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2007 Winner :: Brian Schulkin

Handheld “T-ray” Device Earns New $30,000 Lemelson-Rensselaer Student Prize

Troy, N.Y. – “T-rays” have been touted as the next breakthrough in sensing and imaging, but the need for bulky equipment has been an obstacle to reaching the field’s potential. Enter Brian Schulkin, winner of the first-ever $30,000 Lemelson-Rensselaer Student Prize. Schulkin has invented an ultralight, handheld terahertz spectrometer — an advance that could help catapult T-ray technology from the lab bench to the marketplace.

Schulkin’s “Mini-Z” is dramatically smaller and lighter than any previous terahertz device, and it already has proven its ability to detect cracks in space shuttle foam, image tumors in breast tissue, and spot counterfeit watermarks on paper currency. The system, which weighs less than five pounds and fits snugly in a briefcase, could open the door to a wide range of applications in homeland security, biomedical imaging, and nondestructive testing of industrial components.

Schulkin, a doctoral student in physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is the first recipient of the $30,000 Lemelson-Rensselaer Student Prize. The award is given to a Rensselaer senior or graduate student who has created or improved a product or process, applied a technology in a new way, or otherwise demonstrated remarkable inventiveness.

 “Discovery and innovation are the sparks that drive the global economy and enhance quality of life. The Lemelson-Rensselaer Student Prize is designed to inspire and reward those who push the boundaries of imagination, and do the creative work to break new ground,” said Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson. “Brian Schulkin embodies that spirit of innovation, discovery, and excellence. We celebrate his ingenuity and commitment. We applaud him and all of our students who participated in this inaugural competition, and we encourage them to keep exploring and to keep pushing the boundaries.”

For photos and video of the winner, as well as a Webcast of the announcement ceremony, please visit: www.rpi.edu/lemelson.

The Next Wave in Sensing and Imaging

T-rays are based on the terahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is defined by frequencies from 0.1 to 10 terahertz — just between infrared light and microwave radiation. “Terahertz waves are the last window in the electromagnetic spectrum to be exploited by scientists,” Schulkin said.

T-rays are useful for imaging defects within materials without destroying the objects or even removing them from their setting, and they offer major advantages over other techniques, according to Schulkin. They can penetrate many dry, non-metallic materials with better resolution than microwave radiation; they don’t pose the same health risks as X-rays; and unlike ultrasound, terahertz waves can provide images without contacting an object.

And T-ray systems offer more than just images: they can provide valuable spectroscopic information about the composition of a material, especially in chemical and biological species. Scientists have been exploring the terahertz region for more than two decades, but one of the main obstacles has been the size and weight of T-ray devices. “Conventional systems are tied down to the bench,” Schulkin said. “They are incredibly heavy, not portable, and require high-powered lasers, which are both expensive and large.”

The Mini-Z, however, is about the size of a laptop computer, and it does not require any peripheral equipment. “The first time the Mini-Z was on display, the kinds of comments we got were, ‘Where is the rest of it?’” Schulkin said.

The device also provides real-time data with absolutely no waiting, and its user-friendly design means people do not need special training to operate it. “It’s a turnkey system — all you have to do is open the box, set it up, and turn it on,” Schulkin said. “My vision for the Mini-Z is that it will be standard equipment in offices around the world, or in the lab for research.”

A Multitude of Applications

Schulkin’s patent-pending technology is available for licensing, and his team has received interest from a number of companies looking to commercialize the Mini-Z. The potential applications for such a device are numerous: evaluating the integrity of carbon fiber composites used in airplanes; imaging tumors without the need for harmful radiation; detecting explosives at airport security checkpoints; spotting landmines from a distance; and seeing biological agents through a sealed envelope.

The spray-on foam insulation used in the space shuttle is an ideal subject for terahertz imaging, Schulkin said. During the STS-114 shuttle mission in July 2005, video analysis indicated a piece of foam was lost from the bright orange, 15-story-tall external fuel tank of Space Shuttle Discovery. The tank’s aluminum skin is covered with polyurethane-like foam averaging an inch thick, which insulates the propellants, prevents ice formation on its exterior, and protects its skin from heat during flight, according to NASA.

Schulkin and his colleagues have conducted tests with foam samples provided by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and fuel-tank manufacturer Lockheed Martin Space Systems. To help prove the viability of terahertz imaging, the team purposely embedded defects in specially prepared foam samples, and then they used T-rays to spot them. In one test, a total of eight man-made defects of various sizes were scattered throughout the sample and successfully detected.

A prototype of the Mini-Z is being evaluated by NASA’s External Tank Project Office, which is seeking new methods to either complement or replace those it currently uses in nondestructive evaluation. Schulkin’s technology will be put in a “run-off” against several other technologies that will help NASA determine which to designate as “space certified,” allowing them to become part of NASA’s regular manufacturing and inspection process.

A Shining Star on the Research Stage

“Not only does Brian have an impressive grasp of theoretical concepts, but he also has the rare ability to combine this understanding with solid engineering principles,” said Alan Cramb, dean of the School of Engineering at Rensselaer. “His innovative spirit and creative spark are an inspiration to us all, and we are fortunate to have the Lemelson-MIT Program to recognize innovative students like Brian.”

Schulkin works under the guidance of Xi-Cheng Zhang, the J. Erik Jonsson ’22 Distinguished Professor of Science and director of the Center for Terahertz Research at Rensselaer. “Brian’s innovative approach combined the integration of materials, optics, and electronics expertise to realize a quantum leap in robustness, while reducing the size and weight of the system by an order of magnitude,” Zhang said. “His miniature terahertz spectrometer project, after only one year’s worth of research and development, has become the shining star on our research stage.”

At the Center for Terahertz Research, more than 30 scientists actively conduct research and development in terahertz wave science and technology. Scientists and engineers from more than 100 universities, companies, medical schools, and clinics have visited Rensselaer’s terahertz facilities, and the team has helped scientists from 25 countries learn to use the technology.

The Lemelson-Rensselaer Student Prize is funded through a partnership with the Lemelson-MIT Program, which has awarded the $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize to outstanding student inventors at MIT since 1995.

Nathan Ball, a graduate student in mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is the 2007 winner of the $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize. Ball received the award for life-saving inventions including the ATLAS Powered Rope Ascender, a portable, battery-powered device that can lift a 250-pound load hundreds of feet into the air in a matter of seconds.

This year the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign also joined Rensselaer as a new partner institution with the announcement of the $30,000 Lemelson-Illinois Student Prize. Michael Callahan is the inaugural winner of the Lemelson- Illinois Student Prize. He is a graduate student in Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering who has invented a method to intercept neurological signals near the source of vocal production and convert the signals into speech. He hopes to make it possible for people with limited speech or movement abilities to communicate. 

On May 3, the winners of all three student prizes will join together for a panel discussion at the Museum of Science, Boston. The panel is open to the public and included in the Exhibit Halls admission.

About the Lemelson-MIT Program
The Lemelson-MIT Program recognizes outstanding inventors, encourages sustainable new solutions to real-world problems, and enables and inspires young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention. Jerome H. Lemelson, one of the world’s most prolific inventors, and his wife, Dorothy, founded the nonprofit Lemelson-MIT Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. More information is online at http://web.mit.edu/invent/.

About Rensselaer
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1824, is the nation’s oldest technological university. The university offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in engineering, the sciences, information technology, architecture, management, and the humanities and social sciences. Institute programs serve undergraduates, graduate students, and working professionals around the world. Rensselaer faculty are known for pre-eminence in research conducted in a wide range of fields, with particular emphasis in biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology, and the media arts and technology. The Institute is well known for its success in the transfer of technology from the laboratory to the marketplace so that new discoveries and inventions benefit human life, protect the environment, and strengthen economic development.

 

2007 Finalists

Eben Bayer Ludovico Dell'Acqua Greg Ten Eyck

Many would expect the son of a successful farmer to follow in his father’s footsteps, and in many ways Eben Bayer, a senior in mechanical engineering and product design and innovation at Rensselaer, is doing just that. 

Bayer’s family farm is not typical. It produces up to 900 gallons of maple syrup a year on renewable, environmentally friendly technology. And Bayer is not your typical engineer. When not making syrup, he and his father can often be found in the woods hunting wild mushrooms. He used his knowledge of the Earth and fungal growth to create a revolutionary organic insulation that is cost-effective, protects the environment, and saves energy.

Organic insulation could replace traditional foam insulation, which carries substantial economic and environmental costs. Organic insulation is completely biodegradable and can be composted without any post-processing.

When Bayer envisioned organic insulation, he used his intimate knowledge of how fungus grows to create a new material that is inexpensive, holds its shape, can be produced locally, and is environmentally friendly. To create organic insulation, Bayer combined water, flour, minerals, and mushroom spores. Thanks to his knowledge of mushroom growth, he was able to create a tightly meshed network of mineral and mycelium, the vegetative growth stage of a fungus that can be dried to prevent fungal growth and molded into sheets suitable for home or commercial insulation. 

Bayer has a vision for creating organic building materials that can be used to create inexpensive, strong, and sustainable “Growable Homes.” This could help in developing nations where there are pressing needs for inexpensive housing or in areas following a disaster where temporary housing is essential.

Bayer’s environmental inventiveness spans well beyond organic insulation. He put his engineering skills to use to create a resonance wind collector. Unlike conventional wind turbines, Bayer’s wind collector has no moving parts. This allows it to operate at very high wind speeds where more energy is available. Bayer envisions it as a new low-maintenance method of producing renewable energy.

He is also interested in education and child development. Bayer co-invented a child location device designed specifically for children with special needs to gives parents peace of mind while allowing children to explore their surroundings. He developed a Web program that allows younger students to play virtual instruments using only a Web cam and their bodies, teaching them music skills and improving their intelligence.

Bayer is both a team player and an independent thinker, making people around him believe in the impossible. He brings humor and a true commitment to environmental protection and social responsibility to every project he sets out to complete. 

Many Rensselaer students are well-rounded, but Ludovico Dell’Acqua-Bellavitis takes this concept 10 giant steps further than the average student. Ludo is fluent in both English and Italian, a proficient horseman, rower, and active downhill skier, has lived and learned in three different countries, and already holds three very diverse degrees: a B.S. in psychology from University College in London, a M.S. in materials science and engineering from Rensselaer, and an MBA from Rensselaer. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in engineering science. 

Ludo fervently endorses the convergence of the physical and life sciences to address deep intellectual challenges relevant to current societal and technological needs. He has focused his current research efforts to create a class of lab-on-a-chip devices that leverage nanotechnology to study neurons and neural communication in a minimally invasive fashion, with enhanced signal discrimination and resolution. Lab-on-a-chip devices integrate multiple laboratory functions within minute chips used in microelectronics. Ludo’s devices are designed to both record and stimulate neural activity in the single cell and between multiple neighboring cells.

His lab-on-a-chip devices hold promise to account for cell behavior at the molecular, microscopic, and mesoscopic levels. To date, the fundamental nature of cell communication has remained elusive because it has been addressed at different length scales using very different methodologies and equipment. By contrast, Ludo’s efforts lie in the development of very similar devices that only differ with respect to the feature size of the electrodes.

His approach can be extended to the study of diseases such as HIV and cancer, in an effort to understand how they spread within a biological system. In addition, his study of massively parallel neural networks is promising not only to unveil the foundations of biological intelligence, but also to replicate them in form of algorithms within synthetic automata.

Prior to this important research program, Ludo worked to understand how carbon nanotubes are formed during chemical vapor deposition (CVD), in an effort to use these structures for his lab-on-a-chip neural devices. Carbon nanotubes are nanometer-scale, wirelike structures that are attractive to many scientists because of their strength, electrical properties, and ability to easily conduct heat. Ludo developed a process to analyze the growth process in real-time, helping to pave the way toward higher-quality carbon nanotubes, with the ability to outperform technological solutions currently available on the market.

Well-respected by his peers, Ludo is combining his knowledge of nanotechnology, neuroscience, business, and engineering to create new technologies that address fundamental questions related to biological intelligence, and helping to herald in the next generation of smart computers.

All students set out to change the world, but Gregory Ten Eyck could actually do it. His inventions could be the link that researchers have been looking for to create safe and efficient fuel cells, reduce the impacts of carbon dioxide on our environment, and create the next generate of super-small, super-efficient microelectronics.

As an Eagle Scout, it is no surprise that Ten Eyck would be an inventive young man with a deep respect for the environment, but this IGERT fellow has taken these values to a level higher than anyone would have thought possible. A 4.0 student, born leader, entrepreneur, and award-winning engineer, Ten Eyck truly has a bright future ahead of him. 

His research focuses on the interconnections within electronic circuitry. He has invented three methods that could have broad implications for the next generation of microelectronics, as well as enormous implications for energy and the environment. 

First, Ten Eyck developed a method to deposit metals on polymers. This application of atomic layer deposition (ALD) has been envisioned by scientists for years as a way to improve circuit function and reduce circuit size, but has never before been accomplished. Ten Eyck’s ALD process will enable industry to create devices that were thought to be years in the future.

Using his expertise in metal ALD, Ten Eyck created large metal surfaces with thin, uniform layers of metal over a porous insulating material to create a highly efficient energy storing surface. He then took this invention a big step further, creating a surface that could transform carbon dioxide to methane gas at room temperature. Such a conversion normally requires temperatures upward of 300 degrees Celsius. This key breakthrough has the potential to transform harmful greenhouse gases into useful natural gas. The process could allow for the production of new energy storage devices and conversion technologies such as fuel cells.

Ten Eyck also has created a novel way of connecting circuits that greatly reduces the size of the circuit and can improve device performance. In order to keep making smaller electronics, manufacturers need smaller integrated circuits. One method to reduce circuit size is to stack circuits using nano-rods that can be welded between circuits to connect them electrically. The problem to date with this process is that the welding requires high temperatures or a mixing of metals that can damage circuit performance. Ten Eyck and fellow graduate students have created a nano-welding process that welds at a reduced temperature. This advance will allow manufactures to use highly efficient, pure metals like copper without the need for incorporating metals that have a lower melting point like lead that have negative environmental impacts and inhibit proper circuit function.