October 4, 2021
Jim McGrath is helping to lead a multidisciplinary collaboration that is using highly sensitive solid state nanopores to detect biomarkers of traumatic brain injury, bladder cancer, and other acute disorders in serum and urine. (Illustration by Michael Osadciw/University of Rochester)
Dear members of the Hajim School community,
The tiny proteins that can alert us to acute human disorders—traumatic brain injury (TBI), cancer, heart attack, and stroke—are freely circulating in our blood, urine, and other fluids. But these tiny “biomarkers” are also difficult and costly to detect.
James McGrath, professor of biomedical engineering, is helping to address this problem with Jonathan Flax, a Medical Center urologist; researchers at the University of Ottawa; and Simpore, a University spin-out company that manufactures ultrathin membranes. The collaborators have received a $1.6 million grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering to develop a compact, portable, inexpensive biomarker detector using nanopore membranes and filters. The filters are so thin it would take more than 1,000 stacked on top of each other to equal the width of a human hair.
The device will be portable and nimble enough to produce results in a matter of minutes when used in the field by emergency responders, for example, to determine whether someone is suffering from traumatic brain injury.
This project is exciting because the technology is cutting-edge. And the collaborations span not only the River Campus and Medical Center, but two different universities, and academia and industry. Read more here.
PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF FOR STUDENT
Tochukwu Toby Iyke-Nzeocha ’24 was warned that students just completing their first year don’t often get accepted by REU (research experience for undergraduates) summer programs.
So, the biomedical engineering major from Lekki, Nigeria, “prepared myself for rejection”–and applied anyway to Rowan University’s REU in Biomedical Materials, Devices, Therapeutics, and Emerging Frontiers. “I’m so grateful I got in,” she says. “I learned so much!”
What is especially impressive is the resolve and determination Tochukwu has shown. She had to study remotely from Lekki last fall when the secondary school final examination Tochukwu had to complete in Ghana was postponed by the pandemic. Yet she managed to balance college classes with her final exams. In addition, Tochukwu scheduled meetings with the Greene Career Center and with Hajim School advisors to learn about professional growth and internship opportunities. This is a great example of how enterprising undergraduates can take full advantage of opportunities to expand their learning beyond the classroom. Learn more here about Tochukwu’s experiences this summer. She will present her research at a poster session of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Annual Meeting this week. Well done, Tochukwu!
LEARN ABOUT OUR MAJORS
Students, still undecided about which Hajim School major is best for you? Faculty from each of our majors will be giving presentations as part of our Full Spectrum series to help you decide, starting this week. You can participate in as many as you like. Here’s the schedule:
Audio and Music Engineering with Sarah Smith, assistant professor. 1 p.m. this Wednesday, October 6. Zoom link: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/91990230678
Optics and Optical Engineering with Andrew Berger, professor. 2 p.m. this Friday, October 8. Zoom link: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/98068988180
Chemical Engineering with Marc Porosoff, assistant professor. 2 p.m. October 15. Zoom link: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/93355946074
Biomedical Engineering with Amy Lerner, associate professor. 2 p.m. October 22. Zoom link: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/95768460266
Mechanical Engineering with John Lambropoulos, professor and former department chairperson. 1 p.m., October 27. Zoom link: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/94394929684
Electrical and Computer Engineering with Thomas Howard, assistant professor. 1 p.m. November 12. Zoom link: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/94958908371
Data Science with Ajay Anand, deputy director and associate professor. 2 p.m. November 12. Zoom link: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/99003182655
(NOTE: Dates and links for Computer Science and Engineering Science/Interdepartmental Engineering will be announced in an upcoming issue.)
The presentations will describe the type of work people do in these fields and provide an overview of the curriculum in each major. You’ll also have a chance to ask questions. Thanks to our faculty presenters, and to academic counselor Nick Valentino for organizing this series.
CASE COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS
Hajim School juniors and seniors are invited to participate in the Simon School’s Future Business Leaders Case Competition. This is an opportunity to:
- Refine problem solving, critical thinking, and communication skills.
- Gain valuable experience for your résumé.
- Receive an introduction to experiential learning, and
- Obtain insight into the graduate business school experience.
No prior academic business background is required—just an interest in business topics and enthusiasm for learning. Participation is free, and winners will receive a $250 cash prize, a trophy, and Simon swag.
Register for a prep session by October 8. Competition registration closes October 21. Learn more here.
STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
Multiple scholarships sponsored by organizations are administered through the Rochester Engineering Society. The $1,500 scholarships are awarded annually to recognize outstanding engineering, engineering technology, science, or technology students.
To qualify, students must schedule an interview now through November 30. Applications, including cover letter, transcript and letters of recommendation must be submitted by December 11. Learn more here.
ALUMNI NEWS
Felix Kim ‘14 is one of 12 “entrepreneurs to watch,” according to a new Optics and Photonics News feature that “throws the spotlight on a selection of creative scientists and engineers—and the enterprises they’re building.”
Felix is the CEO of Ovitz, the company he founded with other students while attending The Institute of Optics. The company has developed the world’s first closed-loop wavefront guided system to produce contact lenses for people with hard to treat, high order aberration (HOA) vision problems.
When COVID-19 closed optometry practices last year, the company postponed a big promotional push and instead focused on reputation-building with a small community of optometrists. A bigger rollout is planned next year, the story reports.
Among the original members of the student-led company, former student Nicholas Brown is still on board as director of engineering. Other Ovitz team members with University and Hajim School ties are:
- Director: Donald Golini ’86 optics, the founder and former president of QED Technologies, founder of SANICA Ventures, and chairman of the advisory board of the Luminate startup accelerator program.
- Chief scientist: Geunyoung Yoon, professor of ophthalmology, whose research was adapted to launch the company.
- Electrical engineer: Jason Lyons ’20 of electrical and computer engineering.
- Research scientist: Andres Guevara ‘20 PhD of optics.
This is worth noting as well: Optics and Photonic News is published by the professional organization originally known as the Optical Society of America (OSA) and more recently as the Optical Society. It has now rebranded itself as Optica, the society advancing optics and photonics worldwide, for reasons explained here.
Have a great week!
Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman
