2022 Harvard MRSEC REU for Undergraduate Student participants

About the 2022 MRSEC REU

Dates: June 6 - August 6, 2022

Flyer: REU 2022

MRSEC Research Areas: Study the mechanics of films and interfaces, design and test materials for soft robotics, and engineer materials and techniques for biological studies at cellular scales.

Photo gallery: REU 2022 poster presentations

Symposium: August 3-5, 2022

Applications and transcripts were due February 1, 2022, and selection of the summer students proceeds with Center faculty through April. With direction from a faculty advisor, and in most cases, a postdoctoral fellow or graduate student, the REU student defines and sets up a program in an REU Research Area necessary to accomplish the ten-week summer project. A final presentation is given by each student at the "end-of-summer" seminar attended by Center faculty, student mentors, and fellow REU students.

The summer 2022 REU Program was 10 weeks in duration from Monday, June 6 (move in day) to Saturday, August 6, 2022 (move out day).

2022 Harvard MRSEC REU Undergraduate Student Participants

Zabari is a recent graduate of Navajo Technical University, class of 2022. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology degree and has plans of pursuing a postgraduate degree in Microbiology. She is Diné (Navajo) and African American. Kinyaa'áanii nishłį́ Nahiłii bashishchiin Kinłichii'nii dashicheii Nahiłii dashinalí. This means she is Towering House Clan born for the African Americans. She is from Torreon, NM but grew up predominantly in Houston, TX. She has dreams of exploring research and how traditional Navajo culture can be incorporated into science. In her free time she enjoys spending time with animals, singing, and traveling.

REU Project Title: Developing a Novel Droplet Sorting Device Using Electrophoresis

Mentors: Robinson Tom, Rohan Thakur

Funding: PREM NTU NSF DMR-2122195 and MRSEC NSF DMR-2011754

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REU Project Title: Wearable soft robotic gripper

Mentors: Lucas Gerez, Harrison Young

Funding: PREM NTU NSF DMR-2122195 and MRSEC NSF DMR-2011754

LinkedIn Profile

Leonardo Claure is a rising senior at Emory University where he is majoring in Biology. After graduation, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. In his free time he enjoys making pottery, playing basketball, and traveling.

REU Project Title: Tissue Embedded Flexible Nanoelectronics to Capture Development in Cyborg Brain Organoids

Mentors: Qiang Li

Funding: MRSEC NSF DMR-2011754

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REU Project Title: Microfluidics: Droplet Formation

Mentors: Bobby Haney

Funding: MRSEC NSF DMR-2011754

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REU Project Title: 3D Printed Lattices for Optimized Electrodes Design

Mentors: Dylan Barber

Funding: PREM NTU NSF DMR-2122195 and MRSEC NSF DMR-2011754

Layla James is a freshman at the Navajo Technical University. She is majoring in biology and plans on pursuing a PhD in Biochemistry or Biomedical science. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, listening to music and reading fiction novels.

REU Project Title: Integrating nanoplasmonic-based heating with digital droplet PCR

Mentors: Yang Wang, Jean Carlos Serrano Flores

Funding: PREM NTU NSF DMR-2122195 and MRSEC NSF DMR-2011754

Christina Perry is a senior at Southern University and A&M College, majoring in Chemistry. After graduation, she plans to pursue MD. Outside of academics, she is passionate about spending time with her family, baking, and community service.

REU Project Title: Effects of nixtamalization on the physical properties and nutrient content in various corns

Mentors: Kathryn Hollar

Funding: CREST MRSEC NSF HRD-1736136 and MRSEC NSF DMR-2011754

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Justin is a rising senior at University of New Mexico studying biology. He continues his research in electrochemistry at Navajo Technical University during the semester under the direction of Dr. Thiagarajan Soundappan. He plans on pursuing a career in medicine. In his spare time he likes to take walks, and admire the scenery.

REU Project Title: Investigating the rheological properties of graphene ink For 3-D printed battery electrodes

Mentors: Dylan Barber, Jennifer Lewis

Funding: PREM NTU NSF DMR-2122195 and MRSEC NSF DMR-2011754

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Mohammed is a rising senior at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, where he is majoring in Mechanical Engineering with Robotics and Mathematics minors. He is very interested and passionate about Medical Robotics and Unmanned aerial systems. Going on road trips is his favorite thing to do.

REU Project Title: Fabrication of elastomer cylindrical thin shells for soft robotics

Mentors: Yang Yi

Funding: MRSEC NSF DMR-2011754

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Hunter Shepard is a senior currently attending Southern University and A&M College located in Baton Rouge, LA, majoring in Mathematics and Physics with a concentration in Mathematics. Hunter considers himself an upcoming Scientist but also an educator at heart. In the future, he plans to attend graduate school and teach STEM in both secondary & higher education sectors.

REU Project Title: Identifying crystal particle structures and modifying with noise to identify fluctuations

Mentors: Will Wang

Funding: CREST MRSEC NSF HRD-1736136 and MRSEC NSF DMR-2011754

LinkedIn Profile

Tionna Tapaha is from Farmington, NM and attends Navajo Technical University. She is majoring in Biology and is expected to graduate in Fall 2022. She hopes to continue her education and obtain her Ph.D. and MD and become a dermatologist. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, and traveling.

REU Project Title: Developing a novel droplet sorting device using electrophoresis

Mentors: Robinson Tom, Rohan Thakur

Funding: PREM NTU NSF DMR-2122195 and MRSEC NSF DMR-2011754

Katelyn Wilson is Navajo and her clans are the Tangle Clan, Start of the Red Streak People Clan, Towering House Clan, and Salt People clan. She is from Becenti, New Mexico and she recently graduated this spring of 2022 with her Bachelors in Science for Biology.

REU Project Title: Integrating nanoplasmonic-based heating with digital droplet PCR

Mentors: Yang Wang, Jean Carlos Serrano Flores

Funding: PREM NTU NSF DMR-2122195 and MRSEC NSF DMR-2011754