Exploiting biology in functional materials
The intellectual focus of this RIMSE Summer School is to engineer living systems to generate new polymeric materials. These composite materials can be responsive to diverse stimuli and are capable of generating complex, genetically encoded material outputs. Such materials can enable biosynthetic electronics, chemical threat decontamination, synthesis and/or delivery of therapeutics, and soft robotics, among other applications. Led by Professor Jonathan Pokorski, the course offers an introduction to skills relevant to synthesis and fabrication of engineered living materials. Trainees will learn techniques to create materials at the living/non-living interface, including polymer chemistry, additive manufacture, and soft matter characterization.
2024 Application Now Open!
For questions, please contact mrsec@ucsd.edu
2024 SSELM Participants
Bialick, Nicole
BIO: Nicole graduated from the University of Richmond in 2021 with a BS in Chemistry. She worked as a pharmaceutical chemist with AMPAC Fine Chemicals from 2021-2024. Nicole is excited to research drug delivery systems while pursuing her PhD in Nanoengineering at UC San Diego starting in the Fall of 2024.
ORCID: 0009-0000-1947-7229
Mentor: Luis Palomino
Chandra, Arthi
BIO: Arthi is a high school student at Canyon Crest Academy (Class of 2026). She is an ecology and conservation enthusiast and hopes to apply these interests to plant biology and polymer based research. Through RIMSE’s SSELM, she wants to explore sustainable solutions in agriculture and carbon sequestration.
ORCID: 0009-0008-0550-8897
Mentor: Anju Chandra
Chang, Tyler
BIO: Tyler is a high school sophomore at The Bishop’s School. His prior experiences have focused on food chemistry product development at bakeries and mechanical engineering through 3D printing. He is interested in advancing drug delivery techniques with the application of nanoparticles in hydrogels and exploring mechanoluminescence elastomer properties.
ORCID: 0009-0003-0796-526X
Mentor: Lisa Tang
Fan, Emily
BIO: Emily is a rising junior (Class of 2026) at Cornell University studying Fiber Science in the department of Human Centered Design. She is participating in the 2024 SSELM, and is especially looking forward to learning more about development of biomedical materials. Her current projects involve valorization of plant matter in the form of fibers and textiles, and she is interested in pushing the potentials of textiles in applications of regenerative medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, playing taiko, and baking.
ORCID: 0009-0009-3597-8344
Mentor: Luis Palomino
Galeano, Mariana
BIO: Mariana graduated with a B.S. in Bioengineering from Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, in 2023, achieving the second-highest GPA in her program. Her research interests include biomaterials, actuators, systems, and hydrogels for biomedical applications. Mariana's prior research included developing assistive technologies for children with disabilities, focusing on autism spectrum disorders and mobility impairments, as well as working as a Rehabilitation Intern Specialist for the Government of Antioquia, optimizing data systems for disability management. In her spare time, she enjoys sightseeing, playing volleyball, and spending time with friends at the beach.
ORCID: 0009-0001-
Mentor: Lisa Tang
Gorman, Mary
BIO: Mary Grace is a chemical engineering transfer student from Southwestern College, Chula Vista, participating in UCSD's SDNI summer REU program. She has a passion for mathematics and chemistry and is excited to delve into nanotechnological research. She enjoys writing science fiction and going on road trips in her free time.
ORCID: 0009-0000-0309-2674
Mentor: Yvonne Ma
Johnson, Anna
BIO: Anna is a rising senior at Case Western Reserve University, where she is pursuing a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She is currently working at a pathology lab at CWRU, where they are studying the functional organization of the nucleolus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In her free time, Anna enjoys volunteering at a local hospital, baking, thrifting, and reading Russian and Japanese literature.
ORCID: 0009-0001-1045-1708
Mentor: Nathan Soulier
Mathews, Ellen
BIO: Ellen is a rising junior chemistry major at Macalester College participating in the 2024 Summer School for Engineered Living Materials (SSELM). She is excited to investigate the interdisciplinary applications of Chemistry within biological and materials science spheres. Outside of school, Ellen sings in choir, is enthused about playing bananagrams, and enjoys spending time in the sun.
ORCID: 0009-0006-4052-4695
Mentor: Yui Na
McDowell, Sean
BIO:
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Mentor:
O'Hara, Ryan
BIO:
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Mentor: Luis Palomino
Sanchez Morales, Ivis
BIO: Ivis is a Bioengineering undergraduate with a pre-medicine track at University of California San Diego. She is actively involved in research focusing on the synthesis of antibacterial polymers at Pokorski Lab. In addition to her academic and research pursuits Ivis serves as the Social and Collaboration Chair for the Gender Minorities in Bioengineering (GMBE) student organization at UCSD. In her free time, she enjoys exploring California with her dogs.
ORCID: 0009-0005-7678-6024
Mentor: Luis Palomino
Zeru, Milena Hana
BIO: Milena is a Chemical Engineering undergraduate student at UC San Diego. She is interested in learning more about engineered living materials and their application in drug delivery.
ORCID: 0009-0004-7718-0748
Mentor: Erica Hild
2024 SSELM Mentor Participants
Chandra, Anju
BIO: Anju is a high school student at Canyon Crest Academy and is returning to 2024 RIMSE SSELM as a mentor participant. She is passionate about chemistry and engineering through Science Olympiad and robotics. Her previous research focused on 3D extrusion printing of controllable stimuli-responsive hydrogels in applications of soft robotics. This summer, she will continue research in applications of hydrogels specifically protein immobilization and drug delivery.
ORCID: 0009-0002-9890-0762
Ma, Yvonne
Bio: Yvonne is a Ph.D. student in NanoEngineering in Prof. Steinmetz's lab. She is working on the development of living material with plants. Her current research focuses on the synthesis of stimuli-responsive hydrogel with plant viruses and plant tissue. Yvonne received her B.S. in Polymer Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve University in 2019, where she worked on engineering polysaccharide derivatives for hemostasis augmentation.
ORCID: 0000-0001-8975-3604
Palomino, Luis
Bio: Luis is a NanoEngineering Ph.D. student in Prof. Pokorski's lab. He obtained his B.S. in Chemistry from the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM) in Lima, Peru in 2016 and worked as a research assistant and instructor at the University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC), Lima, Peru. At this prior post, Luis participated in funded collaborative projects with the University of Connecticut, Harvard University, and Cleveland Clinic developing metallic, polymeric, and carbon nanomaterials for their use in environmental remediation, drug delivery, and energy storage.
ORCID: 0000-0002-3992-3123
Soulier, Nathan
Bio: Nathan is a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Susan Golden's lab. His research background is mainly in the fields of microbiology, molecular biology, and structural biology with a B.S. from Case Western Reserve University, and a Ph.D. from Penn State University. At present, his research is focused on the construction and implementation of cyanobacteria in Engineered Living Materials (ELMs), namely cyanobacterial hydrogels. These ELMs have numerous potential applications, including the generation of useful products in industrial settings, and environmental remediation.
ORCID: 0000-0001-7257-8846
Tang, Lisa
Bio: Lisa is a Ph.D. student studying Chemical Engineering in the department of NanoEngineering at UC San Diego. She is currently working with responsive soft materials in Prof. Jinhye Bae's lab. Before joining the lab, she received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2021.
ORCID: 0000-0001-5312-673X