PbS colloidal quantum dots (PbS CQDs) are a promising material for next-generation solar cells and thus are a focus of research for renewable energy. The tunability of PbS CQD sizes allows for precise control of bandgap energy in the visible and near-infrared region, particularly useful for creating multi-junction solar cells. Current commercial solar cells use bulk material in a single-junction architecture, meaning only a certain range of wavelengths of light from the sun is absorbed.

Multi-junction solar cell architectures utilize multiple layers with different properties that absorb across a wider sunlight bandwidth, allowing for power conversion efficiencies that surpass the limits of a single-junction cell. With the goal of building a multi-junction architecture, we aim to optimize the synthesis of CQDs with bandgap energies of 1 eV and 1.6 eV. We also present a novel synthesis method for a single-population of ultrasmall PbS CQDs with an exciton range of 600-800 nm, useful for triple junction solar cells.

Neuro Prima is a medical device venture innovating a solution to provide brain decompression and skull reconstruction for severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) patients in a single procedure, as the Standard of Care requires two invasive surgeries. The novel implant eliminates the need for the second surgery, decreasing patient complication rates and dramatically reducing costs for patients and payors.

As Baltimore continues to urbanize, monitoring and preserving its biodiversity is critical. This project proposes a scalable, automated system for bird population monitoring using passive acoustic sensing. Compact, low-power devices will be deployed to continuously capture bird chirps. Each unit features a microphone, microcontroller for real-time audio processing, GPS for location tagging, and wireless communication for data transmission. Onboard algorithms will classify bird species by their vocalizations and log activity patterns over time. Aggregated data will reveal trends in species distribution, vocalization frequency, and long-term population changes.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI), for males assigned at birth, is characterized as involuntary urine leakage due to physical exertion that can severely impact the physical, mental, and social well-being of those affected, causing around 80% of patients to refuse to seek treatment. This condition can arise after a patient has undergone a prostatectomy, with nearly 71% of cases resulting in SUI. Existing treatments, such as adult diapers, can cause skin irritation and infection as well as incur a heavy financial burden. Others, like clamps, can be painful and may cause urethral diverticulum and tissue necrosis. Moreover, the artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is prone to mechanical failure as well as cuff erosion, requiring surgery to repair and/or replace. As such, due to these inefficacies, our team seeks to create a novel and comfortable solution which patients may use to return themselves to a feeling of normalcy in their daily lives.