Undergraduate Researchers Showcase Spring 2027 Additive Manufacturing Projects - Purdue Additive Research and Technology (PART) - Purdue University

Two Purdue undergraduate researchers from the Sealy research group presented their work at the 2026 Purdue Spring Undergraduate Research Conference, Purdue’s largest showcase of undergraduate research and creative scholarship. The conference, organized by the Office of Undergraduate Research, was held April 13–17, with the in-person poster symposium taking place April 14 in the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms.

Sophia Perevozchikova presented “One-Way Flow Systems for Nutrient Transport in Cultured Meat,” with Emmanuel Kweku Mensah and Prof. Michael Sealy. Her project explored the design and additive manufacturing of miniature fluid channels for transporting nutrients through cultured meat scaffolds. The work investigated how channel geometry, diameter, surface roughness, and 3D-printing resolution influence fluid flow, with the broader goal of developing one-directional flow systems capable of delivering nutrients while limiting waste transport.

Quinn Dumouchelle presented “Acoustic Levitation for Additive Manufacturing,” with Prof. Michael Sealy and Luz D. Sotelo. His research examined whether acoustic levitation could provide a new approach for supporting molten powder during laser powder bed fusion. By combining acoustic modeling with experimental validation, the project explored the possibility of manipulating particles without physical contact and ultimately reducing or eliminating conventional support structures in additive manufacturing. Work is supported by NSF Future Manufacturing Grant, titled "Understanding the Sustainability Framework for Convergent In-Space Manufacturing" (Award 2328383).

Together, the projects demonstrate the breadth of undergraduate research in Purdue Mechanical Engineering, spanning additive manufacturing, acoustics, fluid transport, and cellular agriculture, while giving students the opportunity to communicate emerging research to the broader Purdue community.