Undergraduate Research in Biomechanics

Opportunity Description:

We are seeking undergraduates who are interested in medicine/surgery/biomedical engineering/biophysics who want to learn computational methods such as segmentation, machine learning (ML), finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Ideal candidates would want to pursue a STEM PhD in the future.

Primary Responsibilities: 

Disease and surgical intervention create non-native geometries in tissue that affect how the tissue mechanically responds to pressure loads and blood flow. Our lab uses computed tomography (CT) imaging data to generate models via segmentation. These models serve as the inputs for FEA and CFD simulations. FEA and CFD are important engineering tools to study the mechanics of systems with complex geometries and interfaces. Undergraduate researchers will learn how to segment structures such as the aorta and other blood vessels from CT data or create their own models. They will learn FEA and CFD to see how the structures change under different loading and flow conditions that mimic physiologic conditions, surgical anatomy, and disease states. Depending on the project and interest, researchers may also learn how to perform geometric analyses of their models and apply ML methods to identify feature spaces that define structures that are more likely to degenerate or remodel following surgery. All projects are computational in nature, but some projects may have an experimental component. Current project options include studying: (1) aortic dissections; (2) aortic aneurysms; (3) the stability of endovascular repairs; (4) aortic biomechanics using high resolution CT data that clearly defines elastin and collagen layers; (5) thin films at interfaces important in lung surfactant, medical devices, healing/clotting/thrombus; and (6) stress-focusing phenomena induced by surgical procedures.

Minimum Qualifications and/or Eligibility Requirements: 

We want highly motivated and scientifically curious students who are interested in working in an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment. We will provide all necessary training related to our research projects.

Students should be organized in order to multi-task and have excellent communication skills.

Previous coursework (high school or college level): calculus, physics, chemistry, and biology.

If you join the lab, Human Subjects Research Training for Biomedical Researchers and HIPAA Privacy and Security Awareness training will be needed. Chemical Hygiene Plan will also be needed for projects with an experimental component.

Knowledge or skills gained from the experience: 

Students will learn technical skills such as reading CT scans, segmentation, FEA, and CFD. FEA and CFD are commonly used engineering tools that are not part of the general curriculum at UChicago. Students will also learn how to write proposals (for graduate school applications or scholarships), abstracts (for conferences), and manuscripts for publication of their research results. Students will also learn how to give effective presentations of their research. Most importantly, students will learn how to interact and collaborate with a variety of scientists in different disciplines and educational levels.

Application Process: 

Please contact the lab manager, Dr. Kathleen Cao via email at surgbiomech@uchicago.edu, expressing your interest in undergraduate research. She will send you a questionnaire form to fill out. An in-person meeting to see the lab and discuss your interests will follow once your form has been reviewed.

Application Requirements: