(News item prepared by Ashley Wallace, UPenn)

In spring 2018, students were selected from 200+ applicants to participate in the 2018 Center for Engineering MechanoBiology (CEMB) summer undergraduate research program.  The 10-week summer program serves as a gateway to graduate studies and careers in the field of mechanobiology.  The goal is to not only provide undergraduate students with opportunities to develop research skills in physical and biological sciences as well as engineering but to also educate and train these students through a series of academic enrichment activities.

This year’s cohort is comprised of 18 students who come from an array of backgrounds and experiences, with 13 students working at the University of Pennsylvania and 5 working at Washington University in St. Louis.  Since late May, they have been immersed in a research project in a CEMB host lab.  Other aspects of the program include professional development and skills workshops, weekly chalk talks, research seminars, and the CEMB working group meetings.  All activities were designed to provide the students with opportunities to network and interact with other summer programs and the broader CEMB community.

At the end of July, the summer students from both campuses will come together to participate in the Annual Retreat.  The summer program concludes with a research symposium on August 2^nd, where students have an opportunity to showcase their research project in the form of a short oral presentation.  We encourage any Center member to attend to learn about the amazing research these students conducted this summer.

Note:  Keep an eye on the application website for the Summer 2019 program this fall.

2018 Summer Undergraduate Research Program Cohort:

 UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

• Amanda Martinez– University of California, Merced
• Deidre Lee– University of the Virgin Islands
• Dominic Demma– University of Illinois
• Gabrielle Caponigro– Rutgers University
• Grace Wu– University of Pennsylvania
• Jacob Maciel– University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley
• Kiera Yankson– Oakwood University
• Nikolas DiCaprio– Temple University
• Robert Brosnan– University of Pennsylvania
• Sarah St. Pierre– Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Thea Ornstein– University of Maryland, College Park
• Whitney Schroeder– Clemson University
• Zachary Varley– University of Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS

• Alexis Scott– Alabama State University
• Logan Verheyen– Saint Louis University
• Pranav Maddula– Washington University in St. Louis
• Reid Chunn– Harris-Stowe State University
• Thomas Ellison– Washington University in St. Louis