Mechanical engineering student takes first place, biochemistry student recognized for outstanding work
Two University of Tulsa juniors, Parker Green (mechanical engineering) and Joshua Le (biochemistry), presented their cutting-edge research at the Oklahoma State Capitol on Tuesday, April 15. Green took first place in the research-intensive category in the 2025 Research Day competition, and Le was awarded a certificate of recognition from the state Senate.
Chosen from a highly competitive field, Green and Le are among just 10 nominees statewide who advanced through a rigorous video presentation process.
Healing the cracks
Over many flights, metal parts in aircraft experience fatigue, which can lead to cracks and eventually catastrophic failure, if left untreated. Green’s work proposes a repair solution for airframes via a new surface treatment process that heals cracks in metals with minimal disassembly of the plane. Preliminary testing with zinc yielded promising results, which spurred Green’s excitement to investigate further. This method was previously successful on titanium and could have significant applications in the aerospace industry, enabling the repair and reuse of parts in a continuous cycle toward infinitely repairable airframes.
At the Oklahoma State Capitol, Green was eager to share her work with new audiences. “I’m sharing groundbreaking research being conducted at The University of Tulsa and presenting state-of-the-art research along with peers from across the state,” said Green. “I’m also excited to learn about other projects being presented.”
Green’s adviser, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Will LePage, praised her passion and skills. “Parker’s project is pioneering with potentially huge applications in aerospace maintenance and repair operations. She is the perfect candidate for this opportunity,” he said.
Improving synthesis
Le’s research builds upon electro-organic synthesis, a more sustainable process for making molecules to be used in polymers, pharmaceutical ingredients, and much more. Because tools for this process lack in performance and accessibility, Le’s work aims to improve current practices by using 3D-printed electrodes. Fascinated by the versatility of 3D-printed electrodes, Le explained that they can be any shape and size to fine-tune performance. “Additionally, we can share the 3D models for the electrodes online for free. This is a huge benefit for other scientists to replicate our work,” he said.
Through this project, Le gained insight into sustainability in scientific practices, adding, “I can see now how sustainability can also be applied to chemical methods by making them less resource-intensive, more waste-reducing, and more accessible to the wider scientific community.”
His participation in the competition reflects the strong research and presentation skills he’s developed under the guidance of his advisers and peers, inspiring him to pursue a research-based career in the future.
“Joshua presented his research to the entire department for our Chemistry Summer Undergraduate Research Program last year, impressing multiple faculty members,” said Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Gabriel LeBlanc. “His ability to discuss his project and results is extremely impressive. He is a dedicated student who has gathered additional data through extra work, and we plan to publish his findings within the year.”
Innovation and impact
Green’s and Le’s selections to present their research in Oklahoma City underscores the innovative work underway at UTulsa. Sharing their findings with state leaders places both students among an elite group of next-generation problem-solvers, poising them to make a lasting impact on their respective fields in the future.
Research Day at the Capitol was established 30 years ago to showcase outstanding undergraduate research being conducted at Oklahoma’s colleges and universities in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Students are nominated by their institutions to participate in the prestigious event, which is sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Oklahoma Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, and the National Science Foundation.