Undergraduate Research

Congratulations to the January Undergraduate Researcher of the Month, Chase Gibson! 

Chase Gibson is a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, with plans to graduate in the spring of 2026. Currently, Chase works with Dr. Christopher Oshman, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, on a project exploring the use of flexible Mylar-based heat pipes for heat mitigation. This year, Chase presented their work at both the Undergraduate – Graduate Learning, Inquiry and Distinctive Experimentation (U-GLIDE) Symposium and the Advancements in Research, Inquiry, and Scholarship Exhibition (ARISE) on the UNF campus. He also plans to present their findings at the 2025 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC), which will be held at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida in February 2025. Additionally, Chase and Dr. Oshman are working on a journal article that they hope to complete within the next year.   

Chase particularly enjoys the problem-solving aspect of his research project, as well as expanding his programming skills. According to Chase, working with Mylar film and ultra-high vacuum systems has presented numerous challenges during the manufacturing, testing, and analysis phases. Overcoming these obstacles has allowed Chase to enhance his existing skills while developing new ones. For instance, he created much of the testing equipment from scratch, gaining experience in basic machining. He also created a MATLAB program to analyze the data collected from his tests, generating graphs and essential information. Because heat pipes need to withstand ultra-high vacuums, Chase also gained hands-on experience with turbomolecular pumps and vacuum systems. After he graduates, Chase plans to pursue a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. His advice to students interested in research is to engage with professors and explore their research areas, as this can help them find a topic that aligns with their interests.