Jason Wang, a graduate student in the Kong (GNDP/M-CELS) lab, won third place in the 2022 Young Innovator program and received $5000 to advance his proposal. He will develop a “lab-on-a-chip” device that can measure the biological noise associated with cell populations at a low cost.
When did you first became interested in science?
Skye Shepherd is a graduate student in the Cunningham (CGD/MMG) group, where she develops new detection tools for proteins that can be used to identify diseases including cancer, cardiovascular abnormalities, and traumatic brain injuries. Shepherd won first place in the 2022 Young Innovator Program and was awarded $20,000 to advance her project.
When did you first become interested in science?
Alejandra Zeballos works on creating new therapies for neurological disorders. She is developing a platform that will select virus-based vectors that can deliver DNA-based therapy to neural tissues. A graduate student in the Gaj (BSD) lab, Zeballos won second place in the 2022 Young Innovator Program and was awarded $10,000 to develop her project.
When did you first become interested in science?
The Young Innovator program is designed to help trainees become innovative leaders in their fields. The students attended classes for ten weeks over the summer and, at the end of the program, participated in an idea competition, showcasing the projects.
Vasiliki Kolliopoulos is a graduate student in the Harley lab at the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. In the inaugural Young Innovator Program in 2021, she won first place for her proposal to develop a novel platform to screen biomaterials for bone injuries.
Aleczandria Tiffany is a graduate student in the Harley lab at the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. In the inaugural Young Innovator Program in 2021, she won second place for her proposal to develop a material that can mimic growth plates—areas of new bone growth in children.
The first Young Innovator Program concluded in August 2021. It was a ten-week summer program that was designed to teach trainees how to become innovative leaders in their fields. The program concluded with an idea competition, where the participants showcased the skills that they learned over the summer.
