YEAR ONE: Jan 2015 - April 2016
The Mechanics at Extreme Temperatures Lab is off to a great start.  By the end of our first "year" we had 10 undergraduates and 1 PhD student, earning Prof. Berke recognition as MAE's Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year.  We won the first grant we ever applied for, resulting in an advanced multi-camera system from the U.S. Department of Energy.  Three students won EURP's (Jaren, Trevor, and Vox).

Back Row, Left to Right:  Wm. Jesse Miller, Ethan Nickerson, Matt Schumann, Robert Hansen, Matthew "Earl" Nelson.  Middle Row:  Trevor Bird, Vox Voie, Thinh Thai, Prof. Ryan Berke.  Front: Emma German.

Not Pictured: Jaren Devey, Awilma Ventura.
YEAR TWO: May 2016 - April 2017
The lab keeps growing.  Ethan and Robert both graduated and stayed in the lab for grad school, with Matt close behind. Dr. Berke's Experimental Solid Mechanics class became MAE 5040 and will be offered every Fall. Two more students won EURP's (Bobby and Jackson), and Trevor was recognized as the MAE Undergraduate Researcher of the Year.

Left to Right: Ren "Vox" Voie, Robert Hansen, Thinh Thai, Robert "Bobby" Rowley, Jackson Matsen, Ben Sottilare, Matt Nelson, Weston Craig, Emma German, Trevor Bird, Katie Burn, Prof. Ryan Berke, Ethan Nickerson, Celina Fisher Dodge.

Not Pictured: Shelby Ames, Braden Beckstrom, Jonas Rogers, Colin Schlicher, Awilma Ventura.
YEAR THREE: May 2017 - April 2018
Dr. Berke and Matt worked in AFRL's Turbine Engine Fatigue Facility under a Summer Faculty Fellowship. Robert won an NEUP graduate fellowship. Emma, Daniel, Katie, and Samantha won EURP's. Thinh, Robert, and Ethan all defended their MS theses, with Thinh and Robert staying with the lab for their PhDs. Ethan was recognized as MAE's MS Student Researcher of the Year.

Left to Right: Alisa Dabb, Emma German, Katie Burn, Prof. Berke, Cedale Armstrong, Matt Nelson, Weston Craig, Chris Stolinski, Connor Bell, Jesse Long, Ethan Nickerson, Robert Hansen, Bobby Rowley, Daniel Waldram, Thinh Thai.

Not Pictured: Samantha Burton, J. Jackson Matsen, Adam Smith, Fiona Van Leeuwen.
YEAR FOUR: May 2018 - April 2019
The lab split into three working groups based on our core strengths:
Extreme Temperatures
Left to Right: Chris Stolinski, Bobby Rowley, Weston Craig, Thinh Thai, Adam Smith, Prof. Berke
Not Pictured: Ashley Nielson
Vibration and High Cycle Fatigue
Left to Right: Brandon Furman, Matt Calvin, Ben Hill, Emma German, Prof. Berke
Not Pictured: Samantha Burton
High Magnification Optics
Left to Right: Katie Burn, Robert Hansen, Cedale Armstrong, Daniel Waldram, Prof. Berke
Not Pictured: Fiona Van Leeuwen
We also received a new NSF grant to study Career Paths and Professional Trajectories of LGBTQ+ Students in Engineering.
Not Pictured: Kenna Craig and Harley Cragun
Other Highlights:  Adam won an NEUP graduate fellowship, five more students won EURPs (Matt, Weston, Ben, Fiona, and Ashley), Thinh and Chris each won department-level awards for graduate research; Katie also won a college-level award for undergraduate research; and Dr. Berke was recognized as the university-wide Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year!
YEAR FIVE: May 2019 - April 2020
Most of us ended the year working from home due to coronavirus but it's better to be safe and healthy,  Dr. Berke won a prestigious Young Investigator Award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The lab presented over 30 posters, presentations, and panel discussions at various venues and conferences. Our lab won 3 of the 4 MAE departmental graduate student awards, earning Dr. Berke recognition as Graduate Research Mentor of the Year. Thinh defended his PhD dissertation. Weston won an NRC graduate fellowship.
(Top Row, Left to Right): Shelby Ames, Emma Ashby, Brooklyn Beck, Ashley Buxton, Elizabeth Chamberlain, Harley Cragun, Weston Craig. (Middle Row): Brandon Furman, Emma German, Robert Hansen, Ben Hill, Steven Jarrett, Maggie Lea, Blair Martin. (Bottom Row) Jacob and Cynthia (and Spencer!) Rigby, Bobby Rowley, Adam Smith, Thinh Thai, Fiona Van Leeuwen, Dr. Berke.

Not Pictured:  Savannah Augustine, Kacy Craig, Nate Rowley
YEAR SIX: May 2020 - April 2021
The lab makes the most of social distancing -- cancelled internships in summer 2020 means more time for research! We presented at least 34 posters and presentations at virtual conferences, and submitted at least 8 journal manuscripts (most of which are still in review as of May 2021). Emma finished her BS but hung around for a year as an AFRL remote intern until she could start a PhD in the UK. Adam defended his MS thesis. Thinh started a faculty position in Vietnam.
(Top Row, Left to Right): Dr. Berke, Brooklyn Beck, Weston Craig, Micah Estrada, Tanner Flitton; (Middle Row): Brandon Furman, Robert Hansen, Ben Hill, Steven Jarrett, Maggie Lea; (Bottom Row) Hannah Maxwell, Jacob Rigby, Lindsey Rowley, Emily Santana, Fiona Van Leeuwen.

Not Pictured:  Elizabeth Chamberlain, Harley Cragun, Emma German, Alexandra Loftin, Adam Smith.
YEAR SEVEN: May 2021 - April 2022
Big year for the lab!  We published 8 papers in calendar year 2021 and maintained a strong showing at virtual conferences. Robert defended his PhD dissertation and started a postdoc position at INL. Steven, Ben, Lindsey, and Weston each defended their MS. We picked up 2 more PhD students: Prasenjit and Raushan. Dr. Berke was awarded tenure and promotion to Associate Professor.
 Picture
(Top Row, Left to Right): Dr. Berke, Carson Ashby, Brooklyn Beck, Weston Craig, Prasenjit Dewanjee, Micah Estrada. (Middle Row): Brandon Furman, Steven Koski, Maggie Lea, Hannah Maxwell, Heidi Moulton, Rachel Norris. (Bottom Row): Jacob Rigby, Lindsey Rowley, Emily Santana, Raushan Singh.

Not pictured: Robert Hansen, Tanner Flitton, Ben Hill, Jocelyn Huntress, Steven Jarrett, Ian Jones, Alexandra Loftin, Fiona Van Leeuwen
YEAR EIGHT: May 2022 - April 2023
This is a bit of a transition year for us after Dr. Berke was awarded tenure. Dr. Berke took on some additional roles to promote undergraduate research in STEM. Paper writing slowed down a bit after the many grad student graduations from last year, but is ramping back up. We've picked up another 2 PhD students and counting: Senorita and Jeff.
(Left to Right): Amy Stamps, Micah Estrada, Prasenjit Dewanjee, Senorita Sarker, Luke Berrigan, Raushan Singh, Dr. Berke, Emily Johnson, Jaden Mecham, Maggie Lea, Brandon Furman, Heidi Moulton, Miles Butterfield, Rachel Norris, Spencer Adams, Jacob Heninger, Braydon Monson.
Not pictured: Brooklyn Beck, Kayla Bucio, Steven Koski, Hannah Maxwell