The following is a sampling of some projects I've worked on over the years.
Cell-Mediated Remodeling of The Extracellular Matrix (ECM)
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We are simulating tissue remodeling using a simplified cell-ECM tissue model. An in-house multiscale finite element code is employed to compare stress fields in tissue models with different cell volume fractions, cell-ECM stiffness ratios, and remodeling laws. We hypothesize that certain remodeling laws will lead to high stress concentration in the ECM when tissues have low cellularity. This work has potential application for studying the progression of aneurysmal diseases.
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DEVICE FOR TUBE THORACOSTOMY
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Through the undergraduate capstone class Medical Device Design (2.750) and then Developing Mechanical Products (2.752), I worked with a team of MIT graduate students to develop a device to improve the procedure for placing chest tubes in traumatic injury patients. Alpha and beta prototypes have been built and tested.
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MEDICATION OPENING
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As an undergraduate researcher (UROP) in the MIT Medical Device Innovation Center, I collaborated with an Ergonomics Specialist from Brigham & Women's Hospital to develop a device to aid nurses in extracting medication from blister packages. I observed and interviewed hospital nurses to understand current practices; Instron testing was performed to determine blunt force values for removing medication from packages.
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POWER UP! YO-YO
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In the Design and Manufacturing II (2.008) class, student teams design a unique yo-yo and manufacture it using injection molding and thermoforming techniques. My team created a black yo-yo with an internal LED circuit that illuminated the power symbol cutout while spinning. My role was to design and cut the mold for the injection molded face pieces, then choose the optimal parameters for the molding process.
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Micro/Nano Engineering
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In the Micro/Nano Engineering Laboratory (2.674) class, there were weekly experiments designed to familiarize students with concepts in nanoengineering such as microfluidics, microthermal systems, MEMS, nanomaterials, SEM, TEM, and AFM.
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Heart Rate Monitor
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In Electronics, Signals, and Measurement (6.071), the final project was to build a circuit that measures heart rate. With an input of IR light passing through a finger, our task was to use a series of filters, amplifiers, and other subcircuits to extract a square wave signal that could be input to a LabVIEW program. Click here to take a look at the report.
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BIOMIMETIC PUNCHING ROBOT
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In Sangbae Kim's special subject "Biomimetics, Biomechanics, and Bio-inspired Robots", my team created a robot arm to emulate the punching motion of a professional boxer. We used Matlab simulation to determine the optimal joint activation sequence to maximize force output at the "fist". Joint-like motion was produced in the robot through impedance control of each motor. Our final poster is here, for more information.
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GO FORTH AND MEASURE
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Through the Measurement and Instrumentation (2.671) class, I investigated how water saturation affects the compression strength of wood, concrete, and drywall. I used an Instron machine to measure stiffness and yield strength, comparing these values between wet and dry samples.
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2.007 ROBOT COMPETITION
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The year I took Design and Manufacturing I (2.007), the game was an adaptation of Hasbro's Operation!(TM), in which game pieces must be carefully removed from various parts of the patient's body without touching the sides of the board. In 2.007's version, robots maneuvered a game board to fix Tim the Beaver's "Wrenched Ankle", "Spare Ribs", "Quadriceps Connection", and more. My robot was designed for the "Wrenched Ankle" task, which involved removing a 20mm box-end wrench from a cavity in Tim's ankle.
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D-LAB SHOP RENOVATION
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As a semester-long shop assistant at MIT D-Lab, I constructed fixtures that increased shop efficiency and safety. Some projects included wall-mounted shelves for vacuums, a custom table for an arbor press and deep-throat shear, and wall mounts for various hand tools.
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DC MOTOR
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The Mechanical Engineering Tools (2.670) class introduces students to basic machine shop tools and principles through fabrication of a DC motor. My motor placed in the top three with a maximum recorded speed of 6600 rpm.
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BRAKE MOUNT FOR MIT SEVT
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Given geometry constraints and strength requirements, I designed new brake mounts for the Solar Electric Vehicle Team. I generated G-code in HSMWorks and machined the mounts out of aluminum blocks.
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PROJECT LEAD THE WAY
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In high school I was accepted into Project Lead The Way, a four-year program designed to give students an introduction to engineering principles before college. Some of the projects that I worked on are shown below.
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