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This academic year, several Biomedical Engineering (BME)ÌýundergraduatesÌýparticipated in theÌýDiscovery Learning Apprenticeship (DLA) ProgramÌýconducting researchÌý¾±²Ô campus labs. Students, their projects and sponsoring labsÌýfollows.ÌýÌýAt the conclusion of the program this spring, studentsÌýwillÌýshareÌýtheir findingsÌýduring the DLA research symposium in April.Ìý

Three BME students are conducting research in the lab of Wyatt Shields, BME faculty member. CelesteÌýBusch is studying theÌýEffect of Nanoparticle Formulation on Macrophage Epigenetics;ÌýGavinÌýChannell studies Acoustically Purified Elastomeric Particles for Cell-based Cancer Immunotherapy; and Chris Orear is studying theÌýIonic Liquid-mediated Transdermal Drug Delivery for Skin Disease.ÌýIrisÌýLi is Evaluating Neural Influences of Virtual Reality TrainingÌý withÌýAllie Anderson, BME faculty.ÌýJulian ConradÌýOppenheimer studiesÌýNovel Soil pH Sensors for Monitoring Soil Nitrogen CycleÌý¾±²Ô the Mechanical Engineering lab ofÌýGregory Whiting. IsabelleÌýRacine studiesÌýStatistical Modeling of River Ice in AlaskaÌý¾±²Ô Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering lab. Student KeriÌýSpitler in the lab of Corey NeuÌý¾±²õÌýCharacterizing mechanical stability through restoration of nuclear architecture.

CU DLAÌýis open to all students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science and pairs undergraduate researchers with graduate student and faculty mentors on a variety of topics.ÌýÌýCU DLAÌýis just one of theÌýresearch programsÌýavailable to students in the College, other programs include the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) andÌý³Û°¿±«â€™R·¡°ª°ä±«Ìý(Your Own Undergraduate Research Experience at CU).Ìý Participating in research provides hands-on learning and hasÌýbeen found toÌýimprove analytical, critical thinking and communication skills. StudentsÌýbenefit from the mentoring and networking opportunities from joining a research team.Ìý And conducting research may inform students'Ìýlong-term academic/career decisions. Ìý

These research programs are part of the College's Active Learning Program, directed by Sharon Anderson. Ìý"Students who have taken part in these undergraduate research programs tell us that they feel the experience was extremely valuable. It is often mentioned that when they are applying for internships and/or full-time positions that the conversation around their research experience often dominates the conversation. Even if they are not applying for a position that has anything do with the research that they did," said Anderson. "Employers are interested in students who have experiences like these as they demonstrate that they have worked on teams, have communication and problem solving skills in their repertoire."

Application cycles for both the SPUR (Summer Program for Undergraduate Research)Ìýand DLA research programs are occuring this spring.Ìý The SPUR deadline isÌýMarch 17.ÌýThe DLA deadline isÌýMay 15th.Ìý

BME students share about their experiences

I work with Dr. Ellyse Schneider, in Dr. Corey Neu's Soft Tissue Bioengineering Lab, to better understand how external mechanical forces affect genomic architecture and gene expression. This includes building a unique sgRNA library and utilizing the CRISPR-Cas9 system that was developed in the Neu lab.Ìý

This research has provided me with a unique opportunity to put into practice the knowledge I've acquired throughout my college journey, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Additionally, research has offered me invaluable experiences collaborating with peers that isn't possible within the traditional classroom. As this DLA program has allowed me to continue this research, it has given me invaluable practice presenting my research both written and verbally. Ìý Keri Spitler

My research in the Shields lab centers around delivering an anti-inflammatory drug transdermally to treat atopic dermatitis. To do this, we use hydrogels that contain drug and ionic liquids, which have been shown to disrupt the stratum corner and should allow the drug to penetrate further into the skin. The DLA program has been instrumental in funding and supporting my research this year, and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity they’ve given me to further pursue my interest in drug delivery.Ìý Ìý

Photo is of Chris Orear presentingÌýhisÌýresearch at the 2022 ACS Colloids Symposium.

My work in the Shields labÌýis all about characterizing mechanical properties of polymers, and their ability to serve as biocompatible drug release mechanisms. My DLA experience has really interested me in graduate school.Ìý

The picture of Gavin Channell isÌý¾±²Ô the clean room in the Colorado Shared Instrumentation in Nanofabrication and Characterization (COSINC) research facility.

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My project in the Shields lab is on understanding and controlling how macrophage phenotypes are impacted by physical stimuli. I differentiate stem cells collected from bone marrow into macrophages, then associate them with particles I've made of different sizes, shapes, and materials, then study how they impact the cells’ phenotype, as well as their circulation in the body (of mice). The goal of the research is to make drug delivery to cancer more efficient to help eliminate the negative side effects of treatments like chemotherapy.Ìý

DLA has not only provided me with a way to practically apply information I learn in classes like biomaterials and biotransport, but I've gained many new connections in both academia and industry through the program and my lab that have led to several professional and grad school opportunities. Ìý Celeste Busch

At CU's Bioastronautics Labs under the mentorship of Allie Anderson, I work in a team to help fill in the gap of knowledge about tools to counter neural decrements for astronauts who undergo long duration exploration missions by quantifying the brain activity of subjects with fNIRS and EEG while completing tasks in VR. So far, I've spearheaded our rapid prototyping of testing equipment and part of our Excel and MATLAB data analysis pipeline.

Being in the DLA program has taught me instrumental skills for my career,Ìý from applying competitively to a research lab to keeping me accountable and thinking critically about my research, and this has connected me to a wonderful lab team! ÌýIris Li

In the Gooseff lab, I amÌýcurrently researching how to build a model to accurately measure the thickness of riverÌýice in Alaska. This researchÌýcan help showcase the evolving climate change in the world along with displaying theÌýsignificant necessity that riverÌýiceÌýposes for people in Alaska.

The DLA program has helped me to grow my technical skills while actively participating in a research lab. This opportunity has led me to explore more avenues within research that I never knew about. Ìý Isabelle Racine

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The BME Program encourages its students to participate in a range of experiential learning opportunities, including research, during their tenure with CU.