2019 BUILDing SCHOLARS INTERNS

HAIDAR AHMED
University of Texas at El Paso
Biology

Haidar (in Caleb Bashor's lab) focused on the development of novel approaches in synthetic biology to explain different regulatory cellular mechanisms. His project entailed building complex synthetic gene circuits, through the use of molecular cloning and incorporation of tools such as DNA assembly. To establish these gene circuits, first multiple fragments of DNA are amplified via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cut at specific sites using restriction enzymes. To achieve a higher-order assembly these DNA fragments were ligated together prior to insertion into a plasmid. Ultimately, the ligated plasmids were inserted into E. coli bacterial cells which later are inserted into mammalian cells. The development of engineered cell-based therapeutics can provide an innovative method of altering and regulating cellular mechanisms.

CARLOS MERAZ
University of Texas at El Paso
Mechanical Engineering

Carlos (in Jane Grande-Allen's lab) worked with developing a low cost, 3D printed mechanical tensile tester controlled via Bluetooth (and a cellphone app). This mechanical tester is made so that laboratories that have no access to expensive regular tensile testing equipment can simply 3D print their own, so that minuscule samples such murine heart valves can be tested for their mechanical properties under a microscope. It works by bi-directional stretching of a sample attached to deflecting posts and thus obtaining a stress-strain curve and mechanical properties of that sample after video data processing.

LOURDES (LULU) MOREU
University of Texas at El Paso
Geological Sciences

Lulu (in Daniel Cohan's lab) investigated how much solar energy the city of Houston can produce, and the health benefits associated with the implementation of more solar energy. She utilized the Nation Renewable Energy Laboratory’s System Advisory Model (SAM) in order to run different scenarios for solar energy implementation throughout the city. Additionally, she investigated the health benefits that would result from the wider use of solar energy in Houston. She focused on how lower air pollution from the energy industry would decrease the morbidity and mortality rate for conditions like cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease.

NICOLE OROZCO
New Mexico State University
Kinesiology

Nicole (in Christopher Fagundes' lab) worked in the Biobehavioral Mechanisms Explaining Disparities Lab. Her work focused on understanding the social, physical, and psychophysiological determinants of health. Specially, she was interested in how stress affects health among minority populations. She examined health behaviors, such as smoking and exercise, in her research. One of her projects focused on tobacco cessation among African-American smokers and better understanding what the mind and the body experiences when quitting tobacco use. She continued expanding her work on stress and health among minority populations in her research this past summer.

ANDREW RIOS
University of Texas at El Paso
Mechanical Engineering

Andrew (in Rebecca Richards-Kortum's lab) worked on designing a first-stage cyclone separator filtering device for an oxygen concentrator. The goal of the cyclone separator is to remove larger dust particles from the inlet air and collect them in a detachable collection bin for disposal. An oxygen concentrator delivers necessary oxygen to newborns in Sub-Saharan Africa at a low cost. The compressor in the oxygen concentrator is very susceptible to large dust particles and will break down if these particles are consistently allowed in, requiring difficult and expensive repairs. Filter paper is in place to collect incoming air dust, but needs replacement every 4 to 8 weeks, reducing the low-cost feasibility of the machine. The cyclone separator is being developed in response to this need. The methodology of the project involved working through multiple prototype iterations and analyzing the collection efficiency of each new iteration.

2018 BUILDing SCHOLARS INTERNS

ANALISSE ACOSTA
University of Texas at El Paso
Psychology

Analisse (in Michelle “Mikki” Hebl's lab) worked on a study to understand whether the perception of gender and race of the trainer play a role in retaining information learned in diversity training. In the future diversity training taught by people with experience, credibility, and authority might help mitigate the forgetfulness that is experienced by incorporating trainers who are relatable to all trainees.

CARLOS MERAZ
University of Texas at El Paso
Mechanical Engineering

Carlos (in Jane Grande-Allen's lab) worked with a Digital Image Correlation system (DIC) testing the changes in the mechanical properties of veins before and after the remodeling due an thrombosis. At the same time, he was conducting uniaxial tensile tests in order to compare the data with the one obtained with the DIC system. The DIC system works with two cameras following the deformations and patterns that appear in the sample, in order to create a 3D map of the deformations of it, which allows to further understanding of its mechanical properties.

ROBERTO PACHECO
University of Texas at El Paso
Electrical Engineering

Roberto (in Caleb Kemere's lab) performed Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) experiments to determine signal characteristics associated with effective behavioral changes in rats with ipsilateral lesions to develop DBS treatments for Parkinson’s Disease. Also, to streamline neural implantation, Roberto was tasked to build a mouse microsurgery robot based on open source designs.

AIYANA PONCE
University of Texas at El Paso
Cellular & Molecular Biochemistry

Aiyana (in Peter Lwigale's lab) studied corneal development, the intricate process that involves migration, proliferation, and differentiation of embryonic neural stem cells known as neural crest cells. To test the hypothesis that neural crest cells co-localize and interact with nephronectin through ErbB1 during corneal development, we first isolated cDNA from corneal tissues, then identified the expression of the ErbB1 gene by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and finally determined its localization by in situ hybridization. Identifying signaling pathways that govern corneal development can lead to better strategies to repair corneal defects.

EMELY TEJADA JAQUEZ
Smith College (participant via HHMI EXROP Program)
Biochemistry

Emely (in Rebecca Richards-Kortum's lab) focused on creating low-cost training kits (in Portuguese and English) to better screen for cervical cancer in underserved areas in Brazil. These training kits can be utilized with low-cost optical imaging devices, like the High Resolution Microendoscope (HRME) (displayed in the image), to better diagnose and treat patients who show signs of abnormal cervical dysplasia. The overall goal is to decrease the incidence and number of deaths related to cervical cancer in low-resource areas.

2017 BUILDing SCHOLARS INTERNS

DAISY ALVARADO
University of Texas at El Paso
Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry

Daisy (in Chris Fagundes’ Lab) worked on a longitudinal study that will help uncover the mechanisms by which bereavement increases an individuals’ risk for cardiovascular disease. Her work focused on analyzing the relationship between sleep quality and increased inflammatory responses after bereavement, which may be a leading factor in increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease.

SERGIO BARRIOS
University of Texas at El Paso
Biochemistry

Sergio (in Jane Grande-Allen's Lab) focused on the development of oxygen sensing microparticles for 3D cell culture applications. He worked on the synthesis of PEG based hydrogels that could serve as a better alternative to current oxygen sensing methods in 3D cell culture. The ultimate goal of the project was to develop a hydrogel system integrated with microparticles that allows cell culture and simultaneous oxygen sensing.

HOPE CERVANTES
University of Texas at El Paso
Electrical Engineering

Hope (in Rebecca Richards-Kortum's Lab) worked on a heater for a HPV lateral flow device (LFD). It was used to heat a tube that annealed a patient’s HPV DNA to RNA; the DNA and RNA hybrids were then detected on the LFD. This heater had to be in line with the ASSURED criteria for point-of-care diagnostics. The ASSURED criteria is defined as Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and robust, Equipment-free and Deliverable. This heater, along with the LFD, will be used in low-resource settings for HPV screening.

DIEGO DE SANTOS
University of Texas at El Paso
Mechanical Engineering

Diego (in Jordan Miller's Lab) worked on creating vascular networks in hydrogel samples using a sugar laser sintering machine. His project will lead to gathering new data on perfusion and mass transport through channels that resemble veins and arteries.

SARA MAHMOUD
University of Texas at El Paso
Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry

Sara (in Loren Raun’s Lab) investigated the carcinogenic risk to neighborhoods near metal recycling facilities through the collection of metal particulate matter and analysis of air pollution. Additionally, a risk assessment was conducted in order to properly rank the severity of human health, especially in regards to the aforementioned neighborhoods. Lastly, she focused on the correlation of air pollution and asthma attacks with the utilization of the program SAS in a case-crossover study.