Controlling Energy Flow in Biological Chromophores with Light–Matter Hybrid States
Mentors Project Description Light drives life. From photosynthesis in plants to vision in animals, biological systems rely on exquisitely tuned photophysical processes to convert and transport energy. This REU project will introduce undergraduate students to the emerging field of polariton biophotonics, where confined light inside an optical cavity strongly interacts with molecules to create new […]
Hydrogel Instabilities (RET)
Mentors Project Description Understanding the factors that either stimulate or hinder growth and expansion is relevant to many fields, including medicine, morphogenesis, and agriculture. We are particularly interested in studying how expanding or growing bodies respond to the presence of obstacles. Recently, we have focused on how hydrogels can be used as a model system […]
Imaging tumor spheroid by SWIR CARS
Mentors Project Description Spheroid and organoid as non-animal models offer a valuable platform for basic biology and drug screen. Yet, probing cellular metabolic activity inside the spheroid remain a grand challenge due to limited penetration depth of optical microscopy and fluorescent labels. In the REU project, we tackle this challenge through developing shortwave infrared (SWIR) […]
Semiconductor nanofabrication process development for computational image sensors
Mentors Project Description Traditional photodetectors used for imaging applications are only sensitive to the intensity of the incident light, whereas all information related to phase and polarization is lost in the image acquisition process. To address this limitation, we are developing new types of image sensors that can directly measure multiple properties of any incident […]
Pneumatically Tunable Soft Optical 3DOF Contact Sensor for Force and Touch Detection
Mentors Project Description This project focuses on creating a soft optical, miniaturized, multiple axis force sensor that will only use a single input and output signal. The sensor itself integrates a thin-film color-tuning method currently deployed in the lab to be able to get different spectral shifting responses upon contacting the soft optical structure at […]
The Electrodeposition Pen (RET)
Mentors Project Description This summer internship project will design, build, and test a handheld electrodeposition “pen” capable of writing micro-to-millimeter scale metallic and polymeric traces as simple patterns directly onto conductive substrates such as metal foils and surfaces. The writing is done through electrochemical deposition from an electrolytic solution, the “ink”, while the pen and […]
Signal Processing and Deep Learning Frameworks for Spatiotemporal Analysis of In-Vivo Neural Activity
Mentors Project Description This project focuses on developing advanced signal processing and machine learning algorithms for a newly developed computational miniature mesoscope that enables cortex-wide neural activity imaging in freely behaving mice. The system captures rich, multi-scale data spanning single-neuron calcium dynamics as well as resting-state vascular and hemodynamic signals. The student will work on […]
Modifying Nanocarriers to Modulate Release From Hydrogel
Mentors Project Description A major shortcoming of current vaccines is the lack of potency that results in waning protection and the need for additional boosters. One strategy to increase the potency of vaccines is using a hydrogel depot to prolong the release of vaccine components and encourage immune cell recruitment. While nanoparticles can be employed […]
Microbial Devices (RET)
Mentors Project Description Our research group (el Microbial Integration Group) at Boston University develops microbial devices: systems that integrate engineered microorganisms with materials, microfluidics, and electronic or mechanical components to sense, compute, and respond to real-world environments. Our work spans applications in human health, environmental monitoring, and biomanufacturing, with an emphasis on making living systems […]
Benjamin Wolking (2025 REU) Gives TEDx Talk, “Why ‘Delusion’ Isn’t Always Bad”
Congratulations to Ben on his TEDx talk! Fellow REUs Kylie Bray, Nathan Cao, and Josie Tetzlaff traveled to Bates College to cheer him on from the audience.