Fall 2024 PEAK Experiences Awardees for Undergrad Research

September 25, 2024

Several COE, COS, and Khoury students mentored by COE faculty are recipients of the Fall 2024 PEAK Experiences Awards from Northeastern’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. Projects are focused on Alzheimer’s disease, the impact of wildfires, barriers to AI use, robotics, addressing the medical device shortage in Ghana, and much more.

BASE CAMP AWARDEES
Impact of Fibrotic Stiffness in Human Lung Microvascular Endothelial Cells on Permeability Awardee: Aracely Alicea COS’26 Mentor: Eno Ebong, COE, Chemical Engineering This project aims to determine if lung fibrosis increases vascular permeability to gold nanoparticles, potentially indicating a therapeutic use for gold nanoparticles in diseases associated with lung fibrosis. Notably, lung fibrosis increases the risk of cancer metastasis to the lungs. This will be performed through first determining the optimal exposure time of nanoparticles to healthy and fibrotic human lung microvascular endothelial cell matrices after six hours of flow, then performing replicates of this experiment and analyzing the received data. If successful this research is to be published and then presented at the RISE 2025 conference held at Northeastern University.
Integration of Isotope Probing and Metagenomics To Assess the Degradation Mechanisms of 1,4-Dioxane Awardee: Melissa Bernardin COE’27 Mentor: Rain Miao, COE, Civil & Environmental Engineer 1,4-Dioxane is a groundwater and soil contaminant that poses a threat to the environment and public health. Recently, two microbial consortia, DXO88 and SC30, have been found to posess significant dioxane degrading capabilities. This study aims to identify the key microbial taxa in the two consortia driving 1,4-dioxane degradation. To achieve this, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and DNA-based stable isotope probing in a laboratory scale experiment will be applied and used to explore the molecular mechanisms of the microbial consortia catabolizing carbon-13 labeled 1,4-dioxane.
Developing a Hydrologic Model for Major Maine Rivers Incorporating Reservoir Routing Awardee: Caleb Hagner COE’26 Mentor: James Dennedy-Frank, COS, Marine & Environment Sciences In light of recent record streamflows and major flooding in Maine, building a robust hydrologic and hydraulic model with the resolution and fidelity to predict how streamflow will vary in a future climate and depending on management decisions will be critical to help water resource managers plan for the future. This project will develop a software skeleton based on the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) and Routing Application for Parallel computatIon of Discharge (RAPID) models to explore the effect of dams on Maine flooding that has the capacity to later be updated with higher-resolution inputs. Results will be presented at RISE.
Automated Tracking and Annotating of Brittle Sea Stars Awardee: Josefina Kummer Khoury’26 Mentor: Tom Consi, COE, Electrical and Computer Engineering Underwater video streams are a modern tool for aiding scientists in investigating our ocean’s resources. Observing ocean species in their natural habitats provide scientists with key insights on how to best protect them. The traditional process of annotating videos frame by frame is time consuming and the view of these organisms is limited by the camera’s scope. I aim to significantly expedite and expand this process by developing a machine learning model that will use object detection and classification algorithms to continuously track and annotate brittle sea stars from underwater dive videos.
The Impact of Aging on Day 5 Daf-2 Mutant C. elegans’ Host-Microbiome Interactions Awardee: Dylan Lasky COE’25 Mentor: Erel Levine, COE, Bioengineering The purpose is to investigate how the host-microbiome interactions between Daf-2 mutant C. elegans and introduced bacteria strains can become altered due to aging. I will modify and test a different design of the microfluidic chambers that will be suited for imaging older, larger animals as the current microfluidic device in Levine Lab is only capable of fitting normal sized adult worms. I plan to follow a process of microfluidic device design, fabrication, and testing to determine the quality of the worm loading procedure. The outcome data will be fluorescent images demonstrating the bacteria strains within the worm gut.
Comparative Analysis of Input Devices for Digital Trail Making Task Awardee: Erin Lynch COS’27 Mentor: Mathew Yarossi, Bouvé, Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Science Our overarching project aims to incorporate an eye-tracking integrated digitized Trail Making Task (dTMT) with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate cognitive, motor, and visual domains in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Specifically, we aim to determine which fMRI compatible input device (trackball or Xbox controller) most closely mimics our previously validated stylus and Wacom tablet dTMT paradigm. Finally, we plan to validate the chosen device with the Wacom version, hoping to show correlation in outcome measures between input devices and differences in performance on varying task complexities (numeric-TMTA vs. alphanumeric-TMTB). This work will be disseminated at RISE and SfN.
Building a Card Playing Robot To Improve Pick and Place Robotics Algorithms Awardee: Nikhil Mukraj Khoury’27 Mentor: Thomas Consi, COE, Electrical and Computer Engineering The project aims to design and build a small mobile robot that should be able to recognize cards and interact with them in a game-like setting. The mechanical aspect of the project will be completed by building a robot that navigates its environment using a four wheel drive and 3D printing an arm for the robot to pick up cards with. The robot will be controlled by a Jetson Nano which will also use machine learning based computer vision to recognize the cards and determine where to place them.
Perception Pipeline and Algorithm Development for a Quadrupedal Robot “Husky” Awardee: Ruben Noroian COE’27 Mentor: Alireza Ramezani, COE, Electrical and Computer Engineering Biomimicry, the practice of addressing human engineering challenges with solutions from nature, is a primary focus of Northeastern’s Silicon Synapse Lab. Husky one of the labs robots, aims to mimic the legged and aerial mobility of animals like birds. Referred to as multi-modal locomotion, this combination requires information from various sensors located on the robot. My project first aims to build a robust pipeline that efficiently transfers sensor data to the robots hardware for real-time processing. I will also assist in data processing by improving algorithms that provide instructions establishing Huskys mobility.
Cell-Specific Modulation of CREB for Enhancing Neuroregeneration in C. Elegans Awardee: Lynn Pham COS’27 Mentor: Samuel Chung, COE, Bioengineering My project utilizes the roundworm C. elegans as a model organism to understand the pathways that underlie neuron regeneration, which will contribute to advancing therapies that stimulate spinal cord repair. I will investigate a specific regulatory gene as a potential modulator of CREB, a protein that mediates neuronal responses. To accomplish this, I will cross mutant worm strains, analyze genetic interactions using a fluorescent marker, and share my findings through a RISE presentation. Expected outcomes include gene expression data that will inform future research and insights into the upstream modulators and cell-specificity of CREB in C. elegans sensory neurons.
The Mechanochemistry Behind the Repair of Damaged Collagen Fibrils Awardee: Olivia Piccione COE’27 Mentor: Jeffrey Ruberti, COE, Bioengineering Collagen is the main protein within tissues such as ligaments and tendons and it allows these tissues to carry out functions including movement, as well as provide support. However, once damaged, the fibrils take a long time to repair which leaves the affected area prone to reinjury, impacting patients’ long-term health. This project will focus on studying individual collagen fibrils to determine if supplying extra collagen molecules to damaged fibrils can help speed up the process of repair. The results will bring us closer to developing regenerative medicine, which will be presented at RISE.
Fabrication of Protein-based Dielectric Elastomers Awardee: Rebecca Britney Brogaard Salerno COS’26 Mentor: Neel Joshi, COS, Chemistry & Chemical Biology My project intends to produce a protein-based dielectric elastomer, which is a useful elastic material that can exert electrical force to produce movement. This material can simulate and aid muscle action in the form of a wearable exoskeleton due to its elastic properties. It can also make up small electrical components, which can be stretched to endure more force without breaking. To make this material, I harvest a dielectric protein from E. coli bacteria and conjugate the protein to a silicon crosslinker, resulting in the dielectric elastomer. I plan to share my results at the annual RISE expo.
Extracting the Binding Affinities Between MBL and Various Viral Glycans via Molecular Docking Awardee: Amit Shenoy COE’26 Mentor: Mona Minkara, COE, Bioengineering Airborne pathogens attack humans through the lungs, an area that can be better fortified. By examining these pathogens’ structures, and understanding how our immune system interacts with them, we can better recognize patients who might be at greater risk, see early signs of disease, and aid in therapeutic drug discovery. One immunoprotein, MBL, specializes in targeting pathogens like Influenza A and SARS-CoV-2 at the lung-body interface itself, preventing escalation of disease, and as its binding properties have not yet been characterized, this protein’s interactions with various viruses will be modeled and reported.
Mechanical Reprocessing of Dynamic Networks Awardee: Devan Singh COE’25 Mentor: Diego Alzate-Sanchez, COS, Chemistry & Chemical Biology Due to their crosslinked nature, thermosets are chemically and mechanically robust and are therefore difficult to repurpose. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate that thermoset polymers can be recycled with mild and environmentally friendly methods. Such methods include cyclic mechanically induced strain on said polymers. Testing will be done to determine the best crosslinker to use such that the reactions that form the crosslinks of the polymer chains are reversible. This reversibility of the elastomer cross linkers will be tested using rheology to determine if the resultant material has desirable mechanical properties.
Wildfire-Driven Changes in Infiltration and Soil Moisture Awardee: Lee Smith COS’26 Mentor: James Dennedy-Frank, COE, Civil & Environmental Engineer Climate change and human activities are increasing the frequency and damages of wildfires worldwide. My project aims to understand how wildfire alters landscape-scale infiltration and soil moisture, which are critical factors in floods, landslides, and water contamination. By analyzing soil moisture and precipitation estimates from satellites, I will identify changes in soil moisture patterns before and after wildfires. This work will develop a new technique for assessing wildfire impacts, aiding in post-fire recovery efforts. I plan to both share my findings at Northeastern events and publish them for the wider scientific community.
Effect of Contraction Speed on Control of Single Motor Units Awardee: Aditi Swamy COS’27 Mentor: Mathew Yarossi, Bouvé, Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Science The motor unit, a motor neuron and its muscle fibers, is the fundamental structure of muscle contraction. Complications of the motor unit are involved in various movement related neurological conditions; therefore, relevant studies have clinical applications in early detection technology. This project aims to characterize spike frequency of the motor unit as a function of time, to determine whether motor units are flexibly controlled. We can quantify the firing rates of paired motor units and test assumptions of rigid control using high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) recordings. I plan to present the results at Northeastern’s RISE conference in Spring 2025.
Design and Construction of a New Cooling Stage for C. elegans Immobilization Awardee: Wesley Sydnor COS’27 Mentor: Samuel Chung, COE, Bioengineering The NeuroLab employs laser surgery to study neuroregeneration, using imaging techniques to monitor neuron regrowth. One goal is long-term, repeated neuron imaging, but current immobilization methods cause animal injury and death. Cooling offers a simpler, safer alternative. This project focuses on improving a previous cooling stage design to reduce vibration, speed up temperature changes, and simplify replication. I will design in SOLIDWORKS and construct the new stage in an iterative process. I will present results at RISE 2025 and the Northeastern-Area Worm Meeting.
SUMMIT AWARDEES
Water-Oil Interface Drop Coalescence Awardee: James Belanger COE’25, Winston Prescott COE’26 Mentor: Xiaoyu Tang, COE, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering The coalescence of fluid droplets is a phenomena with important implications in manufacturing, food processing, fuel-water separation, and more. Developing our collective understanding of drop coalescence will allow these industries to innovate for further efficiency. Although there have been numerous studies on the topic, there is a gap in information regarding single drop coalescence at an interface of immiscible liquids. We set our goal to detail this gap in information to collect a robust data set which would describe the effect of droplet impact velocity on coalescence efficiency, allowing us to draw and publish conclusions about the coalescence event.
Low-Cost Neonates Pulse-Oximeters To Address Chronic Medical Device Shortages in Ghana Awardee: Megan Burke COE’25 Mentor: Joshua Hertz, COE, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Ghana faces chronic medical device shortages, largely due to the unsustainable importation of equipment that fails to meet local needs. This project aims to develop low-cost sustainable neonatal pulse oximeters tailored to the needs and resources of Kyebi Governmental Hospital. The devices will utilize locally sourced materials and foster collaboration with Ghanian Universities, creating solutions that are both sustainable and repairable within Ghana. This will improve the immediate neonatal care at Kyebi and provide a scalable model for addressing similar needs in Ghana and other countries, demonstrating how locally tailored, sustainable innovation can effectively improve healthcare delivery globally.
Manipulating Viscous Fingering Pattern Formation in Gel-Producing Fluids Awardee: Matthew Coughlin COE’25 Mentor: Xiaoyu Tang, COE, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering The displacement of a more viscous fluid by a less viscous fluid in a confided geometry produces an unstable interface. Manipulating the instability is desirable in contexts including environmental remediation and oil recovery. Little attention has been paid how the formation of a gel at the fluid interface modifies pattern formation. We propose a new study in a Hele-Shaw cell involving the simultaneous displacement and cross-linking of sodium alginate by a calcium solution. The results are anticipated to illuminate the underlying physics of pattern formation and identify methods to control interface instability. They will be shared at conferences including RISE.
Enhancing Macrophage Polarization Through Biomaterial-Supplied Oxygenation Awardee: Suveer Ganta COE’24 Mentor: Stephen Hatfield, Bouvé, Pharmaceutical Science This project explores a new way to boost the body’s immune response against cancer. Tumors create low-oxygen environments that weaken immune cells, particularly macrophages, which are crucial for attacking cancer. We are testing an oxygen-releasing material that could help these cells regain their strength and better fight cancer. If successful, this approach could lead to more effective cancer treatments. Results will be shared at the Northeastern RISE conference and through academic publications.
Predicting and Scoring Antibody-Antigen Interactions Using Deep-Learning Techniques Awardee: Maxwell He Khoury’25 Mentor: Srirupa Chakraborty, COE, Chemical Engineering Antibodies are Y-shaped glycoproteins that are crucial in initiating and propagating the body’s defense against pathogens. Antibody-antigen (Ab-Ag) interactions are a subclass of protein-protein interactions that are notable for being flexible and having unique structures that generate strong specificity and binding affinity. These features make them difficult yet attractive targets of study for biomedical applications. We use deep-learning techniques, specifically graph neural networks (GNNs) and transfer learning to predict and score such interactions. Developing accurate Ab-Ag analysis methods has the potential to overcome the current limitations of machine-learning-based flexible docking and to advance protein engineering and antibody therapeutics.
Encapsulating Indocyanine Green Dye (ICG) Using Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) Awardee: Rupsa Jana COS’25 Mentor: Allison Dennis, COE, Chemical Engineering Indocyanine Green (ICG), a small fluorescent molecule, aids in disease diagnosis by imaging deep tissue with precision. Encapsulating ICGs into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) increases their biocompatibility and enables them to track the targeted delivery of nanoparticle-based drugs for disease treatment if co-encapsulated together. I will optimize ICG encapsulation into LNPs previously designed for cancer drug delivery using novel microfluidics and characterize them using DLS/Zeta and fluorescence spectroscopy. I will image ICG-LNPs in vivo in murine vasculature to examine their imaging efficacy. ICG-LNP characterization and imaging data will be presented at translational medicine conferences such as the New England Science Symposium.
Optimizing the Production of Vinblastine and Vincristine From the Plant Catharanthus roseus Awardee: Molly Johnson COE’25 Mentor: Carolyn Lee-Parsons, COE, Chemical Engineering The anti-cancer drugs vinblastine and vincristine are naturally produced within the leaves of the medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus. The production of these drugs through chemical synthesis or extraction from leaves is challenging due to their complex structure and low natural abundance, which limits their availability for patients. This research aims to develop an optimized protocol for the processing and extraction of vinblastine and vincristine from C. roseus leaves to increase the production and availability of the anti-cancer drugs for chemotherapy use.
Bridging Gaps: A Low-Cost EHR System To Alleviate Manual Healthcare Record-keeping in Rural Ghana Awardee: Stephanie Liu COE’26, Talia Rose Bluestein Bouve’26, Bharthi Mohan COS’27 Mentor: Joshua Hertz, COE, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Our project aims to improve healthcare accessibility in rural Ghana by designing and implementing a low-cost electronic health record (EHR) system for Akyem Dwenase Health Centre. By streamlining patient information management, the system will enhance care quality and expand access. Collaborating with local partners, we will customize the EHR system using accessible materials and train healthcare personnel for sustainable use. The project will culminate in the system’s delivery in March 2025, with results shared through presentations to partner organizations and Northeastern University, ensuring long-term impact on global health initiatives.
A Study of the Spatial Temporal Dynamics of a Three-Species Model Microbiome Awardee: Erica Moore COE’24 Mentor: Erel Levine, COE, Bioengineering My project determines how multi-species bacterial interactions shape the dynamics of a model microbiome. I am studying how the addition of another species affects competition between two bacteria. I will first identify antagonistic interactions in two-species communities by examining the effect of supernatant isolated from one species on the growth of another. To determine how these interactions are shaped by further species, I will study spatial organization over time in fluorescently-labeled, three-species communities on solid media. These experiments will provide insight into how bacterial interactions shape the composition of communities such as the gut microbiome, and ultimately affect host health.
Design, Manufacture, and Analysis of a Low Shock 12U Cube Satellite Separation Mechanism (LSSAM) Awardee: Matthew O’Rourke COE’26 Mentor: Jahir Pabon, COE, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Under the guidance of Professor Jahir Pabon and in partnership with NU-SAT, this project involves designing a mission-critical separation mechanism for a 12U cube satellite. NU-SAT will design a satellite around a custom Terahertz (THz) radio frequency payload. Once in orbit, we will split the satellite into two identical halves that travel at a post-split velocity of approximately .005 meters/sec to characterize the performance of THz communications. The slow ∆v compared to commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) mechanisms, combined with the small size of our satellite, presents a unique challenge and necessitates the development of a low-shock splitting solution.
The Effect of Hydrogel Stiffness on Soluble Factor Production, Growth & Differentiation of Hnscs Awardee: Marisa Parker COS’24 Mentor: Rebecca Willits, COE, Chemical Engineering It is well established that neural stem cells (NSCs) respond to various stimuli within their niche, and understanding these responses provides useful insight for the development of regenerative strategies. Endogenous NSCs also secrete a variety of soluble factors which contribute to their self-renewal, differentiation, and signaling within the CNS. This project seeks to investigate the effect of gel stiffness on the soluble factor production, growth, and differentiation of human induced pluripotent neural stem cells (hNSCs). Results will be presented at RISE and may contribute to a future publication or presentation at Society for Biomaterials (Spring 2025).
Constriction Modulemeter for Continuous Production and Characterization of Deformable Microparticles Awardee: Avi Patel COE’25 Mentor: Sara Hashmi, COE, Chemical Engineering Everything around us, from skyscrapers to socks, has carefully controlled material properties such as strength and elasticity. This applies even to microscopic particles, which have uses in cosmetics, medicine, and a range of other industries. Traditional methods, such as atomic force microscopy, can be invasive and separate from particle synthesis. My research introduces an in-line ‘modulemeter’ that simultaneously synthesizes particles and measures their deformation. This technique measures deformation to determine the modulus of particles, with results verified by established methods. The investigation will enhance the understanding and control of multiphase systems, with findings shared through academic publications and open-source platforms.
Developing a Low-cost Infant Phototherapy Device To Assist Hospital in Ghana Awardee: Jake Ross COE’25 Mentor: Joshua Hertz, COE, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering This is a project led by an interdisciplinary group of undergraduate students part of the Innovators for Global Health club on campus. The aim is to follow up on a needs assessment done in March 2024 for Ridge Hospital in Accra, Ghana, where the need for affordable infant phototherapy units was identified. The student organization will design and create an effective infant phototherapy device with materials sourced locally and affordably to the hospital and their partners in the greater Accra region for reproducibility. The device will be delivered to the hospital in Ghana in March 2025.
Tetrabutylammonium-Based Organosulfurs: A New Catalyst Family for Enhancing Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Awardee: Victor Sanctis COE’25 Mentor: Sanjeev Mukerjee, COS, Chemistry & Chemical Biology We have identified a family of chemicals that act as catalysts for lithium sulfur batteries, and are now looking to understand how they catalyze the reactions. Lithium sulfur batteries are an attractive alternative to the widely used lithium polymer batteries, as they offer higher energy density, using more abundant natural resources. However, there are technical challenges that need to be overcome for these batteries to be commercialized. We will investigate how this catalyst works using chromatography methods, nuclear magnetic resonance, raman spectroscopy and computational chemistry. The culmination of this investigation will be a paper for publishing.
Examining the Degradation Mechanisms of Alkaline Zn-Ni Batteries Through Operando Raman Spectroscopy Awardee: Rachana Somaskandan COE’25 Mentor: Joshua Gallaway, COE, Chemical Engineering Alkaline zinc-nickel batteries have the potential to be a lithium-ion battery alternative with safer and more accessible components but face issues with rechargeability over long-term cycling. This project aims to characterize the degradation mechanisms occurring at each electrode over time through operando Raman spectroscopy with a novel, windowed electrochemical cell for alkaline batteries. This work will collect the first operando Raman spectra of this battery chemistry, which will be presented at the Northeastern RISE exhibition and included in a potential paper containing Raman spectroscopic data on various alkaline battery materials.
Single Prosthetic Racing-Blade Integrated for Triathlons Awardee: Kathleen Tschoepe COE’25 Mentor: Daniel Grindle, COE, Bioengineering Transtibial amputees competing in triathlons do not have a single prosthetic solution that enables them to both cycle and to run. This lack of triathlon prosthetic technology unfairly limits these athlete’s chances of having a competitive race time. This project includes the development of an integrated prosthetic leg for triathlon amputee-athletes involving the addition of a biking attachment to an on-the-market running blade. Our goal is to mitigate the high cost associated with individual prosthetics, improve triathlon transition time efficiency, enhance the experience of our users, and promote the need for development in the prosthetic industry.
The Release and Fate of Macroalgal Derived Dissolved Organic Carbon in Rock Pools Awardee: Cassandra Vongrej COS’26 Mentor: Aron Stubbins, COS, Marine & Environment Sciences Increasing anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are warming the globe, emphasizing the importance of understanding global carbon cycles. Macroalgae sequester large amounts of carbon as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), yet the rate of DOC release and fate is poorly defined. This study quantifies DOC produced by macroalgae during growth and the subsequent biodegradation and photodegradation. Here, rockweed (Fucus distichus and Ascophyllum nodosum) will be assessed for MA-DOC release through rock pool mesocosms and semi in-situ growth experiments, followed by in-laboratory degradation experiments. Results will provide knowledge on algal C cycling, helping to elucidate the potential role of macroalgae in C sequestration.
Optimization of Collagen I and Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels To Model Perfused Brain Microvasculature Awardee: Helena Zheng COE’26 Mentor: Guohao Dai, COE, Bioengineering This project aims to improve current in vitro models of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a protective blood vessel network that shields the brain from harmful substances but complicates drug delivery for neurological diseases. In vitro 3D cell culture models are increasingly favored for their physiological accuracy over unreliable animal testing alternatives. However, current models fall short in fully recapitulating the BBB’s complex environment. I propose optimizing a collagen and hyaluronic acid hydrogel to improve our lab’s established in vitro microfluidic BBB model. The findings will be disseminated through academic publications and presented at bioengineering conferences.

Related Departments:Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering