Senior Design Program

Senior Design is a two-semester series of courses during which students work on teams with businesses, manufacturers and other organizations to complete a project given by the sponsor. In 2021, MEM had 12 teams with 10 sponsors, like Frito Lay, Dymax, Belimo, Prysmian, Lyman Orchard, NUWC/Navy, Holo-Krome and Sikorsky. The projects completed by students included designing and building workstations, developing new facility plans, streamlining manufacturing processes to increase production, fall protection, a spring test stand, automated sanitation processes, and more.

Sponsors present a challenge or idea and work with a student team to create the solution. Sponsors gain access to UConn faculty, trained student engineers, as well as first-hand experience working with students who may become future employees. At the same time, students learn to work collaboratively in a real-world setting while producing periodic reports on their ideas, strategy, techniques and progress. Students begin by researching the problem, brainstorming a range of solutions and traveling to the sponsor’s site to learn more about the sponsor and project.

Download Sponsor Pamphlet

Inside view of Gampel Pavilion, where visitors walk around to students' projects during Demo Day.

Senior Design Demo Day 2024.

Students present their project to a judge in Gampel Pavilion.

MEM students present their project during Demo Day 2024.

Benefits of Sponsorship

  • Access to UConn Engineering and Business faculty and students, as well as state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment.
  • Tackle a challenge, make an idea a reality, or develop or improve a project or process without utilizing your staff's time and energy.
  • A small team of talented UConn engineers with business initiative, partner with your company, supervised by you and our faculty.
  • Fresh approach and ideas for engineering, manufacturing and business problems.
  • Strategic recruiting that creates a talent pipeline for your company.
  • Knowledge that your company contributed to the education of future engineers and business leaders.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Submit a Project Proposal

Past Projects

A selection of past projects is listed below.

  • Robotic Process Automation
  • Output Improvement of Screw Assembly Process
  • Sustainable Sanitation Initiative for Workforce Efficiency
  • Improving Furnace Maintenance Procedures and Eliminating Risk of Fall-Related Injury
  • Cost Savings through Eco-Friendly Heat Transfer
  • Spring Fatigue Test Stand
  • Enhancing Manufacturing Processes to Increase Productivity
  • Lyman Orchards Future Facility Design
  • Expulsion of Small Diameter Devices from Torpedo Tube Cartridges
  • Analyzing Digital Outputs of Ultra-Low Freezer
  • Reduction in Ergonomic Risk Factors
  • Design and Validation of Wearable Hydration Sensor
  • Non-Contact Testbed for Railroad Application
  • Understanding the Capabilities of IoT in Manufacturing
  • Automated Instant Measurement System
  • Competitor Analysis of UV Light Curing Machines
  • Robot Feeding System Implementation
  • Optimized Post Processing Treatment of Additively Manufactured AISi10Mg
  • Courier Software Efficient Use
  • Clamp Fixture Improvement for 5-Axis Machining
  • Design of Rack-Based Li-Ion Battery Module for Grid Storage Application
  • Integrated Workbench Implementation in Sub-Assembly
  • Manufacturing Blank Production Improvement Project
  • Bio-Inspired Navigation Device for the Visually Impaired
  • Fire Suppression Tank Autonomous Weight Detection Sensor System
  • Cell Redesign for Bolt Rework Process
  • Spreader Capacity Analysis
  • Improved Ultrasonic Wire Splicer
  • Value Stream Mapping
  • Army Ant Emulation
  • Electric Formula Car: Manufacturing and Documentation of Car and Suspension Uprights
  • VNA Material Movement Analysis
  • Smart Automatic Candle Extinguisher
  • Cost-Risk Analysis for Nano-coating Process of Electrolyzers
  • IoT for Predictive Maintenance
  • Electrically Actuated Valve
  • Advanced Composite Manufacturing Process
  • Assembly Process Improvement with Cobot
  • Autonomous Robot Docking Station
  • Distributed Hydroponic Farming
  • Single Use Personal Sanitary Barrier
  • Process Improvement for Research Lab’s Data Management for Thermal Barrier Coating
  • Creating Manufacturing Agility
  • Industrial IoT
  • Universal Solution to Glove Waste

Past Sponsors

Pratt and Whitney logo.
Airbornway logo
Air Force Research Laboratory logo.
Belimo logo.
Sikorsky logo
Cadenza Innovation logo
United Technologies Logo
Holo-Krome logo.
Lockheed Martin logo.
Trumpf logo
Frito Lay logo
Sonics Materials, Inc. Logo
Safran logo
Atlas Stamping Logo
Land Maverick logo
LEVO logo
Tyco logo
Aero Cision logo
Keney Park Sustainability logo
Jonal Laboratories logo
UConn School of Nursing logo
CT Next logo
Gerber Technology logo
Jacobs Vehicle Systems logo
Prysmian Group logo
CXT Software logo
Cooper Surgical logo
Click Kitchen logo
Dymax logo