MARIETTA, Ga. | Apr 17, 2017

National Society of Black Engineers honors student at national conference

Christopher Roper, a mechanical engineering and physics major, recently earned third place at the National Society of Black Engineers Technical Research Exhibition in Kansas City, Missouri.

The annual showcase poster competition highlights undergraduate and graduate research from around the country. Roper was honored for his aerospace engineering research, particularly in the area of propulsion and combustion for turbofan engines.

“I wanted to determine the best flight conditions for this specific engine,” Roper said. His research explored variables such as environmental temperatures, altitude, fuel needs and freestream velocity. “When we know these best values, and by doing experimental and computational demonstrations, we can determine how efficient the engine aircraft will travel.”

A senior from Lawrenceville, Georgia, Roper also earned first place in the STEM Innovators Conference in Savannah earlier this year. He is among the more than 50 Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Scholars at Kennesaw State who conduct cutting-edge research with top engineers and scientists.

Adeel Khalid, associate professor of systems engineering at Kennesaw State, who serves as Roper’s faculty research mentor, said he is impressed with Roper’s willingness to work above and beyond what is required of him and take on new challenges.

“He gets excited about solving engineering problems, demonstrates his excellence in conducting the tasks assigned thoroughly and closing the loop on long-term assignments,” Khalid said. “One of his greatest strengths is his ability to present his work effectively. It is because of this talent that Chris has won numerous awards and prizes at technical conferences and forums at the local, national and international levels.”

Roper received a certificate of achievement and $250 from the National Society of Black Engineers.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.