Office of Undergraduate Research

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Emphasizing equitable and inclusive access to research opportunities, the University of Maryland's Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) empowers undergraduates and faculty to engage and succeed in inquiry, creative activity, and scholarship. This collection includes materials shared by undergraduate researchers during OUR events. It also encompasses materials from Undergraduate Research Day 2020, Undergraduate Research Day 2021, and Undergraduate Research Day 2022, which were organized by the Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research.

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End date: 2024Subject: search.filters.subject.ENGR

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 20
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    Enhanced Computational Tool for Seismic Fault Sensitivity Screening
    (2024) Subramaniyan, Vishnu; Mandhan, Sai; Maheshwari, Raunak; Bensi, Michelle; Lundstern, Jens-Erik
    Earthquakes occur when stress exceeds the strength of pre-existing faults, potentially causing severe damage to the built environment. It is critical to identify the faults that are most likely to rupture, given our knowledge of various subsurface properties. Existing fault screening tools are closed-source or have limitations that affect their usefulness in research and engineering applications. Our team is developing a more efficient, open-source seismic fault sensitivity screening software program designed to support probabilistic seismic hazard analysis and geophysical research. Our research aims to improve upon existing tools by leveraging vectorization to increase calculation speeds and offering choice among multiple probabilistic distributions to capture uncertainty in input parameters. Moreover, the open-source nature of this tool enables researchers to adapt the program for their own purposes to support seismic hazard assessment.
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    Silicone Fish Tail Actuator Capable of Variable Stiffening
    (2024) Abrishamian, Shirah Shoshanah Ariel; Lena, Johnson; Huertas-Cerdeira, Cecilia
    This work documents the creation of a fish-inspired robot actuator - from the conceptual design to a functional silicone model. The effect between the variable stiffness of a fish body and swimming efficiency has been a research subject in recent years. Often anatomy or function of an organism will inspire technological designs, particularly within the study of robotics. Animals have flexible anatomy for a range of possible maneuvers, and why fish-inspired robots are a popular choice in research. Studies have suggested a key to swim speed and efficiency in fish has been through tunable musculature. While muscle stiffness is difficult to measure in live fish, there is strong, natural evidence from several species, such as sunfish and tuna fish, showcasing this idea. Promoting inspired designs is the next step in improving robot performance. The deceptively simple appearance of typical fish combined with the numerous species' traits provides several possible robot designs. The robots can be objectively simple, with a trivial body and motor design to observe simple caudal fin motion. Or they can be exceptionally complicated if the research chooses to explore the nuances of fish anatomy and physiology, and how the impact on fish swimming in nature translates into an engineered construct. This would be beneficial due to the close relationship between bio-inspired design and soft robotics, fish bodies make a prime testing ground for soft robotics. No matter the simplicity, these robot designs can then be tested to gather valuable experimental data. This collaboration of technology and analysis then results in robots with advanced designs and special maneuvering capabilities. This research project aims to develop a tuna-inspired tail actuator capable of variable stiffness via a pneumatic system. Once attached to a 3D-printed fish body, it will be used to observe vorticity changes in fluid.
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    On the Security of the Learning with Errors Problem with Side Information
    (2024) Benchaaboun, Adnan; Chowdhury, Ayman; Gaba, Sahil; Javillo, Julian; LaBuff, Lucas; Parker, Avery; Yelovich, Alexander; Dachman-Soled, Dana; Diaz, Zaida
    Modern-day cryptosystems rely on mathematical problems that are easy to construct, but computationally infeasible even for large supercomputers to solve, such as factoring enormous numbers. However, the advent of quantum computing poses a threat to several cryptosystems which are standardized and currently in wide use. As quantum computers operate on different mathematical principles than classical computers, they could theoretically crack these math problems with ease and render private encrypted data vulnerable. As such, new systems are being designed in order to guarantee security even in the post-quantum age. Many post-quantum cryptosystems rely on the Learning with Errors (LWE) problem, which is believed to be secure against attacks from both classical and quantum adversaries. As several of these algorithms are in the process of being standardized, it is critical to scrutinize LWE in order to identify and remedy any potential weaknesses. In our work, we investigate the robustness of the LWE problem in the situation where some side information about the secret key is leaked. We abstractly model this side information as mathematical hints in order to contribute to a flexible framework for estimating the security of various LWE-based cryptosystems, and we apply this framework to the CRYSTALS-Kyber public-key cryptosystem and the CKKS approximate fully homomorphic encryption scheme. The framework models the underlying LWE problem as a high-dimensional ellipsoid, and side information as geometric constraints on this ellipsoid.
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    Wind and Wings: Applications of UV Painted Patterns on Wind Turbines
    (2024) DeVane, Madison; Jacobs, Nathan; Mayo, Robert; Kjellerup, Birthe
    Each year, hundreds of thousands of birds are killed by unknowingly flying into spinning wind turbine blades. While the issue of avian deaths is large itself, another problem arises; turbines will need to be shut down for potential maintenance, resulting in a loss of energy. An effective means to minimizing avian collision with turbine blades is to reduce the motion smear created. As avians have the capability to see UV, painting patterns on the blades with UV paint will reduce collisions & increase turbine visibility. The study, Reduction of Motion Smear to Reduce Avian Collisions with Wind Turbines, was performed here at UMD by Dr. Hodos to determine the optimal pattern to paint on wind turbine blades to maximize avian visibility. New wind turbine blades will be painted with UV paint using the ideal pattern to prevent avian collision. Existing turbines may be painted with the pattern, enhancing their environmental safety. Looking at the total cost of a wind turbine, this solution will only represent an increased 0.001% in cost. The thin-stripe staggered, anti-motion-smear pattern had a visibility (µV above noise) of 2.7, which is the most visible tested. Comparatively, the blank blades had a visibility of 0.9. By using UV paint instead of black, the avian visibility increases further as avian photoreceptors are maximally sensitive to UV light; while it will appear invisible to the human eye, preventing distractions. Calcium Sulfide is found in the UV paint, which is toxic to aquatic life. Further research should be performed to prevent the leaching of CaS into the watershed. Including the substitution of CaS with a nontoxic chemical & the durability of a chemical coating.
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    Understanding the Extracellular Matrix Structure of Lymph Nodes During Immune Reponse
    (2024) Patolia, Reina; Abbouchi, Yassmin; Ramirez, Ann; Maisel, Katharina
    Lymph nodes (LNs) are integral in the human immune system, as they facilitate the movement of lymphocytes to areas of the body experiencing immunological challenges. During inflammation, research has shown that LNs expand up to 10 times their initial volumetric size and go through major changes. Most importantly, it is known that the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the LN contributes to its structure in addition to cell activities such as proliferation and migration. With the ECM being critical in LN function, we hope to understand how it changes throughout the stages of inflammation. To do this, we are optimizing a procedure to image lymph node samples and quantify the ECM’s interstitial spacing through the inflammatory response. While conducting this project, mice are injected with lipopolysaccharide (the cellular wall component of gram-negative bacteria), and LNs are collected during the 14-day inflammatory period. The tissue is sliced and stained using immunofluorescence. The images acquired from a confocal microscope are then processed using Fiji software and put into a gap analysis MATLAB code, provided by scientists at the Francis Crick Institute. After converting the interstitial space and ECM to zeros and ones (binary), the code quantifies the empty space and structures within the ECM. This information allows us to see how interstitial spacing within the ECM during inflammation correlates to the LNs’ mechanical properties. This insight into the inner workings of LNs will provide more details about their physiology and how changes in architecture, due to disease and age, can ultimately change LN immune function.
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    Downcycling Opportunities For Reverse Osmosis Membranes
    (2024) Boulware, Mekhi; Kihiuria, Duncan; Simon, Graham; Yagci, Ege; Kjelllerup, Birthe
    Our project aims to tackle the issue of reverse-osmosis (RO) membrane waste. RO membranes are integral to water purification as they possess selective permeability, which can allow clean water to pass while capturing specific contaminants. However, their typical disposal pathway contributes to the increasing global amount of solid waste. This project aligns with existing literature on waste reduction and resource sustainability in the water treatment sector. Previous studies have explored various methods for repurposing waste materials. To address these issues, we propose downcycling RO membrane components into microfiltration (MF) filters, extending their useful life beyond the typical outcome of landfill disposal and/or incineration. Both of these disposal methods have negative implications for the environment over time, including increased emissions and loss of resource potential. Key results from our project include the potential to significantly reduce RO membrane waste and find greater usage for specific membrane components, including membrane sheets. By repurposing membrane components and implementing MF filters, a more circular and sustainable economy can be obtained. The implications of our results extend beyond waste reduction and resource management as they underscore the importance of innovative approaches in addressing environmental challenges and advancing toward a more sustainable future.
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    Quantification of the Impact of Matrix Stiffness on Brain Endothelial Cell-Cell Junction Stiffness
    (2024) Gupta, Udit; Yan, Li; Stroka, Kimberly
    The blood brain barrier (BBB) plays a significant role in maintaining homeostasis within the brain by regulating transport in and out of the brain microvasculature. Cell-cell junctions are an integral component that aid in the selective permeability of the BBB. Both mechanical and biochemical cues help regulate the cell-cell junctions. In particular, matrix stiffness is one of the mechanical cues that has been previously shown to impact the cell-cell junctions of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), and we hypothesized that this may occur through changes in cell stiffness. To understand the impact of matrix stiffness on the cell stiffness of induced pluripotent brain microvascular endothelial cells (iBMECs), atomic force microscopy (AFM) was conducted on the iBMECs which were plated on extracellular matrix coated hydrogels of varying stiffnesses ranging from 1 to 194 kPa. The role of astrocytes and pericytes, which are critical accompanying cells for BBB function, in regulating the cell stiffness was also investigated. Without the introduction of the astrocytes and pericytes, the iBMECs were most stiff on the 2.5 kPa hydrogels, and the Young’s modulus was highest in the tricellular junction region. The introduction of the astrocytes and pericytes resulted in a slight decline in iBMEC stiffness, although the tricellular junctions remained the stiffest regions in the monolayer. In future studies, the impact of metastatic breast cancer cells on cell stiffness will also be investigated, towards understanding how matrix stiffness impacts the BBB mechanical properties and barrier function during tumor cell metastasis.
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    Assessing Porcine Gastric and Trachea Mucin Antimicrobial Activity Against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
    (2024) Sokol, Zoe; Yang, Sydney; Duncan, Gregg
    Mucus is present throughout the human body, lining all wet epithelia, making it a native, familiar material to the innate immune system. The biocompatibility of mucus opens the possibility for therapeutic applications. Existing research has shown that exposure to mucus triggers the downregulation of virulence genes in some bacteria species and rapidly disintegrates biofilms. The aim of this project is to test the innate antimicrobial activity of porcine gastric mucin (PGM) and porcine trachea mucin (PTM) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We examined the antimicrobial activity of mucins by quantifying bacteria growth and viability at numerous time points after mucin treatment. To test this hypothesis, PAO1 cultures were grown in LB broth overnight. Mucin was added to the planktonic PAO1 cultures at various concentrations, 8%, 4%, 2%, 1%, and 0.5% w/v, with each concentration tested in triplicates. At the 3 hr, 6 hr, and 24 hr timepoints after mucin addition, samples were taken from each culture, diluted, and spot-plated. The plates were grown overnight and counted the next day to calculate the colony-forming units. Preliminary results suggest that increasing mucin concentration correlates with decreased bacterial growth, as hypothesized. Additionally, PGM possibly shows a greater degree of antimicrobial effect than PTM. This research has a great potential impact. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen often developing antibiotic resistance making it extremely difficult to treat and a high priority for novel treatment development. Therefore, a novel treatment method against P. aeruginosa can have broad implications and improve bacterial infection treatments.
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    Autocycle: Design, Construction, and Validation of an Autonomous Bicycle
    (2021) Allen, Michael; Bartolomei, Jacob; Carter, Jeremy; Grill, Cooper; Khrenov, Mikhail; Mirenzi, John; O'Leary, Joseph; Rose, Isaac; Ruderman, Evan; Sanguesa, Andoni; Swaisgood, Logan; Gomez, Romel
    Efficient urban transportation has time and time again proved to be a difficult problem to rectify. One modern solution is the bike-sharing system, where many bicycles are available either at hubs or spread across a city for short-term use. However, usage is limited to those located close enough to a bicycle hub that traveling to and from it is time-effective. As for hubless bike-shares, bicycles require redistribution over time to remain conveniently available to many. We propose the creation of an electric bicycle that can either be used by a cyclist manually or operated autonomously using locomotion, sensing, balance, and control systems. We have concluded that such a concept is possible and achievable, as we are making significant progress toward developing working prototypes for the self-stability and autonomous navigation of the Autocycle. Once those milestones are completed, we will integrate the two systems together in the final prototype. Our Undergraduate Research Day presentation will showcase the research and data we have collected up until this point and outline our future goals for the project. With the completion of this prototype, we want to show that such a bicycle could be implemented into a larger bike-sharing system that autonomously manages distribution and allows users to summon a bicycle to their location, expanding the range of use and encouraging environmentally-friendly transportation solutions in an urban setting.
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    Linker Domain Size Does Not Impact Bivalent HER3 Targeting Affibody Efficacy
    (2020) Oubaid, Jinan; Schardt, John; Jay, Steven; Jay, Steven; Schardt, John
    The Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) family of receptors, also called ErbB or HER family, is a group of tyrosine kinase transmembrane proteins that have many regulatory purposes including regulating cell proliferation and survival. Members of the HER family rely on forming dimers upon ligand binding to promote downstream signaling. Gene mutations can result in the deregulation of the HER receptors, further resulting in cancer. HER3, a receptor that is deregulated in many cancers including ovarian, breast, and lung cancer, has been found to be responsible for drug resistance to therapeutics that currently exist to target other members of the HER family. This can occur through increased phosphorylation and overexpression of the HER3 receptor. There are many HER3 targeted therapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), that are currently in phase 1 and 2 of clinical studies; however, no HER3 targeted therapeutics have been approved by the FDA. In addition to this, previous studies have demonstrated that not every patient will respond to a specific treatment plan or therapeutic; therefore, the development of various treatment options is essential. An engineered protein known as the affibody, which in previous studies has shown to be highly soluble, thermally stable, and small in size allowing for effective tissue penetration, has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent for cancer. In this study, it was found that multivalent affibodies, which are affibodies with more than one binding domain, are more effective at inhibiting HER3 activation, also known as phosphorylation, and inducing HER3 downregulation than monovalent affibodies in multiple cell lines. Inhibiting receptor activation can be effective at reducing cell proliferation and survivability. In addition, other modifications were made to optimize the affibodies, such as altering the length of the linker that tethers the binding domains in a multivalent affibody together, and to test for their efficacy. Finally, an albumin binding domain was incorporated into the affibody design to help increase affibody half-life, which would be essential for in vivo testing.