Apprenticeship

---

Overview

The Institute for Educational Advancement's Apprenticeship Program is a residential summer program that provides gifted high school students with an invaluable and intensive learning opportunity working with teams of professionals in medicine, industrial design, science, law and business at some of the nation's leading universities, corporations, and research facilities. Participants of the Apprenticeship Program apply their talents in real-world environments where they are encouraged to employ creative problem-solving techniques and strive to realize the full intellectual and personal potential of their intelligence.

As an Apprentice, you will:

Apprentices reside in a college dormitory for the duration of the program. (In 2012, Apprentices resided in a residence hall on the University of Southern California campus.*) This experience gives participants the opportunity to sample college life. The gathering of Apprentices from several different programs in one residential area creates a unique community of highly motivated students where the exchange of ideas is encouraged.

In the evenings and on weekends, Apprentices attend cultural events, participate in recreational activities, and explore the city.

Apprentices are supervised by adults throughout the program. All participants work with mentors and their colleagues during the day and are supervised by IEA staff at all other times.

2013 Program Dates

Los Angeles

Session I: June 16 - July 13

Session I Industrial Design: June 23 - July 13

Session II: July 21 - August 10

Application

Click here to download the 2013 Apprenticeship Program application.

Click here to download the 2013 Apprenticeship Program recommendation form.

Take a look at the 2013 Apprenticeship Program brochure.

There are still spaces available for Session II! Applications will continue to be accepted until all spots are filled. Apply today!

Application Deadline (Postmarked by)

Priority Submission: March 11, 2013 (Receive $100 off tuition!)

Final Deadline: April 8, 2013*

Application fee: $50 (to be credited toward the cost of enrollment)

*There are still spaces available for Session II! Applications will continue to be accepted until all spots are filled. Apply today!

2013 Session I Sites & Mentors

Industrial Design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena (June 23-July 13) (Added 11/15/12)

The industrial design profession encompasses the fields of product, transportation, entertainment, concept and environmental design. Automobiles, sporting goods, electronics, toys and games, clothing, housewares, medical products, entertainment, technology and furniture are just some of the products that industrial designers create. During this three week program, Apprentices will participate in design projects and learn design methodologies including research, concept development, refinement and final design and presentation. Students are introduced to basic sketching and modeling techniques and attend presentations by professional designers. Prerequisites: basic skills in sketching or alternative art form, an interest in pursuing art, and demonstrated patience, time-management, and self-motivation.

Interactive Learning About the Universe With the WorldWide Telescope at the California Institute of Technology* (Added 11/15/12)

This is an astronomy popularization project for one Apprentice, in the group led by Prof. S. G. Djorgovski at Caltech.

The WorldWide Telescope (WWT, http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/) is a sky browser developed by the Microsoft Research. It allows a user to explore the sky at a variety of scales and wavelengths and to learn about interesting celestial objects. One nice feature of the WWT is that anyone can create "tours"—multi-media presentations that use it as a platform to showcase or explain particular kinds of astronomical objects, phenomena, etc., for example, galaxies, supernova remnants, and so on. These tours can then be used as a great educational and public outreach devices.

The goal of this project is to create a number of such tours that can be shared publicly. The presentation level should be about what a high school student would understand—think of it as explaining some astronomical bit to your friends—and it should be both fun to make and fun to watch.

Prerequisites: A passion for astronomy is required, as well as some basic knowledge thereof (e.g., at a popular book level). Programming experience is a plus. Applicants must be 16 years of age or older at the start of the program to be placed at this site.

Media Relations and Social Media at the USC Marshall School of Business* (Added 11/15/12)

Under the guidance of Associate Dean Evie Lazzarino, one Apprentice will gain an introductory view into the world of communications at the USC Marshall School of Business by assisting with research, writing news releases and other communications materials, and performing social media tasks, including monitoring Facebook and Twitter. In addition, the student will perform competitive market research and develop and manage informational databases for future study. Duties also include administrative support as needed. Previous knowledge of (or the ability to learn) Google Docs is required and familiarity with Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint programs) is preferred. Previous experience with Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark Xpress, and InDesign would be helpful, but is not mandatory.

Shock Wave Focusing at the University of Southern California* (Added 11/15/12)

During this four week program, one Apprentice will work with Dr. Eliasson and her group to study shock focusing in water with applications to marine structures. In a laboratory experiment, a projectile from a gas gun impacts onto a sample that contains a water-filled cavity. A shock wave is generated in the water and will transmit to the surrounding solid structure. The goal of this research is to understand how shock wave propagation in water-filled cavities influence the dynamic response of a surrounding structure.

The experiments involve high-speed photography and post-processing of material samples. The Apprentice will assist in the shock experiments and will also work on post-processing high-speed photographs as well as the impacted structure. The Apprentice should be interested in hands on laboratory work. Experience using Adobe Photoshop is a plus, but not necessary.

Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Southern California* (Added 12/14/12)

During the four week program, one Apprentice will have the opportunity to work with USC’s Center for Health Professions and School of Pharmacy. Under the guidance of Associate Professor Mel Baron, Pharm.D., MPA., one student will complete research on health literacy in the community as well as clinical pharmacy. The Apprentice should have the ability to multi-task on several projects as well as a drive to work independently. The goal of this project will be for students to gain an understanding on how to improve health education for patients of all socioeconomic backgrounds. The Apprentice will also complete pharmaceutical consultation with Professor Baron.

Materials Science at the California Institute of Technology* (Added 12/20/12)

One Apprentice will work with Dr. Julia Greer in this four week program to explore hierarchical material design: from nano, to micro, to macro scale for sustainability and structural applications. Prerequisities: one year of physics, one year of chemistry, and advanced math coursework.

Biomathematics and Life Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles* (Added 1/16/13)

During this four week program, one student will have the opportunity to work with Dr. Van Savage in the department of Life Sciences at UCLA. The Apprentice will use mathematical approaches to understand the causes and consequences of the extraordinary diversity in form and function that exist in biological systems. This site involves independent research as well as data analysis to discover how organismal physiology influences biological structure and dynamics. Suggested prerequisites: strong writing and communication skills, experience in Microsoft Office, strong biology and physics skills, and interest in web design and database language.

Health Policy at the University of Southern California* (Added 1/23/13)

One student will have the privilege of working with Associate Professor & Associate Director Dr. Zissimopolous at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. The student will have an opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of Dr. Zissimopolous and participate in translating research findings to inform policymakers, the business community and the general public through outlets including social media and research briefs. The chosen student will work on a research project with the USC team under the broader topic area of health economics and policy. Prerequisites: The student should have strong writing and communication skills with an overall interest in health policy. Students must have taken Biology and have interest in Statistics.

Earth/Space Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles* (Added 2/27/13)

One Apprentice will have the opportunity to work with Dr. Aradhna Tripati, Professor of Earth/Space Sciences, at UCLA. Dr. Tripati’s research group uses the sedimentary record to address fundamental questions about the dynamics of climate change, both past and future. The chosen applicant will work on the development and application of novel geochemical tools to document and understand the evolution of temperature, ice volume, and pH. The research is focused on applying innovative experimental approaches in order to use the geologic record as a rich laboratory for the study of climate processes. The primary tools used include the new 'clumped isotope' thermometer and the elemental composition of carbonates. The applicant will also integrate geochemical measurements with field-based observations, sedimentologic and micropaleontologic data, and models. Prerequisites: Interest in earth sciences, interest in geology, interest in space sciences, and experience in calculus/pre-calculus.

Epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles* (Added 2/27/13)

One Apprentice will have the opportunity to work with Dr. Pamina Gorbach, Professor at UCLA in the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and in the Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine. The goal of this project is to analyze research collected by Dr. Gorbach and her team and to study how transmission risks and partnership dynamics change over time among recently infected individuals. This study will also analyze and compare behavioral patterns in patients who have been infected. Prerequisites: Interest in community outreach, public health and research on finding cures for infectious diseases as well as experience in biology and Microsoft Office required.

Mechanical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology* (Added 2/27/13)

One Apprentice will have the opportunity to work with Dr. Jose Andrade, Associate Professor of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, at Caltech. Professor Andrade's research focuses on developing a fundamental understanding of the multi-scale and multi-physical behavior of porous media, with application to geologic and engineered infrastructure materials. The chosen applicant will research the following with Dr. Andrade and his team: granular materials, geo-mechanics, carbon sequestration, and multi-scale modeling. Prerequisites: Interest in mechanical engineering and geology, ability to work with a research team, ability to multi-task, and experience in earth sciences and calculus.

Pediatric Medical Research at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (Added 2/27/13)

During this four week program, two Apprentices will work in the laboratory of Dr. Henri Ford and Dr. Jeffrey Upperman of Pediatric Surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Students will study the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis, a devastating intestinal disease of premature infants. The students will work with experts in intestinal physiology, molecular biology, and functional genomics. The focus of the research activity will be to look at molecular pathways that predispose the intestinal barrier to destruction. Students will present their findings at the end of the program to Mentors and their colleagues. Prerequisites: courses completed in biology and/or other sciences, interest in medicine, demonstrated leadership, and organization and time-management skills.

Community Outreach with the City of South Pasadena (Added 3/6/13)

One student will have the opportunity to work with Ms. Liliana Torres, Director of Community Outreach for South Pasadena, CA. This Apprenticeship will cover an in-depth look at Family Services, South Pasadena City Hall, South Pasadena Public Works and the Senior Center. The Apprentice will be working closely with community interest groups, participating in local policy committees, assessing the impact of community programs and serving a growing body of members through marketing, educational forums and peer support groups. The applicant must have an interest in community outreach, community service and family services.

Biology at the University of Southern California* (Added 4/2/13)

One student will have the opportunity to study Molecular and Computational Biology work Dr. Matthew Dean at University of Southern California this summer. During this four week Apprenticeship, the study will study evolutionary biology using molecular, computational and experimental approaches. One of many projects includes adaptation to urban environments. Mouse populations live side-by-side with humans, often in polluted environments. Applicants will be comparing the genomes of “city mice” and “country mice” to try to understand regions of the genome that may allow mice to adapt to urban settings. Prerequisites include: Experience in biology and computer sciences as well as strong communication skills.

2013 sites will be updated as they are confirmed. Please check the Apprenticeship page regularly for the most updated list of sites and mentors or sign up for our mailing list to stay up to date on our 2013 Apprenticeship offerings!

* The Apprenticeship Program is not sponsored or endorsed by California Institute of Technology; University of California, Los Angeles; or University of Southern California.

2013 Session II Sites & Mentors

Architecture at Southern California Institute of Architecture (Added 1/30/13)

During this three week program, five Apprentices will be selected to work on campus at Southern California Institute of Architecture. Students will be working with SCI-Arc students and professors on current research and modeling techniques. They will be introduced to ways of photographing art work and will be presenting art work on a professional level. The chosen applicants will also be given the chance to work in the college’s design office on upcoming events and programs. Prerequisites: Basic skills in digital photography, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Final Cut Pro, as well as a well-rounded design background and an overall interest in architecture.

Audiology at House Research Institute (Added 3/20/13)

One student will have the opportunity to shadow Dr. Rick Friedman and other renowned researchers at the House Research Institute. The Apprentice will have the opportunity to research, collect data, and experience: state of the art management of acoustic neuroma and meningioma, surgery of acoustic neuroma, Menieres Disease medical management and surgery for otosclerosis. The student will also have the opportunity to experience auditory prosthesis research completed by Dr. Ray Goldsworthy. Students will experience what is takes to research audiology and perform major inner-ear surgeries. Prerequisite: Interest in medicine and/or audiology.

Cancer Research at The Angeles Clinic (Added 3/20/13)

One student will have the opportunity to work in The Angeles Clinic for three weeks under Dr. Hamid. The Apprentice will experience firsthand clinical research that includes novel targeted agents, immunotherapeutics, and early drug development. As the Director of the Melanoma Center at The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute, Dr. Omid Hamid works to ensure that patients receive access to the most up-to-date therapeutics, based on molecular pathways of melanoma progression. Most recently, in his role with the Phase 1 Developmental Therapeutics Program, Dr. Hamid has been instrumental in bringing new therapies from the investigational lab to the clinic for patient benefit. These therapies involve immunological therapies such as PD-1 inhibitors, therapies against tumor angiogenesis, and targeted agents that block internal processes in tumor cells’ function. Prerequisites include: Experience in biology, chemistry, and pre-calculus. The student must be 16 years of age and have an interest in studying medicine.

Ethnomusicology at University of California, Los Angeles* (Added 3/20/13)

One student will have the opportunity to work with Amy Catlin-Jairazbhoy and Aaron Bittel in the department of Ethnomusicology at UCLA. Ms. Catlin-Jairazbhoy has a background in classical and non-classical music of South and Southeast Asians and Asian-Americans; field methodology; ethnographic film in ethnomusicology; music and the sacred; and applied and public sector ethnomusicology. One student will be working in the Ethnomusicology Music Archive for three weeks. The archive houses over 100,000 audiovisual recordings; a large collection of unique instruments from different parts of the world; a research laboratory with audiovisual, computing, and electronic equipment that enables faculty and students to conduct psycho-acoustical research as well as edit and create audiovisual recordings; and a publications program that publishes a journal and audiovisual materials on topics of importance in the field of music. Prerequisites include: Interest and background in music and music theory as well as strong written and oral communication skills.

Neuroscience and Biology at California Institute of Technology* (Added 3/20/13)

One student will have the opportunity to work on current research in Caltech’s Biology Department with several Post-Doctorate Fellows. Research interests in the laboratory focus on understanding how emotional behavior is encoded in the brain at the level of specific neuronal circuits and the specific neuronal subtypes that comprise them. Research will help to understand the structure and dynamic properties of these circuits and how they give rise to the outward behavioral expressions of emotions such as fear, anxiety, or anger. Prerequisites include: Experience in physics, calculus, Honors Biology, and chemistry. The applicant must be at least 16 years of age and have an interest in neuroscience. The applicant must have strong written and oral communication skills.

Neuroscience and Human Behavior in Geriatrics at the University of California, Los Angeles* (Added 3/20/13)

One Apprentice will have the opportunity to work closely with Anel Herrera at The Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. The student will shadow neuropsychologists and professors at the Longevity Center of The Institute. Apprentices will be working closely with The Memory Care Program for individuals and loved ones dealing with memory loss. Memory Care is a program for both caregivers and people experiencing memory impairment. The Apprentice will be instructed on how to teach memory techniques and strategies in stimulating the mind. Prerequisite: Interest in neuroscience and human behaviors.

2013 sites will be updated as they are confirmed. Please check the Apprenticeship page regularly for the most updated list of sites and mentors or sign up for our mailing list to stay up to date on our 2013 Apprenticeship offerings!

2012 Los Angeles Sites & Mentors

Digital Printing at Avery Research Center

One Apprentice worked with Dr. Radha Sen in the Digital Printing Lab at Avery Research Center. The interaction of digital inkjet ink and vinyl film is an important area of investigation at Avery. A major commercial product they offer involves very large graphic films that are used to wrap trucks, buses, airplanes, and even buildings! In addition, more and more companies are utilizing state-of-the-art digital printers to render compelling images these days.

The Apprentice was involved with developing techniques to measure ink absorption and ink spreading on a vinyl film. He also correlated the methods developed to actual print quality by using different wide-format printers and test beds available in the printing lab. Over the course of the program, the Apprentice was exposed to digital printing, different analytical methods to probe ink and film interactions, and some level of graphics design.

Seagrass Ecology at University of California, Los Angeles

Scientific Computing at the California Institute of Technology**

An Apprentice worked with Dr. Brent Fultz and his group on computational materials physics. For four weeks, the Apprentice learned how a large, object-oriented software development project is run and helped in a number of ways, based upon his or her interest. Past Apprentices installed, tested and compared graphics programs; tested installation procedures for different computers; looked for inconsistencies in instructions; and provided the research team with valuable opinions. For more information on Dr. Fultz’s research on Distributed Data Analysis for Neutron Scattering Experiments, please click here. Prerequisites: prior programming experience. Applicants must be 16 years of age or older at the start of the program to be placed at this site.

Laboratory Studies of Air Pollution Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology**

An Apprentice worked with Professor Mitchio Okumura and his group to study the fundamental reactions that lead to air pollution. The experiments involve the use of physics-based methods such as laser spectroscopy to unravel the mechanisms of reactions that break down volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The Apprentice may do work involving chemical modeling, running quantum chemistry calculations, preparing data acquisition software and electronics, performing data analysis, and assisting in experiments. Prerequisites: strong background in chemistry, physics and math, enthusiasm for science. Knowledge of electronics or computer programming can be helpful but is not essential. Applicants must be 16 years of age or older at the start of the program to be placed at this site.

Surface Energetics of Printing Media at the Avery Research Center

Printing is an important industrial process for reproducing text and images with ink on media using a printing press, which is an essential part of the labeling and packaging business. At Avery Dennison, a majority of the products involve paper, film or specialty coating on top of these substrates. Research indicates that subtle differences in the surface energetics of printing media greatly influence the quality of printing.

The surface science group at Avery Research Center currently uses the NRL Contact Angle/Goniometer and the KVS Cam Video System for measuring surface energies of printing media. One Apprentice focused on learning the basic principles of contact angle measurement techniques using the manual or video goniometer systems. The scope of the study was limited to common materials encountered at Avery, such as polymer and vinyl films, and competitive products.

The Apprentice assisted Avery’s surface science group in extensively exploring the surface energy of common industrial printing media and comparing the physical differences among products. The Apprentice’s work helped determine the feasibility of taking contact angle measurements at elevated temperatures as well as facilitated understanding of temperature influence on contact angle profile and differences in contact profile among different commercial inks.

Latino Diabetes Research Project

This project focused on conducting literature reviews and cleaning and organizing data collected in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of adult Latino diabetics transitioning from hospital to home. This three-year study tested the impact of a Latino coaching program for Latino diabetics returning to the community following hospital discharge. The intervention focused on ensuring the patient received their medications, reviewing prescriptions, connecting patients with follow-up medical services, and coaching patients to set health goals and develop plans to meet these goals.

One Apprentice assisted Dr. Susan Enguidanos's research team at the USC* Davis School of Gerontology in collecting and synthesizing literature on Latino diabetics, care setting transitions, and health risks following a hospital discharge. Additionally, the Apprentice helped clean and organize data collected during the RCT as well as develop tables and graphs describing the sample characteristics and the primary study outcomes. The Apprentice received in-depth training from a librarian on conducting literature reviews and was required to be experienced in Excel.

The Biophysics of Hearing at the University of California, Los Angeles

The sense of hearing plays an important role in our lives, as it helps us to locate objects in space, orient ourselves in our environments, and communicate with each other. The acuity of our hearing is largely the result of remarkable properties of hair cells, specialized cells of the inner ear that detect mechanical stimuli and transduce them into electrical signals. These cells display extreme sensitivity – they can detect mechanical displacements smaller than 1 nm – and yet can withstand loud sounds, covering a range of about 6 orders of magnitude. Despite being immersed in a dissipative fluid environment, hair cells can amplify incoming mechanical stimuli, sustain prolonged oscillations, and even lead to the spontaneous emission of sound. The Bozovic Laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles examines the mechanical forces that hair bundles exert in response to a stimulus, to understand the underlying biophysics.

One Apprentice worked with members of the Bozovic Lab to image hair bundles from different auditory organs, to study their size and orientation. Many of these systems have very intricate regulation of stiffness and number of stereocilia within one hair cell, and a careful characterization will help us understand how these mechanical properties relate to the cell’s frequency tuning and function. Applicants must be 16 years of age or older at the start of the program to be placed at this site.

** The Apprenticeship Program is not a California Institute of Technology sponsored or endorsed event or activity.

2012 San Diego Sites & Mentors

Entomology at the San Diego Natural History Museum

Two Apprentices worked together with the Entomology staff to identify, classify, and preserve insects collected for a local arthropod biodiversity study. The experience began with general, order-level sorting of arthropods collected from pit and pan traps to develop familiarity with insect anatomy and classification. Upon developing proficiency with this task the Apprentices were assigned a specific group of insects to “work up.” This involved working with guides, written keys, and literature sources to identify, as specifically as possible, the specimens in the assigned group. Data from the sorted specimens will be entered into the project research data base. Training and guidance, as needed, were provided. Prerequisites: Interest in science, natural history or insects. Required patience, dexterity, attention to detail, penchant for perfection and tolerance for dust and dirt. Must be able to follow precise directions and work independently once trained.

Bioinformatics at San Diego State University

Two Apprentices worked with Dr. Rob Edwards in his Bioinformatics research lab using computers to understand bacteria. Some bacteria cause diseases like strep throat or cholera, but other bacteria are helpful, making antibiotics or food. The research team uses DNA sequencing to explore the genomes of different bacteria, and then analyze those genomes using computer programs written in Python, Perl, and Java. Research in Dr. Edwards’ lab includes making web sites that other researchers use to upload and explore their data, and so the Apprentices learned to write programs and help other people around the world.

Optical Trapping (Physics) at San Diego State University

The goal of producing and controlling exact forces on small particles using lasers was first achieved in 1970 by Arthur Ashkin. In the following years, he refined his model until he began to observe the phenomenon that is known today as optical trapping. Optical traps are instruments that function by focusing an intense laser beam to an extremely specified point at which a particle is placed, thus “trapping” it in space--rendering it stable in three dimensions. This discovery opened a plethora of research possibilities, serving as a foundation for many applications. Examples in Biology include holding and manipulating DNA strands by their ends, examining E. Coli bacteria without the use of a physical implement, and many other situations where it is advantageous to work with light instead of physical tools. We successfully have developed SDSU’s first optical trap in the physics department. Using a focused infrared beam of light, we are able to trap and manipulate micron sized silica beads. Further, by combining this with the femtosecond vortex beams currently being produced in our laboratory, we will be able to construct a microfluidic pump--a device which has the ability to transport, using light alone, a series of particles along a pre-specified path of significant length. This project will explore optical trapping theory and experiments.  One Apprentice worked with Dr. Matt Anderson to learn about lasers and laser safety, optics and optical alignment, trapping, imaging, and manipulation.

Study of Carbon Dioxide Emissions at San Diego State University

One Apprentice worked with Dr. Buyuksonmez in the Composting Laboratory at San Diego State University. The Apprentice focused on the waste management and Greenhouse gas emissions resulting from waste management processes. The Apprentice investigated the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions with bio-slurry applied on the composting windrows.

Environmental Engineering at San Diego State University

Apprentices worked with Dr. Tyler Radniecki on two environmental engineering projects. The first project was to determine how silver nanoparticles inhibit the beneficial ammonia oxidizing bacteria, Nitrosomonas eurpaea (responsible for removing nitrogen from wastewater and cycling nitrogen in the environment) and what conditions enhance or prevent this inhibition. The ultimate goal was to determine how to design both wastewater treatment processes and designs of the nanoparticle to prevent the inhibition of important beneficial bacteria such as N. europaea. Apprentices grew the bacteria and test its activity when exposed to silver nanoparticles under various environmental conditions. They also learned how to make growth curves, measure nitrite concentrations, determine bacteria activity and use these findings to characterize what happens to the silver nanoparticles under different environmental conditions.

Apprentices also worked on examining the increase in antibiotic resistance in bacteria exposed to trace environmental concentrations of antibiotics. Apprentices worked in the lab with pure cultures of non-pathogenic bacteria. They grew the bacteria in test media that contains various dilute concentrations of antibiotics and determined the gain of antibiotic resistance by quantifying the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration – the concentration of antibiotics that inhibits all visible growth) using micro-dilution assays. The Apprentices learned how to measure growth of the bacteria by measuring optical densities and by measuring oxygen consumption rates. By using a wide variety of bacteria, the students identified how the differences in the bacteria (e.g. their membrane compositions or their preferred food source) influenced the rate of gain of antibiotic resistance. Students also helped collect samples to have the antibiotic concentration measured by liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis. The results of this work will help policy makers more accurately quantify the risks of antibiotics in the environment.

Past Sites & Mentors 

Scientific Measurement of Laminate Materials at the Avery Dennison Research Center

At Avery Dennison, a majority of the products are based on paper, film or specialty coatings on top of these substrates. The surface topography, roughness, and surface chemistry of commercial paper and film products are closely related with a number of their key performance properties.  It has been determined that the subtle differences in roughness of the substrate can affect printing, adhesion, release and other manufacturing processes.

Currently, the surface science group at Avery Research Center uses several instruments and techniques for measuring surface roughness including AFM (atomic force microscopy), SMM (scanning microwave microscopy), Confocal microscopy, and the Dektak 8 Advanced Development Profiler. They have recently acquired a new instrument called the GFM MikroCAD 3D measuring system, which has the unique capability of measuring a relatively large area of non-reflective substrate.

In this three week program, one Apprentice focused on learning the basic principles of roughness measurement techniques with the GFM MikroCAD 3D measuring system. The Apprentice studied common materials encountered at Avery, such as polymer film, adhesive, and paper.  During the program, the Apprentice learned about common artifacts for the GFM MikroCAD 3D measuring system and gained an understanding of the advantages and limitations of this system.  The Apprentice extensively explored the surface roughness and morphology of common industrial materials and compared their physical differences.  The Apprentice also analyzed his findings and assisted in establishing correlations between the surface roughness with some of the important industrial processes such as printing, coating, and adhesion.

IEA welcomes your comments, questions, and suggestions!