Examples of Undergraduate Research
Sensors for Infectious Disease
Neil Rajan '07, an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering concentrator, is working on the development of novel sensors utilizing liquid crystal technology. His work is part of the Display and Photonics Laboratory at Brown, working with collaborators Dean Greg Crawford and Biomedical Engineering graduate student Maureen McCamley. Neil is working on using the unique properties of aligned liquid crystals along with photolithography techniques to develop a sensor capable of very delicate detection. Applications currently under investigation include a bedside diagnostic for the rapid detection of infectious disease, as well as an extremely sensitive device to detect small changes in air flow. Neil has been accepted into the Program for Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship starting in the fall of 2007.
Bone Cements
Senior Biomedical Engineering concentrator Alyssa Ricker has been working with Professor Thomas J. Webster and Dr. Peishan Liu-Synder (Post-doctoral researcher) to create better bone cements used to attach a hip implant to surrounding bone. Her work has centered on using nanotechnology (or the use of materials with one dimension less than 100 nm) to improve bone cements making them less exothermic and more likely to bond to bone. This would significantly improve orthopedic implant lifetimes, which currently only last 15 years. Alyssa participated in the Undergraduate Translational Research Program (led by Assistant Professor of Research (Engineering) Karen Haberstroh) this past summer which links Brown researchers with industry to solve problems. She has presented her work at the Annual Biomedical Engineering Society and her work has been submitted to be published.
Influenza Viral RNA
Senior chemical and biochemical engineering concentrator Kristina Prachanronarong (KP) 07’ is working with Professor Anubhav Tripathi’s group on isolation of Influenza Viral RNA from clinical samples and development of rapid microchip detection. KP is working closely with graduate students. Her efforts focuses on specific methods of clinical specimen obtainment, such as nasopharyngeal swabs, and the quantification of vRNA isolated from these specimens so that a minimum viral load for detection by the microfluidics chip can be calculated. The microchip can potentially be used directly by healthcare professionals in offices and clinics as a diagnostic instrument. KP’s work has resulted in her presentation in the annual meeting (2006) of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) held in San Francisco. Her contributions were also presented in annual meeting (2006) of Biomedical Engineering Society held in Chicago. She is submitting her research to a peer reviewed journal for possible publication. KP has aspirations of going to graduate school/medical school.
Microchip Platforms
Senior mechanical engineering concentrator Melissa Loureiro 07’ is working with Professor Anubhav Tripathi’s group on a novel integrated microchip platform with thermal control. Melissa is working closely with graduate students and she is fabricating a microchip device to develop a clear understanding of fundamental issues relevant to this device, such as the effect of various design and operating parameters on the fluid-flow, thermal and mass transfer. This would constitute a significant step towards designing an optimal microfluidic flow reactor for RNA amplification with a high throughput, with applications to disease monitoring and bio-warfare detection. Melissa’s effort has resulted in her presentation in the annual meeting (2006) of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) held in San Francisco. Her contributions were also presented in the annual meeting (2006) of Biomedical Engineering Society held in Chicago. She will be submitting her research to a peer reviewed journal for possible publication. Melissa has aspirations of going to graduate school.
Molecular Beacons
Senior biomedical engineering concentrator Sarah Freeman 07’ is working with Professor Anubhav Tripathi’s group on identification of Influenza RNA by molecular beacons. Sarah is designing new DNA molecular beacons which specifically identify the H1, H3, H5, N1, N2 viral influenza subtypes. She is investigating beacon hybridization specificity, beacon response time and minimum concentration of viral RNA required for detection. Sarah is working closely with graduate students. Sarah’s work has resulted in her presentation in the annual meeting (2006) of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) held in San Francisco. She also gave an invited talk at the annual meeting (2006) of Biomedical Engineering Society held in Chicago. She is submitting her research to a peer reviewed journal for possible publication. Sarah has aspirations of going to medical school.
Microfluidics and Live Veins
Senior engineering concentrator Jane Urban 07’ is working with Professor Anubhav Tripathi’s group on molecular imaging detection of inflammation in human veins using live vein cells in a micro-fluidic environment. The goal of this research is to determine a method for detecting inflammation within human veins that would be visible using ultrasound technology. Jane is working closely with graduate students. Jane’s work has resulted in her presentations in the annual meeting (2006) of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) held in San Francisco and in the annual meeting (2006) of Biomedical Engineering Society held in Chicago. She is submitting her research to a peer reviewed journal for possible publication. Jane has aspirations of going to technology industry.
Saliva Testing Biochips
Senior chemical and biochemical engineering concentrator Tiffany Yizar 07’ is working with Professor Anubhav Tripathi’s group on a NASA funded research competition on designing saliva testing bio-chips for monitoring human stress level. Tiffany is leading a team of talented undergraduate students (Artik Sarma, 08’ BME, Michael Huang, Brian Lee and John Vorhees 08’ ChE). The team is interested to address key health questions by monitoring Brown community for stress symptoms and diagnostics. Tiffany is joining an exciting research and development group in General Mills in Minneapolis.
Controlled Release Using Nanoparticles
Senior chemical and biochemical engineering concentrator Kareem Reda 07’ is working with Professor Anubhav Tripathi’s group on controlled release of nanoparticle additives to promote pathogen lysis. Kareem utilizes a microfluidic platform which integrates various components such as microscope detection, flow, dilution and applied electric fields His research will constitute a significant step towards rapid detection and elimination of microbial agents, with applications to environmental monitoring and decontamination. Kareem is working closely with graduate students. His earlier efforts in rapid phase diagram behavior in surfactant systems have resulted in many conference presentations including the Material Research Society and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE). He is submitting his recent research to a peer reviewed journal for possible publication. Kareem has aspirations of going to graduate school.
Investigating superhydrophobic carbon films
Lenson Pellouchoud, a junior in Materials Science, has been investigating superhydrophobic carbon films. These materials are fabricated at Brown by plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition. Materials of this type are potentially useful as self-cleaning surfaces, because they repel water. The properties and morphology of these biomimetic materials are remarkably similar to lotus leaves.
Recrystallization and grain growth behavior
Dana Frankel, a junior in Materials Science has been studying recrystallization and grain growth behavior in cold worked Mo, and is also examining the influence of Si and B in solid solution in Mo on grain growth kinetics in the 1600°C-1800°C regime.
