Four Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering students have received support from the Provost’s Undergraduate Research Award (PURA) program for the 2024-2025 academic year.
The PURA program was established by Provost Joseph Cooper (1991-1995) in 1993 to encourage Johns Hopkins undergraduate students to conduct original research. Each recipient receives a $3,000 award.
Sia Badri’s project, “Machine Learning Accelerated Modeling of Lithium Polysulfide Batteries to Curb Polysulfide Shuttling Using Metal-Organic Framework Coatings,” aims to address long-term stability issues in lithium sulfur batteries through computational modeling and machine learning. A sophomore, Badri is looking forward to advancing climate change solutions with her project, mentored by Assistant Professor Brandon Bukowski.
Junior Alisa Fedotova’s project uses microfluidics and 3D printing to create artificial blood vessel networks that can improve the way nutrients are delivered to organoids. Her work, titled “Transformational 3D Microbioreactor for Cerebral Organoids,” will address tissue necrosis caused by inadequate media supply. She is mentored by Professor David Gracias and PhD student Aishwarya Pantula.
“It’s inspiring to know that other professionals see the potential in my research, giving me hope for its future impact,” she said.
Junior Derrick Liu’s project, “Single-Molecule Tracking to Elucidate Paf1-Spt5 Interaction Dynamics During Transcription Elongation,” aims to better understand how proteins interact during the process of gene transcription. “I use single-molecule fluorescence imaging to quantify protein movement and connect transcription factors to changes in function,” said Liu. He is mentored by Associate Research Scientist Anand Ranjan.
Atharva Mulay, also a junior, is researching amyloid transthyretin cardiomyopathy, a restrictive heart disease caused by deposits of transthyretin in the cardiac muscle. Mulay will be mentored in his project, “The Role of Infiltrative vs. Resident Macrophages in the Progression of Amyloid Transthyretin Cardiomyopathy” by Assistant Professor of Medicine Mark Ranek and Charles Cohen, a post-doctoral fellow in the Adamo Cardiac Immunology Lab.
“As an aspiring MD or MD-PhD, I am excited that this award will allow me to experience independent research and tackle challenges with experimental protocol and design,” said Mulay.