Published:
Author: Conner Allen
Andrew Kim

Supported by a Provost’s Undergraduate Research Award (PURA), Andrew Kim, a junior studying materials science and engineering, is working to reinforce the strength of alloys used in biodegradable implants by reducing their elements and subjecting them to various processing techniques. 

Since 1993, the Hopkins Office for Undergraduate Research (HOUR) has presented PURA awards to undergraduate students at Johns Hopkins. These awards fund and encourage undergraduate research, upholding the university’s commitment to providing research opportunities for undergraduate students.  The title of Kim’s PURA project is “Utilizing Binary Magnesium-Calcium Alloys for the Development of Biodegradable Orthopedic Implants.” 

Working under the guidance of advisor Timothy Weihs, professor of materials science and engineering, and graduate student Sreenivas Raguraman, Kim will investigate the ideal degradation rate of biodegradable orthopedic implants within the body.  

“My goal is to understand the structure-property relationship of the magnesium and calcium alloy to develop superior materials for these implants,” says Kim. “I’m using advanced characterization methods, like diffraction pattern analysis and microscopy, to observe changes in the magnesium alloys and optimize them,” he says. 

His goal is to reduce the corrosion rate of the alloy while maintaining its promising mechanical properties.   

“Currently, I am applying various processing conditions to samples of the magnesium-calcium alloys and determining which set of conditions yields the best balance between mechanical properties and corrosion rate. Then, I’ll find out why a method is best by diving deep into the material’s microstructure through electron microscopy and diffraction techniques,” he says.  

He and other PURA recipients will present their projects at a Day of Undergraduate Research in Engineering, Arts, Medicine, and the Sciences (DREAMS) event, set for April 28 through May 2.  

Kim credits Weihs and Raguraman for inspiring him to pursue the project. 

“Their warm welcome and support fostered my interest in metallurgy, despite not knowing much about the advancements of biodegradable bone implants before coming to Hopkins,” says Kim. “Research has been a rewarding journey, and receiving a PURA is a testament to my personal growth in the field.”