Stevens Institute of Technology’s Design Spine bridges classroom learning in engineering programs with practical, real-world experiences — a key factor in nearly 97% of Stevens graduates achieving their desired outcomes within six months of graduation. This Design Spine is embodied in the Senior Design capstone project, which spans multiple semesters and enables students to experience personal and professional growth, supported by faculty mentorship that guides their work to fruition. 

Here is a preview of the 2025 Stevens Innovation Expo, to be held on Friday, May 9, featuring projects that address sustainability and renewable energy challenges. 

HydroGreen

According to Pew Research, 67% of Americans support prioritizing alternative energy sources, including wind and solar. For Stevens Chemical Engineering students Anthony Migliaro, Daisy Morgan, Julia Munger and Sarah Pasqualetto, sustainably producing green hydrogen offers another renewable option.

"Part of the reason that we all went into this field is we enjoy chemical engineering, but I think the real challenge of chemical engineering right now lies in what’s to come," said Munger.

Looking to help find solutions to tomorrow’s energy needs, the team is exploring the potential of converting waste into a valuable product — green hydrogen — and optimizing industrial processes to make them more sustainable. 

"We’re aiming to help reduce waste from biorefineries because everything is valuable, and we want to make the most out of it," said Migliaro.

Throughout the research phase, the team faced catalyst selection challenges, including an initial planned approach that ultimately showed major inconsistencies in published research. However, Alyssa Hensley, assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and the team’s advisor, noted that the evaluation process is crucial for finding solutions to real-world engineering challenges. Ultimately, the team developed an industrial-scale simulation allowing them to determine the technological and economical feasibility of converting waste into green hydrogen.

"The waste has a lot of carbon and hydrogen in it, so they’re designing a large-scale process to take the carbon and hydrogen and then essentially split it out," explained Hensley, noting that the process requires industrial-size equipment, often as large as a classroom. "So, something that was a waste that we had to put energy into cleaning up is now something of societal value."

Munger emphasized the importance of having the will to do something about the energy challenges of the future. "Whether it’s climate change or the oil and gas industry, fossil fuels, carbon emissions, it’s all intertwined and connected. Society needs to come together to figure out what to do next — we have the tools, we have resources, but we need to come together," she said.

Harvesting Rainwater Energy

Every physical action — from a coffee cup sliding across a desk to tires rolling on the road — creates friction and generates a nano-level charge. Stevens Mechanical Engineering students Melanie Blarr, Evan Cohen, Madison Kidd, Mike Lanfranco and Bryan Rodriguez are leveraging this principle to capture energy from falling rain. The goal: to convert rain’s kinetic energy into electricity.

Initially, they explored harnessing rainwater energy by integrating triboelectric nano generators –– a tiny device that transforms mechanical or thermal energy into electrical power –– into roof shingles. 

"But during the design process, which began last fall, we revised the concept," explained Kidd. "Instead of being placed on the roof, the nano generators are now incorporated into the gutter downspout system."

Advised by Greg Hader, Stevens Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. candidate, and E.H. Yang, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the team refined their design through an iterative process. "This project is a cool way to see how research starts, then changes as you see the difficulties and challenges from one design to the final design," said Hader.

With the revised design, as rainwater flows through the downspout, its kinetic energy and inherent charge are harnessed by layered metal and non-conductive materials, generating voltage spikes that are stored in capacitors, explained Hader. 

As Mechanical Engineering students, the team had limited electrical system experience, but throughout the project, they revisited their coursework and conducted additional research to develop an effective solution.

"Every phase brings an opportunity for improvement. We have an entire year to refine each subsystem, which mirrors real-world product development. This experience is applicable to any design career," said Blarr.

"Keeping our heads up despite obstacles and being pushed in various directions throughout this project has taught us to stay motivated, tackle challenges and never give up," said Rodriguez.

"Many assume that once a design is finished, it’s done. But circumstances change and adaptation is necessary. The students did an excellent job starting the project and addressing those challenges," said Hader.

Looking ahead, the team plans to apply for a patent and conduct further testing.

Trash to Gas

In the U.S., 30-40% of food is wasted, much of it destined for landfills, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For Stevens Environmental Engineering students Jake Osmun, Isabella Dona and Samuel Lesser, a pathway to addressing the dual global challenge of food management and energy begins working at the local level.

Their project focuses on transforming Stevens’ dining hall food waste into usable energy through anaerobic digestion. In this process, bacteria break down organic material in an oxygen-free environment to produce methane and a nutrient-rich substance called digestate. 

The team used a five-liter reactor equipped with a mixer and temperature control to simulate the digestion process. Early trials revealed that the seed bacteria — essential for starting the digestion — were sensitive to oxygen exposure and pH fluctuations. 

"First batch, we killed it," said Osmun. "The environment got too hostile for it, and then our next batch, we realized that we have to control certain parameters — in this case, our pH got way too low."

"When it comes to biological treatments and biological application, you need to babysit. You need to tend to the reactor," said Tsan-Liang Su, research associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering, who together with Juliana Abraham, senior research scientist, advised the team throughout the project. 

The trial and error posed challenges, but it also created learning opportunities. "Learning how to identify issues in the lab without immediately resorting to extensive tests has been invaluable," said Dona. "We can observe subtle changes, like a pH reading that is below the target, and then quickly determine the necessary corrective action, which has allowed us to plan effectively for upcoming meetings."

"Personally, I had to refine my communication skills, especially when coordinating with the dining hall whose collaboration was essential. I learned that everything must be communicated as clearly as possible to avoid setbacks and prevent assumptions," said Lesser.

Reflecting on the team’s achievements and commitment to teamwork, Su said: "Everyone took turns. I didn’t need to assign who would come tend the seed and reactor. They always reported back, and they organized themselves from the start."

While the project demonstrates how a small-scale system at Stevens could work to transform a discarded resource into a useful commodity, it can serve as a model for larger applications.

"The idea of scaling such a system to industrial-scale digesters holds promise for applications in restaurants, on ships, or in other facilities where food waste is abundant," said Osmun.