Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) Internship

Description: Project 1: Electronic control of cellular biological processes. In the host project, we have shown that nanopores on artificial membranes exhibit both nonlinear and hysteresis (memristive) behaviors, which depend on electrolyte ion species and concentrations as well as applied voltage amplitude and frequency. Additionally, we developed RF sensors that enable long-term, noninvasive measurement of single cells in a microfluidic culture chamber. In this project, we plan to have two undergraduate students work together and conduct parametric studies of electronic control of cell growth, which involves various stresses, including DC/AC fields, temperature, drugs, and nutrients. Candida cells are our selected model cells. Ideally, one of the two students will come with a biology background and the other from electrical and computer engineering or bioengineering. Thus, the biology student will be more focused on cell growth and cell metabolisms while the other focuses on the engineering implementation of cell control (e.g., microfluidic control), accurate application of stresses (e.g., DC/AC voltage and frequencies), RF detection, and analysis.

Project 2: develop and test a novel bacteria filtration and concentration device for sample preparation. To apply the sensing technique developed in the host project, sample preparation is needed. This project explores such techniques. The device includes tangential flow filtration membranes, illustrated in Fig. 1 [1], and spiral microfluidic channels (not shown). The research involves the co-design of two components, where the membrane is commercially available, and the spiral channel is a new feature. The novelty flow-impedance match design for high filtration/concentration efficiency as well as high cell recovery rate. Such designs have not been reported before. It is expected that advanced calculus is needed in this mostly hands-on project, which requires the use of Solidworks for device layout, basic motor control for operation automation, microscope use for cell-particle observation, and 3D printing for channel and filter chamber fabrication. We plan to have a high school student and a mechanical engineering undergraduate student to work together on this project.

Summer 2025