In 1952, ASM established the ASM Materials Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3), non-profit supporting organization, to encourage education and scholarships. The Undergraduate Design Competition is based on the submission of design-focused project reports that describe work that was performed as part of the capstone course or as team project by undergraduate engineering students at any level.
2022 Undergraduate Design Competition Winners
First Prize
Michigan Technological University
"Material Characterization, Modeling, and Optimization of Al-Ce-Mg Alloys for Extrusion"
Team Members: Nick Hopp, Jacob Klotz, Jacob Longstreth, Isabella Wakeham
Faculty Advisor: Paul Sanders
Second Prize
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
"Restoration of Musical Organs: Analysis of Rubber Cloth and Other Historical Materials"
Third Prize
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"Printable GigaCasting Die Steel"
2021 Undergraduate Design Competition Winners
First Prize
Michigan Technological University
“Design of an Antimicrobial Beta Brass Alloy for Improved High Temperature Deformation
Processing”
Team Members: Lauren Bowling, Anna Isaacson, Maria Rochow, Sidney Feige
Faculty Advisor: Paul Sanders
Second Prize
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
“Biodegradable Polysaccharide Blends to Replace Synthetic Toothbrush Bristles”
Third Prize
University of Florida
“Breast Tissue Expander Port Material Redesign”
2020 Undergraduate Design Competition Winners
First Prize
Michigan Technological University
“Increasing the Young’s Modulus of Cast Aluminum for Automotive/Aerospace Applications”
Team Members: Wyatt Gratz, Joel Komurka, Ryan Lester, Zeke Marchel
Faculty Advisor: Paul Sanders
Second Prize
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
“Electrodeposition of Metallic Films on 3D Printed Polymer Foams”
Third Prize
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
“Increasing Conductivity of Polymers for Fiber-Based Neural Probe Applications”
2019 Undergraduate Design Competition Winners
First Prize
Michigan Technological University
“Cobalt Reduction in Tribaloy T-400”
Team Members: Lucas Itchue, Kyle Hrubecky, Jacob Thompson, Erin VanDusen
Faculty Co-advisors: Walt Milligan and Paul Sanders
Michigan Tech Students Earn First place in ASM International Undergraduate Design Competition
Second Prize
University of Nevada-Reno
“Designing Microscale Tests to Validate Macroscale Plastic Response in Cubic (Al)
and Hexagonal (Mg) Lightweight Metals”
Third Prize
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
“Corrosion Studies of Open-Cell Aluminum 6101 Foams in Simulated Marine Environments”
2018 Undergraduate Design Competition Winners
First Prize
Michigan Technological University
“Design of an Al-Ce-X Alloy for Lightweight, High Temperature Automotive Applications”
Team Members: Aaron Cook, Joshua Dorn, Mark Ilenich, Philip Staublin
Second Prize
University of Florida
“AlFeSi-based Intermetallic Compounds for High Temperature Applications”
Third Prize
Northwestern University
“The Effect of Silicon Modification and Grain Refinement on Feeding Design of a High
zT Thermoelectric Material”
2017 Undergraduate Design Competition Winners
First Prize
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
“Mechanically Robust and Superhydrophobic Aerogels of Poly(ether ether ketone)”
Team Members: Georgia Hurchalla, Evan Olson, Hao Qin, John CI Smith
Second Prize
Northwestern University
“TRIP Ti Alloys for Additive Manufacturing”
Third Prize
Michigan Technological University
“The Effect of Silicon Modification and Grain Refinement on Feeding Aluminum Castings”
2016 Undergraduate Design Competition Winners
First Prize
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
“Design and Selection of Salts and Containment Materials for Concentrated Solar Power
Generation”
Second Prize
Northwestern University
“PH Austenitic TRIP Stainless Steel for Additive Manufacturing”
Third Prize
Missouri University of Science & Technology
“Reduction of the Adhesion of Fayalite Bearing Scale (Silicon Streak Scale) in CSP
Steel Mill Production”
2015 Undergraduate Design Competition Winners
First Prize
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
“Design of Diffusion Coatings: Effect of Process Control on Microstructural Evolution”
Second Prize
Carnegie Mellon University
“Recycling of Specialty Metal Plant By-Products”
Third Prize
Michigan Technological University
“E357 Alloy Design To Increase Elongation and Maintain Strength”
Team Members: Jordan Pontoni, Shane Anderson, Austin DePottey, Calvin Nitz
2014 Undergraduate Design Competition Winners
First Prize
University of Maryland
"Novel PBA-Grafted Carbon Nanotube Soft Body Armor"
Second Prize
Michigan Technological University
"A Redesign of the Tap Bit for ArcelorMittal's No. 7 Blast Furnace"
Team Members: Alisha Clark, Matt Dazell, Dan Freiberg, Max Rebotarro
Third Prize
Northwestern University
"Design of a Fatigue-Resistant Shape Memory Alloy for Artificial Heart Valve Frames"
2013 Undergraduate Design Competition Winners
First Prize
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
"Controlled Deformation of a Slender Structure"
Second Prize
Michigan Technological University
"Design of an Eta-Phase Strengthened Nickel-Based Alloy"
Team Members: Matt Wong, Ben Wittbrodt, Peter Enz, Bryan Turner
2012 Undergraduate Design Competition Winners
First Prize
Northwestern University
"TRIP-150 Blast Protection Alloy"
Second Prize
Michigan Technological University
"Reduction of Residual Stresses in Cast Brake Rotors"
Team Members: Trevor Gibson, Carol Deming, Lance Taylor, and Nick Weinberg
2009 Undergraduate Design Competition Winners
First Prize
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
"Design of a Natural Adhesive: Retracing the Path of the Early Chumash"
Second Prize
Northwestern University "Ti51111: TRIP Titanium"
Third Prize
Georgia Institute of Technology
"Inorganic Templating of Pollen for Catalytic Material Applications"
2008 Undergraduate Design Competition Winners
First Prize
Northwestern University
"Super Bubble: Science-Based Design of High Performance Bubblegum"
Second Prize
Boise State University
"Increasing Throughput of an Anodic Alumina Film Process"
Third Prize
Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
"Alterations of Mixing Atmosphere and Amine Accelerator Concentration in PMMA Bone
Cement for Reduced Set Time"