Roughly 20% of the world population struggle with musculoskeletal disorders. Typical treatments often target side effects, rather than targeting the atrophied or atypical muscular tissue.

This project proposes an electrode called “NeuroFilm” that aims to aid in muscle repair and reinnervation, as well as monitoring. These electrodes are made of sodium alginate (SA), poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), and glutaraldehyde (GA).

These conductive films are highly fibrous in an isotropic manner. The average diameter of these fibers is around 28 μm. Before the addition of GA, the electrospinning solution shows behavior consistent with the liquid phase, but following the addition of GA, an increase in viscous behavior occurs. The electrochemical properties of this film are comparable to those of a semiconductor.

Both subcutaneous and epimysial implantation levels will be tested, with the expectation that epimysial will outperform due to its direct interface with the muscle in question.

Metal-organic frameworks are complex lattice structures composed of metal ion centers joined by organic linker groups. Transition metal dichalcogenides are of great interest for displaying novel quantum properties, especially in heterostructures. Typically, these are made with two layers of a TMD, but the MOF crystal allows for higher degrees of tunability in the architecture than previous TMD-on-TMD stacking schemes, as the structure of the MOF can be modified near endlessly to couple to specific phenomena in the TMD, to give rise to unique superlattice properties. This work explores new methods of synthesizing heterostructures combining the TMD with a 2D MOF that can act as single photon sources. We have developed a method for synthesis of the MOF directly on the TMD to simplify the production process, and investigate the effects of deposition strains on the superlattice.

Design, build, and test a precise camera system that can operate in a vacuum tank. The camera system will be used to search for habitable planets.

Staffing shortages have cost hospitals $24 billion since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the healthcare industry facing a projected 3.2 million worker deficit by 2026. Operating rooms require a full surgical team, and personnel shortages have led to increased delays and cancellations, compromising patient outcomes. These shortages also contribute to clinician burnout, decreased efficiency, and financial strain on hospitals. For patients, especially in under-resourced areas, delays mean longer wait times, worsened prognoses for time-sensitive conditions, and limited access to quality care. For clinicians, fewer surgeries performed translate to reduced revenue and fewer patients served. Addressing this gap is critical to prevent overworking remaining staff, ensure timely care, and support sustainable operations. The Advanced Surgical Tool Retrieval Arm (ASTRA) robot offers a timely solution by optimizing intraoperative workflows and managing surgical instrumentation. ASTRA reduces the need for human hands in repetitive tasks, enabling surgeries to proceed without unnecessary delays and improving overall outcomes.