Electrical PhD Receives Young Scientist Award for Terahertz Brain Research
Samar Elmaadawy, PhD’25, electrical engineering, advised by ECE Professor & Associate Dean for Research Josep Jornet, received the URSI AP-RASC 2025 Young Scientist Award for her paper on “Cerebral Organoids Respond to Sub-Terahertz and Terahertz Radiation” which she will present at the 2025 URSI Asia-Pacific Radio Science Conference in Sydney, Australia, in August 2025. The Young Scientist Awards are presented at the General Assemblies of URSI and at the URSI Atlantic Radio Science Conferences (AT-RASC) to recognize an international group of individuals who have made innovative contributions and discoveries in multidisciplinary research related to electromagnetic fields and waves.
Abstract
Beyond their potential for broadband wireless communications, sub-terahertz and terahertz signals have recently been shown to interact with certain proteins in the human body. Some of these proteins, involved in ion channel function and neurotransmission, play a key role in regulating neuronal activity by modulating the generation of action potentials. This paper presents and analyzes the measured responses of cerebral organoids exposed to sub-terahertz and terahertz radiation. The results suggest that such radiation can alter neuronal activity, suggesting potential implications for neuroscience and biomedical applications.