Undergraduate Research and Innovation

Hala Altunji (and group)

Working on stem cell research for tissue engineering; advised by Dr. Treena Arinzeh and mentored by IBM experts in electron-spinning technology.  View presentation.

Amira Esseghir (and group)

Working on developing interactive toys for improving cognition and focus of autistic children; advised by Dr. Brian Pfister and mentored by Mr. Manish Patel, Founder, Think Cloud, LLC.  View presentation.

Kevin Ly (and group)

Working on developing bloodless glucose meter for chronic diabetic patients; advised by Dr. Atam Dhawan and Dr. John Federici and mentored by Ms. Peggy McHale, Consultants to Go, LLC.  View presentation.

Kamran Asif (and group)

Working on delivering valuable personalized renovation services utilizing unique home modeling & simulation software to provide detailed energy expenditure and financial analysis to home owners across America; advised by Professor Richard Garber.   View presentation.

Jilyan Decker (and group)

Working on implementation of Smart Home Facilities in personal and assisted living environments to physiologically monitor elderly individuals; advised by Dr. MengChu Zhou and Dr. Atam Dhawan; Industry mentor: Mr. Manish Patel, Think Cloud LLC.  View presentation.

Anjali Mitra (and group)

Working on a product designed to convert organic waste generated in homes into sustainable energy to meet the energy needs of newly developed households in America; advised by Dr. Taha Marhaba; Industry mentor: Mr. Leon Baptiste, LB Electrics LLC.  View presentation.

Scott Cole

Clemson University
Major: Bioengineering (bioelectrical concentration)
Minor: Mathematics

Summer Research Project: Effects of vision training and 3-D gaming on subjects with normal vision.

How is your summer research project helping you to learn?

I have always been fascinated with the brain, and I want to explore many aspects of neural engineering.  In this research program, I have the opportunity to learn about a variety of subjects related to the neural network, such as tissue engineering, biomaterials, neuro-functional studies and neuromuscular studies.  I am hoping to obtain a more informed opinion of my particular interests prior to applying to graduate programs in neural engineering in the fall.

Luis Felipe Morales

Middlesex County College
Major: Double Major in Engineering Science and Biology

Summer Research Project: Neuro-muscular research that combines VR (virtual reality)/3D environments with robotic feedback to help patients improve their muscular control.

How is your summer research project helping you to learn?

The research will assist me in deciding what aspect of Biomedical Engineering I might focus on.  This also gives me a great opportunity to know other students studying the same field but with slightly different interests.  I also get to see what research is like in the field of biomedical engineering. This is a very exciting learning opportunity.

Daniel Meshoyrer

NJIT
Major: Biomedical Engineering

Summer research project: I am implementing a wet spinning process to create collagen scaffolds that can be modified to control the alignment of axon growth.  I’m essentially creating a collagen fiber and adding bio-molecules to stimulate nerve growth.

How is the project helping you to learn?

I decided to apply to this summer research program because I had an interest in neurology and tissue engineering. At NJIT, my biomedical engineering track is biomechanics. However, I have always wanted to study tissue engineering. My interest in neurology comes from my previous research at Newark Beth Israel on Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. The REU is a great opportunity because I am learning different lab techniques while at the same time applying my BME knowledge to the research. 

Caitlyn Ryan

College: Mercer University
Major: Biomedical Engineering Minor: Biology and Chemistry

Summer Research Project:  Neuro-Tissue Engineering: Encapsulation of certain cells for use in nerve regeneration

How is the project helping you to learn?

My university is largely focused on biomechanics and prosthetic design, while I am interested in tissue engineering and biomaterials. This research program allows me to participate in research in my field of interest that I would have not otherwise had the opportunity to do.

Bhavika Patel

Lawrence Technological University
Major and Minor: Biomedical Engineering, concentrating in mechanical engineering

Summer Research Project: Microencapsulation of Cells using Biopolymers for Controlled Release of Neural Factors: We are to determine if factors secreted from microencapsulated Schwann cells can enhance neurite outgrowth in neuronal cell models.

Why is this research a good opportunity for you? 

This research is an excellent opportunity to apply my classroom knowledge in a practical environment. NJIT's REU program has the necessary resources to provide satisfactory hands-on experiences. Participating in this research experience is allowing me to gain experience, apply my knowledge to real-world applications and further allow me to explore my current interests.

Dana Mathews

The College of New Jersey
Major and Minor: Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical (specialization)

Summer Research Project: To create an implantable conduit of collagen fibers with an incorporated mimetic to spur the growth of axons.

How is this research helping you?

This program is an excellent opportunity to develop or hone my lab skills, but it is even more than that. It effectively combines independent and collaborative aspects of research work, while challenging us to be creative in our contributions to ongoing research. Additionally, weekly meetings require us to present our findings in a formal, well-informed manner, thus preparing us for future endeavors in graduate school or in industry.

Eric Apgar

Harding University
Major: Electrical Engineering

Summer Research Project: Design a virtual environment that can work with a pair of controllers that will manipulate a pair of virtual legs to simulate walking.  All this is done with the intention of finding a more efficient method of rehab for patients who need to relearn how to walk.

How is this research helping you to learn?

It is a chance for me to explore another facet of engineering from the research perspective and to help narrow down my interests and passions for what I might do after I graduate.

Isaac DuPree

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Major: Bioengineering

Summer Research Project: The goal of my project is to contribute to more intuitive control for prosthetic and orthotic devices. For me this means helping to develop a hand tracking and force-feedback system that will monitor a subject’s hand and use those motions to control an exoskeleton.

The first step in accomplishing this goal is the development of a proof-of-concept walking "video game" that will simulate real world tests.

How is this research helping you?

It is given me the chance to combine my interests and experiences and contribute to something that could help change the lives of people who are less fortunate than I am. Additionally, this research project has allowed me to get to know some great, intelligent students from across the country that are equally driven to make an impact in the world. This group has been both motivating and supportive as we work together to develop our research skills and make a difference.

Joalene Mason

Hampton University
Major and Minor: Electrical Engineering

Summer Research Project:  In my project, we're studying eye movements and the part of the central nervous system that controls them by creating simple games that train vision. There are different types of eye movements but our lab focuses on vergence, which describes the way your eyes move when looking at an object that's moving close to or away from your face.

How is this research a good opportunity for you?

This program is giving me an opportunity to get hands-on experience with neuro-engineering which is a subject I had been interested in for a while. It will also give me valuable research experience and help to prepare me for possibly going to grad school for biomedical engineering.

Devon Mason

Virginia Commonwealth University
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Minor: Math

Summer Research Project: To create a sustained release mechanism for proteins that stimulate nerve growth in the body using donor cells protected from the body's immune system.

How is this research a good opportunity for you?

I have a passion for my chosen specialty in biomedical engineering -- tissue engineering -- and this program allows me to work on projects that I normally wouldn't be available to me at my university.  It will also prepare me for future research I'll perform in graduate school.