This paper focuses on the benefits of a course-based undergraduate research project experience in industrial engineering. Undergraduate students in optimization course are involved in a research project on recognition of recycling opportunities in a health care system located in Ohio, U.S. A new multi-criteria decision-making technique based on a fuzzy set theory and VIKOR method is applied to assess health care waste disposal technologies including incineration, steam sterilization, microwave, and landfilling. The proposed approach estimates the GHG reductions and potential economic benefit derived from increased recycling for the case study. The key findings from the study demonstrate that the undergraduate research improves the students' attitudes towards engineering, higher-order cognitive learning, self-efficacy, ease of learning the subject matter, team working and communication skills; all relevant objectives related to engineering accreditation.

(East Lansing, MI) teaching courses such a manufacturing plan and control, supply chain modeling and management. She got her Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toledo (Toledo, OH) in 2016. She has also a Master degree in industrial Engineering and was a consultant/ project manager of the Business Waste Reduction Assistance Program (BWRAP), a partnership between EPA, University of Toledo and Lucas County in Ohio from 2012-2016. She is a professional and an active member of the Society of Women Engineers, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and Institute of Industrial and System Engineering.

This paper focuses on the advantages of course-based research projects experience in an industrial engineering graduate course. Along with teaching the course materials, students were involved in two research projects. In the first project, they were asked to determine significant factors in a cold drawn process on the ultimate tensile strength of L-605 wire. They applied design of experiment (DOE) technique, identified critical factors and found the best setting for factor level which results in higher yield. In the second project, they were asked to determine a potential optimized structure of 3D-printed material to be used for future space suits. They designed different structures and analyzed the fabric strength versus fabric shape and structure using tensile test. The uniqueness of this project learning paper is the key findings from the study and the associated survey. They demonstrate that the project-based learning approach improves the students' attitudes towards engineering, results in higher-order cognitive learning, boosts their self-efficacy, enhances learning through high retention of the learning material and the subject matter, strengthens team working and communication skills. The results also indicated that the project encouraged group interdependence, active learning, and higher level thinking skills. Students viewed the project as a valuable and interesting experience.