Education Outreach

Education

Two graduate students at UA (Ruiting Xu, Rubia Shaik) were funded by this project. All students were trained in PIs labs and assisted PIs to conduct research work in Year 3. Two PhD students at PSU (Lydia Abune and Brandon Davis) were partially funded and trained by this project. The students were trained to 1) how to improve writing and presentation skills and identify significance in research by 1 to 1 discussion with PIs, 2) how to network with peer researchers by participating in PIs’ weekly group meeting, and having research discussions with faculty, visiting scholars and PhD students, and 3) acquire teaching skills by helping PIs in tutoring junior graduate students.    

The design and fabrication of the micropore sensor, and preliminary testing results were included in PI Zhe’s existing MEMS courses “Fundamentals of MEMS” and “Design of MEMS and Nano Devices” in Year 3.  In the lab sessions of both classes, students were shown the instruments and testing results. The graduate student, Ruiting Xu, showed detection of micro particles using the device to the classes. The knowledge of aptamer-based materials was included in Wang’s “Drug Delivery” and “Transport Phenomena” classes in PSU.

Two undergraduate students at UA have been trained and participated research on biomolecular assay in PIs’ labs in Year 3.  The students at UA include Andrea Zuccaro and Emma Lipkowski.