Author: Kelly Pena

Evaluation of Automated Incubation of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Virus

Mentors Project Description By evaluating the response of incubation of virus in buffer using a syringe pump and varying the flow rate, the researchers will generate incubation rate curves. After mastering the syringe pump, using specially designed automated cartridges, the researchers will utilize the ADEPT controller to attempt to mimic the syringe pump conditions and […]

Computational Design of Organic Semiconductors

Mentors Project Description The REU research project is aimed at computational modeling of material properties within semiconductor, with the ultimate goal of designing new electronic materials. In particular, we will utilize first-principles density functional theory (DFT) to explore the electronic properties of organic materials (i.e. solids composed of organic molecule aggregates). These materials are currently […]

Cardiac Cell Engraftment in a Cardiac Slice Culture System

Project Description A myocardial infarction (MI) occurs when blood flow to a region of heart muscle is interrupted, depriving cardiomyocytes of oxygen, leading to cell death and thus a loss of contraction in the area. The damaged muscle is replaced by a dense collagenous scar often leading to adverse remodeling and ultimately heart failure. One […]

Exploratory Study of Contractile Force in Cardiomyocytes

Bone Quantity and Bone Quality in Osteoarthritis

Mentors Project Description Osteoarthritis has typically been viewed as the outcome of wear and tear on our joints, resulting in large-scale loss of cartilage and pain. Recent data challenge this view by indicating that chronic inflammation of joint tissues and remodeling of bone, and not only mechanical abrasion, contribute to the progression of the disease. […]

Modeling the Hemodynamic Initiation of Endothelial Dysfunction in Intracranial Aneurysms

Mentors Project Description Intracranial aneurysms (IA) are present in approximately 3% of the adult population. Rupture is the primary risk associated with aneurysms, which produces aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, a stroke subtype with a fatality rate of roughly 45%. Despite this, no pharmacological therapy exists to prevent aneurysm formation, growth, or rupture. This therapeutic gap reflects […]

Optimizing self-assembling coiled-coil protein production for hydrogel development

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