UT Tyler Engineering Student Named National Building Technology Program Intern

May 6, 2025 | Hannah Buchanan

Derick Phanos of Ghana, a graduate mechanical engineering student at The University of Texas at Tyler, will participate in the 2025 JUMP into STEM Building Technology Internship Program this summer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

He was one of 10 students nationwide who received an internship at pre-selected national laboratories based on academic excellence, an application and previous success in the 2024-25 JUMP into STEM Collegiate Building Science Competition. While at ORNL, Phanos will learn to use modern laser-scanning equipment and newly developed software to test the analysis of flat roofs to detect potential issues with ponding water. He will also learn about the design of software and hardware tools to increase construction productivity.

Interns will be the forefront of innovation in building science and energy efficiency, according to Dr. Nelson Fumo, a UT Tyler associate professor of mechanical engineering. Fumo previously taught Phanos and served as his faculty team adviser during the competition.

“This accomplishment not only exposes Derick to cutting-edge research in building technologies, but it also helps him develop professional skills, expand his network and gain firsthand experience working with experts in the field,” said Fumo. “It also reflects the student’s hard work, talent and commitment to applying engineering knowledge to real-world challenges.”

Ponding water on flat roofs is a major concern for building coverings and roofs across the U.S., according to ORNL. Because of a lack of available analysis tools, issues with stagnate water on roofs are often not detected until there is a leak or other problem. ORNL is developing a tool that utilizes laser scanning to analyze the slope of a flat roof and determine potential areas were water can collect and stagnate, Fumo noted.

“Programs like this are vital for preparing the next generation of engineers, and I am excited to see the impact this experience will have on Derick’s future career,” Fumo added.

Phanos will graduate from UT Tyler next spring with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and hopes to focus his career on building material science and nanoengineering. He currently serves as a research assistant in UT Tyler’s Jasper Department of Chemical Engineering. Phanos holds a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana.

With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 10,000 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler hasunified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.