Cross-disciplinary research teams win Kilachand funding

Five Studies Pushing the Limits of Science: This year’s Kilachand fund awards will support pioneering research across engineering and life sciences

Going from Gauzy to Granular

Anna Devor and collaborators aim to extract neuronal circuit activity from fMRI, opening door for clinical applications By Patrick L. Kennedy Say you’re listening to a lecture and paying close attention. When that happens, your brain releases a chemical called acetylcholine. Later, though, you start to doze off. Suddenly, the professor calls your name. You […]

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Jump-Starting Biotechnology Careers for Boston High School Students

New STEM outreach program, led by BU and funded by the Department of Defense, will introduce underserved students to the emerging field of synthetic biology By Kat J. McAlpine Synthetic biology is revolutionizing the field of biotechnology, yet many people aren’t sure what it is. Associate Professor Douglas Densmore (ECE) wants to change that by […]

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Singling Out a Sound

BU researchers shed new light on a mystery of sensory processing By Patrick L. Kennedy It’s called the “cocktail party problem,” and it’s not about picking the right outfit or juggling stuffed mushrooms and a wine glass. Arising in all manner of busy settings, from coffee shops to subway stations, the phenomenon that has puzzled […]

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Densmore Team Launches CAD Program for Genome Editing

Sequel to Human Genome Project might spur cancer cures, climate solutions Associate Professor Doug Densmore (ECE, BME) and colleagues have developed a computer-aided design (CAD) program that will allow genetic engineers to design new microorganisms. The software could pave the way to cures for cancer, as well as solutions in the fight against climate change. […]

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Soft Robotics, 4D Printing: Undergrad Luce Scholars Present Research

Three ENG winners of the 2021 Clare Boothe Luce Scholar Award presented their research during the 24th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the George Sherman Union Metcalf Ballroom. The symposium was sponsored by Boston University’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). More than 275 BU undergrads earned UROP funding and faculty mentoring to complete research projects […]

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An Inside Look

ENG researchers from across disciplines are joining forces to produce images and insights into how neurons and other cells work By Patrick L. Kennedy An electrical engineer, a biomedical engineer, and a physicist walk into a lab. Wait—make that an electrical engineer, two biomedical engineers, a materials science engineer, and a physicist. And, so far, […]

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Making a Big Impact with Tiny Lasers

Utilizing a novel form of mathematics–fractional calculus—Professor Luca Dal Negro and his collaborator are embarking on a 36-month study of equally novel types of miniaturized laser structures, capable of operating efficiently over multiple frequency bands and releasing so-called “photons on demand.”