Research Opportunity Number: MAE-01

Project Title: Re-Creation of Joseph Henry's Devices for Scientific Research and Teaching

Project Summary: Princeton has a collection of the scientific instruments used by Prof. Joseph Henry, who was a professor of natural philosophy at Princeton College from 1832-1846. He left Princeton to become the first and founding Secretary of the Smithsonian in 1846. He held that position until his death in 1878. Professor Henry was one of the two most prominent American scientists in the 19th century. The other was Willard Gibbs of Yale. The unit of electrical inductance, the henry, is named for him based on his early research in the then-new field of electro-magnetism.

Summer students will be tasked with researching the history of one of Joseph Henry's experiments and will re-create the experimental device and measurements. This is a continuing project. Students in the past have studied and replicated his original electric motor, his thermoelectric battery, his galvanometer, his method of magnetizing steel, and so on. The specific device and topic is to be determined based on a large collection of 19th century devices that Prof. Henry used in his research and teaching that are in storage.

Student Roles and Responsibilities: Research literature; carry out simulations using COMSOL and Fusion 360 software and 3D scanners and printers.

Additional Considerations:This project will require 30 hours each week. 

Department/Institute: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Participation Dates: June 2 – July 28, 2025

Stipend Offered: $0

Number of Internships Available: 0-3

Application Deadline: March 15, 2025, midnight Eastern Daylight Time