PULLMAN, Wash.–Associate Professor of mechanical and materials engineering David F. Bahr has been appointed interim director of undergraduate research at Washington State University Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE).
He is charged with leading the effort to focus on scholarly activities–especially independent and supervised research and creative endeavors–in baccalaureate students’ fields, or crossing disciplines for students to broaden their undergraduate experiences. Bahr’s appointment is one-third time.
“We are thrilled that Dave is on board to lead the effort to build the foundation for undergraduate research activities at WSU,” said Mary F. Wack, interim director of the OUE. “He is an outstanding researcher himself, with significant experience in mentoring undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activities, and a publication track record in this area.”
Much of the concept for the position evolved from recommendations to work toward a center by the interdisciplinary Committee on Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity, chaired by Tom Dickinson, Regents Professor of physics.
“Universities aren’t just where students are taught and ’research’ isn’t just something done in a lab coat,” said Bahr. “It is when we are creating and discovering. It is the faculty and students creating new knowledge. It happens in classrooms, labs, field studies, libraries and beyond.”
The plan is to foster an environment at WSU where every student who wants hands-on experience can get the opportunity, he said. Data indicates that today less than 25 percent of WSU undergraduates participate in some type of research.
“This year, our goal is to establish the foundation of a strong, university-wide system that promotes undergraduate research.” Bahr will work to coordinate, organize and strengthen undergraduate research opportunities and call together a committee of representatives from across WSU.
By spring, he wants to have in place a computerized “matchmaking” tool that connects undergraduates with professors and graduate students who could be mentors, collaborators and co-authors.
Fundraising and relationship-building efforts to more broadly support undergraduate research activities will be planned, as well as events to highlight students’ research efforts.
“We feel it’s important to provide our students with these chances and for them to be involved as more than just observers. It’s part of our WSU goal of providing the best undergraduate experience at a research university.”
Bahr’s own research interests include the mechanical properties of thin films, micromechanics of fracture, adhesion, corrosion and environmentally-assisted cracking. He is part of the engineering team that created the P3 Micro Power Generator, dubbed the “world’s smallest engine” that converts heat to electricity. He has been at WSU since 1997, and for many years been very involved in WSU’s successful Research Experience for Undergraduates program, with funding by the National Science Foundation.
The WSU Office of Undergraduate Education is a multi-faceted organization with a mission to realize the WSU strategic goal to “provide the best undergraduate experience in a research university.” The OUE collaborates with WSU’s nine degree-granting colleges to offer outstanding undergraduate programs in 245 majors across campus, as well as to promote a wide variety of academic opportunities for all undergraduates. Undergraduate Research joins the core units of the OUE, including the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology; the Honors College; Writing Programs; the Office of General Education; and Learning Communities.
