Missouri S&T’s Team Innovation Projects (TIP) program has launched several new industry‑sponsored projects this semester, expanding its hands‑on, interdisciplinary project offerings in nuclear energy, artificial intelligence and agricultural technology. TIP connects S&T students with corporate challenges, providing rigorous, credit‑bearing experiences supported by industry funding. Each project includes four to six students who earn three credit hours per semester, with program funds supporting travel, conferences and additional experiential learning opportunities.

The new projects launched this semester include:

A project with Aiceberg focuses on advancing artificial intelligence applications. Dr. Peggy Lindner, associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering, serves as the advisor.

Students on the team are:

• Sunshine Le, a junior in engineering management
• Jeffrey Place, a senior in computer science
• Tyler Sanford, a senior in computer science
• Breanne Willson, a senior in engineering management.

The AI Data Center project explores data‑center‑scale artificial intelligence engineering under the direction of Dr. Jian Liu, assistant research professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Students on the team are:

• Michael McNary, a Ph.D. student in systems engineering
• Nicishatse Oliver, a senior in economics and engineering management
• Thomas White, a Ph.D. student in computer science
• Ethan McMillan, a senior in engineering management.

A project with FarmVates centers on designing and constructing prototype drones for demonstration and fundraising efforts. Dr. Steve Watkins, professor of electrical and computer engineering, advises the team. All students on this project are members of the Multirotor Robot Student Design Team.

Students on the project are:

• Alen Avdic, a senior in computer engineering
• Thomas Strohmeier, a senior in aerospace engineering
• Zachary Warhoover, a senior in mechanical engineering
• Cameron Larimore, a senior in electrical engineering
• Benedict Lemongelli, a junior in mechanical engineering
• Harper Reinhardt, a senior in computer engineering.

A project with Apex Systems focuses on artificial intelligence‑enabled modernization of common business‑oriented language (COBOL) mainframe systems. This is TIP’s first international collaboration and includes partners from Insper, a university in São Paulo, Brazil. Dr. Gabriel Nicolosi, assistant professor of engineering management and systems engineering, advises the team.

Students on the project are:

• Jing Xuan Sean Chew, a junior in electrical engineering
• Takudzwa Chigwanda, a master’s student in engineering management
• Dylan Fritz, a senior in computer science.

The project with Deep Fission engages students in engineering calculations that support long‑term nuclear fuel disposition planning. Dr. Tayfun Akyurek, assistant professor of nuclear engineering and radiation science, serves as the advisor.

Students on the team are:

• Vincent Cadiz, a senior in mechanical engineering
• Garrett Gretzschel, a senior in nuclear engineering
• Emmett Steinman, a senior in mechanical engineering
• Abby Vonderheide, a senior in nuclear engineering.

Learn more about the TIP program.