Participating Lab: DEVCOM Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC)

Project Engineering for Personal Protective Equipment

Research Opportunity Location:
Natick, MA

Research Opportunity Description:
To execute projects/programs associated with the scientific research, engineering development, tests & evaluations of Soldier related organizational clothing and personal protective equipment.

Synthesis of a Microbial System for Betalain Production

Research Opportunity Location:
Natick, MA

Research Opportunity Description:
This project involves engineering a microbial system for betalain pigment production naturally found in beetroots. This work is a foundational step towards the possibility of incorporating naturally found biological pigments into textiles and fabrics, which may be more beneficial than the current use of commercially available synthetic dyes. If success is confirmed through this proposed method, it can be potentially used to engineer other naturally occurring pigments in fruits or vegetables, ultimately providing a wide spectrum of biologically derived pigments for sustainable Soldier protection applications.

PAL: Any Training Anytime (PAL-ATA)

Research Opportunity Location:
Playa Vista, Los Angeles, CA

Research Opportunity Description:
Evaluate ability to generate all common interactive activities for new topics in the PAL3 framework: quiz-based tutoring, dialogue-based tutoring and simulation-based tutoring. Evaluate ability of LLMs to generate learning resources and learner behavior. Tasks involved include (1) Corpus Collection: Select baseline passive resources (input). (2) Tutoring Generation: LLM pipeline for dialog-based tutors. (3) Quiz Generation: LLM pipeline to generate diagnostic distractors and feedback. (4) Problem-Solving Support: LLM to generate feedback and hints during a complex problem solving task (e.g., coding).

Co-Generating AI Educational Resources

Research Opportunity Location:
Playa Vista, Los Angeles, CA

Research Opportunity Description:
Building interactive systems to create intelligent tutoring systems and other active learning content with the latest generative AI models. The goal is building a process to create reliable and controllable tutoring systems, where AI semi-automates the process with a human in the loop.

Long-Range Resupply Technologies

Research Opportunity Location:
Natick, MA

Research Opportunity Description:
DEVCOM SC is currently funding several parachute-based systems to enable aerial resupply to warfighters on the ground. Systems under development incorporate either Jet Turbine or Internal Combustion engines to generate thrust sufficient to extend the offset from aircraft release to ground impact location. Specific research expected during during the internship would include data collection of candidate systems during local test events. Opportunities to do design and prototype fabrication of mechanisms to release small cargo payloads from systems under development may also be available during the internship period

Airdrop Technology Team

Research Opportunity Location:
Natick, MA

Research Opportunity Description:
Support project officers in airdrop technology team development efforts

Developing models for use with deep learning

Research Opportunity Location:
Natick, MA

Research Opportunity Description:
Student will develop and evaluate various deep learning models for a specific task. Student will also develop models to help with deep learning tasks. Programming experience is a must, preferably in Python. Prior knowledge of 3D modelling and/or deep learning or machine learning is highly preferred. Student will work closely with mentor.

Computational material study

Research Opportunity Location:
Natick, MA

Research Opportunity Description:
Student will work with mentor to characterize materials with spectrophotometer and other textile characterization techniques. Student should have knowledge of mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics or similar. Some Python programming will be involved to process data and run computational physics code, so programming experience or a strong interest in programming is highly desirable.

Photovoltaic detectors and nonlinear rectifying materials for laser receivers on moving vehicles

Research Opportunity Description:
Research, develop, and engineer new receiver technology for efficiently converting incident laser beam energy into electrical current and power for charging batteries or other power-hungry functions on a vehicle that flies. This project requires interest in researching materials and nonlinear rectifying devices, as well as interest in engineering a prototype system to fire a laser at a moving or flying vehicle, at least indoors, while ensuring that flight is not hampered by the receiver. The student should plan to learn some basics of nonlinear optics and flying small platforms, and may be involved in fabricating nonlinear rectifying optoelectronic devices as a breadboard for converting infrared laser light to current. Several other DEVCOM SC staff members and a solar cell company may be involved and staff members/company personnel will be available to mentor the student.

Shelter Research and Development

Research Opportunity Location:
Natick, MA

Research Opportunity Description:
Advancement and Design of Shelters and Ancillary Equipment. Integration, Design and implementation.

Postbiotics as an intervention for enhancing warfighter performance

Research Opportunity Location:
Natick, MA

Research Opportunity Description:
Warfighters experience a multitude of stressors, including environmental, physical, and cognitive, all of which have negative impacts on health and performance. Recent studies aimed at investigating the links between military-relevant stressors, the gut microbiome, intestinal integrity, and inflammation have begun to highlight the importance of gut health in relation to warfighter health and performance. Postbiotics refer to soluble factors (metabolic byproducts) secreted by live bacteria or by lysed bacteria. Postbiotics have been shown to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immune-modulating activities, while paraprobiotics have been shown to beneficially modulate the immune system while reducing the risk of adverse side effects. Importantly, these products are considered “Generally Regarded as Safe” (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration, making them reasonable candidates for incorporation into food items. However, the physiological efficacy of postbiotics must first be demonstrated before they can be considered for potential incorporation into food products. The testing of physiological efficacy to support intestinal health is the primary focus of this proposal.