After the closing of Dr. Susan James’ Lab, I joined Dr. David Prawel and the other half of BREL to continue honing my engineering skills. Here, I focus on manufacturing and improving novel ovine bone powder slurry for Stereolithography, optimizing photopolymer printing protocols to develop bone scaffolds designed for rapid bone recovery. Additionally, I research advanced techniques for bone scaffold implementation, working to enhance their efficacy in medical applications.

Working with Dr. Susan James, I engineered biocompatible radioscopic plastic films via application of silylated hyaluronic acid coatings and conducted advanced testing. During my tenure, I also developed and optimized protocols to improve film performance, identifying critical variables for better outcomes. To ensure efficiency and collaboration, I took the lead in facilitating cross-lab communication, driving productivity across teams and organizations.

In this NIL sponsered project, I used Python and Physicell to model and visualize the structure of various cancerous tumors, analyzing their growth over time. By processing these time-states, I gained insights into tumor dynamics and structure. To ensure accuracy, I researched and integrated findings from existing literature, refining the software to better represent real-world cancer growth.

I applied systems biology concepts to develop a detailed model of the jasmonic acid hormone pathway involved in plant defense. Using mathematical modeling software like COPASI and SimBiology, I constructed a system of differential equations to estimate the timescale of the pathway’s activation. Additionally, I designed the model to allow for future integration of crosstalk with other hormone pathways.

As an assistant camp director and camp counselor, I gained valuable leadership experience by managing staff, organizing daily schedules, and overseeing camper activities. I developed strong problem-solving skills, quickly addressing challenges to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment. Additionally, I honed my communication and mentorship abilities, fostering personal growth in campers and maintaining clear, supportive dialogue with both staff and participants all while fostering and instilling a passion for reading.