Metro Washington
Chapter
2022-23 MWC Scholars
Micaila D.E. Curtis
Danaher Corporation Scholar
- 1st Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Research involves growing patient-derived pancreatic tumors on a microchip mimicking perfusable human tumors with vascularization. The 3-D print design includes a microfluidics chamber with extracellular matrix and lumen, allowing study of the tumor with its microenvironment.
Devin D. Palmer
Mars Foundation Scholar
- 2nd Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate, Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience
- Research to understand the “road map” by which seizures spread in the brain. Using high spatial and temporal resolution methods, I will record, target and manipulate neuronal activity within defined regions of the brain to influence seizure initiation, propagation and cessation.
Jordan L. Tanen
ARCS-MWC Chapter Scholar
- 1st Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate, Chemistry
- Research developing high-sensitivity analytical techniques for quantitative trace fluorine detection in complex environmental and biological samples. The methods enable any fluorine-containing molecule to be quantified without the need for standards specific to that compound, offering a general approach for trace-level quantitative mapping of fluorochemical bio- and environmental transformations
Megan S. Anderson
ARCS-MWC Chapter Scholar
- 2nd Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Research uses ultrasound to measure the mechanical properties of biocompatible hydrogels, developing a non-destructive characterization method. Ultrasound is also used to vaporize droplets in those hydrogels, exploring a non-invasive payload delivery method.
Ashley M. Frankenfield
Willard and Marilynn Sweetser Scholar
- 2nd Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate, Chemistry
- Research focuses on the development of new analytical chemistry methods using mass spectrometry techniques to identify and quantify thousands of proteins simultaneously in biological systems, and the application of these methods to discover candidate disease biomarkers and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases.
Mark Iskarous
Forster Family Foundation Scholar
- 1st Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate, Biomedical Engineering
- Research develops computational models to enable naturalistic sensory feedback of tactile stimuli to amputees through electrical stimulation of their residual nerves. The computational models will mimic biological processing to encode tactile stimuli as robust and efficient neural representations to improve functional outcomes in their daily lives when using neural prostheses.
Nyeli G. Kratz
Patricia and Duncan Sparrell Undergraduate Scholar
- Undergraduate Scholar
- Biomedical Engineering
- Research in adaptive technologies for people with disabilities to increase independence and improve quality of life. This includes myoelectric upper-limb prosthetics, a baby carrier-to-wheelchair attachment for quadriplegic parents, and a one-arm-drive standing mobility device for pediatric patients with hemiplegia associated with cerebral palsy or traumatic brain injury.
Sarah Y. Neshat
ARCS-MWC Endowment Scholar
- 1st Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate, Biomedical Engineering
- Research on novel nanotechnology to modulate the immune system of the body to engineer biodegradable polymers to construct nanoparticles as next generation mRNA vaccines. The goal is to use this immunotherapy to treat patients with autoimmune diseases with the potential to mediate immunosuppression as an off-the-shelf biodegradable nanoparticle vaccine.
Ryan P. O’Hara
McNichols Family Foundation Scholar
- 1st Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate, Biomedical Engineering
- Research uses personalized virtual heart models in combination with high performance computing to predict the risk of adverse cardiac events and improve clinical treatment planning for patients with cardiac arrhythmias.
Patrick M. Keating
Dr. Jean K. Boek Memorial Scholar
- 1st Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate, Biochemistry
- Research investigating the influence of protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions on the membrane fusion mechanism of the Lassa virus, elucidating novel insights into the critical viral infection step by characterizing the structure and interaction of the viral membrane proteins with each other and with the viral and host cell membrane lipids.
Martin A. Ritter
ARCS-MWC Endowment Scholar
- 1st Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate, Physics
- Research uses superconducting circuits to implement synthetic metamaterials for the study of condensed matter systems with exotic behaviors which are difficult to isolate in real materials. Developing new building blocks for quantum computers to provide different architecture possibilities and a platform to simulate new materials and inform materials science research.
Nick R. Schwartz
Mrs. Nancy Schumack (Mrs. Ralph D. Schumack) Memorial Scholar
- 1st Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate in Material Science & Engineering
- Scientists have long attempted to use fusion reactors to create miniature stars on Earth for energy production, but implementation is inhibited where a man-made star interacts with surrounding walls. As part of a team that is developing a novel fusion reactor, this research tests materials that can survive the immense heat and radiation through simulations and experiments.
Megan D. Haase
ARCS-MWC Chapter Scholar
- 1st Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate, Biomedical Engineering
- Research aims to understand the cellular interactions during muscle regeneration and how estrogen influences these mechanisms using multi-scale computational modeling and experimental studies. The goal is to use these techniques to identify optimal estrogen-specific interventions for enhanced muscle recovery.
Zhe-Tu D. Lin
ARCS-MWC Chapter Scholar
- 1st Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate, Astronomy
- Protoplanetary disks are material that orbits an infant star and serve as the birthplaces of planets. But, their structure and evolution remains largely unclear. Research involves simulations and observations to characterize the disk temperature, density, magnetic field, and distribution of grain sizes to better characterize and understand these objects.
Catherine E. “Katya” Mikhailova
Toni and Hans Schierling Undergraduate Scholar
- Undergraduate Scholar
- Physics and Computer Science
- Research in physics, studying ultra-cold atom clouds created using a magnetic chip trap in space located on the ISS by configuring the trap parameters and analyzing the remote images of the atoms to eventually help create an atom interferometer in space.
Sydney S. Turner
JCM Foundation Scholar
- 1st Year Scholar
- PhD Candidate, Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Research investigates the effects of water disinfects (silver, copper, and chlorine) at concentrations below the drinking water standard on Aedes aegypti (vector for dengue, zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever) mosquito larvae to develop guidance for point-of-use water treatment and vector control management within underserved communities.