Our Mission
STEM bridge program aims to create synergies in STEM education by providing high-school students hands-on study experience with current university professors at local universities for a consecutive 6 to 7 weeks STEM related researching and study program.
"[Science] is more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world..."
* President Barack Obama, March 23, 2015
STEM Motivational Video
Take a look and enjoy!
What can CAST's STEM bridge do for you?
Organized by CAST-TX, the program is collectively led by 10 – 15 hosting professors, each professor will form a 4-5 students study group to research on a STEM related topic that has been or will be offered in the university classes.
Students will get great exposure to real research environment and being inspired for creative thinking.
6-7 weeks hands-on experience
Before the class starts, students will choose a research topic, and form a study group with other students in the program that share the similar interest.
Once the study group is formed, the group and together with the assigned professor will decide on the details of how the research will be conducted.
Students will be able to use the university classroom, research equipment, and labs under professors’ supervision.
Competition for Awards
STEM bridge Summer Camp program will host a final symposium for students to showcase their research result.
At the symposium, students will compete for CAST STAR (Science, Tech, Academic Researcher) Awards and the winner will receive STAR trophy.
Students who completed the program will also receive a certificate of completion issued by CAST-TX.
STEM Skills Development
By working with professors and researchers in the lab, students will develop a variety of skills that are essential for STEM students to succeed in collage, such as literature search, data collection, data analysis, design of experiments, technical writing, presentation, and problem-solving, etc.
Non-profit & for the future of our children
The hosting professors are all volunteering their time to sponsor CAST STEM bridge Summer Camp program. Each hosting professor will use their own resources and leverage their expertise to maximize the impact they can bring to the community. All CAST STEM bridge organizers and workers are all volunteers. We are here for the community and our children’s future.
Dr. Dong Qian
Director of STEM Bridge
Professor of Mechanical Engineering,
UT Dallas
UTD 001
Research interests:
Computational Mechanics, Multiscale Methods and Applications, Surface Engineering
Dr.Stefano Leonardi
STEM Bridge Program Host
Professor Of Mechanical Engineering, UT Dallas
UTD 002
Research interests:
Turbulence, Computational Fluid Mechanics, Wind Energy, Drag Reduction, Super Hydrophobic surfaces, Heat transfer
STEM Bridge Program Host
Director, Center for Imaging and Surgical Innovation, UT Dallas
UTD 003
Research interests:
Biomedical imaging and computing, Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, Quantitative imaging: image processing & analysis, segmentation, classification, and registration
Dr. Hongbing Lu
STEM Bridge Program Host
Louis A. Beecherl Jr. Professor of Mechanical Engineering, UT Dallas
UTD 004
Research interests:
Experimental mechanics, Nanomechanics, Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials, Mechanical Behavior of Nanomaterials, Dynamic behavior of materials, Fracture Mechanics
Dr. Weili Wu
STEM Bridge Program Host
Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, UT Dallas
UTD 005
Research interests:
Big Data Management and Analysis, Social Networks, Database Systems, Wireless Sensor Networks, Data Mining, Spatial Data Mining, Parallel and Distributed Systems, Algorithm Design and Analysis and Bioinformatics
Dr. Golden Kumar
STEM Bridge Program Host
Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering, UT Dallas
UTD 006
Research interests:
Nanomanufacturing, Metallic Glasses, Nanomechanics, Surface Engineering, Phase Transformations, and Photothermal Properties
Golden.Kumar@utdallas.edu
STEM Bridge Program Host
Professor of Computer Science, UT Dallas
UTD 007
Research interests:
Computer Graphics, Computer Vision, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, Geometric Modeling and Processing, Physics-Based Deformation, Medical Image Computation, 3D/4D Reconstruction
Dr. Xianming (Simon) Dai
STEM Bridge Program Host
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, UT Dallas
UTD 008
Research interests:
Superhydrophobic Surfaces, Wetting, Nanofabrication, and Thermal Management
Dr. Zhenpeng Qin
STEM Bridge Program Host
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, UT Dallas
UTD 009
Research interests:
Biotransport, Neuro Nanotechnology, Point-of-Care Diagnostics
Dr. Wei Li
STEM Bridge Program Host
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, UT Dallas
UTD 010
Research interests:
Additive manufacturing, 3D printing, Onsite repair and remanufacturing with AM process, Fabrication and characterization of customized alloy with multi-materials
Dr. Jie Zhang
STEM Bridge Program Host
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, UT Dallas
UTD 011
Research interests:
Multidisciplinary design optimization, complex engineered systems, power & energy systems, renewable energy, grid modernization, big data analytics, probabilistic design
Dr. Jin Ryong Kim
STEM Bridge Program Host
Assistant Professor Of Computer Science, UT Dallas
UTD 012
Research interests:
Human-Computer Interaction, Touch and Haptics Interactive System, Virtual and Augmented Reality
Jin.Kim@utdallas.edu
Dr. Yaqing Jin
STEM Bridge Program Host
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, UT Dallas
UTD 013
Research interests:
Fluid mechanics, Renewable energy, Fluid-structure interactions, Turbulent flow, Energy-efficient locomotiont
yaqing.jin@utdallas.edu
Dr. Matthew Gardner
STEM Bridge Program Host
Texas Instruments Early Career Fellow in Electrical and Computer Engineering, UT Dallas
UTD 014
Research interests:
Power Electronics and Energy Systems
Dr. Armin Zare
STEM Bridge Program Host
Assistant Professor Of Mechanical Engineering, UT Dallas
UTD 015
Research interests:
Modeling, dynamics, and control of large-scale and distributed systems, Optimization, Dynamics and control of complex fluid flows
Dr. Chung Hwan Kim
STEM Bridge Program Host
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, UT Dallas
UTD 016
Research interests:
Cyber-Physical Systems Security, Systems Security, Software Security and Reliability.
2022 STEM Bridge Summer Camp Program Details
Registration Process:
Each applicant will choose 5 preferred professors. Each hosting professor will decide which students to accept.
Depending on the research project to be announced by the hosting professor, additional cost may occur based on the estimated cost of the materials that might be used for the project in the lab or on the equipment.
Important Dates:
The program fee: $850, including the following:
The program fee is nonrefundable after Monday, June 13th
Program Agenda:
* Each study group’s schedule and study agenda are set by the group professor. The professor may conduct the class virtually, in the classroom, in the research lab, or visiting research related site.
Email: contact@cast-texas.org
WINNERS OF 2021 CAST-STAR AWARDS
Congratulations to the 2021 CAST STAR (Science Tech Academic Researcher) Award Winners!
First Prize Winners of CAST STAR Award:
First Prize Winners of CAST STAR Award:
Second Prize Winners of CAST STAR Award:
Group 004-2
Students name: Grace Zou, Andy Qin
Advisors: Dr. Hongbing Lu, Graduate Assistant: Huiluo Chen
Title: Analysis of the Compression Behavior of 3D-Printed Photopolymer Lattices
Title: Biomechanics of Breastfeeding
Third Prize Winners of CAST STAR Award:
Advisor: Faculty advisor: Dr. Dong Qian, Graduate Assistant: Zhiqi Mao, Yingjian Liu
Title: Mechanical Design of Modular Force Feedback Devices for Minmally Invasive Surgical Simulators
Group 009:
Students name: Daisy Ming Chang, Audrey He, Enying Fu, Zach Li, Sarah Tang
Advisor: Dr. Zhenpeng Qin, Graduate Assistant: Yaning Liu
Title: Plasmonic Nanoparticle Assisted Sensing For Multi-targets By Darkfield Imaging
A: The daily schedule is very flexible. It will be discussed and decided between the hosting professor and the family together to work around each other's summer schedule. It can be full day or half day arrangement. As long as the total time put into the project is more than 100 hours in total, it will satisfy the time requirements.
A: We aim to support a wide range of high school students, from K9 to K12, meaning that students will become K10-K12 in the coming Fall 2022. We will ask the hosting professors to tailor the project goals and tasks to fit the student maturity levels.
A: Parents are required to provide student transportation. The daily schedule can be discussed with hosting professor to work around parents' schedule. For example, students can work for a couple of days at school and then work at home for the rest of the time.
A: The project can be a basis for the student to prepare for Science Fair competition. The STEM bridge project can be continued after summer if the hosting professor agrees to support. Such arrangement needs to be discussed with the hosting professor. STEM bridge will provide related science fair information and schedule. For example, Fort Worth Regional Science and Engineering Fair has 17 categories to compete for middle school and high school students. Winners can advance to regional and national competition including prestigeous Intel international competition. More information about science fair is available at: www.fwrsef.org, dallassciencefair.org.
Donation from student parents
Chonghui Liu; Zhiyong Li; Li Zhang; Xinxin Sun; Dongjie Huang; Jin Zheng, Lynn Ma; Mei Tong; Yuan Zhang
"Great efforts of CAST for STEM education"
— Michael Weng, Vlife
ACP Foundation
Founded in 1993, ACP Foundation (formerly known as the Association of Chinese Professionals, Dallas / Fort Worth) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization registered in the state of Texas.