Trine University recognized students for their work at the ninth annual STEM Research and Design Symposium, which took place on December 4 at the MTI Center concourse. The event showcased 61 student projects from various academic departments, including freshman and research projects as well as Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU).
Awards were given in several categories. In biomedical engineering, Anna Peyton of Franklin, Indiana, Camden Prather of Noblesville, Indiana, and Hunter Jacobs of Spencerville, Indiana received the award for best undergraduate research with their project “Characterization of HL-60 Leukemia Cell Viability in Bone Marrow Mimicking Microenvironmental Conditions.” An honorable mention went to Gretchen Culler of Delta, Ohio, Kaden Curtis of Swanton, Ohio, and Reganne Koskela of South Lyon, Michigan for “Thrill or Tension: Physiological Response to VR Rollercoasters in Enjoyers and Non-Enjoyers.”
In chemical engineering, Abigail Hansen from Frankfort, Illinois was awarded best undergraduate research for “Colorful Kinetics: Engineering a Rainbow.” Sudeep Iyer from India received an honorable mention for “Protein Production and Purification: Applications for Monoclonal Antibodies and CAR-T Cell signaling.”
Mechanical engineering majors Nicholas Ewing of Wabash, Indiana and Nathan Stefanski of Almont, Michigan won best undergraduate research with “Zero-dispersion parametric pumping in encapsulated micromechanical resonators.”
The best undergraduate design project went to a team consisting of Ben Pamachena (Mishawaka), Brayden Prince (Kokomo), Brett Schwartz (Berne), Dane Chapman (Morden), Kyle Smith (Dundee), Mataya Redinger (St. Joe), Mitch Machall (Fort Wayne), Ronald Simpson (Crestwood), and Sofia Delgado (El Paso) for their entry in the “NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge Competition.”
Bailey Puckett from Cambridge City was recognized for best undergraduate research in exercise science with a study on gender bias in carbon plated shoe research. Honorable mentions went to Hunter Overholser (“Virtual reality vs. real-world dart throwing”), Mariah Hurst (“Mechanical analysis of American football helmet outer shell”), Fiona Olsen (“The effect of contralateral training during ACL recovery”), and Ashlyn Shaffer (“Effect of lower body neuromuscular joint stabilization training has on preventing non-contact ACL injuries in female soccer players 14-18”).
For freshman projects in biomedical engineering, Alison Griffin from Brookville and Olivia Harley from Fort Wayne were awarded best project for “Robots Rewriting the OR.” Honorable mentions included Erin Fariello (Clifton Park), Hailey Dunn (Stilesville), Zane Galliers (Swanton) with “Biologically Integrated Interfaces: Osseointegration,” as well as Isabel Fischer (Liberty Township) and Zachary Mikrut (Chicago) with “Hip and Shoulder Joint Replacement.”
The People’s Choice Award went to Culler, Curtis and Koskela’s VR rollercoaster project. Griffin and Harley received an honorable mention.
Trine University offers degrees across multiple schools including engineering & computing, business, health professions, education, arts & sciences. It is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association with 37 intercollegiate sports programs. Founded in 1884 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Trine operates its main campus in Angola as well as other centers across several states.
Information from this story was sourced from MeritPages.com
