Applied engineering senior Stephanie Cruz Ponce is researching material selection for aircraft wing spars, helping a startup company compare aluminum and titanium for use in light sport aircraft.

Wichita State University's research emphasis includes opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff, and extends across campus from aerospace to ancient civilizations and business administration to biochemistry. 

Stephanie Cruz Ponce, senior in applied engineering and process automation  

Liberal, Kansas 

Applied Structural Optimization of an Aircraft Wing Spar for Light Sport Aircraft  

Dr. Adam Lynch, associate teaching professor in applied engineering 

Dr. Lynch, one of my professors, pushes for people to speak up and get comfortable talking with people. He is amazing to work with, and he wants everyone to be the best that they can. He will push and challenge your research and poster to ensure it is the best it can be. 

I helped a start-up company decide between two materials to create the backbone of a smaller plane. The best material to make the backbone is aluminum. 

The price difference between aluminum and titanium in making the part. 

I learned how to become a better public speaker, how to organize a poster to ensure that everyone can understand what I am saying and how to not give up. 

I will continue to improve and use this research in my career. I now understand how important material selection can be. I can take all that with me when I start my own business. 

I suggest that you do it, even if you are scared or nervous, because it is a good opportunity. 

Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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