Hanley Sustainability Institute

Early each Fall, HSI invites proposals from sustainability scholars for projects that would benefit from the support of an HSI-funded research assistant. Proposals should explain the research question guiding the study, the methods that will used in answering that question, and the practical and theoretical significance that those answers promise. You should also detail the role that the graduate fellow would play in the research and how their involvement could contribute to their intellectual and professional development. Proposals will be selected based on their resonance with HSI’s strategic plan, which prioritizes research that deeply engages the community, brings together different disciplines and develops innovative frameworks for investigating sustainability; additionally, we give weight to projects that generate meaningful research experience for fellows by involving them in multiples phases of research and including fellows as co-authors of publications and presentations within the typical two-year duration of their graduate programs.

Students can find the upcoming year’s fellowship opportunities in December, and should email faculty mentors through the links below for more information about particular positions. Prospective fellows for the 2025-26 academic year should submit their application here by Jan. 31, 2025. Applicants should include a one-page cover letter describing their interests in and qualifications for one of the research opportunities, their current curriculum vitae or resume and an unofficial transcript. Note that receiving a fellowship is conditional upon earning acceptance into a graduate program at UD, and that students must apply separately to those programs for consideration. For more details about the support provided through UD graduate assistantships like ours, please view the posting.

Mentors: Robert Lowe (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering) and Scott Schneider (Engineering Management, Systems and Technology)

Materials employed in critical coastal economic sectors are dominated by plastics, contributing to an ever-increasing marine debris problem. Natural materials (e.g., coir, jute, hemp, and manila) have a long history of traditional use in these sectors, but have been displaced by non-biodegradable proprietary alternatives (i.e., plastics and polymer composites) that accumulate and persist in marine and estuarine environments. Consequently, there is significant interest in transitioning away from synthetic polymers towards sustainable non-plastic alternatives. However, qualification and thus widespread adoption of non-plastic alternatives has been hindered by a lack of data quantifying their degradation in harsh coastal environments, where materials are often subjected to fluctuating temperatures, moisture content, UV light, salinity, abrasion, and biofouling. 

In this project, we will focus on natural-fiber alternatives for erosion control, where polypropylene-based silt fencing is the current industry standard. Material specimens will be environmentally conditioned through field exposures at national estuarine research reserves in Ohio (Old Woman Creek, freshwater) and South Carolina (North Inlet Winyah Bay, saltwater). Post-exposure characterization will include mechanical testing to track the evolution of modulus, strength, elongation, and toughness; FTIR to track the evolution of composition; and microscopy to track the evolution of microstructure. Statistical analyses will be used to fundamentally understand the underlying mechanisms driving material degradation. This information will be used to assess the suitability of natural-fiber alternatives for erosion control applications, provide a robust material property database to inform regulatory policies, and encourage the inclusion of sustainable alternatives on qualified products listings published by government agencies.

Students planning to enroll in the graduate programs of Mechanical Engineering, Renewable and Clean Energy, Materials Engineering, Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics are eligible to apply for this 12-month fellowship.

Mentor: Andrew Chiasson (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)

We spend the majority of our time indoors, in environments where the quality of air, temperature, and overall comfort directly impact our well-being. As our built environment continues to grow, ensuring that buildings are energy-efficient and sustainable has become increasingly important. This project aims to develop simplified, data-driven models to help building managers make informed, practical decisions about energy improvements, with a focus on optimizing heating, cooling, and other key systems that affect building performance and comfort. The research focuses on creating data-driven, multivariate regression models that predict energy consumption patterns, particularly related to heating and cooling needs, based on utility bill data. These models will be benchmarked against EnergyPlus, an industry-standard building energy simulation tool, providing a hybrid approach that balances simplicity with robustness. Key areas of focus include improving HVAC system efficiency, upgrading building envelopes, and reducing plug loads, which are all important for creating more sustainable and comfortable indoor environments. The graduate research fellow will be involved in gathering and analyzing utility data, developing models, and running simulations to validate models. This experience will provide skills in energy modeling, data analysis, and building performance simulation, while contributing to UD's sustainability goals. The preferable candidate is expected to be pursuing a graduate degree in an area related to energy use in buildings.

Students planning to enroll in the Renewable and Clean Energy graduate program are eligible to apply and should indicate in their cover letter whether they would prefer a 9-month or 12-month fellowship.

Mentor: Andrew Schrader (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering) and Rydge Mulford (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)

The proposed work includes the hybridization of Ohio’s natural gas power plants with concentrated solar power and industrial waste heat resources to address the growing need for grid diversification and renewable energy integration within the existing energy landscape. The motivating question is how can solar and waste heat resources be effectively combined with natural gas power plants to maximize efficiency and economic viability? It is proposed that integration is best achieved using a core thermal sand battery system, currently in development with a project partner Brayton Energy. With these sand batteries, diverse and intermittent energy sources can be harnessed using a single, reliable energy system capable of storing and delivering heat on demand. In Ohio, natural gas is abundant and stable energy source; thus, this study will investigate how renewables can be integrated into this practical energy landscape to extend natural gas resources’ viability, reduce emissions, and provide long-term energy solutions. This project will directly impact the potential Ohio energy landscape by producing a guiding model for regions with moderate solar resources and/or industrial waste heat to pair with fossil fuel systems, supporting reliable energy production while reducing emissions and extending natural gas resources. The research fellow will develop and implement thermodynamic and economic models in collaboration with project partners, leveraging solar mapping tools and machine-learning algorithms to optimize energy and cost scenarios. Additionally, they will gather data on waste heat recovery and thermal sand battery performance, perform data analysis, and interpret findings to refine the models. 

Students planning to enroll in any graduate program in the School of Engineering, include the Renewable and Clean Energy program, are eligible to apply for this 12-month fellowship.

Mentors: Corinne Brion (Education Administration)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), STEM occupations are projected to grow 8.8% between 2020 and 2030, significantly faster than the average for all occupations. Addressing the need for well-trained teachers, especially in STEM fields, is critical as quality educators play a pivotal role in preparing students for the demands of an increasingly technical world (National Science and Technology Council, 2018). This project evaluates the effectiveness and sustainability of the Next Gen Innovators (NGI) educator training program in fostering lasting changes in teaching practices and STEM engagement among students. Findings will inform NGI program development, allowing for refinements that improve the training’s relevance, application to practice and scalability across diverse educational settings. This project will also contribute to understanding how educator training programs can catalyze changes in teaching practices, while also fostering a generation of educators capable of inspiring and preparing students for STEM fields. 

The research fellow involved in this project will join a team of researchers and practitioners and will play a central role in designing and executing both the quantitative and qualitative research components, including survey design, data collection, statistical analysis, and qualitative analysis. The fellow will also gain proficiency in project management, working across different phases of the study and coordinating with educators and administrators. In addition, this project will deepen the fellow’s understanding of sustainable program design, enhancing their expertise in areas like program development, policy, and training—key competencies for leadership roles in research, policymaking, or program management post-graduation. 

Students planning to enroll in the graduate programs of Teacher as Leader, Interdisciplinary Educational Studies, Leadership for Educational Systems, Technology Enhanced Learning, and Business Analytics are eligible to apply for this 12-month fellowship.

Mentors: Daniel Paluh (Biology) and Ryan Reihart (Biology)

Tadpoles are useful bioindicators because they typically respond rapidly to habitat degradation, decreased water quality, and changes in climate. Furthermore, tadpoles can easily develop anatomical deformities, including malformed mouthparts, when aquatic habitats become contaminated with toxins. Their mouthparts can also become deformed due to chytrid, an infectious fungal disease linked to population declines and extinctions of amphibians worldwide. This proposed research project will investigate local tadpole populations and quantify the relationships among water quality parameters, climatic variables, disease occurrence, and the prevalence/type of tadpole developmental deformities. The HSI graduate fellow will collect tadpoles of two common frog species (Rana catesbeiana and R. clamitans) and measure water and habitat quality variables. From each tadpole specimen, the fellow will 1) swab their mouthparts to test for chytrid infection, 2) isolate tail tissue for elemental analyses to detect levels of contaminants, and 3) isolate stomach contents to quantify diet. The tadpole specimens will then be evaluated for developmental deformities. Our water quality, disease prevalence, contaminant analyses, and tadpole deformity results will provide new insights into the health of local frog populations and will be shared with local land managers to aid in making informed decisions on how to improve land conservation practices and identify natural areas in need of restoration action.

Students planning to enroll in the Biology Graduate Program are eligible to apply for this 12-month fellowship.

Mentor: Joy Losee (Psychology) and Erin Kunz (Psychology)

Psychology is the study of how humans think, feel, and behave. The psychological approach can inform sustainability efforts by providing insights into people’s motivation for engaging in sustainable behaviors and supporting sustainable policies. One such insight is that seeing oneself as an environmentalist is a powerful factor in sustainable behavior and policy support. However, research on this topic tends to focus on privileged and predominantly White samples. Thus, the present research asks-- for whom does environmentalist identity motivate sustainable behavior and policy support? We will collaborate with University of Dayton Dining Services to design studies that promote sustainable food choices and examine support for sustainable dining policies. In this project, you will gain experience designing human subjects research and using a psychological approach to promote sustainability on campus. This work will have practical and theoretical significance. First, this work will provide answers to theoretical questions about the boundaries of previously observed effects in sustainability research. Second, this work will provide extensive experiential learning for an HSI graduate fellow. Third, this work has the potential to inform and improve sustainability efforts and policy-making locally with UD’s dining services. 

Students planning to enroll in the Masters of Public Administration Program are eligible to apply for this 12-month fellowship.

Mentors: Mason Bradbury (Sustainability)

Urban parks, preserves, and other open spaces are widely considered to be key components of urban sustainability. However, their management and design can be challenging because the various purposes to which parks can be put - including ecological health, aesthetic appeal, historical preservation, and recreational use - are not always compatible. This project will focus on land management at the Environmental Research Area (ERA) within Old River Park, acquired by the University of Dayton (UD) in 2010. We will use case studies of similar parks and research into the historical, social, and environmental context of the ERA to generate management alternatives, which will be evaluated according to their potential contributions to UD’s Sustainability Goals. The HSI Graduate Fellow will play a key role in the project by helping to design an analysis framework and collecting data on case studies and the ERA’s historical landscape. They will learn and practice methods for document analysis, archival research, and, if they have interest, GIS skills relevant to the social sciences. Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, but applicants should be interested in urban sustainability and environmental resource management and be willing to learn social science research methods.

Students planning to enroll in the Masters of Public Administration are eligible to apply for this 12-month fellowship.

Mentor: Katie Alaimo (Communications) and Sarah McKnight (Geology and Environmental Geosciences)

Public interest and concern for environmental conservation are growing, as evidenced by the recent approval of a levy for Five Rivers MetroParks in Montgomery County. However, the effects of conservation practices on water quality and dynamics in rivers and associated wetlands remain underexplored due to a lack of high-frequency data. Additionally, public perceptions of these initiatives are not well-documented.

This project has two main goals. First, the research team will investigate water quality and quantity in two wetlands located in public parks by collecting surface water data. This will provide insights into the water sources and overall health of these wetlands. Second, since the success of wetland conservation relies on community stakeholder support, the project will analyze public perceptions of wetland conservation. This will involve content analysis of local news coverage and surveys of residents, who will also be invited for interviews. The study aims to understand how public knowledge, attitudes, and political opinions align with the representation of wetland conservation issues.

An HSI graduate fellow would contribute to each aspect of this research and can determine the level of involvement for each aspect, depending on what aligns best with their academic goals. For the water quality assessment, the fellow would conduct weekly surface water sampling and in situ measurements of water level and quality. They would also prepare samples for stable water isotope analysis and water quality assessment, providing an evaluation of how conservation efforts influence wetland conditions. For the analysis of public perception, the fellow would conduct content analysis of news articles to validate coding frameworks, analyze survey responses, and perform textual analysis of interview transcripts.

Students planning to enroll in Public Administration, Leadership in Educational Systems, or Interdisciplinary Educational Studies degree programs are eligible to apply for this 12-month fellowship.