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Undergrads wrap up a summer of opportunities in CBE’s BioMaP REU program

Author: cbecomm

BioMap REU Students of 2022 celebrate their summer at ISU.
BioMap REU Students of 2022 celebrate their summer at ISU.

This summer, an expanded BioMaP REU program provided 18 college students from across the nation with the opportunity to work under the mentorship of ISU chemical and biological engineering faculty members and graduate students to gain hands-on research experience in topics that match their educational interests and goals.

During their time in the program, students interacted with their faculty mentors and participate in cohort experiences such as seminars, meetings and workshops.

On August 4th, this year’s participants concluded their experience by taking part in the REU & Summer Research Programs Poster Presentation in the Memorial Union and had high praise for their experiences with the ISU’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE).

“The whole BioMaP experience has provided me with useful research and professional skills for the future,” said Valentine Vega.

“This experience has widened my view of what a chemical engineer can do within their career,” said Paige Myers.

“This program has made me realize that I definitely want to attend graduate school,” said Cassandra Volpe.

Michael O’Sullivan of Weslayan University presents his summer research on Fabrication and Characterization of Optical Metamaterials Using DNA Origami Templates. His faculty mentor for this project was Andrew Hillier.
Michael O’Sullivan of Weslayan University.
Emma Kroll of Milwaukee School of Engineering presents her research on Drug and Gene Delivery. Her faculty mentor for this project was Surya Mallapragada.
Emma Kroll of Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Lily Mesyk of Bethel University presents her summer research on Controlling Structure and Mechanical Properties to Understand and Guide Cell Migration. Her faculty mentor for this project was Ian Schneider.
Lily Mesyk of Bethel University.

The 18 students who participated in the BioMaP REU program included a cohort of students who were part of a parallel REU experience in the laboratory of Mary Jane Skogen Hagenson and Randy L. Hagenson Professor Eric Cochran. The BioMaP participants, the institutions they attend, their research project, and faculty mentor include:

  • Alexis Anderson, Iowa State University, Poly(acrylated glycerol) as a stabilizer for micronized rubber particle modified asphalt pavements, Eric Cochran
  • Amy Apgar, Trine University, Probiotic Engineering, Thomas Mansell
  • Ruth Conlin, Drake University, Microbial Cell Factories for Lipid Conversion, Laura Jarboe
  • Axl Escarcega, Des Moines Area Community College, Model Validation for Photosynthetically Active Radiation Transport in Algal Photobioreactors, Dennis Vigil
  • Nicholas Herbst, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Toward Real-Time Control of Cell Differentiation Using Reinforcement Learning, Nigel Reuel
  • Emma Kroll, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Drug and Gene Delivery, Surya Mallapragada
  • Ashley Marker, Iowa State University, Poly(acrylated glycerol) as a stabilizer for micronized rubber particle modified asphalt pavements, Eric Cochran
  • Anna McCaslin, Iowa State University, Bioadvantaged Polyamides – Michael Adducts of 3-hexenedioic acid, Eric Cochran
  • Lily Mesyk, Bethel University, Controlling Structure and Mechanical Properties to Understand and Guide Cell Migration, Ian Schneider
  • Paige Myers, Iowa State University, Bioadvantaged Polyamides – Novel monomers from muconic acid, Eric Cochran
  • Michael O’Sullivan, Weslayan University, Fabrication and Characterization of Optical Metamaterials Using DNA Origami Templates, Andrew Hillier
  • Jacob Oyler, Missouri Western State University, The Artificial Pancreas Project, Derrick Rollins
  • Hannah Rudewick, Texas A&M University, Immunomodulatory Nanovaccines Against Infectious Diseases, Balaji Narasimhan
  • Abby Stanlick, Iowa State University, The Little-known Nylon: Nylon 59 properties, Eric Cochran
  • Cassie Volpe, Iowa State University, Bio-based Core-shell Impact Modifiers to Increase Toughness of Composites and Adhesives, Eric Cochran
  • Virginia Walker, Coe College, Impedance Spectroscopy Studies of Ion Conducting Glasses, Steve Martin
  • Ellise Waller, McGill University, Novel Probes for Screening Polymer Degrading Enzymes, Nigel Reuel
  • Valentina Vega, Loras College, Trojan Horse Repeat Sequences for Triggered Chemical Recycling of Polyesters for Films and Bottles, Eric Cochran

The program is funded by the National Science Foundation and coordinated by CBE faculty members Monica Lamm and Ian Schneider. Iowa State chemical engineering graduate student Brianna White served as the program’s graduate student mentor.

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