Hempcrete Materials Research - (Piovesan)

Gannon University • Erie, PA

1d

About The Position

As a student research assistant on a Pennsylvania Manufacturing Innovation-funded project, you will help develop and characterize hempcrete and hemp-based construction materials for demanding thermal and environmental conditions. The research examines how hemp characteristics, material formulation, moisture absorption, and exposure to elevated temperatures affect performance. You will prepare experimental specimens, characterize hemp feedstocks, conduct controlled thermal and moisture testing, analyze data, and help identify material combinations that improve heat resistance while maintaining desirable water-absorption and insulation characteristics. The interdisciplinary project spans materials science, sustainable construction, thermal sciences, manufacturing, and experimental engineering. Students may contribute to technical reports, conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and potentially patentable innovations.

The position provides hands-on experience with sustainable building materials and laboratory techniques for thermal, moisture, and materials characterization. Students will develop experimental-design, data-analysis, technical-writing, and presentation skills while working with an interdisciplinary research team. Research findings may be presented at Celebrate Gannon or another appropriate undergraduate research venue.

Requirements

• Interest in sustainable materials, engineering, manufacturing, construction materials, or experimental research.
• Willingness to perform hands-on laboratory work.
• Ability to follow written experimental and safety procedures.
• Ability to accurately document experimental activities and results.
• Willingness to work independently and as part of a research team.

Nice To Haves

• Coursework or experience in heat transfer, thermodynamics, materials science, chemistry, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, manufacturing, or related fields.
• Familiarity with laboratory testing or experimental methods.
• Experience with Microsoft Excel, MATLAB, Python, or similar data-analysis tools.
• Familiarity with CAD, fabrication, or experimental fixture design.
• Experience using temperature sensors, data-acquisition equipment, laboratory ovens, or materials-testing equipment.
• Strong organizational and technical documentation skills.
• Prior experience with hempcrete is not required.

Responsibilities

• Characterize hemp hurd and other hemp-based raw materials, including particle size and distribution, bulk density, moisture content, morphology, and water absorption.
• Investigate how hemp source, particle dimensions, processing, and preparation affect material performance.
• Prepare, condition, screen, and document hemp samples using controlled preprocessing methods.
• Prepare hempcrete specimens using controlled combinations of hemp, binder, additives, and water; investigate formulation and processing parameters.
• Fabricate specimens using standardized molds and repeatable laboratory procedures, and measure and record their physical properties and preparation conditions.
• Assist with controlled exposure of specimens to elevated temperatures and assess temperature- and duration-related effects on material properties and structure.
• Record specimen temperatures using thermocouples, infrared measurement systems, or other appropriate instrumentation.
• Evaluate and document dimensional changes, mass loss, cracking, discoloration, degradation, and other effects following thermal exposure.
• Measure water uptake and moisture absorption; conduct controlled immersion, humidity-conditioning, drying, and gravimetric experiments.
• Develop moisture-absorption curves and compare absorption and drying behavior across formulations.
• Assist in measuring thermal conductivity, temperature gradients, heating and cooling response, density, dimensional stability, and basic mechanical integrity where appropriate.
• Assist in developing experimental procedures and test fixtures.
• Organize experimental datasets using spreadsheets or engineering-analysis software; calculate properties and summarize results with tables, plots, and statistical comparisons.
• Assist in designing experiments, identifying trends, and comparing findings with published research and technical literature.
• Follow laboratory safety procedures, use appropriate personal protective equipment, maintain organized work areas, and properly label, store, and document materials and specimens.
• Work under faculty supervision when conducting elevated-temperature experiments.
• Maintain laboratory notebooks and electronic records; photograph and document specimens before and after testing.
• Prepare graphs, tables, photographs, and technical summaries; participate in project meetings and contribute to reports, presentations, manuscripts, and other project deliverables.
• Present research findings internally and, when appropriate, at external research events.

Benefits

• Applied research experience in sustainable construction materials and advanced manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with hempcrete and bio-based composite materials.
• Training in laboratory techniques for thermal, moisture, and materials characterization.
• Experience in experimental design and engineering data analysis.
• Skills applicable to careers in materials engineering, manufacturing, construction, sustainability, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and product development.
• Participation in interdisciplinary research involving engineering and science.
• Potential contribution to publications, presentations, technical reports, and intellectual-property development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed