MONACA, Pa. — Three Penn State Beaver have professors have received seed grants from the Office of the Vice President of Commonwealth Campuses to conduct research with undergraduate students during the 2026-27 academic year.
Associate Teaching Professor of Engineering Matt Caputo, Associate Professor of Biology Cassandra Miller-Butterworth and Assistant Professor of Computer Science Madhurima Ray each received a grant for their respective research projects.
Rocket fin materials
Caputo will conduct research with Penn State Beaver engineering student Adnaj Bhuiyan on “Modeling Multi-Cycle Thermal Degradation of UHTC-Coated Rocket Fins in Hypersonic Re-Entry Environments.” The project will determine how rocket fins covered with ultra-heat-resistant materials are damaged after repeated exposure to extreme heat over and over again when the rocket re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere. The goal is to help engineers understand how long the fins will last and when they might fail.
“There is a push to reuse engineered materials for astronautic applications. These materials are exposed to extreme heat and pressure conditions. Repeated exposure to these conditions can result in defects that can lead to failure,” Caputo said. “The research will simulate ceramic coatings on aeronautic materials and expose them to cyclic temperature and pressure condition that mimic atmospheric entry. Such simulation is needed to evaluate the limits of the engineered materials. If the simulation provides favorable results, the research topic could be expanded to include an experimental portion with supported funding.”
Fish diversity
Miller-Butterworth’s research project, conducted with Teaching Professor of Biology Stephanie Petroski, Instructor of Biology and Environmental Ecologist April Claus and undergraduate student Chloe Kurtyka, is titled “From Pasture to Protection: Establishing a Fish Diversity Baseline in Dilworth Run’s New Riparian Buffer.” It will focus on community-based ecological research by establishing a baseline assessment of fish diversity in Dilworth Run using molecular biology techniques.
The research is an extension of a community service and experiential learning project during the 2025-26 academic year to create a riparian buffer along Dilworth Run on the Tall Pines Farms property in Darlington Township.
“For undergraduate students, the project provides hands-on research experience, interdisciplinary training and opportunities to analyze, interpret and communicate data relevant to real-world environmental challenges,” Miller-Butterworth said. “For the principal investigators, the project advances long-term goals in undergraduate research, community engagement and applied environmental monitoring, laying the foundation for sustained partnerships and future restoration-focused initiatives.”
Protecting domestic violence victims
Ray’s grant will fund her research project, “Technology-Enabled Safety System for High-Risk Domestic Violence Survivors,” with Crisis Center North, Nexion Solutions, Associate Professor of Information Technology Richard Lomotey and undergraduate senior research assistant Richard Allenbaugh. The project will use technology to protect survivors of domestic violence with a research-backed pathway to a safer environment, one in which they feel empowered rather than intimidated by threats and can carry out their daily lives freely and safely.
“The funding will also support awareness and outreach programs involving local law-enforcement teams,” Ray said. “These efforts will help us extend the program to additional communities, strengthen collaboration with key stakeholders, and reach more survivors who may benefit from the project.”
The seed funding programs are designed to support research, foster collaboration and advance projects across campuses. Offered through the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses, the programs support a range of priorities, including early-stage and mid-career research and professional development, mentorship, community impact, industry partnerships and undergraduate research engagement.