Student Highlights: Holden Eigenberger
— MEET HOLDEN —
Class: Junior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Holden Eigenberger was born and raised in Cheyenne, WY, where he attended South High School (Go Bison!). He is currently a junior in mechanical engineering at the University of Wyoming. When Holden first decided to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering, he was really interested in aerospace. However, by sheer luck he ended up in an additive manufacturing lab and found a new passion.
— HOLDEN’S RESEARCH —
Additive manufacturing is an interesting field of study with the potential to address many engineering challenges we face today. As a growing technology, there is still a lot of work and research to be done. This is part of the reason Holden was drawn to it, and being on the cutting edge of research was very appealing to him.
For his undergraduate research, Holden is using Vat Photopolymerization—a 3D printing method that utilizes ultra-violet light to produce very high resolution parts—to print stretchy elastomers. Then, by implementing a new post-processing step that involves copper nitrate, the elastomers are heated in an oven, causing them to foam up and become even softer. Holden hopes that his research will prove these 3D printable foams to be effective for impact and vibration absorption, with potential applications for human protective gear (helmets, knee pads, etc.) and sensitive electronic equipment.
ABOUT STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS
Every year, we award fellowships to graduate and undergraduate students attending the University of Wyoming or Wyoming’s community colleges in order to provide them with funding to engage in real-world research opportunities. Occasionally, we feature one of these students and their research on this blog. For more information about our student fellowships, visit our College Programs page.