into space, identifying molecular markers of cotton and a finding a safer way to measure high voltage.
The three Doña Ana Community College (DACC) students participated in the summer community college opportunity in research experience program (SCORE) this past summer.
They presented their results in a poster session at the New Mexico alliance for minority participation (AMP) student research conference held at the Las Cruces Convention Center. Sixty eight student from across New Mexico presented results of scientific research they conducted during the summer.
“It is important that our students participate in these types of programs,” said Dean Saundra Castillo, of advanced technologies. Through SCORE and AMP our students have a great opportunity to not only participate in science projects and to present their results but to network with faculty and other students from throughout the state.”
Presenting were: Joseph Lopez, a graduate of the DACC Aerospace Technology program who conducted research with Dr. Young Ho Park of the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering. Joseph’s poster was titled “Orbital Carrier Aircraft (OrCA) Design”. The goal of this research was to design a turbine powered lift vehicle that will carry a solid fuel rocket to high altitude.
Lizet Martinez, a student in microbiology, worked with Dr. Jinfa Zhang of the department of plant and environmental sciences. Lizet’s poster was titled “Molecular Diversity of Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and Pima Cotton (Gossypium barbadense). The object of the research was to identify molecular markers as fingerprints that can be used to distinguish the two species in represented genotypes.
Carlos Carpio, a general engineering major at DACC, conducted research with Dr. Satish Ranade of the Klipsch school of electrical and computer engineering. Carlos’s poster was titled “High Voltage Measurement”. The purpose of this research was to measure high voltages by reducing them to a smaller and safer value.
Other DACC students attended the AMP Conference included: Joshua I. Tarin, Angel Martinez, Bianca Lugo, Dacoda Dickert-Evans and Pooja Bhakla. Pictured below,
Joseph Lopez poses with his poster.